jejvtr is right about a tufted wool rug. If you get one in a darker color with a good amount of pattern, it hides/sheds a LOT of dirt -- everything but a large liquid spill that isn't attended to. I have had these kind of rugs in my kitchen, and in an entryway where I come in with road grit, mud and salt on my boots, for years. And you CAN wash a wool rug! You can do it yourself! Just take it outside into the yard/driveway on a warm, breezy day. Check for colorfastness first though. You can also test to see if a rug is really wool by pulling off a few fibers and burning them. If it smells like burning hair, it's wool, or at least animal. If it smells like burnt plastic ... Wet the rug with the garden hose, then take a SMALL amount of liquid dish soap and distribute it over the rug (too much will be hard to rinse out, and will remain sticky in the rug and attract further dirt later). Gently sweep or brush it into the surface. Don't scrub too hard! If you have a very greasy spot, or a bad spill, you can use a little dab of laundry detergent as a degreaser (that's what detergents do) but don't go crazy. You can also flip it over and brush the back. Then rinse carefully, running the hose over it until the water runs very clean. Then, and this is the most important part -- dry thoroughly by throwing the rug over a strong hedge, or a pair of strong clotheslines. It needs good air circulation and good support, or it will rot and break. The warm, breezy day also helps. It seems impossible that a thick wool rug will dry, but it does. I have done this for, wow, almost 20 years now. Rugs still look great. Ever had a gel mat last that long?

Tibbrix, my guess is that your client's D&A rug is one of the 100% cotton indoor rugs. They are indeed lightweight and not suitable for vacuuming. The D&A indoor/outdoor rugs are more hefty and can withstand vacuuming. Personally, I would never use a wool rug as a kitchen runner. My criteria for most fabrics, including those underfoot in high-traffic areas, are they must be easily cleaned and on a regular basis. Especially in the kitchen. Between feet and dog and spills and loading dishwasher by not-so-careful kids, and so on, my kitchen runner has to be washable in my washing machine, or it doesn't work. Unless I come across a cool vintage rug with patina TDF. Then perhaps I'll have wool in my kitchen.

Your Turkish rug is marvelous! Really, any type of modern manufactured rug will look like junk compared to it. Why not just buy more low pile Turkish or Caucasus or kilims? You can find them very inexpensively nowadays, and if you think carefully about where you are going to place them, it won't matter if they have some damage, e.g. wear in certain places, abrash, etc. For example, if where you are going to place it will be partially under furniture, if the part of the rug that is going to be under furniture has a little stain, or has fringe loss, or pile loss, who cares? No one will see it. Or if you will get a long narrow rug for a hallway that is usually dimly lit anyway, who cares if there is some not severe abrash in some areas? No one will notice that anyway. Prices are very good on Persians, etc, please look around, you will be pleasantly surprised. And no, I am not a dealer.

Puleeese do not put in extensive areas of white subway tile! This seems to be a common avenue for homeowners and/or designers when they want to avoid making decisions about color. In my opinion, adding white tiles to your beautiful kitchen will turn it into a boring space. I really like your use of neutral wood flooring, white cabinets and the mix of stainless and black for appliances, and I believe now's the time to brighten up the space with some use of color. I'd install the backsplash material under the cabinets and go up to (what appears to be) the common height of the window, door and cabinets, including the space above the sink (background of shelves). Have you been to a big (good) tile store to see what's available? If you keep an open mind, you should be able to find several styles and colors that you like (and that pick up on a color from a decorative item on the over-the-sink shelves or that complement other colors in your home)--and you can usually bring home tile samples. If something you like is on the expensive side, consider using it in a limited way (a few above the stove/below the hood in a special design or a running line of them under the cabinets, etc.). Then go for a simple (no busy patterns), reasonably-priced (and coordinating) "field" tile for the remainder of the space--one that is simple enough so it doesn't clash with the items on the shelves, and keeping in mind the other black, white, stainless & wood colors in the room. As for the wall color . . . Once you have the backsplash installed, it should be easier to pick a wall color. Just bring home some store samples of paint colors to see how they look at different times of the day and at night. It usually takes me several trips--to cull out the ones that don't work and expand on the ones that do work--before I can make a decision. I suggest you use the same color (light or medium intensity that doesn't overtake your now-pretty backsplash!) above the backsplash & cabinets and on the ceiling, which will give the impression of a more spacious kitchen. Have fun and good luck!