how did i not know this? overstock.com ships to australia!
Seriously, I thought I was kind of in the know about these kinds of things, but clearly I am not. I guess my ability to know helpful things ahead of the pack vanished with my organisational skills, patience and "me time". Anyway, while ignoring my half-painted bedroom the other day and instead looking at the #livedinerest hashtag (a Country Road and Great Dane Furniture competition), I stumbled upon a lovely faux Moroccan Beni Ourain rug in someone's living room that looked just like the Rugs USA one, above in Bri Emery's living room, and below, in Jen Pinkston's family room.
Rugs USA don't ship to Australia - I know this because I've checked several times in the past year or so because I was very keen on that particular rug. Instead I had my heart set on the West Elm Souk Wool Rug with the tassles (below, in Emily Henderson's living room) until Steve vetoed it with a rather impressive list of things he didn't like about it - most of which involved the fact he thought it looked like a child had scribbled on it. Oh. How DARE husbands have a say in these things....
Anyway, in my earnest attempts at winning him over with Pinterest searches of real Beni Ourain rugs and "this is the look I'm going for"statements, he pointed to one of them in the classic diamond shape (below, via Danielle Oakey Interiors - I am assuming that is the real deal) and said he didn't mind that. "Don't mind it" can be kind of twisted into "I love it just as much as you, babe". So I will take that and run with it - back to my original rug plan. And back to my hastag procrastination - I asked the instagrammer where she bought her rug and she answered Overstock.com. At first I assumed she was in the states, but then I realised not so - she was Australian too and so unless she'd smuggled it back in a suitcase on a recent trip, then Overstock shipped to Australia. A few clicks later and I discovered that not only did they ship here, the shipping is VERY nicely priced. Twenty-five-ish bucks for a rug to be delivered to my door in a week from another country? Nice. (Slight side note: the cost of mail in this country is appalling. I once sent 4 magazines overseas. It cost me $40 in postage. And I hate websites with a flat-rate of $12.95 and all you want to buy is a giant balloon that would fit in an envelope.)
So anyhoo, many hours later browsing the site and ooohing at all the cool patterned rugs I now have access to, I still kept going back to that diamond shape one, aka Handmade Moroccan Trellis Wool Shag Rug. And I wish this story had a happy ending, but it doesn't (yet). I've been told I'm not allowed to get pretty things yet until we have actually done some hard work. Gah. How dare he be so sensible sometimes... So, in my twisted little mind I've devised a plan - I want that rug in my living room. BUT. The bedroom is actually going somewhere soooo, if when the bedroom is complete I can say "ta-da! It's finished but we just need a rug in here" and BOOM. Hopefully it'll be sold. To me. And not sold out, which it may well be after I share this (most likely old) news on here, now. I'm trusting you all to leave me one though ok? And then, you know, there is nothing stopping me from maybe rearranging rooms here and there in the near future, right?!
In the interest of those who are also out of the loop, here are some funky, affordable rug options for you. That overdyed turquoise one is coming a close second to my beni-alike. And don't think Overstock.com is just about rugs. Oh no. That is all I was really obsessed with at the time as I find affordable rugs hard to find here. And I certainly couldn't bring myself to put something worth thousands of dollars on the ground for my (almost four!!!!!!) children to go trampling all over. I can't do precious in this house. So I haven't had even had a chance to have a proper look through the site yet (though I am assuming there are going to be big bulky items that won't be able to be shipped internationally), but I do know you can get pretty much anything on there - furniture, homewares, electrical (not really recommended for international buyers as we have different plugs), clothing, health and beauty, jewellery... There is also a handmade section called Worldstock Fair Trade selling beautiful items and benefitting various artisans from around the world. So if shopping for the pretty things isn't incentive to get working harder and faster, then I don't know what is :)
Did you know Overstock shipped to Australia? Have you bought from them before? What do you think of the selection above - anything tickle your fancy?