Competition Winners Revealed!

Congratulations To Our Lucky Rug Photo Competition Winners at Rugs Direct!

We would like to congratulate Anne Akers for winning 1st prize in our recent rug photo competition! Anne will recieve £50 to put towards a new rug of her choice from our website.

We also decided to create a 2^nd prize due to the number of photos we recieved, so 2^nd prize goes to Sue Lancaster! Sue will recieve £25 to put towards a new rug of her choice from our website.



Both of these lovely rugs can be bought directly through our website in the 'modern' and 'traditional' categories.

We will be announcing a brand new competition very soon for all of our Rugs & Stair Rods customers via our Newsletter and facebook page so keep your eyes pealed!

Add some bling to your staircase!

A stair rod, or carpet rod as some people call them date back to the late 19th century, when they were used to attach a stair runner to a staircase. Unfortunately the runner would gradually slip down the staircase which was dangerous and would often wear unevenly.

These day’s your carpet fitter will use gripper to secure your carpet or stair runner as it is a far safer method. However stair rods are still very popular as they now get used for decorative reasons.

Stair rods can often create a traditional look to your stair case, but what many people don’t realize is that they can also create a modern and stylish look too.

 

Below (left) is the 'Tudor Stair Rod Tudor Stair Rods' and below (right) is the 'Homepride Stair Rod'. Both are available from our website.

There are a variety of super stylish and traditional stair runners and carpet runners available which would be the focal point of your stair case. The stair rods would then enhance your stair case further, just like adding a bag, hat, belt or shoes to complete an outfit you are wearing.

Our most popular stair rods at present are the 'Vision' Runner Rods. The Vision stair rods feature modern finial designs with a choice of Sphere, Piston, Arrow and Balladeer finials. They are designed to complement contemporary stair cases and carpet designs. The Vision stair rods are a great choice for those looking for something different to the norm.

We also sell  Crystal Stair Rods which are quite unique. Each Crystal rod features a finely cut Austrian crystal which catches the light and creates a dramatic and quite unique decorating effect. These elegant carpet rods emphasise the stair runner whilst offering a touch of elegance. Crystal rods are suitable for use with either carpet runner or fitted carpet making them a great choice for all homes.

Another unique type of stair rod we sell are actually clips as opposed to rods and are called  ‘Victorian Stair Clips’. In Victorian times stair clips were a popular and fashionable accessory, however modern fitting methods sadly consigned them to history.

 

Our Victorian stair clips are solid brass in a variety of finishes and traditional manufacturing methods are used to give them quality and authenticity. They will recreate the look of yesteryear and add a distinctive touch to your stairs. They can even create a modern feel particularly in a chrome finish.

You can find a large variety of stair runners and stair rods including the ones featured in this blog from our website:

www.stair-rodsdirect.co.uk

Removing Drink Stains From Your Carpet Or Rug

Happy 2013! Now Let’s Clean Up The Mess From Last Night’s Party! 

So it’s the first day of the New Year, you’re feeling a little worse for wear, but one thing you are sure of is that your house party was a total success last night. The music was pumping, the drinks were flowing and you had more fun than you have had in a long time. 

The problem is that you have a major post party clean up ahead of you and whilst that’s an indication that you hosted an amazing party, it’s a littler daunting to say the least, particularly whilst nursing a hangover!

But don't worry because we are here to help you! The first thing to do is check your carpet and rugs for stains. It’s always best to attack carpet and rug stains as soon as they happen with a dry, clean cloth before they can sink into the rug fibers, but if you didn’t realise it had happened it’s time to get started now!

If you have found wine & beer stains, here is what to do:

(1)  Prepare a mixture of neutral detergent with a cup of warm water (make sure the water is not too hot as this can make the stain worse). There are various professional strength carpet and upholstery spot and stain removers for different types of stains and to use on different rug and carpet materials.

(2)   If you don’t have a detergent at hand you can create your own by diluting a few drops of clear hand-dishwashing soap in water. (Don’t use laundry detergent as it is too alkaline). You can also try using white vinegar on a stain if your detergent mix is not working. Ammonia also works well on synthetic carpets and rugs.

   (3)  If you are cleaning a wool rug, never use ammonia or any other highly alkaline cleaner as it can damage wool. 

   (4)  If you have spilt red wine then cover the stain with a good amount of salt and allow the salt to soak up the red wine. Vacuum it up afterwards and continue with this process to remove the remaining stain. White wine is an effective way of getting rid of red wine stains too, but it can enlarge the stain and saturate the carpet.

   (5)  Test a small, inconspicuous area of the carpet or rug with your chosen cleaning solution before treating the stain to make sure it tolerates the solution well.

   (6)  Use a white cloth to blot this liquid onto the stain. Don't rub it in as you may drive the stain deeper into the carpet/rug. Only use cloths that are white to prevent any bleeding from the cloth into the stain. 

     (7)  When blotting with the cloth, work from the outer edges of the stain in towards the center to minimise spreading the stain.

    (8)  Repeat the process until the stain is removed or no more color is lifted off on the cloth.

    (9)  Blot the area with cold water. Be sure not to make the area too wet as this can cause the carpet or rug to shrink) 

   (10) Then absorb the liquid with clean white towels. Place a book or heavy object over the white towels in order to absorb any excess water. 

   (11)  Allow the area to air dry thoroughly, or use a hair dryer on a cool setting and then go over it with a vacuum cleaner to restore texture and remove any remaining residue.

