To ensure that you make the right choice for a rug then you need to look not only at the beauty but also at the size of the rug.
A carpet that is too small can make the furniture look disproportionately large and bulky. A larger carpet can bring the room together and give a better sense of space.
Do keep in mind that a rug, modern and classic, can be deceiving to the eye and significantly alter the proportions of a room. If you lay a carpet in the width direction instead of the length direction you will get the feeling that the room is widening and not lengthening.
Tip: Before making your choice, you can first lay open newspapers in the area where the carpet is to be laid. This way you can better see how big the carpet should be and to where the carpet should go. This tip will give you a visual impression of the size of the future carpet and will help your choice of carpets.
A carpet under the dining table:
Pay attention to certain things when choosing a carpet under the dining table. Namely, the carpet should be large enough not only to support the width and length of the table but also to give the chairs enough space. This prevents wear and tear on the edges of the carpet from moving the chairs so a large enough carpet will better protect your carpet. Besides, it also looks nicer if you choose a carpet that is bigger.
Tip: Take the size of your table for example 1 m width by 2 m length. Add at least 70 cm on each side, so we arrive at a carpet of 2 m 40 wide by 3 m 40 long. Note, if you have the space then a carpet of 2 m 50 width by 3 m 50 length is a nice size.
A carpet in the living room:
Choosing a rug for the living room is a personal choice. People used to choose a rug that reached just under the front legs of the sofa; now they choose a large rug that reaches even under the back legs of the sofa.
Tip: Measure the sofa in advance and add about 50 cm. This way you make sure the carpet is 50 cm under and next to the seat. Note that larger rugs are usually nicer than smaller rugs.
A rug next to the bed:
If you choose a rug next to your bed, you can place two identical (or two different) separate rugs. Most bedside rugs are about 60 cm x 1 m 20 in size. You can also choose one large rug. The idea is that your feet will end up on a soft, warm surface, so a large rug should be at least 80 cm larger than your bed.
Tip: Present the rugs in your home so you can make the best choice.
Inspirations:
Hand-knotted carpets versus mechanical carpets
Have you ever wondered how you can tell the difference between a hand-knotted carpet and a mechanical carpet?
Machine-made carpets are made on a mechanical loom that is automated and computer-controlled. Therefore, machine-made carpets are solid and firm, and you can only roll these carpets along the short side. Hand-knotted carpets are made on vertical or horizontal looms and the knots are knotted by hand by experienced weavers. Hand-knotted carpets are therefore fluffier and can be rolled up.
Hand-knotted carpets have a certificate of origin, but this does not mean that counterfeits cannot occur. A certificate of origin states the carpet's origin, name, size and materials used.
So pay attention to a few things when trying to distinguish between a genuine hand-knotted carpet and one that was made by machine.
1. Fringes of rugs
A classic hand-knotted carpet always has an edge with short or long fringes. However, modern hand-knotted carpets are not finished with fringes, but the fringes are incorporated into the woven end of the carpet (the Kilim section). The fringes in hand-knotted carpets are woven along with the carpet, so fringes are actually an extension of the warp threads on which the knots lie. The fringes of a machine-made carpet are added afterwards. Fringes are usually made of cotton, but in some nomadic carpets the fringes are made of wool.
2. Selvedge of carpets
The selvedge is the outer, long side of a carpet. In machine-made carpets, the selvedge is usually very fine, accurately straight and mechanically finished. In hand-knotted carpets, the selvedge is created by manually turning the weft threads, so these carpet edges are often uneven and not quite straight. By certain selvedges you can determine the origin of the hand-knotted carpet
3. Drawing and design of carpets.
The drawing of a machine carpet is usually very accurately determined and mirrored from one side to the other. In machine-made carpets, irregularities are never found in the drawing. In hand-knotted carpets, many irregularities are found because the weaver improvises and puts his own idea of design into the carpet. So a hand-knotted carpet is usually asymmetrical.
4. Back of carpets
On the back of a machine-made carpet you can see the weaving pattern which is almost always perfect and even, and the white lines are also clearly visible. From hand-knotted carpets you can see on the back the knots that are not perfectly aligned which can make calculating the knot density very difficult.
5. Size and shape of carpets
The size and shape of a machine-made carpet is very linear and precise, while a hand-knotted carpet may have variations because the carpet is completely handmade. Thus, a hand-knotted carpet is never completely symmetrical and there are always irregularities in it. Size and shape of hand-knotted carpets can be determined by yourself, in other words you can have a hand-knotted carpet made completely to your own taste and preference.
