carpets

My turkish kelim carpet

turkishkelim, kelim

The top part of my Turkish kelim carpet. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

The other day somebody spotted my Turkish kelim carpet in the background of one of my Instagram posts.

Turkish kelim

It is an interesting carpet. I bought in Turkey in 2003 after some discussions about the price. It is 305 cms long and 77 cms wide, but rather thin. I managed to squeeze it into my suitcase for the transportation home. It has lots of pictures of animals and flowers on it and some of the patterns are probably symbolic for one thing or another. Not that I know… I also do not know its age.

Pictures of the carpet

Shot some pictures of it from top to bottom (the way you look at it and follow the pattern) the other day. The bottom part of it near to the door to the patio is a bit sun-faded, but the rest is OK. I’ve had it cleaned (by professionals) twice. I love its colors.

I love this carpet and I too enjoy looking at its patterns. It lives in my livingroom and I pass it every day several times when I pass from the livingroom into or out of the bedroom.

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The second part of the carpet. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

Every part of the carpet has a different picture in the middle of it. Five in all.

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The third part of the carpet. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

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The 4th part of the carpet. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

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The 5th part of the carpet. Photo: ©nini,tjader.2019

The 5th part of the carpet is the one faded by the sun. It is not TOO bad though. The bottom righthand corner always rolls up from the floor and I have not been able to fix that. I bought it like that. Presently I stick that corner under the round floor-pillow.

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A glimpse of the underside of the carpet. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2019

Under the carpet I have this grey security carpet so you won’t fly away with the carpet if you come in a hurry. It prevents it from sliding.

The backside/underside of the carpet is interesting as well and very well made. Handmade, yes.

Posted by nini in carpets, handicraft, Interior Design, livingroom, 0 comments

Moving carpets around

carpet, rug, livingroom

Present carpet in livingroom. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2018

So, I finally got around to moving carpets and switching them between the bedroom and the livingroom. I thought about it for quite some time, but then when I fell on the large stone and hurt my chest, and after that got a severe cold with a cough… Couldn’t execute the switch for quite some time.  Could just think about it. All is well now again and I did the switch about a week ago, all by myself. Had some help in the bedroom by neighbour in the end as it is tricky to move a carpet in under the bed at the same time as you lift the bed. Hard and sweaty work because it also included moving furniture in the livingroom (and moving it back again after the switch).

carpet, rug, livingroom

Carpets in the livingroom. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2018

The beige carpet started its life in the kitchen. It drove me nuts there because it was really hard to move chairs out and in from the kitchentable with this carpet. I then moved it to the bedroom, under the bed, where it has been until now. Lately I realised that it would be much better in the livingroom. In preparation for a new sofa it was time to mover it again.

carpet, rug, livingroom

Livingroom carpets. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2018

The longhaird wool-carpet I had in the livingroom, I moved to the bedroom. I might not keep it there. It is nice underfoot when you get out of bed, but it needs cleaning.

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This rug is much smaller than the one I moved to the livingroom.

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The rug in the bedroom. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2018

carpet, rug, bedroom

Carpet in the bedroom. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2018

And yes, I DO want a carpet under the bed, despite the dust that collects there. Small rugs at the side of a bed is an accident risk. You risk flying away on those smaller one if it moves on the floor. So a heavier carpet, firmly stuck under the bed is the thing. I might change to the blue one I have in storage though. This long-haired off-white wool-carpet looks dirtier here than it did in the livingroom… That will probably look worse when I switch to my all white bed-cover (which I first have to clean) as this carpet is not all white to begin with.

I am happy with the result in the livingroom though.

Posted by nini in bedroom, carpets, Interior Design, livingroom, Thoughts, 0 comments

New kitchen carpet in place

kitchen, carpet

RAVNSÖ carpet in the kitchen. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

A new kitchen carpet is now in place.

carpet, kitchen, ravnsö

RAVNSÖ carpet in the kitchen. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

I finally decided on the striped wool-carpet RAVNSÖ from IKEA. Size 170 x 240 cms. I would provide a link if it was available on Ikeas site, but it isn’t there. As Ikea explained it when I asked, it isn’t there because you cannot order it via internet. (That might change in the future?)

carpet, kitchen, ravnsö

RAVNSÖ carpet in the kitchen. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

I really, really like it. And I like the colorfulness it adds. Had som trouble taking pictures of it as the autumn-light in the afternoon – when I shot the pictures – comes in at a not so good angle. But at least you see how the carpet looks there.

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RAVNSÖ carpet in the kitchen. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

One thing I had to remove in the kitchen was the very colorful tablecloth I normally have there. Didn’t go well together with the carpet. Have to get a new one in one color only. The carpet goes well with all my chair-cushions though and no matter which I use they match well.

