As someone who has been in and written about the design world for the last 15(ish) years, there\u2019s a lot I know about how to put together a room, what architectural styles exist, and beyond. There\u2019s also a lot I don\u2019t know enough about. And after talking to Sheba Khodadad who owns and operates Blue Parakeet Rugs<\/a>, I realized Persian rugs are one of those topics I needed to seriously study. And boy is there a lot to learn.<\/p>\n Before my talk with Sheba, I didn\u2019t know a heriz from a sarouk, a mahal from a tabriz, let alone that Persian rugs get their names from the region or tribe they were woven in rather than their design (more on that below). Trying to distill down to you what she enlightened me with feels like making a Cliff\u2019s Notes version of the encyclopedia. But by golly, I\u2019m going to try. <\/p>\n First, I want to introduce Sheba, our expert source for this article. Sheba is the proprietor of one of EHD\u2019s favorite rug dealers, Blue Parakeet Rugs<\/a>. She\u2019s based here in Los Angeles, but ships worldwide (though if you *are* in LA, do take advantage of her rug\u2019n\u2019roll services<\/a> where she brings some options straight to your home to test out). <\/p>\n Sheba is a wealth of knowledge on the topic, and when I tell you that her heart bleeds for Persian rugs, I\u2019m being serious. Never have I felt such love, such warmth, such light from a person I\u2019ve interviewed trying to educate me on a subject. I left our hour-and-a-half-long conversation practically beaming and also thirsty to learn more. I downloaded everything I could remember to my husband that night at dinner, my head spinning with all the things I wanted to say but couldn\u2019t fully articulate because there was just so.much.to.say.<\/p>\n She grew up around the world of antiques and rugs, her uncle Joseph (a world-renowned rug buyer, dealer, and appraiser) getting her into the business nearly a decade ago. What started as a single Craigslist sale of an Oriental Art Decor rug has turned into a robust company that works with designers and homeowners around the world with a revolving catalog of hundreds of one-of-a-kind pieces. <\/p>\n Bottom line: she knows her stuff. Between our chat and my own research, I hope I\u2019ve put together more information than anyone could possibly need who\u2019s just getting into the Persian rug game. As I mentioned, there\u2019s A LOT to get through, so let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stylebyemilyhenderson.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Style-by-Emily-Henderson_Why-Persian-Rugs-Are-Worth-The-Investment_Inspo_2.jpg\")