Color Restoration and Over Dyeing a Faded Rug

Over-Dyeing and Reconstruction of Color

This is one of our latest projects to over dye a faded rug. This carpet was sun and foot traffic faded and the client wanted to restore the rug rather than trashing it and buying a new rug. So we dusted and professionally washed it and then restored the color. 

So if you have a rug you love but is faded or even if you don't like the color and want to see if the color can be changed, give us a call to discuss your project. You can reach us at 310-770-9085.

 This is before picture that shows sever sun and foot traffic fading!

After over-dyeing pictures

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)
Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)
Certified Rug Appraiser (CRA)
www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
15748 Arminta St. Van Nuys, CA 91406 Tel. 310-770-9085

Happy New Year From Rug Ideas!

We at Rug Ideas would like to wish everyone a happy and safe New Years celebration! We have made many new friends this year and plan to make even more for 2013, which is coincidentally our 60th anniversary under our parent company, Sobco International. We strive to always bring you the best customer service as well as the expert repairs/cleaning/appraisals that we are known for.

We want to remind everyone that we are running great sales during the month of January, so stop by our showroom so we can help you find the perfect rug for your home or office. We have an extensive selection of beautiful handmade rugs and runners, as well as stock some machine made pieces as well for people on a budget. 

And if you have a rug that is in need of repair, Rug Ideas is your answer as we have a team of master weavers who handle specific types of rugs which they have expertise in, so you know your repair will come out fantastic. We can take care of securing ends, replacing the selvages(sides), reweaving, as well as custom jobs including new canvas backings(for tufted rugs), leather strips to prevent curling and downsizing of rugs.

And if you have had any holiday parties where your rug/s have been dirtied/soiled, bring them in or call us right away so we can help you with cleaning and stain removal to get them back into shape. Here's wishing you a Happy New Year and a festive Holiday Season...from Rug Ideas!

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

Gabbeh Rugs For Sale!! 25% OFF

Today we are showcasing 2 great Gabbeh rugs that will brighten up anyone's home. They are both Rug Ideas production rugs and utilize hand spun wool and have all natural vegetable dyes. These are "green rugs"!
Take a look below:

The rug above measures 3'7" x 5'4" and has a great price of just $1950. And if you buy it before the year (2012) ends we'll give you an extra 25% OFF! That's a great bargain for a beautiful, high quality Gabbeh from Iran.

Next we bring you another Gabbeh with the same hand spun wool and natural vegetable dyes. Take a look below:

The above rug measures 3'8" x 5'2" and has a price of $1975. Buy this rug before 2012 ends and you will get the same 25% OFF as the last Gabbeh shown! Pick up one or both of these lovely pieces today at Rug Ideas!

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

European Rugs - France

Seventeenth-century French hand-knotted carpets are rare today, but examples from the Savonnerie and Aubusson workshops are much sought. The name Savonnerie is a term that is often applied generically to all hand-knotted carpets of French origin, and indicates pile carpets of extreme luxury. The Savonnerie workshop was founded in 1627 in Chaillot, in a former soap works. From the start, the intention was to produce carpets of superb technical quality, using only the best materials and the finest knotting with a deep, velvet-like pile. Carpets were woven purely for the court or the state, and closely reflected the tastes of the period - heavy, scrolling acanthus leaves and dark grounds during Louis XIV's reign; rococo with twisting leaves and floral swags during the time of Louis XV; and a more restrained style for Louis XVI.

At Aubusson, an early tapestry-weaving center, two completely different types of carpet were woven - pile carpets, similar but inferior to those of the Savonnerie, in weaving and materials; and flat-woven carpets using the tapestry technique, which were quicker, easier and cheaper and were bought by the nobility and better-off merchants. They followed the stylistic evolution of Savonnerie carpets, but had simpler designs. The style of both Savonnerie and Aubusson carpets had an enormous influence on overseas production, so between the end of the 18th century and the mid-19th century, the French carpet became - even in the Orient and especially in Anatolia - the model to imitate.

During the 19th century, a number of needlework schools came into existence in France and the United States, and a great many fine carpets were produced.

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

Deep Professional Cleaning - The Journey Back to Clean

A rug was recently brought into our showroom that had not been cleaned in 3 years and had a lot of foot traffic that had come across it. It had very visible dirt markings that were a very big eyesore. Pictures show it all, so take a look below:

This rug was in dire need of a good deep professional cleaning and the owner knew he wanted it done the right way... the Rug Ideas way! We first dusted the entire rug to get all the loose debris and dust out of it, and then it went through a full wet washing, use rug shampoo that is safe for the rug fibers but extremely tough on all the stains and dirt. It was then completely rinsed to remove all cleansing agents and naturally dried. The results speak for themselves; take a look below:

The rug look absolutely wonderful now and our client was extremely happy with our deep cleaning. If you have a rug that has a lot of stains due to foot traffic and needs a deep cleaning to get it back into shape, contact us at Rug Ideas so we can help you give the best care you can to your carpet!

Dr. Khosrow Sobhe (Dr. Kay)

Certified Rug Specialist (CRS)

www.LosAngelesRugCleaning.com
www.RugIdea.com
Tel. 310-770-9085

Rug Downsizing

At Rug Ideas we sometimes get rugs that come in that have an area with extreme damage. Often times it is due to water damage, other times it is a pet that tore apart a piece of the rug, and we have even seen normal wear and tear damage a rug to the point of no return. These rugs are not lost! We can do custom jobs of downsizing the rug so that the damaged area is taken out and then the rug is re-secured to make in essence a new rug. Take a look at some before pics of a rug that we recently did downsizing to:

The damaged piece is easily visible in the above pics and that was the area that we surgically removed from the rest of the rug. After the offending piece was removed, one of our master weavers did the binding to get the rug's structure back to normal. All the work was done by hand and the results came out great. Take a look below:

One could never tell that this rug had been downsized and it looks absolutely fantastic. If you have a rug that has a damaged piece that is beyond restoration, bring it in to Rug Ideas so we can step you through the process of saving your rug through downsizing. We can save your rug!

