According to auctioneer Stephen Drake estimating the worth or rugs is the hardest, “a complete minefield” in his opinion. He goes on to explain that despite being able to professionally distinguish its attributes (“It’s probably about a hundred years old. It’s got a pink-crimson ground; it’s got a central medallion; and it’s got a foliate triple border.”), it’s still mind bogglingly difficult to pinpoint a cost.

Take for example, a large area rug that came from one of Cambridge’s collegiate halls; he’d estimated it might sell for between £200-400. Surprisingly, he found buyers bidding higher and higher until it eventually sold for £9,500.

“As the price was going up and up and up, people who were standing on the rug were backing away … You get these things that you just can’t imagine what the price is.”

Clearly baffled by the perculiarities of his trade, Drake sighs. When he explains that the key to being a good auctioneer is realising that time is money and that he ought to be selling around 120 lots an hour in five hour stints, it becomes a very tiring occupation due to the sheer concentration it requires to be continuously looking for bids from potentially 100 buyers at any given time in the room.

Credit where it’s due, we’re not sure it sounds like the easy occupation we once thought it was.

Fortunately it’s far easier to judge the cost of a new rug because all the hard work’s done for you by the retailer and there’s none of the disappointment of someone else grabbing your dream accessory before your eyes.

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Cutting edge design? Check. Vibrant colour schemes? Check. Aesthetically and ethically pleasing products? Check.

Jonathan Adler’s mantra is to treat your feet, and we couldn’t agree more. As do we agree with his sentiments that minimalism is a bummer (true say), and that tassels are the earrings of the home (aw!).

Well, they are a lovely decorative touch, but after several battles with a vaccuum cleaner trying to eat tassels on rugs in our home – personally, we’ll take a pass on that one, but only for practical reasons you understand!

So, Jonathan Adler (swoon) makes lovely treats for your feet, alternatively known as rugs. His rugs are made from the finest materials (couture handmade tufted premium New Zealand wool and hand-loomed Peruvian llamas wool too) with a pretty fine price tag to match unfortunately.

We knew that there had to be a catch somewhere. Perhaps we should introduce Mr Adler to the likes of his admirers’ budgets in the vague hope that he might slash his prices.

Never mind, we’ll just keep looking at pretty pictures of his rugs whilst rubbing our toes in to a cosy and considerably cheaper pile – well, it might be just as feel-good. Heaven knows, our bank balance will feel a lot better.

In the meantime, we’ll leave you with his final thought: “We believe you should throw out your Blackberry and go pick some actual blackberries.”

Did we tell you he’s wonderful?

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Sounds like due credit when you learn that the rug is the product of having worked for at least an hour a day over the past year to produce it. This labour of love isn’t stand-alone however, as rug hooker Nancy Crisman explains she has completed over 50 hooked rugs in the last 25 years.

Having learnt to hook rugs as a child and growing up in an old three-storey stone house where floors were cold, Crisman’s rug making was as functional an activity as it was an enjoyable hobby she has kept up into adulthood.

The rugs she tends to make are largely reproductions of many that her great-aunt made. She does this to retain the pieces as family heirlooms as the materials and backing that were used in the originals aren’t as durable as those used today and have deteriorated over the years.

A lovely way to ensure family traditions are passed on, but if you haven’t got the skills of time to create your own but still want to warm up those floors, this large Chinese rug made of modern fibres for increased hygiene would do just the job for toasting your tootsies on.

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Having been hidden in private collections for decades due to Bacon’s belief that his earlier works were vastly inferior to his later pieces, it is clear that the appearance of the three rugs dating back to the 1929 when Bacon decorated homes throughout London demonstrate the influences and direction for the use of motifs thoughout his later work.

Despite the artist having attempted to destory his early artworks, these pieces will form a tremendously exciting display for many visitors to the Tate Modern exhibition that opens on October 26.

This is because, according to curator of Modern Art and Head of Displays Matthew Gale, very few people are aware that Bacon started out in interior design as the artist shied away from the discipline in later life.

Gale says: “These works show him linked to a European modernist tradition, with a debt to Picasso and building on cubism as he made the shift from decorator to painter.”

Stunning pieces, go to visit the Tate and be inspired; then come back and decorate for all you’re worth.

This hardy, good-looking rug will start you off as a great centrepiece.

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The contemporary circular patchwork construction of the finest quality cowhides is handfinished in Argentina, and come in a range of options.

From £160 for the 100cm diameter version, you could also choose to upgrade to 120cm or opt for the addition of a non-slip backing if you fancy too.

The handmade zebra print rugs are each unique, with the skins printed and then sewn from four quarters. It’s possible to have bespoke sizes made too, all you need to do is ask!

We think it makes for a pretty dramatic entrance, but realise it’d be a nightmare to keep clean.

If clean hallways, an ethically friendly approach and a smaller budget are bigger priorities for you though, then we’d recommend this leopard print coir entrance mat instead.

There are quite a few products available now to help rugs stay in place.  Some are specifically for carpet, while others are suitable for use on wooden floors.   With wooden flooring being so fashionable, there is a greater demand for non-slip rugs.  According to some forums, there appears to be a mesh, almost rubbery feel rug underlay available, which from all accounts is a very effective solution.

Some rugs for home have an anti-slip backing (such as latex) to minimize movement which can be helpful.  We found a few of the jute rugs such as Natural Herringbone and Natural Twist with this backing on a website where you can buy rugs online called www.nicerug.co.uk

Which got us thinking – not about carpet, not even about Brad Pitt but more importantly, about flooring and in particular, rugs!  Rugs that bring out the star quality in our homes but like the red carpet are very often overlooked.

There are so many fabulous modern rugs available to really add a funky theme to the home, with bold patterns and colour schemes.  Contrast with simple black or white walls and plain furniture and the effects can be striking. Shaggy rugs are very in vogue at the moment.  We especially like the Entropy luxurious shaggy rug from nicerug.co.uk available in bright red – a real stunner.

If these funky rugs are too much, then consider natural rugs, such as jute rugs or sisal rugs for example with their calming tones.  Their simplicity and variation in texture makes them an effective enhancement for any living room or hallway.

In a way rugs should be viewed as ‘art on the floor’ so perhaps we should start looking at our floors in the same way we look at our walls!

Meanwhile team leader of Ignite Philip Taylor was determinded to win this week, and did so although not in the best of circumstances. His team made a loss by underselling many of the antique items supplied by Sir Alan. Including a luxurious indian rug valued at £200. Lorraine had repeatedley suggested that the area rug may hold more value than Philip was willing to beleieve but no one was listening. The team eventually sold the large rug at the last hour for £50 to a member of the public.

Nine candidates remain and the competition has reached the half-way point. Who will make it through to week twelve and win the dream job?

Philip and the team get desperate trying to offload the rug

“Embossed with gold set diamonds, rubies and emeralds in their hundreds, the centre piece of the exquisite rug are three large round rosettes put together using table cut diamonds set in silvered gold.”

But unless you’ve recently robbed a bank,

Worth a pretty penny or two we think, but unless you’ve recently robbed a bank, won the lottery, or come into inheritance if you haven’t got the cash to splash we suggest the more manageable but equally sumptuous Allure glittering shaggy rug.

Available in a range of luxurious colours this rug is low maintenance, shed free and has a soft fine pile for a credit-crunch busting £165.99.

The 1.7 x 2.3m rug is so soft you’ll want to take your socks off for a shuffle!