Hand-knotted antique rugs are not just ordinary floor coverings; they are pieces of history that deserve to be preserved and admired. When it comes to restoring an antique rug, the process requires expertise, precision, and a thorough understanding of the rug's origin and craftsmanship. Recently, the Maryland State House entrusted us with the restoration of the antique rug that adorns the floor in the Governor's office.
]]>Over many years, the rug had sustained wear and tear from foot traffic and moth damage was present. The rug needed to be refreshed with a cleaning first, followed by careful repairs.
Our master repairman, who has experience restoring rugs you can see in museums, focused on an overall restoration of the governor's rug, including meticulous work on the rug's binding and kilim and reweaving frayed corners, all done by hand.
The rug was also delicately blocked (stretched) to restore its rectangular shape and allow it to once again lie perfectly flat. The project took several months to complete and turned out beautifully.
If you are interested in Oriental rug restoration and repair, please click here to contact us.
In my previous post, I shared a photo journal about my recent visit to Lahore, Pakistan, where I had the opportunity to spend some time learning more than I already knew about their rug weaving industry and how it has evolved over centuries. Rug weaving is a practical artform that has existed since at least the 3rd century BC. A simple concept of taking sheered wool, turning that wool into yarn, dying that yarn, and then interweaving a warp and weft to finally create an area rug.
]]>Rug weaving is a practical artform that has existed since at least the 3rd century BC. A simple concept of taking sheered wool, turning that wool into yarn, dying that yarn, and then interweaving a warp and weft to finally create an area rug. The steps at face-value are indeed simple, however, there is another element that is present that makes hand-knotted rugs special, makes them a real treasure that lasts for generations, an item that brings us comfort and makes us happy when we look upon it -- that element is the creative energy of the human beings who've made these works of masterful art all these many years with only a loom, skilled hands, an eye for precision, and a sharp cutting tool.
When you look at modern rugs, those made by machines and synthetic plastic fibers, sure, some of them are beautiful as well, but there's something very obviously different about them -- they don't invoke the same feeling of awe, they don't transport you or make you feel connected to the natural world around us in the way that a genuine, handmade wool rug can.
When I travel overseas to purchase rugs for my store, it is important to me to personally meet with the weavers and those who play a role from the start to the finish of a genuine Oriental rug. In the past 30 years, many Afghan rug weavers have found refuge emigrating to Pakistan, a country that has open trade for rug imports with the United States (compared to on-going embargos between Iran and the United States.)
In Pakistani, the Afghan weavers carried on classic rug-making traditions, like primarily making red rugs, however, stateside, bold red rugs had lessened in favor with shoppers.
Many American and European rug merchants approached the weaving houses in Pakistan and made requests for new color palettes to offer to their customers when they noticed red rugs were no longer selling the way they had in the past.
In partnership, the weavers and the merchants conceived of fresh color-pairings and new productions to appeal to the changing market, originating the Peshawar and Ziegler designs.
During my visit, I met a man who'd left Afghanistan and once settled in Pakistan, he began weaving rugs in his backyard to earn a living, one or two rugs here and there, honing the skill over time. He would go on to meet an American rug merchant who offered to invest by providing higher quality wool and new dyes. The collaboration would prove to be very successful for both the weaver and the merchant, soon growing to have a more sophisticated washing system, yarn-spinning system, and even doing their own sheering, a controlled process that yielded finished rugs with superior quality that very nearly matched the quality of original hand-knotted rugs. They would eventually set up shops where tourists could purchase a piece of hand-made art to take home.
Another weaver I met with, a member of a Pakistani Attock tribe who had no formal education but did possess the will to advance the quality of life for himself and his family, had found enough prosperity through rug weaving to send his daughter to university, making her the first graduate of their tribe. His daughter would go on to receive awards as a doctor from Switzerland and Norway -- an accomplishment that brought the weaver great pride.
Yes, a rug is simple. It is just dyed wool arranged in a pattern. But a simple rug can also be life changing to many for many reasons and in many ways.
Our new rug shipment from Pakistan has arrived -- I invite you to click here to take a look: New rug shipment from Pakistan at Main Street Oriental Rugs
Enjoy and thank you for reading!
]]>If you’re anything like us, you probably love the idea of transforming your living space into a cozy, stylish, and welcoming haven. However, the thought of home decor can often be overwhelming, especially if you’re working with a limited budget or feel like you lack the skills of an interior designer. The good news is that you don’t need to be a pro to create a beautiful home that reflects your personality and style. With these simple home decor ideas, you can unleash your inner designer and transform your living space into a comfortable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing retreat.
