As for an area rug, I've had fun creating custom area rugs using carpet tiles from www.flor.com

thanks for the suggestions and link to flor - another possibility for rugs! - would you go for a more neutral rug? Regarding the stacked stone, does it need any special attention to keep it looking great over the years?

Do you like a lot of color? Will anything else in the room have color? A brightly colored rug can bring fun to an otherwise calm room.

love color - pillows will have color - what colors for a rug would you suggest? I like soft greens and blues - am concerned about possibly making the room darker - is that a valid concern?

Yes, it is a valid concern. I love the color of the bamboo floors. I also like the rustic looking brick after you removed the 'not so great' looking stone. I would go with a limestone type color, white with some color variation.

You could go w/o a mantle, however it might be very unique to go with a bronzey metal. Or a thin live edge reclaimed wood about the same finish as on the floors. I always recommend getting an antique Oriental or Persian rug (with an all over pattern) in many colors. Some times they are available old on craigslist or E-bay or just a flea market. They go with any style décor & are the timeless aspect in the room.

Add some books to your coffee table.

is there such a thing as a copper mantle? Could you send me photos of what you are referring to? Thanks so much!

I think if you have enough light colored furniture (you have some in the photos and I'm assuming you're keeping it) you can keep it light while still adding color.

I'm not sure about maintenance on that stacked stone.