6. Colors of carpets
The yarn of machine-made carpets is chemically colored. In contrast, the yarn of hand-knotted carpets is natural, plant-colored, creating natural variations in the color shades. These colors are also much more original and vibrant than chemical colors. Abrash is common in hand-knotted carpets, this is the natural phenomenon where certain parts of a hand-knotted carpet are darker or lighter than other parts, making a hand-knotted carpet unique. Two identical hand knotted carpets do not exist, there is always a difference in colors and details.
It is not always easy to distinguish machine-made carpets from hand-knotted carpets. Inform yourself well and seek advice from an expert before purchasing a hand-knotted carpet.
Pakistani carpets unmatchable in richness of warm colors.
There is no child labor in Pakistani carpet industry.
The beautiful hand knotted Pakistani carpets and rugs are adored by carpet lovers all over the world for the unique traditional designs, intricate knots, richness of colors, durability, quality and reasonable prices. The richness of red and other warm colors that you get in Pakistani carpets is hard to find anywhere else in the world, and the soft texture is created by the wool taken from selected parts of sheep remains unmatchable!
My husband Peter and I deal in soft flooring for high-end customers since 1992. Our vast showroom in Ichtegem, a city between the iconic Bruges and the scenic coast of Ostend displays a large variety of carpets and rugs, wooden flooring, bedding and other exotic household articles from around the world. From Pakistan, we acquire hand knotted and hand tufted woolen carpets and rugs.
I travel around the world regularly to procure the best of the best items. In addition to that, we develop personal relationships with the people who produce high quality articles for my customers. I travel to Pakistan at least twice a year, since 2009, where I meet Pakistani carpet manufacturers. “You see colors and culture in Pakistan. Pakistani people are outstanding in hospitality and friendly manners”. I enjoy family terms with well-respected families, as I buy most of their carpets from them.
I believe by visiting families, particularly women and the household you get an idea of ethics behind the business. When visiting a manufacturing unit, you also get to see yourself that if child labor is not involved and other requirements are being fulfilled. It also gives you the chance to see for yourself the working conditions of the weavers. There is a misperception in the Western countries about child labor in carpet weaving units in Pakistan, whereas in reality there is no such thing nowadays. I regularly visit and see the manufacturing units myself and never found any children working there.
I am of the opinion that Pakistani carpets excel in terms of texture, designs and colors, durability and price, which is not found anywhere else. Furthermore, I also started giving my own designs to the manufacturers. There is yet another advantage of working with families, as this is easy to explain what is on your mind. Talking about trends in Belgium, I informed that traditional patterns are sliding down on the choice list of customers these days and modern, more simple designs were gaining a trend. The popular colors in Belgium remain shades of gray, brown, beige, red and rust. But Pakistan is good at making carpets in modern designs and the colors popular in Belgium.
The manufacturing of carpets in Pakistan dates back to centuries. After the independence in 1947 many Muslim carpet weavers moved to Pakistan. Most of them found jobs in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi, where the most of the carpets are manufactured. Typical handwoven Pakistani carpets are inspired by antique, older traditional motifs and carpet styles. Natural dyes and hand spun wool is used even today.
Among others, two most exotic types of Pakistani carpets are Mori and Persian style. Nearly 90% of the Mori carpets have a bochara-like and other Turkmenistan pattern. Ziegler and Kazak carpets are woven on old Persian styles such as the Mahal, Serapi, Azari and the Ardebil motif, Kazak and Shirvan. Ziegler carpets, that are manufactured in Pakistan, have patterns of older traditions in the Arak district, Persia. Those inspired by Caucasian carpets are sold as “Kazak fine”.
Pakistani carpets are woven with a high knot density that provides strong durability at a lower price than its Persian parallels. In Pakistan, carpets are manufactured with fine wool yarn, making these carpets very similar to silk carpets.
5 most popular restaurants, Delhi
Many of us travel for business on a regular basis. When visiting a city for work purposes, my focus is usually on the job at hand. However, after a decade of traveling regularly for business, I’ve figured out ways to both have my cake AND eat it — in other words, have fun and explore local restaurants when I’m not working.