So, what happened to the carpet I had in the kitchen previously?

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Carpet in the bedroom. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

The previous carpet (LOHALS from Ikea) I moved from the kitchen to the bedroom. Makes the bedroom lighter. The carpet I had there before was blue, making the bedroom all dark blue. I’ve also always liked the feel of the LOHALS carpet under bare feet. My floors need carpets as living on the ground floor makes them rather cold at times. I think it looks good here. The discarded blue carpet I will throw out. It has seen better days.

I do need to move the carpet slightly to the left though as it is a little bit too long for the room and there is about 10 cms left to the cupboards. But, presently it got stuck here like this as it is very heavy to move, with bed and all on it. Gustav, the neighbors cat, was in here when I did this, sitting on the bed during all the lifting and shuffling… He got all excited about it… No wonder the carpet didn’t land exactly right… No pictures though as I was busy lifting the bed and moving the carpet into place.

Another day soon I will move the carpet closer to the window so I get less carpet up the wall in the other end (not in the picture).

bedroom, carpet, lohals

LOHALS carpet in the bedroom- Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Posted by nini in carpets, decoration, Interior Design, kitchen, 0 comments

Changed my mind about carpet for the kitchen

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LOHALS carpet from Ikea in my kitchen. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

I had time to change my mind about which new carpet to get for the kitchen. I will still change the carpet and put the present one into the bedroom, but I will not get the one I previously said I’d buy. I had time to change my mind because the carpet I intended to get, LOBBÄK below, was not in yet at Ikea and still isn’t.

You all the time get stuck with the chairs in the present LOHALS carpet so I just have to get something else that is less annoying.

kitchencarpet

Ikea LOBBÄK carpet. Photo from Ikea.

I will NOT get the above one… It is too beige-grey-colorless.

Because I want more color in the kitchen. Color that goes with the various cushion-seats on the kitchen-chairs and also with new wallpaper (whenever I get around to that).

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RAVNSÖ carpet from Ikea. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

I found the above striped carpet at Ikea. Wool. Flat-woven. One of the new ones for the autumn at Ikea.

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RAVNSÖ carpet from Ikea. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Simple, colorful but not too colorful, flat-woven, wool. Perfect with whichever chair-cushions used when it comes to color. Also not too wild and not too strong colors and still colorful (if you understand what I mean). 170×240 cms in size.

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RAVNSÖ carpet from Ikea. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

They had three carpets in store when I last visited. Otherwise it is listed as one of the new items for October… and it isn’t October yet. And it cannot be found on the Ikea-website…

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RAVNSÖ carpet from Ikea. Photo: IKEA

OR should I go for the KATTRUP carpet instead?

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KATTRUP carpet from Ikea. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

More folkloristic. Wool. Flat-woven. IKEA has had this one for quite some time. I’ve always liked it. Available in two big sizes. I think 170×240 is large enough even though the present kitchen-carpet is 200×300.

The colors of the Kattrup carpet has changed somewhat over the years. Ikea even has it in grey-scale now. I like the red one though.

kattrupcarpet

KATTRUP carpet from Ikea. Sizes and prices. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

My friend Monica (R.I.P.) had it in her kitchen. Below how it looked in her kitchen in Umeå in September 2013.

kattrumcarpet

KATTRUP carpet by Ikea at Monica’s in Umeå September 2013.

So, which one should I get?

Posted by nini in carpets, Interior Design, kitchen, 0 comments

Carpet in the kitchen – again changing it

kitchencarpet

LOHALS carpet from Ikea. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Carpet in the kitchen? Yes, I always want a carpet in the kitchen. My floors are rather cold during the cold season, then a carpet under your feet is good to have.

I am again considering a change of carpet in the kitchen. I love the one I bought last year, BUT it is no good in the kitchen. Why? Because it is next to impossible to get the kitchen chairs out when getting up from the table. They get stuck in the carpet. I didn’t know that when I bought that carpet. The present carpet is LOHALS from Ikea, largest size (200×300 cm).

kitchencarpet

LOHALS carpet in the kitchen. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Many do not have a carpet in the kitchen under the kitchen table, but I want one as my floors are rather cold during the colder seasons and I live on the ground-floor. And it should be easy to clean/vacuum and pleasant to walk barefoot on. The one requirement I didn’t take into consideration when I bought this one, was how hard or easy it was to get the chairs out from under the table.

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Ikea LOBBÄK carpet. Photo from Ikea.

The carpet I am considering is the Ikea LOBBÄK carpet, size 200×300 cm, price SEK799. It is supposed to be beige. On the PR-picture above it looks more greige (greyish-beige) than on the pictures on the websites. On the picture on the Ikea websites it looks more brown than beige… Need to see it in real life to be certain of the color. I am no fan of either brown or real beige.

