Half the appeal of a good vintage piece is the elusive history
behind it.
Many of us love the allure of an
antique rug… from afar. But why? Remember, life is short – USE THE RUG! Well, the
saying doesn’t really go like that but you get my meaning, right? With a little
bit of care and a little bit of attention, we can ‘display’ those gorgeous
antique rugs in plain sight for all to use.
In Architectural Digest, Frances Loom’s KellyVittengl shares tips for keeping vintage rugs clean without the
added wear and tear.
Though Kelly Vittengl is known for her exquisite
antique rug curation, the founder of California-based Frances Loom prefers her pieces to be a little rough around the
edges. “I gravitate towards rugs that are worn almost to the threads. In my
opinion, these have so much more character and a story to tell,” she says. “I
draw inspiration for my collection from everywhere: my friends, art, Instagram, my neighborhood. But as weird
as this sounds, I’m able to pick up on energies in these rugs. Rugs with a rich past speak to me,
and others just don’t.” With history comes age, however, and vintage rugs need
a little more care than most. Learn how this self-proclaimed “rug slinger”
keeps them in pristine condition, so you can enjoy their special beauty for
years to come.
Style for minimal wear
“Even the more worn rugs are sturdier than one might
think. Many of them have already lasted over a hundred years—they’re tougher
than they look,” Vittengl says. “However, the less foot traffic the better. If
you’re really trying to preserve a rug, perhaps find a space where it will get
less wear.” A room where you don’t plan to regularly entertain guests or serve
food and drinks is your best bet.
Treat them like art
Although Vittengl is a huge fan of wear and tear, she
recommends trying out unconventional spots for your rug if you want to maintain
its look long term. “There’s always the option of hanging the rug on the wall
or using it as a headboard in a bedroom. They truly are masterpieces and should
be treated like art.”
Where to Buy Online (yes, that’s right, I said ONLINE)
Purchasing
a vintage or antique rug can be an overwhelming task. The options and considerations are
endless, and, until a few years ago, unless you were personally going to Turkey
or Morocco to handpick your
carpet of choice directly from a bazaar, the selection usually involved hours
spent in a carpet showroom, flipping through heavy piles of dusty options whose
full pattern and scale you could barely discern. Well, as with most things, the
carpet industry has changed with the e-commerce times, and now a handful of
purveyors have made shopping for the rug of your dreams a clickable,
user-friendly experience.
Solo
Rugs
Formerly
a trade-only source, this extensive rug seller opened to consumers last year
through its first e-commerce site. In an effort to make fine floor coverings
more accessible, Solo added dozens of less-expensive rugs to its inventory for
the launch, and now carries both vintage and made-to-order carpets, which range
from $150 to $60,000. solorugs.com
Etsy
While
Etsy is better known for its handmade
offerings, its multitude of sellers also hawk vintage wares, and rugs
are one of the most popular categories, with over 55,000+ options available.
Oriental and Beni Ourain are the most popular styles, but there are plenty of
kilims, rag rugs, and other styles as well. etsy.com
Stark
This
carpet giant’s site breaks down its rugs by region as well as style, showing
the extent of their sourcing and acting as an educational tool for the rug
novice. starkcarpet.com
ABC
Home
This
legendary New York City store, whose two-building complex on Broadway has
become a tourist destination, displays a good portion of its thousand-carpet
inventory on its website. You’ll see everything from silks to Beni Ourains to
flatweaves, but one unique find is ABC’s Color Reform overdyed collection, an
update of worn-out antique carpets that gives them fresh new life. abchome.com
Kilim.com
As
its name suggests, this site specializes in the flat, tapestry-style woven rugs
native to Pakistan and the Balkans. Kilim.com offers new and vintage carpets as
well as patchworks made up of salvaged scraps of antique rugs. kilim.com
Safavieh
A
go-to name in the carpet world, Safavieh has a wide-reaching selection—almost
overwhelmingly so. Its website simplifies the process, though, making it easy
to sort rugs (including a healthy vintage selection) by color, style, shape, or
size. safavieh.com
A few tips for shopping:
1. Color and Pattern: When it comes to Persian and
Turkish rugs, whether you choose to go vintage or new, color and pattern are
key. Bold, elaborate patterns are best with gorgeous rich pops of color; think
orange, pink, deep oxblood red, blue.
2. Texture: Avoid rugs with a high-pile, a.k.a., lots of texture or
shag. A heavily trafficked area is just going to collect dirt. Look for a flat
weave rug (like wool) that can clean easily.
3. Juxtaposition: Offset simpler spaces with one of
these rugs. You’d be amazed at how much life one of these patterned rugs can
give an older style or white-washed room.
4. The Perfect Pattern: Take the time to find the right rug
that complements your design style.
For Example: Dress Up a Hallway
with Turkish Runners
In the second-floor hallway of a California house, designer Betsy Burnham in House Beautiful overlaps Turkish runners,
drawing the eye to a Moroccan-inspired reading nook. The vintage carpets
"can transform a plain hallway into a decorated space," Burnham says.
"A really faded, tattered rug is instantly Bohemian."
And I don't know about you, but I could use a few more beautiful vintage rug images, like...
