Art to Walk On, Inc.

Overview

Art to Walk On, Inc. is a unique store that carries antique and fine Oriental carpets from around the world. Carpets sold in the store come from Persia, Turkey, Afghanistan, Ireland, France, Tibet, Nepal and pre-communist China. There is a large selection of antique carpets from palace size to small area rugs, and includes 16th century tapestries, rare Napoleon ll French Aubusson rugs, 19th century Armenian carpets and Irish Donegal carpets, to name a few.

Owner Eileen Hampshire makes sure that the carpets in the store are all unique pieces of art that are hand knotted and woven with hand spun wool. Eileen chooses each carpet for its’ unique qualities, most are dyed with indigenous vegetables and are never bought by the bale or telephone. In addition to beautiful decades old antique carpets, Art to Walk On deals with modern production carpets. They also provide clients with washing, repair, restoration and evaluations.

Art to Walk On has had a focus on the environment from the beginning. Instead of practicing the traditional 3R’s, they practice 4: reduce, reuse, recycle, and restore. The store actively recycles packaging materials, copy paper and printer cartridges. Eileen has even discovered that old wool knots from the carpets are a favorite of birds to be used as a nesting material. In 2012, Art to Walk On renovated their downtown Sarasota location with efficiency in mind. The building has numerous energy conservation features including: LED and compact fluorescent lighting, lighting sensors in the showroom, window tinting, and an on-demand hot water heater.

Visit Green Sarasota
updated 09/2016 by Sarasota County Green Map