Trent Beaver Rug expertly mitred and installed in this stunning hallway.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Trent Beaver Rug expertly mitred and installed in this stunning hallway.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
We get so many questions about how to install runners. From stairs to hallways to landings, the options are endless, the methods vary, and things can start to feel overwhelming.
But fear not! For this week’s newsletter, we tapped the ever so knowledgeable Jane Armstrong, Managing Director and Head of Sales at Roger Oates Design, a line we’re proud to represent, to dive into the wonderful world of runners with us. Woven in the UK on specially designed Hattersley looms, each Roger Oates rug is crafted with 100% wool that’s spun and dyed in Yorkshire, and finished by hand.
While these rugs standout in any room and in any capacity, they are just so gorgeous installed as runners. So, we can’t think of a better person than Jane to tackle our burning questions and dig into the details with us.
Think of this newsletter as a quick tutorial with an expert. And, of course, we’d love to hear your thoughts, too. What are your favorite ways to install runners?
As always, please reach out to our team if you have any Roger Oates sample requests. We’d love to help you with any and all sample library needs!
Dart Persimmon Rug installed on this staircase highlights a variety of margin options.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Dart Persimmon Rug installed on this staircase highlights a variety of margin options.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Temple Studio: What kind of wood margins do you like to see on a staircase?
Jane Armstrong: We recommend that there is a minimum of at least 2” of woodwork exposed on either side of the runner. The maximum measurement is at the discretion of the customer, however, you don’t want the margin to be so great that the runner starts to lose its impact, and likewise you don’t want it to look like a badly installed carpet in that it’s too wide for the staircase. Just remember that traditionally Flatweave is a fixed narrow width, therefore on pie-shaped steps there will be varying degree of woodwork exposed—an even margin is not maintained on these steps.
This elegant installation of the Hanbury Stone Rug reveals the uneven nature of margins that can be exposed along pie-shaped steps.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
This elegant installation of the Hanbury Stone Rug reveals the uneven nature of margins that can be exposed along pie-shaped steps.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Pelham Juniper Rug (left) and Flaxman Pewter Rug (right) illustrate the even margins and tailored look that can be achieved along a straight staircase and hallway. Images courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Pelham Juniper Rug (left) and Flaxman Pewter Rug (right) illustrate the even margins and tailored look that can be achieved along a straight staircase and hallway. Images courtesy of Roger Oates Design
To mitre or not to mitre—what's your preference with Roger Oates products?
One of our most popular choices when deciding what to do on a landing is having a runner ‘installed’. This option is perfect for quarter and half landings and is often used in spaces where the width of the landing is fairly consistent. When a change in direction is required, a mitre allows a continuous flow of pattern throughout the home. The mitred runner works particularly well on designs with borders but equally looks smart with a repeating all-over pattern.
Pelham Slate Rug, mitred on this landing, is a clean and sophisticated look.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Pelham Slate Rug, mitred on this landing, is a clean and sophisticated look.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
How do you approach installing carpet on landings?
For larger landings where the width may vary, the best solution is a ‘wall-to-wall’ installation. Multiple widths of our narrow woven Flatweave are sewn together by hand in our own workshop to create a larger piece which is sized specifically to the area limiting wastage. The usual approach is to install to the wall perimeter rather than leaving an even margin on landings which keeps the final result looking simple and uncomplicated.
We have some designs which have been conceived as a ‘border’ and ‘ground’. Our border designs feature a contrasting, often bold border, running along the outer edges of the runner and are most popular installed onto stairs. Ground designs have been created to provide a complementary repeating stripe pattern which can be seamed together for landings and wall-to-wall areas.
Alternatively, we suggest using a single design throughout to create a bold statement stripe or subtly pinstriped landing.
Swanson Celadon Rug, installed as a wall-to-wall runner, packs a punch.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Swanson Celadon Rug, installed as a wall-to-wall runner, packs a punch.
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Are you a fan of overlays and where do you see this used most often?
‘Overlaying’ a runner allows for a change in direction in the simplest terms resulting in a clean, minimal look. The material is in fact not completely overlayed, just a minimal section of the edge is tucked under and butted up to the pad to prevent any changes in height or ridges. The overlay approach is more traditional and can be seen in older stately homes. It works particularly well for repeating designs, especially those of a large scale such as Vernon or Chatham.
Because of its large scale and repeating design, Vernon is an ideal pattern for the overlaying technique, which allows for a change of pattern direction. Pictured in Slate (top) and Soft Red (bottom). Images courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Because of its large scale and repeating design, Vernon is an ideal pattern for the overlaying technique, which allows for a change of pattern direction. Pictured in Slate (top) and Soft Red (bottom). Images courtesy of Roger Oates Design
What is your preferred installation method for stairs?
The standard approach when we undertake our own installations is to ‘waterfall’ the Flatweave material. This allows the striped pattern to run smoothly without any interruption to the flow of the design. On pie-shaped steps this also allows for excess material to be pleated and folded up against the riser when the runner is installed in one continuous piece. Think of the process as “upholstery for the staircase.
The perfect summation: “upholstery for the stairs.” Morella Amber Rug (left) and Masai Emerald Rug (right) showcase a masterful waterfall installation. Images courtesy of Roger Oates Design
The perfect summation: “upholstery for the stairs.” Morella Amber Rug (left) and Masai Emerald Rug (right) showcase a masterful waterfall installation. Images courtesy of Roger Oates Design
When it comes to stripes and direction, can you run them both ways on stairs and landings?
On landings the direction of the stripe is normally dictated by the direction of the stripes on the staircase so that they all take the same direction. It can however be interesting when the stripes on the landing run perpendicular to the stairs. I personally adopted this approach in my own home as I liked the juxtaposition.
Dart Otter Rug (staircase) and Dart Ground Otter Rug (landing) (image at left) and Fairfax Prussian Rug (image at right) beautifully demonstrate how you can run stripes perpendicular to your staircase. Images courtesy of Roger Oates Design
Dart Otter Rug (staircase) and Dart Ground Otter Rug (landing) (image at left) and Fairfax Prussian Rug (image at right) beautifully demonstrate how you can run stripes perpendicular to your staircase. Images courtesy of Roger Oates Design
An impressive bird’s-eye view of Dart Otter Rug (staircase) and Dart Ground Otter Rug (landing).
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
An impressive bird’s-eye view of Dart Otter Rug (staircase) and Dart Ground Otter Rug (landing).
Image courtesy of Roger Oates Design
