Carpet Runners: Canvas Rugs as Stair Runners?

Way back when I first began making and introducing canvas rugs, one of my very first clients asked if they would work well as carpet runners, specifically stair runners.  With a large four-footed roommate, who spent time in the house, she needed to protect her wood floors and wood stairs from claw marks.

Although I had made and placed my canvas rugs as carpet runners for hallways, entries and other rooms, I had not yet installed them as stair runners. So, the challenge was on: we would test the viability of canvas rugs on stairs.

With an eclectic and artistic flair, this home owner had very clear ideas as to what she wanted in terms of design and colors for her two stair runners. She selected one of the more popular painted canvas rugs designs of ferns; the wall paint was a jewel-colored green and with the dark wood floors we decided the painted border on the rugs should be more neutral with a brown border. As a contrast, my client opted for an additional striped area rug on the first landing incorporating the same colors as the stair runners, only with a green painted border.

One of the challenges with this project was the measuring of the two stair runners as I did not know exactly how the rug would lay (or is it lie?). Cotton canvas material is soft and pliable but once paint and varnish are applied, it becomes less flexible. The unknown question: would there be too little or too much length to the canvas rugs once installed?

When I arrived to make the installation, the client was thrilled with the final products; the canvas rugs (all 5) were exactly as she had visualized. But we still had to determine: were the canvas carpet runners going to look as good, once placed on the stairs and more importantly, would they be secure for both she and her dog? 

Using a soft, pliable putty to secure the canvas rugs to the wood stairs, we began installment at the top of the stairwell. Much to our delight the canvas softly curved at each step. We applied generous amounts of the putty along the runner sides to, hopefully, prevent any slippage of the material.

Once we got to the bottom of the upper flight of stairs we tested by walking, racing, skipping up and down the stairs. Ok..so far, so good! The lower stair case was longer and a bit deeper but again the canvas material gently flowed down the steps. The measurements I had taken allowing for the curve of the steps turned out exact; we were almost giddy when completed. 

The final test? Let the big guy in and encourage him up the stairs.

Buddy, a beautiful white Huskey sniffed suspiciously at the canvas rug at first. Then, when he heard his mama calling him from above, leaped up the stairs in a flurry, rounding the stairs at the landing without hesitation. No slips, no tumbles. The rug, too, stayed put.

Checking in frequently after the intial installment, I can confidently state: yes! canvas rugs as stair runners do work and work well. Carpet runners, for flat or stepped surfaces, do not have to be limited to carpeting material. Yeah!

Custom Canvas Rug + Interiors Style, Perfect for Heart Theme Decorating

 Last month a client asked me to come up with an idea to paint a custom canvas rug for her interiors style décor using a heart theme...just in time for Valentine's Day.     

Mmmm, I am not fond of hearts as a design theme; yes, they are cute for cards but for a rug? I had to set aside my own tastes, of course, and come up with a heart design that would work well for my client's home and something that she could enjoy and...live with.

Keeping in mind the soft-lined, hand painted effect of a black and white check design painted for a previous custom canvas rug request, I submitted the idea of black and white checks with handpainted hearts along the border. The client thought the design would work perfectly.

Instead of soft-lined edges with the previously painted check design, it worked best as a contrast with the hearts to paint sharp-edged black and white checks. To do this, tape was used to mark off the grid lines to make the checkered design sharp and distinct. Then, surrounding the check pattern, a thick black line was painted to frame the inner design and a white border painted on the outside for the heart theme design.

After all this straight and regimented painting, my hand started itching to freehand paint  the hearts. Working and painting away, all the while visitors coming and going throughout the process, I painted heart after little heart around the border to complete the design work.

The amazing thing on this job was that with the welcomed distraction of people in and out of my studio, each handpainted heart turned out equal in size; I guess the many years of painting have taken effect and I can actually produce a well painted design and chat at the same time!

The client now has a new, pretty canvas rug, perfect for her specific interiors style: unique, crisp, clean with the added heart theme. This custom rug is a cute addition to her home and a perfect Valentine's Day gift to herself!