1. Before decorating, clean your home
For many people, the desire to revamp their living spaces is often hindered by the daunting task of tackling the dirt and grime that has accumulated over time. If this sounds like you, it’s important to prioritize cleaning as the first step towards achieving your redecorating goals.
“To start cleaning your home, break your space into sections and set a timer to make it more manageable,” says Janet Gomez, founder of Jan’s Spring. “Each day, focus on one section of the home, such as the kitchen or living room, and spend 30 minutes cleaning and decluttering,” she says. “By tackling small sections each day, you can make progress without feeling overwhelmed.”
2. Decluttering is also essential
Clutter is the other common culprit preventing people from redecorating their homes. Start by walking through your home with a box and packing it with items you no longer need. “When you’re done, put this box in a closet,” says Justin Riordan, founder of Spade and Archer. “Do this every year and only allow yourself to keep one box in the closet, donating everything else.”
You can also use baskets to clear the clutter. “Keep a large, beautiful woven basket of some sort near the stairs on each level of your home,” recommends Kelly Egan, owner of Great Oak Haven. “Use them as drop boxes for clutter throughout the week, and every weekend, empty them.”
3. Start with your porch
Now that your home is clean and clutter-free, it’s time to start decorating.
Porches are usually the first part of a house you see, so it’s important that they look polished and blend in with the rest of your home. There are many ways to decorate your porch, including seasonal lighting and comfortable seating. “You can also add planters for a complete look that will boost curb appeal,” suggests Lauren Klender, an interior designer with Lauren Ashley Interiors. “Another option is to switch out your doormat for a lighter color.”
If you’re getting ready for spring, spruce your porch up with flower pots made by local potters. “Stop by your local pottery studio and see what they have available,” advises the team at Moxie Blankets. “If they don’t have anything for sale, ask them to create you a custom piece,” they say. “This is a fun and unique way to make your porch more charming.”
We look forward to sharing with you a new selection of hand-knotted, 100% wool area rugs, hand-picked in Pakistan. The rugs will arrive in a few weeks, for now, enjoy this photo-journey of the wonders of hand-knotted Oriental rugs in Pakistan.
]]>My most recent buying trip took me to the city of Lahore in Pakistan -- the second largest city in the country -- where I hand-selected a beautiful assortment of handmade rugs, from Chobis to Peshawar, Bokharas to Gabbehs, and some new takes on old designs with fresh color palettes.
I visited with the workers who prepare the wool, the weavers who masterfully - and by hand - transform the wool fibers into rugs, and the people who do the final steps of washing and trimming the rugs to make them ready to decorate your homes.
(freshly dyed wool air drying)
A beautiful story about Gabbeh rugs and love.
]]>Watch the trailer here:
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Owner, Mojan Bagha, opened his doors on Main Street 25 years ago. Having worked as a rug merchant on the west coast for more than a decade prior to relocating to be closer to family, Mojan found a charming storefront at the lower end of the historic district and set up shop, there he sold a small but beautiful selection of 100% genuine Persian rugs and Oriental rugs from India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Turkey.
A few years later, Main Street Oriental Rugs would move right up the street to the upper end of historic Ellicott City at 8290 Main Street to the Starr Building, where we've operated since and have served thousands of happy customers!
Running a business isn't without its challenges and, specifically, running a business in historic Ellicott City has brought the added challenges of 3 major floods that required fortitude, community, and support from our loyal customers to overcome. However, we have persevered and we are happy to still be here!
With the help of his small team, including Ms. Leslie who manages our office and website, Mr. Sabino who handles rug cleaning and delivery, Mr. Robert who installs gorgeous stair runners and all of our other helpers, Mr. Bagha looks forward to many more years of offering only the best, high quality rugs and the best rug cleaning and repair services.
Celebrate with us right now and enjoy 25% off any rug 10x13 or larger with code during checkout: 25ANNIVERSARY - click here to browse: 25% Off Wool Rug Sale
Plus, select rugs only $999 or less, click here to browse:
Rugs Under $1,000
This over 100 year old rug underwent a 6 month restoration process, giving this very special rug new life to be enjoyed for, perhaps, another 100 years. Click here to learn about the process.
]]>The rug is known as a Senneh style rug, famous for their superior, strong weaves, and features a Persian Herati design -- this design is often seen in Tabriz-woven rugs.
This piece came to us in need of some repair with an uneven binding, stress points, small tears, and a sizable area of wear in one section.
