I agree with Decoenthusiast. A second rug is not absolutely necessary because the living area is already defined and separated from the dining area by the existing rug. However, if you have your heart set on a second rug, reverse the colors.

Toula Favreau, Acanthus Interiors, Vancouver, Canada

Thank you all for your time and comments. I greatly appreciate all the input. I personally like the look and feel of having a rug under the table. Because what I have had there in the past has been a very low pile, I have not noticed any difficulty with moving chairs. We only use the dining room for special occasions, so it is looked at more often than actually used ;-) The rug that is in the living room is from the Karastan Persian Renaissance collection (black/ivory). I really like the idea of something that either reverses the colors in the same style rug or at least finding just a similar rug. I found something close and similar, but a bit different. Wondering if they are too similar?

Different rugs will define different spaces. They can have some subtle complimentary elements, if they must, but matching rugs would be infinitely less interesting, IMHO.

beautiful rooms just the way they are, but if you really really want a rug under the dining table I would like something different- I love the idea of a sisal- I love the texture and the neutral color would not compete with the LR rug. I don't think the sisal is too casual for the formal DR- it's a refreshing juxtaposition and solution to your home looking too stuffy and rigid. If you don't like the idea of the sisal rug, how about a no pattern off white plushy-ish, shag-ish rug, again to add fun texture and pick up on the ivory in the LR rug---like the runner on your stairs, but shaggier and lighter. Good luck/lovely home!

When we put the great room/kitchen on the house, I found 2 same 8x10 kilims at TJMAXX. One is in the Dining area and one in the Living area of the Great room. That was 1996 and they have held up well on our cherry floors, and we have not tired of them. But here's the deal....in my formal DR, I have no carpet over the hard wood floor (only room w/out an oriental, tough as the room is 12x25 and the table is 12' long), And I like it just fine too. I am nuts for Orientals. I have 5 smaller ones in our MBR, they are similar in color, same in other rooms of the house, LR Loft,laundry, walkin closet, and halls. So the identical ones in the GR was a fluke, just go for something matchie...Like the pattern (bokara runners in the halls are reverse colors), or colors. Buy what you love. Also make sure you can return it! ps.....all the rugs are wool and every several years, they go out on the driveway and get a good scrubbing and rinsing and dry on the grass in the back yard. They are all still fine. I probably would not do that to a real $$$$ antique rug. PPs re-looking just think of putting a small rug under the side board.

Your dining room is beautiful without a rug.

Decorating and Interior Design With Antique Rugs I would strongly suggest NOT getting two exact rugs!!! I am including a link to some articles about decorating with antique rugs.

I agree with Judy Cook's suggestions. It's personal of course, but I really love the added ambiance and feel of anchoring the entire living/dining space with coordinating area rugs. I shopped a long time trying to get a nice complimenting arrangement for my living/dining area and ended up with similar tones, size and 'complimenting' (not clashing or matching) rugs. It was a tough time. I also had the challenge of trying to bring color over existing dark carpet. Since you have little color in the living room you might bring that into the dining area and add pillows, throws,,etc of the same color in the living room to pull together the two spaces. I found both rugs at Pottery Barn on sale for around $700 each. Good quality and nice color.

I prefer dining rooms without rugs. I have hardwood without a rug and it joins my LR which does have a rug. It's much easier to keep clean and doesn't present an obstacle to pulling the chairs in and out. Your space is lovely just the way it is.

I agree with others about no rug in the DR. It looks spectacular just the way it is, but then I am a bare floor person. Consider how much easier to clean without the rug, and as someone else said more comfortable pushing in and back from the table, you don't need to vacuums to clean if you keep the floor bare, and there is no contesting the beauty of the bare floor.

Having said that, I bought two identical rugs several years ago and put one in the LR and one in the DR, though they were much more separated than your layout. The designer said no no don't do that, but I did anyway and enjoyed them very much for a long time till I decided to change the DR furniture. I put that second rug in my storage room, and only recently found that I needed it again for another space. I was so glad to have it because it is a rug I just love.

So if you really want matching rugs I say get the second one, put it down, and see how it looks and feels. You obviously have good taste and will know if it works well or not. My rule of thumb in doing my own decorating is something I got from my favorite designer: Put the element in its place and if it says YES! then it's a go. If it does not say yes, then it is not a go. There is no maybe. It is either yes, or no go. Conversely, if you like something or think you like something, take it away and see if you miss it or not. If you miss it, then it needs to be there. If you don't, it doesn't. I've found these little tips work very well. Bless that designer! to get a good one is a wonderful thing.

oops, TWO vacuums

Personally, I dislike a matchy, matchy look. If you feel you would like another one, find one that will pick up some of the colors in your existing one.

Yes, it can be awkward moving a dining room chair back when carpet is underfoot, BUT I hate the sound more of a chair being scraped back on tile...like finger nails on chalk board! I would definitely have a rug under the dining set in almost like colors. Would anchor the room, the space, the table and chairs and look lovely.

Surround yourself with things *you* love, and you will never regret your design choices. Having 2 rugs alike is a perfect example of this. I would surely have a rug under the dining chairs and table, although it may be a larger or smaller size (depending on the room size), rather than the same size. Not only would it anchor the table and chairs, it would also help soften the area, not only in looks, but also in noise...it can get noisy in a room with ceramic or stone tiles. Quietness has a softening, warm, intimate & welcoming effect.

As a designer with 30 years of experience working with and
designing Oriental rugs there a few options I’m recommending. First you
can use the same or similar design but with a center medallion. Second
you can use the same or similar design but reverse the colors where the field
is ivory and the border is black. Third you can use a different design but similar
in scale and balance and colors. Lastly, there's no rule that says you
can't use the same rug especially in open floor plans. Nejad Rugs www.nejad.com

The room is beautiful so you obviously have an eye for design. The main issue on this decision is whether you actually have room in the dining room for a rug. The rug should ideally extend 30" on each side of the table. You could get away with 24" but no less. The practical issue of pushing back a dining chair without falling off the rug with the back legs of the chairs requires this allowance....no exceptions!

You want your living room to be more visually important than the dining room and because your living rug is large, you can accomplish this and still have a rug in the dining room. I like the idea of using the same colors in a coordinating but similar pattern.

Good luck!

Sisal rug (for all the reasons already listed) with a black band, no question. Just be sure to watch the undertones as it needs to work with the pinkish floor tile and the goldeny curtains. The black band will help with that transition and tie into the other rug. Here is an easy peasy retail option from Pottery Barn. http://www.potterybarn.com/products/color-bound-sisal-rug-black/

Use this one in the dining room and buy a smaller one if not the same design the color and use it in the living room

Why do people put rugs in dining rooms? It makes it almost impossible to get in and out of your chair because it won't slide on a rug. And when food is dropped and spilled, it makes a mess of the rug.

Many professional interior designers and clients choose to use oriental rugs in the dining room because it visually and
aesthetically defines the space and adds beautiful texture and design.
Most people also find that it is more comfortable to have a rug on the
floor rather than sitting in chairs on bare floor. Additionally rugs
help dampen noise levels.If the chairs do not move easily there
are many castors available for almost every chair leg. And finally
most quality Oriental rugs will clean up easily with spills if treated
in a timely manner.

Same rug will work! Rules follow...open concept: entry way and great room open to one another can have the same rug. Kitchen room can also all match in the kitchen. But, no no to dining room and kitchen. It breaks the flow.