What markets do you attend regularly?
I try to attend markets in Atlanta, Dallas and High Point annually, as well as make frequent trips to several design centers in Boston, New York and Houston.
Do you have a favorite source for buying your rugs?
In the Boston area, K Powers & Company has been a great resource for the custom pieces I seek for my clients. Other more frequent favorites come from Edelman Leather and Holland & Sherry. These places offer the custom ability that is important to me as a designer and the quality that the client seeks. Regardless of budgeting there are many options these favorites can provide.
What feature in the rug is most important to you?
The most important feature in a rug is its quality. More is always more when it comes to a rug purchase. I often impress upon my clients that this is the one purchase that we do not cut corners. The quality of the material can vary depending on the manufacturer and budget but always purchase the highest quality available at your price point.
How often do you purchase a custom rug and why?
I will purchase a custom rug whenever possible. This is a piece that can make or break the overall design and feeling of a space. Many designers, I think, often forget to consider all five senses in a space… touching a custom piece that no one else in this world has is worth the experience in gold.
Do you have any favorite style or fiber of area rug?
Silk is my favorite of all materials out on the market. It is incredibly diverse in its feeling and usability. Applied in a rug it is the ultimate of luxury, I often say I want to be wrapped in a silk rug when my time on earth is done.
Any suggestions for the area rug industry for the new year?
Consider the consumer and that rugs are a lifetime of investment. Some of the most amazing rugs out there are hundreds of years old. Let’s create rugs for a lifetime, and we will see such success in our design world.
Want to see more? Go to www.emhdesigninc.com
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