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Ikea LOBBÄK carpet. Photo from Ikea.

Apart from that it looks flat-woven enough to be able to move your chairs from out under the kitchen table. They didn’t have it in the carpet-department when I visited Ikea on Thursday, though it says now on their site that they do have it (only four of it, but still…). It is supposed to withstand dirt, rain, snow… and can be used outdoors as well as inside. Sounds like a good carpet for the kitchen.

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The present carpet in the bedroom. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

The plan is to move the carpet from the kitchen into the bedroom and exchange the blue carpet there.

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Carpet in the bedroom. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

I think it will be good in the bedroom. It is larger than the present one, but there is room enough for it (I have measured the space). It will also make my blue bedroom a bit lighter I think. The present blue carpet there needs cleaning and might not survive a cleaning. It is a very cheap carpet I bought many years ago to have on the floor in my then kitchen when its regular carpet was to be cleaned.

First of all, I need to visit Ikea again and see the LOBBÄK carpet in real life. Then we will see.

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LOBBÄK carpet. Photo from Ikea.

PS. 2016-08-27 Visited IKEA the other day and they had one (1) left of the LOBBÄK carpet so I could take a look at it in real life. It looks fine. Less brown than in their website images. They aren’t really in store yet, but will be in larger numbers in about three weeks time. Then I will probably buy it.

Posted by nini in bedroom, carpets, Interior Design, kitchen, 0 comments

The Josef Frank Exhibition at Millesgården

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

The Josef Frank Exhibition at Millesgården. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Yesterday Ulla and I visited the Josef Frank Exhibition at Millesgården. The exhibition was about his patterns, furniture and paintings (aquarelles actually). Josef Frank lived between 1885 and 1967. Read more about Josef Frank here.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

The Josef Frank Exhibition at Millesgården. Photo:©nini.tjadr.2016

The exhibition is in the building just inside the entrance to Millesgården.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

Ulla sitting in a chair by Josef Frank. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

I’ve always loved the patterns of Josef Frank and their colors. Now we had a chance to see them in real life, and also his aquarelles, which are less known to the public. He started painting at the age of 68.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

The Josef Frank Exhibition at Millesgården. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

I knew he made furniture and particularly that long sofa with the tulips pattern is famous.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

A typical Josef Frank pattern. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

The patterns are colorful and picture plants and animals with a lot of fantasy. They are very decorative.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

The Josef Frank Exhibition at Millesgården. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

The pattern in the middle in the picture above is called “Italian Dinner” and have pictures of all the ingredients in an italian dinner, like vegetables and sea-food among other things.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

Carpet by Josef Frank. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Most of the patterns I’ve seen before in various contexts. But not his carpets. The above carpet was created in the 1930-ties. Hard to believe that they did carpets like this at that time. The pattern of this carpet has been replicated in a planting outside in the park, filled with summer flowers.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

Painting by Josef Frank. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

The mural on this wall is an enlargement of one of Josef Franks paintings. Behind this wall is the exhibition of some of his aquarelles. The audience here was not really of the kind I normally see in the places where I go. Lots of elderly ladies of the upper classes, with a particular way to speak. Among them a few younger persons and some that very much wanted to look like artists. Interesting… There were more visitors there than we had expected for a Wednesday afternoon. Tourists? Yes. But not too many.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

The Josef Frank Exhibition at Millesgården. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

Joes Frank started painting at the age of 68. He said he didn’t have the techniques required but he enjoyed painting. I love his pictures and think they are really good.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

Greek mythology by Josef Frank. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

The above pictures look like they are illuminated from the back of the pictures, but they are not. The effect is there because they are placed against a black background and because of the colors in the pictures.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

Aquarelles by Josef Frank. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

Aquarelles by Josef Frank. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

The landscapes he painted… Just love them. Particularly the last one above. That, and the light, is exactly how it looks just about everywhere around the Mediterranean.

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The above is a timeline about the life and works of Josef Frank.

the josef frank exhibition at millesgården

One of the visitors. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2016

We then had a look at what was on offer in the gift shop. As usual with these kind of places the prices are high. No. I didn’t buy anything. The guy in the picture was noted though. Trying very much to look like an artist?

The small glass vases below was also for sale at the gift shop. I don’t remember if they had anything to do with the Josef Frank exhibition or not. I noticed them as they look so very alike to some other small glass vases I’ve seen elsewhere for a fraction of the price asked here.

We then went out into the sculpture park at Millesgården and to the sun and blue skies.I will publish those pictures at a later occasion.

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Posted by nini in Art and Drawings, carpets, decoration, Design, furniture, Furniture and Decoration, Interior Design, patterns, 0 comments

Printed carpets, why?

