Opinions, Please.

OK, I have been dawdling over the last year or so about a rug for my front hallway, and FLOR keeps coming out with more fantastic selections that I love.  So, I thought I'd open it up to your opinions.

Here is a little background.  We have a pretty big front hallway, and it is still fairly characterless.  I thought if I put in a pretty rug in the area near that library table it would feel warmer.  I want to lose the mirror eventually and put something else there, and I even thought about moving the table up or down the hall a little and putting a cushy chair next to it, since I keep all of my craft books right here.  Also, the room to the left is now my craft room (formerly dining room) and the doors to the right are to my husband's office (he works from home).  We are not formal at all, and like simple but playful decorating styles.  The colors of our house are mostly neutrals paired with greens and blue-greens, but I've been injecting an odd amount of navy blue upstairs recently.

My original plan was to design a rug sort of like this Whimsy area rug, minus the "housepet" carpet tiles, since we have them in our playrooom.  FLOR claims this is Spanish style, but to me in this cool colorway, I think it reads sort of Swedish farmhouse-- am I totally crazy?

edited to add:  I just pulled out the carpet samples I had ordered for this one and realized that I had planned to also add khaki shades to this one to tone down its "blueness."

Or, the same general idea, with only the printed tiles.

And then FLOR came out with their Hopskotch area rug, and I think this could be really fun up here, and obviously the kids could play on it.  I also have a lot of typography around the house (I am a graphic designer in case you didn't know that), so this would fit in nicely.  The one negative here is that I thought if the rug was larger, the kids might play or hang out up here while we worked.

And now FLOR has gone and come up with this completely fabulous new Souk Chic area rug, which seems to merge my blues and greens downstairs with my navy upstairs.  But, would I get so sick of that?  A little too crazy for me maybe?  It looks like a fabulous quilt to me.

What do you think?

Comments

[Amy Kauffman]

LOVE the third option....love it love it love it!
I really enjoy your site and make an effort to periodically check in and see what you have come up with! Thanks for the inspiration!

[Beth]

Not sure if you'd get sick of it, but I love the third option. The first is almost too much blue while the second may encourage play where it doesn't sound like you really want it.

[misti]

I love your entry way! Simple and plain and the lighting is awesome! And the blue rug is beautiful, but I think the funky rug at the end is better for an office space.

[Sarah]

Ooo... I love the last one!

[beki]

I am in love with the last one...I wonder where I can put that in MY house??

[jeanetta]

well i am in love with that last one. it looks just like a patchwork quilt but for the floor. but that's just me. i think the hopscotch is an awesome idea. very graphic and the kids would love it. sounds like its right up your alley

[cindy]

The last one. It is a nice balance to the neutral simplicity of your home. It will also hide wear and tear well, which is always a plus. I love your front entry way. Simple, clean, warm, and grand at the same time. The lighting fixtures really add alot to the space.

[michelle]

I like the second one, classy and colorful and the color matches the box that the angel is standing on. But I do love the playful idea of the hopscotch one, so I guess I'm not much help.

[Alicia G.]

I've been going back and forth about FLOR myself for a while now -- those same rugs.

http://sobrobungalow.typepad.com/sobrobungalow/2007/04/good_day_sunshi.html

I love, love the new Souk. I'll do it if you will. :)

[Melissa H]

I like the third one the best but that hopscotch is hard to pass up. I love the idea of visitors coming over and hopskotching their way into your home. How neato would that be?!

[jen b]

FLOR is a great product, we sell it where i work. their hopscotch rug is genius. I am sure you know about their commitment to the environment as a company. I love all the rugs you have selected except the last one. Too busy and i do think you would get sick of it. Just my humble opinion though.

[kellyt]

My gosh, I think I'm going to be in the minority here but I rather like the first option. We both seem to like simple, clean lines and the first definitely reminds me more of a slightly modern, Scandinavian style rather than Spanish. Overall, I don't think you could go wrong with any of them; they're beautiful.

[Sarah]

I'm all about the hopscotch rug.

[Hip Mama Crafts]

I love the way the last one "POPS"! There is so much you can do with this... I love it!!!

