One of the things I was most excited to change when we decided to take the plunge this past year and update our master bedroom was the flooring.
When we moved into this house fifteen years ago the carpet in our bedroom was already in need of being replaced but we had, as they say, bigger decorating fish to fry and somehow fifteen years passed and this same soiled and stained carpet remained.
Our original remodeling budget called for replacing the carpet with a contractor specified carpet allowance but when they pulled up this old stuff during the demolition phase we discovered some pretty sweet wood floors underneath. True, they were nearly a hundred years old and they needed to be refinished but they were definitely too nice to bury under carpet again.
We needed to find a flooring company that was reputable, affordable and would be able to work within our tight work schedule. Our builder recommended Wildwood Floors of Eastern Iowa.
Great choice. They were pleasant, easy to work with, timely, neat, and reasonably priced. If you live in the Cedar Rapids corridor area I would definitely recommend them. Our floors needed to be sanded and stained and we had one section where we needed the wood replaced. They blended the old and the new beautifully and we were thrilled with how they turned out.
A couple of weeks before the final coat was scheduled to go on the floors I began looking for rugs online. I would need two, a large rectangular one that would go in the main part of the bedroom and a runner that I would place in the short entryway off of the main hallway. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would take so much time and be such a source of frustration. First of all finding two rugs in the right color, the right dimensions, style, and fiber content was more challenging than I thought. After probably eight hours of research I finally made a choice and hit the submit button.
Unfortunately, a few days later I was notified that my choices were on back order.
Not only were we anxious to get back into our own bedroom ( we had been sleeping in the guest room for almost four months) but we also had the kids coming back for Christmas. Add in the fact that our bed is difficult to assemble and we only wanted to put it back together one time. So getting the big rug placed quickly was a priority.
I hit the internet sites for a second time and went with my second choice.
Again, a few days later, I was advised that my choice was on back order. I needed a rug and I needed it fast so back to the computer I went.
This time I went with a rug from Overstock.com because they had expedited shipping. True, it would cost me an extra ninety eight dollars but I was getting a great price on the rug so I decided it was worth it. I added to cart for a third time.
Within a few days my rug and runner arrived. I wanted to give the floors another day or two to "cure" so I only opened the runner and let it relax out in the hallway. It was striking and all seemed right with the world.
WRONG! Two days later we unfurled what was supposed to be the matching larger rug....
It didn't match.
It was the wrong rug!
Interestingly enough the rug they erroneously sent was actually my second choice, the rug that I had been told was on backorder. I liked the quality of this rug better than the runner and I was feeling the time crunch. The rest of the furniture was scheduled to be delivered, December was flying by and the kids would be home in about a week. I called Overstock and they did not have the matching runner in stock but they graciously found what I needed and directed me to Rugs Direct. So I decided to keep the large rug, returnd the runner that didn't match or coordinate well, and then placed an order with Rugs Direct for the correct runner.
Surprise! A few days later I was advised that the runner was on backorder until March.
Argh!
It was all supposed to be so simple!
Now I'm getting nervous that I will be dealing with different dye lots or with a rug that will actually never be made again. %@#!!?*!
Some of you might suggest that I use one of each pattern. I would usually be receptive to this idea and they are made by the same company but the weaves are stylistically different and I don't like them together.
My rug dilemna took over my life. Instead of enjoying the season I was back searching high and low for this stupid Cambridge runner. I eventually found a shorter runner in the same pattern. In fact, I found it at Lowes of all places. Now lacking confidence in anybody's ability to deliver, I still didn't cancel the order from Rugs Direct. By this time I won't believe I have what I need until I see it gracing my bedroom floor. So yes, I have two runners on order now.
Lowes told me that their runner would be delivered by the end of December. In the meantime I received a notice from Rugs Direct that my runner had shipped. Really? I thought it was on backorder? Are you still with me? Because I was definitely confused by this time. I've decided that which ever one gets here first is the one I'm going with.
Last night the rug came from Rugs Direct.
You will NOT believe this but it is the WRONG RUG. AGAIN?
I could not make this crap up!
This one looks exactly like the runner I sent back to Overstock two weeks ago.
A few hours later I get a phone call from Lowes telling me my runner is on backorder until March.
Of course it is.
Is it a full moon?
So for now I have this large rug that I do like in the bedroom
and I can only hope that someday I will have a matching or coordinating runner to go here...
Hey, March, when the runner is supposed to be back in stock, is only eight weeks away. At this point I'm waiting. We'll have to see if it ever really arrives or if it is back to the drawing design board for me.
Stay tuned.
xoxo,
p