I have written about oriental (or Persian) rugs before (here, here and also here.) And I will do so again. Given their rich colors and often elaborate designs, it is amazing how versatile Persian rugs and kilims are! And they are surprisingly practical (the lanolin in the wool is naturally stain resistant).
FIRST ROW
• Boston Globe: Living room in a Belmont Hill home. Notice how these traditional rugs work so well in such a modern, architecturally sleek space? A modern graphic rug would not have worked as well.
• Buddha Interiors: I have always had a thing for rich hued oriental rugs paired with glass coffee tables and black leather. I have a few living rooms bookmarked that share these three components, a wonderfully eclectic trio in which each piece brings out the best in the other two.
• Boston Globe: Kitchen in the Belmont Hill home. I love how the rug softens this room without detracting from its clean lines.
• Klikk via Interiors Porn: Another example of how terrific a beautiful oriental rug looks in a room otherwise dominated by black, white and neutral creamy tones.
• Sheila Bridges bedroom via Elle Decor: Here's an example of traditional decor at its best. The oriental rug looks stunning against the rich warmth of the wood bed and the vibrant red of the flowers. I love the mixture of dusty grays with dusty reds.
SECOND ROW
• Look Up! Inspiration on Your Ceiling: How divine is this room? The oriental rug is very soft and subdued, and a nice understated contrast with the greens and blues elsewhere.
• Spicer and Bank: I love the red rugs with the green walls. And those ghost chairs around the dining room table are the perfect complement to the rug below. I also love the colorful connection between the rugs and the copper light fixture.
• Abigail Ahern in Sanctuary: You can see a bit of the oriental rug showing in this eclectic living room with its bold and playful colors. Interesting how the rug almost functions as a neutral presence when mixed in with such bright colors.
Images: As credited above.
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I love that typo on the first one - "Boston Glob" - that's what my husband and I always call the Boston Globe.
also, beautiful rooms. Neutral rooms with orientals on wooden floors are my favorite thing ever.
i will never like these rugs.not my taste at all.
It seems somehow inappropriate to place furniture on a truly fine oriental rug: one wants to see the design, not to have it hidden.
I've never liked Persian rugs, but the architecture in some of the shots above are gorgeous.
Somehow I've never found a source for oriental rugs in the right colors - greens and yellows. Any ideas?
I very much like persian rugs. I have an old one of my own, which is in storage right now because I can't lay it over my awful rental high-pile wall-to-wall carpet. A word of caution on buying a persian rug, though. Hand-made rugs can be incredibly beautiful, traditional, and they command a high price, but keep in mind that many of these rugs are made by under paid or unpaid children that should be in school. Downgrading to machine-made is worth it.
I've never been a fan of oriental rugs--ever! I think it's because of the patter and color palette used. However, I do like the rugs on photos #6 and #7.
Been saying for the past 2 years that orientals are making a big comeback. Their time has come.
And frankly, I am tired of modernist-style rugs, and current designer efforts, which are rather flat in comparison. Rooms call out for something classic and traditional -- even the Eameses used orientals in their own home.
I was planning on purchasing a rug with modern geometric shapes, but I like the look of these Persian rugs. They would add a sense of warmth/richness to my modernist living room in that Metropolitan Home magazine (I miss you Met Home!) sort of way. I am definitely going to reconsider my future rug purchase options.
All of these are gorgeous. Those rugs are timeless, and generally better quality than the boring modern ones that have been popular lately. I love all the rooms shown here.
always thought there were diffirent kinds of rugs - persian & kilm, no?
After far too long of waiting and debating, I purchased a living room rug. All along I had planned to buy a modern designed rug and had several options selected. When push came to shove I chose a persian rug. I think it was a great decision as it made my space instantly feel warmer and more like home than a rental loft. I don't know that the modern large print rugs I had initially planned for would have had that effect.
It took some effort to find one without red (my least favorite color), but I found a lovely blue, and tan to fit my sensibilities.
I thikn Persian rugs do for me what handmade quilts do-they make a place feel more settled, comfortable, and like home.
I thing rugs are the best accessory! Just bought a turkish kilim and it sadly does not fit my hallway and i'm so bummed (its for sale on our site though!). i need something else in its place. so jazzy and snazzy to have a boring hallway with a pop of culture and color!
-Bethany
from http://powellbrower.blogspot.com
Oriental rugs are not necessarily Persian, and the terms are not interchangeable. Persian rugs are from Persia, or Iran. Turkish, Caucasian, Indian or Chinese rugs can be referred to as Oriental rugs, but not Persian rugs.