I know you'd like a better photo, but with all the light coming in the windows, impossible.

Renovation = zero electricity, no place to sit, no toilets, no sinks, no cabinets and this is a money pit for sure!

Wait until the table and chairs are in place -- and then add color and texture with table linens, pottery on the table etc.

Add small colored-and-patterned cushions to the chairs -- a fabulous tablecloth, colored glasses and a huge pottery platter in the center of the table .....

Don't worry about what may go under the table -- until you have lived in the place for awhile -- perhaps look for a very basic outdoor sisal rug at the end of the season for a "cheap-and-cheerful" test run to see if a rug would work there ....

Money pit, perhaps. But what a view!!!

How much food does your husband drop on the floor during a normal meal? Most people over the age of 6 manage to keep their food on their plate or, at worst, their laps. ;)

Window treatments will soften the room. Airy gauzy white sheers would work. Or maybe something like Pipdog's orange drapes.

If I had that much tile to keep clean, I would invest in a really good steam cleaner. They are wonderful!

Here is a link that might be useful: Orange drapes

I agree with teacats. Wait till it starts coming together with furniture and accessories you probably won't be concerned about floor covering. I always get a chuckle when people won't put rugs/carpeting under the table because of food spills. I never get food spills under the table -- we get more food spills in the living room. Tile isn't that easy to keep clean either.

Seagrass or Mountain grass rug. It's inexpensive and cleans up food spills easily. I bought mine at natural area rugs (or something like that --- I can look it up if you're interested , and it's held up very well despite messy eaters.
Or in indoor/outdoor rug that you can hose off.

How about a floor cloth? With a polyurethene coat on top nothing is going to penetrate it.

There are lots of people DIYing them, and they're gorgeous and you can pick the colors!

Here is a link that might be useful: Like this....

desertdance, what a wonderful, wonderful view! I have travertine porcelain tile throughout the open living area. We had matching rugs that we absolutely loved in the living room and under the dining table and chairs in the dining room. Then we got a dog who did not take well to house training (which we found out by the smell created in the dining room) and ended up having to remove the beloved rug in the dining area. Immediately, the room looked better; therefore, we removed the rug in the living room, too. Never thought we would prefer only the tile without the rugs, but we like the look so much better. Saying this so that it may help satisfying both you and your husband. And if you have vinyl dining chairs because of the pool, it stands to reason that the tile floor would be better than one with a rug on it. Just my 2 cents.

My dh has always felt the same way that yours does when it comes to putting a rug under our kitchen table. Having said that, I recently purchased the round jute rug by Pottery Barn and I love it! It adds texture to the space and is soft to the feet. I think a natural fiber rug would be perfect on your tile floor. They are running a rug sale currently too.

What about an outdoor rug? They are making some amazing polypropylene rugs that you just vacuum and then hose off. I'm linking one from grandin road because it's such a great color, but they have others in many styles as do many sites.

Here is a link that might be useful: au pair rug

This post was edited by olychick on Sat, May 4, 13 at 20:21

Yes, I was thinking, Dash and Albert makes some nice indoor/outdoor rugs reasonably priced. You can take 'em out and hose 'em off.....

A DIY floor cloth would be cool as well.

how about FLOR tiles?

they have an amazing selection and prices are reasonable...

pay attention to the 'natural look' carpet tiles (like basket weave or sisal) which would work fine with your tiles

beautiful view!! so lovely

Here is a link that might be useful: flor carpet tiles

Thanks for all your great ideas! DH agrees that we should live there a while prior to deciding, but I'm happy I posted this and I am considering all the options you have all provided!

Suzi