White Around The World

Having just come back from a wedding - in another part of the world - it felt appropriate to share with you White color inspiration from around the world. It comes courtesy of Ann Hurley, Woman of Wear-Dated and Ultron carpet fiber color expert, who lives and breathes color and product trends.

Ann says...

White is the combination of all colors of light, and in our own culture it usually has an association with purity and innocence.

In many westerns cultures white is the bridal color.

Angels are garbed in white, and white hats always belong to the “good guys.” The dove of peace is always white.

hana tsunami originally uploaded by ponkan.

In Japan white cherry blossoms (Sakura in Japanese) are an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral [momentary] nature of life, and as such are frequently depicted in Japanese art.

Life was considered brief and beautiful, much like a cherry blossom. Sakura, a well-known and ubiquitous symbol of Japan, is represented on all manner of consumer goods, including kimono, stationery, and dishware.

Because of its purity, white is the color of mourning, funerals and death in many areas of Asia and in some African countries.

In Japan a white carnation symbolizes death.

In the Middle Ages mourning clothes were sewn from undyed cloth as a sign of humility.

White alabaster was used to create Egyptian ritual objects such as vases, statues, and sacrificial offering sites, due to it’s lack of color.

White was associated with cleanliness, ritual purity and the sacred and so it was the color of the clothes worn by the religious leaders in many cultures.

Blue Door - White Wall originally uploaded by Klearchos Kapoutsis.

In Mediterranean countries, walls and often doorways are painted with white wash.

The white color not only reflects the heat of the sun and visually guides a visitor to the entrance, but in Greece, too, white symbolizes purity.

In the seventeenth century Europe, white was the symbol of truce or surrender – thus we know the white flag as the symbol of surrender today.

The Eskimos of the Arctic have more than 100 words to describe snow – imagine the multitude of gradations in the color white in this land of ice and snow! [Check out Snow Names and Words from Neal Ross at ProSource.]

Question: What color paper is used in Japan today to wrap gifts, and why?

Answer: White – it symbolizes cleanliness.

Thank you, Ann!

Check out the Wikipedia definitions of white. They are fascinating!

About.com's Jacci Howard Bear - granted, in the desktop publishing section - describes how to use white [alone and with other colors], with links to Feng Shui Use of the Color White and White Plus 1 Color Home Decor Color Schemes.

For previous posts in this series, see: Green Around The World and Red Around The World.





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Design Focus: Carpeted Stairs

stairs_carpet originally uploaded by Luke H.

I've lived in houses with carpeted staircases as well as uncarpeted ones. I prefer carpeted stairs.

My favorite carpeted memory is of my French grandmother's apartment building in Paris where the central grandiose staircase [with retro-fitted elevator in the center] was carpeted: the first flight in a utilitarian carpet [possibly dark red?] to protect against the rigors of weather and Parisian sidewalk debris, and the rest of the floors in an elegant, patterned carpet.

The carpet set the tone for the building. It added a distinct design element, drawing the eye and the body upward. It also protected from trips and falls. Something that I never fully appreciated until becoming a mom and seeing my child tumble down uncarpeted stairs as she proudly asserted her independence and competence while forbidding her mother to interfere...

[Our current house features carpeted stairs - for which I am grateful.]

Having such positive feelings for carpeted stairs, I was delighted to come across this article titled "The right carpet on stairways lifts the tone of a house" by Joy Kraft from the 11/24/2007 Cincinnati Enquirer. It's -unfortunately- no longer available online, but I will try to recapture the important points.

+ Many homeowners view their staircases as a focal point or a "accent area, not an afterthought."

+ Whereas stairs used to be carpeted with the same carpet used in the rest of the house, now stairways are done in different colors or patterns, perhaps even "blending two colors." Different colors might be complementary.

+ Stairways might be done in an oriental runner type pattern, or even a contemporary pattern. [I've seen really fun animal print patterns!]

The article states "from a safety standpoint, carpeted stairs prevent sliding."

Furthermore, "...elderly people can see the pattern from one step to another more easily." [A design seminar I attended a few years back strongly discouraged - particularly for public installations - using the same large patterned carpet on a floor and stairs. Visually, it confuses the eye and makes figuring out where steps end and floor begins difficult. The result: trips and falls.]

Specific advice:

+ Color matters most. Choose consistent colors so colors and tones work together. "Black and tan or black with neutrals are popular choices, especially in homes with wrought iron staircase railings or black accents, both popular trends," writes the author. From personal experience, I suggest staying away from light colors, particularly in high traffic areas. [I spilled coffee on my mom's light beige almost cream-colored carpeted steps and to this day I'm reminded of it...]

+ Ensure that the scale of the pattern works for the space, and with other patterns. If you are combining patterns, make sure that the patterns have different scales.

Two options are readily available for stairs:

+ a runner ranging in width from 27 to 32 inches ["The average house has 12 steps and 13 risers requiring about 20 feet of material."] leaving approximately 6 inches of hardwood visible on each side of the runner.

+ broadloom carpet that can over the entire step, where the edges can be wrapped around the edge of the step or bound. This approach is more labor intensive.

The best carpet style to use on stairs is one with a low pile. In other words, I wouldn't recommend Shag and Cable Carpets. I do, though, heartily recommend carpeted stairs!

In case you want to install carpet on stairs yourself [or learn enough to be able to judge the quality of your installation], I came across these resources:

+ Expert Village - How to Install Carpet on Stairs
+ From the DIY Network, Staircase Carpet Runner Installation
+ e-How's How to Carpet Stairs
+ Installing a Stair Runner from This Old House
+ from The Carpet & Rug Institute, STANDARD for INSTALLATION of RESIDENTIAL CARPET CRI 105 - 2002, note the section for carpet on stairs.

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A Foot's Perspective - Episode 2

Episode 2 of A Foot's Perspective comes from the city of Morelia in the state of Michoacan in Mexico.

More specifically, it comes from my room at the Villa San Jose, a delightful hotel overlooking the beautiful and historic downtown of Morelia and located on a mountainside.

I love Mexico, particularly the authentic Mexico that my friend Claudia - a former Woman of Wear-Dated [she helped us establish the Wear-Dated upholstery brand in Mexico when we in the upholstery business] - has helped me discover.

Claudia has just gotten married. She honored me and my family by inviting us to attend her wedding. She even involved my daughter, including her with her nieces as a flower girl. In other words, she treated us like family!

In so doing, she offered me an insider's perspective on family, hospitality and celebration in Mexico.

Inspired by the experience, I share with you Episode 2 of A Foot's Perspective!

[Subscribers, please follow this YouTube link to view the video.]


For the previous episode of A Foot's Perspective, visit A Foot's Perspective - Episode 1.

Thanks for joining me!








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Earth Day 2008 - Making It Easier Being Green

Earth Day 2008 gives us a chance to reflect on the whole notion of "green."

Right now, green is the new "it" color. Actually, it's not so much a color as it is a way of life, an attitude about consumption and sustainability that currently sits heavily on many minds, and was considerably intensified last year by Al Gore and An Inconvenient Truth.

A 1970s association with green comes from Kermit the Frog and his song 'It's Not Easy Being Green' where Kermit bemoans his greenness and lack of individuality. By the end of the song, he discovers green's many positive attributes and celebrates them.

Interesting to be contemplating the many nuances and shades of green as Earth Day 2008 takes place.

In a meeting last week, someone asked me if the whole green thing was just a fad: Would it go away, like the perms of the 1980s or the Macarana? My answer to that was no, green will not go away. Perhaps the hype will fade and the intensity will settle, but the environmental mindset is here to stay - too much depends on it. Someone else pointed out that, in addition, laws have been enacted in the past few years that regulate corporate accountability and sustainability in certain industries. Because of this, we can't exactly just forget about going green.

With so much to consider, though, environmentally friendly living gets a bit overwhelming.

