Spring/Summer 2012 Carpet Style Trends From Scarlet Opus

My friends at Scarlet Opus always manage to create trend stories that captivate, innovate and generate ideas to inevitably inspire endless carpet style trends. Here, I share a preview of their Spring / Summer 2012 trend presentation.

Interestingly, the trend themes build on the notion of "season of collaboration" based on the UN declaration that 2012 is the The International Year of Co-operatives:

“… people who unite to meet common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly and democratically controlled enterprise.”

As Shelley Pond describes in her post: "A vast meeting of minds is occurring, a solidarity which could reshape our world. Standing together, embracing a world community, partnership, sharing, supporting. We arrive at the Spring/Summer 2012 season looking at things from a different perspective, a new stand point of positivity and determination to set things right. A global reboot!"

Furthermore, 

"The seasons styles are seductively sensorial; sound waves of patterns, high pitched colours, sharp fractured shapes … we awaken to a new aesthetic. A season of change, chaos, contradictions; products that soothe us, schemes that shake us up, patterns that reassure us, colours that alarm us. A beautifully, imperfect, harmony."

I'm ready! Are you?

Scarlet Opus' Spring/Summer 2012 Trends includes the following six themes:

Savoir-Faire: a re-establishing of Mid-Century values in the 21st Century paving the way for common courtesy, conviviality, and sobriety to reign supreme.

Eco-Carnival: a global fusion of rhythmic patterns, bright botanicals, and tribal geometrics with a South American beat.

Cultural-Nexus: a celebration of the power of the collective, connectivity, and community from the Middle East and beyond.

Colour-Capital: a dynamic mood of hi-energy, plugged-in colour, and positive vibrations from the future cityscape.

Majestic-Minimalism: a look back in order to look forward, harmoniously merging historical features with pared-down Modernism.

The-Abyss: an exploration into the depths of the world’s Oceans; the unexplored, the unknown, the extraordinary.

Thank you, Shelley, Victoria, Phil and the entire team at Scarlet Opus for sharing this vision of style trends to come!


For the full experience, visit the original Scarlet Opus post titled Spring / Summer 2012 - Sneak Peak on the Scarlet Opus Trends Blog which includes more images and perspective on each trend.

Carpet Style Trends & Ideas: George Clarke

Did you participate in the 10/15/10 live web chat with UK designer George Clarke?  If not, you can still enjoy the replay and glean carpet style trends, colors and ideas from the lively exchanges that took place. Here is a link to the housetohome webchat with George Clarke.

I thought I would recap for you George's comments relating to carpet since they are so relevant to the Carpetology Blog and bring to life some great carpet style trends and ideas.

By the way, George has carpet in his home. During the webchat he explained that he has carpet in his bedrooms and is about to install 1000 sq. feet of carpet in his newly designed basement because he wants that space to be "sofy, cosy and quiet..."

My friends at Funonthefloor.com invited me to ask the first question. What an honor!

Housetohome:
Let’s kick off with a question from Christine B Whittemore of Carpetology - "My readers are very interested in carpet style trends. What's the best way to incorporate the latest carpet patterns and styles in home design?"

George's response:
Bold colours or simple stripes are a really good way to incorporate the latest trends... this Season's 'Ballet Russe' is a perfect example of a latest trend - get the look with a rich red or plum carpet in a velvet pile - these are perfect and luxurious for bedrooms. There are loads of ideas and more information on this at www.funonthefloor.com.

[Thank you, George, and FunontheFloor!]

George Clarke offered advice on making a "teeny little flat in London" look bigger:  first have a big clear out and declutter, use minimal finishes and over elaborate on furnishings and decoration, integrate storage as much as possible rather than having free standing furniture, use a light coloured carpet on the floor or other light finishes...and paint all of the walls a light bright colour...a matt trade white is my favourite...keep everything minimal and simple. G

On making a space look less gloomy and more cheerful: get as much natural light in there as possible. My house is north facing and I have lots of skylights to get stronger light into all of the rooms. A few bright and bold colours on the wall or on the floor by using bright, colourful carpet can also add colour and vibrancy to a room....light and colour!!!!!! G

On carpet for absorbing sound and as alternative to wood flooing:  I'm a big fan of thick comfortable carpet. Timber flooring has been trendy for years but can often be cold in a room and for flats like yours its impractical. Go soft, cosy and luxurious...visit www.funonthefloor.com...G

[NB: Carpet is also a "brilliant insulator!!!!!!" says George.] 