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

Collage Carpet - Velcro Strip Backing

   We had a custom job recently for a customer's collage carpet that was brought in recently. This carpet is called a collage carpet because it is comprised of many different patches of rugs that have been sewn together to make a collage... a carpet collage!
   Our customer wanted to hang this piece on their wall and we had the perfect solution. We frequently sew a canvas strip across the top of rugs that are going to be hung on the wall, allowing a rod to be put through the canvas and the rod can be attached to rod holders that have been secured to the wall. Problem is that our customer didn't want to do any drilling into the wall to find support beams to attach the rod holder to. They instead wanted a velcro strip attached to the rug so that they could simply put the other velcro side right on the wall. This rug is small and light so this would work perfectly. Take a look at the installed velcro below:

The velcro strip was sewn by hand and the rug is now ready to be hung on the wall with minimal effort. If you have a rug/carpet/tapestry that you'd like to hang, bring it in to Rug Ideas where we can step you through your options so that you can display your beautiful piece!

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

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

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

Persian & Oriental Rugs

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think quality rugs and carpets? Persian rugs, naturally. Carpets held significant meaning to the Persians as long as 2500 years ago. The rugs and carpets were so important to the culture that they were commonly incorporated into the literature of the time. Persian artistic influence reached its apex in the 14th to 16th centuries with its carpets, rugs and tapestries (kilims). It began exporting these quality items in the 16th century. Because of the popularity of these products, America and other countries started Iranian factories in the 19th century to keep the art form and productivity alive.

Carpets and rugs are still some of the most valued possessions of Iranians even today. The design of each carpet and rug is unique, and can be individually linked to a specific area, town or tribe. There are some Iranians whose entire fortunes are tied up in these pieces of art.

Oriental rugs and carpeting are an art form of such intricate detail that the words “Oriental rugs” have become nearly synonymous with any kind of carpeting with a pattern design. However, most of these rugs are not really Oriental rugs at all. The genuine articles come from Iran but countries such as China , India , Afghanistan , Turkey and other surrounding nations also make rugs many of which use Persian rug designs. Genuine Oriental rugs and carpets are woven or tied in rows using knots called Persian or Senneh knots.

We know whether the products are made of wool, real or artificial silk. We know the tricks of unscrupulous manufacturers who make cheap imitations. We watch for and produce, and import only the finest products available. Many families teach their members to weave and carry on the fine traditions of oriental carpet weaving. By importing these handmade family products we believe that we are helping the weavers to make rugs while their children attend school.

We have all types of Persian, Oriental and area (machine made) rugs in different color combinations, designs and sizes. We are second generation in rug business since 1953. You can benefit from our decades of experience. We are either board member or member of many professional societies and rug is our passion. You will appreciate our eye for authenticity. The stunning esthetic beauty of our rugs and carpets will capture your imagination.

The tradition of fine Persian and Oriental workmanship and art continues today at our store in Los Angeles . For unsurpassed quality in Persian and Oriental carpets and rugs, visit us at our store in Irvine . You will find no finer merchandise anywhere in southern California . We are also conveniently located within easy travel distance of Santa Monica, San Fernando Valley, Santa Barbara, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Lake Forest, Tustin, Santa Ana and others. Trust us—it will be worth the drive.


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

Custom Pillows - Collage Carpet Style

At Rug Ideas we sometimes have customers that have custom job requests that they are trying to make happen. Today's post involves just such a job. While perusing our store the customer noticed a collage carpet that really caught her eye. The carpet was a patchwork of different old rugs that had been combined to make a totally unique piece. Take a look below:

She mentioned how much she liked it and if we had that same design in a pillow. We didn't have any on hand but knew this was a custom job that we could definitely spearhead. We gathered the stockpile of pieces we have been collecting and started work on a pillow version of the collage carpet. One of our master weavers undertook the handywork and we had a finished product in about 1 week. Take a look below:

The finished product came out fantastic! A zipper was put on the back for easy access and the customer who ordered the custom job was absolutely thrilled. She now owns 2 custom pieces of artwork that can be enjoyed in her home. If you have a custom rug job in mind, bring it in to Rug Ideas so we can help bring that idea to fruition!

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

Dogs, Cats and Rugs

We estimate more than 70% of the rugs we wash are contaminated with pet urine. If  your rug has suffered a similar indignity, you can rest assured we successfully address this problem everyday. As long as we can clean the rug properly, we can sanitize it and the rug will be odor- free. So if your wool rug is so bad you don’t want to be in the same room with it, don’t throw it away. At least call us for a Free Cleaning Estimate.

The primary challenge with this contaminant is the absorbent nature of the wool and cotton fibers. Once urine leaves the body the pH changes from acid to alkaline. It dries as a crystal, somewhat like salt.If you ever hired a carpet cleaner to clean your rug you may have been dissatisfied with the results. It’s virtually impossible to do a thorough job using carpet cleaning techniques, cleaning agents and equipment designed to clean wall-to-wall carpeting. Some carpet cleaners recognize this. And some don’t.

We address the problem using Bio Based cleaning agents that are safe for use on wool, and deep clean the rug to thoroughly remove the contamination from inside and outside the fibers. The amount of time and effort required to totally remove the contamination varies with each rug. On occasion we have to wash the rug repeatedly to get it all out. But at Rug Ideas we are all about a little extra 'elbow grease' to make our customers happy!

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