Appeal of 3D carpets grows

Carpets are generally seen as two dimensional and flat, but several carpet manufacturers have started to add a third dimension – depth.

Many owners of carpets in Chester and Wrexham like deep pile carpets. As they are walked on, people can feel their depth, the third dimension. For more depth, there are carpets with various pile lengths that add texture.

An Italian carpet studio is handmaking carpets with elevated textures and what looks like carvings. These have different pile lengths in different areas to form swirling, three-dimensional patterns. They are made for the specialised high-end yacht market, with people having bespoke sculpted carpets fitted in their yachts.

Talk Carpet, based in the United States, has a three-dimensional carpet range of commercial carpets for bars and restaurants. These are plain-coloured carpets with curved lines cut into the pile in shades of grey, white or black. They reference prehistoric animal skeletons and create a sense of movement and dimension.

Another way to create a three-dimensional effect is by using rugs that have a two-dimensional pattern on them that forms a visual illusion of depth. Some find these illusions disorientating, however. For example, there is vortex trap illusion rug looks as if there is a deep hole in the centre of the rug that people could fall down.

Depth can be added to a room without special carpets by placing a deep-pile rug on top of a plain carpet, putting floor vases containing colourful plants on the carpet and by placing small tables with cushions on the floor.

World-renowned artist designs limited-edition carpets

Jwan Yosef is a world-renowned artist famed for art made with various types of tape. He has now turned his talent to making carpets, in collaboration with the Swedish Henzel Studio, which specialises in handmade art rugs.

Yosef starts by putting masking tape onto paper. He layers strips of tape to create three-dimensional designs, which are then scanned and digitised. The designs are used to make handwoven silk carpets. He has designed several sets of carpets in limited editions of 20. He explained his feeling behind the carpets to Architectural Digest:

“I worked with masking tape as a reference and the carpet became a pretty accurate three-dimensional imitation of that real object.”

Joakim Andreasson of Henzel Studio said that Yosef’s carpets allow him to work with tape in a unique way to create carpet art. He said that Yosef is amongst the most unique and challenging artists he has worked with. Henzel Studio said:

“Yosef invites the vernacular of everyday materials to a re-thinking of possibilities—a poetic exercise that extracts the many metaphors and biases society projects on familiar effects.”

The carpets can be placed on the floor, but it is not recommended that they be used in heavy footfall areas, as silk is not a very durable material.

For more practical carpet choices for Chester, Wrexham and North Wales homes, local carpet retailers have a wide selection of carpets in various fibres, colours and patterns. Expect a high-quality carpet to last many years.

Wool carpets make for healthier rooms and world

Wool carpets make a room look good and create a relaxed atmosphere. In addition to this, they are also healthier for both a room and the planet.

A natural fibre, wool reduces ambient noise to make a room quieter. Smooth floors allow particles and dirt to be airborne, and this is a hazard for allergy sufferers. Wool pile, however, traps particles to prevent them from being airborne, and vacuuming the carpet easily removes these particles.

Wool that comes from sheep that are well looked after is a sustainable material. Many carpet manufacturers use a high proportion of British wool in their carpets, which supports British farmers and the countryside they manage. Many carpets contain 20% nylon. This makes a carpet more durable so that it lasts longer, but nylon is not as environmentally friendly as wool. Some prefer 100% wool carpets, even if they don’t last as long.

Post-manufacturing, excess yarn can be used to make underlay so that there is minimal waste. The wool in worn carpets can be recycled and used as a fertiliser.

In commercial buildings, the wool carpets used often conform to a high Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Certification, which rates how sustainable and environmentally friendly a building is when newly built or refurbished.

Wool carpets in Chester and North Wales homes are prized for their warmth and luxury and have the added benefit of making a room healthier. Many wool carpet buyers are concerned about the environment and choose wool because it’s natural and more eco-friendly than many other floor coverings.

Karl Lagerfeld’s Darmstadt carpet for sale

The contents of two homes owned by the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld are for sale at a French auction, including a carpet.

The designer had a distinctive sense of style, which was seen in his fashion designs, but the Darmstadt carpet and other items on sale reveal that his style extended beyond fashion and into his homes.

The Darmstadt carpet is expected to sell for between £5,000 and £6,700. It was made between 1905 and 1910 from tufted wool, and it features an intricate design inspired by nature in pink and grey.

Other items in the sale include a Terziani metal chandelier, which is valued at £2,500 to £3,400, and a crochet statue of his cat Choupette, which is estimated to be worth between £4,200 and £5,900.

Lagerfeld, who died in 2019, filled his homes with items from many periods. His main residence was a futuristic apartment with a monochrome interior.

According to the Evening Standard, Pierre Mothes of Sotheby’s France said:

“A glimpse inside his homes reveal a designer who knew how to perfectly balance the old and the new, the traditional with the radical, the serious with the surprising, and often with a twist of fun.”

You don’t have to spend over £5,000 on Darmstadt wool carpets for your North Wales home. Luxurious wool carpets are available for much less. To recreate the Lagerfeld style, start with a traditional pattern wool carpet and mix and match furniture fittings from different periods.

New carpet trends identified

Alison Davidson, in an article on the website livingetc.com, has revealed the latest carpet trends.

When purchasing new carpets for North Wales homes, there are many colours and patterns to choose from. Several trends in carpet design have been identified by Davidson. Geometric patterns have been popular for a while and are expected to be a trend that continues into 2022. Bold and bright geometric patterns are for people who are more adventurous in their design choices.

During the Covid-19 lockdowns, people spent more time at home. They wanted rooms that they could relax in more, so chose calming and natural carpet colours, which some call “quiet patterns”. Among the popular designs are neutral colours with subtle stripes in contrasting shades. Herringbone patterns that are influenced by parquet flooring is another popular trend.

Wool carpets are in demand because they’re hardwearing and feel luxuriously soft. Wool is a naturally insulating material, keeping the floor cool in summer and warm in winter. It also absorbs noise in busy households.

Though carpets can be used in any room, most use them in bedrooms and living rooms, where it’s important for a space to feel relaxed and cosy. Easy-to-clean hard flooring is preferred for bathrooms and kitchens. In rooms with hard floors, many add bold-patterned rugs to make the space feel cosier and brighter.

Many consumers with environmental concerns want natural products in their homes. They like wool carpets or flooring made from other natural materials, such as jute, coir, seagrass and sisal.