Oriental Carpets

One of the best kept secrets to decorating in the "Mexican Style" is the use of Oriental or Persian carpets.

The Russian Kazak is one of the most prized of these carpets due to the colours and patterns. These rugs are hard to find and are usually sold at upscale galleries and auction houses for outrageous prices. The carpets are hardwearing and resistant to damage. Sometimes you will find "abrash" or slight changes of colour due to different dye lots of the wool. Some carpets will have "bleeding" due to the washing of the vegetables dyes. Since these carpets take a long time to produce more wool is required and the dye might not be exactly the same shade as the original.

It is very easy to tell carpets that are hand woven from those that are made by machine. One look at the back will tell you the whole story. It takes many, many hours to make one of these beautiful Oriental carpets.

Attached is a photo of a Russian Kazak. The size is 6 x 9 a really good size for decorating. They look brillant contrasted with the Mexian tile floors.

Hand Carved Furniture Created In Mexico

So many people do not realize what "hand-made" really is. I didn't know until I visited a small workshop in Rosarito and watched the artist at work. The design is pencilled in on the wood and then using 25-30 different tools each swirl and curve is expertly carved to design the pattern. Only wood is used as opposed to "hard wood solids" that makes up most of the store furniture.

Attached are some photos of Bruno at work and the last photo shows the base of a dining table that he made!

Mexican Colonial Chairs

Colonial Mexican chairs come in many different styles and choices of wood. They can be simple or heavily carved. The most expensive are made of mesquite and beautifully carved. Watching the artisans work carving these chairs is quite amazing. I had never realized all the work that was involved in creating these masterpieces until I got to see the process. Everything is really done by hand.
Mesquite has become very difficult to find as the Mexican government has put a very strict count on logging these trees. It is an incredibly heavy wood and shipping costs are prohibitive. Now different woods are being used: rose wood, habillo, antiqued pine. I have included a photo of one of the beautiful styles that compliments the large rectanglar or round hand carved dining tables. If you have any comments or questions, please contact me at lamisionmuebles@hotmail.com