Show us a picture of your space - and how about a needlepoint?

I think the rough texture seems pretty country, and country French is pretty much what you say it is, baring black leather and chrome disco lights. Why would a latex backing hurt a wood floor?

DO NOT get a rug with a rubber or latex backing, IMHO. I had a wool oriental-style rug from Tuesday Morning. I noticed a smell like old foam rubber whenever I was in the area. I thought there was a problem with the suede chairs that were sitting on it. Finally one day, I noticed lumps in the rug. I flipped it over, slit the backing just a little bit where the lumps were, and a white powder came out. It was decomposed latex backing! The rug was just a little over a year old and had not been exposed to excessive heat/light or anything of that sort...at least after I bought. What happened before that, I have no idea. Tuesday Morning explained that the rug was tufted and the latex had been applied to the back to secure the tufting. It was then covered with a burlap-ish lining. TM gave me a partial refund. Considering I did not have a receipt, I thought that was generous. But I will never buy a tufted rug, a latex backed rug (except maybe a bath mat) or one that I cannot see the back of again!

I can verify that some rubber backed rugs damage hardwood. I have a braided jute rug which has some kind of rubber back over prefinished Braz Cherry. The hardwood under the rug has developed wavy bumps also. And this rug does not have any furniture over it either. It doesn't bother me because I want my new floors to age but I wanted to put a warning out there.

I have a Sisal rug in my French Country LR (no photo right now, but I might be able to take one later). It sits on my hardwood floor - no rubber backing on the rug itself, but I did put one of those non-slip rug pads underneath it. I got it from Restoration Hardware about a year or so ago. I love it in the room - it really does tone down the formailty a bit, but still seems in keeping with the FC style. Mine has the black border. Good luck

Here is a link that might be useful: Dorian Sisal Rug from RH

I love the look of sisal in a room, I think it would look great with french country (my favorite style). My problem is the feel, it's so rough I wouldn't want to walk on it in my bare feet. Ask your designer to show one to you before you let her buy it, this is one product you have to touch to know if you can live with it or not. Maybe it's going in a room where you always have your shoes one, then it would probably be OK. They make rugs out of softer materials, not quite the same as sisal but close in appearance and more importantly, without the discomfort. It also stains and can't be cleaned... or so I hear.

There are cautions for putting the rubber materials on wood floors. Check with your hardwood manufacturer.

Here is a seagrass rug in my LR. We don't use this room very often, but, I echo flyingflower about natural fiber rugs not being very comfortable. It is not comfy on barefeet! But, I love the look! Mine came from Homegoods at a very good price!

Thanks for you comments. I would love to see more pictures of your sisal rugs, and/or any other rugs you consider French Country, as well as your experiences as to their barefoot quality (I'm a real country girl).

I am partial to needlepoint:

Seagrass or sisal rugs seem to be very hot right now. They are in all the mags these days. I do love the look, but not in love with the upkeep of sisal or the feel of either. I'd love to find a great copycat in nylon, but doubt it exists. The softness I'm wanting is just what would destroy that casual, beachy ambiance these rugs impart. But to the OP I'd say, yes, absolutely. I fell in love with a den in a gorgeous design house that had wall to wall sisal with a Persian on top....casually elegant.

Beachgirl - I can't remember what catalogs I've seen them in, but try a rug that is rated for indoor/outdoor..They have this look but are soft to the feet and can be washed or hosed down and don't have a rubber backing since they are really meant to stay outside. I want to say it was in a garden catalog or maybe Smith and Hawkins or Ballard Design or something. I am interested in them because I've gone thru many "car" rugs for kids and now he's beyond this but they save my carpet and now it's time for an upgrade and this is the way I'll go since I want to be able to hose them/scrub them but I want the look that you are talking about. My house is part country french, part cottage so I think I can envision what you mean. If I think of it or come across it, I will track this post down & get you the info.

There are many wool or nylon rugs out there that mimick the look of sisal if you are concerned about the comfort factor. That might be another option. I think Karastan also makes a sisal look carpet. Here's a good read about sisal, referred to as "the little black dress of rugs".

Here is a link that might be useful: sisal

Yvette, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your room so much I think I'll scream!!!