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Property/DIY

What do we all think about persian rugs?

28 replies

IDugUpADiamond · 06/03/2014 18:25

I must be getting really old because I think one would look good in my sitting room. I'd like one with muted blue/duck egg colours. Do they smell? Are they high maintenance?

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truelymadlysleepy · 06/03/2014 18:31

I must be ancient because I love them too.
We've got an old threadbare one that I hoover occasionally. It's very faded, but somehow improved with age.

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VestaCurry · 06/03/2014 18:33

We inherited one. We love it.

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RayPurchase · 06/03/2014 18:38

I love them, they are too expensive for us though :( John Lewis sell them in various colours.

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kotinka · 06/03/2014 18:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BrownSauceSandwich · 06/03/2014 18:57

I vote yes, and I don't think I'm all that old. I fell in love with a grey and pale gold one in John lewis, but it was away out of my league at the time. I just stood and gazed at it each time I was there.

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yegodsandlittlefishes · 06/03/2014 19:08

I think they are over priced.

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MillyMollyMama · 06/03/2014 19:20

In the right house a slightly worn one looks great. A bit OKA!

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TheSurgeonsMate · 06/03/2014 19:25

Mine doesn't smell, no. It isn't any higher maintenance than a carpet.

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bonzo77 · 06/03/2014 19:53

I'm youngish (36). We got one from my parents as a wedding present. A real kashqi, probably 50-100 years old. It was a bit pongy at first, but is fine now. it's got a few signs Of age, but I love it.

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IDugUpADiamond · 06/03/2014 20:15

Ooh okay then. Would you perhaps kindly link me to one that you think looks nice please?

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Sinkingfeeling · 06/03/2014 22:15

I love them too - we have several, all given to us by dh's parents who have enough to line all the walls and ceilings in their house as well as cover the floors. They gave us one as a wedding present - it's warm and has a multitude of colours in it so makes it easy to decorate around.

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BrownSauceSandwich · 06/03/2014 22:24
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IDugUpADiamond · 07/03/2014 07:11

Ooh, thanks Brown; the first one is amazing isn't it? I love the colours. Not so keep on the fringed ends though. The other one is also stunning but way too brown. The price is great for a rug that size though. The local Persian rug guy changes way more.

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IDugUpADiamond · 07/03/2014 07:11

keen I meant

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HerGraciousMajTheBeardedPotato · 07/03/2014 07:38

I love handmade rugs. I love that, at first, they look symmetrical and perfectly ordered, but, as you get yaed ti them, you discover that they are full of human flaws in the pattern. I love the depth of colour, and the variety.

I've acquired several (well, one large, which started the addiction, and several small), and the colours are almost irrelevant, because I can always find something or somewhere to match.

Mine are Bokharan, not Persian, but I imagine they're similar in how you live with them. It's better to suction vacuum them by switching the beaters off, but mine are in high traffic areas, so I leave the beaters on. But you must avoid the edges , especially if they are fringed, as the beaters will damage the edges. One was 2ndhand andhad been badly stored so it was smelly. I sprinkled it with bicarb, left it for a day, then vacced. Turned it over, repeated on the other side. Did this several times over a couple of weeks, and it does not smell. Actually it smells of wool, but it's not offensive.

I've spilt things on them and toilet-trained the dc, and they have always come up clean again. The one that on the living room is wearing badly, because the feet of people sitting on the sofas scuff it constantly. But that's the only place I cvan have it (it was in the hall in our previous place) and I'd rather use it, enjoy it, and wear it out, than not.

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HerGraciousMajTheBeardedPotato · 07/03/2014 07:43

BTW we bought our first rug when we were in our early 30s (and we were DINKYs!)

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MyAngels · 07/03/2014 08:30

We got ours from here:

www.irugs.co.uk/persian-rugs

Hand knotted 3mx2m wool, authentic Iranian/Persian (I researched the pattern, it was authentic to the region they claimed it was from and we have an Iranian friend who agreed it looked geniune). They told us it was about 40 years old - maybe, maybe not - it has a small wear pattern (where it was probably folded for while), but was in fab condition otherwise, didn't smell and only cost 420!

I love it Smile

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woodrunner · 07/03/2014 08:34

They're ageless classics. I love them. Grew up in a house full of them. I am also old, though!

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BumWad · 07/03/2014 08:39

I think they're great!

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MyAngels · 07/03/2014 08:49
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lalasmum17 · 07/03/2014 10:09

We've got quite a few in the house. Most of them we picked up at auction (the Persian ones - there seemed to be a glut of post-war ones on the market in the 90's) and through this guy (for Pakistan/Afghan cheaper rugs www.tribalgatherings.co.uk). Most of ours are carpets, though we do have some runners and rugs. Collecting rugs can become quite addictive.

We bought them gradually because we bought a tall, long, thin house with big rooms and grubby carpets that really didn't cope too well with rewiring and replumbing. The "rugs" covered a multitude of sins for far less money that recarpeting with a hard-wearing good-quality carpet.

15 years on, most are all still in excellent/good condition. Now with children and cats traipsing goodness knows what through the house I must say the complex patterns are great for hiding crumbs and fluff! What I also like is that I can swap the carpets between rooms with the seasons/my whims. You also get a different effect/colour depending on which way round you have the pile. I happily use a Dyson on them and (very) carefully steam clean them (but that is very naughty). We have had them professionally cleaned a few times through a local dealer.

Just a few observations:
Be super-diligent about moths (especially if you are bringing an old rug into the house). That said, I've only had a problem with red afghan rugs - now solved with pheromone strips.
If you are putting them on wooden floors get some underlay. Not only does it protect the knots from the floorboard, but it stops guests slipping
Dark colours will bleed if they get damp

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wigglybeezer · 07/03/2014 10:13

Yes they are quite good for the slightly slatternly, only problem I find is lego is well camouflaged if scattered on patterns, leading to foot injury, ditto cat sick!

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EddieReadersglasses · 07/03/2014 15:58

We have one in our bedroom was a present from fil. It's pinks/blues/greys and I love it. I use dyson with beaters off and it's fine

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noddyholder · 07/03/2014 17:19

Timeless I love them

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dippydaisy1 · 07/03/2014 17:23

We have three - and they seem to be indestructible! Mine are all red.

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