Dear Jean and Richard, We recently went rug shopping and were overwhelmed. Are there really differences in quality that mirror the prices? –Oliver R., Leicester

Richard: Dear Oliver, who wouldn’t be overwhelmed!? Turkish, Oriental, Persian, Indian—handmade, machine made, and some with a combination of both. It’s a good question, but unfortunately, there’s no simple answer. As I’m sure you have concluded from shopping, there is quite a range of prices. And you probably deduced from dramatic sale prices, there’s often quite a markup as well. But there are real differences and price justifications.

Jean: Richard and I often make special buying trips just for rugs because there are so many options. Some experts in the field can look at a rug and identify the source—sometimes down to the specific village responsible for weaving it. Choices of patterns, dyes, and techniques reflect generations of handed-down experience in the craft. But exercise caution—it’s fair to say many of the traditional patterns used in Eastern rugs can be at odds with our Western sense of design.

Richard: Well, they can also complement them. But I’ll admit that the intricate patterns you see in some of the weaves are a struggle for a non-professional to work with the streamlined simplicity of contemporary design. To simplify basic quality levels, we might use three categories—hand woven, hand tufted, and machine made. The most expensive is the hand woven, of course. Not only are they beautiful, they age well and can last a lifetime. You can verify these by parting the pile to find the actual knots tied at the base of each tuft.

Jean: You can also clearly see the pattern on the back. And there definitely are a lot of wonderful cleaner, simpler designs and styles today, in a variety of price points to simplify your choice.

Richard: Hand-tufted rugs are mid-range, quality products that are not painstakingly hand knotted, but constructed using an electric tufting gun to secure the tufts. Finally, machine-made rugs coming mostly out of China and India are the most affordable, and depending on the nature of their use, sometimes the most practical. If the use is temporary, or your budget is tight, they can still have a nice look. Maybe that’s the solution if your animals sometimes leave you “gifts” on the rugs like Jean’s…

Jean: Not stepping on camouflaged Greyhounds, Cavaliers and cats lounging on my rugs are my main animal concerns. And we forgot to mention Dhurries, a great hand-made—yet affordable—alternative. These are flat, woven rugs usually with a geometric design, and generally in paler colors. But they’re not quite as soft for pet beds.

Richard: Speaking of flat, be sure when you are making your final decision that you view the rugs flat on the ground and from all sides. There is a darker and lighter side which can make a big difference depending on where you’re standing. Any good rug dealer will not mind you spending the time inspecting it before you purchase, and by all means ask to take it on loan since things could change drastically when you place it in your home.

Jean: And when you go shopping for a rug, be sure to take your paint and fabric samples with you. They don’t have to match perfectly, but the rug should complement them. Just like I want to complement Fancy, Mary, Lucy, and Buzz for looking so fabulous on our new hand knotted den rug!

Dear Jean and Richard, We recently went rug shopping and were overwhelmed. Are there really differences in quality that mirror the prices? –Oliver R., Leicester

Richard: Dear Oliver, who wouldn’t be overwhelmed!? Turkish, Oriental, Persian, Indian—handmade, machine made, and some with a combination of both. It’s a good question, but unfortunately, there’s no simple answer. As I’m sure you have concluded from shopping, there is quite a range of prices. And you probably deduced from dramatic sale prices, there’s often quite a markup as well. But there are real differences and price justifications.

Jean: Richard and I often make special buying trips just for rugs because there are so many options. Some experts in the field can look at a rug and identify the source—sometimes down to the specific village responsible for weaving it. Choices of patterns, dyes, and techniques reflect generations of handed-down experience in the craft. But exercise caution—it’s fair to say many of the traditional patterns used in Eastern rugs can be at odds with our Western sense of design.

Richard: Well, they can also complement them. But I’ll admit that the intricate patterns you see in some of the weaves are a struggle for a non-professional to work with the streamlined simplicity of contemporary design. To simplify basic quality levels, we might use three categories—hand woven, hand tufted, and machine made. The most expensive is the hand woven, of course. Not only are they beautiful, they age well and can last a lifetime. You can verify these by parting the pile to find the actual knots tied at the base of each tuft.