On which colors are popular trends for carpet:  Abby...no way!...people are far more adventurous now and are avoiding the usual beige. The research and trends today show that people are looking to personalise their style and want to bring more character into their homes...the days of boring bland and neutral are gone! visit www.funonthefloor.com to see the trends for this year...you'll be impressed! G [CB: Hurray! George says it's ok to banish the beige!]

On carpet and kids:  everyone thinks carpet is completely impractical with kids...this aint true...they are much easier to clean and maintain than they used to be so don't compromise on comfort over practicality. There are ways of keeping your carpet in great nick. G

On the best carpet style for high traffic areas - asked by Blue Ant Studio blog:  A carpet labelled ‘Heavy Domestic’ will be good for high traffic areas. Berber carpets, also known as looped pile, are very durable and practical. A cut pile or twist is good for any room in the home.

Your carpet retailer should be able to help you choose one...and visit www.funonthefloor.com for even more inspiration and technical advice. G

[Note for North American readers: 'heavy domestic' is a carpet performance rating in the UK.]

Read through the web chat replay for some of the other tips, trends and ideas that George Clarke shared. As you can tell from these few responses the energy and enthusiasm were high - on George's part and from those participating and asking questions. Don't you think?

For additional resources about carpet trends and design ideas, check out:
www.FunontheFloor.com
George Clarke's Fun on the Floor design blog

And, from HousetoHome, short videos with George Clarke on
+ How to make your home more eco-friendly
+ How to add value to your home
And, finally George Clarke's website!

Surfaces Blog: Source of Carpet Style Trends & More!

Have you had a chance to visit the Surfaces Blog? If you're looking for design inspiration, ideas on carpet style trends and colors, with a dash of carpet - or surfaces - industry practicality thrown in, you will enjoy your visit!

The Surfaces Blog is managed by my friend Chelsie Z. Thornton, conference manager for Hanley Wood Exhibitions' SURFACES | StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas. [See Anticipating Surfaces 2011.]

My very favorite contributor is Victoria Redshaw who regularly shares entrancing thoughts and images that send my soul singing because of the combination of colors, patterns, and artistic inspiration.

You may remember Victoria from several previous posts:

+ Design Trends 2010: Carpet, Floors & More
+ Celebrating Carpet: UK's Fun On the Floor With Style

[I'm delighted to say that she is as inspiring in person. You see, I got to meet her and spend time with her at Surfaces 2010...]

In addition to flooring and carpet style trend information, the Surfaces Blog offers flooring business insights. Paul Friederichsen shares perspective on marketing and branding; Warren Tyler on sales; Lew Migliore on how to deal with flooring issues and how best to care for flooring. And others. All experts in their fields.

But, there's no one else like Victoria!

Do read the Surfaces Blog and let me know what you think.

Thanks,

Design Trends 2010: Carpet, Floors & More

With the New Year come the latest design trends offering inspiration for carpet, floors and much more. I share with you here resources for discovering more!

As a result of Celebrating Carpet: UK's Fun On the Floor With Style, I became acquainted with global trend forecaster Scarlet Opus, based in Yorkshire, England.

I did a blog interview with co-owner, Phil Pond [see Meet Scarlet Opus' Phil Pond], and am planning on meeting in person co-owner Victoria Redshaw at Surfaces 2010.

Scarlet Opus interests me because it uniquely focuses on interiors and products and décor for the home and home environments with a marvelous global twist. Given Victoria's global perspective, I thought you would be interested in the latest design trends that she has written about.

I'd love to hear what appeals to you the most...

Here goes:

+ From the Surfaces Blog, see 2010: new year... new way of thinking and being seen to be green. The photos are scrumptious and truly show off how beautiful a design element carpet is [as you can see from the photo above].

+ The Scarlet Opus Blog is a feast for the eyes and definitely worth exploring. Top Colour Trend Tip for 2010: Blue offers perspective on how important the color blue will be.

+ Although from January 2009, this article Houses as homes: don't move, improve - to which Victoria contributed - makes a strong point about improving what you have and how to do so with colors and textures... [Also check out Victoria's suggestions at the bottom of this article New Year New Décor for homeowners .]

+ Last, but not least, the Top 10 Colour Trend Tips for 2010...

Which are your favorite color and design trends for 2010? Which will you add to your home and how?

Celebrating Carpet: UK's Fun On The Floor With Style

Fun on the Floor with Carpet.

