hi eliza.... actually, I went to a local flooring company and found a different piece of flooring (from the same manufacturer as the sisal i originally linked) made of 50% wool/50% alpaca....which i think will work better for me.....this particular type on carpet, it is recommended you use a pad...I'm getting a thin felt pad and using the cap and band method of installation... i haven't ordered it yet, as I plan to go to a couple more distributors, but assuming i don't see something else i like better, this is the way I plan to go... Here is a link that might be useful: wool/alpaca carpet for stairs

Luckygal, branding has been around for a very long time. For example: Vernon and Irene Castle slapped their names on everything and anything you can imagine and stuff that you can't from candy to cigars, shoes, records etc. This was back in 1912. They were the pair that put ballroom dancing on the map and made it extremely popular. Irene set many fashions trends in her day including the incredibly ugly but very popular stove top hat and was one of the first to bob her hair setting off a new look for hair in the 1920's flapper. They owned nightclubs and dance studios. The Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers dancing that we all recall fondly in their old movies was based on Vernon and Irene's innovations in dance. My kids (aged 30 and 26) are not swayed by such nonsense and neither are their friends. I think there has always been (and always will be) people who feel safer purchasing something endorsed by a "name" and others who look for quality, value and style. Sky Here is a link that might be useful: wiki Vernon and Irene Castle

I just recently bought one seagrass rug and one jute rug off of Ebay from Natural Area Rugs (I think). The seagrass rug is in our primary living area which is really lived in as in to the extreme. It has been in place for about three months and is so easy to care for. It shows no stains and is not the most comfortable under foot but will do considering its wear capabilities. This replaced a sisal rug that was here before (from Lowes I believe) and after approximately a year and a half or two years it had to be pitched. It did not wear well at all and was extremely stained. That sisal rug replaced a jute rug (from Ballard) that was in the space for about three years but shed like crazy. I loved that jute rug for the look, but it was a pain the umhum to keep up. The shedding alone was like having two extra heavily shedding dogs in the house. It stained easily as well. I can't remember what the final issue was for us to throw it out, but it eventually did get the boot. The jute rug I just bought is for our den which is currently used primarily is our youngest son's play room. It is holding up remarkably well and isn't shedding like the other jute we had. It is also extremely comfortable under foot which is also the opposite of the original jute. I know you didn't ask about jute specifically, but my point in including it is that I think all differ in wear and feel not only by the type of grass but by the type of weave and the manufacturer as well.

Okay - late to the party. I want hardwood floor in every room in my house except the bathrooms, where I prefer tile. I do have antique wool oriental rugs in all rooms. But if I could afford it, I would have some wonderful Stark wool carpet in my bedroom. Since the room is 24'x24', that is out of the question. Yes, I DO have allergies and asthma. My daughter has hardwood floor through out all the rooms in her house, but in the MBR, she has carpet over hardwood. She prefers a carpeted bedroom, not area rugs. Yes, she has cats and a son with allergies. Many decades ago, I had an allergist in St Louis who aid that unless a child is ending up in the hospital, there was no reason to get rid of carpet, draperies, upholstered furniture, stuffed animals, and family pets - the recommendation of most allergists for households where a child has allergies. He said that allergies are so complex, that just getting rid of a couple of things will not change things much. He said the only way to totally avoid allergens would be to live like "The Boy in the Bubble", and that wasn't recommended for serious emotional reasons. When we moved to LA, I started calling allergists, explaining that I had 5 cats and 2 dogs and no intention of getting rid of any of them. Finally found a terrific one who totally agreed with the St Louis allergist. When we moved to KY, I did the same - found one who agreed with them. He retired and I now have yet another allergist. He, too, agrees. Another thing I liked about all these allergists was that they were not selling ANYTHING other than their medical services! Most allergist's offices want to see you special filters, air purifiers, special bedding - you name it - they have a very expensive product just for you. This is especially true in pediatric allergist's office. Don't like that at ALL! Allergies are very complex. When I go somewhere without my dog (now only 1 dog), my asthma is no different than when I'm home sleeping with the dog. Allergies are very complex. If one is already having hardwood put down, put it down EVERYWHERE. If you prefer carpet in a bedroom, put it down over the hardwood. Do it for resale if nothing else.