Oh, darn! ;-)

But I don't have any furniture (that will fit)...and someone said to start with the rug...

Here is a polypropelene in those colors -- do you want something this strong?

Vhttps://www.onekingslane.com/product/56356/2408211

Less pattern but all blue/geen polyester

https://www.onekingslane.com/product/56356/2408211

They have 16 pages on just that website under ble/green

First, I'm surprised that, since you said you like the hardwood, that you want to cover it in layers of carpet.

While you can start with the rug, you certainly don't have to. Perhaps you should look at houzz or cote de Texas and find a room thar serves as your inspiration over all. Then you'll have a guide to follow as you make the various decisions including paint, rugs, furnishings, etc

All the rooms I like are impractical for my uses.

This is why I thought I needed a designer...

My granddaughter has the first rug you showed, it's good looking but, if you walk on it, dark spots appear. Also it's thin. She has it under a coffee table so it's perfect. They made it to fade in some spots which I like.
The second is an Oushak which I love but know that there are tons of them on Ebay at half the cost. I have two and really have enjoyed them for over ten years. I do take them up in the summer and just leave the bare floors. I get them cleaned and stored.
Oushaks never shed like the heftier rugs. That's a bonus to me. Hope you find what you love.

Oh, eBay! Is it possible to buy on eBay if I never have before?

I think something like this is pretty.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8x10-Antiqued-hand-knotted-Vege-Dyed-wool-Turkish-Oushak-Oriental-area-rug-/381273379000

I like this room, and it seems more practical than the white slipcovers I usually like.

Logan · More Info

I don't like the fur pillows or the rug very much though.

Do you like and can live with the colour blue? Because that rug is blue.

You're starting from scratch? Even with furniture? Now, that is fun.

Actually, if you're starting from scratch, why don't you post 2 or 3 inspiration pictures that you really like. Try to find ones with a similar fireplace and lots of windows as you will have in the new room.

The one that you posted above has those elements. That room also has big oversized pieces in it and very high ceilings with white walls/ceilings. It's a rustic look with the leather furniture and rough-hewn coffee table (metal base?). What is your taste and what are you comfortable sitting in at the end of the day and with company.

Yes, scratch. I have a couch now that is well worn and a chaise which goes the wrong way. We have carpet now and hardwoods there. And a bunch of built-ins here. We never bought end tables for fear of the kids' heads. We have a big leather ottoman/table thing that could stay but I'm sure I could find another place for it as well.

I do like blue and green and gray and white and ivory, and most things in between. I don't care for large amounts of red, orange, yellow, pink, or purple unless a kid's room. I actively dislike brown in most shades, but can live with some lighter richer shades like whiskey or caramel.

The new house is 4700 sq ft and I'm just overwhelmed!

With kids and a dog, I would be loathe to layer rugs. Pulling up the top rug to clean underneath wouldn't be worth the hassle to me. But if you love the look, then maybe it is worth it to you.

One of the things dh and I think about is how upset we will be if the dog or the kids trash something. I know that if I spent a lot of money on a fine rug, I would be upset if the dog barfed on it and left a stain or faded spot. So I would stick with a less expensive rug that would hopefully stand up to that kind of wear and that if it were ruined I wouldn't be so upset. You may feel differently though--and our calculation on this is different for different items as it depends to on how much we care about a particular item.

So if I were you, I would be looking for a polypropylene rug in colors and a style I liked. I would assume that when the kids are older and the dog is no longer a factor, I could upgrade the rug as part of a room refresh.

We have a ton of art, more than I can hang on our walls (none of it valuable, most of it sentimental). So I personally would start with the art and then choose a rug that works with the art. Next I would choose seating. Then probably paint color. And last I would choose side tables, coffee tables, ottomans and the like.

Maybe you could post a few pictures of rooms you like and we could help find elements or substitutions that would be practical for you?

Sorry i was delayed a little in posting and so was a little behind.

I don't really like rustic too much, but feel like I need leather furniture for practicality. And I feel like leather furniture all looks brown and rustic to me. So I was looking for some brown leather I could live with.

I posted that one because it looked like an achievable look that would be practical.

I love Shaker furniture, and white slipcovers, but don't feel like I can have those things.

