From Fred Albert,
Your Guide to Furniture.
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If you lived through the 1970s, then you’ll remember carpet tiles as the bottom-feeder of the floorcovering kingdom—aqua and orange pieces of felted rubber that attracted stains and withering stares in equal measure. So I was skeptical when I heard about InterfaceFLOR carpet tiles—that is, until I saw them.

Carpet Tiles for the 21st Century

Fun, affordable, and altogether beguiling, this new generation of carpet tiles is designed in an arresting array of hip colors, patterns and textures, letting you create a customized area rug or wall-to-wall carpet for a fraction of the cost of a woven piece.

Each FLOR carpet tile measures 19.7 inches square and is secured in place by four peel-and-stick adhesive tabs, so there’s no gluing. The tabs are low-tack, so if you don’t like what you’ve done you can move the carpet tiles around (the adhesive won’t damage the surface underneath). And if a square gets soiled, you simply pull it up and replace it. Best of all, FLOR starts at less than $10 per square, with most designs priced in the teens. That means you can create a 5-by-8-foot carpet for as little as $150.

Design It Yourself

FLOR sells prepackaged designs, but the fun of FLOR is designing a carpet yourself. The user-friendly Web site, flor.com, includes a gallery of ideas to get you started, plus a design tool that lets you plan your carpet right on the computer, so you can see what the finished product will look like before you order. And if you need more assurance, you can order a packet of up to eight carpet swatches for only $5. Once you’ve made your selection, you can order your carpet tiles online or purchase them from a local retailer (there’s a list on the FLOR Web site). Then all you have to do is install your carpet and step back to admire your handiwork. Rarely has high design been so fun and so affordable.

Martha Was Here

FLOR's partnership with the Doyenne of Domesticity has produced a new collection: Martha Stewart Floor Designs with FLOR. Stewart's designs take this company to the next level, with subtle, sophisticated colors and a range of textural patterns that add graphic punch without hitting you over the head. There's even a few kooky designs tossed in. The carpet tiles appear to be a bit more pricey than comparable FLOR tiles, but with great looks starting at just $12.99 a tile, it's--dare I say it?--a good thing.