Handmade rugs are perpetual objects of desire, sought after for their expressive designs and intricate combinations of pattern and color. Whether hand-knotted or handwoven, their tactile quality completes any well-furnished interior. A rug often occupies fully a third of a room and, if antique, is also often its most expensive single item, yet there has never been a book presenting decorative carpets as an integral component of interior design until now.   Decorative carpet expert Alix G. Perrachon has, for the first time, compiled a book to guide all interested in placing handmade carpets in contemporary spaces―from individual homeowners to interior designers and their clients. Inside, thirty-two of America’s most celebrated designers―including Penny Drue Baird, Samuel Botero, Clodagh, Jamie Drake, David Easton, Thomas Jayne, Juan Montoya, Suzanne Tucker, Bunny Williams, and Vicente Wolf―discuss in animated terms how, and which pieces, they choose from the infinite array of handmade decorative carpets available in the market today. Their selections are illustrated with luxurious images drawn from their own work, revealing rugs ranging from Agras, Aubussons, and Axminsters to modern Tibetan and transitional designs in every style of interior from traditional to contemporary.   In addition to engaging, accessible text and 300 full-color illustrations, The Decorative Carpet provides purchasing and care essentials, presents the twenty most popular types of rugs used by designers today―along with a brief description of the defining characteristics and history of each―and includes a glossary and suggestions for further reading, providing all the tools necessary for all those eager to explore the intriguing, expansive world of handmade decorative carpets to begin. "At long last, a book on decorating with handmade rugs that is visually compelling, informative, and practical for both the interior designer and homeowner. From its treasure trove of celebrity designer interiors and invaluable tips to its basic need-to-know facts on rugs, The Decorative Carpet is a must whether you already own rugs, are contemplating a purchase, or simply love looking at them." ―Lucille J. Laufer, Executive Director, Oriental Rug Importers Association “At last a long overdue book on decorative carpets has appeared on the scene. By exhibiting the work of some of today’s most prestigious designers, we are able to see in situ the importance of the rug and its prominence in a room’s setting.” ―Doris Leslie Blau "What an incredible collection of beautiful carpets . . . I highly recommend it." ―Vicente Wolf "This book is key inspiration for anyone who needs home decorating inspiration, including the homeowner who wants to learn more about how to dive in to the many carpet and rug options available today, at any price point. Finally, as published by The Monacelli Press, this book is a real beauty." ―Design2Share "Training its spotlight on the indispensable but often intimidating world of furnishings underfoot, this volume features rooms imbued with floor flourish by a who's who of design superstars . . . Carpeting connoisseur Doris Leslie Blau lays the groundwork in a fine foreword." ―Veranda Alix G. Perrachon is a writer, speaker, and consultant to the interior design trade and private rug buyers whose career has spanned over thirty years. She has worked at HALI: The Oriental Rug Journal of Oriental Carpets & Textiles ; and The Oriental Rug Magazine , later renamed AREA Magazine . Her articles on oriental and decorative weavings and antiques have appeared in House & Garden , Art & Auction , Antique Collector , Art & Antiques , and the New York Times , among other publications. She has lectured at numerous venues, including the Textile Museum in Washington, D.C., and founded her consulting business, Alix Unlimited, in 1991.   Doris Leslie Blau founded her eponymous gallery 1965. Her collections of antique Oriental and European rugs are widely acknowledged to represent the most beautiful and historically significant pieces in private hands. Regular clients include museums, royal collectors, and art institutions, as well as top interior designers and architects. Introduction The writing of this book began with a journey in 1978 to Ankara, Turkey, where my husband was posted at the French Embassy. Both recent college graduates and newlyweds, we spent an unforgettable fifteen months discovering that captivating land and oriental rugs while “bazaar-hopping.” A budding journalist at the time, I published a short article on Turkish kilims, or flatweaves, for a British antiques magazine and there was no turning back! Hundreds of articles later and nearly twenty years of helping interior designers and private clients purchase handmade decorative rugs have brought me here. The Decorative Carpet has been germinating in my head since 1991 when I initiated an article series for The Oriental Rug Magazine (and later in the renamed ARE