Thursday, January 29, 2009

Nouri Rugs

You've been by it. I had. It's just around the corner from Zona Rosa (yesterday's post) on Colorado Blvd. (636 East, to be exact). I wasn't in the market for an imported oriental rug so I'd never stopped in. But the other day I was out with my camera, and I stopped when I saw the prettiest red rug hanging on a rack on the sidewalk.

The thing is, it was raining and the rug was getting wet. A man stood outside the store (later I learned his name was Mr. Martinez). I asked him if the rain wouldn't ruin the rug and he told me a little water wouldn't hurt it. "Come in and see," he said.

I stepped over the threshold of Nouri Rugs and took it all in. I've tried to give an idea here of the sheer volume of rugs but I couldn't get them all in the photo. There have to be at least 2,000 rugs in there. Maybe 4,000. I don't know how to tell from the piles, rolls and hangings. I met the salesman, Fred, who told me every rug in stock is hand made in Persia (Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, etc.). On their business card it says the rugs are old and new, and that they buy, sell, clean, repair and appraise oriental rugs. The business card also says "Since 1907."

I stepped back into the rain, bedazzled. The pretty red rug still hung outside, the rain rolling off its back like it was nothing.

20 comments:

USelaine said...

This is a pleasing peek at a venerable old business. My mom has an old carpet that was once in her San Francisco/Danish grandparents house at least a century ago. They are incredibly durable, and beautiful to boot.

Dina said...

Be careful not to sit on that red one. It might be a flying carpet and transport you back to Persia. :)

Laurie Allee said...

I could lose my mind here! Although, I already have 3 gorgeous Hamadan rugs rolled up in the garage with no room for them.

I love the image, P.

Anonymous said...

There's one rug store in Pasadena apparently named "Going out of Business," because that's been on the window for the past decade.

Petrea Burchard said...

USElaine, you remind me of a long-ago visit my family took to friends in their San Francisco Victorian on a foggy night. We were served dinner by a maid in black dress and white apron. So odd.

Dina! I may go back and give that a try.

Laurie, we're bare floor people, not rug people. But these could change a person's mind.

Hiker I remember seeing that sign somewhere. Was it this one?

Unknown said...

My grandmother said she worried about damaging her oriental rugs until she went to Egypt and saw what the camels did to them. The real ones are made to withstand the life of the bedouin.

Christie said...

Those are gorgeous! They probably wouldn't fit in my house, but I can imagine them in a room in my dream house. Thanks for sharing!

Kris McCracken said...

In Tasmania, rug companies always seem to be closing down and going out of business. There’s one down here that seems to have been going out of business for 25 years!

John Sandel said...

"My mom has an old carpet that was … in her … grandparents house at least a century ago. They are incredibly durable, and beautiful to boot."

My grandparents were pretty sturdy, too, but I wouldn't have called them beautiful.

Leslie Saeta said...

I have a great story about Nouri Rugs. I know Jay as I have bought some rugs from him in the past. Last October I was participating in an art show right around the corner and Jay came to my booth, looked at my concrete floor and left. Two minutes later he appeared back at my booth with a rug ... the perfect size ... on loan to use during the show. What a great guy!

Petrea Burchard said...

Yikes, Cliff! Bad enough having to keep the dog off the rug.

Aren't they something, Christie? I was floored. So to speak.

Kris, I think you're referring to the Tasmanian branch of the store Altadenahiker mentioned.

Bernie, I'm sure your grandparents were very attractive. Actually I'm not.

What a great story, Leslie! Feel free to share stories like that here anytime.

Sarah said...

Rug!
Interesting for me.You know that Persian (Iranina) Carpets are in their special styles.So diffrent with other countries's models like Iraq,Pakistan,etc.And in your photo I can see the Iranian carpets!
We have many red rugs in our house that my mom collected them in the store because she got tired from RED.So dad bought 5 new PINK carpets for the house! You know both RED and PINK Iranian carpets are nice!
I wish I could send one of them for you.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi Sara, I've been thinking of you as I realized I haven't visited you in Mashhad for a long time. They had beautiful Iranian rugs at Nouri. I'll visit your blog today.

Persian Rugs said...

I could lose my mind here! Although, I already have 3 gorgeous Hamadan rugs rolled up in the garage with no room for them.

Petrea Burchard said...

Hi Persian Rugs! I'm sure you'd love Nouri, but I'm not sure you need to go!

Anonymous said...

I had an amazing experience at Nouri Rugs. I purchased two rugs from here at an amazing price. The other rug stores I went to were all so over priced compared to this one. Jay, the salesmen, is one of the kindest people I have ever met.

Thank you Jay and Nouri Rugs

Jennifer White said...

I has purchased a rug from Nouri Rugs about 10 years ago. I wanted to get the rug washed so I went ahead and gave them a call and the owner by the name of Jay was beyond helpful and polite to me. Not only did he offer to clean by rug, but asked if I was interested in anything else to trade the rug in for something new for absolutely no cost. I spotted a rug that was hung on the wall of the shop and I was absolutely stunned. I went ahead and asked him if I would be able to trade in my old rug for that newer one and he did. Amazing store located in Pasadena, amazing owner to help you out.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Jennifer. Nouri always gets high marks. I notice their online reviews are always 5 stars.

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