Wow, you've given me lots to think about with so many against the 6x9 size. OK, I will hold off on this one and rethink the size more carefully. Maybe I can find one that is not quite 8x10. As for the Karastan on CL for that price I'd just buy new and pick my own pattern. On another, more fascinating note, I found another rug--also on CL for my living room. This one is a vintage (from 1950's) hand-knotted Persian rug, stunning and unique design. I've been cooresponding with the seller who said this rug has been in her family for a long time, but she hasn't the space for it and that is why she is selling it. She said she is selling for a fraction of the value at $1,200 as she wants it to go to someone who can appreciate it. She said there are no smells, stains, rips, etc. She sounds so sweet and pretty much promised the rug to me if I want to buy it, though when I called her up it sounded like there was a family emergency with her mother, there was a lot of interest in the rug and she deleted the ad (otherwise I'd post it here). I asked her if she changed her mind, but she said no, she just can't think about it right now, but will get back to me by the end of the weekend. Here are a few of her emails to me: -------------------------------------------------------- I am so happy you like my ghom hunting carpet! (esp since the photo is rather disappointing). There is no wear marks, tears, stains, repairs, smell, etc which is amazing considering its age and where it has been. As to why I am selling.... My patient husband is wearing out.... let me explain. My mother is Persian and we both have a "rug problem". Now that she must down size and my brother and sisters are not rug-crazy like I am .... guess who is getting the rugs? My mother wants me to keep some for my children but these big ones are so difficult to store for long periods if you don't have a huge home. I really do want a vacation home but my husband thinks it is to store the rugs... well, I ask, what is wrong with that!!??! :) Anyway, I am not a gallery or a dealer who can get a lot for these rugs. I have had a dealer offer to buy my rugs but they are too personal to me (I won't sell if I think someone doesn't really love the rug). In the process, would you believe, we have made several wonderful new friends that we are getting together regularly. It started off as a joke... they asked if I "wanted to visit my rugs". :) Sorry this became a long explanation. I would love to meet you and show you the rug. But please don't even consider buying it if it doesn't just make you light up when you think about.... a carpet welcomes you when you come home and it makes all the different when you love it... people poured part of themselves and their lives into knotting these carpets... enjoying them is a gentle tribute to those people. (ok... now you can see I am nuts for sure) ---------------------------------------------------------- .... No one is seeing this rug before you.... you have the kind of heart that understands these rugs. I am happy that you asked about their lives... Iran is different from India and China which almost exclusively uses children. Iran, Pakistan and Afganistan ... of course children are weaving but in Iran the Shah stopped the use and explotation of children.... in most cases - when these carpets were made and why I don't want the new ones - carpets were made by families... it was hard work but it was survival... it wasn't thought of as abuse... it was just life. My mother and I use to talk about this... she would cry when she told of the children that were used in the old palaces to make the huge silk carpets.... she has a tender heart. All great art seems to involve suffering of some kind, doesn't it? I really want people to understand something about the history of the middle east... how odd that it includes understanding the role carpets have played... they are not as westerners think. I am an unlikely affectionado.... I have a PhD in Physiology and just retired from a career in Biotech recently. I never had time for anything but work and family. On my 50th birthday, I decided that before it was too late, I wanted to do what most people do... "give back"... so I am involved in volunteer work locally and globally and feel really blessed to be so (I just got back from my third medical mission trip to India). Apologies for that digression :) I would love to meet you. And please remember, there is no obligation to buy this carpet. Carpets are very personal... they change with the light, mood, temperature, room orientation... they are alive and I still discover things in my carpets that I haven't seen before even after all these years. I really want to keep this one but it is too large for my home... in my living room it would be mostly covered... it needs a place where it can be seen and enjoyed and appreciated. I keep suggesting we buy a vacation home but my husband said "you just want a place for the carpets"... how right he is. ------------------------------------------------- This has really made me think about rugs in a whole other light as I've often wonder who exactly is making these rugs and if they are exploited, etc. I even asked the Macy's salesman and he said that Macy's has been told that no children are used to their knowledge in the making of the rugs they sell. I'm not quite sure what to make of it and DH thinks I'm nuts for even considering purchasing a 50-year-old rug. If it turns out she is still selling it I will post it here.

Since you are willing to paint, I would consider the color that is in the background in your beautiful drapes, as the dark walls make it feel cave like, your lovely wood is not noticed and if the walls are lighter, the windows and view may take more prominence. In regards to a rug...I think an overdyed raspberry colored rug would feel traditional, yet modern and also elegant. Room is not quite what I described but may give you a feel for the look with lighter walls and an overdyed rug.

I decided to go "rug-less" in my dining room 2 years ago. I don't want seagrass as it would make it impossible to open the table to put a leaf in at Christmas - huge base, would tear it to shreds. I had a rug in there, but it was always a bit small. I'd love a beautiful antique oriental, but somehow I can't find that extra $25,000 in my checking account to buy one! I actually quite like my bare floors! They warm up the room and the dog hair is very easy to Swifter up quickly.

The rug has not been delivered yet so as soon as it does I will post pictures.......just wondered if there were any pictures of dining rooms with an orange shag rug that i could view on Houzz