Congratulations! How about a picture for us?

Oceanna,

I've been playing with the rugs and fabrics all day trying to make a decision. I have to choose between the current rug (which I thought looked great in front of the fireplace but doesn't have the right blue) and the one I bought yesterday (which has the right blue but might be too close in color to the floor and cabinets.)

It's been an especially dark and dreary day here in Seattle so not great natural light for a photo. But since that's the way it is most of the year here, maybe I shouldn't wait for sunshine.

I'll take some photos of the two rugs and post them. For now, here's a photo of the one I bought yesterday that I had taken at the NY rug store back in August:

Costcos is carrying that beautiful rug? Wow. Do you think maybe the pattern was used but the rug made especially for Costcos as a less exp version? I don't know how one verifies that, but it is something that's done. I guess the mfr would be up front about it.

-- Not that there's anything wrong with Costcos! I love that place and they do a great job offering quality products :) Their customer service is the best too. Just wouldn't expect them to be offering expensive, higher-quality rugs, iykwim.

Meg, that's a gorgeous rug!

I'm in the Seattle area too, and if you want to wait for better light it might be August. ;-)

For any of you rug-obsessed people out there, I'm tempted to bore you with all the details of this rug hunt since I've learned so much these past months. Suffice it to say that I've been working with a local rug guy, very reputable and honest--as far as I can tell anyway. I saw a great rug at his store one day and then, three days later, I saw the same rug at Costco Home for half the price. (At a recent trip to the design center, someone quoted me an even higher price, roughly $3000 more than what I had paid.)

AFter going to Costco Home yesterday, I went to the local store to show him one of the rugs--and to take home his rugs (the competition). That guy thinks that these are "rejects" but I really don't think that's possible since Costco's inventory is so large. Also, Costco Home will order a custom size so they can't all be rejects. Even the local guy conceded that the average consumer wouldn't really notice the supposed flaws.

The Costco website (not Costco Home) does have some of these rugs for much lower than what they would sell for at the local rug stores. I really am not knowledgeable enough to know whether they're of lesser quality but I'm pretty sure they're identical, except for the price. And, frankly, for a family room rug that's going to get a lot of abuse, I'd rather spend less anyway.

Whew! Sorry for the long-winded answer.

Oceanna,

Thanks! I forgot that you were in Seattle, too. Yes, consistent sunshine won't be around until August. And the family room is even darker than most rooms because there's a covered deck outside.

I'll take some photos later if possible.

I better get to Costco Home! It is a beautiful rug and seems to bring some sunshine with it. The weather man says we might see some snowflakes tonight (I'm on BI).

nan53,

I heard about the snow forecast. I'm hoping that we're low enough elevation-wise that we won't have to worry about snow or ice. We're on MI.

I don't know if you're serious about the rug but, as of yesterday, there was a 9x12 at the store. (I have the 8x10 which I'm pretty sure I'm going to keep.) I can't tell if the main field has a peach tone to it. Or maybe it will look peachy in the non-existent sunshine. I've said it before and I will say it again: I just have to make a decision and move on.

Hey Meg,

Very nice find!

That guy thinks that these are "rejects"

Ok, that line is too funny. How can a handmade rug be a "reject?" They are filled with "imperfections" because they are handmade, LOL

Get the rug and move on as you say. I'm not having a good feeling about your dealer and comments that have been made. (Strictly my .02 here)

As I said before, the wholesaler here in S.F. sells at Costco. I can get the same rugs from him to sell, and so can the buyer at Macy's and any other dealer.

meg: I've been following your rug sage as I'm soon to venture into the rug market and definitely will be on a budget. Congrats on finding your rug and getting a deal is icing on the cake. Is Costco Home different than Costco? I'd definitely like to check out what they have.

Meg, I like the rug because it's warm and sunny, cozy snuggly feeling, and we could use all of that we can get around here -- and it's elegant at the same time. Given a choice between one with more blue (is that the case?) and one with more gold, I'd choose the gold. The rug is gorgeous. I don't see how you could go wrong with it.

Where is Costco Home anyway? You're making me want to go there just to snoop the goodies.

tryin2grow: I think the local rug dealer is very respected in the industry and it seems that he's one of the main dealers that designers work with in this area. Maybe that's not enough of an endorsement but I thought it was a good sign. He was speaking in terms of quality--that when they see the rugs some are A, B or C. These would be C and he would reject them. He pointed out the wide bands of color variation in the field, as opposed to the more subtle striations.

I didn't realize that your SF wholesaler had access to these rugs too. I thought you were talking about the Due Process Stable Trading guy and his rugs.

valinsv: Oh no. I hope you haven't been following it too closely. I feel like I could write a book on how NOT to go about decorating or buying a rug. I think my biggest problem is that I'm so afraid to make a mistake that I don't make any decisions. I have the luxury of starting from scratch so I started with the rugs. I think I'm very close now only because I've had to change my thinking about the color scheme.

Costco Home is different from regular Costco in that it only sells furniture, linens, accessories, etc. The rug department is an independent vendor, a former rug store.

oceanna, Costco Home is in Kirkland at 120th Ave. I don't think there are very many nationally; it might even be the only one in the country. The choice isn't between gold and blue but that's a good point about wanting something that adds warmth.

I've linked the rug site below although when I spoke with the guy at Costco Home, he claimed that the rugs were from the city of Jaipur. He wouldn't commit to these being from the Jaipur Rug company although the Costco Home rugs were tagged with the same names and colors used by Jaipur Rugs. The names are changed on the Costco site.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jaipur rugs