Even before rug restoration, this rug was a beautiful piece that has stood up to the test of time and still looked great but with expert attention to detail and the skilled hands of our repair team, and 6 months of patience, this rug has been fully restored into a shining piece of functional history and art.
If you are interested in our professional rug repair and rug restoration services,
click here to get in touch with us: Main Street Oriental Rugs Rug Repair
Thank you for reading; until next time!
]]>Oriental rug fringe repairs, before and after!
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If you have a rug in need of repair, don't hesitate to contact us today for a free consultation, click here to get in touch.
Our expert installer, accurately measures, cuts, and secures the runner materials to perfectly fit each stairway. Stair runners not only add color and comfort, but they make your stairs safer, as well, by preventing people and pets from slipping on polished hardwood steps.
Our stair runner installations usually take only one day to complete and we offer a many different stair runner styles and stair rod styles, so you can full customize your stair runner installation project.
If you are interested in our stair runner services, please contact us today for a totally free consultation at 410-313-9090 or info@mainstreetorientalrugs.com
Click here to view stair runner styles | Click here to view stair rod styles
This antique Persian Heriz rug was in need of a major repair. Take a look at the outstanding before and after.
]]>Our skilled repair professionals were able to repair the border by carefully reweaving the area by hand, the final result is flawless.
If you have rugs for repair, click here to contact us today for a free consultation.
Happy Nowruz 2021! Nowruz is the celebration of the Persian New Year, which is celebrated each year around the 20th of March and symbolizes the end of winter and the beginning of Spring.
]]>Nowruz is the celebration of the Persian New Year, which is celebrated each year around the 21st of March and symbolizes the end of winter and the beginning of Spring.
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George Ellicott, a member of Ellicott City's founding family, is returning to his old stomping grounds as Ellicott City's 250th anniversary draws near.
Please social distance and wear a mask 😊
George Ellicott was born in Bucks County Pennsylvania in 1760 to Ellicott City founding father Andrew Ellicott and his wife Elizabeth. George Ellicott married Elizabeth Brooke and together they had 7 children. George moved to Maryland as a teenage and assisted in surveying new roads early in the mill town's development. George Ellicott lived for forty years in a locally quarried granite house built on the east side of the Patapsco River. His home sat on the site of what is now the former Wilkins-Rogers flour mill. In 1972 the structure was flooded during Tropical Storm Agnes. While his brother Jonathan's adjacent home was destroyed, George's home remained enough intact to later be moved across the street in 1983 to where it still stands today in Oella at the corner of Frederick Road and Westchester Avenue. George Ellicott passed away in 1832 in Ellicott City.
Historic reenactor Steve Bilanow will bring George Ellicott back to life for EC250's "History Comes Alive" education promotion. Steve, a resident of Columbia, has been recreating George (the son of Ellicott City's founding father Andrew Ellicott) since 2009. He chose to portray George after volunteering at the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum and participating in the museum's annual Colonial Market Fair.
EC250 anticipates more in town sightings of George, his relatives, and other historic figures relative to Ellicott City's history as the anniversary year approaches!
Find him and snap a photo, then share it on Facebook with #IfoundGeorgeinEC and tag @ec250 to enter to win a piece of history! All photos will be entered into a random drawing to win a beautiful, handmade keepsake bank featuring an original vintage post office box door from Ellicott City's old Main Street Post Office.
"Where's George?" and future "History Comes Alive" appearances are sponsored by Patapsco Heritage Greenway and Ellicott City's Main Street Oriental Rugs business owner Mojan Bagha.
See the before and after of this Kilim rug repair.
]]>This Kilim rug came to us with a sizeable hole in the rug's field and the hole also happened to partially destroy one of the floral motifs that beautifully adorned the rug.
In order to repair this flatweave rug, our expert repairwoman had to carefully create a new foundation and then reweave the area, mimicking the floral design.
See how we install a stair runner on a t-shaped staircase with expert pattern matching technique.
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To begin, our expert installer measures and places padding on each stair and the landing to give added security and comfort before the runner material is put down.
Next, two lengths of runner material were cut and matched exactly to create the needed t-shape. Perfect, isn't it?
And finally, the runner is attached to the stairs with invisible tacks and our work is done! Most of our installations can be completed within a single day, just like this one. If you are interested in a free stair runner installation consultation, contact us today at 410-313-9090 or click here for more details.
See the before and after transformation of this vintage geometric rug.
