I tend to be willing to pay more to support local businesses and to sustain good relationships with them, but $400 is a bit of a jaw-dropping amount. Yes, I would ask, but (a) I would not necessarily ask for the full $400 difference. After all, if she says no, you have roll up this rug, take it back or be there for someone to pick it up, order the other one on line, see if it's in stock, PAY SHIPPING, wait for it, unpack and unroll it... well, you get the idea. Depending on how complicated its removal is, $100 or so worth of your time may be secured in the fact that this rug is already in your home. (b) watch the timing and the tone. Keep in mind that if she says no, you still have to arrange and complete the return transaction (and finish the couch transaction if I understand correctly). In fact, if it's easy to roll up and handle (negating point a), you could even roll it up, put it in the car, and go ask her in person - then if she says no, it's a quick return and clean getaway. Also remember that if the online seller turns out to be out of stock, you'll want to come back! (c) maybe you could tie it to further purchases for another rug, if she has something in her store that you like. As in, if I buy this one and a smaller one, could you discount both of them? Finally, rugs off craigslist - keep in mind that you probably would want to get a CL rug cleaned right away, and that usually costs a hundred or two. You also often have to spend hours on CL looking for the right size/colour combination to come up, plus arrange a time to view and drive to wherever the rug is. In other words, it's about your time again. I've pretty much found that what I save in money shopping on CL, I spend in time and gas (I have driven an hour out of town to get a $15 lamp after exchanging 300 emails trying to find a mutually convenient day and looking at lamp listings ad infinitum. Was it really a $15 lamp?). So it all depends on how important your time is. Those are some of the things I would be thinking. Above all, check what the online seller would charge to ship the rug. Price plus shipping is the real competing price. KarinL

I just can't see a 9x12 in there as that would then mean the carpet going into the walkway to our bedroom. I do have a runner there now if the carpet has any kind of pattern to it on the edges, I think that would look off. Since the DR part is basically 10'8" x 10'8", there would only be a foot on each side of the table with the width with a 8X10. That means the back legs of the china cabinet would be off the rug and the front would be on it. Perhaps the same thing with the buffet on one corner. I found an octagonal one that is 7'9" that I was hoping would work. That seemed to work when I pulled out the chairs and sat back down. I guess because you come from the LR into that narrower part of the room, I think the larger the rug is the more croweded it would look, esp. with all the tile that is showing in the LR. BTW, I love my tile, it doesn't show abit of dirt and is easy to damp mop but just wanted to add a little warmth to the room. Thanks for all the suggestions, keep them coming. T

That rug looks perfect. Brings in the cream from the tile on the counter, the floor tile colors and your towels. The soap dispenser and bath mat are great touches too.

Can you create a wide shelf atop/within ) the windowsill of the pass thru window behind the sofa for the fish tank -- extending into the sun room. If so, do -- better for the fish and for the use of the room. You could still put the chest beneath the tank. Would not put a rug in the dogs room unless it is a small washable one b the door intended for wiping feet and for the dog's use. You might consider a "bean bag" chair for your pooch so he doesn't want/need to sit in your people seats. If you do want a rug in your sun room, instead of one rug, consider two (or three counting the wipe your feet rug)-- one a smaller oval or round or square rug and the other rug (matching or similar) a different shape -- a rectangle for the larger part of the porch. Put a faux grass rug or runner on the primary exterior approach to the porch door and add a rug intended for exterior use OUTSIDE the door to catch some of the dirt. Put a small washable non-slip rug by the door from the left side of the door to the wall on the right side (the wall behind the dog house). If you then put the dogs water dish and food dish behind the dog house, the dog will need to walk over that washable entry rug to reach food/water and, hopefully, catch some more dirt/mud before tracking it across the rest of the porch. You might easily refill a water bowl and dry dog food bowl placed behind the dog house from that pass thru window behind the dog house could. Keeping those behind the dog house could prompt the dog to claim that end of the porch for its own and make it a bit less likely to track dirt elsewhere before checking those food/water bowls (and, by doing so, wiping its own feet on its own rug by walking over it).