How our wall-to-wall carpet appearance has changed over time

Since March 2023, when we had our wall-to-wall carpet in Dubai laid, many of our readers—particularly those who read the installation post—have shown interest in learning how the carpet is holding up. Although lighter carpet was undoubtedly a risk, we gladly took it, knowing full well, and 15 months later, we're still in love with it.

We ordered the color Fizz from wall-to-wall carpet in Dubai for a refreshment. We designed this comparatively light oatmeal two-tone check carpet for "active families." The two-toned color has played a significant role in maintaining this carpet's brand-new appearance, something I was initially unaware of.



We chose a diamond-patterned wall to wall carpet in Dubai in our last home, and the pattern in the high-traffic walkways started to degrade quite quickly after installation. When it flattened, the elevated pattern and the shorter pattern just blended together because they were the same color.



No matter how many times we walk over a section of the carpet in this house—which has lighter threads outside and darker in the center—the checks still show! This seems so apparent now, of course, but it's something I only joyfully found this year while playing, running, and walking all over it.



We absolutely take certain steps to maintain its impeccable appearance, both in terms of what we do and don't do. About six months in, we even made a change.

First, as advised, we have our carpets cleaned every six months. For those of you who live nearby, I use Heaven's Best, a local carpet cleaning company. They charge about $149 to clean our downstairs and stairs. Not bad! We make sure all the small items are off the floor (including the playroom's area rug) and the drapes are drawn, so it's a short task for them. I don't move any of the large furniture, such as the guest room bed, piano, or our large sofa. We barely finished cleaning them for the second time since we completed the labor-intensive renovation for the girls' bathroom downstairs shortly after our Halloween party.



This gets me to the second "do." When we first began demolishing the bathroom, we covered the entire carpet down the stairs and into the bathroom with a clear, protective contract covering (much like the "walkways" in a show house). It's a good idea if you anticipate creating a mess. The carpet nevertheless received a lot of abuse. The carpet appeared somewhat unclean around the plastic, especially outside the utility room, as a result of us and the contractors we hired working, bringing dirt and debris up and down, as well as running "real quick" (which still tracks dirt, by the way). After the cleaning last week, it looked brand new, which relieved me.



Even so, we have only found one area where the carpet appears less attractive than new. A dark blue-grey patch on the edge of a stair. It's an enigmatic location that defies explanation. Fortunately, it's relatively little, and the carpet cleaners tried everything. Although I'm sure we'll be the only ones to notice, it's there for complete disclosure.



Regarding the modification, we replaced the carpet on the stair landing with the same faux wood tile that we have on our main floor at the last minute, but with consideration after we acquired a new stair railing in November. Charly prefers to sleep on the stair landings over beds because she gets too hot in them. Then, after a few months, that area began to appear a little dirty. We were aware that a surface that is a little easier to sterilize would be preferable. She will sleep on the hard floor, but there will be a tiny rug to provide her with some more cushioning. I'm searching for a vintage 2 x 7 runner that is easily washable and can conceal more dirt for the landing. (The one there currently is sadly too short; it used to reside in the hallway bathroom.)



We would pick the exact same rug. As you can see, living takes place on a large scale on this bottom floor, which is equivalent to half of our house. The brightness, checkered pattern, and plush underfoot are all things we adore about the rug. Yes, we don't wear shoes down here, but our entire house doesn't do that. If you've been unsure, hopefully this helps clarify things or gives you all some peace of mind. Does anybody else have an absolutely beloved wall-to-wall carpet?