The Rug Rack specializes in ‘art for your floor’ By Virginia Gregory Community News Writer “

I like to use the analogy of a full-service gas station,” explained Miriam Thompson, describing the approach to customer service that she and her husband, Mike, take at The Rug Rack. “If you are looking for self-service and you come into our store, you are in the wrong place,” said Mrs. Thompson, who explained that the same level of service is given to the customer shopping for a two by three foot area rug as to the one who wants to outfit an entire home.

Thanks to the combined expertise of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, The Rug Rack has been coming to the rescue of those in floor covering crises since it opened nearly seven years ago. Mr. Thompson, whose father introduced him to the carpet business at a very early age, began working for Shaw Industries in 1984. During his last four years at Shaw, Mr. Thompson worked for the Area Rug Division, which equipped him with all of the knowledge and experience necessary to open his own store. Mrs. Thompson, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art and Fashion Merchandising, has an unparalleled eye for style and knack for integrating rugs into the decorating scheme of any room.

Originally situated in the space on Market Street that is now St. John’s Meeting Place, The Rug Rack relocated to its current location on the Southside nearly three years ago. The new space offers plenty of room for the vast array of rugs and large windows, which showcase Mrs. Thompson’s creativity. Over the years, the window displays, which Mrs. Thompson changes periodically, have earned quite a impressive reputation in the neighborhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson make it a point to offer customers a selection of rugs which runs the gamut of style, color, size and price. “The rugs in the showroom only scrape the surface of what we actually have available,” said Mrs. Thompson, who has access to over 30 importers and manufacturers. “You can’t have a good rug store unless you have a good variety, and Miriam does a great job providing that,” explained Mr. Thompson. In addition to rugs, the Rug Rack also offers draperies and other home accessories, which Mrs. Thompson is especially skilled in coordinating to create a cohesive look for the entire room. While Mr. and Mrs. Thompson stress that every customer presents a different need and there are very few hard and fast rug rules, they can offer a few general guidelines that can be applied across the board. Below, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson share a few professional pointers for how to achieve the right look with area rugs in your own home.

Don’t be afraid to cover your hardwood floors

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson said that they often find that many people are very hesitant to cover up their hardwood floors. What they don’t realize is that rugs serve an important purpose by providing warmth and absorbing sound. Finding a rug of just the right size or using two smaller rugs in conversation areas can strike the perfect balance while still leaving plenty of beautiful hardwood exposed. “Area rugs are an accessory, just like accent pillows,” explained Mr. Thompson. “They truly are art for your floor, and you will draw more attention to the wood itself when you accent it with the right rug,” he added.

Dining Room Rule of Thumb

According to Mrs. Thompson, the rug underneath a dining room table should typically be large enough so that a two-foot perimeter extends all the way around the table. “These days people often gather at the table to visit, not just to eat,” explained Mrs. Thompson. Abiding by this guideline ensures that guests’ chairs will not perch precariously half on and half off the rug when they scoot back from the table to relax.

End your search with a custom rug

For those who have very particular or hard-to-find design, color or size in mind, Mrs. Thompson suggests looking into one of the many custom rug programs that exist today. Custom rugs can now fit into almost any budget, and they are a great option for those who have exhausted their search everywhere else.