We've had berber in our last two houses and it wears like steel. The first house we sold after seven years and the carpet looked perfect. We used the same carpet in our new house. We have eight year old twins. Below is a link to what I am pretty sure is the carpet we used. You are probably going to need something a little darker than we picked to have a bit of contrast with your white flooring. There are quite a few colors to pick from. http://www.carpet-wholesale.com/item_83813/Rolls_Of_Carpet/Queen/Lucida/Pearl_Bead.php

I have gray carpet in my bedrooms. It is a flat weave from Karastan with a tone on tone stripe. I think it is the most forgiving carpet I've ever had. I do have an Irobot (recent purchase) because of the vacuuming. I have a long haired blond tabby that sheds like crazy, so I have to vacuum all the time. Of course, he sheds on the hardwood too. If I didn't have the cat, the vacuuming would just be maintenance.

Hi, love that you love bold colors and patterns. I think a rug that will help to highlight what you've started in your space without competing with it would be beautiful. Because most of your patterns are medium to large in size, I would probably recommend a rug that has some black in it and even with a pattern but with a different scale pattern (much larger or smaller/more subtle) than what is shown in your pillows, chair and lamp. Here are some examples.... Mostly of rooms with bolder (black and white) patterns and the rugs that were used with them. In pic 3, a rug with a larger scale pattern was used in combination with pillows, drapes with smaller or no pattern (and with black/white contrasts). Your space would be the reverse application I think....like in pic 4. I also love the idea of a bolder, more contrasting in color (like the colors of your pillows, etc.) of a cowhide rug. Perhaps even a hair on hide rug.

Hello Deb - sounds nice :) If you are going with High Gloss cabinetry this needs to be done 'perfectly' by your kitchen installer as gloss shows EVERYTHING. Just something to be careful of. www.cambridgecolour.co.nz elizabeth@cambridgecolour.co.nz