I want to know more about rugs, carpets, kelims..  

Don't know much about them.
I find the majority of them to be very anti-modernist, but I suppose the contrast with modern furnishings might appeal to some.

Useful link
Hi,
Hope this link can provide some help in your quest :
Turkotek.com - non commercial site devoted to collectable weavings.
It is full of articles,educational material and there's a blog followed by many all over the world. The site has useful links ; one of them is American Conference of oriental Rugs where you can find a Directory of Member Societies in USA and Canada . I know there are Rug and Textile Clubs in Europe as well.
I think the best way to proceed is to ask those guys on Turkotek if there is indeed one of these Clubs in your area.
All the best

Thanks Sneska!
Will follow up that lead.

moroccan carpet beni ourain
Mordernists such as Le Corbusier were very enamoured of traditional rugs such as the moroccan carpet beni ourain. You are quite right to be interested!
http://beyondmarrakech.blogspot.fr/2012/06/beni-ouarain-or-beni-mrirt.html

More modernist love of moroccan rugs http://blog.ounodesign.com/2008/10/08/berber-rugs-the-art-of-people-from...
http://blog.ounodesign.com/2008/10/08/berber-rugs-the-art-of-people-from...

contrast and warmth!
"Le Corbusier, Marcel Breuer, Alvar Aalto and Arne Jacobsen used these rugs regularly in their interiors, which is not surprising. Their unusual combination of minimalism and handmade detail, restraint and inventiveness works well with modernism?s aesthetics by both echoing the abstract geometry of the architecture and also counterbalancing that austerity with some softness."
Couldn't have said it better myself

I think these bold designs (same for tribal art)
have influenced a lot of designers. I'm thinking for instance of Charlotte Perriand.
I'm a bit confused by what Woodywood states. I see design in every thing arround me, throughout the ages. Although you could say that design started with the rise of the industries, with someone like Dresser, you always see influences from tradition and past.
Dresser for instance took inspiration from Japan, Native American culture, gothic architecture... (see pic)
Wegner looked at traditional scandinavian furniture, same for Borge Mogensen..
I have to say, designs wich shows a link (be it in form, construction, function or material) with the 'past' has a special kind of appeal to me.
I find 'modernism' a bit of a dubious statement, as if it stands on its own. Man does like to define his own era, as if it was the last one...

Hi
My statement was strictly from an aesthetic standpoint. I find the majority of "oriental" rugs to be much too busy in pattern and rather depressing (or oppressing) in their colors.
I have certainly seen some kilim rugs that are more "modernist" in their design and would be happy to incorporate into my own decor.
I do appreciate contrasting styles... just not with these particular rugs (again, generally speaking).

Barry O'Conner is a wonderful source
Check out his site at Spongobongo.com
It is a goofy name but he is very serious about rugs, kelims and such. He covers mostly Persien rugs but also Caucasian, Afghan, Turkmen Turkish and Pakistani rugs.
His site is pretty unstructured but you will be exposed to a huge number of beautiful rugs.