Floor Plan

By Donna Cornelius
Journal features writer

Oriental rugs do double duty, according to Paige Albright.

"Rugs are the one thing that ties everything else together," Albright said. "A rug can warm up your space."

But carefully-chosen rugs are more than just floor coverings.

 "The study of Oriental rugs is very historical," Albright said. "Rugs are made in specific regions, and it's how people expressed their artwork."

The owner of Paige Albright Orientals in Mountain Brook Village combines her knowledge of rugs with a gift for interior design. She was an art history major at the University of Alabama and then worked in design, she said. She opened her shop on Petticoat Lane in 2007.

 "I fell in love with rugs," Albright said. "You learn new things, and I love discussing the weave, the pattern and the artwork."

Albright is one of this year's tastemakers at the Antiques at The Gardens show. The event is Oct. 3-6 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

At the show, Albright will create a space she's calling "Return to Mecca."

The theme, she said, is a nod to architect and author Bobby McAlpine, a fellow tastemaker and the show's featured lecturer. With Jane Schwab and Cindy Smith, McAlpine is curating an area called "Welcome Home."