Now you have removed the drink stains from your floor it’s time for a well earned rest…or maybe a tidy up of the empty and half empty bottles, cans and glasses to prevent any further stains from accidentally happening!

Disclaimer:  Although these tips are tried and tested, they will not remove every drink stain from every rug and carpet. If you are in any doubt then call up a professional carpet cleaner for advice.

A New Year, A New Look?

Revitalise Your Home For 2013

The rush and excitement of Christmas is well and truly over and 2013 is now in full swing.  A new year can bring about a lot of questions about ourselves from our career goals to our lifestyle. 

A New Year means a whole new set of possibilities and opportunities and we often find ourselves clearing out the old and bringing in the new. 

For some of us this allows us to let go of the past and welcome a new beginning and fresh start. For others it is simply spring cleaning coming early or taking advantage of some Christmas money to spend on ourselves for a change. 

Whatever your reason may be, one of the easiest ways to revitalise your home or work place is by adding a rug to it. Not only does a new rug instantly lift a dull and faded carpet, or create a soft warm feeling underfoot on hard floors, it also adds colour, warmth and personality to any room. 

Rugs come in a variety of sizes and prices to suit all rooms and budgets. They range in style from traditional designs to modern and elegant, to funky ‘out there’ designs! There really is a rug to suit every room and every personality. 

 

If you are in search of a new you and a new home without moving or picking up a paint brush then browse through our website and see what takes your fancy. You can even add rugs to your ‘wishlist’ and come back to them another day.

 If you have any questions we are always happy to help on the other end of the phone or by email.

www.rugsdirect.co.uk

Louis de Poortere @ Rugs Direct

Rugs allow you to inject a bit of class and style into your interior design, especially if you are able to find unique, exciting rugs from designers like Louis De Poortere. Louis De Poortere specialise is producing vintage rugs with a modern twist. They deliver on sophistication and quality and help you to lift the appearance of your interiors to another level. 

Whether you want something tasteful and neutral or a statement piece to bring your room to life and be the focal point, you will find a Louis De Poortere rug to suit you.  All of their rugs are luxurious in quality, durable and comfortable underfoot.

Based in Belgium, Louis de Poortere have been producing luxurious rugs since 1859. Their hugely respected team of Flemish weavers are proud to have a great deal of ownership over every stage of the production process, from their own spinning, dying and weaving. This allows them to produce high quality Wilton rugs made from 100 per cent wool, all of which are completely recyclable and bio-degradable.




Here at Rugs Direct we currently have two fantastic rug ranges available by Louis De Poortere.  The Vintage collection is a stunning range of classic designs that have been updated to create a fresh take on an established look. They features a selection of stylish patchwork designs in modern and traditional colour options and offer a contemporary twist on traditional styles to suit most modern interiors.




Decromatic is the latest textured rug from Louis De Poortere. A beautiful textured collection in a vibrant palette of 23 stunning colours and 6 standard sizes.  The variety in colours and sizes allows you to choose a rug that will compliment any sized room decorated in any colour and style!


 


Better still, all Louis De Poorter rugs allow custom sizes on request and have a  revolutionary built in antislip backing which is completely invisible and performs brilliantly.

To view the full range of Vintage AND Decromatic rugs visit our website. www.rugsdirect.co.uk

Clearance Rugs

We have added a whole host of rugs to our CLEARANCE section and will soon be adding even more!  If you're looking for a high quality rug on a budget then check out our clearance section and bag yourself a bargain!

Below is a selection of what is currently on offer!

For more details or to buy any of these rugs visit our CLEARANCE SECTION on our website

Funky Rugs for your home!

This week’s Rugs Direct newsletter focuses on the latest rugs in our Funky rugs range. We now stock an array of colourful collections with unique and contemporary designs, in a multitude of colour palettes. And because we love them so much we’ll be stocking even more fabulous funky designs as of next week!

Our new Lila rugs from Asiatic Carpets offer a contemporary style with a semi retro feel.  These eye catching rugs are hand tufted in India with a very thick wool pile giving an exclusive texture and appearance. Because they are handmade in India and woven with luxurious looped wool yarns they offer complete comfort and warmth – perfect for this time of year now the nights are drawing in and the days are getting colder!

Our Funk rugs speak for themselves. Their contemporary design features every colour in the rainbow and is sure to brighten up any room. It even comes as a runner as well as a rectangular carpet making sure that you can transform your hallway with a burst of colour without needing to touch a paint brush. This ultra modern design rug looks and feels expensive as it comes with classic hand tufted quality and a top notch heavyweight New Zealand wool blend pile (3.3kg per sq metre). 
  

Here at Rugs Direct we are starting to miss the summer and longing for a trip to sunnier climes.  Luckily for us we have discovered the Hawaii rugs collection which offers you a little piece of that tropical living, even on a cold winters day!  This stunning collection offers six attractive designs and is handmade in China with a 100% wool pile which is thick, heavy and soft. Hand carving is used throughout to highlight the pattern for visual appeal giving a beautiful finish.

 Our Soul rug by Asiatic Carpets  is our most fun and exciting rug we have recently begun stocking.  In fact the colour palette is so incredible that there is only the need for one rug design in this collection.  With its fun and funky felted wool balls in bright vibrant colours, the soul rug truly is one of a kind.  The bright colours and unusual texture give the rugs a unique, fun and funky look as well as providing warmth and texture underfoot.

 

That’s just a taste of what’s new on the Rugs Direct Website, if you are looking for quality, funky rugs with a designer feel, we are confident that we have the rug for you!


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