Oh, for heaven’s sake, she must be kidding. Surely we do not have to go through this dining room thing again.
You don’t. Not really. But one of the interesting comments on the last go round was about the rug. Now, I had originally said that I have no budget. And now, I still have no budget. But the idea of the rug sort of took hold, so I asked Ben Soleimani of Mansour if he had any thoughts.
Mr. Blandings and I have a long-held belief that everyone named Ben is a good guy. Every Ben we have met, anyway. We initially had this conversation in a movie theater when we were first married and it has come up several times since.
We are never surprised when we meet yet another very nice Ben as the name seems to be filled with karmic goodness for us.
So no surprise that this new Ben, Mr. Soleimani, was completely willing to pick a few rugs that might jazz up my space.
He said, in a very nice way, that the room seemed a little dark, a little heavy and that some color and pattern might just wake things up.
This last Sultanabad is my favorite, though I can see how each one would affect the personality of the room.
But, Mansour Modern also offers some terrific choices. The rug from the Chinois collection, above, is particularly dreamy. 
And this piece, the Kelly, designed by Victoria Hagan would add a dramatic punch. The exercise made me go back and think again how each element would affect the feel of the room. Perhaps someday my bank account will catch up to all this wonderful inspiration. In the meantime, a girl can dream, right?
For the record, I received no compensation for this post.
I think in agreement with you about the blue Sultanabad. And it would certainly give the room a new energy.
But, I'm also salivating over that Hagan one. *scratches chin thinking about one's own dining room*
Scot – particularly fun for me to have a front row seat for the redo. Can't wait to see the results.
You know what, I saw a rug similar to the last image you show, in a showroom, and it was killer dynamite, loved it.
The sweet fellow just above "some color or pattern" makes my heart skip a beat.
it's not the rug, it's those chairs. And deep in your heart, you know it. Maybe paint them white, with decorative trim. They're just too wimpy for the room.
The last one is terrific but it's #3 for me though something tells me they all look vastly different in person. Gorgeous selections…
Was the china hutch white before? Something seems lighter and cheerier. Perhaps its just the sunlight?
believe it or not I actually purchased two oriental rugs on e-bay. the one I really wanted got away in a last second by out bidding, by a computer program i am told, but the two that i did purchase are just right and the price was almost unbelievable. I was addicted for a period of two weeks a couple of summers ago.
I love how a little inspiration can bring about change. It is like buying a new dress, which perpetuates new shoes and accessories. A new rug to dine on and cut up over will be so much fun. It can add a whole new life to a conversation. I know that the one you select will be wonderful.
pve
Kerry – I think the photography is about 90% of the perceived problem of the room.
Anon – I know I've opened this can of worms, but I'd rather not dissect her faults again today; seems like everything has been said.
And, Patricia, as usual, I'm not buying, just shopping.
I agree with the pattern, that more is more and becomes less jarring so. Hard to tell from pics, but I think since the table will cover most of the center, that the border is the most important element. While Sultanabad is a bad, bad boy, I'd put more punch (red, of course) on the outside.
Interesting concept about names being a portent (and here so glad it's for the good). I personally think that Hannah is the tops.
The Sultanabad is gorgeous, I think it would liven things up nicely.
And oh my, the Chinois collection example. I've got the perfect place and no cash.
HI Patricia
I vote for your favorite. As my good friends Joey Molly and Otis O'Connor always told me start with a great rug to set the tone of the room! They have great rugs in the Consignment shop and I have bought several over the years that have done just that for our home. Teri
My first post, anywhere. Beautiful room. You are spot on about photography being 90% of perceived problem and the sultanabad.Your lovely armillary appears bigger than the chandelier, skewing the scale & perhaps it's there just for the photo shoot. but the black wall molding, if painted white will bring more balance and make your art work more prominent. but brava for trying it in black! I love your blog.
Linda
paint a design onto the rug you have-
there was one on the cover of Elle Decor a while back-
can't think of her name but she is married to George can't even begin to spell his last name, starts with S –
john in nc
David – ditto.
And, John, your may be the best Anon comment I've ever received. I know just the room – like grape kool-aid spills – thanks for the idea.
Mrs. B. If it is photography to blame then you have a dining room that is enviable by most standards. I find it quite nice. Please don't paint the chairs 😉
The Victoria Hagan is amazing…photographers are worth their wight!!