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Printed carpets. Image from www.olssongerthel.se

For some time now a trend of printed carpets in primarily black and white has appeared.
Why?
Cheaper to produce?
Faster to produce?

They are printed on pretty simple and thin weaves. Very thin. Wool or cotton.

Personally I think they are ugly. Carpets should be woven. Not printed. These patterns in the examples above and below could be really nice on a woven carpet. But printed? No thanks.

What happens if you need to clean the carpet? Does the pattern disappear then? Or do you just throw the carpet out and buy a new one?

Hoping this trend will disappear fast.

printedcarpet

Printed carpet. Image borrowed from the internet.

 

Posted by nini in carpets, decoration, Design, Interior Design, 0 comments

Newer thought I would see these rugs again…

Lately I have seen this kind of carpet in various places. I never thought I would see those carpets again. I’ve seen them lately in various interior design magazines and I’ve seen them on the Hunting for George webbsite from Australia (which has some really nice stuff). I was really surprised by their re-appearance.

I used to have some smaller carpets of this kind many years ago. They then came from IKEA and costed next to nothing. I can still remember how they smelled…

Not only did these carpets appear again, but they are now really expensive too. (Let us just hope that the profit from them goes to their makers and not only to their sellers).

Would you pay as much as between Australian dollars 140-685 depending on size and model? I would not. That is much too expensive. They are made from natural fibers, hemp from Bangladesh it appears. Once upon a time when Ikea sold them, they were the most inexpensive rugs you could get…

I am surprised that they have become so expensive, and that they have reappeared on the market. If you do a Google image search for “hemp rugs” you will see more examples. They can be found not only in Australia or New Zealand, but also in other countries.

Do I like them? No. I am not particularly a fan of recurring trends. I’ve already seen these a couple of decades ago…

Posted by nini in carpets, Furniture and Decoration, Interior Design, 0 comments

Choosing a kitchen carpet

kitchen carpet

My old kitchen carpet. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2015

I’ve been busy lately to choose a kitchen carpet. My Finnish cotton carpet has been with me and used for more than 35 years and it starts to show. I will not throw it out, but it gets worse with each wash. Last time I washed it (we have a washing machine for big thing sin the housing community where I live) I had to cut off the fringes as they were coming off.

kitchen carpet

My old kitchen carpet. Fringe cut off. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2015

The alternatives I was looking at were these:

kitchen carpet

Kattrup from Ikea. Candidate for kitchen carpet.

This one is flat-weave, wool. Nice, Available in several sizes. Monica used to have one in her kitchen and I always liked it. I have the impression though that its colors have changed over the years and that Monicas was more red than the current version of it at Ikea.

kitchen carpet

Waves from Horredsmattan, a plastic rug. Candidate for kitchen carpet.

This one is a plastic carpet. Can be practical in a kitchen. It had the right width – I liked it tio be as wide that it could contain the chairs on it also when used. Plastic carpets are much too expensive though. This was turnable. Pattern the opposite on the other side.

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Lohals from Ikea. Candidate for kitchen carpet.

I’ve always liked this carpet. Natural fibers (jute). Natural color. For a while there I thought it might be too bland and too close in color to the floor in the kitchen.

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Emma from MIO. Candidate for kitchen carpet.

This one, Emma from MIO, is also wool and flat-weave. No fringe (which is good, I do not like fringes on carpets). It has nice colors, but somehow, it reminds me of knitted or crocheted sweaters from the 1960-ties or 1970-ties…  I almost bought this one though…

After much thinking back and forth, I decided on LOHALS from Ikea, the cheapest of them. Natural materials (jute), big, 200 cm x 300 cm. SEK995, which is a very good price for carpet this size. Any one of the other carpets would have costed double the price for that size.

The new carpet is now on the floor and I am happy with it. It is about 5 cm too long so it had to slide up on the wall a bit, bu that is no problem. The edge nearest in the picture will hopefully, eventually, come down and reduce risk of stumbling on it…

lohals, kitchen carpet

LOHALS from Ikea. Photo. ©nini.tjader.2015

Posted by nini in carpets, kitchen, 0 comments

Moved a carpet

kelim carpet

Kelim carpet. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2015

I have this long turkish hand-embroidered kelim carpet that I really love.

Until recently I had it in the hallway where my work-corner is. Had to have a cover of plastic on it so it wouldn’t get destroyed by the wheels of my work-chair. I have now moved the kelim carpet into the livingroom instead. Had an empty spot there just the right size for it.

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The empty spot between the chair and the white carpet. Photo ©nini.tjader.2015

Looks good here I think? Another benefit is that the chair no longer moves when heavy traffic passes outside… And you also really see it here, which you didn’t when it was in the hallway.

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Kelim carpet. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2015

 

Posted by nini in carpets, Furniture and Decoration, Interior Design, livingroom, 0 comments