They're beautiful ... and it's great to give something old and worn out a new lease on life. But if the point is to salvage old worn-out carpets no one would otherwise want, why are they so expensive? They may be "handcrafted by Turkish artisans" originally, but the colors carefully worked by those artisans are so worn away over the years that the rugs have been discarded. (I also wonder ... with the original yarn so battered and worn down, how long will it be until they apart?)

Oh, I really like that effect!! But I agree with Jane, those prices are outrageous. Do they guarantee the rugs for any length of time? How long before the newly-dyed colors wear out and you're left with a ratty worn out rug again?

Love 'em. The prices, not so much.

No.

I have to third the opinion. I'm not sure why recycled, reused, or green ideas end up costing more than you'd think they should. They are nice, but I would worry about fading, or running, and the rugs are still worn out, just "neutralized" (does that mean bleach) and over-dyed. That process might speed up the process at which these rugs age.

I like how it looks but I guess you could get a ratty one on craigslist and bleach and overdye it in the tub.

These are gorgeous! I want one, but like quinnley, I think it would be better to get one cheap at an auction or or online and do the process myself.

Nope - not just because of the price or the loss of the original colors...
...but because the new colors are just too awful.

As a DIY, it could be very cool. I have a worn-out rug on the dog bed that could perhaps be revived with dye. But I wouldn't pay ABC's prices for what is, essentially, a $4,000 dye job.

I'm wondering about a DIY attempt at this too.... I have a little runner that I might try. If I bleach, will I be able to use RIT dye over top?

I'd love to see and hear how all these DIY versions turn out...

OMG! WOW!!! LOVE them!!!

I have a rug that would be perfect for this - but there is no way I can do it in my tub. Rug is way too huge and tub too small. How else can I make this happen?

Hm, which to me raises the question: if you live in an apartment, usually you can't use your building's machines for dying, so where would you *do* such a DIY project?

you guys, it's ABC...why are you shocked by the price?

I dig 'em and would totally encourage using one in a client's home.

I would much prefer to have the original rug, pre dye job. Most of the colors they have dyed them are not even palatable. The aqua could conceivably look cool in the right setting. But I much prefer real Persian rugs. And the prices are ABSOLUTELY LUDICROUS.

@yiyehtov

I wouldn't use RIT for something like this. It fades and can bleed even in the best of circumstances.

I go to http://www.dharmatrading.com/ and would find one of their dyes, for the appropriate fibers content of the rug. (They have great directions on their site.)

I've had really good luck with Procion, and dyed some massive stage curtains in a giant plastic bin in the garage. It worked really well.

Procon is good stuff but you will still need to make sure you have enough room in whatever vessel you are using.

My other suggestion, depending on where you live, is to look up dye houses and see if you can 'piggy back' on someone else's dye lot. I did this with 25 yards of heavy cotton jacard way back and while I didn't get black, the deep slate was stunning and cheap at $20 in the mid 90s.

As to the rugs, love them but I'd DYI it myself. I buy vintage rugs all the time. Sorry but the prices are ridiculous.

@Renngrrl I had no idea you could even call a dye house and ask to piggy back. That's just brilliant.

Love the look. Not the price tag. This might be diy'able, but it'd be difficult with a larger rug!

The samples here are tasteful and subtle.

The rugs, in reality, look like a Paas easter egg dye accident. imho.

OP says "Rugs are currently priced from $699 for a 2'4" x 5'3" rug to $4,099 for a 7'4" x 11' rug", but when I click on the link I see prices ranging from an outlying $800 too $12,700

* to

I'm too poor to buy a used rug? That is sad.

We are based in NYC and produce these kind of rugs in Turkey with my brother in 16 different colors and at any sizes. Please contact us for wholesale prices at a fraction of high end stores. Orientalist Home,NY.732-492-3683