We'd like to introduce to our newest collection of rugs - the Ziegler Palace.

This new range has been developed in response to demand from our customers.  They are made from polypropylene and machine woven in Modova and will suit both a contemporary and period interior design scheme.

The FrithRugs collection offers five rug designs in popular colours such as cream, red and blue and their intricate pattern is typical of the Zeigler rug which mean they work well in most colour schemes.

So what is a Zeigler rug?

Although they are inspired by traditional Persian rugs, unlike most other traditional rugs they are not named after an area or a tribe and in fact are named after a design inspired by a Swiss businessman. Zeigler & Co. was established in Manchester in the 1880s in order to meet demand for this rug type across the best dressed homes in Europe.  

Mr Zieglar was clearly onto something as over 100 years later and the Zeigler design remains a best seller thanks to the soft colour palettes and that timeless design.

Why Polypropylene?

The benefits of polypropylene are numerous.  It is a man made fibre and so is much more stain resistant than wool which makes it the ideal choice if you have young children and pets.  It is quite easy to clean and it highly durable which means it is also really good value for money.  

Pop into a store for yourself and see and feel the quality for yourself. These rugs are available in a range of sizes.

Get your home ready for summer!

It's time to get your home ready for the new season with some new home accessories.

Whatever your style be that contemporary chic, country cottage or Victorian grandeur, you'll find something for every style in the season's new interior design trends.

Of course, summer time is holiday time whether that's two weeks in the Med, a Caribbean getaway or a week at a British seaside resort - and there is no doubt that at this time of year, it's great to have a hint of our favourite holiday destination at home.

Earthy tones and natural textures are a firm favourite to accompany those longer days and warmer nights.  Blue is also the colour of choice when it comes to injecting coastal hints at home and it's no surprise that Denim Drift is Dulux's colour of the year.  They also suggest indigo and grey for those who want to be bang on trend when it comes to interiors.

In this blog, we've taken our inspiration from around the globe to highlight some of our summer favourites.

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside - from Margate to Majorca,  
you just can't beat dipping your toes into the blue sea.  This rug from our Vibrance collection is handmade in India from 100% wool.  It is available in a range of sizes  http://frithrugs.co.uk/product-531/-/-/12188







Jungle fever.  Add a taste of the tropics to your home with this botanical inspired design from our Ella Claire exclusive collection.
Made in India from 100% wool this is the perfect home accessory for those who want to remember far flung exotic destinations.

A taste of India. This Indian Kelim rug is made from wool woven onto cotton and works well in the sitting room, the bedroom and the conservatory.  With its bright, vivid colours it's the perfect home accessory for taking your back to those hot summer nights. frithrugs.co.uk/cat/Kelims/558

Hints and tips on room decor

In this blog we will share our hints and tips to help you get your interior design just right.

Interior designers have a general rule – which is that 60% of the room features a main colour, 30% a second, complementary, colour - and the remaining 10 % is for accents like rugs. 

If you are totally redecorating and are not sure where to start, a good idea is to use a mood board which will show how different colours and textures will work together.  You can find lots of inspiration online.

To ensure your main colours work well together, find a colour wheel online and you can easily see how different shades and tones fit well.  Once you have the main colours decided, choose your accent colour, which is where the accessories come in, like curtains, cushions, throw and rugs.

If you want to inject some colour into your home then go for a really strong colour to complement your neutral or muted accessories.  For example, if you have pastel or pale blue walls try a really strong navy rug – if your walls have a pale pink tone – go for a red rug.  

In this image, the rug has added drama to what is quite a neutral colour palette - and we think it really brings the room to life. 

            

Be confident in the provenance of your Indian Rug

Indian Rugs have always been popular with our discerning customers.

It's Fairtrade Day this weekend and so we thought this was a great opportunity to reassure our customers about the provenance of our Indian rugs.

As one of the UK’s biggest importers of rugs and carpets FrithRugs is keen to ensure that the products we sell have been produced to the highest standards and without exploitation.

We import directly from the manufacturer and insist that manufacturers conform to strict ethical policies which include the criteria than no child or slave labour is used in the production of rugs and carpets.  We also make unannounced and random visits to carpet looms and weaving areas to ensure that our policies are enforced.

We fully support and endorse RugMark (the international non-profit organization devoted to ending child labour in the handmade carpet industry in South Asia).  This is great for smaller importers and wholesalers.

However, as a company with major purchasing power, FrithRugs feel more confident in setting out and adhering to our own stringent polices which we can police and enforce.  We need to be confident in the provenance of FrithRugs and so we insist on our own labels which meet our own exacting standards.

This means you can purchase our Indian Rugs with confidence and complete peace of mind.

How to create your 1970s themed room

Are you old enough to remember the 1970s?  We're not talking about glam rock and curly perms but 1970s home decor.  

Orange and brown were the predominant colours and found in bold shapes, flowers, circles, abstract design pop art - a throwback from the previous decade. There was shag carpet on the floor and woodchip on the walls. Towards the end of the decade, Britain was in recession which meant hand-me-downs and handicrafts and so there was plenty of wood and macramé.

If this doesn't sound appealing - remember the great thing about revivals is that you can take the best of an era and ignore some of the less attractive features.
1970s Retro Room

In order to avoid the worst of the 1970s home interiors design, the trick is to have a nod to the style rather than overwhelm a room. There's really no need to invest in lots of new furniture because 1970s coloured and styled can easily give your room that cool retro vibe.

Lighting

You can find 1970s lighting; usually pendant lights online but also browse second hand shops and car boot sales.  For lamps, try to find lampshades in orange or brown or that are decorated in floral designs.

Artwork

Every respectful 1970s home had would have had a poster on the wall.  You can find a poster you like and have it framed, better still see if you can find an iconic poster from the time, such as the tennis girl poster.  Anything with a rainbow was also predominant in popular culture.  And see if you can find the Tretchikoff the Chinese girl print that seemed to feature in most homes at the time.

Flooring

No need to change your flooring - instead it's quick and easy to give the floor a 70's feel with a new rug.  Some rugs in our Vibrance collection will fit the bill (see below) thanks to their colour and design.  Once you have selected the right FrithRugs for you, use it as the template to select your sofa cushions.  Match them with the colours in your rug or see if you can find a similar design.  Don't forget you could also have cushions re-covered.

Finishing Touches

Scour second hand shops for 1970s ornaments and accessories.  Look for colours featuring brown, orange, lime, yellow, pink and purple.  Coasters, planters and ashtrays are plentiful on second hand websites and so you are sure to find pieces that will complement your theme without overwhelming the room.