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I have to say that the photos don’t do these rugs justice; they are much more beautiful in their 6′ x 9′ glory than these digital snapshots suggest. Still, I admit I find the concept somewhat dubious, like paying extra for distressed leather or denim. But what do I know? These carpets are piping hot following a very successful launch in January at Domotex, the world’s largest rug fair in Hannover, Germany.

The carpets shown are presently hanging in the windows of chic Toronto rug boutique, Modern Weave; I spotted rugs from the same line in a recent ABC Carpet ad. While being careful not to disclose too much designer info, Modern Weave’s charming sales associate Sahar Rezvanpour did allow that they’re newly arrived from Turkey and have been generating buzz since their installation in the store’s King Street East windows two weeks ago. The rugs, dubbed Modern Vintage, are in the $3,500 – $4,000 range, which is relatively inexpensive for the high-end Modern Weave.

Rezvanpour explained that the creators take vintage carpets (10 to 20 years old) and somehow extract the original dyes before re-dying in these vibrant, modern hues. The product line includes patchwork pieces like those below priced around $6,500 (depending on size, typically 8′ x 11′ or larger). The patchworks mix cut-pile and kilim carpets to yield beguiling results.

It’s a trend that’s definitely catching on: German rug designer Jan Kath (available in Canada through Lipman Carpet) is winning praise and more importantly, orders, for his “Classic Erased” collection (below), in which the patterns are corroded, in some cases, to near invisibility. “The aesthetics of transience and decay represent a driving force to Jan Kath,” states the designer’s website. Make of that what you will.

Imagine asking your guests to take their shoes off before walking on these carpets? Seems like too little, too late.