"On HGTV they were doing a remodel, and I remember them asking if the owners were hiding a carpet stain because the rug was on a carpeted area" Wow, what a pompous ass. I wonder if the point was they had never heard of layering carpets for color and texture and pattern (done since rugs were invented), or just that they wanted a chance to sneer at the homeowners for the benefit of the viewers at home? This is why, IMHO, HGTV is near worthless for ideas: hours and hours of broadcast time wasted on young, tragically hip kids fresh out of school who, despite "designing" exactly like every other young, tragically hip kid fresh out of school, have somehow managed to get a *television show*, so they're convinced they're *special*. Pffffft. Rug over carpet is fine, your biggest problem will be keeping it in place, *not* whether or not it's going to look "right". If it's for the living room, I'd recommend getting one big enough to put the edges under the legs ofthe furniture, anchoring it down. Match the colors, keep it in proportion and it'll look great.

I would guess about the same. I'd recommend a low pile with a rug pad so all the doors don't shift the rug around. Best thing is to purchase a few different rugs and try the out.

Honestly, I think part of the issue is the âÂÂline-em-upâ way the seating is arranged. It leaves a huge blank space in the middle of the room. Would you consider putting the loveseat in front of the window, and the couch at a right angle to it? I realize that they canâÂÂt be abutting one another, because of the reclining. But I think you can move the couch down toward the loveseat a bit. That is also why you donâÂÂt want a coffee table. I know from personal experience that it is always in the way with a couch with recliners. I would move the black cabinet to the wall space to the right of the curtains where the chair is now, if it will fit. Then rehang the two pictures centered between the drapery and the corner of the wall, not between the drapery and the light switch. A lamp on there would be nice. I would find a larger round table to sit in the corner between the two reclining seating pieces. Another lamp on there. The small chair could go to the left of the tv, with a small table beside it, near the stairs, another lamp there. If the chair goes near the tv, then I would use the floor lamp in the corner nearest the dining room, to the right of the couch, and another small table there. I think once you move things around and have the furniture out into the space a bit more, you will find you donâÂÂt need anything there, and will leave the open space for traffic and kids.

I'm not a fan of the quartz for flooring either. I don't see why you can't use marble. But you want to be careful of the shine and the texture. Shiny, flat floors, esp those without a lot of grout, can get very slippery very quickly with a damp shoe or even a high heel. They look beautiful, but not so much up close and personal after you've slipped and hit your head.