Market Watch

Area Rugs

There's nothing quite like an area rug to define a seating group, underscore a dining room or add a splash of color and pattern to an entry. Here's what's new underfoot.

Rambaugh's Affluence Collection includes traditional rug motifs, woven with threads made of two kinds of wool and raw silk. The result projects deep colors; as many as 12 hues are used. After the rugs are woven, they are washed and kept in the sun for a week to coax accent colors to the surface. Available through Floor Coverings by CPA, Denver, CO; (303) 722-4700 or www.cpacarpets.com.

The Collage pattern from Dellarobbia is hand-tufted with New Zealand wool on a cotton backing. The pattern is hand-carved cut-and-loop pile tufted with brushed stainless-steel inserts used to enhance the design. Standard sizes are stocked, with custom colors and sizes available. Available through Charles Eisen & Associates, Denver, CO, (303) 744-3200; or www.dellarobbiausa.com.

Angela Adams' Mammy area rug, named in honor of Adams' grandmother, features an Op Art–style pattern of charcoal and natural stripes. Done in random cut-and-loop piles, the rug is made of Zealand wool and stocked in a 5-by-8-foot size. Available through Wallis Designs, Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 922-9911, www.wallisdesigns.com; or www.angelaadams.com.

Bayahibe, a hand-tufted wool rug by Albuquerque, New Mexico rug artist Joan Weissman, was inspired by a sand-grown tree common to the beaches of the Dominican Republic. The vibrant pattern shows off shading between colors, contrast between the cut-and-loop piles, and precise carving to highlight details of the leaf motif. Custom sizes and colors available. The prototype of this rug was made to benefit Altos de Chavon, an arts college on that island nation. Available through John Brooks, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 675-8828 and Denver, CO, (303) 698-9977, www.johnbrooksinc.com; or www.joanweissman.com.

The Spray rug from Emma Gardner Design is a hand-knotted floral, made of Chinese silk and wool at 100 knots per inch. Shown here in a blue and gold colorway, the rug, certified by the Rugmark Foundation, is available in custom sizes and colorways. Available through Boyd & Dreith, Denver, CO, (303) 777-4600; or www.emmagardnerdesign.com.

From its Tibetan Silk collection, Global Accents' Le Fleur Abrushed is a hand-knotted wool and silk area rug created in an eggplant and medium gold colorway. Six sizes are available for immediate delivery, with custom sizes also available. Available through Floor Styles, Inc., Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 421-0221, www.floorstyles.com; or www.globalaccents.net.

Zoe Luyendijk Studio's Grit Rust Orange rug is an abstraction of the energy, grittiness and possibilities of urban life. The hand-knotted carpet, done by Tibetan artisans in Nepal, is made with hand-spun wool, refined silk and bleached hemp. Measuring 8 by 10 feet, it's available in numerous colorways, with custom colors available. Available through Boyd & Dreith, Denver, CO, (303) 777-4600; or www.zoeluyendijk.com.

Swedish Block from Michaelian & Kohlberg is crafted in China in a re-creation of the traditional Hamadan weave of Persia. Made of hand-spun wool and natural vegetable dyes, this contemporary rug has a low pile and high design definition. Other colorways and custom sizes are available. Available through The Rug Source in Denver, Denver, CO, (303) 871-8034, www.rugsourcedenver.com; or www.michaelian.com.

Karastan's Sierra Mar collection of area rugs features relaxed patterns, a weathered look and the use of specially twisted, space-dyed yarns that create color striae reminiscent of hand-woven Peshawar rugs. Shown here, the Sedona-Henna pattern is woven in the United States with New Zealand worsted wool and features a composition of leafy vines and palmettos in a palette of maize, sage greens, browns and robin's-egg blue on a field of henna. Available through The Carpet Studio, Denver, CO, (303) 777-1716; or www.karastan.com.

Innerasia's Rainbow Checkerboard area rug draws its abstract, geometric inspiration from early textile patterns of Tibet, referencing images of horse caravans, bazaars along ancient trade routes, picnics on riverbanks, weddings and other festive occasions. The rug, done in 80 knot, is made in Tibet of hand-carded and -spun highland sheep wool. Available through Passport Accents, Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 502-0208, www.passportaccents.com; or www.innerasiarugs.com.

California Sparkle is a custom rug product from Rodeo Carpet Mills made of New Zealand wool blended with Lurex in a lush-cut pile. This shimmering wool metallic can be made in any color or pattern, such as the swirling style shown here in an interior by Scottsdale, Arizona designer Teri Mulmed of DoDaz. Available through Design Surfaces, L.L.C., Scottsdale, AZ, (480) 956-2565; or www.rodeocarpet.com.

Ascot by Asmara is a needlepoint with a natural, linen-like texture and substantial feel. The nuanced shading is the result of lustrous wool yarn, hand-spun from the long fleeces of an ancient breed of mountain sheep. It comes in standard, as well as custom, sizes and colors. Available through The Rug Source in Denver, Denver, CO, (303) 871-8034, www.rugsourcedenver.com; or www.asmarainc.com.