I really don't understand how anyone can buy a rug online. I have to at least see it in person to know if the colors are right. Monitors and the lighting when the pic is taken vary so greatly. Heck I've brought so many rugs home over the years. I want to be sure that what I've chosen is going to compliment the entire area around where it is being used. How do you do that with an online rug? However, I have seen a good amount of dissatisfied posters who've received a rug that was not as represented by Overstock or another seller. Who picks up the return cost? As far as the posters who are poo pooing buying a good quality rug (travel to Turkey, etc) and then link to JC Penney rugs, what a hoot. Obviously the OP has something a little different in mind with her stated budget. Also, I get a kick out of people professing to travel to a place where they would be in the total minority and have no idea of where to go and how to haggle with the rug sellers, let alone figure out the exchange rate. Have you ever been to Turkey? Really.

Thanks for your post, mary md7. They don't; I called the county clerk. I did find a realtor who faxed me some information without going onto the property, so that helps some, although the prices seem to vary incredibly and there are only a few sales listed.

From what you describe as your needs, to survive children & peta, I would get high quality carpeting bound as an area rug. That is what I am doing as i want the carpet to be able to be removed for deep cleaning. Am going with Smartstrand, best price I am finding is at the big boxes. https://www.mohawkflooring.com/flooring/carpet/brand/smartstrand/ http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2365927/mohawk-smartstrand-carpet

I agree with Ingrid—a nice sisal would work, except I’d skip the contrasting binding. And to answer your question about whether or not anyone’s done this, my brother & his partner have—more out of necessity than anything else (kind of like you, I guess!) They live in a pre-war co-op building in NYC with terrific, original-but-noisy-for-the-neighbor-below-you hardwoods, and each apartment is required to have a minimum percentage of the flooring covered so they did exactly what you’re considering in both their living and dining rooms. And it looks great!