Spotlight on The Knotty Rug

The Knotty Rug Company

From literature to the movies, magic carpets have transported their riders in flight through the heavens or instantly moved them to an exotic location that was conjured in their minds. While these stories are mythical, it’s a fact that rugs can bring a wealth of enchantment to the rooms they ground
for homeowners.

In the KC metro area, Darrel Wingo, owner of The Knotty Rug Company, 4510 Stateline Road, west of the Country Club Plaza, knows exactly how to make that magic happen with his striking collection of rugs. Most of them are one-of-a-kind, hand-knotted wool rugs, made by craftsmen from around the world just as they’ve been for centuries. At The Knotty Rug Company, you’ll find antique, semi-antique and modern rugs that will amaze you with exquisite detail and artistry.

Design Principle: Begin with the Rug

“Rugs add so much warmth, life and tranquility, setting the entire mood for a room,” remarked Darrel. “For instance, a den might require more life, so a colorful rug would be necessary. A more sophisticated area such as a formal living room might necessitate a color that’s a bit more washed out and subtle. At The Knotty Rug Company, you’ll find an extensive offering of high-quality pieces, greater variety and more service than at any other shop in town. No matter what you’re looking for, we can get it for you. We have something for everyone.”

Darrel notes that the best way to decorate a room is to start with the rug, the foundation of your design. The wall covers, accent colors and the furniture can then complement that appearance. Given the important role the rug plays in the overall style of the room, he recommends you consider your choice a critical investment in achieving a beautifully decorated room. If you’re replacing a floor covering, he advises you to bring samples of existing fabrics currently in your room so that his staff can find the right rug for you. Also, have good idea of what you’re willing to spend on your investment.

History and Investment

“At The Knotty Rug Company, we specialize in a wonderful selection of antique rugs about 100 years old, to semi-antique ones around 50 years old and currently produced rugs,” noted Darrel. “Our collection comes from India, Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, Turkey, Persian rugs from Iran and many other countries featuring oriental patterns and modern styles. We sell fine, hand-knotted area rugs to both designers and retail clients.”

Some of Darrel’s clients actually use their rugs to usher in the seasons by decorating with two sets of coverings, warm-colored coverings for the winter months and then cooler blue tones for the summer. Other homeowners use rugs as a way to decorate for the holidays, favoring rusty shades of earthy reds for the autumn and winter.

Care and Repair

As you ready your home for the holidays, new floorcoverings may not be on your list, but you can certainly ensure that the rugs you have are fresh and clean. The Knotty Rug Company offers professional rug cleaning, featuring a deep, wet wash. “You can bring in your rugs for a deep cleaning or for repairs. We also make a lot of house calls or we can pick them up to bring to the store for cleaning,” noted Darrel. “Recently, we had a customer who brought in a rug that his son had spilled red Gatorade® on, and we got 99 percent of it out.”

Darrel notes that some cleanings can be attempted safely by the homeowner. He recommends club soda for a spill or pet stain. “Simply lift the carpet and put a towel underneath to catch the excess liquid and then pour club soda on the spot, using a clean white towel to blot. The white towel allows you to see if the spot is coming up.”

The Knotty Rug Company can also do repairs such as reweaving and re-stitching edge bindings, which are natural spots to give way, show wear and begin unraveling. His skilled craftsmen can expertly repair the finishing stitches at the edges. But Darrel warns that it’s imperative you make repairs early and not later. Repairing an edge is not an expensive task, but reweaving your rug will be.

Value and Service

“At The Knotty Rug Company, we have an incredibly large inventory of fine, hand-knotted pieces that is constantly changing. Even though these rugs are extremely well made, you’ll find our selection very competitively priced,” stated Darrel. “My staff and I pride ourselves on helping the customer. We go out of our way to offer good service.”

To bring a dose of magic to your home, consider a finely crafted, hand-knotted rug from the The Knotty Rug Company. The selection will help you cast a spell of fine design, warmth and coziness for every room of your house. HLM

Visit the showroom at 4510 State Line Road, Kansas City, Kansas, the website at knottyrug.com or call 913-677-1877.