As with the BBC - Two Show, "It's Not Easy Being Green", many of us want to do the right thing, but also realize how ineffective we would be without many of our modern day amenities. So how might we start? How might we take a first step or series of steps into making it easier to be green?

That's where we step in: The Carpetology Blog would like to suggest starting small in that quest for a greener lifestyle. Because small steps can add up. They get you into the habit; they change patterns.

Some of these ideas came up during Blog Action Day For The Environment, which took place October 15, 2007 around the world...

For example, have you tried replacing a few incandescent light bulbs with CFL bulbs? You can even join Energy Star's Change a Light, Change the World campaign, like Ultron carpet fiber did at GreenBuild this year.

We've also come across tips on caring for your house - and carpet - in a 'greener' way.

For starters, take Care2's suggestion in a recent article and make your home a "shoe-free sanctuary." Adapted from Japanese Style, the article lists eight benefits of leaving your shoes at the door. "A healthier home is ensured because shoes track in lead, pesticides and other pollutants, contaminating carpets and floors, turning a home into a toxic place for pets and young children, especially, who spend more time on the floor," the article states.

A recent Fort-Worth Star-Telegram article offers ways to "stay green while you clean," and suggests using natural products like baking soda, Borax, lemon juice and white vinegar - all inexpensive and accessible - to clean your home. Plus, each of these products has multiple uses: borax, for example, can serve as both a water softener and a laundry freshener.

LighterFootstep, a website dedicated to helping people live a more sustainable lifestyle, specifically focuses on carpet cleaning. In order to avoid the chemicals many professional cleaners use, ask for a plant-based alternative. Or... "Postpone a general cleaning with spot maintenance. Here you have some natural options: salt for mud, dirt, and red wine; club soda for coffee stains; and cornstarch or cornmeal for grease. To control odors, liberally sprinkle carpeting with baking soda and allow to sit overnight before vacuuming. Direct sunlight is also a great deodorant. A couple of hours in the sun does wonders to freshen bathroom mats and area rugs."

Heloise offers wonderful baking soda suggestions. As it relates to deodorizing carpet, she says: "Put baking soda in a clean spice container, or clean plastic Parmesan cheese container with a shaker top, and lightly sprinkle it all over the carpet. Leave on for at least 30 minutes and then vacuum. If you want a spicy carpet deodorizer, add a little cinnamon spice to a shaker filled full with baking soda. Sprinkle on the carpet, let sit for a bit and then vacuum. CAUTION: The dark-colored spices could stain, so don’t use on white or light colored carpeting."

When asked about options for environmentally friendly professional carpet cleaning services, National Geographic's The Green Guide discusses the chemicals found in many carpet cleaning solutions, talks about why they're harmful, then suggests hiring companies like Bi-O-Kleen that use plant-derived cleaners instead of detergents. The guide offers a variety of tips for carpet cleaning, as well as some home remedies to remove common household stains. "For a heavy duty carpet cleanser," the guide suggests, "take 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar and mix to form a paste, then rub onto carpet. Follow by vacuuming the spot thoroughly. It even offers a shopping list of good green products."

Note: our expert strongly suggests that you test a small area first before applying the salt/borax/vinegar paste onto your carpet. Her research indicated that although excellent at killing fleas, salt and borax in particular can be particularly abrasive and might damage your carpet.

Also, don't underestimate the benefit of vacuuming your carpet regularly [i.e., at least once a week], and more frequently if you desire. For high traffic areas, go over the same area multiple times in different directions with the vacuum. And, do make sure that the vacuum bag doesn't need to be replaced before you do your cleaning!

So, as Kermit discovered, don't be intimidated about what it takes to be green. Just take it step by step, start with what's comfortable, and realize that in reality, it's a lot easier being green than you might have thought!





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Meet Ann Hurley, Creativity Personified!

Some of you may already know Ann Hurley, Woman of Wear-Dated and Creative Manager, Product & Color for Solutia Inc., involved not only in Wear-Dated, but also our Ultron contract carpet fiber division.