I am also an advocate of less expensive rugs with dogs and kids -- you can even find wool in the $500-1000 or less category (8x10-11s are easier to find and often half the cost of a 9x11 or 12). You can spend many times that, but you don't need to and accidents and disasters are less stressful if you don't.

BUT to look for a rug, you have a general group of colors. Do you have a style or mood you want for the rug or the room? With small children and a dog, I would look at a sofa or sectional in Sunbrella or similar fabrics or leather. Since those are likely to be slids, I would probably put a pattern in the floor (and with minimal white) -- but classic, contemporary, geometric -- what apeals to you? Do you have artwork you will hang in that room? Maybe that sets your mood or color scheme.

Any help getting started there?

Catching up again -- I have not had it but understand that Sunbrella is great for families with kids and pettat other browns. It does seem that leather is shown in brown, dark brown, that other brown and an occasional grey, white (not so good with pets and kids) and black (only works in a "man cave" or very sleek modern room, IMO. You can order leather in almost any color though. Look online at Leatherfurnitureexpo and Leather Showroom. Arhaus has leather in both stock colors (brown) and custom colors (including a mushroom taupe, several greys, navy. Look for a place that specializes in leather and has a showroom in your area. They will likely have more colors available. I've seen samples iin a pad that look more like a crayon box, but you will probably wait 2-3 months for a custom order.

I think you can do brown leather without being too rustic. For example:

That might be too fussy for you, but I think you can do a tight back leather sofa in a transitional style that would work with shaker wood furniture and not be a rustic feel. Put some lighter pillows and a throw on the sofa and use sunbrella fabric for chairs?

I happen to have some living rooms with brown leather sofas in one of my idea books, because we plan to replace ours in the next few months. Maybe one of these will be of interest?

My Home · More Info

West Village Bachelor Pad · More Info

Luxe of the Draw - Henry Leather Sofa · More Info

Montgomery Modern Farmhouse - Tour of Remodeled Homes · More Info

I have two polypropylene rugs that my cats frequently throw up on, multiple times. Joy!!! It always cleans up, whether I catch it right away or discover it after it's well-aged. My mid-gray bedroom carpet has not been as forgiving.

I love your new living room!!! What are you thinking for a wall color, or are you going to let the rug and furnishings guide you?

I missed some things in the middle. The focus seems to be going brown leather -- but do you want brown or are you resigned to it? I can see grey being really nice in that room and it would play well with blues and greens.

How would you feel about a pair of sofas perpendicular to and centered on the fireplace? That looks like it would leave a place behind the sofa -- maybe a play area for the kids now (maybe a bookcase or cubby space hidden behind the back of the sofa and acting like a table for a lamp or two -- later the space could have a table and chairs for reading or separate chat space, a desk or serve some other function as the family grows.

Grey stock sofas:

http://www.arhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/sofas/dante-78-inch-leather-sofa-in-libby-sky/

http://www.arhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/sofas/flanders-84-inch-leather-sofa-in-palance-steel/

http://www.arhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/sofas/rockway-88-inch-leather-sofa-in-napa-valley-charcoal/

http://www.arhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/sofas/berwick-88-inch-tufted-leather-sofa-in-bull-grey/

I picked these becuase I've seen two or three of them and like them. The first one (Dante) has a low back, so if you did a pair of sofas, you would have more view through to the second space and it's not a typical stock color. The Berwick is a great looking sofa, and comfortable, nice stock color, but the bench is tufted -- if the kids snack there, you will be vacuuming often.

My point is just that you don't have to do brown. I've had a brown sectional for 12-13 years now. It's been great, but I'm tired of seeing nothing but brown and black leather.

The Dante one is gorgeous and depending on how much you want to tie in with the fireplace it would look great against the rock - but perhaps too much grey.

Butternut this is a fresh start for you. I would hate for you to buy a color (brown) that you have such a strong dislike. We know your dislikes, red, purple, pink, yellow, orange and most of all brown. Does your husband have any preference? Maybe you should show us the current family room so we can see your style>

I love Shaker furniture, and white slipcovers, but don't feel like I can have those things.

