HI Kelley how are things going sorry had a rough start on today's posts....wools rugs are very durable but they shed fibers for a very a long time..sometimes two years...it is very annoying to say the least...hand knotted rug seems to really be the thing right now but can be very pricey, so it would be a rug you will hold onto for a very long time..heirloom type quality. For example a 9x12 is usually in the $2000 range or more...have you looked at any karastan machine made rugs? As far as I know they have a mixed fiber that is very kid friendly.

My own experience with a wool rug: as soon as I raised the vacuum to the proper height to care for my new rug it quit "shedding".

Wow Terry Toon you are very lucky...even when people came for dinner and the sliding of shoes under the table would pull up so much it was embarrassing...no matter if they where expensive or on the the cheaper side....I have a wool rug in my husbands office too....under his desk and just from his feet it looks like little fuzzy animals live under it! Hehe

You are looking for a hand knotted, no propylene. Be very careful if the rugs from Overstock have a backing. The stink and the odor lingers forever. These come from Asia and they use very caustic glues. There have even been threads on Houzz about it.
For a Persian rug or any rug with texture, such as a really good sisal, from Stark or Merida, just use a vacuum with gentle suction, no beater bar. I have a good Miele that does the trick on all my throw rugs, Persian and others.
The key is to get a super good rug pad to protect your floors and make sure the rug doesn't have a "backing".

Kelley, the rug you are looking at from Safavieh says it has a wool construction with a polypropylene pile. This most likely means that the weft is made of Indian wool (which is the lowest quality wool in the world because it is highly processed), and hand knotted strands of polypropylene around the wool weft. Polypropylene is polypropylene. They do this to trick customers hoping they won't notice the part about the pile being synthetic. It will not last longer.

A brand new hand knotted rug wool rug will shed for approximately one month until it acclimates to its new environment. Wool rugs that shed like crazy shed because they are hand tufted...Sometimes marketed as "hand made" or "hand woven". They can say made by hand because a human hand loads the machine with the wool yarn, and holds the tufting gun while it punches a design into a piece of canvas using a stencil. Then a cotton backing is glued onto the back with latex to hold the rug together. If you look on youtube, you can find videos of people lightly tugging at the wool and it just comes right out. They will not last very long compared to hand knotted and they shed like crazy like zzmom40 mentioned. If your hand knotted rug is shedding like crazy, you probably got a hand knotted rug made with Indian wool or got a very poorly made rug. They shed only until the wool yarn acclimates then decreases to almost nothing.

Wool and silk are the most durable fibers to hand knot. A hand knotted rug will never have a backing. Another reason a hand knotted rugs are great is because if your rug becomes very faded or damaged or is very stained, you can send it to be overdyed and revive the rug. You will almost never see someone throwing away a hand knotted rug.

The vacuuming issue arises because you like someone said above, you have to adjust the height of the vacuum to the height of the pile. Hand knotted rugs should only be vacuumed bi weekly with a vacuum without a beater bar. They are too powerful for a natural fiber like wool. Here is a link to a post about cleaning hand knotted rugs:

http://blog.rugknots.com/interior-tips-and-tricks/interior-design/how-to-clean-a-wool-rug/

SO, with the idea of investing in a better quality hand knotted rug, RugKnots helped me with these possible 2 options!...I really love this rug, but it is (obviuosly) an investment so would love your opinion on #1 if you like...#2, which color (1,2 are samee...3,4 are same) #3 curtain suggestions (if I switch out the white curtains). Since curtains are a lesser investment, maybe I can do something fun like the more neutral gray rug (2nd grouping) and add blue in with the curtains?...

I have a good feeling no one would tell me to roll either of these up and send them back! lol :)

OR NEUTRAL (I kind of like because I can switch out color schemes with accents and not have to uproot the rug!)

The second one looks great.

#3 is beautiful...you could add soft gold/butter yellow drapes with it that you wanted. Hope you got a good deal so you can get your new furniture.

