Have you thought about changing the look and feel of your home? Do you want a dramatic, custom change that makes a huge impact? Well, if you answered yes, a new custom stair runner may be exactly what you want.

Beautiful and bold-- custom look

very welcoming

Contrast--great look

Stair runners are an amazing addition to any home. Few things can be done to your home that offers as much of a “wow” factor. In addition to the fabulous aesthetic addition, stair runners offer increased safety and noise reduction. Children and pets can benefit from the soft traction.

Our most popular style for stairs

So amazing!!!

Great and universal look

Using a patterned carpet is such a great way to introduce some texture and depth in the home. A pattern will be an added dimension and prove inviting for guests entering the home.

the new traditional

pattern pattern pattern

Typically, runners will be centered on the stairs and still allow 3” to 4” of wood showing on each side of the carpet. This still showcases the hardwood flooring.

Carpet is stretched on the stair similarly to how carpet is installed wall to wall. This involves using tack strip with very small nails. This does not do damage to the steps and is easily reversed. You don’t want someone who does not know how to install stair runners doing your installation. This is a special skill. That said, over time the wood will appear different under the runner because it has not been exposed to sunlight.

Stair rods are a beautiful way to add even more of a custom look to the stairs. These are totally decorative though and completely optional.

Finishing the edge of the carpet can be done by binding a fabric border to the carpet or surging the edge. This is another way to really add a custom unique look.

Carpet Fiber Charisma

By Annette Callari, ASID; CMG

It’s been a while since we’ve talked about the nuts and bolts of carpeting—the fiber carpets are made from.  Fiber technologies continue to evolve and amaze us as to performance. So I thought I’d put together a little refresher course on the different types of fibers available for you.

Although wool carpets have the longest history of use in carpets, nylon fiber carpets have been around for decades. They came into high fashion during the 1950’s when it was a luxury to have wall-to-wall carpeting.  You have no idea how many hardwood floors went undercover for years with the advent of that trend.  Manufacturers tried round fibers, triangular fibers, and then finally found that a rounded trilobal fiber was the best configuration for performance and soil-hiding.

Two types, Nylon 6.6 and Nylon 6, are typically used in carpet. Nylon can claim the ability to produce a stunning array of color harmonies; a luxurious soft “hand”, excellent resiliency, durability, abrasion resistance and texture retention. Just as importantly, consumers benefit from nylon’s significant resistance to stains and soils.  As a matter of fact, it has become an expected feature for carpet to have superior stain resistant properties–and mills continue to deliver on those expectations. Solution-dyed nylon, in particular, has proven to offer excellent color fastness and increased stain ‘clean-ability’.

More recently, nylon fiber developments have focused on soft-handed luxury.  Stainmaster Tactesse and Shaw/Anso Nylon’s Caress are leaders in soft-engineered carpets.  At the same time, manufacturers have been attentive to sustainability and recyclable polymers–a significant direction that continues to gain momentum. In this instance, consumer consciousness is driving this direction of R & D, demanding responsible manufacturing and post-use accountability.  Sustainability is a multi-faceted frontier and it will be extremely interesting to see where R & D takes fiber technologies over the next decade.  Overall, when you weigh the advantages of nylon’s durability and resilience against other fiber types, it’s not surprising that nylon still claims the largest percentage of carpet sold in the United States.

It’s a fact that forward-thinking R & D is a necessity for mills to bring something unique to the marketplace. As a result, we have seen some creative fiber types emerge.  Mohawk Carpet Mills introduced SmartStrand® carpet with DuPont™ Sorona® renewably sourced polymer about eight years ago. In a partnership with DuPont, this carpet offers fiber made with Bio-PDO™ (the key Sorona® ingredient, also known as TriextaÒ).  SoronaÒ is produced from corn sugar. By utilizing this new ingredient, 37 percent of Sorona® is being made from renewable resources. The end result?   A luxuriously soft carpet that offers durability and stain protection, while making less of an environmental impact. The Carpet and Rug Institute had this to say about TriextaÒ: “…Features include a luxurious soft “hand”, excellent colorfastness, bright colors, inherent and permanent stain resistance… durability, resistance to fading, clean-ability, texture retention and resiliency.”

Mohawk’s Karastan division features SmartStrandÒ products in their Color Choicesdisplay unit.  Color is the key magnet attracting consumers to this display, but the “hand” of the carpet and the warranties that back SmartStrandÒ are the features that close the sale.  Even though SmartStrandÒ is still in its infancy compared to nylon, it has made a strong impact in the marketplace.

It would be impossible to write about fiber types and not dedicate a paragraph toOlefin (polypropylene) carpets.  Olefin has especially found its niche in the realm of commercial carpeting.  Its versatility in styling and amazing colorations accounts for a big part of its popularity.  Just as attractive is the competitive pricing olefin carpets offer.   Turn key installations benefit from both the aesthetics and affordability.  Olefin features include permanent resistance to water-based stains, colorfastness, and resistance to static electricity. It’s inherently resistant to moisture, making it the primary fiber used in indoor/outdoor carpets. We are seeing these well-styled carpets transitioning from the commercial world to residential, as consumers are embracing more tailored, well constructed styles.

