I vote for distant cousins ;-)

Voting for distant cousins as well.

Can you post a pic? What colors are already in play in the spaces?

I think as long as the colors flow, it does not matter.

I think it depends upon the rug and upon the decor of the house. I do think that a rug + runner is a better combination than two like-sized rugs used in different orientations.

However, in terms of pattern & style, the diametric opposite choices could both work--those choices being matching rugs and distant cousins, respectively.

My parents have an entryway with two hallways and it currently has four rugs that all "match", although since they are handmade they vary slightly. The combination is a large rug, a very small rug and two runners.

It used to have four different rugs all of which I now have in my entryway/hall.

One look is formalized, one look is a bit more "organic", like the collection grew over time.

I rugs that match have to be chosen carefully so they don't end up looking like a set that was bought together like a bathroom rug set:) Likewise, rugs that are different, but with pattern or scale that are too similar may look like near misses.

If it is only 2 rugs in the room, I would say sisters but if it was more I like twins. I have 2 runners and 2 mats in my kitchen..they are quaduplets, otherwise to me it looks too busy.

Do you mean a small rug in front of the door or a larger, significant area rug for the foyer?

If you go with two different patterns, think about color as the harmonious element between them. Not that they be the same coloring, just that they connect or relate to each other with color. You might also want to vary the scale of pattern.

The character of the rug might also be another quality to keep in mind. I'm remembering your home as farmhouse style, and not particularly eclectic.

The rug in front of the doorway would be relatively small (4' x 6' max, or maybe 3' x 5'). Then there would be a runner in the adjoining hallway. The wall color is BM Wilmington Tan, which has gold tones, the woodwork is creamy colored, and the kitchen to which the hallway leads, is a brick red color with black furniture. The neighboring great room is Wilmington Tan too, and the furniture and fireplace are a warm, medium brown tone.

I like the look of mixed antique furniture (or reproduction furniture), warm colors, vintage prints, and an uncluttered setting - think modern/new country rather than cutesy, cluttered country.

The Safia Rug by Ballard Designs is one I would like to use for the runner. I'm posting a link to it below. So, if I chose this one, what would be a good mate for it by the front door?

Here is a link that might be useful: Safia Rug by Ballard

Hi Jan,
I remember your beautiful house. I have similar colors (Wilmington tan ) and use paprika as accents, wood floors, etc.

I will start off by saying I am a rug dummy! So, I went with Karastan - the English Manor collection. It is easier for me to stay within a collection made with the same colors - kinda paint by numbers!! I'm thinking that collection would work well in your house, too.

Here is the windsor...

Canterbury

I'm just trying to give you an example of the colors & styles - there are more styles.

Smiles:)

I can picture something like this, with a good bit of red and a larger pattern. It also picks up the black of your kitchen and hall rug selection (which has some red in it). Kind of reminds me of your kitchen. Very inviting for a foyer, imo.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Rug

Different cousins and here's why. At the door you need a rug where people can wipe their shoes on, even if you have the best outdoor mat on your porch. That's the rug which will get dirt and grit on it, so you'll be cleaning it often if the door is used quite a bit.

my son has a large entryway which sounds similar to yours and they put a solid color door mat next to the door, and a medium size decorative rug in the foyer. Not a runner though because the foyer is pretty large. The hallways go off on each side of the foyer.

Oakleyok - Great thoughts. I live in snowy northern Wisconsin, so the feet wiping thing is an issue. Yet, I would love for the wipe-your-feet rug to be attractive too, or at least not an eye sore.

OK, I will try responding again, I have this sherbrook amber rug in my foyer where people wipe feet and I live in a cold snowy area so there is a lot of mess coming in. But for two years it has held up very nicely. I vacuum when dry and this spring I will hose it down outside. I find it pleasing to look at and they have many sizes. I do not like to spend big money on entry rugs. I would rather not worry about people using them to wipe feet.

Here is a link that might be useful: Please click here

Lyban - Those rugs are really nice, and JCP is so reasonable with pricing. I too would rather not spend a fortune on rugs, as I like to change them out anyway, for a change once in awhile. I posted this response before, but it disappeared.

scoobyruby, is that pictures of your gorgeous house you have posted above?