European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 3, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wall to Wall by Leigh Brown new York Timos 1agazine Comfort in a Chilly world in 1969. An Industry report on Iho Wall Lowah 703" predicted a boundless future for Wall to Wal carpeting. Thai tried and trod upon Domestic american Staple that lies Shily underfoot. Envision our typical american in 1979," in read. His Home according to tha report would feature floors covered in Wall to Wall carpeting. Outside Iho Lawn would be carpeted Green in the growing months Brownish in the  piling into his carpeted car. He would strike out for the Parkway where the dividers would be carpeted. He might pass Iho local football Field carpeted the local supermarket carpeted and the neighbourhood swimming Pool carpeted on the inside and along the rim. He might contemplate his forthcoming vacation at a ski resort the one with the specially carpeted slopes which can be used year round rain in  Wall to Wall carpeting never quite engulfed the United Stales of course but like Many other products we lend to take Lor granted it has evolved from a luxury item to a household Staple with some 1.2 billion Square Yards of carpet produced in tie country last year according to Ronald e. Vangelderen Presk Tell of the Carpel and Rug Institute a Trade association. First mass produced in the late 50s, Wall to Wall carpeting is still associated with the suburban dream the father knows Best image of daddy on his hands and Knees in the living room playing piggyback with Killen. Like coast to  the very phrase wan to Wall gave a sense of nearly limitless i possibilities. I added a touch of Hollywood i Glamour to the american Home in the world i according to Rock Hudson and Doris Day. Wall i to Wall carpeting brought a sophisticated i splendor to the bedroom it was Plush literally. In real Lite in soon developed natural enemies among them Rover Welch s grape juice linger paint and silly Putty. Carpelina s mass production paralleled the postwar development Boom. Until then. Americans had decorated heir Homes with area rugs Wall to Wall Wool carpeting was the province of a privileged Lew according to Vangelderen. The democratization of Wall to Wall carpeting became possible in the mid-50s with the development of Broad Width looms lulling machinery and synthetic fibres. Builders who now could Lay inexpensive taxing and cloak in with luxury carpet loved in by 1969. According to the exuberant report Wall to Wall Carpe Ling had become a Symbol erf a new America dedicated to neatness convenience and the agonizing Pursuit of  status or the perception of it was a major Factor in the Wall la Walling of America. And in its Early Days. The took was relentlessly beige. Betty Sherill. A new York decorator recalled clients actually throwing away Fine Oriental rugs in favor of Waldo Wall carpeting not our finest  she said. Advertising campaigns promoted the Swanky image a Itolle on the door rates a Bigelow on the  read one ram far and. First published in the new faster in 1954. Equating was to Wau carpeting with upward mobility Wal to Wal carpeting has gone through distinctive fashion phases some mercifully Short Sod As Jack Lenor Larson a textile designer and historian recalled in the beginning there was Only  but perhaps the most memorable Era was that of the shag in the Earty 60s. In which  deep pile crept of the floors like the Blob of horror movies and affixed sell to platforms Walls and occasion any the ceiling. The shag sometimes in two Lone combinations like me Green and electric Blue captured the spirit of the Era As much As the Jane Fonda hair style o the same name ii was tuesday. Novembers. 1987 Lively and  the boor a restless sea of ankle deep fiber became the focus of the living room. Many Nylon versions had a glistening Bryt Cream Sheen. The shag also gave Rise to one of America s strangest household products the shag take used to restore flu finess it was also useful for retrieving lost dog chevies Bobby pins and other items. By the Rnid-70s, according to Ursen. The shag had been replaced by  a Short lived Cross Between shag and Plush that was an invented concept like  he said. In the High tech Era of the mid ads there was widespread use of hat weave Industrial carpeting olten in charcoal Gray. Along with track lighting this became a signature of the Crisp minimalist Interior As perfected by the new York designer Joe dlr so and others. Wall to Wall carpeting was a tool Lor unifying the floor with Low multilevel platforms in Modem settings. Neither luxurious or playful Wall to Wal carpeting became no nonsense and practical like the Era. Today there it stir a whiff of practicality around though the use of patterns and other graphics is end evening what s underfoot. Carpe Urig is required for Nee control in Era in new apartment biddings in new York and other Odiea. Many Trees require to percent of the floor area to be carpeted though the Rule is not strictly enforced said Roger Tuc Icerman. A spokesman for Douglas Eeman Gibbons & Ives a intestate management and brokerage firm in Manhattan designers Are currently divided on the subject of wad to wan carpeting. Dlr so said he is not too keen on it mostly because in is hard to keep Dean in Urban settings. I now prefer area rugs preferably old  3 he said. However he endorses Wall to Wall sisal. V a Straw that he described As appealing in Fri every  but another decorate. Robert merger swears by Wall to wan the stars and stripes Page 13