Do it. Yes, you get a pass because its an older building. :)

I would center the rug on the floor and let it overlap the marble.

Another option would be a rug cut to fit around the fireplace. It will probably cost more than an oriental from Overstock though.

I really like THAT runner! WOW! I agree with graywings...just put it over the marble. NICE!

Another vote for placing over the marble.

I don't look at it as you "get a pass" but an interesting reuse of that building requires interesting accommodations to make it work for you. You already have a fireplace in a hall - that's pretty inventive! So center your runner because walking with your shoulder up against the wall if you don't will be really awkward.

Runner looks like a great complement to the rug in the keeping room. One caution is the potential trip hazard posed by the raised edge. If you lay the runner over the marble, minimize the risk by putting a carpet pad under the runner and carving out the edging in the pad.

One of my best friends lives in a grocery conversion near Bayou St J. Enjoy!

Is that a working fireplace? If not, did you consider bricking off the hallway side and replacing the marble with hardwood? Would seem a much better use of the space while still retaining some of the history of your home.

The "marble" is actually the brick hearth, sprayed with drywall mud (but I'm glad it looks like marble in pictures!).

Most fireplaces in New Orleans don't work like normal wood burning fireplaces - they used to hold coal and then, in all the houses I've ever owned, seemed to be converted to some (must have been inefficient and dangerous to boot) gas operated space heaters. They were still in this house and operational when we bought it. So no, the fireplace doesn't actually work (the chimney was capped off in the attic).

Because the hallway/bathroom was once a bedroom, the wood floor was already cut to accommodate the fireplace hearth, so we didn't mess with it. All we did was remove the mantlepiece to facilitate traffic flow.

I think I will go with a runner and tuck it over the hearth with a little padding to even out the edge of the transition. That seems like a workable solution to warm up the space and not crowd the runner (or the walkers in the hallway!).

Maybe next you all can help me figure out to do with the incredibly nice rug from Turkey that my in-laws gave us as a wedding present to go in our formal Garden District living room. Sadly, try as I might, I cannot find a place in this house where it will go...unless I just decide to not worry about it being smack dab in the middle of the traffic pattern of my storefront (it's a pale gold/spa blue/spring green/cream oushak)! Right now it's in our bedroom (all wrong) and the only other place it could conceivably go is in our breakfast room (under the table...where we eat neatly, but I've noticed my daughter's friends...not so much!) At 8x10 it always seems too big or too small for the space. Does that make sense?

Moving house is so difficult. How do other people keep the same beautiful stuff for years and in many different homes?!

I bought a runner for my long and narrow foyer from ebay. I was skeptical, but it turned out quite nice. Here's one that might fit your space constraints. This isn't the company I bought from, but the products and prices look similar.

Here is a link that might be useful: eBay runner

Great rug Lovesummer --

And Grlwprls - Have you considered buying an old Oriental rug from ebay and having IT notched to go around your fireplace? You may even be able to find one for super-cheap with a stained, faded or damaged spot right where you'd want to cut. Or, as is the case with many antique Orientals, the runner may have a natural 'curve' that you can use to your advantage.

The OP says "Maybe next you all can help me figure out to do with the incredibly nice rug from Turkey that my in-laws gave us as a wedding present to go in our formal Garden District living room. Sadly, try as I might, I cannot find a place in this house where it will go...unless I just decide to not worry about it being smack dab in the middle of the traffic pattern of my storefront (it's a pale gold/spa blue/spring green/cream oushak)!"

If this is really a storefront with lots of shopper traffic, I'd be afraid it would get TOO much traffic and get thin and/or dirty. Have you thought about putting it on a wall? It would pretty much fill up a big wall, of course, but that would certainly warm up a room.

Even with messy kids it might be safer under your breakfast table than in a store.

We attended a wedding recently and the function hall, an old inn with charming wide-plank floors, had lots of oriental rugs on the floors. I have to say that, while they weren't obscenely grimy, they were dirty enough that it made me cringe.

Excuse the drywall mud that my contractor allowed the drywallers to spray on the antique brick...I'm not sure how to get it off, so I've consulted a brick mason that works on French Quarter restorations of our SE Louisiana brick.

If it's really just drywall mud, it's water soluble. Just spritz some water on it, wait for it to soften, and wipe off with sponge or cloth.

Grlwprls, I love your house. Such pretty floors (tile in bath as well as the wood) great baseboards, so much character. Do you run a grocery store, or was your house previously a grocery? I'm a little confused.

Your rugs are beautiful, and I look forward to seeing the other one you speak of.

i don't think i'd want the runner over the brick...you won't be able to disguise the rather large bump...i would either purchase custom and have a notch cut around it or consider 2 smaller rugs on either side of the fireplace (do you have room for 2 3'x5's??) and just leave the wood in front of the fireplace uncovered...(i wouldn't like a runner uncentered in the area either)