Fun on the Floor is a UK campaign sponsored by several carpet manufacturers [and not the Carpet Foundation and its member manufacturers which are not connected with Fun on the Floor - edited 1/19/10]. I first heard about it in 2008 in Is carpet about to make a comeback? A bit later, I was delighted to come across Carpet is back in style which offered delicious carpet style trends and details about Fun on the Floor.

A few weeks ago, I exchanged emails with Patrick Finn from Fun on the Floor, who graciously made possible the interview below with Steve Elliott, managing director of Associated Weavers in the UK and part of the Fun on the Floor panel of home experts offering free consumer design advice. He has worked in the carpet industry for over twenty years, has a varied and experienced background within the industry regularly dealing with manufacturers and suppliers. Steve is particularly knowledgeable about product development, the link between carpet and fashion and the changing colour trends that emerge. With an excellent understanding of the UK and world carpet market and also what consumers want from a carpet he is perfectly placed to comment on all carpet related issues.

Steve, what is the purpose of Fun on the Floor?

In 2008 a collective of carpet manufacturers, distributors and retailers joined forces to create a major generic marketing campaign under the banner of ‘Fun on the Floor’. The campaign aims to get the nation embracing the attributes of carpet.

The website www.funonthefloor.com is an interactive resource for anyone interested in learning more about the transformation that carpet can bring to a room – whether home owners, home improvers, retailers or media.

What objectives does Fun on the Floor want to achieve?

Fun on the Floor (FOTF) has four main objectives, to make carpet seen to be:

Noticed
Desirable
Affordable
Practical & fashionable

How did the members of FOTF get together?

All the UK’s major carpet manufacturers and retailers were invited to become part of FOTF, with Carpetright and Headlam spearheading the campaign. A total of 13 companies now make up the FOTF group.

What was done in the first year of Fun on the Floor?

In the first year Fun on the Floor ran a national campaign highlighting carpet as a flooring choice by bringing to life its versatility, practicality, affordability, and ability to transform a home!

The first phase of the campaign launched July 31st 2008 with the opening of a unique house in central London designed and curated by Interior Designer and Sunday Times Style Columnist Danielle Proud [mentioned in the article above].

The Fun on the Floor house acted as a showroom through a medley of creatively designed rooms featuring carpet in stunning, creative and fun ways based on current interior trends and popular carpet choices. The house was visited by trade, national, consumer, regional journalists as well as key influencers such as interior designers, production companies for a free shoot location and celebrities.

Following the launch of the Fun on the Floor House, an eye-catching press and outdoor advertising campaign launched in the Autumn that covered billboards and vans nationwide.

Supporting all the activity and creating a consumer hub to the campaign, an interactive website launched to coincide with the house opening (www.funonthefloor.com), helping consumers understand carpet and offering advice and tips from Danielle.

What about the second year?

In the second year Fun on the Floor continued with a national advertising campaign and developed the website further through the provision of an expert panel. Funonthefloor.com created a unique panel of home experts to offer consumers free advice on home improvement offering expert knowledge of interior flooring trends, carpets, colour and crafts. The panel consists of modern craft expert Danielle Proud, Interior Design expert Andrea Maflin, colour expert Victoria Redshaw and carpet industry brain Steve Elliott head of AWE carpets. Each member of the panel had been carefully selected for their individual areas of expertise.

In addition to the expert panel Fun on the Floor worked with leading trend forecasters Scarlet Opus to produce an interiors bible featuring all you need to know about forthcoming interiors trends with an emphasis on the most popular flooring choice – carpet. The report acts as an informative yet stylish guide with exclusive photography, quotes from the FOTF experts and a ‘get the look’ section.

Who are the experts on the FOTF panel and what do they specialize in?

Andrea Maflin – Interior Design Expert

Andrea Maflin is an interior design expert with many television appearances including Home Front and Real Rooms, both for the BBC, and Renovation Street for Carlton. She was the resident interiors expert on Channel 5's Britain’s Worst DIY-er as well as presenting on UKTV Style's Our House (Series 1 and 2). She has also designed a house for GMTV and appeared in regular design slots on Sky interactive and This Morning. A contributor to numerous interiors magazines Andrea currently has a regular, weekly slot in The Sunday Times.


Victoria Redshaw – Colour and trend forecaster expert

Victoria Redshaw is one of the trend forecasting industries brightest new stars and founded leading trend forecast agency Scarlet Opus. Quite visionary in her proven ability to read world events and social change and translate these into consumer trends with total accuracy for any business concerned with products &/or Services for the home.