If you aren't familiar with her, you are in for a treat!

That's because Ann Hurley is the most creative and colorful person I've met. And, whenever I spend time with her, I am guaranteed to walk away with a renewed perspective on color, pattern, texture, food, trends, fashion, carpet... and creativity.

For example, not only does she take terrific photos, do serious gardening, and design clothing, fabric, jewelry and carpet, but she also avidly supports Chattanooga's Wine Over Water event, regularly entertains like minded creatives - attending local art shows with them - cooks feasts, arranges flowers, takes part in fiber art/quilting [she's currently making 4 t-shirt quilts -see picture below - for graduating high school seniors], develops the most inspiring trend boards ever, and constantly searches out intriguing colors and dyestuffs, as she treks around the world attending trade shows as diverse as NeoCon and Heimtextil.

Ann also has more than 25 years experience styling and developing contract carpet. That includes custom styled products for major end users, and she has coordinated all phases of product and color development for multiple running line products for many carpet mills, including 2 Ultron Doc award competition winning products...

That's not all!

Did I mention that Ann knows color?

Actually, she really knows color! She actively participates in The Color Marketing Group (CMG) - she's done so for more than 20 years - and now has a 'reputation' that comes from her active participation and that she is a chairholder and has served on the board of directors. She's also a member of the Color Association of the United States [CAUS].

Oh, yes! Our Ann is known as one of the industry’s leading experts on color.

No surprise, Ann applies her color expertise to Solutia's yearly color forecast for Ultron and Wear-Dated, and her creative development knowledge to the relations she weaves with our carpet mill partners.

She has also contributed the following to Flooring The Consumer : Ann Hurley's Trend Insights - 2008, What is Blue?, and Managing Consumer Expectations and to The Carpetology Blog: Red Around The World and Green Around The World. You can definitely expect more!

Ann graduated from the University of Tennessee with a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising / Interior Design. She is a featured guest lecturer at ASID, IIDA and IFMA functions, as well as in the college classroom.

Despite all of this, I get the sense that Ann stays grounded through her garden and the hospitality that her garden enables. As I'm writing this, she informed me that it's gardening time in the South and she has already planted broccoli, cabbage, romaine lettuce and spinach and a variety of herbs [see gate picture]! One of her favorite summer recipes is "black eyed pea dip/salad" that is great as an appetizer or as a salad with any grilled meats or veggies [I haven't yet tried it, but plan to!]. Best enjoyed in the company of many wonderful friends!

So, if you admire creativity as much as I do, don't miss her!

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Carpet as Clothing, Clothing as Carpet

Image from bravotv.com.

Perhaps you've heard of Project Runway. It's an obsession just a bit smaller than American Idol that seems to monopolize any free time available in this country. Tim Gunn, Heidi Klum and an assorted cast of aspiring designers have made fabric, sewing and design suddenly very... fierce.

So it's not surprising that a plethora of Project Runway-like fashion contests are popping up all over the country. One of them, located in Seattle and dubbed Product Runway, challenges leading design firms and students in the area to create garments from manufacturing materials, including upholstery, lighting and even... carpet!

But events like this aren't simply vapid attempts to flaunt all things superficial (maybe just a little); they usually support a cause. In the case of Product Runway, all proceeds go to the Interior Design Coalition of Washington, a group that seeks the recognition of the interior design profession to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public.

If you're in the Seattle area, Product Runway takes place on May 2, 2008, at the South Lake Union Naval Reserve.

If you can't make it, check out some design inspiration for the contestants. Each participating design team was randomly paired with a manufacturer, then had just under four months to finish their garment. The teams will participate in the final runway event complete with cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and plenty of people watching.

But clothing made of carpet isn't the half of it.

