Good Morning!
-And a very early morning at that... -Yes, I'm still up...
BK - As I've discovered with Restoration Hardware and other stores/catalogs, it is usually worth the travel time and effort to go to the store in person, catalog in hand, and ask them if they have the item in stock. Of course, they will say, "Sir, that item is available only through the catalog only." Then you feign ignorance, and say, "Oh, I didn't realize that." But then continue by asking, "Would it be possible to place the order here at the store?" And, hopefully - and usually - they will say, "Yes, you may do so if you'd like." And, then hopefullly - and usually - they will say, "It should be here with our next shipment from the main warehouse." -Instead of eight weeks, the wait time is usually 2 weeks. And, best of all, since it's being shipped to the store, most of the time the S&H fees are waived. -Of course, this assumes that you will pick up the item yourself once it comes in to the store...
Eddie Bauer's various divisions, clothing and home, offer this "service", and I've even been able to order some specialty stuff from Williams-Sonoma this way too. It's worth a try if there's a Restoration Hardware store near your abode. -Or near your adobe if you happen to live in such a structure.
Now, if you happen to have a Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel or the very newish Williams-Sonoma Home near you, you can probably find very similar items at those stores. Of course, there's also Macy's and the like too.
*As I've also found out, a bunch of those "catalog only" items are not "store exclusives", and can usually be found elsewhere, so... They're just made by some third party company, and they happen to fit the product profile of the particular store(s). The company/store puts them in their catalog, but doesn't necessarily keep them on stock, in hand. When a customer orders said item(s), they contact the third party company.. and eight weeks later you have your area rug.