That’s right, it’s possible to do touristy stuff even when you’re on a business trip and here’s where I love to go:
Olive Bar & Kitchen restaurant
A beautiful mogul mansion with its tree-lined white-pebbled courtyard, whitewashed walls, a vast Banyan canopy and blue-and-white furniture and lanterns, dappled sunlight on soft armchairs and a stunning, star-lit, and a tree-top terrace bar under the shadow of the Qutub Minar makes it the best local restaurant in Delhi. The Olive Bar & Kitchen feels like a Mediterranean oasis in the middle of New Delhi. Chef Dhruv Oberoi heads a team of young and talented chefs and commands an accessible European menu of refreshing plates such as sea crab and tangerine ceviche, Berber spice-cooked sand lobster and cauliflower, and cuttlefish meatballs. There is also a selection of cheese-based dishes sourced from artisanal fromageries, such as soufflé or burrata tarte tatin.
The Olive Qutub is a hideaway where good food, laughter, culture and conversation come together in a delightful melting pot. Fashion, art, music and style fuse in The Olive to create an unforgettable Mediterranean mosaic.
Must try:
On toast, Lox & Sour cream: Scottish smoked salmon.
Sumac-spiced chicken: sumac-marinated and blackened chicken leg. Sumac is a wine-colored spice made from dried berries, it has a lemon-lime tartness and gives a deep warm color to the chicken.
Macarons: flaky meringues filled with joy and love. Ask for the blended Indian origin chocolate flavored filling of the day!
Sevilla restaurant at The Claridges
Sevilla restaurant has impressed many, and its beautiful ambiance is one of the recurring reasons. Sevilla offers a dining experience that delights the senses. Walking into Sevilla is like entering a fairy tale. There’s the magical ambience with lit-ip pathways, trees and a staircase that will lead you to the indoor section. The outdoor seating is a star, with its white fences and comfy seats under softly-lit pavilions, adorned with chandeliers and candles on the tables.
This restaurant is designed to delight your senses. The arresting ambience is accompanied by an eclectic Mediterranean menu. The specialities at Sevilla are wood fired pizzas, the tapas selection, paella and the house special sangria.
Must try:
Vegetarian tapas Polenta roll stuffed with olive tapenade and sun dried tomato with cauliflower purée.
Vegetarian tapas Josper grill ceps, mushrooms with garlic aioli.
Pizza Quattro stagioni.
Homemade sorbet raspberry.
Don’t forget to ask for the homemade sangria!
1911 – All day dining restaurant & verandah lounge
Intriguing name, a historic ambience and a smorgasbord of world cuisine, 1911 Restaurant is an abode for discerning diners showcasing Raj legacy like no other. Reminiscing the golden era and the year of emergence of New Delhi as the national capital of India, the restaurant interior, menu and service is truly a reflection of the Imperial India. Diners at 1911 Restaurant are treated to a wide and eclectic world cuisine with élan, in this all day dining restaurant.
The walls at the entrance adorn original views and photographs of Delhi and the interiors are replete with antiquities dating back to the days of the Raj.
The lavish verandah with blue pillars which were witness to the meetings by the eminent leaders during the independence era and the terrace overlooking the plush lawns which exudes an inimitable old world charm with its period art and historic ambience.
Must try:
Sunday brunch at 1911, delicious food, good variety and not as spicy!
Yeti restaurant, The Himalayan Cuisine
Yeti restaurant is located at Hauz Khas village, one of the plushest markets in Delhi. Hauz Khas market has amazing buildings roughly colored by splotches of urban culture and is majorly famous for its infinite range of cafés and restaurants. Apart from hangout places, there also various store outlets of major trendy clothing brands in India which are famous for their extensive collections of apparels.
You can find the Himalayan Cuisine Yeti restaurant on the roof of the Raasta Bombay.
Must try:
Yeti special kothe momos, pan fried momos with juicy chicken filling and dips
Chicken Wai Wai, very flavorful
Sha Datshi, a Bhutanese dish with a creamy chicken and a soft ting mo bun in the side
Virgin Mojito
Thenthuksoup
Q'BA restaurant Connaught Place
Q’BA is a pretty decent multi-cuisine restaurant located in the inner circle of Connaught Place and covers over two floors with beautifully designed interiors and ambience. This place is known for live sports screening, live entertainment, classy ambiance, light music, fancy crowd and beautiful ambience.
QBA is best visited in the evening during the winter months, when one could sit on the terrace with patio heaters around and candle-lit tables. Beautiful ambiance and good food coupled with detailed variety of wines makes this place really romantic. The location is awesome though make sure that you have a cab called if visiting this place at night for a long drinking spree.
Must try:
Garlic naan
Chicken tikka butter masala
Dark chocolate mousse
Even the most intense work trips are sure to have a bit of downtime. Sneak away to see a historic site during your lunch hour, take an early evening tour before dinner, or book tickets to a weeknight play. If you are moving around a city (or country) for work, figure out where you’ll be in relation to interesting sights and activities and plan out the best ways to use your downtime each day.
