Qualit carpet suitable for a period home

[paulb33]

Hi All,
I'm looking for a quality carpet. I know the look I want, but don't know what to buy. Its the carpet that's seen in quality period homes, often a deep red colour - very short pile and dense.

Could it be Velour/Velvet?

It looks so much nicer and sympathetic for period homes than the bog standard high street carpet. And tends to age well, gaining a nice patina over time.

But is it practical for a family home?

Any tips or thoughts on what I should be buying to get this look?
Regards,
Paul

 

[Nemesis]

Wilton?

 

[Lime]

Wilton?

There is nothing quite like a nice wilton carpet.
Hard wearing too.
Properly fitted and cared for it will last for decades.
Rather expensive though.

 

[Nigel]

Have you considered rugs instead? Shabby chic rugs can be picked up pretty cheaply at auction. They look more period than fitted carpet and if you ever move house you can take them with you.

That said, we are in the midst of laying a carpet runner up our stone stairs. John Lewis had a very good selection of top grade carpet, with lots of rich wine colour shades, and the fitting service is very good (edge binding etc). Be wary of the cheaper carpet warehouses as the ones we went to wanted to sell and run, with little interest in what is a complex fitting.

Regards



Nigel

 

[Penners]

Axminster and Wilton are both good quality carpets.

However, having had one velvet carpet in a previous house, I have one word of warning. These very dense, quite long pile carpets show every mark on them. They show footprints, and in particular they show vacuum cleaner marks - great sweeping marks wheverever you've pushed the machine.

 

[Nemesis]

They can also 'shade' permanently.

 

[Lime]

To avoid any confusion, wilton is a type of weave used to make carpet.
It is the best weave IMO.
However what is woven makes a huge difference.
For long life I would choose wool.