Yes, I do think they are country. I'm not fond of them at all.

What would you say your style is?

tina

Depends on how and of what they're made. I remember a very upscale, urbane home with an expensive handmade one of genuine cotton fabrics with good dyes and colors in a very large striped rectangle. Whole different category. Not "country." Sophisticated. Ethnic. Holistic. Green. :)

I love them! They remind me of my childhood and I have a couple in my semi-rustic attic bedroom. I think they can work in an eclectic setting, but they aren't right for every decor, IMO.

I also think how "country" it reads depends on what you pair one up with. I have one in my den that I bought 3 years ago and I love it there. I have a fetish for all sorts of oriental rugs, but in that room, a braided rug felt right. The decor is a bit country (I call it my folk-art inspired room) but not the stenciled ducks and ruffled curtains variety! Goodness, at least I hope it comes across a tad more sophisticated than that. Anyway, I think braided rugs look great with simple pieces, furniture that has clean lines, and also as a "palate cleanser" between oriental rugs throughout the house!

I would say "informal" or "casual" rather than pure country, depending on the pattern. I think they would be nice for a room with hardwood floors where you want an area rug, but don't necessarily want something tufted or fuzzy--certain kinds of dens, kids bedrooms, etc. They even make rectangular and single color ones now.

Good point Rosie! I didn't mean for my comment to come across as snarky. What you are describing sounds completely different from what I am picturing. And yes, Jen, I can see them in some eclectic decor, just not mine LOL.

tina

To me it has more to do with the colors than anything else.
I've seen some really pretty pastel orange and pink ones but would avoid anything in "country" (barn red, navy, hunter green) colors

You didn't sound off at all, Tina. Given that whole dreary mass-produced look Bumblebeez refers to and, of course, the ubiquitous braided-plastic version, no wonder nice rag rugs suffer from bad associations.

I'm also a fan of braided rugs. And like Pal said, they're not all "country" either. Many are used in baby's rooms now, in front of the crib. They give that cozy feeling & help add color to the nursery.

I have Persian and some silk rugs in other parts of the house, but I do have Capel braided rugs (thanks Amy!) in the kitchen, back door and in one bedroom.

Those rugs are mostly rust with green in them, and add that certain coziness I require in my home.

I also love Capel braided rugs and I say they can also be casual rather than just country. Like Oakleyok, they create a cozy environment. If you like them, I would not hesitate to use them.

Maybe it's a regional thing, they're used a lot here but I've only ever seen them paired with the primitive country style so that's what I think of. I don't see why they couldn't be casual though. There's nothing wrong with either if that's what you like.

Long ago I fell in love with a wall-to-wall braided carpeting in the attic master of an old New England home shown in Architectural Digest. It was just as nice in person, but the price per yard put it totally out of the question, although scarcely a surprise given the quality of the antiques it was paired with.

Here are some of the braided rugs of Diamond Baratta, the all-custom-(almost)-all-the-time, masters of the extremely tight matching palette. (and extremely $$$$). Not a huge fan but I admire certain aspects of their work, and their completeness/commitment.

Half hooked half braided:

Beachhouse rag-braided

Braided for hollywood regency

Beachhouse hooked and braided:

Hooked and braided, Federal style:

Braided, formal Federal. I like this one: