Rugs

A rug can totally transform your entire living space (or whatever room it’s in). They help anchor an area and group things together. “Rugs add a sense of coziness, texture and warmth. It makes your space more inviting,” said Becky Grinwald, an interior designer at Peabody’s Interiors (Brown Deer, Wisconsin).

Did You Know That…..

Certain rugs can last for decades, if you take care of them properly; a Persian rug can last for generations!

Buying a rug pad will protect not only the back of the rug, but also the floor. These pads are usually made of felt, will keep the rug even and prevent slipping. Even if the rug’s being placed on a carpet, a pad is still a good investment.

The best way to clean your rug depends on how the rug’s made.

Use the wood setting or an attachment when vacuuming a rug; using a vacuum with a beater bar on the regular setting can cause holes. Got loose fibers? Snip or pull them off, carefully.

Rugs can cover any floor imperfections and help muffle sound.

Decor Tips

• Circular ones are a good option for the foyer or entryway.
• Runners and indoor/outdoor ones are great for the kitchen.
• Popular varieties are hand-knotted, hand-tufted and hand-hooked. Hand-knotted is created when a person takes a piece of fiber or yarn and knots every single piece, thus providing tons of detailing. These rugs can last many years, but they take a long time to make. Hand-tufted is made without tying individual knots (instead, the knots are made with a tufting gun). These take little time to create. A hand-hooked rug has a sprayed acrylic backing; and each piece of fiber is hooked in the backing.
• Got an active, busy family? Consider a machine-made polyester or nylon rug.

Pet Decor (New Items)

http://www.thegrommet.com offers a kitty lounger ($59.95) that features a removable seat for easy washing.

A dog teepee (with stripes) from http://www.pipolli.com provides a private spot and hideaway for your furry beloved. Retails for $85.

http://www.magenta-inc.com has two very cute doggie bowls ($64 for the duo) with a message on the bottom of them; the water one has “Gulp“, while the food one has “Woof.”

And for one of the cutest (If not the cutest) cat beds ever, go to http://www.etsy.com. This particular cat bed (and hideaway) is shaped like a reclining cat (the legs tucked in, along with the upright, pointed ears; I call it the “meatloaf position“)! Retail price is $109.

Sources: “Transformers”-Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (TNS)-The (Sunday) Vindicator, early 2016 and Home Family Pets segment-“gone to the DOGS” by Natalie Dayton-Better Homes and Gardens, Aug. 2016