Steve Elliott – Carpet industry expert

I am the managing director of Associated Weavers and have worked in the carpet industry for over twenty years. I have a varied background and am very active within the industry regularly dealing with manufacturers and suppliers. With a specific interest in product development I pride myself on being knowledgeable about the link between carpet and fashion and the changing colour trends that emerge. I follow the UK and world carpet market closely and also what consumers really want from a carpet so I can help make sure we create products people want to purchase.

Danielle Proud – Interiors and craft expert

Danielle launched the Fun on the Floor campaign last year with the stunning Fun on the Floor house. Described by the Sunday Times Style Magazine as "The sexy blonde Nigella of homemaking" Danielle Proud is the new face of modern craft. Danielle runs House Proud Craft, an umbrella company through which she sells her own design craft kits. In 2006 she moved into craft and home-making for UKstyle and a series of daily appearances on GMTV. In 2007 Danielle presented the highly original interior design format ‘All in the Best Possible Taste’ for BBC2, which paired her with husband Alex Proud. She is also developing an exclusive craft range to be sold throughout the UK and had a regular column in the Sunday Times Style Magazine.

What trends can we expect to see develop in 2010?

King and Country

This October Chanel hosted the most elaborate fashion show of the year as models took to the catwalk surrounded by an enormous barn and piles of hay. Rural colours dominated, with deep greens, sand and wheat colours making ‘country chic’ truly the hottest look of the show. This trend is destined to start filtering its way from the catwalks of Europe to the home as funonthefloor interiors FOTF colour expert Victoria Redshaw predicts the King & Country look will be big in interiors next spring.

The King and Country trend it is not about severe austerity, but rather cheerfulness in the trend’s styling that reflects the spirit of 1940’s wartime Britain. An abundance of simple patterns inspired by the reworking and recolouring of classic men’s suiting fabrics [e.g. tweed, herringbone and plaids] to create fantastic carpets, upholstered furniture that has patches of appliqué, cushions, throws, lampshades and even wallpaper!

Eastern Odyssey

An emerging influence, Eastern Odyssey is a huge trend that will bring much needed colour and pattern to a darker season such as Autumn/Winter. In addition to the bright sari shades the colour palette is updated by the addition of rich spice and dark maroon tones inspired by monsoon rain and mists. Maroon is a key colour development in this trend e.g. its inclusion in décor schemes through one step of laying a new carpet will help to refresh rooms and deliver a contemporary look. A visual opulence is reinforced by the use of an orange toned gold as well as burnished copper and brass.

The hustle and bustle of Indian city streets with their jostling crowds, decorative tuck-tucks, billboards and market stalls inspire mash-up patterns and colour mixes that reflect the vibrancy of life. This trend is not about co-ordinating, it is about lively mixes of different patterns on upholstered seating, wallpaper & oversized wall decal motifs, curtains and carpets. The abundance of pattern is balanced by areas of strong, plain colour blocks, with the introduction of bold carpets which can stop room schemes from looking chaotic. The juxtaposing patterns enrich and add character whilst the plain areas add depth and provide a calming foundation.

Magic Garden

This trend’s look can be achieved by the playful use of scale. Much of the Alice in Wonderland story involves manipulating scale and this is an important feature of furniture design and interior design relating to this trend and other home trends in 2010. Carpet's essential role in this trend is to provide a neutral or vivid base, either of which works well to enhance the magic garden look. Another important feature of this trend is storybook illustrations. They inspire surface pattern designs with a doodled, naive styling or narrative layouts that appear to tell a story and have a logical progression -- e.g. around the edge of a plate, up wallpaper or around a tabletop.

These placement patterns are much more interesting than conventional pattern layouts. The tangled foliage and colourful blooms of magical, fairytale gardens are an integral part of this trend. Vibrant mixes of large scale floral prints that appear to grow up wallpaper and wall decals create indoor English country garden scenes. Floral wallpapers can be used to decorate fitted wardrobe doors and bedside tabletops. Carpet with tiny, scattered flowers also helps to bring the outside, inside. For a bolder look select small scale gingham patterned carpet or for a plainer look invest in a pale blue or pale pink cut pile carpet.

For more on what are going to be the top trends in the home next year go to www.funonthefloor.com and ask the Fun on the Floor experts.

Is the trend report available on the FOTF website?

FOTF is constantly updating with new images and new content such as the expert panel to keep consumers interested and returning to the site. The full FOTF trend report is due to go live on the site by the end of 2009, giving consumers exclusive access to what is going to be hot in the interiors world next year.

