In Their Element: Elizabeth Vehko and Paul Ramsey

The co-owners of Shaver-Ramsey in Cherry Creek

Shaver-Ramsey’s 5,000-square-foot outpost in Cherry Creek isn’t just a rug gallery; it’s a classroom. And at the podium is 74-year-old Paul Ramsey: a businessman on paper but a world traveler and historian at heart. Since 1975, when Ramsey and his then wife, Carolyn Shaver, took a monthlong trip to Afghanistan, he’s been bringing stories of its culture and its handmade woven rugs home to Colorado.

Four decades later, Ramsey continues to scour Asia for new designs and amass knowledge about the weaving process and its societal impact. Holding down the fort, running the store day-to-day and passing Ramsey’s passion and information on to customers is co-owner Elizabeth Vehko. Says Ramsey, “Liz does most of the work.” With great care, the pair have grown the company to include a second location in San Francisco and an inventory in the thousands, all guided by the philosophy that rugs aren’t just beautiful; they’re historical works of art, each with a story that needs to be told.