I think sometimes you have to give the finger to all the rules about what you supposedly can't have. White slipcovers are for washing, no? I had a white couch in the country with a teenager + friends, a dog, three cats, and a cockatiel who pooped wherever he felt like it. It might not have been the most practical color, but it never looked bad, and never as bad as a dark murky color whose only virtue is the ability to hide the things we fear might happen.

Life is too short.

lascatx - keeping in mind there isn't a lot of wall space for art in that room...here are some paintings I've considered using. Of these I like the seascape watercolor (it's a set of 2) and the last bones one the best. Babies are crying...

Ok, back, lasca, I like the first grey sofa sort of, but I never told you that I have a grey sofa now and I'm kind of over it.

I was actually looking at the RH lancaster sofa, which seems to be knocked off at a few different places, maybe in a more caramel color than dark brown.

But I actually mind this dark brown less than some other browns...it's not as ashy and has some variation to it.

In general, I like things with texture, which is why I am drawn to seagrass.

crl - I like the first picture you posted minus the overly distressed coffee table. I like the third, but not for my house. And I really like the fourth one, with a non-dark brown leather sofa, slipcovered chair, light colored rug, and primitive coffee table.

emmarene - my husband's preference would be to buy the cheapest thing from Ikea or Walmart, throw it out when it breaks and buy a new one. When I met him, he was living in an apartment with a single backless stool, an office chair, a twin mattress on the floor, and a plastic tv stand. And plastic bins to hold his clothes. And he was 30 years old. Not exaggerating :)

Linelle - I'm thinking of a cream or light light grey for the walls, but will wait for the furniture. Something light, though. I appreciate your advice about the couch. I'm thinking if I got a leather sofa and the white or linen colored slipcovered chairs, the chair slipcovers would be easier to deal with than a sofa or two.

Your art is great. I also really like the water color seascape. I think a brown leather sofa with slip cover chairs sounds lovely.

I have been half-heartedly looking at rugs and happen to have this indoor-outdoor one from Albert and Dash saved. Some pattern to help hide dirt and should be easy to clean. Don't know if it's something you would like.

Casco bay furniture also seems to offer their Lancaster-ish sofa in "spanish moss green" which I can't find a photo of, but I'm imagining to be something like the color of this chair. I like that color.

Moss green leather with your art work, the floors, and the fireplace could be a very striking combination. You say that green is one of the colours that you like and I think it would take the type of rugs that you are showing (except for perhaps the green ones) a little better than brown leather. My 2cents.

OK, not pushing grey -- just don't want you to settle on something you don't like for such a large part of your room. The sectional we've had for about 13 years now is close to the color of that first close up. It is a very liveable color and goes well with blues and greens.

Do look at the type of leather too. That RH sofa appears to be that kind (can't remember what they call it) that will start out looking distressed and just get more so. It will show every mark from kids and dogs - that's the look, so you have to embrace it. See how the cushion sides are already more crinkled than the sofa back? Kind of like having marble counters -- know you will live with patina and not perfection. That will work in your room, but you said you didn't like rustic so much so thought I should mention that.

I like the idea of the mossy green. You don't see green leather often, so it definitely wouldn't be cookie cutter.

Thanks all! Moss green is right up my alley, a color I've loved for a long time. Understand it wouldn't be typical but hopefully would be neutral enough to go with a variety of things. Leather samples on the way.

Have spent a lot of time looking at oushak rugs on eBay. Still like the layered look. Maybe slipcovered Belgian linen chairs and a soft throw and tweed pillows? Sheer ivory curtains.

Hoping to have this done by Christmas!

You all are the best!

Lascatx - I think id be ok w the patina (dear, that almost autocorrected to Latino). When I say I don't like rustic, I don't like western or country. But a little lived in British or French country is ok :). With my kids, I need to embrace lived in if I don't want to go crazy anyhow.

Look at Nourison Nourmak (flat weave) rugs. I think they would look good layered over a sisal rug. We have them throughout our first floor and we have 3 dogs + 3 kids. The Nourison rugs wear like iron, they're reversible, and don't shed. http://www.nourison.com/Default.htm?Products=Area_Rugs&FORM=Gallery&coll=NOUR&Cat=ar