[Selah]

The Souk Chic jumped out at me right away. I'd probably pick that one but this is coming from someone who daily looks around my space and feels swallowed up by pattern, print and general thrifted "finds".

I think the hopscotch would be the best choice, it sets a tone for your home as being playful and child centered.

Can't wait to see how it works out and as my dear dad would say, there is no wrong choice and it's nothing that can't be fixed!

[Jenn]

I love that last one!

[Beth H]

I'd say hopscotch because it would be a surprise for anyone who enters...and would make them feel light and happy. And I'm sure it would be interesting to see who does a little hop on the way down the hall!
BUT, the last one is so beautiful if you're looking for something a little more sophisticated.

[martha]

definitely the last one.

[Karen]

I agree with all of the other comments. But in the end, I would go with the last rug. It might be too busy for an area of the house where you spend a lot of time, but I don't think you'll get sick of it in the hallway. Also, it will hide dirt, which is important in an entry way. I hope you can find some place else to put the hopscotch rug, because that would be so much fun for your son on a rainy day! Thanks for the inspiration. LOVE your home (i.e, sanctuary)!

[Sue]

i love the last one. i think rugs are a fab way to be bold without a huge commitment. plus, think how fun it would be to walk on it...!

[Jessica]

The hopscotch is totally adorable. I love that one...but I gasped at the last one. Oh, man, I LOVE that! Must...have...

[Mama Urchin]

I have flor anxiety too. I've been wanting to replace some cheap-o fake orientals we have but I can't decide. So in short, I am no help at all.

[Elizabeth]

What if you "filled in" the hopscotch rug with other tiles, making it a full rectangular shape, which would give you the fun but also the size that you want.

[Alicia Ryan]

I love the last one, definitely!

[MrsHaley]

Go with the last one -- the best by far, definitely!

[Kristi W]

I love either of the blue ones. But I love this shade of blue these days!

[Kim]

i can see how this is a problem. firstly i would kill for your foyer. one, hopscotch or last, i am no help i know!

[gracie]

I really do love all of those choices you have given us. Especially the last. I would be afraid of getting "sick" Of it to but its just so wonderful. Did I mention I love your home? Good just. Well picked.

[molly]

I think the hopskotch is totally fun. But maybe after awhile it would lose it's 'fun-ness'.
But I absolutely love the last one. It's just so unique and there's so much color to play with....I can't wait to see what you decide!

[Kim]

I have been in love with the last one since I got the catalog a few weeks ago. It reminded me of a quilt too, so pretty and fun!

[hadley]

I LOVE the patchwork option, but personally -- I say go for the hopscotch. How awesome is that?

[Jenny]

Okay, I'll chime in too! I vote for the second one, the Swedish print tiles. It's interesting, yet calm. It looks good as a narrow rug. I'm not sure the Souk Chic rug would have the same "zing" as a runner. Also, the Souk Chic hits me with orange and brown while the Swedish one is primarily blues, which sounds better for your house. BTW, I just bought the Mad Plaider for the middle of my kitchen -- looks great.

[Lynne]

I think the great thing about FLOR is that if you start getting sick of one thing you can swap out some of the tiles and end up with a whole new rug. I love the last one (I'd dog-eared it in my FLOR catalog last month!) but also have to say, love the idea of the hopscotch in an entry way!

[Jane Robinson]

Love, love, love the last one. Not too crazy at all. Go for it!

[sara]

Love the last one!!! SO GREAT!

[ann]

oh my goodness.... I LOVE LOVE LOVE that hopscotch rug. If I had a front hall that long I'd throw out whatever was there to add this rug. :-)

[kate]

i have been eyeing the hopscotch myself. i love the understated colors with a big splash of FUN! it is kind of skinny though. what if you got some neutral squares (and i think you can cut them in 1/2) to make it a bit larger and more welcoming to play?

i love the brighter blue option too, but think it might be too much of a focal point and take too much attention when you are in the other rooms.

good luck!

[CKLaing]

I think all of the options are bright and would add nice detail, but I think the printed tiles would flow nicely down your hallway.