Young House Love

Home Decorating & DIY Tutorials

| By | | 420 Comments

A Rug For The Kitchen

Our new kitchen rug has arrived! Yes, it was actually something we ordered online, which is somewhat nerve-wracking since finding a rug for this spot has proven difficult so far (although we have had success with online rug orders before). But based on what we learned from our little rug fashion show, we were pretty confident that we’d figured out the winning formula. At least we were hopeful…

UrbanRug Gray Plus Pattern

The “winning” rug was actually from Urban Outfitters. The color, pattern, and price were all great – so we thought we’d give it a shot. With a spring discount code they were running, it came to just $69 with shipping – which is obviously a lot cheaper than a 5 x 7′ wool rug, which most likely have been around $125+.

UrbanRug Screenshot

We also thought a flat weave would be better for our kitchen (no worrying about food being mashed into a plush wool rug). And as for why we went with that size, we tried a few different rug sizes before ordering (we have many different sized rugs on hand, and preferred it the most in that space). Anything bigger/wider interfered with the stools being pulled out, and anything shorter/smaller felt oddly tiny – like a bath mat in the middle of the room.

So without further ado – here it is!

UrbanRug 1 From Hallway11

We did put a nice thick rug pad under it (from Target for about $30) which not only helps it stay in place (it doesn’t move or slide an inch, even when Clara and Burger are charging around after each other) and it also gives it some nice cushion. We took these pictures just a day after it arrived, so some of the lines from where it was folded are still there – but if it’s like our other flatweaves, those will work their way out as time goes on.

UrbanRug 3 From Dining11

We think it looks pretty darn awesome. It does exactly what we’d hoped (defines the area as a living space without having a color or pattern that’s too demanding – especially since we’ll be adding in more color by painting the stools). The scallop is a nice simple pattern without being too in-your-face (because no one likes an in-your-face scallop…).

UrbanRug 2 From Living11

See how from the other side of the kitchen it’s really sort of soft and subtle? We just wanted something that didn’t scream “look at me! I’m a rug! Focus all of your attention on me!” and instead just sort of slipped in for a nice layered look. I guess we’d rather gaze at the wall of penny tile or the hallway of frames or the over-sized pendants over the peninsula or the open shelves by the stove – ya know?

UrbanRug 4 From Stove11

And in a weird way, the roundness of the rug pattern kinda echoes the gray penny tile backsplash on the other side of the room – which actually brings some pretty sweet balance to this 25′ looong room of ours:

Grout After Stove Close

Kinda penny tile-ish, right?

UrbanRug Top Detail

Another reason we’re happy to have a rug there is to give Clara a little play space. Granted these days a lot of her playing involves running around, but we still find her sitting in this area of the house flipping through a book or dancing to the radio (sometimes while wearing a tutu and three headbands). So it’s nice that the area is soft, but not so plush that we’ve gotta worry about crumbs and junk getting stuck in some dense rug forest.

UrbanRug Toy Detail

As for Burger, he doesn’t really care too much about the rug as long as he still has a pillow to curl up on.

UrbanRug Burger Pillow

So, long rug story short – I think we’re sold. We’ve found our kitchen rug!

UrbanRug Flower Detail11

We do LOVE a showstopping rug (like the one in our living room and bedroom) but I think this more subtle tone-on-tone guys is just the ticket. And as a little bit of a epilogue to this story, we thought we’d show you one other little update that we made in the dining room – a sort of a mini “Dude Get On That” assignment, if you will. We finally hung the art that I made John for Christmas. Yup, just five months later. Haha. Here it is catching a mad reflection from the front window:

UrbanRug Dining From Door11

Oh and don’t mind the baggy brown chair covers that are back on our dining room chairs. We put them on when we brought them outside for Clara’s party (for an easy-wash surface to avoid stains) and just have been too lazy to take them off. So yeah, we haven’t even washed them yet. Haha.

Anyway, here’s a better view of the Chrstmas art that we finally got on the wall:

UrbanRug Dining Straight On11

It’s hung right above a little cabinet (it’s actually a nightstand) that we bought from Joss & Main last year that has kinda been floating around the house in various spots for the past six months. Remember we mentioned it here and you got a peek of it here? Well, it seems to keep ending up back on this wall, so for now we’re calling that his home. Can’t guarantee he’ll be there forever though, haha. You know us…

Since the art consists of a bunch of boy scout badges that I scanned, printed, and matted into a grid, I also made a key in a separate frame (to explain that John deserved badges like “Personal Fitness” for being a runner and “Rowing” for taking me kayaking a couple of times – more on that here). So that’s what the smaller frame that you see leaning on the wall below it is all about.

UrbanRug Dining Detail

Hmm, I’m not sure how this post went from scalloped rugs to kayaking, but I think you’re all filled in. Next up: a big painted stool reveal. Oh yeah, baby. We’re closer than you think. As in, this is your 24 hour notice. Haha. What have you guys been doing with rugs? Any online ordering? Any searches for something softer that layers into a room instead of a bold guy who becomes the focal point? We can definitely appreciate both approaches to rug hunting, in fact it’s pretty fun to have a few makes-the-room rugs and a few best-supporting-actors, so I recommend a diverse cast of rugs, haha.

Comments

  1. Blair R says

    I love the rug! It’s perfect! I also love where you have the night stand, and the photos. Oh, and that shot of the penny tile literally made me say, “Mmmm…penny tile” out loud! haha

    Reply

  2. Esther says

    Looks great! And I love that you guys went for a cheaper rug from a less pricey source – keeping it real!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks Esther! We definitely have a mishmash of super inexpensive items and some other guys we save up for (when you love something sometimes it’s worth waiting a few months or even a year to save up and take it home!).

      xo,
      s

  5. Yulia says

    “because no one likes an in-your-face scallop” Bwahahaha!!!
    You guys just made my day!!! By the way, the rug totally looks penny tile-ish. Great job!!! p.s. For those of us totally obsessed with every nook and cranny of your house, what’s inside the dresser drawers? Is that too creepy a question? Sorry…

    Reply

  7. Rad Designing says

    Love your final choice! I’ve been drooling over UO rugs for a while so definitely update us on how it holds up! Also love the nightstand in the dining room – definitely adds a nice touch (and doesnt look like a night stand!)

    POST ABOUT YOUR PORCH ALREADY! Cant wait to see it!! I’m giddy! Can’t imagine how excited you guys are!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Wait, do you mean our deck? Haha, it looks the same as on Monday! We’re waiting on the wood delivery to arrive and it has been raining so we’re hoping later in the week they’ll come and then the weather will clear up so we can get to work! We hope to have an update by Monday for ya!

      xo,
      s

  8. Amanda says

    Whoa! For a second there, when I saw the third photo from the bottom I thought, “Hang on, whose house is this?!” I was genuinely confused as I don’t think I’ve ever seen a shot of the hallway/kitchen/dining room from that angle before. Everything looks sooooo good!

    Reply

  11. Nora Rose says

    Love it! I love to see all the different types of rugs. Did you Scotchguard (or the eco-equivalent) it for use in the kitchen? I always worry about spills on light rugs.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We actually didn’t! We had a rug in our first kitchen and didn’t do anything to seal it so I guess we’re just crossing our fingers that it’ll stay pretty clean with regular vacuuming and spot cleaning if we have any accidents!

      xo,
      s

  12. Julia says

    I saw this rug a few days ago and I *almost* got it, but alas, I realized that I really need an 8×10 rather than a 5×7. But seriously, I was crushing so bad on this rug that I spent 1/2 a day trying to talk myself into making a 5×7 rug work. :(

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Aw man, I wish stores made rugs in more sizes! We always see things in a slightly bigger or smaller size that we love! Hope the right rug finds you asap, though!

      xo,
      s

  14. Katie V. says

    I sense a (maybe accidental?) sea theme here: scalloped rug, clam shell in the fire place, and the swimmer picture in the kitchen. Love it! What a great price, too!

    Reply

  15. Meg says

    Love the rug choice! random but what photoshop product do you guys use-I’m shopping around. Thanks!