Jean: You can also clearly see the pattern on the back. And there definitely are a lot of wonderful cleaner, simpler designs and styles today, in a variety of price points to simplify your choice.

Richard: Hand-tufted rugs are mid-range, quality products that are not painstakingly hand knotted, but constructed using an electric tufting gun to secure the tufts. Finally, machine-made rugs coming mostly out of China and India are the most affordable, and depending on the nature of their use, sometimes the most practical. If the use is temporary, or your budget is tight, they can still have a nice look. Maybe that’s the solution if your animals sometimes leave you “gifts” on the rugs like Jean’s…

Jean: Not stepping on camouflaged Greyhounds, Cavaliers and cats lounging on my rugs are my main animal concerns. And we forgot to mention Dhurries, a great hand-made—yet affordable—alternative. These are flat, woven rugs usually with a geometric design, and generally in paler colors. But they’re not quite as soft for pet beds.

Richard: Speaking of flat, be sure when you are making your final decision that you view the rugs flat on the ground and from all sides. There is a darker and lighter side which can make a big difference depending on where you’re standing. Any good rug dealer will not mind you spending the time inspecting it before you purchase, and by all means ask to take it on loan since things could change drastically when you place it in your home.

Jean: And when you go shopping for a rug, be sure to take your paint and fabric samples with you. They don’t have to match perfectly, but the rug should complement them. Just like I want to complement Fancy, Mary, Lucy, and Buzz for looking so fabulous on our new hand knotted den rug!

Dear Jean and Richard, How do you create a design to match someone’s personal tastes? –Bob and Eloise, Hendersonville

Jean: The cautionary adage “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is certainly true in our field, but there are levels of taste in every style. We try not to dictate the style, but rather to maintain high standards for every design.

Richard: Every job begins with an extensive interview. We ask about lifestyle, like ‘do you entertain?’ or ‘do you have pets?’ We ask style questions, too, such as ‘what kinds of wall treatments do you like?’, ‘do you collect antiques?’, or ‘do you prefer a more sparse or full look?’. We even ask what a client’s favorite colors are. Sometimes Jean gets personal… she’ll ask what’s in your closet!

Jean: And I’m not looking for skeletons. The fact is, some people don’t know what their favorite colors are, but their closet will tell us. If half the wardrobe is green, well—there’s a clue!

Richard: Also, while one of us is interviewing, the other is scanning rooms, petting pooches and looking in the medicine cabinet.

Jean: When it comes to a client’s personal tastes, often it’s a memory that haunts them. I once presented a dining room design that included large scale floral wallpaper and period furniture. The client responded with, “It reminds me of Sunday dinner at Grandma’s house. I hated Grandma!” Needless to say I moved on… It’s often about our histories.

Richard: Someone’s history can be a positive influence, too. People who grew up in urban environments often have different priorities than those who grew up in the country, for example. And their tastes in art and accessories can vary dramatically. The rules of good design still apply, though—scale, proportion, color balance, etc. And one’s grandfather’s overalls are not art. We will always push people to the edge of their taste comfort zone, but ultimately respect their wishes.

Jean: I think that’s the main reason they hire us….so their home is more fun or beautiful than they would have come up with on their own.

Richard: Somewhere in everyone’s personal taste is a level of drama, humor, serenity and comfort.

Dear Jean and Richard, We can’t decide which shade of green to use in our den. Do you have any advice on how to go about choosing a good paint color? --Lorri, Lake Toxaway

Jean: Well, you might work for around 25 years as an interior designer, but even then you could choose the wrong one. Because color lies! The swatch whispers, “Florida Fern,” but when you get it on the wall, it screams, “Kansas Corn!”

Richard: And sometimes if the color doesn’t scare you, the change will. Any strong color can be a challenge to get right on a large surface. One tool we use is the larger 8 x 11 sheets of color a good paint store can provide, rather than use dinky swatches. But choosing well is more than selecting the right hue, because so many other things affect it. For one thing, the color you put beside it can alter the tone. Red and blue, for example, will seem to vibrate when you put them side by side- like a cheap motel.