Local people might have ideas of interesting restaurants to see and do that you didn’t even know about. The last time I was in Delhi for work, a businessman took me to a restaurant for dinner. I would have never gone there on my own, and we ended up having a blast! We even had a few celebrity sightings (and brought back great stories at home)!
Try to identify ways to cut down on the time you spend working without sacrificing the quality of your work. By staying organized you can shave off precious minutes and spend more time enjoying your location.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you head off to Delhi for work or even for pleasure. Chances are you’ll get much more out of the experience.
If you need advice, or you know a good restaurant in Delhi, contact me!
See you in Delhi!
5 most popular restaurants, Lahore.
Many of us travel for business on a regular basis. When visiting a city for work purposes, my focus is usually on the job at hand. However, after a decade of traveling regularly for business, I’ve figured out ways to both have my cake AND eat it — in other words, have fun and explore local restaurants when I’m not working.
That’s right, it’s possible to do touristy stuff even when you’re on a business trip and here’s where I love to go:
Dumpukht Pearl-Continental
The signature restaurants at Pearl-Continental Hotel Lahore offer local and international cuisines. From buffet, breakfast, lunch, dinner and hi-tea along with à la carte options, they have all tastes covered.
Let yourself be transported to the Mughal era as you step into Dumpukth. The restaurant serves unique Mughal dishes prepared with original recipes and authentic cooking methods to pamper you with meals fit for royalty.
The traditional restaurant is a revival of the ancient art of cooking, which involves slow-roasting food over a low fire in a sealed pot, known as a handi. A combination of two Persian words “dum” and “pukth”. Dumpukth literally means “to breathe and to cook” in reference to the traditional cooking method. In this cooking method, meat slowly roasts and braises in its own juices inside the pot, which is sealed with a dough crust and herbs are intensified, adding layers to the final dish. I was blown away and surprised how good it was!
Enjoy the various variety of central Asian cuisines.
Must try:
Soup Samundri Shorba, seafood soup topped with puff pastry crust and baked in oven.
Curry Murgh Makhan Wala, boneless tandoori chicken poached in rich tomato sauce and seasoning with fenugreek leaf.
Assorted sweet with green tea.
Murgh pukhraay: chicken cooked in yogurt, saffron, Afghan spices and garnished with edible silver paper, delicious!
Café Zouk … JUST ZOUK IT!
Café Zouk is Lahore’s first boutique style restaurant. Known for its ambience and ever-changing tasteful decor, that is lavishly kept up to date by the management of Shahzad Khokhar. Its food offers an extensive selection of nouvelle cuisine, which is served in generous portions with smart, professional and warm friendly table service.
The restaurant Café Zouk transports their clientele to a far away magical place. Eating on white linen under the soft glow of Murano lamps, you have left the City of Lahore and could be dining in style in Bruges or Ghent. During the dining experience, the guests are on a journey, which is complemented with global standards of food and service. To be seen at Café Zouk you become part of the elegant urbane jet-set of the City of Lahore.
Café Zouk has a menu boasting more than 200 items. Each item is meticulously prepared to a savory perfection. Not to mention the famous special drinks and a wide variety of seasonal fresh juice.
Must try:
Filet Mignon with béarnaise sauce: marinated fillets of beef gently grilled to your preferred tenderness in the good old-fashioned way. Served with baked potatoes and sautéed vegetables.
As dessert: fresh mangoes with ice cream. Pakistani mangoes are the king of fruits!
Cappuccino: Espresso and steamed milk, topped with a thick layer of foamed milk.
You just can’t miss it … SO KEEP ZOUKING!
Café Aylanto
With its flavorful Mediterranean dishes and casual ambiance, Café Aylanto is one of Lahore’s trendiest and classiest restaurants. Café Aylanto offers a unique dining environment. You can choose to dine in the lounge area with plush sofa seating and low lighting. There is also an outside patio where you can dine under the stars while enjoying the pleasant evening breeze.
Must try:
Penne Arabiatta with grilled chicken.
Crème brullé with hazelnut drizzle.
Freddy’s Café
Freddy’s Café is a quality retro-style restaurant with a clean and beautiful decorated interior that serves steaks, burgers, hot-dogs and other fast-food staples. The idea of healthy and hygienic cuisine experiences makes Freddy’s Café distinct from other restaurants in Lahore.
