Couple makes carpets regarded as artwork

When people buy carpets, they are usually careful about the colours and patterns they choose, but carpets are not usually regarded as art. However, that is not the way that American painters Brad Davis and Janis Provisor see carpets, who design them to look like watercolour paintings.

Davis and Provisor founded Fort Street Studio 25 years ago to produce vividly coloured carpets. The pair are celebrating the anniversary of their studio by publishing a book, “Tale of Warp and Weft”, which tells their story. The book is set to be released on April 13th.

Before the COVID-19 restrictions, the artists travelled to work with carpet weavers in Thailand, Nepal and India, who wove their intricate designs into carpets. The couple don’t follow carpet design trends, and say they tend to be inspired by high fashion houses. Speaking to the South China Morning Post, they commented:

“Fashion moves so quickly and there’s so much creativity involved, particularly in the couturier lines. They’re so imaginative. There’s an enormous font of inspiration.”

Provisor is a collector of Belgian designer Dries van Noten’s shawls, which she says inspires her designs.

For their own home, they have designed a carpet that has gold dashes and layers of pink made to resemble brush strokes.

Carpets in Cheshire, North Wales and Wrexham homes may have not been chosen for their artistic merit, but with a wide choice of carpet colours and patterns, homeowners are certain to find a carpet to complement their decor.

Granite block public square looks like traditional carpet

A new project by Dutch architects Casanova + Hernandez has created a large public square that is patterned to look like a traditional carpet.

The square in the Albanian village of Shiroka is made from blocks of white and black granite, which are positioned in a pattern that resembles a traditional Albanian carpet design. The architects said that this is intended to create a public space with a unique, local identity.

The landscaping of the area, which is near a lake, is designed to create the sense of being at home. It is split into zones, with the design influenced by the “oda” rooms found in many traditional homes in Albania. The function of oda rooms is to entertain visitors, and they typically contain low benches that line three sides of the space. In the square, benches that are U-shaped section off areas used for different purposes.

Speaking to Dezeen, the architects said:

"These rooms open the views over the lake and stimulate citizens' interactions with different uses such as a playground room, picnic room, lounge room, amphitheatre and the fishermen's room."

It is common for floor coverings in homes to resemble other types of materials. For example, laminate looks like wood, and some luxury vinyl tiles are made to mimic stone. Solid flooring is not designed to look like carpet patterns, as it's better to use real carpets for North Wales and Chester homes. Carpets are available in a wide range of colours and patterns, both traditional and modern.

Why should I invest in artificial grass?

With the warmer months in reach, many homeowners will be tidying up their gardens and getting their lawns ship-shape. Read on to take a look at some of the top reasons to install some synthetic turf in your outdoor space.

Easy installation

Whether you opt for a self-installation or leave it to the professionals, artificial grass is swift and simple to fit. This means less work and minimal disruption to your day, along with the chance to enjoy your new lawn as soon as possible.

Impressive appearance

Man-made grass has come a long way since the 1960s, when it first sprouted as a concept. Once professionally laid, synthetic lawns can provide an authentic appearance that will look perfect all-year round.

An easy-care option

Maintenance for artificial grass ranges from light to zero effort, making it much simpler to look after than a real lawn. A quick sweep from time to time is all that’s necessary for your new lawn, allowing you to enjoy more time to relax on it.

Kinder to the environment

No herbicide, fungicide and pesticide regimens are ever required to keep your lawn in peak condition. You’ll also never need to regularly water your lawn, effectively cutting down on your water usage. These points can be important considerations if you’re looking for ways to be more eco-friendly.

Allergy-free

You won’t suffer any allergic reactions from grass pollen with man-made turf. Allergy sufferers can recline on their soft springy lawn and enjoy summer skies free from sneezes, coughs and watery eyes.

No mowing required

Along with avoiding the time-consuming task of mowing, by choosing artificial grass you can also avoid the expense of purchasing a lawn mower, buying fuel to keep it running and the cost of having a mower repaired if it becomes damaged.

Safe for people and pets

Both your kids and four-legged family friends can play safely on synthetic turf. Far less messy than real grass, which can stain clothes or get dragged into the house on feet, artificial grass is entirely non-toxic, making it 100 percent secure for all who use it.

An all-weather option

Unlike a real lawn, which can become water-logged in the wet months and dry and sparse when it gets hot, synthetic grass can be enjoyed every day of the year and will remain looking consistently lush and green.