Jean: That may be true, but I’ll bet Lorri will not choose red and blue for the same room. Look at what happens with color under both natural and artificial light. One time a client suggested to the painter that she believed he had slightly changed colors on each wall. But it was only about the difference in how the light hit the walls.

Richard: The reflection of light is what it’s all about. Adjacent colors, artificial light sources, contrasting trim, fabrics and carpet—all dramatically affect the perceived color. For someone who doesn’t pick paint colors that often, a good thing to remember is the color will always be bolder than how it appears on a swatch, so you may want to “gray it” or “brown it” somewhat to tone it down. Something I wish I could do to children in nice restaurants.

Jean: Paint companies usually assume the consumer wants clear, crisp colors to create a fresh, newly-painted look, and they formulate them accordingly. But if you are restoring an historic home or creating an elegant, understated setting you may have to get the paint professionals to mix you a color that falls between swatch selections. Yet no doubt, nothing gives you more change and impact for your money than paint.

Richard: Another consideration for paint is sheen. We use different sheens for different applications. In one Asheville restaurant, for example, we used flat for the upper walls and satin for the lower walls, but they were the same color. The difference is dramatic. Flat finish will move surfaces away and semi-gloss will bring them closer due to the reflection. A little sheen goes a long way for durability and adding excitement, but will show all the surface imperfections.

Jean: Different textures can also affect the color. And as far as which color to choose, surround yourself with colors that you love. Discern the effect you want to achieve. Sophisticated? Whimsical? Institutional? Color speaks all of these languages.

Richard: I just wish I could find a cute Italian.

Dear Jean and Richard, I’ve seen sticks in a vase used as an accessory, but when I try it, it looks silly. Do you ever use found materials in your interiors? –Esther, Mills River

Richard: I confess my yard might not yield much in the way of natural materials, but I’m sure Jean’s could produce all kinds of things, like poison ivy wreaths, bird nest baskets, or pinecone centerpieces.

Jean: Ha ha, very funny. Actually, those sticks Esther is talking about are usually curly willow branches, and can in fact be very attractive when displayed in something like a heavy glass vase. But if you choose to try them, make sure they have some size to them and there are several to fan out—otherwise, they will just look like you collected some wayward sticks from your yard.

Richard: Well, isn’t that the point? Found materials? I live on an urban street, and what I find you wouldn’t want to display! But lots of people have flowering trees and shrubs that offer opportunities for real centerpieces or beautiful arrangements.

Jean: Of course! I’m just saying don’t be bashful with the idea. Three sticks in a jar will look like a kindergartner did it, where a single flower in a beautiful vase can be lovely. I like to cut a flowering branch—or several—at least two feet long for display, or use a double handful of greenery to showcase cut flowers. Bring some of that outrageous color and unpredictable pattern and texture from the natural world inside. Natural sculpture! And this time of year there are lots of choices.

Richard: Yes, but use caution when choosing. If you’re not careful, you might bring bugs inside too, or some beautiful plants that don’t smell as good as they look. If you brought in a sprig of English Boxwood, for example, you might think the cat missed the litter box. Unless you’re in Jean’s house. Then chances are the cat used the cut flowers instead of the litter box.

Jean: And you wonder why I don’t invite you over very often. Besides, it’s much more likely my cats would chew on the flowers than soil them. But that’s not the point. For my own “back yard” arrangements, I take advantage of what every season brings—cherry blossoms or forsythia in the spring, magnolias or hydrangeas in the summer, camellias in the fall, and yes, maybe even pinecones or holly in the winter.

Richard: Well, accessories can be from the natural world without coming from your yard, too. Consider using a beautiful large clam shell for a tissue holder, or an exotic rock for a bookend. But make sure they are overscale and mix them in with more conventional elements. Just sticks and stones and dead pine cones like hers will never charm me.

Jean: Oh, that was painful. But speaking of charming, cats can serve as exquisite living accessories! I’ll get their bowls and toys, and we’ll be right over to decorate your home, Richard!