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

Heating sources here in New Zealand are typically Heat Pump or woodburner. I see a heat pump merely blowing dirt and dust/hair everywhere... keeping it in the air... and distributing it all over. I've run across this: www.thermaskirt.com which is very interesting. It's like a radiator, using hot water to heat, but on each of the walls, at floor (skirting) level. Since we have 3.3m (11ft) ceilings in this addition, it might be the most effective at providing heat where we need it without blowing dirt/dust around.

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.

I was going to say. There's no way that carpet could be in here, especially when animals aren't always the best at making it to the bathroom in time. Great article!