]]>In some cases, a full restoration is the best route when repairing a rug, but other times, a simpler solution is ideal. So we added a brand new binding on all four sides for a neater look and gave this piece a Super Wash and now it's ready to find a new home!
This rug is available for purchase for only $299! -- if you'd like to make it yours, click here: 4'1" x 6'1" Pakistani Bokhara
See our helpful rug tip featured in Redfin's "13 DIY Home Decor Projects You Can Complete in a Weekend" blog post.
]]>Since we have been spending more time in our homes lately, now may be the perfect time to declutter, reorganize, or revamp your space. Though these tasks can seem overwhelming if you think about them in the context of your entire home, instead, set some specific and achievable goals that will help refresh your home and give you a sense of renewal. Simple things like organizing your pantry, decorating your home, or framing some art can have a surprisingly big effect on how you feel in your space. Check out 13 DIY home decor projects you could attempt this weekend.
1. Get new curtains
Curtains can add texture, color, and vibrance to a room. Whether you are looking for a neutral color to balance out the rest of your room or want to use color to make your windows the focal point, curtains are a great way to do so. Readymade curtains are ideal if you have a smaller budget; just make sure to measure the windows first and be sure they won’t be too difficult to put up.
2. Refresh your bedside table
A well-styled nightstand can set the tone for your bedroom, but it can also be a practical addition for sleep. Assess your needs. Maybe it should include things like an eye mask, water bottle, and a book. Keep the essentials close and remove anything you don’t need. Keeping your bedside table neat and adding small decorations, such as a plant or candle can give your room a fresh new look.
3. Replace your pillow covers
You will be amazed at the impact new pillow covers can have on a space. Pillows are an easy, fast, and cheap DIY home decor project that can spruce up your home in no time. You can add pops of color, texture, and contrast on a small budget that leaves a big impact. They don’t need to be matching — contrasting colors and patterns often look great together. If you’re looking for more calm and clarity, go for more subdued tones like pastels and neutrals. If vibrancy is what you’re after, choose bright patterns. New decorative pillow covers can bring a pop of color or be a great start to changing your interior design. If the pillows themselves are getting a bit lumpy or old, it might be time to replace those too.
Try this:
“Revamp your surroundings with an accent pillow that speaks to you. Filter out the noise and the trends, and instead find a color, or texture, or a print on a pillow that resonates with you. By doing so, you’ll feel revitalized every time you step into that space. When searching for pillows to personalize your space, invest in pillows that have removable covers that can be laundered in the washer. More than ever, our home is a reflection of who we are. ” – Poetic Pillow
June 24th 2020: To continue with health and safety best practices, we are open for in-store rug shopping by appointment or you can securely purchase online and choose curbside pick-up or free shipping.
Rug cleaning/repair drop-offs can be done any time, Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 6:00 pm.
UPDATE:
As of March 18th, we are open for area rug cleaning and/or repair drop offs, Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5:30 pm.
click here for more details
We are still offering discounts on online rug purchases with free U.S. shipping OR free same-day curbside pick-up, when you place your order before 3 pm.
UPDATE:
As of March 23rd, we will be closed until further notice in accordance with Maryland State Law.
All of us here at Main Street Oriental Rugs are hoping that all is well with you and your loved ones. We wanted to reach out to let our customers know that we are taking COVID-19 seriously and we are taking all necessary steps to protect the health and safety of our customers and ourselves.
We will be operating at limited hours to receive area rug drop-offs -- we ask that you kindly give us a call ahead, if you are planning to drop off your rugs for cleaning, to confirm that a staff member will be in the store to receive you.
You can get in touch with me directly through call/text
at 301-437-0099 or mainstreetrugs@gmail.com
Area Rug Cleaning
For your health and safety, we are suggesting our Disinfectant Wash at this time for your rugs. Our Disinfectant Wash takes your rugs through 4 states of decontamination:
Supporting Small Business
As always, we thank you for your continued patronage and loyalty over the years. If you are not keen on shopping online or if you'd just like to offer support during this crisis, you can purchase e-gift cards for yourself, friends or family here.
We're honored to have been awarded Best of Houzz 2020 in Customer Service for the 4th year in a row!
]]>Main Street Oriental Rugs of Ellicott City, MD
Awarded Best Of Houzz 2020
The Annual People’s Choice Award from the Houzz Community Highlights Home Remodeling and Design Professionals with Most Popular Designs and Top Ratings
Ellicott City, USA, February 19th 2020 – Main Street Oriental Rugs of Ellicott City, MD has won a “Best Of Houzz” award for Customer Service on Houzz®, the leading platform for home renovation and design. Main Street Oriental Rugs was chosen by the millions of homeowners that comprise the Houzz community from among more than 2.5 million active home building, remodeling and design industry professionals.