Have you ever seen carpet made of clothing? Silke Wawro, a German designer, developed a scrap clothing carpet which at one time, was available for purchase off of a giant roll. The carpet was seen as a fabric journal, created to represent all of the clothing used during a person's lifetime. At the same time, it also gave a nod to sustainable, reusable design. Although her Web site is no longer available, you can still see the clothing carpet here and here.

Image compliments of Inhabitat.

For more on Silke Wawro, check out TreeHugger.com. Wawro labeled her clothing and products Volksware, meaning "people's products." Her most buzz worthy product seems to be the most expensive coat in the world, one she created from 7,531 clothing labels and values at 759,987.20 Euro...

So there you have it. Wearable carpet and floorable clothing. The industries will never be the same.

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Empty Pockets, Happy Feet & Casino Carpet

Photo originally uploaded by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

I may be a great many things, but a gambler I am not. The only reasons I've seen the interiors of the casinos in my city were to attend fashion shows, enjoy birthday parties, or, most importantly, eat dinner. So when I went to Vegas last year, I wasn't quite sure I'd enjoy myself (I most certainly did). Fortunately, Vegas' best feature (in my opinion) is not its gambling so much as its sight-seeing. And usually, you get far more than the eyeful you expect.

This vibrant visual effect generally translates to decor as well as entertainment, people and overall ambiance. And somehow, this effect then transcends space and time to reach casinos everywhere - they're all big and loud and bright and... gaudy? That determination is subjective, but regardless, they're in a interior design class all their own.

Which brings me to our favorite design element... carpet.

Surely you've noticed the carpet in casinos - it's hard to miss. Like everything else in a casino, it's big and loud and bright and gaudy. And it has begun to attract attention.

Dr. David G. Schwartz, "gaming's leading historian," according to his own Web site, writes about, blogs on, and generally lives the gaming and gambling industry. One of his ongoing projects involves photographing casino carpet in any and all casinos, then posting the photos to his site, The Die Is Cast.

Carpet from my favorite Las Vegas Hotel & Casino - the Bellagio.
Photo courtesy of http://www.dieiscast.com/.

"Casino carpet is known as an exercise in deliberate bad taste that somehow encourages people to gamble," writes Schwartz on his Web site.

"In a strange way, though, it's a sublime work of art, rivalling any expressionist canvas of the past century. Note the regal tones of Caesars Palace, the bountiful bouquet of Mandalay Place, the soft, almost abstract pointillism of Paris, all whispering, 'gamble, gamble' just out of the range of consciousness as people walk to the nearest slot machine."

An article from March 30 in the Las Vegas Review-Journal quotes both Schwartz and Mike Nolan, general manager for El Cortez, discussing the benefits of casino carpet and remunerates the reasons why it's usually so bold and patterned.

Schwartz denounces the theory that casino operators deliberately try to make casino carpet garish so people look elsewhere - toward the slot machines or the craps tables for example. Instead, he sees reason in the idea that casino carpet is needed more for camouflaging inevitable unwanted dirt and stains. Nolan says that the patterns make the casino floor - an enormous space - much more contained and much less overwhelming. He adds that in years past, casinos used linoleum to cover the floors. Yikes!

Casino carpet makes such an impact that it's even included as a category in the annual Trippies - the very best and worst of everything in Vegas. Of all the carpet in Vegas casinos, Wynn Las Vegas [see Wikipedia's Wynn entry] won the Trippie's editor's best casino carpet award for 2007. Readers agreed. The New Frontier Hotel and Casino (now extinct - see its implosion here), was voted by the editors as having the worst carpet, while readers gave that distinction to Circus Circus. Visit Vegas Tripping to see the winners (and losers) of everything in Sin City.

Regardless of where you like to gamble, from Vegas to Atlantic City, you can't get away from the carpet. Embrace it as part of the casino culture, enjoy it for its gaudiness, and love that in its inherent nature, it cushions your feet as you lose your money.

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A Foot's Perspective - Episode 1

The Women of Wear-Dated like to look at the world - and carpet - somewhat differently. Whenever possible, we like to take the foot's perspective in evaluating life, beauty and carpet.

