Thursday, March 12, 2009

Made in the Shades (of Light)

The fine folks over at Shades of Light are my new BFF. If I was Rudy, they would be Notre Dame. If I was an old person, they would be Depends. If I was Brad Pitt, they would be Jen...doh!...I mean, Angelina!!! You get the point.



What is Shades of Light? Besides being Katie's Best Friend Forever, they are the cat's meow provider of lighting, rugs and furniture. Just look at some of these amazing lighting fixtures:

Lurve me tender! Uber cute, no?! And the goosebumps don't stop there - the SOL items are actually quality stuff...totally 'investment' pieces. No, I don't often recommend spending a boo-coo of money on home decor items but in this case, loosen those purse strings! Not only will this stuff last the test of time in quality and general wear and tear but also in design. So your purchase is well worth the money.

So why are they my BFF? I am so glad you asked.

When they heard about my kitchen rug debacle, they swooped in to save the day. They actually offered me a rug! (insert bootie dance here!) And their fabulous design team already picked out some options! One word - "Moderndaysuperheroes".

As many of you know, I love it when you guys vote on stuff for me. Mostly because I get option paralysis...diner menus are the worst (too many choices!) but also because all ten of you have super-fabulous taste! Soooo this rug choice is going to be put into your very able hands. Here is the photo of the too-much-wood-ain't-so-good space:




Now please put on your design hats and pick me a kitchen rug! Here are the options:

Option #1 is the Happy Trellis Rug. Ya'll know how much I love me some green...and this brisk colored plush baby is totally punchy and comfy to boot. Available in three colors :)


The Variegated Round Braid rug is the second option. With it's happening combo of colors done in a practical polypropylene, this option is a breeze to clean (prime time kitchen rug!)


Last but certainly not least, is the Soho Dhurri rug. This is similar in design to my too-small-Pottery-Barn rug but in a rugged and durable dhurri weave. Although it is not as plush as many rugs, the nubbly texture and the yummy yellow color make it quite the contender.


So there you have it...the battle of the century. Even bigger than the one over Brad Pitt. Dear friends help me out by voting. Whatever you choose will be the rug I will live with forever :) I realize that a few of you may not be in the mood to de-lurk, so I thought I could give a little something to you too - here is the Shades of Light Blog. So now you can add that sucker to your reader and continue your lurk-dom!

And because those fine folks at Shades of Light are being so generous, I also decided to pay it forward.

For each vote I get, I am going to donate $1 to Locks of Love (up to $250). They provide hairpieces to bald kids who lost their hair due to medical illness. I know several little girls who suffered from cancer and losing their hair was excruciating. I figure I am getting a rug, so should they :) And it is all thanks to Shades of Light.

57 comments:

Unknown said...

I say Option #3 is my fav!!

Anonymous said...

#3!!! I love the yellow and the print. It would look amazing in your kitchen.

And I love Locks of Love - I've donated my hair to them twice. :)

Unknown said...

I love option #2!

I also love your blog :)

slip4 said...

Coming out of lurkdom to tell you that I favor rug numero uno. Looks like I am alone so far. It's my favorite! (I think the yellow is beautiful, but it will show stains badly. I am always dropping/dripping something on my kitchen floor.) Good luck!

Beth Ann said...

I like option #1. That's great that you are paying it forward!

Molly Darling said...

I love me some green, but my vote is for #3- I loved the golden yellow of the PB rug, and this is similar.

Emily said...

I love option 1 for your space - I think you need a rectangular rug there. But if you don't mind, I'm totally thinking of stealing 2 or something similar for my own kitchen rug dilemma - rectangles don't work in our imperfect kitchen and it's the first round rug I've liked.

Stacy said...

I have had a love affair with Shades of Lights for years now! I love #3, but in a kitchen, no way...stain city. So I say go for #2. The shape is fun and unexpected and I love the colors.

abby said...

I LOVE option 2 and it looks like it'd be great for a kitchen.

KaitlynRae said...

Okay... I was so going to post on Shades of Light. They are fantastic! They're offering you a rug! Lucky you. Well, I love #1. Or maybe #3. Hmmm... This is why I requested a catalog so I can drool over it all. #3!!

Jen said...

Ooohhh!! Number 1!! So cute. It would bring a new color dimension to your kitchen!! Then again... Number 3 is cute too... number 2 is also...
Good Luck!

Anonymous said...

I vote for 3 because I loved how the yellow one looked before except that it was too small. The larger one will look so great, and I think I read that yellow makes people hungry, so it's perfect in a kitchen!

Anonymous said...

i say #1

Freckles Chick said...

This is the sweetest thing I've seen in a very long time, Katie!!

I LOVE option #1 in th fresh green color.

K Lynne Designs said...

I love #2! :)

Audieb said...

I love #3!!

Diana said...

#1 all the way. That color is yummy, as is the patt-er-in!

Anonymous said...

Delurking to say yes to number 1!!

Anonymous said...

I vote for #1! Nothing like a clean, mean, green, floor machine, unless Shrek's sleeping on your kitchen floor! If so, vacate the house immediately!

XOXO

Lurker still in hiding!

Jen said...

Love Locks of Love (I've donated 10-12 inch ponytails to them twice) so I'll put my vote in - Love the green one! I guess that's #1. The yellow (#3?) is lovely too.

Lovely Little Nest said...

The yellow rug from Pottery Barn is my absolute FAVORITE (I believe thisyounghouse has one in their living room?), so I'm going to have to vote for its look-alike, option #3!

Random fact for you: 7 years ago, I chopped 15 inches of hair off and gave it to Locks of Love :) So it makes me extra happy that I'm helping send a little more their way!

kari said...