The Best Of Houzz badge is awarded annually, in three categories: Design, Customer Service and Photography. Design awards honor professionals whose work was the most popular among the Houzz community. Customer Service honors are based on several factors, including a pro's overall rating on Houzz and client reviews submitted in 2019. Architecture and interior design photographers whose images were most popular are recognized with the Photography award.
A “Best Of Houzz 2020” badge will appear on winners’ profiles as a sign of their commitment to excellence. These badges help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area on Houzz.
“The philosophy that guides us keeps our customers coming back!”
“This year’s Best Of Houzz awards go to an incredibly talented and service-oriented group of home remodeling and design professionals, and we’re proud to highlight the winners on the Houzz website and app,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of Industry Marketing for Houzz. “This award is particularly meaningful as it reflects the sentiment of the millions of homeowners in the Houzz community who are hiring home professionals for their projects across the U.S. and around the world.”
Follow Main Street Oriental Rugs on Houzz:
https://www.houzz.com/pro/mainstreetrugs
About Main Street Oriental Rugs
Since opening our doors in Ellicott City, Maryland over two decades ago, Main Street Oriental Rugs has earned a reputation for offering a grand selection of authentic, hand-crafted rugs that add just the right touch to your home decor and design projects. We also offer award-winning, specialized area rug cleaning and repair. We are committed to providing excellent value and knowledgeable service.
About Houzz
Houzz is the leading platform for home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish – online or from a mobile device. From decorating a small room to building a custom home and everything in between, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community empowered by technology, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif., Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. Houzz is a registered trademark of Houzz Inc. worldwide. For more information, visit houzz.com.
]]>A complete area rug makeover for a historic apartment in Baltimore, Maryland, that needed a renewed color palette to appeal to the owner's updated style and beloved piece of abstract art; a gorgeous before and after transformation.
]]>Also, the new rugs needed to have color palettes that would brighten the semi-open floorplan and add a lightness to each space.
With the vast array of rug options available, Mrs. Tate opted to engage our in-home design service to minimize some of the overwhelm that can come with shopping for new, quality area rugs; Main Street Oriental Rug's in-home design service takes all of the work out of rug shopping for our customers, allowing them to simply provide us with some notes on the desired outcome and then we do the rest! Including room measuring to determine the right size of rug(s) needed, finding specific designs and colors to perfectly enhance and coordinate with the customers existing decor, and finally, professional placement of the rug(s) with padding.
We began with visiting Mrs. Tate's home for measurements and photos.
Next, with the help of photo-editing software, we created mock-ups of each room with different rug options. The mock-ups are a great way to get an idea of how a rug will look in the space and helps us narrow down the choices.
With Mrs. Tate's feedback and only a few visits, we happily settled on a vintage, geometric gallery hall runner.
A semi-antique genuine Persian Tabriz for the dining room with an overdyed finish for a fresher look and feel.
A fine Peshawar for the sitting room with soft accents of green to match the upholstered seating.
And lastly, a peaceful soft blue, fine Mahal rug for the piano room, where Mrs. Tate spends some of her time playing classical music on her grand piano.
After final placement, Mr. & Mrs. Tate's apartment is full of light and now has a complete, cohesive flow of harmonious colors throughout; all of us here at Main Street Oriental Rugs are happy with the finished project and, most importantly, our customers are pleased!
Continue reading for a short chat between Mrs. Tate and myself about her classical sense of style, her experience shopping with Main Street Oriental Rugs, and how her travels abroad have influenced her affinity for vintage and handmade decor.
Main Street Oriental Rugs: Mrs. Tate, the first thing I noticed in your well-appointed apartment is your beautiful grand piano, which perfectly fits with your classically-styled home decor; Oriental rugs are a quintessential element of most classic design. So, my first question is, where did your appreciation for handmade Oriental Rugs originate And what brought you to Main Street Oriental Rugs?
Lisa Tate: I was introduced to a classically-styled home décor via my Mother In Law. She had exposure to classically-styled décor as a young wife through her business travels with her husband. While the men were networking and learning how to run a business, the wives attended lectures that focused on the arts and literature. This was right after WWII, and the young couples at this time had opportunities for growth and exposure that were not available during the war years or the Depression years prior to the war. This was also PRIME TIME for Mid Century Modern. She hated it. Previous generations had brown furniture and Oriental rugs. Then, as now, the younger generation didn't want the old stuff. But she did. So, based on what she was learning in her 'wife classes', she hung out in Good Wills and other vintage furniture shops and got started. She had a wonderful eye and, with time and travel exposure, developed a look that was hers.