    Reply

  16. Jamie says

    I am SO happy you got that rug because its one I was eyeing for our house but I read some reviews that said it slipped around a ton and I was worrying that it would move around a lot, especially when vacuuming. You think the rug pad fixes that? You can’t beat the price.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Yes, so far with our nice thick Target rug pad (don’t skimp and get a thin one since they don’t do much) so far we’re really happy with it!

      xo,
      s

  19. sarah says

    looks awesome!

    I have a similar chevron rug in our playroom that i purchased from urban outfitters.

    http://lalalandhusser.blogspot.com/2012/04/desk-playroom-and-lots-of-orange-stuff.html

    I love the look, but as Im sure you have realized its quite a pain on hardwood floors. slpping, bunching, etc. i tried the typical rug stick pad underneath, but in high traffic areas, you have to have something a little more reliable and sturdy.

    I purchased this bad boy off Ebay…
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/280821755904?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_500wt_1156

    worked perfect! hold the rug in place, and adds padding making it a lot more comfortable to sit on. worth the money.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I love that tip! We got an extra thick rug pad from Target (it sort of looks like little foam-rubber pillows) and it keeps our rug totally in place! Even when Clara and Burger are zooming around. So necessary to find a good pad for flat weave rugs!

      xo,
      s

  20. Brianna says

    I’m guilty of negatively critiquing your choice of the cork floor, but I’m going to make up for that now by saying: YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! That rug could not be more perfect for the space! I can easily see why you love it. Great job!

    Reply

  21. Lisa says

    I like the pattern on the rug, but beware of Urban Outfitters’ rugs in general. I ordered one a few months back and it is not washable and when I tried to spot clean it, the colors bled. It was overall crappy quality. I hope you have better luck!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Thanks for the tip Lisa! Someone else asked about bleeding issues (apparently some rugs have more of an issue with that). Here’s hoping ours doesn’t!

      xo,
      s

  22. Melanie says

    It’s perfect! I actually said that out loud in my house. Sad for me, great for you! The picture from the dining room looking into the kitchen with a glimpse of the hallway shows how much you guys have done! Looks overall awesome.

    Reply

  23. Elle says

    How do you keep white kitchen cabinets clean in general? And how do you keep them clean with little fingers in the house?

    I LOVE the look and am 23 days away from closing on my first home so I’m itching to try my hand at home improvement, but I’m scared the white cabinets will constantly show fingerprints!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We just wipe them down when we spill something or see a smear (maybe spending three minutes a week wiping a peanut butter drip or a jelly hand print?). It’s definitely not high maintenance though! By nature white cabinets look clean so they probably help our kitchen look bright and clean since they’re that color!

      xo,
      s

  27. Monika says

    I love the new rug. You guys are the best at finding great and stylish home decor at good prices. A good rug at a good price can be very hard to find! We searched for months before finally finding ours.

    Reply

  28. Amber R says

    It looks great! I just ordered the grey herringbone rug from them a few days ago, and can’t wait for it to come! Glad to hear about the Target rug pad, I’ll have to check that out.

    Reply

  29. Pam the Goatherd says

    The rug looks great!
    I’ve never been a rug person, maybe because I’ve always lived in small houses/apartments with wall-to-wall carpeting and didn’t see a need for a rug, nor did I want to chop up the floor with a different pattern/color. We’re going to be putting solid surface wood flooring in our kitchen and living room this summer. This will replace carpeting in the living room, so I’m thinking I may decide to get a rug to keep my tootsies warm on cold winter days. But since the entire space is only 12x14ft I’m still not sure about that. I might just stick to wearing my Hello Kitty socks around the house through the winter.

    Reply

  31. Katie says

    Love the rug! Congrats on finding just the right one; what a great feeling! The room looks fantastic. And I love the artwork! You guys rock!

