This talk discussed the distinctive characteristics of fashionable flooring at the turn of the 20th century, and how carpets became a starting point for interior design. In the late 19th century, Liberty’s department store promoted loose carpets and rugs as a key feature of ‘Artistic’ interiors. The popularity of Persian, Turkish, Indian and other Oriental rugs inspired European manufacturers to invest in design, and by the 1890s the British carpet industry was promoting the Art Nouveau style. A focus for discussion will be the joint interests of Jonathan Cleaver (University of Glasgow/GSA) and Fiona Jardine (Glasgow School of Art) in the products of James Templeton & Co Ltd and Stoddard International plc, two of Scotland’s most significant and influential carpet businesses.