Leahcate, when I first looked at these rugs, back in 2002, I was warned away from them by a rug dealer, specifically due to the staining issue. I wonder if the technology has gotten better since then. I ended up with a polypro look-alike in the kitchen and a (very soft) wool look-alike in the MBR. Both were beautiful and cleaned up well. Don't know if the OP is still around, but I'd be hesitant to put a highly textured rug under a dining table where things tend to be dropped more than elsewhere.

I have purchased many flat weave Soumak rugs since building our new home. The thicker wools have been moved to bedrooms, although one guest room has a Soumak. There are several makers, and as someone stated above - some are thicker than others. DD2 just purchased a Surya rug for her bedroom. It is not quite as thick as mine, but fine for her bedroom. I do not know who made our great room rug - my favorite - as the local store I purchased it from removes the tags (can't go online to shop that way and compare prices!). The foyer, dining room and breakfast room rugs are by Kalaty and the guest room rug is by Loloi (tad thinner than Kalaty rugs). As they said above, pet hair does not show as much as regular wool rugs (MBR and another guest room rugs are Karastan - fur magnets) and what is there just doesn't seem to show. I have 2 dogs and 3 cats. Kids are adults now, and I have two grandchildren. DD2 called me 3 days ago asking how to get cat vomit off her new rug (not the "food" kind, but more liquid). She blotted, while I drove over - 10 minutes. She did not have any of the Suyra rug cleaner, but we used Spot Shot and it got everything up - and her rug is gray and white. The painters were at my house, and one came down off the ladder. Thought he was at the floor, but had one more step. He stepped backwards and knocked over his soft drink (styrofoam w/lid). Some spilled and my first thought was crap, but it beaded up and wiped right up. I've bought the better rug pads to go under ours. Ordered DD2 from Amazon dealer. One for an 8x10 was less than $50. I would definitely use a rug pad. The rugs don't walk, but on hardwood, they can slip n slide. I have a central vacuum system and have always used my beater attachments on the rug (set on low pile). I just don't let it eat the edges/fringe. Here is a link that might be useful: My rugs

With cats and future kids I'll also only buy synthetic in the future. I'd completely stay away from hand tufted wool because they shed a lot. I have one of those under my table and it's plush and pretty but it sheds and you're not to use a shampooer/steam cleaner on it. When my cats have decided to leave me a present, I've ignored the "dab with water or take to a professional" and scrubbed with a washcloth and Dr. Scholls pet scrub stuff. It seems fine. Any other type of rug, I'm not interested in rolling it up and hauling it somewhere for a cleaning.

Wow, you all are terrific! Thank you so much! I am thinking about all of the comments which are very helpful because I tend to think in numbers and function rather than color, style, materials, etc. I got as far as: The whole room is just over 18'x28'. Ideally the dining rug would be ~9'x12' and the table ~3.5'x9.5, trestle? seating 8-10, no distressed top. Needs to be comfortable. Would like the lines to be fairly simple but each area probably should have some detail so that our family clutter will fit in -- at least a little bit. DH prefers upholstered dining chairs, I would like Windsors. Could we mix? Am I hearing that the table should be a bit "chunky"? beverly27, are those tables you show from Restoration Hardware? I like the lines, but standing alone prefer the color/smoother finish of the one jujubean posted. I am a big fan of Amish/shaker style but just don't see much in northern California. I love ethnic-style rugs but a natural fiber might be nice, too. I just don't want it to look like the beach. My sister calls my decorating style "confused." I like country/MCM, primitive but not distressed, industrial but no rust or sharp edges. How's that :-) So after going through pages of thumbnail images of dining rooms on houzz for examples, I really like these (though to me the one without rug looks unfinished): [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/stone-ridge-farmhouse-dining-room-new-york-phvw-vp~18678439) [Farmhouse Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/farmhouse-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2114) by New York Interior Designers & Decorators Kyle Roberts Interior Design [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/the-new-farmhouse-farmhouse-dining-room-new-york-phvw-vp~7832306) [Farmhouse Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/farmhouse-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2114) by Sharon Architects & Building Designers Rafe Churchill: Traditional Houses But the designer suggested something like this, which admittedly might function better for us: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/santa-monica-beach-house-beach-style-dining-room-los-angeles-phvw-vp~5484117) [Beach Style Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/beach-style-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2110) by Los Angeles Architects & Building Designers Evens Architects This is our existing kitchen furniture. It is falling apart and will get replaced but unlikely that the replacements will look much different (probably something from Room and Board). I'm planning to swap out the kitchen rug seasonally for thorough cleaning and a change of pace. If you all wouldn't mind, over the weekend I might put together some images and maybe you can let me know whether you think the items could work together?