Paige's Painted Floorcloth info.

There are many samples on this site to provide you with a sense of my design capabilities using different colors and patterns. I can adapt or re-color any of my existing designs or work with you to create an entirely new design. Custom sizes and colors are available to meet your specific needs.

For my clients in the Washington, D.C area, I will bring several samples to your home so you can see them in the appropriate setting.

For long distance customers, clients can send fabric or wall color samples and photos of some important pieces. Ideas will then be emailed back and forth untill an agreement is reached and the floorcloth is produced.

If you would like additional information on my floorcloths, please email me at paigespaintedfloorcloths@yahoo.com or call at 301-608-0479.

Floorcloth Care

My floorcloths were made with acrylic paint on canvas and six coats of high-quality, water-based sealant plus two coats of wax.

Floorcloths are intended to be walked on. Spills and stains can be wiped off with a sponge and warm water. Use a little dish soap, if needed. Never soak your floorcloth or put it in the washing machine. Sweeping is fine, as is vacuuming with a soft tool.

Floorcloths are designed to sit on flat surfaces and to be used indoors. Prepare the area you have chosen for your floorcloth by vacuuming and damp mopping. This will eliminate any particles that could cause small bumps when viewing you floorcloth. Using you floorcloth on carpet or on an uneven surface will promote early signs of wear. To prevent slipping, I will provide you with small strips of non-skid rug grippers to be cut into pieces and put on the corners.

If you have any further questions regarding floorcloth care, please email me at paigespaintedfloorcloths@yahoo.com

Floorcloth History

Floorcloths appear to have originated in France in the early 1400's- a direct spin off from table runners, painted wall hangings and tapestries.

The British took this art form and started the idea of painted canvas for the floor. Geometric patterns featuring diamonds, cubes, squares and checkers were "hand-painted", often by the lady of the house. In the early days, this was a way to imitate the fine flooring found in fashionable homes. These cloths were called "crumb" or "oilcloths" and were used for several hundred years in homes both small and grand.

The floorcloth appeared very early on in the United States and was very popular until the invention of linoleum which slowed the interest in "hand-made" floorcloths. By the early 1920's they were virtually gone.

In the 1950's, floorcloths enjoyed a resurgance when decorators, in attempting to be authentic in restoration, encouraged artisans to create handmade crafts, including floorcloths. Many artisans today have broken with conservative colonial American motifs and patterns, and now emphasize bolder colors and abstract forms.