Carol Mundy is a retired registered nurse. She was graduated from Kansas State with a degree in Home Economics and from University of Kansas with a degree in Nursing. She became interested in oriental rugs after meeting her husband’s friend, Amir, whom he had traveled with in Iran in the late 60’s. Carol and husband, Bill, helped Amir unpack countless bales of rugs and asked many questions. Then they started hosting “rug parties” at their home for him. Traveling to rug weaving countries to experience the people and the cultures that accompanied this art form was also part of what made Carol fall in love with the business of selling oriental rugs. At first it was just an interest, then a hobby, and now it’s a way of life.
In 1990 Carol opened Mundy and Yazdi Oriental Rugs in two double garages that she had helped remodel using antique cabinets for display and oak doors she and her husband had refurbished. She received much encouragement and help from Amir and asked to use his name to give the store a Persian connection. Carol says her husband, Bill, who continues to practice medicine in the adjoining antique farm home has also been a source of support and encouragement which has allowed her to establish this business.
After a year in the 1000 square foot space Carol knew she needed more space and tripled the size of the showroom. The welded camel was added in 1995-made by Nebraska friends who are artists and ranchers-and welders. Over the years Carol has taught a field trip class for the design department at Johnson County Community College and now teaches the section on Asian Rugs and Carpets. She also serves on the board for the American Conference on Oriental Rugs and is active in the local oriental rug club,(Kansas City Oriental Rug and Textile Association- www.kcorta.org).
Included in her overseas trips have been numerous trips to Turkey, (“We’ve been to more places in Turkey than most Turkish people.”), A trip to Morocco, two trips to China (the western part) which included the Kashgar Sunday Market-twice, a few trips to Nepal-one included 10 days of trekking in the “Forbidden Area of Mustang”, and trips to the Central Asian countries and the Caucasus after they became republics. Visiting Iran and Afghanistan are still on the “to-visit” list.