What advantages do you think carpet has over other flooring choices?

Well for a start there are now a seemingly uncountable range of colours, styles and designs available on the market now. Carpet is also great for giving a house a cosy feel and can save consumers up to £100 [approx. $165] a year on their energy costs due to its insulating qualities. Carpet is also very affordable, an average sized room can be carpeted for as little as £200 [approx. $330]. Another great advantage of carpet is it’s noise canceling properties, many hard floors carry sound all over the house and therefore can be a very noisy flooring choice.

Finally, what does Funonfloor.com have planned for the future?

We will be continuing to innovate and produce great content on the site for consumers, trade and the media. Carpet has a great heritage in the UK and our aim is to continue the nation’s love of carpet and showcase it in as many compelling and visually appealing ways as possible. With regard to what we have planned coming up specifically I cannot say too much other than – keep checking the site!

Steve, many thanks for all of this wonderful, fun and style-filled carpet information! I look forward to learning more as Fun on the Floor continues.

The Fun on the Floor website is worth exploring. It includes details on the House that designer Danielle Proud re-imagined [definitely take the 6.42minute video tour], helpful and useful advice about carpet, inspiration for living on carpet, and responses to Ask the Experts questions. From my U.S. perspective, I particularly enjoy seeing the range of rich carpet style patterns, textures and colors.

And, I LOVE the carpet creativity that Danielle shares. She has truly brought new dimension to carpet, furniture and the 5th wall!

What do you think? What are your reactions?




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The Latest Carpet Style Trends 2009

Chile Fashion Week grafica originally uploaded by kevinkobek.

Hurray! After being on the lookout for several months, I've just come across information on the latest carpet style trends...

This from the August 31/September 7, 2009 issue of Floor Covering News in an article titled "Mills roll out new products for fall, discuss trends, looks." [Subscription required for full article.]

The latest news is primarily about color although Emily Morrow, Shaw's director of color, style and design states that "Hand-touched visuals are achieved in carpet through the use of striated yarns, creating the sun-faded, hand-knotted and time-worn visuals of the hand-knotted heirloom rugs from middle-eastern origins."

My interpretation: texture comes from visual effects.

Not too different from the kinds of effects that Robbie Schuette described in A Foot's Perspective About Fabrica's Silk Weave Carpet.

Specifically on the color front, Vickie Gilstrap, vice president of residential color and design with Mohawk, shared five key trends that new carpet styles will reflect:

• Neutrals will bring security in a bold way.
• Nature is a natural source for optimism.
• Buying "American" takes on a new meaning.
• Think royal.
• In addition to local, there's more global.

Fun to think how those trends affect us right now... I'm totally into purple, and I'd say we're all more aware and appreciative of the uniqueness that local and global offer in counteracting the sea of sameness.

Emily Morrow says "the world of color, style and design has taken a turn toward 'comfortable, sensible sophistication' for 2009... Today's palette doesn't vary far from the 'natural neutrals' to 'dark, rich neutrals' with a few exceptions."

Furthermore, "gray, dark brown, tans, black and white are what we find most prevalent.... These are the most basic yet classic and elegant neutrals from which to choose as a beginning. The newest carpet styles are using these rich neutral colors, considered no-brainers but appropriately supported with a cast of other vibrant colors from the fashion/interior world, offering the consumer the choice of using 'color as pop' or 'color as canvas.'"

For more of Emily Morrow's thoughts about color, read this Floor Focus article on 2009 Color Trends that she and Kaye Gosline contributed to.

I'm eager to discover how all of this translates into actual carpet styles. I'll be attending [and presenting at] the upcoming Surfaces 2010 and hope to have specifics to share with you then.

In the meantime, how do you see these trends affecting you and your flooring decisions?



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Obama Inauguration Reinvents Red Carpet

President Obama and the First Lady

orignally uploaded by acaben.

Can you imagine a presidency and country more poised for change? Not only do I anticipate change in fashion, home trends and carpet styles because of the First Family's Sense of Style, but I also expect a more creative use of carpet for traditional red carpet events.

First, were you aware that President Obama is the first president ever to take the Oath of Office from a recycled, solid-blue carpet? [Although he retook it shortly thereafter] And that he stepped on a recycled carpet runner [blue bordered in red] to go from the bottom of the U.S. Capitol’s Rotunda steps to the West Front podium? This according to TheHill.com and Green carpet won't quite cover Inaugural footprint.