In fact, that's the approach we've taken with Wear-Dated's By The Foot marketing campaign as Marianne Cone explains in "Feet Appreciate Beauty."

The brochure itself is one foot square in size.

The brochure cover is textural, inviting the hand [or the foot] to feel it.

Carpet - from the perspective of the foot - is absolutely the star.

I'm really taken with the concept and the visual nature of By The Foot [yes, I am a visual thinker]. It's also a fantastic conversation starter with retailers and retail salespeople to get them thinking about how sensual a product carpet is, and how it can enhance our lives as consumers both in terms of expressing our individuality and stylishness, and as a comfortable foundation for living.

So, inspired by my friend Matt Dickman, Techno/Marketer extraordinaire, with a dose of unusual perspective from the Upside Down Show, I share with you Episode 1 of "A Foot's Perspective" brought to you by The Women of Wear-Dated direct from midtown Manhattan.

[Subscribers please click on this YouTube link to view.]

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Wear-Dated Natural Nylon Makes for Stylish Carpet

Wear-Dated Natural Nylon carpet fiber makes for really stylish carpet. Since I'm biased, you shouldn't just take my word. Check it out for yourself.

What is it you ask? It's our latest Nylon 6,6 carpet fiber brand extension [the last one was DuraSoft], and we're excited about it.

We introduced Wear-Dated Natural Nylon at Surfaces 2007. This past Surfaces 2008, we showcased a fun range of new carpet styles [see Marianne Cone Discusses Surfaces, By The Foot and Wear-Dated Natural Nylon], many of which you can find in carpet stores now.

I have heard people mumble "Natural Nylon - that sounds like an oxymoron." That's okay because it gives me the opportunity to explain why this product is so exciting, so technologically advanced and so worthy of the name Wear-Dated Natural Nylon.

[BTW, we are not talking about this Natural Nylon.]

Wear-Dated Natural Nylon refers to Nylon 6,6 carpet fiber that is combined with our proprietary insert technology. The resulting fiber generates a carpet with the look and feel of wool, yet with the durability of Nylon 6,6 - the best nylon available for carpet.

The name came out of consumer focus groups. Consumers [primarily women] told us that "Natural Nylon" best captured the look, feel and elegance of the carpet samples they touched, felt and interacted with [see photo above]. So, we went with it. It tells a story.

Wear-Dated has a reputation for durability. So, when we realized during the product development process that Wear-Dated Natural Nylon improves on the superior performance characteristics of nylon 6,6 -- with a natural look and feel -- to deliver an even better carpet, we were really excited!

Here's how it works. The proprietary insert technology process literally inserts a low-melt nylon fiber in between the yarn plies. During manufacturing when heat comes into play, the low-melt nylon melts, binding the yarn together. The result: tufts that cannot be untwisted. This creates a carpet end product that has better resistance to matting [i.e., great performance], and better tip definition [i.e., that means you can create some unusually fashionable carpet styles].

It also means that staple yarn [i.e., the yarn normally associated with traditional textured carpet styles] can now go into carpet constructions that up-to-now were only possible with BCF yarn [i.e., the yarn that creates loop and pattern carpet styles]. So the variety of pattern and styling possibilities become endless! And the look and feel is more wool-like than ever.

Which makes us very happy because we can offer consumers [thanks to carpet mills like Karastan, Mohawk and Gulistan] a gorgeous range of carpet patterns and colors that deliver beauty, comfort and durability -- with the natural beauty of wool and the incomparable performance of Wear-Dated nylon carpet fiber.

I've attached a slideshow to visually explain what makes Wear-Dated Natural Nylon different.

| View | Upload your own

[NOTE: This slideshow IS available. If the screen says it isn't, then click on the 'view' link to the right of the slideshare logo. Thanks. Added 6/5/08.]

