LILY NG, EXPORT SALES/PRODUCT INNOVATION DESIGNER FROM CAVALIER BREMWORTH TALKS CARPET
What’s the difference between natural wool and synthetic carpet?
Wool carpet is made from natural fibre from sheep and synthetic carpet is a made from either nylon or polyester, both man-made materials.
Wool is a biodegradable, renewable and sustainable fibre. Nylon is made using raw materials from the petrochemical industry. At Cavalier, we use Econyl, a certified fully recycled nylon in our Siren range, however the process is still quite energy intensive and it remains non-biodegradable.
“SELECT A FLOOR THAT YOU WILL LOVE.”
What’s the difference between twist, loop and plush carpet?
There are many styles of carpet, but people generally know carpet to have either a cut or loop pile. Loop pile carpet is when the pile is left uncut so the yarn stays in a loop form. We can create many different looks by varying the size loops or having a combination of higher and lower loops. A cut pile is more limiting in what we can play with, but we can determine the look of a cut pile carpet by the amount of twist we put in a yarn and by the length of the pile. People will remember the popularity of the shag carpet from the ’60s and ’70s, a cut pile carpet with long shaggy pile (hence the name). Then there is the more tailored plush pile carpet with a velvety look, also called a velvet or velour carpet, which is soft and smooth with little twist in the yarn. Another well-known cut pile is the frieze carpet, a hard twist (highly twisted, then heat set) carpet with a very textured look.
What’s the purpose of underlay, and how do they differ?
The purpose of underlay is for feel and comfort mainly, but it also helps the performance of a carpet. It provides thermal and sound insulation, keeping heat in or out and absorbing sound. There are several types of underlay: the most commonly used one now is foam chip as rubber has become more expensive in comparison. Residential foam chip underlay is typically graded by density and thickness. A basic guide to follow is that the higher the density and the thickness, the more luxurious the feel.
How do you go about colour selection? What are some trends?
Flooring is one of the major expenses for the home, so you should invest the time in selecting something that will not date quickly, and more importantly, that you love. I would advise choosing a more neutral colour carpet with interesting texture, and then adding colour through your accessories. Remember to consider hardwood flooring in nearby rooms that you may wish to complement. For example, greys will go nicely with concrete floors, while a warmer tone taupe will go better with wooden floors. A good idea would be to take home carpet samples and see them in the surroundings: look at them in different rooms under both natural and artificial light.
Also consider that a lighter carpet will make a small room appear larger or make a room with not much light appear brighter. Mid-to-dark or warm tone carpet will make a large area feel cosier. A heather (two or more colours that are blended together) or a berber (a lighter colour carpet with flecks of colour) can be more interesting than a flat tone carpet and are also great at hiding dirt or lint in between vacuuming.
As far as trends go, grey carpet has been popular for a long time now, but I am seeing a transition to a warmer, more earthy palette to go with natural materials such as stone, rattan and wood. I’m also predicting (or hoping) undyed materials will become more popular, in both fashion and interiors.