Atlanta rug intros: Affordable, easy to mix

Lissa Wyman -- Furniture Today, January 13, 2008

Atlanta — Rug fashions continue to evolve in tandem with furniture and home textile trends.

During the Atlanta International Area Rug Market Jan. 17 to 20, vendors are betting that consumers will respond to easy-living rugs that are affordable and easy to mix and match.

Whether based on traditional or contemporary styling, the current emphasis is on livability.

And livable designs require livable colors. Golden beige, so adaptable to every type of decor, continues to be the hands-down favorite in terms of rug palettes.

But this market's rug introductions are not totally focused on safe, middle-of the road fashions. The black and white look, which has been sweeping through all home furnishings categories for the past year, is still gaining momentum in rugs.

And the search for a high-fashion, cool color seems to be settling on the teal green family.

On the warm side, rusty reds are bold and sophisticated and particularly strong at the high end.

Here are six major rug fashion trends to watch for 2008.

All prices listed are suggested retail for a 5 by 8 size, except where noted.

Black & white

The latest black and white rug looks are bold and in-your-face, simultaneously elegant and whimsical.

NOURISON

The Liz Claiborne Modern Elegance collection features trailing floral motifs in black and white. Made of New Zealand wool pile, accented by Luxcelle, Nourison's proprietary faux silk fiber made with cotton yarns. $729.

KANE CARPET

The After Hours collection is machine woven in Kane's trademark Eurolon polypropylene fiber. Stain resistant. Made in Israel. $249.

SURYA

The Gramercy collection is hand tufted of New Zealand wool. Made in India. $449.

MOMENI

The Capri collection is power loomed of New Zealand wool, with hand-serged edges and hand carving. Made in China. $439.

Lusty rust

This season's vibrant, warm colors exemplify the depth and breadth of the rust/red palette. These strong colors never completely leave the market, but cycle in and out of top color slots. Rust and rust-red tones are very much in the ascendancy today.

SAFAVIEH

Ancient Weave designs are over scaled and tribal in character with minimal detailing. Hand knotted in Tibet of hand-spun wool. $1,425 in 6 by 9.

COURISTAN

The Dynasty collection is inspired by Persian rug patterns. Hand tufted in India of blended New Zealand wool. $369 in 5′6″ by 8.′

OBEETEE

Holobein, from the Williamsburg Tapis VF collection, was inspired by the historic carpets of Colonial Williamsburg's antiques collection. Hand knotted of wool. Made in India. $1,799.

MEGERIAN

The Mamluk collection is inspired by 16th-century Mamluks of Egypt, with designs based on geometric patterns and stylized leaf forms. Hand woven in Egypt. $4,500 to $4,700 in 6 by 9.

Casual classics

Grandma's Oriental rugs were fussy, busy and dark. Today's traditional rug designs, while paying respect to the past, are uncluttered, light and bright.

NEW MOON

The Garden collection is made in a 100-knot weave of Tibetan wool and Chinese silk. Hand knotted in Nepal. $5,940 in 6 by 9.

EBISONS HAROUNIAN

Kabul is a group of replicas of 19th-century Turkish carpets. Hand knotted in China of vegetable-dyed, hand-spun, over-twisted yarn. New Zealand wool. $1,499 in 6 by 9.

RUG ONE IMPORTS

Tulipano is Wilton woven of New Zealand wool with art silk accents. Power loomed in Turkey. $499.

KARASTAN

Ravenna, from the Ashara collection, is Axminster woven of worsted New Zealand wool. $1,199 in 5′9″ by 9′.

SHALOM BROS

The Gem collection is hand knotted of 10/10 hard twist, New Zealand wool. Made in India. $1,199 in 6 by 9.

SPHINX BY ORIENTAL WEAVERS

The Genesis collection is machine made of polypropylene. Cross-weaving technology results in up to 55 colors in each pattern. $399.

Golden glow

Warm colors of beige and gold are tops with today's rug customers. It's a trend that has been around for some time and shows no signs of losing its power.

AMER RUGS

The Riviera collection is hand-knotted in India of 200 knots per square inch construction. Wool. $4,499 in 8 by 10.

HAROUNIAN RUGS INTERNATIONAL

The Oushak Crown collection is hand knotted of wool. Made in India. $999 in 6 by 9.

HELLENIC RUG IMPORTS

The Candice Olson collection is hand tufted in China of wool and silk in a 160-line construction. $599 in 5 by 8.

FEIZY

The Qi collection (pronounced "chee") is machine woven of faux silk viscose in a palette of earthy golden tones. $230.

PEEL & COMPANY

Peel & Co. makes its first rug introductions in the Court of Versailles collection. The Aubusson weave rugs are made in China of New Zealand wool. $2,376 in 6 by 9 size.

The teal deal

Fashion-forward color strategists are settling on cool teal colors after several seasons of experimenting with a variety of blues and blue-greens. Teal is a big deal for rug fashionistas.

JAIPUR

Reggae is an eco-friendly collection consisting of contemporary designs in metallic colors. Hand knotted of hand-spun hemp. Made in India, $499.

CAPEL

Artscapes is a contemporary hand-knotted collection. Of wool in an Indo-Nepal weave. Made in India. $1,099.

DYNAMIC RUGS

Eclipse is power loomed in Belgium on incorporated Wilton looms in a million point per square meter construction. Fine-denier Excelon polypropylene yarns. $399 .

AMICI IMPORTS

The Ponte Vecchio collection is hand tufted in India in jazzy, over-scaled designs. $399.

HALVAI

Making its Atlanta market debut, Halvai specializes in hand-knotted, limited-edition and one-of-a-kind rugs. This Mahal design is $4,800.

Easy does it

Rug makers have backed off hard-edge contemporary looks. Today's hottest non-traditional rugs are comfortable, easy to live with, affordable and adaptable to casual homes.

828 INTERNATIONAL TRADING

The Watercolors collection, inspired by American and Indian artworks, consists of modern and transitional designs in bold brushstrokes of autumnal color. Hand tufted in India of wool. $299.

HOMEFIRES/HOME COMFORT

The Carefree collection is hand hooked in China of extra-soft acrylic. Machine-washable backing. $40 in 2 by 3.

KALATY RUG

Soft-edged geometrics and mellow colors are hallmarks of the Vista collection. Hand tufted in India of hard-twist wool. $490.

KAS

The Elements Shag collection is machine made of polypropylene. Made in China. $299.

JAUNTY

Tundra is a new pattern in the Safari collection. The stylized motif is reminiscent of a zebra design. Hand tufted in India. Wool $499.

RIZZY RUGS

Geometric and curvilinear patterns are featured in the Tango collection. Hand knotted of New Zealand wool in an Indo-Tibetan style. $399.

TRANS OCEAN

Floating Squares, from the Taos collection, consists of square shapes in a high/low effect. Hand tufted in India of wool. Designed by Liora Manne. $400.