Manufacturers say carpet buyers these days are more open minded about home design options and have had their horizons broadened by influences ranging from the Internet to home makeover shows. Sometimes, they say, people just like to make a statement and standout in the crowd.
"Consumers do not want what everybody else has," says Vickie Gilstrap, vp of style & design for Mohawk. "They want something that makes a statement about who they are and what they like."