My own mother had a wonderful eye. I grew up in a lovely home. My mother's style was more Early American, which was also popular in the 50's and 60's. So between these two women, I learned how to put a home together.
MSOR: When we began this project, you expressed that the rugs we were looking for would have to work with and complement an abstract painting that hangs above your mantel. Can you tell us more about the painting and how it inspired the 'feel' you wanted to achieve with your apartment's design and color palette?
LT: My first Oriental rug was a Chinese rug from the '80's. Not sure you saw it. It's in the Master Bedroom. The color is celadon green. I fell in love with that color. It just made me happy. My son's friend painted the painting above the mantle. He did a series of those paintings. About 12, I think. That painting called out to me because of the colors. Again . . . that green.
Our building imitates French apartment buildings in Paris, a place I've visited and I fell madly in love with all of it. When we were fortunate enough to purchase our apartment, I wanted it to be light and airy and fresh. The painting anchors the apartment. It's a little bit of Gertrude Stein or Cohn Sisters splash (Baltimore ladies) in a rather formal, traditional setting. But. The color theme isn't traditional. That's my personal stamp.
MSOR: Your apartment displays many interesting pieces of vintage/antique decor and furniture -- I believe you'd mentioned some of which had been acquired during your travels abroad.
LT: Some of our pieces are inherited. Some are consignment shop purchases reupholstered. Some are Lazy Boy. Some odds and ends were raided from my husband's parent's basement or my parent's former home. Some stuff I found on Ebay. Its a mish mosh. But, through my Mother-in-Law's eye, I learned how to put everything together.
MSOR: How have your travels influenced your style? What draws you to vintage, handmade furniture/decor/rugs?
LT: My travels have influenced my appreciation of beauty and old. European cities are old. The statues, architecture and furnishings are old and elegant. It's a look that lasts. I never get tired of it. Decorative styles come and go. But Classical everything is always beautiful and pleases the eye. Vintage/handmade furniture/décor/rugs are personal. Someone made them. A craftsman, trained in a particular art, has applied their training and talent into making something beautiful. It's personal and has it's own voice. Like music. I enjoy being surrounded by all these beautiful things. They sing to me and make me happy. Silly, maybe, but there it is.
MSOR: You mentioned that you'd decided to downsize by selling your family home in Towson and moved to a lovely, single-level, historically preserved apartment in Downtown Baltimore. What challenges did you encounter when you chose to downsize, if any? And do you have any tips to pass on to others who're planning a similar sort of transition?
LT: Oh, goodness. My husband and I are Baby Boomers reared in the suburbs. City Living, no garage, no yard, no porch, multi-family building presented endless challenges and opportunities. We moved to the cultural heart of Baltimore. Lots of theatre, music and art. It's a vibrant multi-cultural community that provides endless opportunities to meet interesting people with an entirely different background than ours. We're making wonderful friends and enjoying our new lifestyle. We have been sailors for years, and we keep our boat at a marina in the harbor. We have met a whole new set of friends who sold a house and live on their boat! My advice is, "DO IT". It's a fresh start that can be quite exciting.
MSOR: Shopping for new area rugs can be overwhelming because of the big, wide array of options that are available, which is why we offer in-home design service to take away some of the stress of trying to find the right rugs among the all of stacks. With our design service, we're also able to find specific sizes, colors, and designs for our customers, if we don't happen to have the rugs in our inventory. How would you describe your experience with our in-home design service?
LT: It was wonderful. I needed a number of rugs and they all had to blend from room to room. My eye's not that good. Your in-home design service took the panic out of the experience. The ability to photo shop a considered carpet into a room with existing furnishings was enormously helpful. Within a short period of time we were able to find the rugs that worked. What I thought would be difficult quickly became a fun adventure.
MSOR: Lastly, during one of my visits, I arrived to the sound of you masterfully playing your piano as I approached your door. What is your favorite piece to play?
LT: Generally the piece I'm learning. The piano repertoire contains an embarrassment of riches. The easier question to answer is who is my favorite piano composer. At the moment I would say Mozart and Schumann. I was practicing a Mozart/Violin Sonata during one of your visits. ◆
If you, reader, are interested in our in-home design service, click here to get in touch with us:
Contact Main Street Oriental Rugs
We're often asked if Portuguese area rugs can be repaired and the answer is absolutely, however, due to the scarcity of Portuguese area rugs stateside - most are purchased in their native country - few know the proper techniques that need to be utilized to ensure a perfect repair; our expert repair team has many years of experience and extensive knowledge of the care that is required to repair needle point area rugs to look like-new!