Then, there are the fancy parties and Inaugural Balls.

Ball Tickets originally uploaded by brdweb.

Although I didn't make it to a single one in Washington, D.C. [preferring a quiet Northern New Jersey family celebration], I do feel as if I have lived some of the events. Is it the same for you?

Not only has the news coverage of these ultimate Red Carpet events been impressive, but I love what has been captured via social media tools live facebook, flickr [from where the photos here come] and huffingtonpost.com.

The New York Times has a wonderful article titled The President, the People, the Parties which includes several slide shows of the events. The article itself is fascinating as it gives you a sense of the breathless excitement and joy of Tuesday's events.

I particularly enjoyed the carpet references:

"The planners of some of the big-ticket parties presented their events as accessible as well, like the Inaugural Purple Ball, which celebrated “bipartisanship, unity and diversity” in the words of organizers.

Thus a traditional red carpet representing exclusivity was deemed boring and out of date. Instead the ball had a purple carpet. Other, so-called “green” balls had their own, yes, green carpets."

I definitely sense a reinvention for red carpet. What say you?

Added 1/28/09:

From the 1/28/09 issue of Interior Design, Obama Sworn in on Bentley Prince Street Carpet. Congratulations Bentley Prince Street, a valued Ultron carpet fiber customer!




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Color Folio 2008: A Field Guide to Color Around The World Recap

Our 2008 Color Forecast, Color Folio 2008 - A Field Guide to Color - includes two parts. One is the Color Around The World series, offering a taste of the culture of color, which we've just completed. The other is inspired by John J. Audubon's work.

I thought it would be helpful to recap all of the elements of Color Folio 2008 here, for easy reference.

Color Around The World reviewed six colors here on The Carpetology Blog:

+ Red Around The World,
+ Green Around The World,
+ White Around The World,
+ Blue Around The World,
+ Yellow Around The World
+ Black Around The World

After all, one color may have multiple associations depending on its use in a particular country and culture. As an example, white is a symbol of purity and innocence in the U.S., and of mourning in some African countries. Each color family is examined for cultural associations enriching the specifier’s understanding of color application in today’s diverse business environment.

In Color Folio 2008 - A Field Guide To Color [in Flooring The Consumer], we include information relating to the Audubon-inspired part of the forecast, as well as some color trends.

You see, John J. Audubon's paintings inspired us. Especially when we discovered how relevant the beautiful color combinations of Audubon’s birds were for our forecast, and for the way in which we apply color to interior spaces today.

Did you know that Audubon produced more than 450 plates of beautiful birds? For many at the time, Audubon’s paintings were the first glimpse of the wild. One French art critic recalled his works and said they brought to Europe a fresh poetic vision of America in all its wild abundance! Nature offers a spectacular vision of color with countless nuances and shades of every hue. This Audubon inspired vision of nature with its intriguing color combinations is relevant today and it inspired our 2008 palette which is a bit more conservative and slightly more complex than in previous years.

You can view a video clip that shows Audubon's birds in conjunction with color trends from the Wear-Dated website.

Read how you can apply some of these trends in Color and The Retail Experience.

And, be on the lookout at the end of October 2008 for Fabulous Floors' Fabulous Find: Color...

If you'd like to learn more about John J. Audubon, here is a 2008 Color Folio Resource List we developed.



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Carpet At The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games

2008 Beijing Olympic logo downloaded from PRWeb.

It's here! It's here! The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics!

For four years, the world has waited in eager anticipation. Finally, the day has arrived. Friday, August 8, 2008, kicks off the 29th summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

There has been quite a bit of controversy around these games thus far, but in spite of some interesting press, the show will go on. People of all countries, nationalities, races and backgrounds will huddle around their television sets to watch the astounding grace, strength, athleticism and talent that Olympic participants possess. And then, of course, there's the carpet.

Oh yes, even at the Olympic games, we're thrilled to see the carpet!

At the opening ceremonies, you'll apparently get a glimpse of a very dramatic carpet. According to television footage taken of a dress rehearsal, at one point, a huge, carpet-like scroll unrolls; it's apparently a massive piece of artwork. The Times in London describes it as a "giant traditional scroll painting of misty mountains on which gymnasts cavorted." What does this mean exactly? We don't really know, but we're excited to find out! Apparently, Korean television news station SBS recorded the rehearsal and caused quite a stir by broadcasting the resulting footage. The opening ceremony's secrets are kept under lock and key, complete with rumors of confidentiality agreements for participants, three rings of security, and jail time for those who don't comply.