    Reply

  33. Lynds says

    I totally just bought a gray and white rug from overstock this morning! I looked at the UO one (I’ve been stalking Gray and white for a while) but I wasn’t sure how it’d hold up (our living room is high traffic area). This morning I decided today was THE DAY so we chose between a Surya from Rue La La or the Overstock one. Overstock was half the price and I had a coupon so it won.. but I’m worried it’s too dark. So let us know how that one holds up becuase if my overstock one is too light the one you guys got or the chevron is def on my radar! Excellent choice!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      OH yes, get the thickest one they sell! We had to cut it down a bit with a scissors (I think it was 5 x 8 instead of 5 x 7) but so plush!

      xo,
      s

  35. Kayla says

    the rug looks SO GOOD! it is perfect for the space. I always have such a hard time finding great ones, but there it is! the cabinet vignette on that wall looks wonderful too.. love it all!

    Reply

  36. Allison says

    Just a heads up- I have one of those UO rugs and in less than a year it has faded inconsistently and gotten some pulls in it (which is unexpected since it’s a flat weave). I think it’s because I don’t always secure the corners completely while vacuuming so the vacuum creates wear & tear. Sometimes my husband stands with his feet on 2 corners & I stand with my feet on the other 2 and we vacuum like that. Your rug is perfect in your kitchen, by the way!

    Reply

  37. Patty says

    I’ve never commented on a blog before, but I’ve never seen a rug in a picture and said aloud to myself, “Oooh that looks good!” So to make me feel less weird, I thought I’d tell you… Oooh, that looks good!

    Reply

  39. Sarah says

    I agree, that rug is definitely the winner! I think the warm tone to that grey is the perfect shade. It just really seems to tie the greys in the room in with the color of the walls. Also I don’t know how I’ve missed mention of that Joss & Main “Nightstand” but I seriously love it and want it (it would go fabulously with the new bed frame & headboard we just bought)

    Reply

  41. Becca says

    I love that nightstand/cabinet! I have been looking for something similar for our front hallway. My husband likes the apothecary cabinet look, but they are crazy expensive, so I have been on the hunt for something sort of kind of that style.

    Reply

  42. Theresa says

    Ah, the rug is perfect!! Having said that, I HOPE you guys keep the stools in their original finish. They look perfect with the tile and rug now.

    Reply

  43. Jen Wilhelm says

    Oh my goodness, I MUST have that rug! My entire house is laminate wood and I don’t have a single rug except for the bathroom rugs. >.< This one would be perfect in my living room! Great choice, guys!

    Reply

  44. Josie says

    Hi! I’m thinking about ordering that rug in green for our nursery…but have a question. What’s it like to vacuum? Does it get sucked into the vacuum as you go or does it stay on the floor? I hate vacuuming small area rugs that just get sucked in and I wanted to see if this was like that since its a thinner rug. Thanks!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We haven’t vacuumed it yet, but we heard from someone who said she and her hubby stand on either side of it (one foot on each corner) and it helps them vacuum it. If it gets sucked up and is annoying I think we’ll just shake it outside like we used to do with our jute rugs. Will keep you posted!

      xo
      s

  46. Maya Kuhn says

    I’ve been looking for a rug for our nursery and our colors are yellow and grey…so I think this rug may be just the ticket! Is it soft enough for a baby to roll around on?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      Oh yes, it’s 100% cotton. I’d say it feels a lot like a dish towel actually! Definitely get a nice thick rug pad so it doesn’t slip all over and hopefully you’ll be in business!

      xo,
      s

  48. Alisa says

    Perfect, seriously perfect! You two definetly have the knack for knowing what you want and finding it. The cabinet and print are just right, too!

    Reply

  49. Sava says

    Has no one mentioned rug gripper? I used it for runners in the hallway and also our dhurrie rug in the kitchen. Makes vacuuming so much easier. There was a little residue left when I pulled it up from the slate tile floor, but it came off easily with some rubbing alcohol on a cottonball. I purchased it from sears.com, but you can also get it from amazon.

    Reply

  50. Abilu says

    The rug has a powerful ability to draw me closer to the fireplace and deeper into your home. Kudos on the placement! I suspect it would have a dramatically different feel if the scallops were facing the other direction.

    Reply

Stuff We Love

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *