Brightly coloured Berber carpets featured in Marrakech museum

The Yves St Laurent museum on Marrakech has a new exhibition running from June to October 2019, called “Desert Design” that features carpets made by Berber weavers.

The carpets are woven by the women of the Aït Khebbach tribe, in the easternmost region of Morocco, and are made from recycled materials. They are brightly coloured in contrast to the harsh desert environment they call home.

The co-curator of the exhibition, Arnaud Maurieres, explained that he first encountered the Beber weavers in 2010 in the East Moroccan desert. He was taken to the home of his guide Lahcen which consisted of two modest plain structures that housed the nine members of his family. The interior was unpainted and had no furniture. In the corner of a room, he saw a pile or rugs. Maurieres said:

“As they were unfolded to welcome us, the floor suddenly seemed dappled with vibrant colours, which astounded us. Lahcen told us that all the women of his tribe wove such rugs, and asked if we wanted to meet them. It was how our adventure began.”

Nine years later, the carpets woven by the female members of the tribe are featured in a world-renowned museum exhibition.

Like the Berber women, many carpet manufacturers are exploring ways to use recycled materials in their carpets to make them more environmentally friendly. This means that you do not have to travel to Morroco to purchase carpets made with recycled materials. You can brighten up a home with vibrant coloured carpets from Chester, Wrexham or North Wales that are manufactured with respect for the environment.

Keep it natural with flooring services in North Wales

Flooring services in North Wales supply a variety of different floor coverings that create the natural look of wood or stone.

Hardwoods

For many people, there is nothing like the look of natural hardwood. Solid wood floors are not the cheapest option, but they are a good investment as they last for decades. They add value to a home and make homes easier to sell.

If you can only afford to install hardwood in one room, the best place is the main living room. Sound bounces off the hardwood, but a rug or two will absorb noise.

Wood floors can be made from planks or blocks to create a parquet pattern look. There is a variety of woods available, including oak, ash, and beech.

If hardwood flooring becomes worn or scratched, it can be restored to like new condition with floor sanding.

An alternative to solid wood is engineered wood, which is a layered floor covering with a top layer of real wood. It provides the look of real wood at a less cost.

LVT

Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) can be bought in wood or stone patterns. Modern digital printing has created LVT that makes the floor look lifelike. High-quality LVT is guaranteed for many years and is suitable for high-footfall commercial and domestic rooms.

Laminates

Laminate floor coverings look like real wood but are cheaper. They are easy to fit, making fitting charges reasonable.

Printing technology has developed to make the wood images on laminate look more realistic.

Cork

Cork is a warm and soft alternative to wood. Boasting good insulation properties and absorption of sound, it is resistant to mould and bacteria, so can be suitable for allergy sufferers. A good surface for bedrooms.

Water resistance

Many properties in North Wales, particularly those on the Dee coast, are at risk from floods. Most of these natural looking floor coverings are water resistant, but not waterproof, and cannot stand being underwater for long.

Everyday moisture bought from outside on shoes and clothes can easily be wiped up on hardwood floors without damaging the floor, but hardwood submerged in water will tend to warp.

Engineered wood is more water resistant than real wood. Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) flooring is very water resistant and suitable for high-moisture areas such as bathrooms and washrooms. Laminates are water resistant, and high water resistant grades are suitable for bathrooms and kitchens.

Talk to flooring services in North Wales about all you options for a natural-looking floor that is hardwearing and easy to maintain.

What are the best carpets for Chester rooms?

People often ask what type of carpets they should buy for their Chester home or commercial property rooms. The answer depends on a number of factors.

Location

You need a carpet that has a wear grading suitable for the location. Medium domestic wear carpets are suitable for bedrooms and residential rooms that are not used a lot. Heavy duty carpets are for living rooms, halls and dining rooms that get a lot of use.

For commercial rooms that are used by many people, such as offices and reception areas, choose a commercial grade heavy duty carpet.

Pile

The pile is the tufts of fabric that are attached to the backing. A long pile carpet will feel soft at first but may flatten and lose its appearance over time. The closer the piles are together, the longer the carpet is likely to last.

There are different types of pile arrangements, including level loop, velvet and twist, which affect how a carpet looks and feels.

