Rugs: Where To Get The Best
The Sun Herald
Sunday February 17, 1991
WHEN Mark Anthony first saw Cleopatra, she was being unfurled from a carpet (at least in the film version) which confirms the feeling that carpets have a certain romantic quality.
Which they do, but they also serve a practical purpose, and what's more they're expensive.
Carpets are possibly one of the most expensive items we ever buy for the home, so we need to make a wise choice, especially when going for wall-to-wall carpet.
Many people fall in love with a carpet they see in the showroom then live to regret either the colour or the quality. Carpet is a lifetime decision.
To get round the expense and agony of the complete job, there's carpet remnants and rugs.
At Matmaster (533 3521), managing director Robert Johnston said people could buy remnants from his store or bring their own in for overlocking.
"Rugs are becoming more popular, especially in this climate," he said. "People are saving on buying mats because once upon a time, the offcuts would be thrown out."
Matmaster charges $2.50 a metre for cutting, trimming and overlocking and$3.50 for fringing, and the work is usually finished in five days.
Mr Johnston's company will also back carpet with calico so it does not wear on existing carpet for $7.40 a square metre or put a non-skid surface on it for $8 a square metre.
At Matman Overlocking and Fringing (953 3489), manager Geoff Shannon stocks a number of standard size rugs made from their available remnants.
Prices start from $3.95 for a 61cm by 38cm bathmat to $149 for a 3.6m by 2.7m rug.
The range of styles and textures depends on the ebb and flow of stock but Mr Shannon's company makes standard sizes in rectangular, oval and round rugs
Matman will also make rugs to suit specific areas. Mr Shannon said using rugs was a practical alternative in tough economic times.
"Apart from the carpet, there is the cost of labour and underlay."
Manager of Economy Carpets (560 6826), Kathy Jones, said her company began the overlocking service to "get its money back" on carpet remnants.
She said runners were the most popular item with customers who wanted to protect polished boards.
Customers could bring in their new or secondhand carpet for overlocking for$2.50 a metre ($3 for secondhand) or $4 a metre for fringing.
Manager of Engadine Carpet Warehouse (520 0628), Daryl Waller, said stock varied according to deliveries but standard nylon or wool rugs 68cm by 135cm were $19.
Imitation Persian-style rugs with fringing start at $59 for 150cm by 90cm.
This company will also make made-to-measure rugs from available remnants or those supplied by the customer.
The Carpet Overlocking Service's (642 3500) manager, Angie Armstrong, said her company offered $1 a metre overlocking for bulk orders or $2 a metre normally.
Owner of Market Carpet (81 3407), Allen Ardley, also offers an overlocking service on remnants and a little more.
His company specialises in individual montage rugs - pieces of carpet sewn together to create intricate designs.
Prices start from $180sqm and customers may design their own rug or choose from those in the showroom.
Mr Ardley believes rugs are much better suited to the Australian climate. "In Sydney's climate, you can get away with polished floors most of the year,"he said.
For the home owner with a large area to cover, manager of Carpet Connection Warehouse (833 1266), David Brotchie said end-of-roll stock ranges between $25 and $100 a metre wholesale price.
At the top end of the scale, prices could be discounted up to 50 per cent, Mr Brotchie said.
End of rolls range from 2.5m to 5m and cutting, trimming and overlocking costs $3 a metre.
To make a true statement in rugs, however, it is difficult to go past an Oriental or Middle Eastern design.
Owner of Nazar Rug Gallery (331 1505), George Nazar, said there had been increasing interest in rugs in the past 20 years.
"In Australia, that has occurred in the past 10 years as more people turn to rugs and away from wall-to-wall carpet," he said.
"Once you have wall-to-wall carpet fitted, that's it, you sell your house and you leave it there. If you have rugs you can take them with you."
With a starting price of $100 for antique cushions right up to $40,000, Mr Nazar's furnishings may be out of reach for some.
But he said such items served more than a decorative purpose.
"A lot of rugs we have here increase in value over the years so they are an investment as well," Mr Nazar said.
Most popular items at Nazar's are the range of tribal rugs or kilims, all hand woven and knotted.
His range includes Turkish, Persian, Afghan and Caucasian (southern Russian) rugs which feature geometric or simple designs.
Cronulla Carpets (525 2155) moved into rugs four years ago, according to manager Anthony Casaccli, because of the growing demand for them.
"A lot of people are coming in and asking for them," he said. "You have to have an enormous range because there is such a selection to choose from."
Their range includes traditional and modern rugs imported from India, Belgium and Romania with a starting price of $39 for a Belgian polypropylene rug 60cm by 110cm.
Owner of Cadry's Oriental Rug Specialists (328 6144 or 328 6059), Jacques Cadry, said he had watched his business grow steadily for the past 40 years.
"When I started importing Persian rugs everybody said I would be bankrupt in six months but I am still in business," he said.
"In the long run, a Persian carpet is cheaper and healthier because it is easier to clean should last you 50 or 60 years."
Now his company imports Persian, Afghan, Turkish, Chinese, Caucasian and Pakistani rugs. Prices start from $15 to $20 for a Pakistani rug 30cm by 30cm to $80,000 for a 10m by 4m Persian rug.
So whether you want to toss it, roll it or even hang it, there are rugs and mats to suit all purposes and pockets.
And with the cooler months approaching, what better time to run out and rug up |
© 1991 The Sun Herald
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