We're just starting to look at wool carpeting and I was wondering if anyone has had experience with ecobydesign. I'm intrigued by the idea of using a more natural carpeting, but also want high quality. Other suggestions are welcome as well. Thank you!

I purchased the Puresque "Lake Forest" line last year. It was installed August 22, 2007 over a 1/2' - 8 pound pad. My wife and I are the only two living in our house and we are both are over 70. The carpet for unknown reasons got so dirty it had to be cleaned last week by professional cleaners. The cleaners could not believe how dirty the carpet had gotten in a year like the odor stuff had collected dirt into the carpet. The ware and tear in traffic areas was unbelievable. He suggested that I have a manufactures rep come and take a look at the ware and fraying of the carpet. I arranged to do that 2 weeks ago. The new carpet is almost as bad as the 13 year carpet that it replaced. Do you have any comments about the "Puresque" carpeting since it is suppose to be so great? Beaulieu of America rep want come and look at it saying that the warranty does not cover matting or retention. What is covered by the 15 year ware warranty???? How do they know what the problem is without looking??? Many thanks in advance for any comments. William H. Lovelace, Sr Locust Grove, VA 22508 email: gezzer15@comcast.net

I had an olefin berber in my last house. I both loved it and hated it. There was nothing on this planet that could stain it. My daughter even had an ink pen with pink ink spill on it and it came right off with a paper towel, not even a hint of pink left. By the way, my carpet was off white, so no staining was amazing. I never did have a "run" in it despite having a dog the whole time. It was a high quality carpet, and I did have a thicker pad under it, I don't know why people have said you have to have a skinnier pad. My carpet was soft and cushy to walk on. Here's the reason I hated it: Seams. They just show. I had mine laid throughout my house over a period of time as I remodeled it, so there just happened to be different installers each time and I carefully got recommendations from friends as to who was the best installer, etc. No matter how experienced and knowledgable the installer, there are going to be noticeable seams if your carpet is light colored and if the sun shines in your room. You can choose a Berber that comes available in a 15 foot width if that will do your room, but if your room is wider, plan on an ugly seam. The only way to avoid it is with a darker carpet in a darker room. (Mine had large loops and small loops so you'd think it would have hidden them.)

Tufted rugs shed worse than hand-knotted rugs, I've found, and deep pile sheds worse than a flat weave. I have one hand-knotted rug with deep pile that has never shed. I have a power-loomed (tufted by machine) rug that sheds like a hairy dog and I've been vacuuming it every week for ten years.