Decorating question-Flooring

[thatgirl]

On a recent (8 months ago) parade of homes I remember seeing several homes with carpet inset into HW flooring.

The concept is a beautiful carpet or a rug set into the floor flush with the HW instead of on top. 

I made an appt to have someone come out give me an est. an info.

Does anyone have this in their home?  Can the carpet be pulled up easily?  I was thinking of having a Spring/Summer and a Fall/winter color rotation.

Pros/cons of this application?

I am trying to put together a list of questions.

Thanks!

[thatgirl]

Jun 27, 2013 19:17:29 GMT -5 killercupcake said:

My mom and dad have a section in their front room like that and we will in our home (the living room will be carpet, but the dining area and kitchen are tile). It doesn't pull up easily at all. You would have to get in there and dig it out. If you're going for something to change seasonally, just get an area rug. Inlays require stretching and tacking and professional installation.

Good to know, I will ask specific questions about the tacking of the rug.

The one home we were in looked like they had the floor laid custom to fit a gorgeous rug.  Granted this was a 5 to 7 million dollar home so who knows how they had it done!!  For all I know the rug was custom-lol

[demofea01]

Jun 27, 2013 19:36:15 GMT -5 FormerlyRR said:

IMO, it just looks cheap, no matter how fancy the house is. It's a way to save money on the hard surface, the carpet itself is way less expensive generally. And it limits the space to that island of carpet defining it. A hard surface floor all over with a rug appropriately sized to the area is a much better look. And easier to change seasonally or as your taste changes.

This. Spend your money on a couple nice area rugs.

[Deleted]

I'm terrible at visualizing and haven't seen anything like this before. Can you pip? I obviously have no suggestions, but I'd like to see it.

[Deleted]

Jun 27, 2013 19:15:18 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Yeah, no.

Lol

[Dezi]

I woul put hard wood throughout and buy some nice area rugs.....much nicer looking IMO.

[Muddled]

I feel like this would hurt your feet.

[thatgirl]

Ishoes- do you think it would be less expensive? I called 2 HW floors (1 is coming out next week) and both told me this was a very expensive project! That the waste and labor for a custom project like this was MORE expensive than running the HW straight through, even with an expensive HW. What the heck!
The rug is going to cost us the same whether it is on top of the HW or inlayed so that is a moot point, unless I find a cheap rug which I DO NOT WANT.

It sounds like I better start contacting more contractors and get some more info.

Do you think they are going me a load of crap? WTH?

[thatgirl]

Jun 27, 2013 19:49:38 GMT -5 hungrycaterpillar said:

I'm terrible at visualizing and haven't seen anything like this before. Can you pip? I obviously have no suggestions, but I'd like to see it.

[thatgirl]

Sorry caterpillar I can not quote on my iPad . Let me see if I can find a photo.... Be right back

[VeryViolet]

I have seen this done where it looks very nice but you have to use excellent materials and do it in the perfect space. I think it also helps the look and feel if you have a huge house. I don't think you can do it where you can change out the rugs. I have only ever seen it done with installed carpeting and think an area rug would look odd installed in the floor.

[thatgirl]

www.houzz.com/photos/54019/ISLIP-BEACH-HOUSE-contemporary-living-room-new-york

www.houzz.com/photos/699440/Kiawah-Family-Home-traditional-living-room-charleston

www.houzz.com/photos/120794/Whistler-traditional-living-room-vancouver

We also saw one house that had polished concert floors with an inlayed rug in the "family room" the contrast of the polished concert with this cool textured rug was incredible! I wish we had a photo of that, it was so cool. NMS but cool.

[thatgirl]

Violet- I am now wondering if the patterned "rug" I think I saw was indeed carpet. I wish I had a photo. My BFF lost her camera on this trip. It was such a striking look; but I agree with your comment -the materials and professional install are key.

[VeryViolet]

Jun 27, 2013 20:22:04 GMT -5 thatgirl said:

Violet- I am now wondering if the patterned "rug" I think I saw was indeed carpet. I wish I had a photo. My BFF lost her camera on this trip. It was such a striking look; but I agree with your comment -the materials and professional install are key.

I obviously didn't see it but I can't imagine it was a rug the binding would look strange and off. When I have seen this done it hasn't been with materials from Home Depot and you can get fancy installed carpet in any pattern, style, etc.

[Deleted]

That's kind of cool. I think that after several years though I would get frustrated and want to change out the carpet. I feel like changing that would be really hard.

[thatgirl2478]

No - we don't have that - but then we have 100% original 1959 hardwood.

You COULD pull up the carpet, but there probably wouldn't be anything under it (ie, no wood, just sub floor).

I would opt instead for 100% wood with a large (9x12 or bigger) area rug in the family area. Even if you get a remnant piece of regular carpet (have the edges bound) with regular pad under it, it's easier to change it out. My parents have that set up (remnant regular rug w/ bound edges in the center of a room w/ hardwood) in 2 rooms and it looks nice.

[thatgirl]

Violet- oh goodness no! This is not an HD project.
This "rug" was a silk blend, very old world feel. It was like art. I can not remember the edge of course.
You are right though, you can buy silk carpet too. This may be a way to get a beautiful silk carpet in with out the $$$$$ of wall to wall. Silk blend that is.

[Deleted]

I can just imagine it getting gross. Esp with any hardwood cleaner chemicals getting on the edges. And what about when someone drops a bucket of queso on it or it becomes the dog's pee patch? Don't even make me think about the baby vomit, kid juice and regular traffic that will just fuck it up.

I just can't imagine it in a truly lived in house.

[softspot]

Jun 27, 2013 20:58:45 GMT -5 @bigtowlittletoe said:

I can just imagine it getting gross. Esp with any hardwood cleaner chemicals getting on the edges. And what about when someone drops a bucket of queso on it or it becomes the dog's pee patch? Don't even make me think about the baby vomit, kid juice and regular traffic that will just fuck it up.

I just can't imagine it in a truly lived in house.

How is this any different than normal carpet? Or a house with hardwood in the hallways butting up to carpet in the bedrooms?

I've seen it a few homes, but it wasn't a rug. It was pretty carpet on a super thick carpet pad. It was level with the wood & the transition was nearly seamless.

[Deleted]

The difference is the install/removal/replacement cost because of the inlay.