Area rugs.  They are the foundation for almost any room design.  We recently went in search of the perfect area rug to complete a sophisticated, warm, neutral living room design.  One of our favorite haunts for area rugs is Dover Rug in Natick because they have a HUGE selection and a really broad range of price points.  We found not only the perfect rug for the project at hand, but also a number of options for other projects!

I prefer a wool rug, in most cases, because nothing can compare with the feel of wool.  But wool doesn't necessarily equal expensive. Many other things factor into the cost (see THIS post for more info on cost factors and tips for choosing a rug), and we were able to find the perfect rug for the project at a reasonable price. LOVE LOVE LOVE this creamy thick wool rug with silk accents, and our client did too!  It looks even more spectacular on the floor than it does hanging. 

We also came across some great textures, like this velvety cut pile contemporary floral,

this crunchy textured weave,

and this lush cut pile, red diamond pattern that shifts into a rich burgundy from different angles.

There were well priced, more traditional, bordered oriental patterns in a variety of colors; here is a cream with a black border

and one with a soft green border.

We also found this fanciful, colorful, slightly Art Nouveau inspired design that might just be perfect for another current project!

And, because it made an impression, I'll include this dramatic black rug with what looked to me, at first glance, like fox heads, or maybe devil masks...sort of a Rorschach inkblot test in a rug...hmmm.... I wonder what that says about me?!

There are choices here for nearly every application, and many can be ordered in different sizes.  Rugs serve a variety of functions from defining space, to absorbing sound, to adding texture and/or color, and are such an important element in the design of almost every room.

So, Happy Shopping!