NEW YORK - Larry Chiprut, senior executive vice president, broadloom, for ABC Carpet & Home has committed to the vintage look in a major way, and with a major difference. The brand new Louis De Poortere boutique on the expansive second floor of the retailer's carpet and rug annex in Manhattan showcases vintage-look kilim designs and Persian motifs in broadloom as well as rugs.  All are woven on Wilton looms that are programmed to recreate the distressing and, in patchwork designs, the effect of seams that would be visible in hand-sewn rugs.

"We saw the Louis De Poortere Deco collections at Domotex two years ago and felt the broadloom was unique - a way to offer our customers something totally new in wall to wall that would be exclusive to us," Chiprut says, adding that the artistry of the product requires a level of installation expertise his competitors couldn't match.  "I'm not going to tell you our secrets, but the seams are virtually invisible - no one else could come close to replicating our workmanship," he says.

Customers get a preview of the De Poortere line as soon as they step off the second floor escalator where a patchwork-upholstered slipper chair sits atop a pale pastel rug from the Belgium-based Louis De Poortere in a new Deco collection called Cameo.  The beauty of the De Poortere shop is it is large enough to show both rugs and broadloom, inspiring consumers and designers to coordinate the two options in various spaces for visual continuity, Chiprut says. 

Though the new shop was just completed as part of a remodel of the carpet and rug store across Broadway from the ABC Carpet & Home flagship, it is not the first De Poortere boutique at this location. "We've had this program for over a year now, and it has been very successful. Believe me, we would not devote this much space to it if it weren't selling exceptionally well," Chiprut adds. A blend of wool and cotton chenille, rugs are available in 9 sizes up to 9x12 and sell for $799 MRSP in 6x9. Broadloom carpeting, which is 9'2" wide, retails at $149 a square yard.

According to Thierry Flamant, VP Sales Americas for De Poortere Group, any of the five rug collections with overall patterns from De Poortere Deco can be produced in broadloom. The collections include Vintage, Fading World, Cameo, Bobohemian and Silver Lining, and are featured on a hanging rack at ABC Carpet and Home.

The Vintage collection was introduced at Domotex in 2013 and was an instant hit worldwide with its mash-up of antique designs with geometric tribal elements and floral motifs, spiced further with vibrant fashion colors. "ABC was the first to pick up Louis De Poortere Deco in the U.S. and currently holds two patterns in seven different colorways in stock. Louis can custom produce any of its all over patterns in any colorway at no extra charge for 100 yards minimum, and special orders are produced within six weeks. We ship by sea in 30 days, door to door," Flamant explains.

The new department is part of an overall revamp of the annex store at 881 Broadway, which integrated rugs and carpet from various vendors on the second floor, creating an open plan layout and a loft-like setting.  De Poortere Deco is now sold at other fine dealers in the U.S., furniture and department stores, and online retailers.  

07.06.15