As a former importer of hand-knotted carpets, I wanted to touch base with rug retailers to delve into what makes their multi-generational businesses continue and thrive over the years. Their stories and historic photos are enriched with their ancestors’ sweat, blood, and tears. 

As we were celebrating Atiyeh Bros. family business established in 1900 in Portland, OR, last fall on a Willamette River dinner cruise, we enjoyed the sparkle of the city bridges and the dewy night air. Kevin Atiyeh, fourth-generation owner, shared fascinating statistics about family-run businesses in the United States. “Only 3–5 percent make it to 125 years as a continually managed/owned by the same family business.” His current employees have worked a total of 14 years on average.

Rug people are a passionate lot. We care deeply about clients, co-workers, producers, our communities, and the rugs we create and hopefully sell one day. Passion is the fuel that propels us forward, but like the hours in a day, it is not endless. There’s a tipping point when working harder and longer becomes less effective. When working transforms into an endless loop, toxicity sets in. In addition to negatively impacting our quality of life, the caliber of work degrades. Mistakes are made, resulting in, you guessed it, more work!

The design-build firm Vanillawood was founded by Kricken and James Yaker in 2006. Over nineteen years in business, they’ve perfected the integration of clean, modern design with practical livability, ensuring that each space reflects the client’s personality and lifestyle. The firm’s contemporary creations are visually stunning and provide a calming oasis in an ever-shifting world.

RUG INSIDER sat down with co-principal Kricken Yaker, for a refreshingly candid conversation about her design and business philosophies.

Dover Rug and Home is one of the select few area rug companies that has been around for over three decades and has grown from one store into multiple stores. Spanning several generations, this community-oriented and philanthropic company has also expanded into—sports and fitness.

Our family has a tradition of touring the rugged Oregon coast in winter. We love exploring the small, charming towns when tourism is low and the Pacific Ocean frothy and wild. During our last adventure, we fortuitously stumbled into Wanda’s Cafe + Bakery in Nehalem. It was the perfect spot to escape the blustery rain and omnipresent chill.

We had the privilege of speaking with two Portland, OR-based interior designers who are at different points in their careers. Kinsey Bagwell is working towards her third year, while Donna DuFresne owns a respected and well-established practice. Both provided keen insight into the field of design and how the rug industry can better serve the profession.