In the slideshow, pay particular attention to Slide 2 which shows you micron photography of Wear-Dated Natural Nylon:

+ Starting at the top left corner you see a bundle of Wear-Dated Natural Nylon carpet fiber.
+ Move to the top right, and you'll notice a larger view of that bundle with closeup of the tips of the fibers.
+ The bottom left photo goes closer yet to show you the insert fiber.
+ Finally, the bottom right photo goes even closer to show you the insert fiber bound together with the individual Nylon 6,6 fibers in a "between-ply fusion."

Pretty cool, don't you think?

The Latest in Carpet Style Trends shows you specific examples of carpets made with Wear-Dated Natural Nylon carpet fiber. As others become available, I'll be sure to let you know, too!

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What About Shag and Cable Carpets?

I promised in Pray Tell: What is a Frieze Carpet? to tell you more about Shag and Cable carpets.

To recap, all three are part of the 'Twists" subcategory of textured carpet. They are sometimes also referred to as casual textures.

Let me share with you what I discovered about shags and cables!

First - shag.

Did you know that shag refers to specific swing dances like the collegiate shag, the Carolina shag and the St. Louis shag?

There's also the 1989 movie called Shag. And a bird related to the cormorant.

There's the artist called Shag [Josh Agle].

There's of course the term made famous by Austin Powers.

But, I found that shag or rolling tobacco reminds me most of shag relating to fabric and carpet. I wonder whether perhaps that isn't the origin of the carpet style.

In any case, shags and cables are both textured types of carpet [as opposed to loops]. On the Wear-Dated website - styles and types of carpet we describe shag carpet as follows:

Bolder and more stylish than what you remember, the new shags often combine a variety of yarn thicknesses and textures to make a trendy and bold design statement in your home.

[Photo of Tuftex's Super Chic here and above.]
That to me is what makes the shag carpets available today so much more luxurious and fashionable - and fun! - that what I remember as a kid.

Check out these links with additional photos of shag carpets. The second describes the yarns in a shag as "slightly twisted, with much less twist than the frieze. The individual yarn strands are longer and spaced further apart as opposed to the Saxony, Textured and Frieze Cut Pile Styles. The shag gives a "grass type look" because the strands lie in different directions."

[These shags remind me of a favorite choker necklace made up of many different strands of totally differently shaped and sized pearls - very small regular shapes, large regular, small and large irregular. Preposterous, but wonderfully tactile, showy and fun!]

The Shag Carpet Company has some more unusual images of shag carpet with fabulous combinations of colors.

[Image of Horizon's Melrose Place.]

Now, even though Shag Carpet - Groovy Events & Decor describes a certain nostalgic association for shag, the new shags capture exciting textures and luxurious fashions.

The most wonderfully extreme shag is Tuftex's My My My or Super Chic [pictured above].

Next: cable.

Cable carpet [according to the Wear-Dated page above] is characterized by fat, nubby yarns that lend a touch of luxury to a casual setting.

The World Floor Covering Association offers the following description for cable carpet:

[Image of Horizon's Flamboyant also described in The Latest in Carpet Style Trends.]

A style of carpet constructed of thicker, typically longer yarn that is better suited for rooms without a lot of activity. It can matte and crush with heavy foot traffic so it is not recommended for stairs, hallways and other busy areas in your home.

Some of the examples I have pictured here include Horizon's Melrose Place and Flamboyant [also described in The Latest in Carpet Style Trends].

In researching cable carpet, I did come across some unexpected interpretations. This certainly Gives new meaning to Cable Carpet and then there's Cable Carpet Helps You Hide the Evidence of Your Geekyness. I admire the practicality of these two cable carpets, though. Don't you?

However, I truly prefer the stylishness of real deal cable carpet, and hope that the shag and cable carpet styles I've described above inspire you to have fun with carpet!

Important Care Information: Please note that in caring for Shag and Cable carpets [we will address this in more detail in a separate post], neither shags nor cables - particularly very long - like vacuums with beater bars.

Much better to use a suction only vacuum cleaner with no beater bar to prevent the carpet from wrapping around the beater bar – which can create fuzzing.

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