One of the most interesting aspects of making custom canvas rugs for my clients is their own participation in the process. I can see how unique we all are, and everyone has their own idea, color preference and concept of what they want to create for their homes.

It's very different than just shopping for a ready made rug.

Elizabeth collects art on her travels. Her beach home here in Costa Rica is full of colorful paintings, carvings, and unusual items such as kites from around the world. The bungalow has pale walls and wood floors, almost orange in its tones. We took out paint swatches and put them to the floor to see how colors can contrast to the wood. We didn't want the canvas rug to blend in, but to "pop" out, just as the colorful art pops out on the walls.

We took a strong fuchsia from a painting and the cool aqua from the bedclothes and created a bright floor cloth for her bedroom that contrasts with the floor, yet ties in with all the varied colors from the artwork.Since we are using such bright colors we decided on a simple design of concentric circles that will draw the eye to the rug but not be too busy as to clash with the colorful decorations in her room.

Pictures to be posted on the Canvas Rugs Designs page as soon as we complete making the rug!

The question I get asked most often is," You can walk on them?" For example, I'll put a floor cloth, or canvas rug, in front of my table at an art fair, and people will walk around them until I insist," Yes! They are made to walk on!" It's a part of the floor, to be walked upon: a functional piece of décor. Too easy.

 Many of my clients bought them for their homes because they have dogs. Small dogs that are not house trained, big dogs who can scratch up the floors, hairy dogs that shed, dogs with dirty paws that track in mud. For these clients, canvas floor cloths keep the floor nice and they have a rug that doesn't need to be vacuumed or shampooed. Too easy.

For those who live at the beach, it's nice to have a mat at an entrance without constantly shaking out sand. Even heavier jute rugs and woven mats, or what we call in Costa Rica, "petates" filter sand and need to be swept underneath on a daily basis. A lightweight, decorative canvas area rug, secured to prevent movement, makes cleaning....too easy!