When my husband and I bought our new home, we were faced with rooms for which we did not have right-sized rugs. While we’d lived happily with sisals and rugs from big-box stores, for this house we wanted our rooms to be relaxed, but more distinct and personal. We thought upping our rug game might be a good way to start.
I’ve purchased a couple of dhurrie rugs from Knotty Rug Company over the years and have always felt comfortable there. Several months ago, on the way to a party, I suggested we stop in and look around. Owner Darrel Wingo and manager Doug Veach have created such a warm environment, and they were happy to show us around and share both knowledge and experience. I thought the information they shared with us might be valuable. Ever helpful, Wingo agreed to share their experience and expertise.
What do you think the biggest challenge is for people when they want to buy a hand-knotted rug?
Customers new to the hand-knotted rug market tend to concentrate on color and patterns rather than a specific style or origin. When they come in, we try to help them by educating them on some of the different styles that are available and talk to them about where the rugs are from. Fortunately, many weavers are now on the leading edge of the color trends, offering traditional styles with modern colors.
How do you lead people through the process of determining the best type of rug for them?
Our initial consultations usually begin with the room size and how the room is used. Then we try to understand what their general style is—traditional, transitional, or modern—and what colors they are leaning towards.
Often, we flip through a large hanging rack that has multiple colors and styles in it, to help them see the different styles and colors. With our Kansas City area customers, we suggest they take their favorite options to see how they look in their home, allowing them to see the rug throughout the day with both natural and interior lighting.
Are you able to provide information on wearability, scale, and cleaning?
In general, hand-knotted wool can be very durable and, if taken care of, can last several decades. Many antique rugs in service today are well over one hundred years old. There is even a modern discovery of rug fragments surviving the ice and tundra in Siberia that have been carbon dated to 500 B.C.
Scale is a personal choice, for a whole room we recommend leaving a border of 12 to 18 inches around the rug to show off the tile/hardwood flooring, just as you would frame any other piece of art. You can also use a rug to define a specific space, such as a seating area or game tables.
Fortunately, wool rugs clean beautifully. In fact, we recommend they be wet washed every five years, and more often for heavy traffic areas and homes with pets. Pure silk rugs wash well, too, but require a delicate touch when cleaning. We offer rug cleaning and clients can drop off or call us for pickup and delivery.
Are there times when you need to steer folks away from a certain style?
We don’t steer people away from a style necessarily, but some clients like a looped or shag pile rug and they have pets in the house. In that case, we recommend going with a shorter-cut pile or tighter weave with smaller and more knots per square inch.
What are the “selling points” for a hand-knotted rug?
We specialize in high quality “one of a kind” pieces. These high-quality wools and natural vegetable dyes grow more beautiful with age, adding to their uniqueness as true pieces of art.
Is it possible for you to find a rug to meet someone’s specifications if you don’t have what they need in stock?
We carry several designs that are part of a weaver product program, which allows for customization, including multiple sizes and different colorways. If that does not cover a client’s needs, we can source rugs through our relationships with many weavers across most rug-producing countries. These well-established relationships allow us to help many of our customers looking for that very unique piece.