I love what a stair runner can add to a home. Few things offer more “bang for the buck” then a custom stair runner flowing elegantly down steps. Stair runners can vary widely in style, color and look, but if given some thought any style and color will add a custom finished addition that will give your home a one of a kind feel. Some of our most popular styles are sisal and natural fiber looks.

Striations really look great with the vertical lines of a staircase

I am seeing a lot of color and pattern used on stair runners currently. Installation is really critical so that the runner has a custom finish. What you don’t want is to see some installer  shooting the runner onto the steps with staples. This will not last and will look good for very long.

Take a look at the “before and afters” below. This was installed for a client about a month ago and they have loved it. As a matter of fact, 3 of their friends have ordered a runner similar for their own homes.

Nice stairs, but nothing memorable

ho hum

almost cold, but nice

See the difference?

Skins may not be your thing, but this looks so custom and great

Safe and warms it up

The homeowners love it and so do their friends

Another important attribute that a runner offers is increased safety. Whether for pets, kids or elderly there is no question that the stairs are more safe.

Would you like a stair runner in your home? Did you like the Animal Print runner? Let me know.

Carpet makes a great area rug. Textures has a rug workroom where we can custom make a rug to fit any size. Recently, we attended Surfaces, a trade show in Las Vegas that features new styles for the upcoming year. Some of these styles would be beautiful for an area rug or really any area in the home. Pricing is typically around $10 per square foot, so an 8×10 would be about $800.00.

Wool. Makes me think of Charleston

Whimsical Sisal

Braided indoor or outdoor-- you can pressure wash these if you want

Great area rug, or Man Cave look

Love this, beautiful and timeless. 3 Great colors!!

So pretty and relaxing

Some great new shags, they are alive and well

These were some of the hundreds of new styles I saw. Such great design and all reasonably priced. I cant wait to share some of these samples with you!!

Sisal flooring is one of the most popular and great looking options available. Sisal is a design dream, offering great color and sophistication, while being neutral and subtle. What is sisal? Sisal (Agave sisalana) is an agave that yields a stiff fibre traditionally used in making  twine, rope and also dartboards. The term may refer either to the plant or the fibre, depending on context. The plant’s origin is uncertain; while traditionally it was deemed to be a native of  Yucatan, there are no records of botanical collections from there. In the 19th century, sisal cultivation spread to Florida  the Carribean islands and Brazil, as well as to other countries in Africa.   Today Brazil is the major world producer of sisal.

Raw Material, even pretty then!!

Traditionally used for rope and twine, sisal has many uses, including paper, cloth, wall coverings and carpets.

Great Fibreworks Sisal

Sisal is a golden color but is available in many colors when died. Whats great about sisal is that it is soft on bare feet and is very resilient. Sisal comes in hundreds of colors and patterns, mostly with boucles that vary in size. Sisal also has amazing natural striations that is often imitated by other synthetic fibres.

Soft (enough) on the feet

Keep in mind that sisal rugs are not designed to be used wet areas, such as bathrooms. Since sisal is an organic material, it can develop water stains. However, in the rest of your home it actually helps to regulate mild changes in humidity by absorbing excess moisture in the air and releasing it during drier days.

A Designers dream

I love metallic tones

To maintain the beauty of your sisal rug, vacuuming daily or at least weekly is essential. Although the rug may look as though it is clean, there may be fine dirt particles in the weave. If left, the particles can lodge between the fibers causing excessive wear as the rug is walked on -acting much like sand paper. Your vacuum should have strong suction and a brush attachment, or a beater brush on an upright.

Textures Best seller!

Remove any liquid spills immediately by blotting or pat drying with a clean cotton cloth (or acceptable substitute). Do not rub the spill area as this can force the liquid further into the fiber. scrape dry spills with a blunt blade -such as a teaspoon or dull side of a butter knife. Work from the edge of the spill toward the center to contain the spill.

Sisal is the designers dream! Complimenting any design style and blending with all colors, Sisal provides a unique and economical choice.  Sisal is a natural fiber harvested from a cactus like plant. It is originally from the Yucatan region of North America, but now is largely harvested in Brazil.

Textures most popular. Nice and Chunky!!

 Sisal can be used as an area rug, installed wall to wall or installed on steps. Sisal is available in many colors and can be bordered with bindings such as leather or wide cotton.  Many designers will even use fabric, and then they can coordinate a rooms upholstery and area rug. Sisal’s  usually a gold color; however metallic colors are becoming very popular.

Great copper tone. Classic look.

Textures  has a custom workroom that can produce a rug in any shape or size. Our master craftsmen can also install sisal on steps, and this is not an easy thing to do. We recently installed a set of steps for Bobbie McCloud, owner and chief designer at Designworks. Her design included trimming the sisal with leather and then we studded the border with hammered copper furniture tacks. Stunning.

Such a great look. Notice the craftsmanship!!

Black wrought iron stair rods really complete the look beautifully. Installing Sisal in a room wall to wall is fantastic as well. It is soft on the feet,  creates a warm natural feel. Sisal is not appropriate for all rooms though and is not easy to clean, so it is important to consider it’s application. Sisal is also not known to seam well, so consider seam placement in an application. Textures offers sisal up to 16’4″ wide and sometimes it is possible to eliminate seams altogether.

If you are looking for a great foundation or finishing touch for your rooms design I urge you to consider a great looking sisal rug.