We’ve been searching on and off for about a year for the right rug that could handle kitchen mishaps, traffic and a whole lot of cooking. So many runners look beautiful in pictures but are just for staging. They aren’t for working kitchens. We are pretty serious cooks. This runner is very low pile which is very important for a kitchen. No one wants to trip on a thick rug with a knife in hand! It’s poly and easy to spot clean. This was huge for us. I love wool rugs, but not for the kitchen. It was about a third of the price of others we looked at on higher end home sites but looks just as good. Thanks go to the wonderful reviews and pictures that helped us make the decision and give it a chance. We couldn’t be happier. If you need help on one color in the rug in particular, our island cabinetry is Sherwin Williams Oceanside and the blue in the rug blends perfectly with it.