Carpet Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Purchasing a new handmade carpet can be confusing. Should you look at knot count or knot style? If you look at knot style should it be Persian, Turkish, or Tibetan? What style would be better for you? A Bidjar, Bokhara, Jozen, Kashan, Katzak, or Saruk? Should it be made from silk or wool...the list goes on.

To demystify the process we have created a list of the more popular questions and issues people ask before they purchase a handmade carpet.

Click on each of the links below to go directly to the answers.

High quality carpets use high quality materials
How do I determine the "right" sized carpet for my room?
What "knot" to worry about.
What is the carpets origin?
How do I select the "right" design?
Purchase a carpet made by a reputable manufacturer.
Select a vendor that offers you carpets in a wide range of styles colors and designs.
Select a trusted partner to work with.
Consider your budget and long term decorating plans
What if I have kids and pets, can my carpet "take it"?

high quality carpets use high quality materials

When you combine high quality materials, cotton warp and weft threads, natural wool from sheep who roam freely at high elevations, and the delicate strength that comes from hand carding, you end up with a product that is strong, durable, and rich in lanolin (natures stain guard).

From kids, to pets to food, your investment should stand up to your lifestyle and beautify your home for decades to come. Silk carpets can be very beautiful . However, silk is not particularly durable in carpets and requires special care. A popular design method is to utilize silk as a design accent with wool. This can make for very striking combinations that are also very durable.

Barbara Barry, as a part of the designers reserve and variations collections makes excellent use of this method.

The saying "garbage in, garbage out" goes for carpets as well. High quality carpets are made with high quality materials.

how do I determine the "right" sized carpet for my room

The general rule is that a carpet should be 18" - 24" from the wall of the room. This can vary based on the size of the room and the style, size, and quantity of the furniture that you have there.

what "knot" to worry about

Knot density refers to the number of knots per square inch that are woven into a carpet. There is a belief the per square inch knot count impacts the durability of a carpet. This is not true. Knot count only impacts two things: 1) The intricacy of design; and 2) The quantity of labor involved in the weaving of the carpet.

Knot style is one of the least important factors in your buying decision. If you take into account the rest of our advice, knot density won't matter at all.

what is the carpets origin

While there are a few traditional carpet weaving countries, high quality handmade carpets are now woven all over the world. Unless you have your heart set on a carpet from a particular country; the country of origin is not as important as the quality of materials used to weave the carpet.

how do I select the "right" design

Carpet design styles are typically named for their geographic area of origin. Bidjar, Bokhara, Jozen are all areas where rugs are woven and subsequently have specific design characteristics. So while it can be handy for narrowing down a particular style, do not get too caught up in the names.

The right design is the one you like.

There are some general guidelines. Living room carpets typically have center medallions, patterns of medallions or just small repetitive patterns. Also, the finer the pattern the more elegant the feel. Dining room carpets are often heavy on borders with open fields because they are covered by tables. In Family rooms, I like to see brighter, fun, relaxed carpets.

The good news is, there is no wrong answer. There are as many right answers as there are carpets Think about how you use the room you want a carpet for. Think about your own style.

Enjoy. It is all about you.

purchase a carpet made by a reputable manufacturer

Purchase a carpet from a manufacturer that is part of the solution, not part of the problem. Do not support child labor or abuse of workers. Done right, carpet manufacturing supports local economic development and improves the living conditions of its employees.

In Nepal Tufenkian has grown from 100 employees to now more than 8000. It provides food and comfortable housing for its workers. In 1988, Tufenkian established a Montessori school for the children of the employees. It now provides schooling for 400 students ages 3 - 14. In 1995, Tufenkian established a medical complex that serves the employees as well as neighboring communities.

select a vendor that offers you carpets in a wide range of styles colors and designs

Purchasing a carpet should be a fun, interesting, almost limitless experience. It is a process of discovery where you get to experience the joy of your decision every day.

Each person has his or her own style preferences and you should be able to find a carpet to match yours.

select a trusted partner to work with

Work with someone who will provide you with the level of individual service you desire. Choose someone who will make a commitment to provide you with a high quality product at a fair price.

consider your budget and long term decorating plans

Carpets are often the first thing to purchase when decorating or redecorating. Given the quantities of patterns and paints available it is easier to find paint and fabric to compliment your carpet than the other way around.

It is however, not impossible. What ever order you choose to do it in, look for a partner that can find you a carpet that maximizes our preferences for size, colors, design, quality and cost.

what if I have kids and pets, can my carpet "take it"

Tufenkian carpets are rich in lanolin, natures stain guard. In addition, Tufenkian hired an independent company to do a stain test on their carpets. What they found after dumping ketchup, Chinese food, red wine and red kool-aid on the carpet and letting it sit for 24 hours only the red kool-aid left a "barely perceptible" mark. If you get at a spill right away, all you need to clean it up is a .50 bottle of sparkling water. It is that easy.