Rugs From Iran (Part 3)

The ancient trade routes, which connect the east with the west were developed and influenced through the centuries by notable people such as Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Marco Polo, and Richard the Lion Hearted. These trade routes came to be known as the Silk Road. The desire for silk among the wealthy class during Roman times lead to the development of these roads on which traveled caravans from China to Europe. As all of these early east-west roads passed through the so called wool belt, where hand-knotted rugs were woven, it is only natural that Oriental Rugs became popular trade items.

During the time the crusades trade was expanded to western Europe where fueled by the intrigue of the mystical east the desire for such luxury items rapidly grew with the emerging of wealthy classes. As the demand for the goods increased, the size and frequency of the caravans increased. Realizing this as a viable source of income the kings, sultans, shahs and khans imposed tariffs and tolls on these caravans as they crossed their borders. These caravans also faced the dangers of having to deal with robbers, pirates, thieves, disease, the shortage of food and water as well as other road hazards.

In time Ocean travel became more economical and efficient and replaced the long distant caravans of ancient times and today the so called Silk Road is just a fading memory.

sourced from 'The Mystique of Oriental Rugs' by O.R.R.A

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Handknotted Silk Rug Cleaning

Sometimes rug owners take cleaning duties into their own hands, with varied results. A new customer of ours recently got a stain on their Handknotted Silk Rug and tried to clean the are himself. Not only did the stain not come out but the washed area started creating a color variation that worried him the instant he saw it. He was so upset at possibly having damaged this expensive piece of art. From one end of the rug it looked like a dark blotch on a light rug and from the other end looked like a bleached out part on a darker rug. We calmed him down and let him know that we would put the rug through our deep cleaning process so as to restore the rugs colors. Take a look at the before pics below:

We thoroughly dusted the rug to remove any loose debris before it was completely wet washed. We use special cleansers depending on the type of rug we are washing, and silk rugs require special attention as well as cleansers that won't damage the fibers of such a nice rug. After the rug bath we naturally dried the rug flat under the sun. The results speak for themselves; take a look below:

The rug is beautiful once again and put some welcome relief on to our customers face after he saw how well our deep cleaning process works. If you accidentally made a mistake cleaning your rug or have a stain that you need taken care of, call or stop in at Rug Ideas so we can show you the best way to care for your treasured rugs!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

50% OFF All Machine Made Runners!

Right now at Rug Ideas we have ALL of our machine made runners priced 50% OFF!

There are many areas in the house that the regular carpet or rug  does not fully cover. Yet these areas too need the protection of a good rug. This is where rug runners come in. Rug runners are pretty much like rugs, the only difference being that rug runners are longer in length than they are in width. This makes them ideal for areas such as hallways, stairs and entrances that are often left bare. Placing them in traffic prone areas of the floor protects your floor from wear and tear, owing to the high traffic the area receives. And right now you can pick one up for 50% OFF!

The red and green runners in the above pics normally run $120; but right now with our 50% OFF sale, they are only $60/each. If you are looking to put a beautiful runner in your home, come to our gallery so we can show you the many colors and styles we have to offer!

There are many advantages of buying rug runners. The first and obvious one is that they enhance the look of a house. That you can use them in addition to your regular carpet or rug means your house looks more colorful and warm. Another great thing with rug runners is that you can move them to different parts of a house. They are not confined to one area as is the case with carpets. They are great for keeping the feet warm and providing comfort when walking. They are available in a wide variety of colors, textures and designs. You can buy several of them and keep interchanging them for a different look after a while. It’s a great way of improving the way your house looks.

We also have a selection of runners made from art silk (white runner and gold/red runner above), which have an extremely soft pile, feels great when walked on and has a sheen that looks very classy. These runners normally run $195 but with our 50% OFF sale they are only $97/each. Take advantage of our deep discounts to liven up your home today, at Rug Ideas!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Top 10 Tips for Decorating With Rugs

For a room that needs excitement, adding a rug might be the perfect answer. While that alone is a good enough reason to decorate with a rug, there are others. You might say it completes a room by tying all the different pieces together visually. It can anchor it, define it, while also adding warmth and helping to layer a room's design. How can you best use a rug? There are many different ways, but we will start with ten of them:

Use a rug to define or separate areas, such as seating or dining areas, and foyers.
If you use more than one rug in a room, make sure they are not the same size. Same sized rugs can cut your room in half visually.

When using more than one rug, it's better when the rugs complement each other in style. If not, you could end up with a jarring or unpleasant effect. Too many "warring" patterns in a room will do away with any sense of harmony.

Use a favorite rug as the basis of the color scheme in a room. On the other hand, if you add it after you have your furniture in place, you can use the rug to accent or tie in your existing colors.

Use a rug to visually quieten a room or turn up the volume as needed. If your upholstery or wallpaper have an ornate pattern, choose a rug that is more subtle. When walls and upholstery are fairly subdued, you can try a busier pattern to add more interest to the room.