Portugal began creating area rugs pre-WWII, but always in small quantities. Their unique needle point designs attract tourists of Portugal and interior designers who export the rugs to the U.S. from small boutiques and vendors. Due to the rugs being less common in the U.S., there are not many rug repair professionals who have the knowledge to repair them properly.
Below, see two examples of Portuguese area rug repairs completed by Main Street Oriental Rugs.
This 9' x 12' Portuguese rug was brought to us with a large tear in the field and some of the fringe had detached in places around the perimeter. We were able to mend these issues, and as with all of our repair work, the rug was thoroughly cleaned, as well.
This smaller, badly damaged, Portuguese needle point area rug was shipped to us by a customer based in Tennessee. This piece needed significant work, including new fringe around the perimeter and a repair of a large tear in the field. After all of the work was finished, we were able to ship the beautifully repaired Portuguese rug back to our happy customer!
If you are interested in having your Portuguese or needle point area rugs repaired, please contact us today for a free cost estimate by emailing or calling:
Rugs aren't only meant to be walked on, you can hang a rug on a wall to display it's beautiful design just like you would hang a painting. In this post, we tell you 3 easy ways to hang a rug on your wall for a stunning finished look.
]]>The simplest way to hang a rug is to have a professional add a sleeve to the back of your rug. This is done by carefully stitching a length of fabric to the underside of the rug, generally wool or cotton canvas is used for this purpose, creating a sleeve that you can slide a metal or wooden rod through. The stitches can not be seen from the front of the rug, giving you a seamless finished look.
When hanging your rug, you can add extra visual interest by choosing a decorative finial and brushed metal rod. We recommend this J. Thomas Legacy Adjustable Rod with finial:
Rug clips are a relatively quick and easy way to hang a rug and you can do it yourself! There are different types of clips to choose from, some hang from a hook, as seen in the image below, and some can be hung on a display stand or mounted bar.
We recommend these sleek matte black clips:
For small or light weight rugs, a quilt hanger is a great option. Simply attach the quilt hanger to your wall and secure the edge of your rug between the two matching pieces.
Whichever option you choose, your room will look absolutely stunning with an Oriental rug on the wall!
Until next time, thank you for reading!
]]>Deals end on December 31st 2019 at 11:59 pm EST -- don't miss them!
A free gift certificate for 1-year of our expert area rug cleaning services will be included with any 6' x 9' rug or larger purchased at tag prices in our store -- mention this deal to redeem. |
Safavieh "Blitz" Pillow - Red | Safavieh "Blitz" Pillow - Blue |
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Safavieh "Merry Merry" Pillow | Safavieh "Cinnamon" Pillow |
View some of the excellent rug options you will be able to bid on, starting October 30th through November 6th 2019, including a very rare Persian Isfahan Seirafian.
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Customers, Emily and Willie, contacted us when they'd acquired an heirloom Oriental rug from Willie's grandmother's estate. The rug, an antique Persian Sarouk design, was much too large for their home but an important part of their family memories that they hoped to preserve in some way. Read on to see how we remedied this problem.
]]>The antique Persian rug had sustained significant damage to its pile and fringe from many years of use in a high-traffic area of the family home.
With the help of image editing software, we were able to present our customers with a few options that would cut the rug down into two or four smaller rugs, avoiding the damaged areas.
It was decided that we would create two area rugs, but with the added challenge of retaining as much of the rugs original border as possible to fully frame the larger of the two rugs. The rug owners opted for machine-binding to complete the customization and they were absolutely thrilled with the finished rugs.
If you have a too-large rug that you would like sized-down to fit your specific needs, click here to contact us today.
Until next time, thank you for reading!
]]>Don't miss this year's 33rd Historic Ellicott City Decorators show house: Belle Vue at The Chase and see our hand-knotted rugs featured in two gorgeous spaces. Plus, learn about the exclusive "Design at Dusk" events.
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See our hand-knotted area rugs featured in two spaces at this year's showhouse in rooms beautifully and expertly designed by Rhonald Angelo of Rhonald Angelo Interiors and Carol Weil of The Decorating Therapist.