If you do go with the expensive rug....you will need to up the quality on your drapes..readymades from online just won't work with that quality type rug. I have a source from Etsy.com that makes custom panels in a linen any color you want and they band them with a Greek key trim...gorgeous

zzmom40, we are on the same page that the curtain quality would have to match the quality of the rug. I love silk for curtains. My thought is to invest now instead of spending more money a few years down the road for an upgrade. I think the curtains are most important to "do now" as long as I know what rug I am going with, I can save for that and then save for the change in furniture. :) This is my one "fancy" room in the whole house, and also the first room people see when they come in- so I want it all to be right!

Marthanadash.com
They are made of a gorgeous linen..perfect with your hand knotted rug...silk would not be my first choice..especially if you will be adding the casual with the contemporary updated feel. The banding in a Greek key would look just beautiful.
Here are samples from them I use for my clients...they will send you a sample packet if you request it online...they are wonderful to work with. Lined and with weighted corners. Image 2 is a sample of one one the panels they make.

I know you don't want to hear it....but I still really liked the blue rug...but I understand...if it had the backing everyone was talking about that causes cancer...I wouldn't want it either...

zzmom, I don't mind you saying that one bit!.. I guess I decided if I am THIS unsure about it, it just isn't the right one. I am learning more about rugs then I thought I would be in for when I first posted, but it is interesting and I am enjoying this process. :)

Love the Greek key idea. White curtains with the grey and tan key on the bottom right would look stunning.

honestly the room was perfect with the rug. all I'd add to give the room a pop of color is a hot pink center peice on the table

Karen, thank you! Not sure how my husband would like the hot pink center peice idea though!

The second rug seems to have more of the 'tone' of the room imo, first rug almost looks too cold. Are you (we, lol) able to see samples of these rugs?

tgb1, I did ask RugKnots but they do not provide samples. This rug is also not available to try in a smaller size as suggested by someone else. I like the service they provide as far as "super imposing" the rug into your room to help you paint the picture, and they also have free shipping (and returns!) within 30 days if it doesn't work out. The customer service from them so far has been exceptional. :)

Then it may be worth a try - if you're willing...

RugKnots, I am looking at the curtains and was wondering - do you mean you recommend the knots at the bottom of the curtains versus the sides as the picture shoes? zzmom40, I love that they offer samples of fabric for free!

Kelley would you ever consider not having a rug at all? Your floor is beautiful...You could get gorgeous custom drapes and hang them up close to the ceiling with wood rods to match your floors and get your new table and chairs and could add patterned or colored host chairs.

Love #3.. Makes your room look high end to me. Good picks rug knots.

zzmom, yes, I have considered that option as well. I like the look of an area rug, maybe because I am used to it. My husband is also very particular about the hardwood not getting scratched so that has been a concern too with not having a rug under the furniture. I really do like the curtains you sent me earlier...I asked for a few fabric samples :) Would you do the same kind of thing without the rug or go more elaborate?

Here are a few dinning rooms with the bare floor...very sophisticated....yes you could do the same drapes with the Greek key...gray or the gold with whatever Greek key accent color you want it would be gorgeous.

It does look nice, and sophisticated, simple and elegant. Maybe I order the curtains, hang them, do without the rug for awhile and see how it wears on me. I would need some time to put the money aside for the rug anyway, so this could be a good way to do it. Everyone says to work from the rug, but I think those curtains would go with anything I would select and they are gorgeous!

If you go w/o a rug, which I think is a good option, just make sure you have the pads on the chair legs and such...

Yes it is a very open classic feel...would help make your room appear bigger too!

certainly a less costly option! :) And can always add one later

This is my dinning room...I love the ease of cleaning and the simple elegant but casual feel you get..very welcoming.

dine
dīn/
verb
gerund or present participle: **dining**
"we dined at a restaurant"
:-) it's dining room, not dinning room. Class over! :-)

Lovely zzmom! Do u have pads on your chair legs?

Terry Toon - I'm shocked at u correcting people! Weren't many of us called out for doing THE EXACT SAME THING??