I love option #3, I'm so into yellow this year.

it is everlasting said...

Option 2!!! :) What a generous way you will be paying it forward! I donated my hair to locks of love last March.

###### said...

2

Anonymous said...

I like the cleanability of number 2, but I'm not convinced that a circle would work best there. I love the color of number 3, and the way the yellow of the previous rug looked with the darker wood floors and cabinets. Plus, yellow inspires creativity in the kitchen! Number 3 is a winner for me.

Oh, and last Thanksgiving I chopped off 11 inches of my hair for Pantene's Great Lengths. Its not Locks of Love, it provides wigs to women, but they're both wonderful causes!

claire @ a peachtree city life said...

I really really like Option 1.

But 3 is nice as well :)

I agree, you need a rectangular one in there, although 2 is very cute.

BTW - I love their white chandelier in the header :)

Evie said...

I think I'm going to go with number 3 as well, because I love that it's a rectangle and I LOVE the yellow. I see the concerns about it staining easily though... but I still pick #3. :)

The Fabulous Side of Me said...

I think #3 would look great, not to dark against the wood floor.

Anonymous said...

Option 3! It will be a nice pop of color!

Anonymous said...

Option 3!!!!

Anonymous said...

Option #1!

The Upstart said...

A) Shades of Light rocks! Virginians get to go to a showroom and two outlets!

B) Lock of Love is a scam. They don't make wigs for sick kids. They sell donated hair to raise money for their promotional work. In 10 years, they made as many wigs as they could make with the number of donations they get in one month.

I only learned this after donating 20 inches of thick, never processed, red hair that I grew out for four years. The next time I cut my hair, I sold it myself and donated $450 to a charity I knew would put the money to better use.

Read these blog entries (Charity Navigator's president's blog) and then do some googling.

http://www.trentstampstake.org/search/label/Locks%20of%20Love

Dusty @AllThingsG+D said...

Oh wow--that so neat that Shades of Light is doing that!! I don't think you can go wrong with any of those options, Katie! And I love that you're paying it forward, too. I made the "big cut" and donated 15" of my own hair a couple summers ago! It was quite the change, but for a good cause!

Mrs. 5C said...

#1! But I'm always partial to green. :)

Amber B. said...

I'm de-lurking to vote for # 1. :-)

Anonymous said...

I love #1, but I'm always a big fan of green. I think it would look great with the wood in your kitchen.

Kelly said...

I love #3!

Kim @ NewlyWoodwards said...

That is so AHHHmazing that they came up with those options. My favorite is the option #1 - the green one is dahvine.

Can't wait to see it come together.

And, way to go Bower Power for donating to LOL. You are so generous.

Anonymous said...

Option #2 is the best!

SAB said...

I really like #1, and I really like this post. My favorite line, "I figure I am getting a rug, so should they!"

Unknown said...

That's so nice of Shades of Light! I live in Richmond so I can shop them locally... lucky me. :)

My vote is for #1... but #2 is a close second.

Anonymous said...

i love green, so #1 is my pick!
tammi

Anonymous said...

That's so awesome! Number 1 all the way. Or 3. Hmm. Either one is fabulous. Heck, they're all fabulous.

Can't wait to meet the winner in person...

Anonymous said...

Love the post...This looks Fabulous! Thanks so much for including us! My vote is for the Yellow Dhurri!

Anonymous said...

I love all 3 rugs. I love the cleaning ability of #2. The coloration is fresh. Definitely between #2 and #3!

USANDCO said...

I'm going to think of ol' Jer in this vote =) I know he likes his matchy-matchy, so I'm going with the green one to "match" your green accents in your living room. Just looking out for a brotha'.
(But I love them all)
-Steph

Anonymous said...

I am definitely voting for option #1 - the happy rug!

Cheryl said...

I'm in love with Option #1. I might even have to buy it - I've been looking for a rug just like that!

queenbee said...

I love them all, but I vote for option #1 because I love the pattern and my favorite color is green. I read your post about your grandmothers things and I think that it is perfectly ok for you to ask for anything that you want reagardless of whether it has "value" or not because in all honest everything is valuable to you because it was hers. I'm sure that she is impressed at how thoughtful you are and I am sure that she would love for you to use her bedroom suite, it is rather purty. Oh, stop by my blog and take look at my newest creation.

Stacy said...

New reader and LOVE your blog! So jealous about the free rug...my vote is for #3!

Anonymous said...

#3

Anonymous said...

Option 2!!!

Austin said...

My vote is for option 1. Especially if you can get it in another color.

<3
Austin

Anonymous said...

Hi honey, I got on here to leave a comment and it didn't let me before. Oh well. I hope you get this. I vote for #1. It looks like something you would pick and I know your sweet husband will keep it clean for you :)
xo - mom

Anonymous said...

Love option #1!
Beth

Taryn said...

Am I too late to vote? If not, I pick number 2.

Also, I have donated my hair twice to locks of love. I agree with your other post- while they can't be perfect- some good is better than no good. right? I stand by you and your support of locks of love.

Anonymous said...

I am not to go with which is my favorite but the different vibe you will get with each:

#1 Earthy (thinking Spring!), giving some great color without overdoing it. I think green is just a feel good color.

#2 Adding a circle will draw attention, the pattern is wow and the colors are bolder including the black line which will help the rest of the black in your kitchen, such as coutertops, accessories and such to really stand out. This one will add a punch...and then you will walk into the neutrals of the other room. This may be too much for where you are going with the other areas.

#3 This is the safe color. It is beautiful, goes with everything, will just add a some extra color but nothing major.
Michelle L