Easy to clean

When food or drink is spilled in the garden, synthetic turf can be simply hosed down. Additionally, unlike real grass, which can become burnt or discoloured by pet mess, artificial grass can be easily washed with a little dish soap and warm water. For more stubborn marks, wiping the synthetic blades with a cleaning cloth will be more than enough.

Saving time and money

Finally, the overall advantages of artificial grass can see homeowners making substantial savings on both their time and money. Far easier to maintain, man-made lawns are less labour intensive and don’t require expensive equipment and products to keep them healthy and tidy.

What type of floor best suits a wet room?

Many property owners planning a bathroom refit may be considering a more open-plan layout featuring a modern wet room. These contemporary shower solutions can make for more spacious bathrooms and stylish designs, but one area of concern is key – what type of floor should you use?

A solution that offers an impermeable barrier to water is absolutely essential for a wet room, and in the following sections, we’ll explore this, along with some suitable options you might not have considered.

What is a wet room?

A wet room is defined as completely waterproofed bathroom that supports a shower space at the exact same level as room’s floor. A dedicated wet room is entirely open plan and removes any need for a separate enclosure or stall for a walk-in shower, although some homeowners still prefer to fit a Perspex or glass screen to mitigate water being splashed beyond the specific shower area.

While being able to simply step into your shower with ease may seem like a luxury you’d like to appreciate, due to this design, a waterproof floor is critical.

Traditional tiles

A conventional option for wet rooms, tiling can be ideal if performed by professionals, but there are some downsides. If incorrectly installed, tiling can lead to unwanted leaks, and unlike many modern solutions, this traditional method has plenty of margin for error. Installing tiling can be a lengthy process, particularly in larger wet rooms, and the costs of natural stone, ceramic and porcelain, along with the skilled contractors to fit them, make tiles among the more expensive options.

Vinyl

At the other end of the scale, those looking for a cost-effective option will find vinyl an excellent choice. Available in a wide range of colours and patterns, vinyl is easy to clean and quick to install.

Luxury vinyl tiles (LVT)

For householders seeking a luxury look to their wet room, LVT can make an excellent solution. Cleverly crafted to resemble natural stone tiles or wooden planks, it can create a high-end look for your bathroom that will also be exceptionally hardwearing.

Laminate

Like LVT, laminate flooring can also look like wood or stone. Whereas this option once would have been an impossible pairing with a wet room, today’s cutting-edge technology enables laminate flooring – if fitted by flooring professionals – to provide a completely waterproof solution for wet rooms. A specially engineered water-proof coating provides a robust barrier to any unwanted moisture seeping below your floor.

From affordable vinyl to laminate and LVT, there are a wealth of options open to homeowners looking for effective flooring for wet rooms that don’t require the use of conventional tiles. An underlay that boasts a damp-proof membrane installed below your floor choice is always a wise move, and many leading floor suppliers will include this service for free when you purchase your wet room flooring from them. Remember, both laminate and LVT can offer the same look of natural stone tiles at a much lower cost, and with less inconvenience.

Is a squeegee the best way to clean a carpet?

Carpets need to be kept clean, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. A woman has demonstrated online a unique way of cleaning carpets using a squeegee, but is this a good method?

Regular use of a vacuum is recommended for carpets, but this does not always remove trapped dirt or pet hairs. A woman posted to her Facebook page a novel way of cleaning her carpets without using a hoover – she uses a squeegee, which is normally used to clean windows, to scrape up hair and dust in the carpet fibres. She then easily picks up the loosened dirt. The woman said that her method was:

“Well worth a go, my carpet looks brand new and I’ve had a good arm workout.”

Others on her Facebook page reported trying out the squeegee carpet cleaning method. One said that they used a squeegee weekly and that it was a “crazy good” tip for cleaning carpets.

Many people like this method became of its low cost. One Facebook post said that a squeegee can be bought for as little as 80p from Asda.

Carpets are popular in Wrexham, Chester and North Wales homes and businesses. The NHS recommends that carpets, upholstery, mattresses and curtains are steam-cleaned at temperatures over 77 degrees to kill bacteria and viruses. Commercial steam-cleaning machines operate at temperatures up to 110 degrees.

The NHS recommendations suggest that using a squeegee may make carpets look clean, but this method is far less effective than professional steam cleaning.