Sorry...just a typing habit..my bad so sorry if it offends you!
Ouch
A glass of wine and a good book might help you relax. LOL

Yes I removed the hard plastic ones that came on them and bought the felt padded ones you hammer in...works great..moves smooth across the wood floors in my DINING room

Kelleye, love the idea of waiting until you can afford a suitable rug. When you are in the market for one, can you visit a few carpet showrooms in your city? Did this with a friend a few months ago, she loved it in the showroom, we brought it home in my trunk, soon as she got it home, she realized it was too dark bd drove it back up to the city the next week. All she did was give her c.c. Info as security.
Same goes for art, most galleries allow you to try things in your space, before purchasing :)

ZZmom40, your DINNING room is just beautiful! And I LOVE that mirror!! Where did you find that? Similar to mine but maybe bigger?... And you have written so many WONDERFUL suggestions on this thread that I am shocked you only had 1 typo! I think we all knew what you meant. I also love wine- yet another fab suggestion! ;)

Terry Toon, a smiley face doesn't make it any less rude. :)

SandyC, I did research a few local show rooms per your suggestion, thank you! I really do love the rug from RugKnots as well and am really starting to learn "my style!"

Kelley thank you for your kind words!

Awesome!

I think the rug is too casual for the room.

New rug looks much better to me. We are getting a rug for our dining room to protect the hardwood floors. With a kid that isn't rough but isn't careful seems the best course. Also like those linen and Greek key curtains.

the Greek key drapes from etsy are fabulous. I would say get those then get your new table/chairs. (is that a definite you are replacing those or not?). Then see how it feels and whether you want a rug. I would not do gold drapes. Loook I am obsessed with brass and gold but even I would draw the line at drapes. Ivory with brass rods and hooks is much more elegant. You can bring more gold in with your accesories and frames

Most designers would recommend finding furniture, which you already have, then finding a rug you love, then adding accessories like curtains, vases, lamps etc... They are smaller purchases that are much easier match to the larger purchases like furniture and rugs. If you would rather not have a rug, then I would choose very substantial curtains to add weight and warmth to your dining room but only if you are set on not having a rug. Although they would work, weighty curtains are not necessary with a rug. I quite like airy curtains like the ones you have now with a wool rug to add some contrast. You can also buy the Greek keys or any other trim you love at a fabric store or textile company, take them and your curtains to a tailor, and have the tailor add them in and voila! Custom curtains. I have had this done and the tailor charged $20 to add trim to my Target curtains. The price of all four panels with the trim and the tailor fee was about $160 dollars which is less than one custom panel. They were for my mom and she's had them for 6 years and they still look great. Marta and Ash also does not offer returns if you change your mind. I would recommend taking the rug you have now out and leave your curtains to get a feel of what the room looks like and feels like without a rug. If you love it, I would say go rugless, if you don't love it, then I would say go for a rug. It's all about what you want and what suits your needs.

kelly889, sometimes guys don't mind but if he does the next best color is bright orange. Orange also happens to be the opposite color of blue so it's a great contrast.

RugKnots, In fact, I just moved the rug today for that same reason, great suggestion! Thank you also for the idea about the Greek Key Notes, very interesting and less expensive option!

ZZmom, when Martha replied to me on ETSY, she commented on my photo "I love your rug!"....just so funny how everyone has different opinions! :) They are sending me sample in the mail today to look at.

Seems very chilly in here without a rug. I feel unwelcome in my own house! lol I am sure it is part to do with the wrong furniture set (that yes, I am eventually replacing) and no accents, accessories yet. Again, working on the big stuff first!

Yes the furniture is giving off a very strong red color that is not complementary to your walls or floor so moving forward with a new set with some upholstered chairs will really make a difference! Everyone is different so wouldn't recommend a rug to everyone is case is very individual.

I agree, too red. Love this furniture set and it is pretty new, but I got a deal on it from craigslist. I will be reposting it for sale soon!