What we do know for sure, however, that Chinese filmaker Zhang Yimou (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) took three years to develop a lavish 50-minute show based on the history of China. The show will take place within the 3.5 hour opening ceremonies and will include a cast of 10,000. Be prepared to be amazed!

Kerri Strug at the 1996 Olympics.

During the gymnastics, there will most certainly be carpet. I have to say, the gymnastics are my favorite and always have been. I wanted to be Kerri Strug when she landed her vault perfectly to win her team the gold medal in Atlanta in 1996. (In fact, I still get goose bumps about it.) This year, the United States women's team has strong hopes for the gold, according to ESPN.

A very literal red carpet has decorated the path of the Olympic torch bearers. The torch relay began on July 2 and will end on August 6 after having passed through numerous Chinese cities and communities.

Below, Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut, runs with the torch as the first torchbearer at the Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, Aug. 6, 2008. The Olympic torch relay began its final leg in Beijing from the landmark Forbidden City Wednesday morning.

(Photo credit: Luo Xiaoguang/Xinhua)
And, interestingly, there is another type of carpet at the Olympics this year: the figurative red carpet.

According to a McClatchy wire story by Linda Robertson: "China has rolled out the red carpet for the Olympics, but behind the polite smiles, the government is using the Games as a showcase for legitimacy, respect and power."

An interesting take on the carpet concept. The article is a fascinating one, so if you're interested in learning more about China, then and now, I'd recommend it.

So there you have it. Carpet in all nooks and crannies of the 2008 Olympic Games. Don't forget to tune in!

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Red Carpet Event: Karastan & Joyful Heart Foundation

Photo courtesy of Karastan.

I'm so very excited to share with you a real life red carpet event, associated with people I know and really like [Connie Berry and David Duncan] from the carpet industry [Karastan], for a cause that sends chills up & down my back: The Joyful Heart Foundation.

Have you heard about it?

The Joyful Heart Foundation was created in 2002 by Mariska Hargitay, a.k.a. detective Olivia Benson on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Its mission is to "heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, and to shed light into the darkness that surrounds these issues."

In Mariska's words from the website: "In creating programs for our members, we quickly realized that everyone heals differently. We provide an extensive network of resources for women and our own groundbreaking retreats that include art therapy, surf camps, swimming with dolphins in the wild, yoga and writing workshops that complement traditional counseling and therapy. When women are abused and assaulted, it is like the doors to their souls slam shut. The goal of Joyful Heart is to let the light, and the life, back in--to banish the darkness and let the healing begin."

The Joyful Heart Foundation website is an unusual place, filled with the sounds of dolphins underwater. It also includes numerous resources for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.

I find Hargitay's performance as detective Benson riveting. She is intense, passionate and totally focused on the special victims whose protector she is. It's hard for me to realize, as I did after speaking with Connie Berry - pictured here with Mariska and David Duncan - that she didn't come into her role with the Joyful Heart mission. Rather, the role, the research she did to convincingly play the role and the interaction she had with victims of abuse in her role led her to found The Joyful Heart Foundation.

Talk about a personal statement.

Connie, David and Karastan became involved because Mariska Hargitay was Karastan's 2007 'statement maker.' What better way to make a statement than to support one's statement maker as she makes her personal statement.

According to Connie, Mariska wanted to create an event with the ambiance of an Academy Awards event. Hence the red carpet, which Karastan donated. The star-studded event was amazing, with Mariska raising over $1 million. Packages were auctioned off [e.g., imagine the 'literary package' complete with Plum Blossom rug, private party for 4 hosted by best-selling crime novelist Linda Fairstein] with brilliant Christie's orchestration...

[Here is a video clip of Mariska with Hilary Swank and Christopher Meloni at the event.]

What a fantastic Red Carpet Event in honor of an organization - The Joyful Heart Foundation - and a woman - Mariska Hargitay - making a difference in this world.

If you'd like to make a donation to The Joyful Heart Foundation, this is the link.

If you know someone who has lived through sexual assault, domestic violence or child abuse, please direct them to The Joyful Heart Foundation.

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Green is the New Red Carpet

Image from IMZ.

You've heard of the red carpet. It's all over Hollywood - movie premiers, celebrity events, charity galas. Carpetology even paid tribute to it in Red Carpet Treatment and Create Your Own Red Carpet Experience.

But now, Bollywood, India's version of Hollywood, is taking the red carpet to the next level - green.

