The cork you find as bottle stoppers in wine bottles has many other uses. Cork is harvested commercially from Cork Oak tree (Quercus suber) and half the production comes from Portugal. It is the elastic properties and near-impermeability of cork that has made it popular as a bottle stopper. But with plastics being used more and more; cork needs to diversify into other areas. One such area is cork flooring and I would suggest you keep an eye out for developments in this arena in the next few years.

If you are getting quite frustrated with stores in your area not having the area rugs which you’re hoping you’d find then maybe the internet is the spot. Many individuals will go online to choose their area rugs for their home since there are more choices and options to choose from. You’ll find more online than you will in your local stores so why not give it a shot?

More on Shopping For Rugs Online

Do not be fooled here. My terminology of “luxury rugs” merely means a rug that will last. A well constructed area rug with superior quality and craftsmanship is the type that your grand children will consider a treasured heirloom when you finally pass the luxury rug down to them. The term does not necessarily mean that a luxury rug will break the family penny bank.

Luxury area rugs are first and foremost, made by a man’s (or woman’s) hands. This is not the level of rugs that companies take short cuts on or create using mass production machines. The dye colors are deep, often natural, and the designs exquisite due to the attention to detail given to these masterpieces, yarn by yarn, that lie quietly on your floor, warming the room and pulling together the splendid look the designer envisioned.

Flat Woven

By far the oldest construction method, the Flat Woven technique is the most basic. It is used in both floor coverings as well as tapestry pieces. This method creates a luxury area rug that is both extremely durable and versatile. If you have ever looked at the back of a tapestry, you will see that the backside has an identical image as on the front, just in reverse. Woven rugs are no different. This ability to be turned in either direction depending on your mood or the season is a great draw for the Flat Woven area rug.

Hand Knotted

For those desiring a true masterpiece to adorn their floor with, the ultimate in luxury, look no further than the hand knotted area rug. This particular construction method is a dying art that requires a dedicated and experienced team of rug artisans to painstakingly create each tuft, individually, by tying a knot onto the rugs predetermined pattern. These rugs take a minimum of 6 months to create each one and much longer the larger the rug becomes. Rugs have been created as portraits of presidents in the past creating a truly unique and stunning form of artwork.

Hand Tufted

For those with slightly tighter budgets looking for the look of the hand knotted rug, you’ll find your answer with the hand-tufted rug. The hand-tufted area rug is constructed by placing small groups of yarn through a tight knot canvas with a backing added for additional support. These particular types of rugs typically will not have the fringe associated with many of the rugs on the market today. This method creates a close twin to the hand-knotted rug at much less expense to the family budget.

After you have purchased a luxury rug, be sure to take good care of it so that it will last a lifetime. Vacuum your luxury area rug at least once a week to keep your rug from being eaten by moths. When storing your rug, always roll it, do not fold it, so that there will be no seams. Taken care of properly, your luxury rug will provide an artistic masterpiece for your family’s home for decades to come.