I have a somewhat similar setup, with our kitchen table very close to the back door, except that my kitchen table is in front of a window seat so there's not much flexibility on where the table can go! My question is, why do you have to have a rug under the table? I don't have a rug under mine, mostly because the way my room is set up, my kitchen table area is very close to a sitting area (kind of like a family room) and I have an 8 x 10 rug in the sitting area -- if I also had a rug under the kitchen table, the two rugs would almost butt up against each other. I just have a little rug in front of the door.

I'd rather see no rug than a rug that is too small.

Another idea, if you are determined to have a rug, is to use FLOR tiles which you can lay out to make any size.

I have a 5 X 8 under our table and a small welcome mat at the door. It is tight at our in-swing french door but it works for us centered. The chair that is in front of the door isn't used much.

You really don't need a rug under the table since your floors are so lovely. I think I would eliminate it.

Thanks, yayagal! I love them too. :)

Sueb20, the floors are new (had to replace the previous new floor - house was a model home - because our, also brand new, dw leaked and ruined the floor) so I guess I'm afraid to not have a rug where there will be a lot of sliding of chairs. Plus, I thought the space could use some color. Maybe I can bring in some color on the curtains instead. These are temporary plain linen. Unfortunately, I need window coverings because the room faces West and we don't have trees or neighbors to block it.

rtwilliams, your home looks very nice! Maybe I can try the table centered. Our end chair doesn't get used a lot either.

All trim will be painted white to match the new baseboard and I still have to figure out what size table to get.

Can you turn the table the other direction? It appears that if you moved the kids table, there would be room.

My mother-in-law just put in hardwood flooring in her dining/living room and will not buy any area rugs because she feels they defeat the purpose of putting in nice looking wood floors. So she bought these chair leg pads that you nail into the bottoms of the chairs. They glide so smoothly and don't fall off like the ones that just stick on. No worries at all about scratching up a new wood floor. I'm going to get these, myself, if we decide not to put a rug under our dining table.

That being said, I understand liking the look of a rug under a dining table...I do too. Like you suggested, maybe a large sisal (or sisal look-alike indoor/outdoor) to span a great portion of the dining/back door area would work. You could then even put a smaller rug on top of it right in front of the door, if you like.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nail glides for chairs

geokid - the trim all painted white will look so nice! I like the linen panels, if you use bamboo roman shades on each window they will look nice against the white trim and linen panels to the side.

I also like your table it is just to light. If you paint it black to match your counter stools it may be just what the space needs to add some contrast.

If the table is centered on the long wall of windows you could add a bench under the short wall to use when you need more seating. and it will anchor that wall of windows. add a toss blanket and pillow for color.
You have a very nice space with a great view it just needs some balance and contrast.

I am partial to keeping walls and flooring neutral and just adding a few accessories for color.

Les, I tried that on your suggestion. It does fit, but just perfectly. The table is a 3' x 5' only and I'd like to get one at least 6' long. Also, I'm struggling what to do with that side of the counter because there isn't a barrier between the sink and the edge of the counter. All water spills from the sink go on the floor. Hence, the kids table...that catches the spills for now. :)

hlove, I'm not TOO worried about covering the floor because the same flooring runs throughout the main rooms of our first floor. There's about 850sf of it. I'm ok with covering a portion in the dining area and in the living area and keeping the rest open. I like your idea of putting a smaller rug on top in front of the door.

The rug I have in there now was perfect with the old floor which was a solid-colored, light wood. The rag rug style added texture. Now the floor has a ton of texture and it all looks too busy.

rt, I like your suggestion about a black table. I've been eyeing them. I actually have a black table in the formal dining area that we turned into a library/homework area. I love it in there! I also like neutral walls and furniture and accessorizing with art and pillows and such. My walls are BM Taos Taupe (library) and BM Stone Harbor (LR, DR, Kitchen). They all flow together so separate colors for each room is out.

I'm trying. It to decorate for two young kids and a puppy because I know they won't be young for long, but it's so hard to have nice stuff at this stage in our lives!

Here are some pics of the table centered. I took them right before dinner so you can see how the setting sun can be a problem (and with my phone camera, hence the bad quality). We live right on the edge of a small Northern Midwest town. Before we put up the fence (for the puppy) our yard ended in someone's corn field!

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}
I know the lighting is all wrong, but we'll deal with that once we get the layout figured out.

{{!gwi}}

Thanks for all your help! This is my first real house so I'm a newbie at this!

I like the table centered looks balanced with the side table at the window.

If you do get a new dining light, this one at Lowes would look nice in your space.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_320602-17771-9016-BK_4294857056_4294937087_?productId=3239918&Ns=p_product_price:0&pl=1�tURL=%2Fpl_Chandeliers_4294857056_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_price:0&facetInfo=#BVRRWidgetID

It really is a cute table set, looks much better with out the table cloth. Try a runner and a larger centerpiece. the rug style and size works now. I think the table cloth was the distraction.

pets seem to make it into pictures don't they : )

I look forward to seeing your dining area when you get the trim painted. Hope I am not giving more advice than you want. I like seeing a space come together.

I would put pads on the chair legs and forget about carpeting under the table. Frankly, carpet under a dining table doesn't make sense from the standpoint of food soiling it and seeing crumbs that need to be swept up. I'd bring in color/pattern with your drapes and other accessories.