Handmade Rugs and Carpets - Buyer's Guide | Hassan's Carpets

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Buyer's Guide
Buyer's Guide

Rugs are works of artistic expression where its design aesthetic and colours not only radiate visual appeal, but also
evoke a sense of depth and perception. That is why, we understand choosing a rug is a personal process. 
A journey that takes time, but definitely worth the wait.


Discover Your Style

 

A rug can be so many things to a room - an elegant echo of a scheme, or a minimalist statement to visually quieten a room. It can pull together the disparate elements of a room, harmonising eclectic furnishings; or it can be a bold contrast that gives a punch of intense colour.

Take the time to think about what patterns, materials and colors will work in your room and with your personal aesthetic. Do you want a statement piece which fills a room with personality, or a more subtle neutral design that gives a more tranquil presence? Do you prefer the sophisticated luxury of a traditional classic, or the avant garde style of contemporary rugs? Once you have made these considerations, you can make a decision with complete confidence.

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Though it is true you should buy what appeals to you, 
it always help to have some knowledge to guide you in your selection. 

Choose a rug as you would a piece of art - look for the artistic value of a carpet.
 
Aspects contributing to this include type of design style, clarity of motif, level of craftsmanship,
quality of materials and overall knot compactness. But above all else, you must love the piece.

 

A well-made hand knotted rug will last as good as forever, so you must be 
happy to have it for a long time and appreciate its beauty in any space.


 

Size & Fitting

Rugs have the magnetic dynamism to transform a space and pull elements together to create a sense of identity, luxury and warmth. 
A room without a rug can look unfinished and empty. But before choosing a rug, you must first understand its purpose.
Do you want it to unify a room or to define a space? The rug dictates the layout of furniture in a space, so the correct size in essential. 


Below are guides that teaches you how to place them in your home for the best layout and appearance.

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LIVING ROOM LAYOUT I

Some furniture styles work perfectly when left off the rug, especially in slightly smaller spaces or if your couch is up against a wall. For visual balance, choose a rug that runs the same length or just slightly longer and wider than your sofa. Usually the rug nestles right up to the sofa, or not too far from the seating (usually about 12cm  in front of the couch).

Recommended Sizes: 5x8 ft and 9x6 ft

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LIVING ROOM LAYOUT 2

Nothing ties a room together quite like a rug to make a room feel complete. In large open-plan living spaces, the rug defines areas to create different zones. The biggest mistake is choosing a rug too small, as it can leave your furniture floating and look lost. It is much better to choose of a generous size to unify all pieces cohesively. In fact, a larger rug tends to make a space feel bigger. In this layout, we recommend leaving at least 20cm of rug from the edge of your rug to your furniture and accent pieces, so that it doesn’t look like your pieces are falling off the rug edge. And if your rug is near a wall, give breathing space between rug and wall, to avoid looking like a wall-to-wall carpet.

Recommended Sizes : 9x12 ft and 10x14 ft

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LIVING ROOM LAYOUT III

This is probably the most popular layouts for most living rooms, where the front legs of sofas and all chairs rest on the rug. The rule here is to have the rug go under each piece about 1/3 of the piece’s width.

Recommended Sizes : 10x8 ft and 9x12 ft

 

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DINING ROOM

In a dining room, the rug should be large enough for the chairs as well as the table. Ideally, a good rule to follow is that the chairs should be on the rug, even when they're pulled out from the table. The minimum that allows for this is 75cm, so that the ideal size is generally at least 1.5m larger than the table in each direction. The same rules apply for round dining tables.

Recommended Sizes : 10x8 ft for a 6-seater, 9x12 ft for a 8-seater and 10x14 ft for a 10-seater

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BEDROOM LAYOUT I

For the bedroom, size of the rug is generally dependant on the size of the bed. But the most preferred way is to place the rug partially under the bed. Ideally, the rug should lay under the bed, framing it but stopping just a few inches (about 20cm) before the edges of your nightstands. We recommend that the rug extends at least 60cm – 1m around all ends of the bed, depending on the size of the room.

Recommended Sizes : 9x6 ft or 10x8 ft (for a Queen bed) and 9x12 ft (for a King bed)

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BEDROOM LAYOUT II

Alternatively, this all-inclusive layout extends beyond the bed to its accompanying furniture, like nightstands or a bench – but does not include bedroom pieces along other walls, like dressers.

Recommended Sizes : 9x12 ft and 10x14 ft

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BEDROOM LAYOUT III

If you don’t want to use a full area rug under the bed, runners are a great alternative to use on either side of the bed. This allows for rug underfoot when one gets out of bed. Similarly, these rugs should sit just a few inches before the nightstand and shouldn't extend beyond the bed itself but should be slightly wider than your nightstand. For smaller spaces, you can also consider a runner or a small rug that runs along the foot of the bed.

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CUSTOM SHAPES

Sometimes the best solution is a custom shape, and we can make almost anything. The best way to do this is usually for us to produce a template that can be sent to our weavers.

