Hi, I’m Keith Shannon — founder of DirectCarpet.com, professional carpet installer, and stair runner specialist.

25 Years on My Knees

For more than 25 years, I’ve worked in the flooring industry. I’ve run a retail carpet store for over two decades, installed thousands of stair runners, and built a reputation for quality and craftsmanship. But along the way, I noticed something:

Most homeowners wanted beautiful, custom stair runners — not the cheap, off-the-roll runners from big-box stores. They wanted runners cut to size, designed to last, and simple enough to install themselves.

That’s when we made the shift. DirectCarpet.com became the first online store dedicated to custom stair runners across the US and Canada. Today we ship premium runners directly to your home — so anyone can have a stunning staircase without paying thousands for an installation crew.

A Passion for Animals 🐾

But this isn’t just about flooring — and it all started with one dog. Over 20 years ago I found a skinny street dog in Puerto Rico and got him off those streets. I named him Flaco — Spanish for “skinny.” He opened my eyes to the harsh reality for animals down there, and he’s the reason I started rescuing and began working with Save A Sato. Flaco changed the course of my life.

Keith (center) with the Save A Sato team, Puerto Rico — Jan 2, 2026, delivering a $5,000 USD donation for animal welfare.

Meet Brenda — My Rescue, Now Home

Brenda was the very first dog I spotted back in January — she needed help, and I couldn’t get her out of my head. Across the three trips I’ve made down to Puerto Rico, I kept working with her, but her health issues couldn’t wait any longer. So this July, I made the call: she was coming home.

It wasn’t simple. Because of the summer heat embargo, no airline would fly her commercially. So I flew back to Puerto Rico myself to make sure she got onto a transport into Miami — then drove a thousand miles, down to Miami and all the way back, to bring her home. But I did it. She made it.

Brenda is my first rescue from another country, and she won’t be the last. There are so many more dogs still waiting for a loving home, and we’ve got more work to do. That’s what Direct Carpet is really about — it’s what lets me chase this dream. So when you fall in love with one of our stair runners, you’re doing something bigger than upgrading your stairs: you’re directly helping dogs in need, just like Brenda.