Since the 60's some of the greatest antique carpets have gone through the hands of Doris Blau, here is how Nader Bolour the current owner is rocking it up...

Interior Designer John Lyle came to Doris Leslie Blau when he was asked to re-design an apartment for Joan Collins. Rugs needed to be selected that would work well with existing wall coverings, window treatments and upholstery.

We are proud to announce our latest rug creations. The surrealist movement was founded in Paris by a small group of writers and artists who sought to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of the imagination.

Oushak is a town in West Central Anatolia south of what is today Istanbul Turkey. Rugs have been produced there since the 15th century primarily for personal use in daily life. In the late 19th century the town of Oushak became a major center for the commercial production of large decorative rugs for the international market.

I have been in the business since 1983 and guess what. Having actively dealt in rugs for almost 30 years, here is a quick look at some rugs that were probably hot even then.

The reason these rugs work with almost any setting is due to the softness of color and the flow of design.

The marriage of art and design is evident in the correlation between antique rugs and fine art.

The following rugs are all essentially squares and when placed side by side with select artworks we see not only a similar use of color but also a similar equality in scale and proportion. In actuality rugs that are square bring to life a visual presence of art on the floor.

Color trends gradually appear in our line of sight. Initially taking notice of dominant colors during fashion week and then seeing what actually ends up in the stores. The following colors are inspired by fashion colors from fall 2011. They are also representative of the world of design and architecture. As always they can also be found in the natural environment.

The modern interior of a home, and its furnishings, shape the human experience of everyday life. One of the most distinguished textiles is the Ikat, now antique, and prized for its bold, original designs created with vibrant colors.  In the streets of 18th Century Central Asia, a man's clothing defined his status in society and proclaimed his wealth. In his home and during family ceremonies, Ikat textiles provided luxurious embellishment. Today the influence of Ikat designs can be seen in contemporary fashion and home decor.

Iloveev.com shines the spotlight on the Doris Leslie Blau Gallery by featuring photographs from a March 2011 opening reception  of vintage European rugs: 

To see all of the images visit their site.

When you see a 20th century Swedish rug with an 18th century Directoire console, it's like magic." - Nader Bolour as quoted in the Elle Decor article from June 2011. See the article about Scandinavian rugs

“Hand-knotted in Nepal, new Tibetan rugs often work best in transitional spaces and in contemporary interiors due to their luxurious texture to the unusual play of light that alters how they appear depending on they are viewed.  Highly practical as well, the high lanolin content found in Tibetan wool also makes them incredibly resilient. Due to the system of rug production in Nepal, the descendants of traditional Tibetan weavers working today are able to make rugs in almost any style, pattern, shape, size, and material.” — as quoted in the book The Decorative Carpet

"This week Doris Leslie Blau, a gallery with hundreds of antique and modern carpets at 306 East 61st Street, in Manhattan, opened a show (through March 26) of about 60 Samarkand carpets made between 1880 and 1930. It is noteworthy because few American dealers sell these rugs…"

"Acknowledged for their rare selection of custom, contemporary and antique carpets, the Doris Leslie Blau Gallery unveiled their most recent exhibit of rare antique Samarkand carpets."

"Lepore recently introduced a bold-patterned area rug with her peacock design for the Doris Leslie Blau Gallery. The gallery also in early March unveiled two nautically-inspired rugs designed by Tommy Hilfiger (one blue with white anchors, the other navy with a red chain-link pattern)."