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KITCHEN

A well-placed runner can visually extend the space, whether you have a galley kitchen or a large island.

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HALLWAYS

A runner is of course most useful in a hallway but can also be used in open plan spaces to delineate pathways. A bold runner creates the feel of a wider and warmer space. It's best not to clutter these narrow thoroughfares, so leave all furniture legs off the rug in this space.

Buying Antique Carpets

Shop with confidence to get the most for your dollar and make an investment-worthy purchase that will last for generations to come.
The investment value is derived from the combination of both the artistic and antique collector's value of a piece. 

 

Attributes Of A Fine Antique


In terms of age, a rug is considered an antique from 80 years and above.
But age alone does not give a carpet the status and value of an antique. For antique & collector's value,
a carpet must meet a few other specs. The principle point is rarity - unusual motifs, age, condition, dyes
and provenance are important. To make it simpler for you to identify an antique, here are a few indicators.

Time

The carpet should ideally have been woven before carpet weaving went commercial. It should have been made not for the market , but as an expression of the artist's tradition, culture and heritage. Carpets knotted before the fall of the Pahlevi dynasty in 1979 were created with pride, artistic value plus quality. The carpets from before WWII have a certain passion and dignity. While those knotted prior to WWI have an untouched purity no collector will miss.

Material

The carpet must be knotted with the best materials, the most resilient and lustrous wool to ensure durability and richness of colour. Kurk wool, from the neck and belly region of the sheep, is liked for its sheen lustre. Silk represent luxury and wealth.

Dyes

High quality natural dyes are essential as they are fast and mature over time to enhance the beauty of a carpet.

Colour

Look out for depth of colour and harmony of combination and design.

Design

Power in tandem with composure and balance are keynotes of a classic design. While the weavers and designers are kept within local heritage and structure , individuality of a expression gives a carpet its uniqueness.

Origin & Tradition

Carpets are known by the area they come from. The heritage and tradition of a region must find true artistic expression in its carpets.

Condition

The carpet should be well preserved in relation to its age. Any restoration should be done with understanding and skill.

An antique rug can be a great investment, if you know what to look for. 
For a more detailed discussion on the aspects of the woven art, do drop by our gallery anytime for a chat over a cup of tea.

MAINTENANCE GUIDE

Here are a few simple ways to maintain your rug to ensure its beauty for years.


Vacuum Clean Often

We recommend vacuuming regularly to remove any loose dirt and dust. Vacuum in the direction of the pile and do not use a vacuum with a power or rotary brush cleaner head as it risks damaging the yarns and loosening the carpet's knotting foundation structure.

Note that it is quite normal for new rugs to shed abit of fluff, these are excess fibres that were not properly incorporated into the yarn during spinning, and does not affect the general quality of the carpet. It is best to vacuum a carpet often at first until the fluffing ceases. 

Rotate the Rug

Over time, any material left in strong sunlight will fade. Traditionally, the best way to mitigate this effect is to turn a rug from time to time so that at least any fade is even.But to ensure the preservation of the carpet, it is best to avoid laying it in places with direct and continuous daily exposure to sunlight.

Keep the Rug Dry

It is best to keep your carpet in dry well-ventilated areas. Avoid laying it in places with persistent moisture or near potentially leaky areas. Prolonged exposure to dampness and water will rot the underlying  natural fibers of the rug, producing mold or mildew growth.

To ensure the dry health of your rug, we recommend sunning it once or twice a year. Put your carpet face down out in the sun for 15 minutes. This is essential for silk and silk base rugs that are prone to 'dry rot' in highly humid climates, causing a cracking foundation.


Avoid Moth and Insect Damage

Carpet areas that lie underneath furniture must be vacuumed regularly as moth and larvae thrive in dark, undisturbed corners. And if you are storing your rug away, roll and wrap it in cloth together with drying and moth repellent agents.

Remove Stains Immediately

To effectively remove stains, attend to spills immediately. With dry stains, we recommend scraping and then vacuum clean the remaining. Begin from the edge of the stain and scrape towards the centre using a spatula or spoon. Take care not to damage the fibres. For wet stains, remove it by laying kitchen roll/absorbent cloth to blot up the liquids. Then use lukewarm water and a cloth or sponge to mop up the area. Dampen the stain, soak up the water, then repeat the process until the stain is gone then leave the affected area to dry. Do not rub the stain, as that makes it settle deeper into the pile, making it more difficult to remove and also damages the fibres.

For hard-to-remove and resistant stains, professional cleaning is recommended. Contact Hassan's Carpets Carpet Clinic for cleaning services and advice.

Professional Cleaning & Restoration 

We recommend that the rug is cleaned by a professional cleaner every one to three years. When a carpet need repair/restoration it's best to do it at the earliest to avoid further damage. Major repair should only be done by a specialist. Badly executed repairs impair the value of a carpet.

Contact Hassan's Carpets Carpet Clinic at +6567375626 for washing & repairing service.