Since a well-made carpet can last a lifetime, buying fine wool carpets and/or specialty fiber carpets can seem like a daunting task. Whether or not you end up buying a Bellbridge wool, wool blend, or specialty fiber carpet [ex. ( Econyl®), llama hair, silk, tencel, viscose, etc., ] we want the purchase, installation and usage to be as pleasant as possible. Below are several things to consider prior to your purchase:
Before you start your search for the perfect carpet it is a good idea to spend some time in the room that the carpet is going to be installed. While doing so, please take in consideration the following:
Usage
It’s important to remember that carpet serves a functional role as well as decorative one. One of the common mistakes consumers make is to mismatch the carpet to its functional task. For example, a beautiful un-dyed white Merino Wool carpet may not be the ideal floor covering for a heavily used staircase.
- How is the room going to be used?
- Will the room have heavy or light traffic?
- Will the room be the center of family activity or a special room for entertaining?
- Are there children and pets in the house?
- Is there direct access from outside, or will the carpet be away from entrances?
- Will the carpet receive direct sunlight? What is the lighting like in the room?
Design
Designers often refer to the floor as the fifth wall. Your flooring is the foundation on which your room rests. It covers a large area and can either make a bold statement or be neutral canvas. Before you start shopping, have a good idea of what elements, themes and colors that are going to be in the room. You will want to select a carpet that unites your decorative elements and creates the atmosphere you desire.
The selection of carpet color is a very personal choice. Beige carpet can make a room look spacious; but for a bolder statement, look for a common color in your furniture and draperies. Choose a carpet with a similar hue.
Environmental colors, like blues, deep greens, rosy quartz, and stony neutrals are becoming increasingly popular.
Warm colors can turn up the heat in a room that lacks light, while cool greens and blues have a calming effect.
Lighter colors make the room seem larger; darker colors provide coziness. There are also practical considerations in color selection.
Medium and darker colors, tweeds, and textures will help disguise common soil in your home’s high-traffic areas. In rooms that are getting complete makeovers – keep in mind that it is easier to specify a paint color to match the carpet than it is to find a carpet to exactly match the paint.
Before starting your search for the perfect carpet you should have an idea of how much pattern and texture you are looking for in the room. Both pattern and texture add structure to a rooms appearance and thus if used correctly can unify your room’s appearance.
Like strong colors, strong patterns can clash and look busy if they are not selected in harmony. To add to a room’s sophistication and interest, consider choosing a textured pattern. New technology can produce multi-level loop and cut/loop patterns.
The texture, colors, and pattern of the carpet can be made to complement or contrast with the patterns of your furniture and window treatments. Using a solid color, textured carpet is a great way to provide interest without going to a multicolor, overall pattern.
Many people believe that quality wool and blended/specialty fiber carpets are too expensive for their budgets. But when you consider the total cost of installing these carpets compared with installing a hardwood, stone, or ceramic floor plus an area rug, the expense can be less or almost the same. When you consider the additional years of service, attributes and prestige a these carpet adds to a home it makes an excellent investment.
Select A Reputable Wool Carpet Dealer
Bellbridge only sells through qualified dealers. The reason we do this is that a good portion of your satisfaction as a customer depends on the quality of service and installation the dealer provides. Whenever possible look for dealers who specialize in wool and carpets comprised of specialty fibers, as they will be more knowledgeable about the benefits and attributes of these carpets.
There are a myriad of choices when it comes to selecting your carpet. We suggest asking your dealer the following questions before purchasing:
- Is this a 100% wool carpet? If not, what is the fiber content? There are a number of less expensive wool/synthetic blends on the market, which do not offer the benefits of 100% wool.
- If the carpet is comprised of wool, does this carpet contain New Zealand Wool? New Zealand Wool, which is whiter, purer and stronger than other wools, is considered the best for the manufacturing of fine carpet.
- If the carpet is comprised of specialty fibers, consider its attributes in relation to the traffic in the designated room.
- What is the face weight of the carpet? The face weight measures the actual amount of wool and/or specialty fiber in the carpet. This is what you are paying for. Many manufacturers substitute a heavy backing for wool fiber in order to make a cheaper product. A carpet with less face weight will not retain appearance as long as a heavier product. When you compare a Bellbridge carpet with competitors you will see that our carpets have a very good face weight.
- Will you measure my rooms to insure installation accuracy? It is always a good idea to have your rooms professionally measured by the dealer to insure that the correct amount of carpet is ordered and that there are no pricing surprises with your installation.
- What is the carpet’s performance rating? Obviously the heavier the performance rating the better. Carpets that are not tested by an independent source could have durability issues that only become evident after the carpet has been installed.
- What is the availability of the carpet? – When can I have it installed? You want to make sure your carpet is there before your installers arrive. It is always a good idea to plan ahead for maximum flexibility as some carpets/floor coverings are woven after your order is placed.
- Do I have the option to take a sample of the carpet home with me? We, at Bellbridge, believe the only way you can make a correct carpet choice is to have a sample in your home and live with it for a period of time. It is ideal to be able to see how the carpet looks during the night as well as during the day in the planned area of installation.
