I went to Istanbul on a school trip when I was 17 and decided right then and there – when I grew up, I would have a Turkish rug. A real Turkish rug. It was too big and expensive of a purchase to make back then, but I told myself that one day I would find a kilim to call my own. That would mean I had really made it.
Last week, after 16 years of waiting, and several months of Ebay stalking, and a few weeks in a box coming from Ankara, it happened.
Not gonna lie, I got a good deal. Probably too good. I suspect the market for rainbow colored kilims isn’t as big as it used to be. Paired with the fact that this is missing tassels on one end (not that I mind – one end will always be under a couch) it was a bargain.
As is custom with all new rugs in our house, I unrolled it with great ceremony and Lola promptly threw up on it. Glad to see we are keeping some things traditional.
Oh, Peaches. I LOVE this rug! And it’s even baptized. Seems like the two of you are in for a very long relationship.
Seriously though, I think the exuberant energy this rug brings to a room will be great for the feng shui of your home.
Enjoy.
“Baptized” – ha! That is a good word for it.
I’m glad to hear it is going to bring some good feng shui….I’ll nee dto offset the bad feng shui from the vomit.
Glorious! Glad to know it is Lola-approved.
What is is about cats and rugs? I just have scattered throw rugs in the living room and within 6 hours of one being washed, dried and put back on the floor, the diva bestows upon it a hairball. You are so brave to have such beauty in your house. I fear the regurgitated remains of lunch would be left on the color where it would most clash.
I’m excited to see how you build your living space around the colors in this rug. I foresee many, many blog posts.
I think Fall brings out the decorator bug more than usual, don’t you? I read somewhere that furniture stores sell more Sep-Nov then the rest of the year combined. That seems about right in my house….
Cats. Mine always throw up on the good rugs rather than the ugly apartment supplied carpet. And sleep on the embroidery that I am working on, or in the clean laundry, rather than the dirty laundry. I have one black cat (for the white and light-coloured clothes) and one orange-and-white (for the black and dark-coloured clothes).
Heather M.
Have you seen the Henri videos on youtube? There is a line about ‘no place to sleep now that they have removed the clean pants from the sofa’…err something like that. Cats – go figure.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the super bright colors!
Lovely rug and Lola cracked me up mostly because MY cat threw up on my bedspread in the middle of the night, ugh !
ah yes, the time honored ritual ALL cats christen your lovely new possessions with! you lucked out, at least Lola’s contribution will be tough to find on that pattern. 😀
Mine was a white and green chevron pattern that all THREE cats managed to puke up on individually…on the WHITE portion of the rug! They’re lucky I love them….
LOVE the rug. have been looking for one myself for a good while. Would you recommend the ebay seller? if so, could you pass along their info? totally understand if you decline! Love your blog , always.
Lucia
Hey Lucia! I can totally recommend them: http://www.ebay.com/sch/turkishkilim/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=
I have been following their stock for a while, they tend to update in batches. If you don’t like what they have now, keep checking. I got a markdown price….it might be worth watching a rug for a while before you bid (everyone has their tactics). Shipping was DHL and it came in 3 weeks I think? I was expecting 6-8. It was a great experience, and they even threw in a free kilim pillow cover.