Use a rug as the focal point of your room,  as rugs can make a huge impact. To do that you can create contrast by painting your walls a hue that echoes one of your rug's accent colors.

Use a rug as a wall hanging for another way to create a focal point.

Don't assume that a rug has to be a rectangle. Let the way you group your furniture dictate the shape of your rug. Try figuring out what shape would look best, and then go with a square, round or oval shape if that seems like the better option than a rectangular one.

When you buy a room size rug, subtract 3 feet from the length and width of the room. Leaving the floor bare at the edges makes it look a little larger. Also, when laying a rug under your dining table, leave at least 24" of rug from the edge of the table out on all sides. This enables the back legs of the chairs to stay on the rug, even when pulled out to let someone sit.

Runners should be 4 inches narrower than your hallway and 18 to 24 inches shorter. Make sure they are wide enough to accommodate both feet on the rug when you walk.

Bonus Tip:
Always use a rug pad to keep your rug from slipping or creeping. The rug liner should be appropriate for your floor type.

sourced from About.com: article by Abe Abbas


Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Rugs From Iran (Part II)

Because labor and production costs have risen rapidly in Iran and the amount of weaving has declined, rugs from that country may be more costly than those of comparable quality from other rug producing areas. The political situation has also contributed to making Iranian rugs more difficult to obtain.

In October, 1987, the United States imposed trade sanctions against Iran, making import of Persian rugs into  this country illegal. In March of 2000 the embargo was lifted, only to be reimposed by Obama in Sept 2010.   This makes the Persian rugs in circulation here in the States more valuable as we cannot import any into the country. Despite the many problems besetting the country, Persian rugs continue to be much sought after and  prized.

Come down to our showroom at Rug Ideas and we can show you our large selection of great rugs from Iran. From smaller 3 x 5 prayer rugs to large Palacial rugs, we have what you need when it comes to fine Persian rugs.

sourced from 'The Mystique of Oriental Rugs' by O.R.R.A

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Wall to Wall Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Too!

We want to remind our customers and new folks reading this blog that along with selling/cleaning/repairing Oriental and Persian rugs, we have technicians that do residential and commercial wall to wall carpet cleaning as well (upholstery too!).

Specifically for wall to wall carpets and upholstery our experts have been trained, through use of a fast drying odor free process, to remove surface spots and deep down soil without shrinkage or use of harsh chemicals.

In addition to fast efficient service, we give the highest quality professional care for all surfaces. Carpets and Fabrics come out looking fresh and bright as new - even those you thought needed to be replaced or reupholstered. If you need wall to wall carpet/upholstery cleaning give us a call at Rug Ideas, where we can help you with all your rug/carpet/upholstery cleaning needs!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)

Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)

www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com

www.RugIdea.com

Tel. 310-770-9085

Rugs From Iran (Part I)

For many people, the terms "Oriental Rug" and "Persian Rug" are mistakenly synonymous. The Persian Empire was where rug making reached its zenith during the sixteenth century, and many of the traditional patterns and weaving techniques are still being practiced in Iran. In addition, there are other types of rug weaving in Iran which range with simple pieces produced by nomadic people to sophisticated rugs produced in workshops which have preserved the historic Persian art.

The Persian Empire once extended from China in the East to Hungary in the West. Today only the rugs woven in Iran are referred to as Persian. Iranian rugs are usually named after the town where they are produced, and a few examples are Kerman, Sarouk, Tabriz and Heriz. Each area has its traditional patterns and typical palette of colors. The design in Iranian rugs reflects the Persian passion for detail and displays an intricate interplay between geometric and floral patterns.

Come into Rug Ideas so we can show you our large selection of handmade rugs from Iran... great pieces of artwork that can used in your home.

sourced from 'The Mystique Of Oriental Rugs'

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Handknotted Rug - Cleaning and Repair

We went to a client's house recently who had 11 rugs that had been stored in their garage but had not been inspected in about 5 years. To their surprise almost all of the stored rugs had some form of moth infestation. After being initially horrified by the infestation, they wanted to proceed with cleaning and restoration to help save what rugs we could. One was a beautiful red handknotted rug that had always been in their household but now looked in dire need of attention. Moth casing could be seen all over the rug and the ends were unraveling a lot, eating into the design of the rug. Take a look below:

The first thing we did to start the process was give it a deep cleaning. This would ensure that all the moth larvae would be eliminated and would also make sure the rug was sanitized and deodorized. After the cleaning and drying was complete we had one of our master weavers give attention to the ends of the rug so as to stop the unraveling. It was all done by hand and in no time we had the rug's ends secured. This will help greatly in making sure the rug didn't lose its structure and is much more aesthetically pleasing as well. Take a look at the results below:

This handknotted rug now looks great, is totally clean, rid of moth and larvae, and has it's structure saved by having the securing of the ends done. We recommend that everyone who has their rugs in storage or in a garage as it is now moth season. Make sure no moth or moth casings are there, and if there is, bring it to Rug Ideas right away so we can help you with any cleaning and/or repairs it may need. We've seen some unfortunate incidents where the customers' rugs were beyond saving and could not be fixed. So a little preventive measure like scheduled inspections could save those pieces of art that mean so much to you!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

50% OFF All Machine Made Rugs!