The proceeds each year support preservation and restoration of historic properties throughout Howard County, Maryland. For over 33 years, Historic Ellicott City’s Show House Committee has worked tirelessly along with the region's property owners and local designers to create an event for the entire community to enjoy! Click here for more info & tickets
Also, don't miss the exclusive "Design at Dusk" Private Tours at this year's showhouse on October 2nd, 9th, and 18th, where you will enjoy a special experience that includes a private tour, light refreshments, and educational presentations from the designers. Designer, Rhonald Angelo, will be holding a talk on October 9th at 7 p.m. discussing "How To Live With Antiques in the 21st Century". The private tours are limited to 20 spots per evening, so don't wait to get your tickets!
Click here for more info about "Design at Dusk" & Tickets
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View some of the AMAZING rug options you will be able to bid on, starting September 25th through October 2nd 2019.
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A customer of ours purchased a transitional 8x10 rug for his apartment, but when he relocated to a new home, he found the 8x10 size to be too large, so he contacted us and we were able to flawlessly cut the rug down to a perfect size with a clean, finished edge.
To do this, we work with our customer to determine the best places to make cuts on the rug, keeping the integrity of the rug's design and construction in mind.
Next, the cuts are carefully made and then a new binding is added on each side for a polished look (fringe can be added, as well).
So, be sure to think twice before getting rid of a too-large rug because resizing is an option!
If you are interested in this service, click here to contact us.
Until next time, thank you for reading!
]]>In the photo, I was only about 12 or 13 and standing beside me is my younger brother, Merat, both of us happy to be a part of our very first Oriental rug purchase with our family; we chose an authentic Turkmen rug with an elephant foot motif.
Looking back, decades later, I'd never thought one day that I would have a shop selling these pieces of art in Historic Ellicott City. I am reminded of wonderful memories from the past and I am always looking forward to the new memories I am creating today with family and friends.
Thanking my family, my loyal customers, and you for reading.
Until next time,
Mojan
In the area rug industry, we've seen a growing trend of consumers opting to forgo the quality of a handmade wool rug in favor of machine made plastic area rugs, and sure, that gets you a rug that looks similar to the real thing for a fraction of the cost, but the relatively small savings isn't truly worth it in the long run for three very important reasons that not only affect the buyer but all of us.
Reason #1: Disposable Consumption
Most low quality area rugs are constructed poorly, usually in a hurried manner by workers trying to churn out as many of the same rug as possible to meet quotas and demand or made by machines using inexpensive materials. Because of poor construction and sub-optimal fibers, low quality rugs typically don't last longer than 5 years max before their pile has worn and they no longer look like something you'd want to display in your home. Thus, a cycle begins of buying a rug, keeping it for a few years, and then having no choice but to throw it away and buy a new one. Comparatively, a handmade wool area rug can last up to 100+ years with proper care and still look beautiful generations later.
This Antique Russian Kazak rug is over 100 years old,
hand-knotted in the 1800s with 100% natural wool.
Reason #2: Use of Plastics
When you shop for an area rug, you'll notice that some are made of natural wool, cotton, or silk, but more and more area rugs are being made out of plastics, like polypropylene. Polypropylene, sometimes referred to as olefin or acrylic, is a plastic that is derived from petroleum and is very rarely recycled, rather ending up in our landfills and taking over 90 years to decompose. With our knowledge of the impact that non-recycled plastics have on our environment, it is advisable to opt for natural, sustainable fibers when shopping for area rugs.
If you have wool allergies or avoid wool for any other reason, cotton and silk rugs are alternative, renewable fibers.
Reason #3: Harmful Chemicals:
Low quality area rugs require a high level of processing to achieve a look that mimics genuine handmade area rugs, typically chemical washes and treatments like fire retardants and insect repellents, in addition to synthetic dyes that are sometimes toxic. Handmade rugs are created without the use of any unnatural or harmful chemicals and most feature organic dyes.
Purchasing a genuine, handmade, wool rug will generally cost more initially, but overtime, you not only save money by eliminating any need to buy a replacement due to poor quality, but you're also making a smarter choice that benefits you, your family and the planet.
At Main Street Oriental Rugs, we pride ourselves on carrying only 100% natural wool area rugs in our showroom and we have area rugs for all budgets available for shoppers who want quality without compromise.
4' x 5'6" Vintage Bokhara Wool Rug
only $299
6'3" x 9' Indian Soumak Wool Rug
only $499
4' x 5'5" Antique Kuba Perepedil Kazak Rug
sale price $2,900
8' x 10'3" Fine Indo-Persian Tabriz Rug
sale price $3450
Until next time, thank you for reading!
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