Custom Sisal Stair Runner, Wellesley

Many people ask where and how sisals are used in your home. Because these natural fibers aren't particularly soft to the touch, people are skeptical of their practicality. What people don't know is how durable and forgiving these materials can be. Better yet, they are manufactured with inherent flaws that hide dirt, stains, and general traffic. The best places to use sisals are in entryways, stairs, living rooms, and dining rooms. I would not recommend them for indoor/outdoor applications, bedrooms, or family rooms. They are best used as area rugs and runners rather than wall to wall applications. There are a number of ways to fabricate, but the most common and decorative way is wide binding. Wide binding comes in a wide variety of colors, textures, and materials. We are always happy to offer design advice on how to finish these rugs and runners. Above is a photo of a custom stair runner we recently fabricated and installed in Wellesley. The material is a wool/sisal blend and is finished with a 5" linen binding. The runner continues up the stairs, around numerous turns, and into the upstairs hall. The enitr job was cut to fit. Just an unbelievable techinical job that was done flawlessly by our installation team.

Boston Custom Rug Program

Although we offer an extensive list of carpet related services, our custom rug program is what separates us from everyone else. No other carpet store allows you the opportunity to customize your rug from raw material to size, shape, and fabrication. Each stage of the process is directed by you and executed by us.

Our list of materials includes wool carpet remnants, nylon carpet remnants, sisal remnants, indoor/outdoor carpets, wool and synthetic broadloom carpets. All of our high quality materials come from the most trusted names in carpet; Nourison, Couristan, Prestige Mills, Glen Eden, Godfrey Hearst, Langhorne, Merida Meridian, Masland, Shaw, Mohawk, Dixie Home, Bellbridge, and many more.

Once you choose your desired pattern, color, and material, we work with you to determine the size of your rug or runner. We don't believe in standard sizes, rather we keep our remnants unfinished so we can customize your rug to the inch. After the size is established, we help you decide on the fabrication style; standard binding, wide binding, linen binding, tapestries, fringe, serging, and borders. We have examples of each and an extensive color selection to choose from.
With over 30 years of experience, our craftsmen will be happy to offer design advice. If you would like, you can even bring your own designer. Best of all, we don't employ any salesmen. You will be helped by the craftsmen that will be working on your rug. Once your order is placed, we also offer delivery and installation of rugs and stair runners to the following locations; Boston, Cambridge, Charlestown, South Boston, South End, North End, Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, Brookline, Arlington, Belmont, Wellesley, Winchester, Newton, Needham, Watertown, Weston, Sudbury, Sharon, Canton, Milton, Dedham, Westwood and many more. For more information about our services and the communities we service, please give us a call or visit www.thecarpetworkroom.net.

Norfolk Custom Hall and Stair Runner Project

There are two different schools of thought when giving advice on stair and hall runners. Some designers believe that hall runners connected to the stairs give the project a more consistent and complete look. But what if you want to expose more of the hard wood? Pictured above is a custom hall and stair project where all three runners/rugs were custom fit for the space. Having three separate pieces not only allows you to see more wood, but only requires half the carpet. To have them connected requires much more material, especially if there's a pattern to match, because you want to eliminate the seams. This project, fabricated from 100% Axminster wool, was originally a carpet remnant. Typically a job like this would cost over $3000, but we were able to do it for less than half that price.

Channel 5's Chronicle

Please tune in to Channel 5's Chronicle next Tuesday, 2/28 at 7:30. The Carpet Workroom and Reclamation Center will be featured on the episode, "Luxury for Less"!

Help us save a life!

We would like to introduce to you a new charitable promotion we will be running for the foreseeable future. We are working with another local business to collect water bottle caps for a woman named Camille who has been diagnosed with liver cancer. For every 500 caps collected, she receives one free chemotherapy treatment. We are offering $1 a future carpet or rug order for every water bottle cap you bring in (limit $10/order). Please help us save a life! Visit www.thecarpetworkroom.com for more information.