According to Wikipedia, "Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry in India. Bollywood is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the Indian film industry. Bollywood is one of the largest film producers in the world." Bollywood films are most likely musicals, with formulaic, melodramatic plots. But no matter what else they are, they're also extremely entertaining. [To get your feet wet in Bollywood entertainment, check out Monsoon Wedding - it was up for a Golden Globe here in the States in 2002.]

Geetanjali, a well-known Bollywood actress, walks the green carpet.

Image from jaman.com.

The International Indian Film Academy [IIFA] has held its own version of the Oscars each summer since 2000. Each year, it takes place in a different exotic location like Singapore or Malaysia. This year, it was held in Bangkok, Thailand on the weekend of June 6. The event consisted of an entire weekend of festivities, including an awards ceremony, a global business forum, a fashion extravaganza, and of course, unlimited numbers of dazzling Bollywood celebrities. And this year, instead of celebrities walking down the red carpet, they walked down a symbolic green carpet.

A Bollywood actress on the green carpet. Image from bbc.co.uk.

Last year, the IIFA unveiled its "Green Agenda," a movement toward making the organization's events carbon neutral and environmentally friendly. The green carpet, they felt, represented this shift in priorities: "From last year, the IIFA has changed the color of its star carpet walk from the Oscar-tradition red to green, to comply with the movement's engagement in fighting global climate change," read a story from the Hindu News.

But green carpet isn't only paving the star-studded walkways of India; here in the United States, it very appropriately replaced the red carpet for the premier of Marvel Comic's The Incredible Hulk. Stars Edward Norton and Liv Tyler walked it together on June 9, at the movie's premier in Los Angeles.

But perhaps the most important recent green carpet news comes from the Carpet and Rug Institute.

Earlier this month, the CRI announced that it received accreditation as a certification body for indoor air quality from the American National Standard Institute [ANSI]. Consider that CRI is the first organization within the soft floor covering sector to earn this accreditation. The organization's Green Label and Green Label Plus programs test for and certify the emissions of low-emitting volatile organic compounds found in carpet-related products, making homes everywhere safer and our air cleaner. "Because people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, it is important to do everything possible to maintain the quality of indoor air, especially for new construction and renovation," says the CRI. The certifications the organization gives assure architects and builders that when they choose a carpet for a home or building, they're choosing one that's both clean and green. Additionally, the CRI is working with the ANSI to create a standard for sustainable carpet.

For the CRI, it will be business as usual. But with this new accreditation, business as usual will have a much bigger - and greener - impact.





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Getting Carrie-d Away on the Pink Carpet

SJP on the Pink Carpet. Photo compliments of The Cut.

Four years ago, just as the show was ending its run on HBO, I became a fan of Sex and the City.

At first, I enjoyed it simply for its clever writing and stunning fashion; I'd watch reruns and unwind at the end of the day. But the more I tuned in, the more I related to the characters (I'm a Miranda), the more I (and hundreds of thousands of women like me) felt a connection to their friendship and their lives, and the more I began to see that this show wasn't just a bit of fluff and drama.

Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte serve as both role models and mirrors - we aspire to be like them just as we see ourselves in them. They talk about life in a way that is candid and honest, and through their conversations, we learn to open ourselves up, accept ourselves as we are, and know that regardless of the issue we deal with, there are others like us.

But the show's real kicker, says Michael Patrick King, is that the characters help us do all of this with humor.

Right: The Bradshaw.

All of this is why I celebrated when I saw Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis making their way to the big screen for Sex and the City: The Movie and strutting their stuff on the... pink carpet!

Strewn with Swarovski crystals (apparently 10,000 of them), the pink carpet outdid any red carpet event in recent memory. For the New York City movie premier at Radio City Music Hall, the Fab Four were decked out in metallic tones, sporting sky-high stilettos, and were later seen sipping Bradshaws at the Carlyle Hotel. You can see a video of the event here and get up close and personal with the lucious pink carpet.

In its first weekend, Sex and the City: The Movie drew enormous crowds of people (mostly women) to the box office and an estimated $55.7 million. Celebrities and fans alike used social media to communicate with those unable to attend the premier or the weekend's first showings. Meghan Cleary, of MissMegan.com, Tweeted her way through her pink carpet experience. And fans apparently sent messages and photos to Sarah Jessica Parker's cell phone, alerting her of the huge lines and packed theaters.

With all the publicity, fashion and frenzy, it's enough to make you want to get Carrie-d away...

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