Zoe Eisele

​We have a large collection of carpets with several styles and shades. Mixed in with our more neutral options are some very bright and bold colors. While eye-catching, are these carpets really something that should be used as the main floor in a room?

(Pictured: Tuftex - Showbiz/Pop Culture)

Terry McDowell

​Dust, mold and pollen are bad news for allergy and asthma sufferers. So you certainly wouldn’t want to invite those things to stay in your home by settling in your carpet. But that’s exactly what carpet does – traps those pesky, invisible allergens without you knowing. And with every step, they are released into the air for you to inhale.
The good news is allergies don’t have to mean hard surface flooring. There are carpeting options that don’t trap as many allergens. Read on to find out what you should look for when purchasing new carpet for your home.

Carpeting made of synthetic materials is better at repelling pollen, dust and allergens. This is because the fibers are not organic and provide an inhospitable climate for things like mold. In addition, you should ask for carpeting that’s labeled as hypoallergenic. Nylon and olefin carpets resist moisture, dirt and mildew, making them good options. Also ask about polyester, Triexta and Air.o.
Look for carpeting that has short, tightly woven strands – which have less space to trap allergens. 
People with sensitivity to chemicals will want to avoid volatile organic compounds (VOC), which are carbon-based chemicals that quickly evaporate at room temperature. They may trigger allergies, respiratory irritations and headaches. Look for Green Label or Green Label Plus products to make sure you’re purchasing the lowest possible VOC-emitting carpet.
Lastly, don’t forget about the carpet padding – make sure it’s also synthetic and free of allergy-triggering vapors and chemicals.
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Especially during the dust particles being stirred up during the removal of your old existing floors.
It would be best to vacate the areas where the air is being polluted with unknown smells and all manner of Air bourn pollutants.
Avoid triggering an allergy flare up while your hypoallergenic carpet is being installed. Take these precautionary measures to cut down on allergens flying through the air:

• Have the carpet installer unroll and air out the carpeting in a well-ventilated area
• Ventilate the room as much as possible by using fans, a vacuum cleaner with a fine filter, and opening windows – to rid the area of dust and other particles coming from the new carpet
• Stay away from the house during and immediately following installation
• Clean Your Carpet Regularly

Even after making the smart choice of purchasing a hypoallergenic carpet, you’ll want to help keep allergens away with regular cleaning. Pros recommend vacuuming weekly, and deep cleaning, with shampoo and/or steam cleaning, every 6 months. Using a vacuum with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter can be especially helpful. It’s a good idea to hire a professional carpet cleaner to get rid of embedded dirt that a regular vacuum or DIY carpet cleaner can’t extract. In addition, consider enacting a closed window policy during allergy season and “no shoes” rule in your house – this will reduce the amount of allergens that enter your home and settle in your carpet.

​The very best way to eliminate allergens from your home is to install hardwood, vinyl or laminate flooring. Because there is nowhere for dirt, dust and pollen to hide, these flooring options are great for allergy and asthma sufferers. Allergens “sit” on the surface of hard flooring and are easier to remove with a quick mopping.
If you’re ready to get relief from your allergies or asthma by switching up your flooring, contact one of our sales team members at Floors of Saint Louis. We can walk you through the various options available and help you kick allergens to the curb.

Zoe Eisele

(Pictured: Shaw - Highlight Oak)

(Pictured: Shaw - Beach Oak)

Zoe Eisele

On one of my daily walks through the store I couldn’t help but notice this sample on an Anderson Tuftex display. Up until this point I have never given any thought to how rugs are made, much less knew about all the different ways you could do it.

Today a family came in looking to get a rug made. Terry, my new boss, walked them through the process and I tagged along to listen.
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After the family left, Terry told me about the process of making rugs and how binding works. Listening to him reminded me of this display and made me interested to learn more and write this piece.
For the sake of the blog I will only be touching on my opinions about the types of edge in the picture above, but there are many more ways to do it, such as the ever-popular fringing method.

​An edge’s most basic function is to keep the chosen carpet piece from fraying when it becomes a rug. Chances are when you go to the store to pick up an already made rug, the edge wasn’t something you paid much attention to. When getting your own rug made however, it’s something you have to think about. 

​Binding is the most basic form of carpet edge. It’s nice and simple; it’s the type of edge that everyone expects on a rug and don’t pay much attention to. This edge is sewn on, and while it doesn’t leave a clear-cut line between itself and the rug, it still looks nice and gets the job done for the best price.

​Personally, serging is my favorite style of edge. It’s a step up from binding in regards to price, but it looks far nicer than a binded edge. In my opinion, this type of edge just makes sense, looking at the sample picture, it just looks like it belongs on the rug more than the other edges. They are also sewn on, and loop right into the carpet making for a good flow between the edge and the body of the rug. 

​The fabric edge makes a statement. It looks formal, but the texture of the fabric makes it a bit more welcoming. These edges are sewn and glued to the carpet, leaving a clean line on the rug. While I would not personally go for this type of style, I certainly don’t blame anyone who does.

The leather edge to me says “business”. It looks far more formal than the other styles and leaves nothing to the imagination. As with fabric, these edges are sewn and glued to the carpet, leaving a clean line on the rug. This is a style that I can really only imagine in businesses, but don’t let that stop you from putting it in your home if you’re drawn to it.
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There are countless styles and price points for creating a rug, you just have to find what’s best for your style and budget. If you have more technical questions about the options above feel free to call or send me a message through our contact page. 

Zoe Eisele

​My father has worked in the flooring business for as long as I can remember. Not once did I think I would ever end up in this business, that is, until this opportunity to work at Flooring Galaxy in St. Louis and on the company’s website and social media came around.

I have always loved writing and sharing my opinions with others, that’s what I went to college to do. In the short time that I have been in the workforce, I have learned a lot about the different types of flooring.
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Currently, I am the most knowledgeable and opinionated about patterned carpets, so I will be talking about three different types and what I think about them and their uses.

​When I first looked around the store, I was drawn to this carved saxony piece from Hagaman. It was hand carved, making for a unique addition to any space. I like this piece not only for the hard work that was put into making it, but for the texture and color options as well. Being a carved carpet, there is an obvious depth that can be felt in the piece. This design can look as subtle or dramatic as you’d like, with both tan on tan and white on blue options available. Hagaman is known for their different fibers, woods, and polyesters, which gives me an even greater impression of their work. I have simple looking furniture in my living room, so I know that I would personally enjoy having this piece as an area rug as it would add a much needed pop of color and texture.

​I am fond of this printed pattern from Milliken because of the simplicity of the marble design. Milliken specializes in both residential and commercial grade flooring, so their designs are bound to look great no matter the size. Printed patterns are unique because the design is printed directly on top of a solid colored carpet, so the design does not travel below the surface. This may sound like a negative point at first, but these carpets from Milliken are stain resistant, have soil protection, resist abrasive wear, and have texture retention, so these carpets were built to last and maintain their appearance. I have always loved the look of marble, so this is a piece that I believe would look great as either a kitchen or bathroom rug when paired with a marble or solid colored countertop.

Possibly my new favorite type of carpet right now is abstract geometric. This style of carpet is known for its irregular patterns. This particular piece is from Stanton, who is known for their custom carpets, rugs, and runners. I love the contrast of colors in this carpet and believe it can add a lot to a room. I would gladly have this as a large rug in my living room or bedroom. It is also my opinion that abstract geometric carpets look amazing as runners on staircases. They add a beautiful sense of movement up the stairs as opposed to a more static look from a plain or regular geometric design, which while still nice, do not leave as lasting an impression as abstract runners.
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Every type of carpet is different, from design to uses, and at the end of the day, it is up to you to decide what you like based on your preferences and needs.