Wool Carpet Remnant Update

New wool carpet remnants are in! These high quality 100% wool remnants can be made into both designer area rugs and custom stair runners. These rugs and runners service Needham, Newton, Boston, Cambridge, Wellesley, Milton, Canton, Westwood, and Sudbury. Please call 781-844-4912 for more information.

For photos visit, http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150570978281025.380804.192451251024&type=3. For info visit, http://buygreencarpets.com/

Boston Custom Stair Carpet

This is a fantastic example of a custom stair runner. We installed this in a brownstone in Charlestown overlooking the city of Boston. This set of stairs twisted down three flights and includes multiple landings, all of which were cut to fit. We actually had to create templates for each stair because their variations in size and shape before fabricating from 100% wool broadloom carpet. Notice the consistent hardwood reveal throughout. It's amazing what a little creativity can do with stair carpets. For more info visit, www.thecarpetworkroom.net

An Insider's Guide to Buying Sisal

One of the fastest growing trends in the carpet and rug industry is sisal. There are many pronunciations for this product as well as many misconceptions. Most people that request this material do so without knowing much about it. They see pictures in design magazines, but are surprised once they see it in person. To the eye, it is very decorative, but to the touch, it’s not nearly as pleasant. The most practical uses are in dining rooms and living rooms where you typically aren’t barefoot or laying on it, or in entryways and stairs where there is a lot of foot traffic. It is extremely durable, holds up well over time, and actually cleans up rather nicely. Consider this your guide for buying sisal.

Real sisal carpets are made out of fibers extracted from the leaves of the agave plant which is a form of cactus. This material is produced all over the world, most commonly in Belgium, China, South America, South Africa, and Mexico. The highest quality sisal is produced in Belgium, but it is also the most expensive. Other natural fibers that are sometimes categorized with sisals are jute, abaca, sea grass, and coir. Here are some advantages of sisal fibers:

· 100% natural and biodegradable.

· Made from infinitely replenishable resources.

· Non-toxic, antistatic, and antibacterial.

· Contain tannins which repel dust mites.

· Absorbs moisture from the air when it’s humid and releases it when humidity drops which stabilizes the smell for sensitive noses.

· Makes for hard-wearing, rustic, yet elegant rugs and carpet.

· Moth and rot resistant.

· Good insulator and noise reducer.

Quality of sisals is dictated by the types of fibers used, the weight of the yarn, as well as the weight at which it is woven. Almost all of them are backed with latex in order to stabilize the shape and texture. This also helps with cleaning. The latex backing itself stops a large majority of dirt and liquid from filtering to your floor. This makes it easier for you to remove dirt with a good quality beater brush type vacuum. I have also heard that because of its solid construction, you can easily bring the rug outside to sweep, hose off, or beat with any solid object. One quick home remedy for spills; simply coat the stain with salt, let it dry, and then pick the stain out with a fork.

As I mentioned in the beginning, one complaint people have about sisals is their “wiry” feel. One way to soften these rugs is with a dense pad underneath. This will also add to the longevity of the rug itself. A good cushion acts as a shock absorber, keeping the rug looking new after many years of wear.

The best way to finish a sisal rug is with a wide cotton binding. Because of the latex backing and the sheer thickness of the fiber, standard thin binding won’t work. A 3” or 5” binding will not only keep your rug from fraying, but will add accent colors that will dress up the look of the rug. If you still don’t like the feel, there are many manufacturers that use wool and synthetic products to imitate the look of sisal. Wool sisals are the most expensive, but are the most decorative and comfortable. Polypropylene sisals are growing in popularity because of their inexpensive price and durability.

When you choose a sustainable area rug, you are not simply buying a home accessory. You are making a meaningful statement about what you believe in. You are helping to create a world where quality, beauty, and a sustainable way of life are essential. We have a wide selection of sisal remnants in our workroom as well as many other options for order. Please stop in to check them out!

www.thecarpetworkroom.net