Advice on purchasing antique rugs

Antique rugs are beautiful and an eye catching accessory to your home.  Not only are they a practical piece of art that welcomes visitors to your home but they are also useful in protecting the floor below.  Once only available to the wealthy, and never intended to use on the floor, antique rugs have in more recent years become available to a broader spectrum of consumers.   When buying an antique rug, like with all art, you are making a financial investment.



How can you be sure of you are investing wisely?

Aesthetic appeal and quality greatly define the rugs worth, and will possibly be the primary connection you make with the item as you consider its potential in your home.  However the age of a rug is the indicator of its antiquity.  And this definition as Antique makes a significant difference to the value.

What is the defining age of an old rug before it transcend to the status of antique?

Principally, it is very difficult to determine the exact year the rug was made, so only a rough ageing is determined.  But with in-depth knowledge of the history of rug making a trained professional calculate an estimated date of production by the type, colour, size and style.  Like a wine connoisseur, a rug expert can “read” the rug: where the rug was woven, the language or dialect of the weaver, and often her religion. Generally, antique status is given to a rug that is determined to be over 100 years old.

When buying your rug it would be wise to perform some research to educate yourself on some of the key points in rug making history so that you can be prepared to question the seller on details about the rug, allowing you to make your own informed decision on your investment.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

CLEANING PRODUCTS

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Adding simple architectural features to your home

Adding architectural detail to your home is an easy DIY project and inexpensive.  Here are some simple tips and hints, which you could do in your home.

Using artificial bricks, simple moulding and a warm white paint on the walls on the chimney breast, and then place a fireplace in front of it.

In front of the fireplace, how about adding a deep crimson rug and use that colour as accents around the room, especially on cushions, throws and ornaments on the fireplace. 

Wood work around a window can be quite basic.  How about adding a sash but that could possibly need you to take out the existing moulding and spending a lot of money. The alternative would be to take a stencil of a window sash you really like and then trace that on the wall and fill it in with paint.  Not to forget adding a faint outline in a slightly darker colour, to suggest shadow.

The next cheat is really inexpensive to do.  Instead of opting for a hardwood floor, use plywood.  Check out below some local stockists for prices.    Think about painting the plywood a dark colour, it will hide any imperfections that’s often found in plywood.

Another way to add architectural detail is painting up skirting board.  Most heights of skirting boards are about 2400mm.  So instead of removing them, you can add to them.  Measure up about two inches and add a piece of trim and paint it all the same colour.
Taking on renovating projects doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money but by taking on this basic tips you can really transform your space.

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

CLEANING PRODUCTS

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

 

Ghost Free Real-estate, Stain free too

House Network is clearly a forward thinking enterprise. The Real Estate agency is now offering a Ghost-Free Certification to appease Ghosts, sellers and buyers alike. Now, I don't know about you, but I have, upon occasion felt the feathery draft of a breeze, seen the curtains flutter when the windows were closed and even seen the door close of its own volition. It is possible it was that darn cat though.

Ghostfinder Paranormal Society offers this service for a limited time only. Not to sound too skeptical, but as the offer lasts until October 31st, there's a chance it might be a marketing ploy...but honestly, can you afford to take that risk given that suspected haunted houses retail at approximately 20% below the market value? 

The cost for the service ranges from £100-500 and is a buyer beware product, meaning, if they find those Ghosties in the attic, then tough luck. 

According to Barri Ghai, lead investigator with the Ghostfinder Paranormal Society, "Reports of hauntings and cases of paranormal activity in homes is on the increase...We receive on average two or more reports a week from the public claiming that they may be sharing their homes with a ghost".

Wow, did you read that, ..."two or MORE!"

Now, we're not ghost hunters and can't claim to free your homes of unwanted spooky things, but we can give your carpet and rugs a good cleaning. We guarantee to FREE your homes of those unwanted stains and marks. So, if you need your carpets cleansed and want us to rid your home of that infestation of dirt, call the professionals

Art of Clean is a specialist cleaning firm in: 

Wood Floor Sanding,

Stone floor Cleaning,

Carpet Cleaning,

Rug Cleaning,

Upholstery Cleaning 

Leather Furniture Cleaning, 

Working for domestic or commercial clients throughout Cambridgeshire, Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire.

For more information on our services contact our friendly team on 01223 863632 or email us at info@artofclean.co.uk

Short video - Pierre explains how a hand made Persian rug professionally cleaned

At Art of Clean headquarters in Chittering, Cambridge, we have the rug cleaning workshop.  This houses our state of the art equipment including rug centrifuge - the only one in the region!

We are a professional cleaning company who specialise in Carpet, Rug, Hardwood floor, Stone floor, Upholstery and Leather cleaning for domestic an commercial clients.

 For more information about our services contact the team on 01223 863632 or at www.artofclean.co.uk to find out more.

Rug cleaners Camabridgeshire UK

See how clean your rugs could be with a stint at our rug cleaning plant in Cambridgeshire UK

We are a professional cleaning company who specialise in Carpet, Rug, Hardwood floor, Stone floor, Upholstery and Leather cleaning for both domestic and commercial clients.  For more information about our services contact the team on 01223 863632 or at www.artofclean.co.uk to find out more.