A thought: rather than commit immediately sight unseen, you can order samples from Flor and they get delivered pretty fast. I just ordered some samples of wool tiles from there to consider for a new entry rug because of our new interior colors -- the samples are very moderately priced.

Why did you have to put your inspiration carpet in this post? It's gorgeous and would look great! I understand your budget, though, and guess I'm just a bit of a 'drunken sailor' today.

I'll check back when we return from buying the chairs and see what everyone else had to say.

The first pic makes that red look like orange. Would orange carpet with red bookcases work for you?

Yep, I adore that inspiration carpet too. But the other red choice is nice, I think. It's more subtle (if red can be subtle!), and would tie things together quite well.

I'm not very good at selecting patterned rugs, but would something like this that brings in the artwork colors and the red from the bookcases work?

Here is a link that might be useful: colorful rug

I love your bookcases! If you truly "just want to get it right the first time and not waste money on mistakes or interim solutions" I say if you can afford the one you're really attracted to (which is on sale now for $19.99 a tile), go for it! Yes, it would be prudent to order a sample if possible, but I think you'll be much happier in the long run. That "Twiggy" style is timeless and trendy all at once, IMO. Really.

Consider checking out red rugs on Ebay!

Go to EBay -- and then Antiques -- click on Rugs and Carpets -- OR go to search -- and then advanced search and look for the seller "pakobelrugs"

There are some marvellous rugs there in all sorts and sizes!

Jan

Seems like its so much easier to fall for the expensive ones, eh? Just once I'd like to have that inverted!

I like the Flor, but would aim for a sample since it's non-returnable. Bookcases look great in there, BTW!

Red carpet is gorgeous but not the bright red. I grew up in a Colonial home with "Colonial Red" for carpet and put the same color in my home. You'd be surprised how many colors go with that red! Now we're tearing it out and I'll be sad to see it go.

But if you can find the right red, then go for it. People are afraid of color these days, which I'm getting ready to do a topic about. lol.

I think it would be too much red. I think a multicolor to pull in all the colors would look best.

I'd take the time to order a sample of both the first and your inspiration one. I love the inspiration one.

We have Flor under our dining table and have been pleased. I have three young kids and it is the perfect product for our space.

I with everyone on the inspiration carpet? How much more is it than choice 1? I like the dark lines - they would pull in your cabinets and it also looks like a good red match to your cabinets.

I've found when you settle for something you don't really like to save a few dollars, you often spend more because you end up replacing it with something else.

Really like the red bookcases, didn't know if I would at first, but they really add some nice color to the room. Finish it off with the nice rug.

Okay gang, I got off my carcass and ordered the samples...including the inspiration choice! I think I will skip the first one. Samples are not available and it's final sale. Just too scary. And maybe too orange, too.

Mona and Jan, I like your suggestions, but I feel like I want the painting to be the eye-catcher. It is a small space and I think multi-color will be too much.

Elizgonz, I am glad to hear the Flor is holding up well. This dining area is the main pathway for the dog going to and from the back yard. Yikes!

I'll be back when the samples arrive. Hopefully, I'll hate the expensive one! ;-)

That is the exact same situation in my house. I get all kinds of outside traffic right through my kitchen/dining. Just stick with the darker colors and you'll be fine. The ones that I chose are Toy Poodle and I have all of the colors except orange. I plan to replace the lightest colors with more of the darker ones when I get sick of washing them. For now, I don't mind it because they wash really, really well.

You know, if you can stand to wait, they do have 20% off everything sales every so often...if you can stand it/it's worth it to you. And given the economy, I'm thinking that sales are going to be the new rule of the game for a while...

amy: Late to the party but I'm so glad you choose the inspirational/stripy one. The stripes are what make it special, I think. The other one when put together probably would ended up looking like the carpet in those car dealership.

anyhow, recently I went to this guy's house to buy stuff from him (CL) and he has FLOR on the floor (blue/green/brown combo stripe) under the dining table and it looks so good. He said it holds up very well w/ the children. I wished I'd thought of it for our family room.

Can't wait to see the end result!

amysrq: what is that inspiration carpet? It inspires me too!

I don't know much but a deeper red would be good, not as
red, like a darker red, not burgandy but rich red. It would
help to take off the orange, and put a deeper color in the house, I see alot of light colors in the rooms which is
great, I am not much of decorating but that is what I come
up with.
Su

Sorrisa, the inspiration carpet is by Flor, too.

Fly, I may well wait. If something I want is already marked down, will it also be 20% off? IKWYM about the sales. I am feeling pinched, but at least the things I do have to buy may be available for less. Just not as "less" as I want them to be.

I, too, like your inspiration carpet. Something to keep in mind, maybe; we had a solid rust-coloured carpet in our family room for years and, while pretty, showed every piece of thread and lint. I became well aquainted with our vacuum over the years! Happy New Year,

Anna

I love the last one!! The inspiration one.

I'm going to have to go look at flor again as I could really see using that one for my living room if I could ever get my walls re-painted.

BTW what color are your walls?

Lyfia, my walls are EK Amy's Sarasota Sand.

Definitely the inspiration carpet -- It's got 'zing' and purpose to the deep color. The subtle pattern in the first one just disappears into an overall solid-color look.

And Lyfia, I think that red could be fabulous in your space! You may not even have to repaint to pull it off since your yellow isn't 'too' yellow. Or maybe they have it in blue?

Thanks amysrq. Guess I'm out of luck in getting it then. It is very nice. BTW under what section should I look for the inspiration rug on flor. I looked under area rugs, but not seeing it.

sweeby - I hate the color on my walls. It is way too yellow and too strong for me. It was fine when the house was empty, but with furniture and the fabrics I want to add it just doesn't go well. Wish we had paid the builder to re-paint before moving in, but thought we could live with it.

OT - but I think the 'extensions' that increase height on Billy bookcases would look great -- would more closely align with height of kitchen cabinets. Also, you moved the sofa?

amysrq - what happened to the rug you had in your old house under the table. I saw it on the color backsplash thread and think it would work great here too, assuming the size is right.

Lyfia, you have a good eye! That rug started to get buckled and I think that the fringe would be a nightmare in this high-traffic area. I could try it, but I had pretty much written it off.

About the EK paint....do you not have an ICI dealer near you?

Amy I could hug you!!! There didn't used to be one, but I went and searched and although I don't have one near me, there is one in the town where I work about 75 miles away. Got to check their hours and see if I can make it there.

Lyfia, they are probably open early in the am as many paint stores are. Good luck.

Mjlb, we are starting to think about adding the extensions, on you advice. Sofa's in the same spot, btw. Different angle maybe?

Yeah unfortunately my hours are early too, as I tend to be at work before things open so I miss traffic. Drive is long enough as it is. The good part it is just on and off the freeway on my way home if they can be open past 4pm.

So are you the Amy that is mentioned on her site?

yep...it's me