Polyester carpets have always garnered mixed reviews.  The luxurious hand and incredible face weights make this fiber type a strong draw.  70 oz., 80oz. and even 90 oz. face weights are not uncommon, and compared to their nylon counterparts, these hefty polyester carpets are very reasonably priced.  Other attractive characteristics include inherent and permanent stain resistance, the ability to produce colors with superior clarity, good abrasion resistance, fade resistance, and clean-ability.  Polyester does not have as good a reputation for abrasion resistance as nylon, but evolving technologies continue to deliver an ever-improving fiber.

Let’s turn the focus to wool.  Wool carpets seem to have a unique status quotient all their own.  This natural fiber brings luxury and performance to the floor in equal parts.  Its features include a naturally soft hand, high bulk, good color options and inherent flame-retardant characteristics. That’s a credible menu of features for a fiber with the longest history of use in carpeting.  The naturally low luster level of wool is a strong draw, and other fiber types do their best to emulate it.

Without a doubt, fiber selection ultimately affects carpet aesthetics and end-use performance. We, as consumers are the benefactors and owe manufacturers a vote of thanks.  It’s their call as to which fiber types will perform best in certain constructions.  So far, I’d say they are making very wise calls.  We continue to see striking, well made carpets spicing up the floor covering market, pairing exactly the right fiber with the right construction!

Recently I read a great article about carpet making a comeback, and it was surprising to hear why. Although hardwood flooring is continuing to grow in popularity, families still crave comfort and custom style. According to Emily Morrow, director of color and design for Shaw floors, “people have experienced those hard surfaces and they want to surround themselves with comfort”. People are using carpet to make a statement and color and pattern are in. There are thousands of color and pattern choices and people want their taste reflected, they want it to say this is “me”!!

TV has played a huge role in the reemergence of carpet. On hit design and reality shows, bold patterns and bright colors are in constant use. People want that in their own home too. They want to experiment and design a space that feels like a custom, beautiful home.

Below, you will see some beautiful patterns that are very popular with our customers. Let me know what you think.

Love this, sophisticated.

Texture and fluff.

Striations are great.

Animal patterns are sooo popular, especially on stairs.

do you see the airplane

Timeless and very custom appearing, but not hard on the wallet

Love this look

Gotta love the shag

AWESOME

Stair runners can be such an amazing design feature in a home. Of all of the projects we work on few add as much impact for as little money as stairs. Not only are runners a beautiful addition to the home they can greatly increase safety and deaden noise. Typically runners take less than one day to install and when using the correct materials, they should last and look good for 7-10 years. Wool is the best option for high traffic steps. Stair runners will not break the bank either. A typical designer inspired runner will cost about $1500.00 turn key!! Check out the pictures below and let me know what you think.

After install of this runner, the house sold!! The owner credits the runner for the sale

Simply Beautiful!!

I love this- Can you say creative?

I love for the runner to appear as it is flowing down the stairs

Borders work great on wider steps

Very designer Inspired.

Sisal trimmed in Leather

Sisal look awesome flowing down stairs

Custom Landing

I want this room

I hope this gives you a good idea for what to do with your stairs, and please let me know if you need help because this is one of my favorite things to do in flooring.

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!!

Bobbie McCloud of Designworks walks us through what it takes to put together a wonderful Master Bedroom. Bobbie offers us some simple tips to help make our bedroom feel like a retreat.

I have  many clients that need new carpet but they don’t know what they want. Carpet is not something most people buy everyday, so knowing what you may need can seem overwhelming. There are a few simple questions you can answer that may make the process a little easier and provide you and your family a great fit.

1. Are you the Brady Bunch or Empty Nester’s? This is important because some carpets are easier to clean and maintain then others. For instance, wool carpet is very cleanable, but is more difficult to maintain then nylon and polyester. Most of the families that buy carpet at Textures like easy care, so we recommend a synthetic fiber that wears well and cleans great.

2. What is your budget? Carpet is a very affordable floor covering, but prices range drastically. Many people may not realize this when buying carpet the for the first time. Carpet is sold by the square foot, and you have to remember that you will need cushion and installation as well. Typically a good carpet will be about $3.50 per square foot installed. That means for an average family room (400 sf) you will spend $1400.00.

3. Carpet is the foundation for a rooms decor. Do you want to make a statement or do you just want it to blend? If you are doing multiple rooms, you may want something different in each area. Textures clients typically use a patterned loop in living areas and something soft and traditional in bedrooms.

New carpet makes such a difference in a home. Please remember that it is a large undertaking and investment, so be try to be prepared. Textures will be happy to walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have.

Red wine, OH NO!

Nothing is worse than fixating on a repair or chore that requires a lot of money to fix, but is not in the budget. I know for a lot of people stained carpet is a source of embarrassment when entertaining, and right now it is not possible to replace it or even spend the few hundred dollars for cleaning. I have listed below a great spot cleaning method for synthetic fibers (nylon, polyester, etc.). All that you will need is some elbow grease.