Dans Hamptons

The beauty of a finely made rug can be seen instantly, but the stunning brilliance comes by looking closer. While machine-made rugs are fine for some, the discerning homeowner (or even home-renter) knows how a handmade rug can work magic in a room. Those that do, go to one place - Marc Anthony Rugs. This isn't your normal rug store. It is about as close to 1-800-Carpets as The Palm is to McDonalds. For 32 years, Marc has been dealing in prime rugs. Three years ago, he made his Bridgehampton showroom the base of his operation. With thousands of rugs in all sizes, shapes, colors and patterns, the three-floor showroom has something for everyone and every budget. If it's not in the store, Mr. Anthony can find it or he can have it made.

People always have an idea of what they want when it comes to decorating their floor, but like many pieces of furniture, your rugs are reflective of the style of your house. Modern homes usually demand modern rug patterns, while traditional homes call for traditional styles. This is only a guideline, of course, and proper traditional rugs can make an amazing impact in sparse, modern homes. But inside these two styles, there are many sub-styles, which come in and out of fashion. Today, the most popular traditional pieces are Turkish Peshawar Ushak and Persian Heriz rugs. There has been a movement away from floral rug patterns toward more geometric designs, which is why these two styles work well. Within all traditional patterns, there are three other categories that come into play - antique (100-150-years-old), semi-antique (40-90-years-old) and new. Besides age and rarity, what makes antique rugs coveted is their craftsmanship. The threads are handspun, which give a less uniform look to the rug's weaving. In other words, the thread is slightly thicker in some areas and thinner in others. The other is the "brush." Due to using several batches of dye, hand-dyed thread in antique rugs varies in color. Though this seems to be a flaw to the novice, to those who know, it is a wonderful accent on any rug. When I asked Marc Anthony how to tell if a rug is an antique or not, he simply said, "the eye knows."

Finding the correct rug is sometimes difficult and many factors come into play. While Marc Anthony Rugs carries almost exclusively wool and wool/silk rugs, he can custom order anything, from bamboo to paper mats. With the vast, open floor plans in 10,000-square-foot spec houses, finding the proper rug can make all the difference between creating an intimate area, dividing the space and establishing focal points in a room. A well thought-out rug will do more to pull a room together than any carpeting. It allows the floors (whether they be wood or tile) to be exposed, while complementing colors and patterns found throughout the room. Even wall-to-wall rugs are wonderful because, instead of carpets, which are left in the house when you move, rugs can be taken up and brought with you wherever you go.

For your home, settling on a rug that doesn't fit perfectly is no longer an option. Through Marc Anthony Rugs you can make appointments for house visits. No longer do you have to imagine what a rug will look like in your living room, because they will bring several rugs to your home so you can test them out. If none of them do the trick, they will work with leading weavers across the globe to custom make the rug you want, in any size, shape, and colors.

To tie the room together, create a focal piece or even just to provide some protection from cold floors, rugs are an ideal way to express yourself and your aesthetic - not by pictures hanging on the wall or sculptures on pedestals, but simply by placing beauty right at your feet.

At the Hamptons Home and Garden Show, Mark Anthony will be displaying several antique rugs ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. While these may be out of they price range of many, the will also have other rugs running in the low thousands that will not destroy your budget.