Here in Southern California we don’t think about wool very much.   Since we are blessed with warm, temperate weather for most of the year, the majority of us only bring out our wool sweaters or even “woolens” (as our grandmothers called it) a few times a year.    Most of us in warmer climates have lost touch with the valuable aspects of wool.

Wool is not just used for sweaters and long underwear though, but it is also a popular fiber used in quality carpeting and rugs.   There are many wonderful benefits to having wool carpet.

Wool is naturally insulating, which means it helps regulate temperature in your house (or on your body in the case of a sweater).  It’s a fabric that “breathes.”   It’s also naturally green and sustainable, since it is grown, not made, on the bodies of sheep and goats around the world.   Also, because of the wide variety of sheep breeds, many beautiful and natural shades of carpet are made from wool without the aid of chemical dyes.   Not only that, but it is soft to the touch while also being extremely durable.

Since wool is an animal fiber, unlike cotton which is a plant fiber, or acrylic which is a synthetic fiber, wool has something called “memory.”   Memory is great because it helps the fiber retain it’s original structure.  When you vacuum, spot clean or steam clean wool it will bounce back and retain it’s original structure much better than a plant-based or synthetic carpet.   This means that high-traffic areas in your house will keep a clean, crisp look much longer than other types of rugs or carpet.

Even more, if you run a “shoes-off” type of house, you can team up with wonderful wool carpet to keep that flooring looking as clean as ever!

In the Los Angeles area?  Contact your friendly neighborhood Carpet Wagon to find out more about wool and other excellent carpeting options for your home: 1-877-57-WAGON

What best defines your decorating style?   Sleek and modern?  Shabby Chic?   Traditional Americana?

Our homes are an extension of ourselves and our families.   How you decorate your home expresses part of who you are.    Decorating is a process that can be done from the “ground” up, so to speak.

What kind of flooring will match best with your innate style?   Are you the sleek pinewood floor or the distressed oakwood floor?    Does plush and comfortable carpet best match your needs and style?     What kind of area rug fits your personal taste?

Do you have a “Shoes Off” policy at your house?

For many years this tradition was thought to be something only found in the Middle East or Asia.   But more and more American families are taking up the “Shoes Off” call in their own homes.

Thoughtful Moms are concerned about germs and other things being dragged in from the street: No thank you!  Others simply don’t want to see their carefully maintained floors scuffed or dented by the errant stiletto or rough boot.

It can be slightly tricky to ask a guest to first take off their shoes before entering your house.  We want to be wholly hospitable while still keeping our carpets clean.   Here’s a fun recommendation: provide house slippers or socks for your guests!   A shoe rack beside the entrance can also help be a hint to your guest to remove their shoes.

What about your family?  Are you a “shoes on” or “shoes off” type of house?

Want to “go green” with your interior decorating?  Excellent idea.  Let’s talk about your flooring, first!

We hear the word “green” thrown around and attached to almost everything.  But not everything that totes itself as “green” truly is environmentally friendly or sustainable.

Almost every type of flooring–from wood, to carpet to tile can be evaluated on its Green properties.   There are many attributes that make a flooring Green.   Everything from the toxicity of the manufacturer process to the distribution methods of the material are significant.

Here are some questions to consider when “going green” with your flooring:

• Is the product renewable and recyclable?
• Is the manufacturer a socially responsible company?
• Does it allow for green installation and maintenance?

Choosing to go green is a great decision, but the choices can be daunting.  Ask your local flooring company to help you navigate your options.