Karastan rug opinions?

[azasadny]

OK guys, there is so much knowledge and experience here that I just know that someone can offer some me some advice...

We have just finished our home addition and we have red oak hardwood flooring on the 1st floor. We want to buy some wool Persian-style rugs and went to our local Marshall Field's and saw some we really loved.

We're looking at Karastan Bakthiari, Agra and Herati in 5'9" x 9' and 8'8" x 12 and the machine-loomed, 100% wool rugs really seem to be nice and affordable. Anyone here have experience with the newer Karastan rugs? I went to a bunch of "discount rug" websites and nobody comes close to the prices we got at out local store. The rugs we want will have to be special-ordered and will take about 10 days to arrive.

[Joeaksa]

Was just in the Middle East and picked up two Iranian carpets. Heavy as hell but very nice patterns and now wished that I had gotten more of them.

Was not ever into nice rugs for a long time but its sure worth buying some nice ones if you can.

Joe A

[azasadny]

The Karastans we looked at today are made in the US of New Zealand wool and are machine-loomed and very thick and substantial. Since they are pricey, we'd like them to last awhile and I was told that wool wears and cleans better than any other material for rugs.

[Bill Verburg]

You need to decide before hand what type of traffic they will see. Most of mine are 80 - 100 year old Persians, they are heirlooms that have only gotten more valuable w/ time. But I don't put them in high traffic locations either.

A true, quality hand made Persion is a work of art that you can get lost in. The machine mades are nice but more utilatarian

[azasadny]

Bill,

I agree 100%. These are for high-traffic floors and aren't being purchased as an investment or for collecting, just a nice way to provide a soft place to walk on a hardwood floor. Three large rugs will set us back about $5400, but they are very nice wool rugs and we'll get good use out of them. We take off our shoes in the house and have no pets walking on them, so they should last...

[Joeaksa]

Art,

I may be back in Beirut in the next few weeks and if I do will try to get ahold of my dealer there. He had the large handmade rugs from Iran that were a lot cheaper than that. I am now interested in buying a few more and would have them shipped. The owner is a friend of the guy I was flying and he goes to Iran personally to pick them up.

Mine were both about 5' x 4', handmade and just under $400 for both. One is nice, the other is very nice and it was hard for me to not hang the good one but it sure feels nice on your feet.

JoeA

[azasadny]

JoeA,
Thanks but my wife is very particular about the colors (I'm not as I'm severly color-blind). The rugs we're getting are 5'9" x 9' and 8'8" x 12 and the prices we were quoted are at least 20% lower than I've seen on websites. We may be in the market for some 5x4 Iranian/Persian rugs in the future, though.

[HardDrive]

We used to live in Milwaukee, and the local Marshals discount store had rugs, including the occasional Karistan. Oh the deals we got in that place....

[Bill Verburg]

Rugs are too personal to be purchased by proxy

once you find the syle thta is you, others are just carpets.

My personal favorites are Heriz and Sarouk, both geometrics.

The florals give me the willies

[Halm]

We have been buying Karastan for years, both oriental style and custom wall to wall. Actually, I thought they were made in Eden, NC. In any case, we love them. They hold up great. Try Warner's Rugs in Charlotte: 704-845-1300. We got at least one there and they discount pretty steep.

[Eric Coffey]

I ordered a hand-woven Tibetan/Himalayan wool rug from Octans Rugs last year. You can pick from any of their styles/designs, or send in your own design and they will make it for at no added cost.
The quality was amazing, and the price was very reasonable. The only downside is that it took over a month to get here, but I was in no hurry, and it was worth the wait.

[pwd72s]

I don't know a lot about rugs, but if I wanted to learn? I'd be contacting "a man in Istanbul"