Rugs or carpets for a house are like shoes for a well-designed outfit and complete the look of any room, similar to the shoes for any dress. No matter whether it is a home or an office, rugs play an important role in accentuating the look of a room. Chris Moore and daughter Rachel Wainwright, owners of Sweetwater Home in Columbus, GA, guide us about the best way to make your home comfortable, stylish and fun by incorporating rugs.

By Marla Caligaris- Photography by R. Caligaris

Rugs are an important aspect in creating a fabulous home and can help transform any space by adding color, texture and style.

Whether contemporary or traditional, a rug can completely change how a room looks and feels. A rug can either sit in harmony with the room or can become the focal point, making a bold statement.

SVM sat down with Chris Moore and Rachel Wainwright, owners of Sweet Water Home to learn more about the rugs they sell, how they got started in this business, and what factors they consider when choosing the right rug for a client.

How did you get started in this business? Since interior design has always been an interest and hobby, Rachel did not have to work too hard to convince me to start a business in the fall of 2020. We opened a booth at the Galleria Riverside, and our mother-daughter rug business grew out of that booth.

Tell us about the different kinds of rugs you sell. Are they mostly Turkish ones? We sell vintage and new Persian and Turkish rugs. Turkish Oushaks are the most popular for our clients.

Are these rugs durable to use in all rooms of my home ? How do I care for them? These rugs are 100% wool, hand-made rugs. They are durable, but they must be professionally cleaned if they are stained or in areas with high traffic. Often stains can be cleaned with hot water, but we always caution clients not to use chemicals to spot clean.

What are these rugs made of and are they all handmade? Most of the rugs we sell are 100% wool Oushak rugs handmade in Turkey.

Do you bring the rugs to my home and help me decide which one is best for my space or do you have a storefront? We keep smaller rugs in our Galleria Riverside booth and also in Valley Fabrics in Columbus. We do make house calls to help clients find the perfect rug for their space. One of the most enjoyable parts of our business is meeting clients, seeing their beautiful homes, and helping them add a beautiful piece to their decor.

What factors are you considering when choosing the right rug for a client? When helping clients choose the correct rug for their space, we consider budget, space, colors, use of the space, and preferences of the client. Rugs are so much prettier in person, and bringing options for customers to see in their spaces is such an important part of what we do!

THE ART OF RUGS