Best,
Michelle
This is one of my first comments to a blog, so I hope it is worthy of Mrs. Blanding's high stature in the blogosphere. I humbly submit that I love John's advice-to try your hand at painting the rug. Since sisal has a rough surface, you might try to replicate the loosely block-printed look of Robert Kime's fabrics. But I would probably stick with a trellisy pattern to keep it from looking too blotchy.
And I too find myself with a recession-busted budget, so I wondered if Mrs. Blandings, or any of her dear readers, knows of any good online sources for lovely, economically priced rugs?
humbly submitted by
Kathy in MN
Great comments and you know Patricia, the Mr & Mrs George S rug project would be right up your alley!
Karena
Art by Karena
I have a fascinating interview with artist Robert Anders up on my site.
I agree with John in NC who suggests you paint the rug. You could do something geometric a la the "Kelly" with masking tape and some red paint. It would be like giving the room a little present.
I think your trim is too bright.
If you add a rug, please rethink the trim.
JohnR from Paris
Don't forget the estate sales Mrs. B! We picked up a huge oriental that was nicely made for less than I pay for a pair of good shoes.
I tend to like the older rugs rather than the newer. And a highly patterned rug hides evidence of the bacchanale.
I think(?) this is my first time commenting on your blog…I saw the first picture in my google reader and I was like "oooh, hot dining room". So yes, hot dining room! Excuse the redundant comment, but maybe you can just overlay a smaller rug over the existing one, you'd still have the added texture/pattern, floor covering, but will be able to save some cash buy buying something smaller? Another suggestion (sorry, I know it's unfair of me though, as I understand this is a process) have you considered doing some sort of collection/vase/whatever on top of the hutch? it's quite a dark spot and maybe a decorative box/jar could activate it? Mind you, it would probably be a dusting nightmare, so never mind 🙂 Either way, it's looking stunning as is! I'm looking forward to the space evolve further!
Mrs. Blandings, I was in dire need of an oriental rug for a room we eat in, and because I didn't want to worry about getting wine/cherry Jello/gazpacho stains out of sisal or ruining an expensive oriental actually found a decent one (9×11) on rugman.com for about $600. about two years ago.
— Spiffychick
There was a company that sold painted sisal rugs looking like anything from Aubusson to Sultanabad! They may still be in business – but you can certainly do it yourself! We've seen you attempt things much more difficult!
-Marie-Christine
And lose the white thing (armillary?) on the table! It looks like it's there to be cleaned or repaired – or something! The scale is so wrong!
M-C (again)
Hello – this first time posting on your blog. Your Dining Room has great potential. It's very large and spacious. But my first thought is there is just too much going on. What is your focal point? The panel molding is nice but I'd either paint it brown (wall color) to add to the overall architectural effect or paint it white like the trim. Or paint the walls & trim all the same color. Do something else with that wonderful yellow color inside your china cabinets!
As for the chairs…budget taken into consideration..perhaps slipcover them in a shear fabric so the lines the chairs still show. Or a slipcover that references the yellow in the cabinets on the chair seat?
I like the idea from above of painting the sisal with a trellis pattern or smaller rug layered on it (if you do this it needs to be big enough to still fit the chairs when they are pulled out. Of all the rug choices I love the Victoria Hagan. The patterned orientals seem a bit Grandma! I too bought some on ebay a few years back and quickly got tired of all the color & pattern(they do hide stains from children though!) I know have solid color or rugs with a textured geometric pattern for a tone on tone affect.
Although I love the Armillary it is a bit out of scale for the table..it takes away from the chandelier.
I love reading your blog. You are inspiring!
Really, you are all so nice to take the time to pick this apart, but truly I just wanted to talk about really lovely rugs. My dining room has undergone more analysis than I have. And that is saying a lot. Let's let her be.
I'm sorry, you're right. I'm a designer and tend to over-analyse everything (even when it's not called for)—it's a nightmare just getting dressed 🙂 Good luck with your rug hunt!
Have to agree with Victoria Thorne, that 4th one makes my pulse quicken!
*gently caresses the picture on computer screen*
"whoooooosa pretty dining room? Whoooooooosa pretty dining room?"
hope that helps!
Speaking of tartanscot, go here to see how moldings should look.
I like the designs and the patterns. As for the dining room, the rug made the dining set stand out.