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I bought a West Elm rug about six weeks ago (not the one you want, but not too different from it); I'm satisfied. I recommend a good rug pad; I got the superior pad from Pottery Barn - definitely worth the money for a thicker, more comfortable base. I expect it will hold up decently (but I am both kid and pet free) for several years.

i was reading the linked post on rugs a minute ago and, as much as it stinks to admit it, i can't even afford 200 bucks for a rug. i bought two from target when i got my first apartment out of highschool, and, to say the least, i am reallllllly tired of the college style. what i want is natural colored rugs, with little or no design (preferably vines or leaves) for under 200.

DON'T BUY IT. I bought a rug from West Elm over a year ago because of pressure from a neighbor over noise issues. I figured, what the he**, it's only $200 and we needed something fast. For over a year, we still cannot get rid of the smell emitted from the fibers. The warmer our apt. gets, the stronger the smell. I am about to throw it out. I wouldn't even offer it to someone because it would be like giving something that's rotten to someone without telling them. Spend more money, wait, or shop around more.

Well, I own several rugs from West Elm AND have a well-developed sense of smell, and the previous comment doesn't fit with my experience. The rugs I've purchased from West Elm are all excellent values.

I've had a west elm rug for a year, and have liked it--I didn't have any smell issues, (and I have the world's most sensitive nose) though it did shed for the couple months, as pretty much any wool rug will. Of course, I'm tired of the style now, so if anyone wants to buy a 5x8 Links rug in brown (like this one: http://chicago.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/rugs-carpets/best-craigslist-score-011491), holla!

my girlfriend bought one from West Elm a year ago and it is still shedding. Good rugs do not shed....

About 6 months ago I bought the Botanical runner in Espresso/sterling to use in my entry hall. With lots of foot traffic, backpacks, piles of shoes, and cats (& hair balls) - it is still holding up well and overall looks great. We vacuum it every week and for the hair balls have used a "SpotBot". I haven't had any problems with smell or shedding.

Thanks for all of your comments! I was really going back and forth between this West Elm rug and the Ella Rug from Chiasso. I've noticed that many people have had problems with rug shedding, so maybe I'm saving money here just to spend it on a good vacuum...

Some West Elm rugs emit toxic fumes, that's the smell. I bought an Ombre rug made in China from West Elm, and noticed a very strong smell when I opened the package. It made me sick within days of putting it in my bedroom. West Elm is taking it back and refunding my money. On the other hand, I have another West Elm rug that does not smell and seems to have been made differently.

About the rugs with a bad smell, you should read the threads on Apartmentherapy about "smelly" Pottery Barn rugs. The pile is glued with latex that breaks down and emits very toxic fumes. If you have a "smelly" rug, I suggest you get rid of it immediately.

That Pottery Barn, West Elm and other companies sell these rugs without testing them for toxicity is a scandal, a failure of proper regulation, and a case of gross corporate irresponsibility.