Texture is key feature

AT THE NEW YORK MARKET — Textural looks continue to be an important force in rug design. Whether it's mixing constructions or using natural fibers for surface interest, rug manufacturers look to add more flair to the floor.

Kas Oriental Rugs, Somerset, NJ, will add several new collections at this market, including a woven group that incorporates both wool and leather for a very textured look for today's casual home. The group comes in designs such as animal prints and kilim patterns. In addition, because of the popularity of its bamboo-constructed Lotus collection, Kas will premiere a new offering made of banana fibers at market.

Hellenic Rug Imports, Brooklyn, NY, builds on its shag rug groups with new rugs made of cotton and denim. With denim an important fabric in home furnishings, the new denim shag rug is constructed with strips of washed denim woven into the rug. The cotton shag rugs are hand-woven from cotton strips and will be washable and available in six pastel solid colors in 2' x 3', 3' x 5', 5' x 8' and 8' x 11' sizes.

Lacey Mills adds the tropical chic look to its line with the Habana Club, a group of jute rugs with added embroideries and embellishments. The embroidered rugs are "fun and trendy," said Karen Townsend, design director, and use wool floral embroideries in choices of multi-colored, black/white, blue/white and red/white on the natural jute background. The other rug, a sisal-like woven with borders, is washable. It is available in a natural ground with a colored border or a colored ground with a colored border, such as black on black.

Ebisons Harounian Imports, New York, uses a new technique in 14/14 construction in its new Studio collection, made exclusively for Ebisons in India. The technique gives the rug a very low pile that resembles the worn, antique look.

Bacova, High Point, NC, expands its successful Elegant Dimensions look, the line of heat-transfer, tufted accent rugs, with 10 new still-life designs printed in a heat-transfer process that brings the detail, color and texture of the original pieces of art to the cut pile DuPont nylon surface of the rug. In addition, the company will bow cotton weave rugs.

Huffco, Stockton, CA, is using a suede-like fabric in its new Gallery collection, which is durable for the highest traffic areas of the home.