EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the first in a series of profiles highlighting the winners of the 2007 NFT Styling Excellence Awards. Entries were judged earlier this year by showgoers at Surfaces as well as by readers online.



Selected as a top design by retailers, distributors and others in the flooring industry, Decorative Carpets’ Crackle was recently honored with an NFT Styling Excellence Award. The distinctive rug is made using silk and wool, highlighted by veining patterns similar to those found in natural stone and marble. George Sugarman, owner of the 52-year old Decorative Carpets, said he was going after a subtle tone-on-tone effect with the design.

“Crackle came out of the natural random effect one finds in marbles and stones,” he says. “We wanted to create something that was subtle but also features excellent design. By creating a tone-on-tone rug using silk and wool, we’ve created a beautiful, shimmering pattern that almost seems to disappear as you walk on it.”

“We’re honored to receive this award,” he continues. “It’s very flattering because we strive to create new and different designs that are on the cutting edge. This reinforces that we’re doing the right thing.”

Decorative Carpets was founded in 1955 by George’s late father Louis Sugarman, who died in 2005. His vision: to create a rug company that catered to the interior design community with eye-catching, fashion-forward products. According to George, the company continues in the same tradition today. Based in West Hollywood, Calif., with a manufacturing plant in Thailand, the rug manufacturer operates a showroom in the heart of Los Angeles’ design community. Additionally, the company distributes to retailers, interior design showrooms and decorator supply showrooms throughout the country, Sugarman notes.

“Design is really what we’re all about,” he notes. For more information, visit www.decorativecarpets.com.