Atlanta—What’s your choice, contemporary, traditional or transitional? They all appeared to be selling well at this year’s summer edition of the Atlanta International Area Rug Market. Foreign Accents of Albuquerque, N.M., was not one of the biggest vendors at the show but did lure buyers with its decidedly contemporary look. The company came out with its new Teens & Tweens collection in April, said Laura Munzlinger, assistant sales/marketing manager. “The Tasha-Kiddz designs have a youthful look, and employ a variety of color and shapes, including brightly colored skateboards and floral patterns.”

Many of the company’s designs are based on actual artwork, she said, pointing to a rug inspired by a painting done by an Albuquerque artisan. Some of the designs were created by Wolfgang Rempen, the Foreign Accents’ president. And, Munzlinger said, just because the company’s focus is on contemporary, don’t think there’s not plenty of variety. “We have five price tiers starting with polypropylene all the way to New Zealand Wool that are all handmade.” It is also working on a marketing deal with MTV, “a perfect fit for the company’s colorful offerings,” she added.

Rempen said although traffic was a little slow, buyers were indeed spending money. “I think the people looking for rugs were spending money. We got some attention and that made me happy.” He noted the January rug show draws a larger crowd because many companies use it to unveil products for the entire year. Nearly at the other end of the spectrum is Milliken’s Pastiche Traditional line, an expansion of the Pastiche line the company introduced during the January show. The new line has 12 sizes, each having five traditional designs, all nylon with Stainmaster technology, said marketing manager Robby Burch. They retail for $249 for a 5X8-ft.

“What it comes down to is, people like traditional designs and tend to gravitate toward traditional looks,” Burch said. He said buyers appear to be drawn to the maroon, navy blues and brownish greens. The company’s collaboration with Invista on soft fiber technology has created a final product “that is both colorful and comfortable.” The durable rugs have become a staple of homelife and continue to move out of the traditional areas into the living areas, he said. “One of the things we’ve noticed the last two years is, in bigger homes almost every ground floor has hard surfaces. Homeowners like the hard surfaces but no one wants to lie on a hardwood floor and watch TV.”

On a smaller scale, Milliken has expanded its Team Mats line from 150 to 172 colleges and universities and is hoping to add more. The mats, featuring college mascots and emblems, sell for $24.95 in a 2X3-ft. and $19.95 in an 18X28-in. size. Burch said the rugs make great impulse buys and “represent a good value as we’ve gone to great lengths to accurately depict the school emblem and match the school colors.” He said the market was positive for Milliken. “Our largest retailer came in optimistic about the fall, and that’s the first time that’s happened in at least two years.”

Like Rempen, Burch noted January typically brings in more traffic but was pleased with how this edition progressed. Chas Sydney, senior vice president of floor coverings and vice president of new business develpment for AmericasMart, heard “various comments from vendors” at the market, but said overall they were “positive.” He said 140 manufacturers had booths during the show, including several newcomers such as carpet maker Gulistan which debuted its Rug & Home division. Sydney said a somewhat sluggish economy is still affecting upper-end items, including rugs. “When the economy slows, high-end items are the first to suffer, and unfortunately, they are the last to revive when things improve.”

Gulistan is hoping to hit the high mark with its 1100 Series wool rugs to cover the world. The designs include tribal patterns, art nouveau and more traditional looks, although Jim Wood, head of the new division, said he is seeing a resurgence of the ’60s look, “flower power and that type of thing.” In the fall, the mill will begin using 10-frame equipment to get more color and is also in the process of working out a licensing agreement with Pinehurst, the well-known golf resort where Gulistan is headquartered, he said.

At Oriental Weavers, the company is working to balance the growing desire for something different with the traditional. In January it unveiled the colorful Andy Warhol line inspired by the edgy artist; in October the company plans to launch a National Geographic Home collection, said Jonathan Witt, vice president of marketing. National Geographic, known for its travel and wildlife publication that spans the globe, introduced home furnishings in the fall, he noted, but was missing a rug component. “So we’re going to be releasing a collection of rugs to go with that program in October. The designs will include tribal looks as well as some transitional pieces.

“We’ve previewed the line with a few retailers and have gotten a positive response,” Witt said. “It’s a nice complement,” as a majority of the company’s volume has been traditional, but the contemporary market continues to expand. “Seven of our top designs are now contemporary, which is an incredible number. The desire of homeowners for change is driving the contemporary market, as it’s easier to get a new rug than change the color of wood or tile.” David Moyer, Mohawk Home’s national sales manager, agreed. “Casual contemporaries are selling so that’s what we’re concentrating on with our designs.”

Oddly enough, he said the popularity of redecorating and remodeling shows are inspiring many homeowners to look to rugs for a solution. “Take a look at these designer shows you see on HGTV. They paint the walls a color, they throw a rug down—usually a contemporary one—they put down a piece of furniture, a plant, and they’re done.” Many of Mohawk’s 5X8-ft. rugs retail for between $199 and $299. “That’s not a lot of money to spend. These $200 rugs look great and people can easily decorate their spaces.”

Moyer added the mix and match mentality is making neutral colors, brown, ice blue, and burnt orange very popular, although reds and blacks are still selling well. Shaw Living unveiled new additions to its Kathy Ireland Home Essentials and Kathy Ireland Home Gallery lines. Kimberly Barta, brand manager, noted because of demand for rugs designed to be used in kitchens, dining rooms and breakfast nooks, Shaw has added two new sizes—6-1/2X9-ft. and 8-1/2-ft. round. The manufacturer also updated its Essentials collection with six new designs, 17 total rugs in the rich-darks color palette. In addition, two exclusive designs have been added to the Home Gallery line.