We have a great selection of rugs to choose from at Rug Ideas; and right now all our machine made rugs are 50% OFF! Today we are taking a look at some 4 x 6 machine made rugs that originally run for $175. At 50% OFF these rugs are now only $88! They are great to use anywhere in your home where a touch of style is needed.

We have a wide variety of colors and styles, from classic to contemporary. Come on into our showroom so we can help you pick the rug that will best suite your taste and home decor. 

If budget is a concern, come into Rug Ideas now to take advantage of our 50% SALE on all our machine made rugs... you'll be happy you did!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

How Cleaning Your Rug Helps You & The Environment

How Does Cleaning Your Rug Help You & The Environment?

By avoiding premature replacement costs and disposal in landfills!
Proper cleaning helps protect your carpet investment and safeguards you from having to replace it before its time...great news because it also keeps carpet out of the local dump.

Maintaining your carpet protects your pocketbook; just keep in mind that spending money to keep your carpet in top shape is a small amount to pay when compared to the cost of replacing it. And keeping post-consumer carpet out of landfills is an environmental goal benefiting us all. With more than 300 million Americans, and that number keeps growing, household waste is an environmental concern. Most school children today have learned the new "three R's", which stand for reduce, reuse and recycle. If spending a little extra effort and, yes, money, on your rug helps meet this environmental goal, you may agree it's worth it.

sourced from 'Carpet Cleaning Tips for Dummies'  by Elizabeth B. Goldsmith

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Oriental Rug Patterns (Part 2)

Three of the most widely seen classic design elements are the gul, an octagonal geometric shape; the boteh, which resembles a paisley and has been described as a pear, leaf or pine cone; and the Herati, which consists of a rosette inside a diamond which is flanked by four curled leaves that resemble a stylized fish.

Perhaps the symbols on Chinese rugs are most graphic in their relationships to the world around us. Often a message can be read in the symbols on a Chinese rug once their meaning has been fathomed.

sourced from 'The Mystique of Oriental Rugs' by O.R.R.A

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Shag Rug - Cleaning and Repair Work

A new customer brought in his shag rug that he keeps in his home recording studio as it needed some Rug Ideas attention. Firstly, the shag was very dirty and had not been cleaned in 7 years. It had accumulated lots of stains and was worse for wear. The bottom segment of the rug had become torn and it really took away from the aesthetic. Take a look below:

The shag first went through our deep cleaning process, which involves dusting, complete wet washing and natural drying in the sun. This did wonders on all those stains! We then had one of our weavers cut above the tear in the shag and bind the whole side by hand. Take a look at the fantastic results below:

This shag looks brand new! Our customer was so ecstatic he is bringing in 2 Persian rugs of his next week for a cleaning. If you need the same Rug Ideas touch, call us or come into our showroom... we're glad to help!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Why You Want Clean Rugs

Have you ever noticed that only a few days after cleaning, you can see dust everywhere, settled on glass tabletops and the like? Dust happens. Household dust carries bacteria, dander, mold spores, germs and pollen. To add to the flurry of grime, your family, friends, pets and even that open window bring in fresh dirt all the time. A lot of it is settling on your rug/s.

Between longer work days, time-consuming commutes, and kids' activities that keep the calendar full, who has time to worry about cleaning your rugs? Today we're spending less time on household tasks, yet we still expect excellent results. Lucky for you, we at Rug Ideas can take care of all of your rug cleaning needs! Cleaning your rugs may seem like more of a chore than dusting a coffee table, but properly cleaning and maintaining your rug makes all the difference in the world. If you have a rug that needs a good deep cleaning, bring it in to Rug Ideas so we can do all the hard work for you!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Indian Rug - Cleaning & Repair

A repeat customer of ours brought in his newly purchased Indian (Heriz Design) rug last week for cleaning. He had put his previous rugs through our deep cleaning process, so he knew that's exactly what he wanted for his Indian rug. While we were inspecting the rug it was immediately noticeable that one side(selvage) had totally come apart. This is bad new for the rug as the structure had now been weakened and damage to the rug could happen at a fast rate. Take a look below:

We first secured the rug on the damaged side so that no further unraveling would happen during the cleaning process. After the rug was completely washed, sanitized, deodorized and dried we proceeded with the repair process. One of our master weavers did the job, sewing the whole side by hand using fresh New Zealand wool. The results came out fantastic and can be seen below:

The structure of the rug is now secure again and the owner was happy once again with our cleaning and repair work. If you have a rug that needs either a good deep cleaning or has some repairs that are needed to keep it in great shape bring it in to Rug Ideas where we are your one stop rug shop for sales, cleaning and repair!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085