Fibres

Carpets are made from either a single fibre type or a mixture. Fibres can be animal derived, like wool, silk, or mohair, for example. Vegetable-based options include coir, cotton, seagrass and jute or man-made.

• Wool is a very popular fibre that is soft, looks good, is long lasting and easy to clean.

• Jute is a lightweight natural fibre suitable for use in bedrooms or light use rooms.

• Seagrass is also for light use but bit can be installed in kitchens.

• Coir is made from the husks of coconuts. It is hard wearing though not very soft.

• Man-made fibres like acrylic and polyester are tough and durable though cheaper ones may not last long.

Underlay

Underlay is recommended for most carpets as it increases comfort, helps maintain the appearance, protects against wear, and acts as both heat and noise insulation.

Looks

Apart from seagrass, jute and coir, all types of carpets come in a wide range of colours and patterns. Choose a carpet design that goes with the room décor.

Chester is known for its black and white architecture, so if your house or room are in keeping with this, consider how your carpets complement it.

Cost

There is a wide variety of carpet costs. As a general rule, the more you pay, the better the quality.

Your local carpet retailers and installer will help you select the best carpet for you. Before you buy, check samples that you can look at and feel or place samples in the room to get a sense of how the carpet will look when installed.

The benefits of artificial grass in Chester gardens

Many houses in Chester have gardens. Homeowners love gardens, but they need a lot of upkeep. In busy households where residents have demanding jobs, it is not easy to find time for gardening. Artificial grass requires a lot less maintenance than a real lawn. This is one reason to install artificial grass, but there are other benefits.

Save water

It rains a lot in Chester, but in the summer months there are often long periods when it doesn’t rain and the sun shines most of the day. Grass suffer in hot dry weather and need frequent watering to keep the lawn from discolouring. Chester homes with metered watering pay to water their lawns. When there is a very hot summer, a hosepipe ban occurs, and it takes a long time to water the grass by hand using watering cans.

Artificial grass saves watering time and reduces water bills.

Save time

With artificial grass, you don’t need to spend time mowing the lawn. Get rid of your mower and relax on artificial grass. All you need to do with artificial grass is occasionally brush off leaves and give it a quick brush and spray.

Safe for children

Artificial grass is safe for children and the elderly. If they fall on artificial grass, its softness prevents injury.

Dogs

Dogs like artificial grass because it is soft on their paws. Choose a type of artificial grass which allows urine to flow through it. Solid waste is easy to clean up.

For landlords

There are many rented properties in the Chester area with gardens. Landlords cannot rely on tenants to regularly mow the lawns or water them in dry conditions. Artificial grass is the solution and means that there is one less concern for landlords to worry about.

No harmful pesticides

Keeping a lawn free of moss and weeds usually requires using pesticides. These do kill weeds and moss, but the chemicals seep into the soil and drain into waterways. This is a source of pollution that negatively affects the environment.

Looks great

There are lots of benefits to installing artificial grass in Cheshire homes. Another good reason for artificial grass is that it looks good. It creates the appearance of always having a well managed lawn. On warm days, relax in your garden, relieve the stress of a busy life, lying on a sun lounger enjoying your garden.

Statistics show growing popularity of artificial gardens

Sales of artificial grass and plants for outdoor use are increasing, according to a report by Jenny Wood for the Daily Mail.

She says that sales of Ikea faux foliage are growing by 30% a year, and artificial plant sales have risen by 15% at John Lewis. One major national retailer has said that sales of its artificial grass are up by 136%.

One reason for the popularity of artificial gardens is that technology developments have made plants and artificial grass more realistic. UV sun protection applied to plants and grass mean that they will not fade in sunlight. Additionally, artificial plants last a long time and do not perish in the winter.

Artificial gardens appeal to people who dislike gardening, or do not have time for it. Plants need an occasional wipe with a damp cloth and artificial grass needs regularly sweeping, but there is no watering or digging involved. For people that spend a lot of time away, they do not have to worry about coming back to an untidy unattended garden.

For many people, filling the garden with artificial plants is a step too far, but artificial grass is popular for busy people, who would rather not spend a lot of time maintaining their lawns. Schools and sports clubs like artificial grass because it does not get muddy and requires little maintenance.

There are many homes and business that have installed artificial grass in Chester because it looks realistic, is easy to look after, and is safe to use all year round.