It’s also offering one of the best Hi-tea menu in Lahore but reasonably priced. The time for Hi-tea varies from late afternoon till evening. Hi-tea is a meal which includes tea with other items such as sandwiches, pastries, jams, salads, donuts, toasts, … Hi-tea menu at Freddy’s includes continental, Thai and Afghani cuisines and dessert. It indulges in a range of mouthwatering food items coupled with a beautiful interior for the perfect experience.
Must try:
Barbecue chicken sandwich.
Fish balls.
Tiramisu.
Haveli Restaurant
Haveli Restaurant is located in the historic Haveli Khalil Khan, which is an architectural landmark of the Fort Road Food Street in Lahore. Nestled in the lap of history, Haveli offers incomparable and outstanding views of the famous Badshahi Mosque built by the Moghul emperor Aurangzeb in 1673.
Haveli’s didn’t take their prime location just for granted. The amazing view on the Badshahi Mosque is unique and spectacular. What’s there to be said about it? All the stories you’ve heard about people being stunned at first sight art true. The fascinating view from the rooftop is just amazing beautiful!
Then there’s the antique balcony and furniture. All wood and iron, and all handcrafted. It represents the authentic handicrafts of Pakistan.
Must try:
Barbecue of chicken.
Tip:
Chicken tikka is one of the most popular foods in Pakistan, both for its taste and its nutritional value. It is a sizable portion of chicken slathered in traditional spices and then grilled to perfection.
Pakistani food is rich in tradition, packed full of marvelous spice, generous with ghee and unbelievable tasty.
One of the most burning questions we always ask: “Is Pakistani food always very spicy?”
And it’s probably a question that may make or break your decision when it comes to choosing the restaurant or type of food you want to eat.
When you think of Pakistani food, you’re probably thinking it’s hot, it’s spicy, it’s full of fat and grease, it’s really unhealthy for you. But in fact, Pakistani cuisine is so varied and, believe it or not, is super healthy!
Pakistani cooking involves using a lot of spices in the production of the individual dish, but it doesn’t always mean the end dish is going to blow your socks off!
Pakistan is generally regarded as a bread culture, with meals being eaten with the right hand and naan bread or roti used to scoop up curries and accompaniments as is the practice in Muslim culture. Other popular breads include chapati and parata (fried bread stuffed with dhal or meat and vegetable mixtures.
Pakistan is also the birthplace of the tandoor oven, which is used to cook many of the breads as welle as meats like chicken, lamb or fish. The rice in Pakistan is regarded amongst the best in the world with long grain basmati rice especially prized and used in the classic biryani, a spectacular combination of spiced rice that is usually cooked with meat but can also be vegetarian.
Sweets are abundant, using generous amounts of ghee, sugar and nuts such as pistachios and almonds. Halva is one of the most popular sweets and can be made with flour or semolina but can also be made with carrot or pumpkin. Many sweets are also infused with fragrant essences like rosewater.
Must do:
In the evening, after dinner in one of these restaurants, do treat yourself with a delicious dessert at The Sweet Factory!
The Sweet Factory
Ice cream, Waffles, Brownies, Cookies & Molten Lava Cakes.
A treat for your taste buds.
28 flavors of pure dairy ice creams, crispy Belgian waffles, fresh Dutch pancakes, delicious brownies, molten lava cakes and ice cream shakes. The answer to your sugar cravings.
The Sweet Factory is where science and deliciousness meet. It uses liquid nitrogen to prepare customized, handcrafted ice-cream in an exciting and exhilarating way right in front of the customers.
Must try:
Crispy Belgian waffles: Belgian waffles, drizzled with chocolate sauce and served with double scoop of pure ice cream.
Charcoal ice cream.
Fresh orange juice.
Even the most intense work trips are sure to have a bit of downtime. Sneak away to see a historic site during your lunch hour, take an early evening tour before dinner, or book tickets to a weeknight play. If you are moving around a city (or country) for work, figure out where you’ll be in relation to interesting sights and activities and plan out the best ways to use your downtime each day.
Local people might have ideas of interesting restaurants to see and do that you didn’t even know about. The last time I was in Lahore for work, a businessman took me to a restaurant for dinner. I would have never gone there on my own, and we ended up having a blast! We even had a few celebrity sightings (and brought back great stories at home)!
Try to identify ways to cut down on the time you spend working without sacrificing the quality of your work. By staying organized you can shave off precious minutes and spend more time enjoying your location.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you head off to Lahore for work or even for pleasure. Chances are you’ll get much more out of the experience.
If you need advice, or you know a good restaurant in Lahore, contact me!
See you in Lahore!
