More Details About President's New Wool Rug

Grand Rapids, MI, Sept. 3, 2010--Workers at the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Scott Group Custom Carpets have been "bursting at the seams" with the knowledge that the magnificent 23 X 30 oval rug they've been working on was destined for President Barack Obama's Oval Office.

Scott Group Custom Carpets makes ultra-high end luxury carpets for customers all over the world, including the private aviation, luxury marine, residential, and corporate interiors markets. The company was founded in 1969 and has 140 employees.

Scott Group donated the rug, which took 30 employees approximately 570 labor hours to complete. Scott Group also made the Oval Office Rug for President Clinton and rugs for the White House State Dining Room.

The rug is made of 100% wool, sourced from both England and New Zealand. It has 48 individual yarn colors, including some undyed natural wool, and most of the yarn used was taken from existing inventory, including end-lots re-purposed for the White House rug.

Construction is hand-tufted by workers using single-yarn tufting guns, on a cotton backing. Scott Group got the go-ahead to make the rug in June from Los Angeles designer Michael Smith, and had it finished before Labor Day. The entire design process took approximately six months, vice president of operations Tim Hill said.

According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, the oval office rug is certified under CRI's Green Label Plus standard for indoor air quality.

Also, when the rug needs to be spot cleaned, the White House staff can use the special cleaning kit Scott Group includes with every order – complete with WoolSafe Natural, a Seal of Approval-certified spot remover.