Urban Outfitters has some great rugs for relatively inexpensive! Maybe a roman blind in a burlap-esque fabric for the windows?

Would I be remiss to suggest that this room needs little or no additional work? I adore it the way it is! A vase of flowers or greenery on the table, and boom - done. So romantic.

With regards to coordinating with the backspash, though, I think a simple rug swap would do the trick. Something in gray or a similar blue.

I like the rug, but I think you should use it elsewhere because it's just too small for that table. When you pull out the chairs, the back legs will sit off the rug, unless everyone is very, very slim. It's just one of my pet peeves.

I think the space needs a rug just for some kind of definition, but given that the current rug just isn't big enough, a rug that is any bigger is going to create a weird gap between the walls and counters, not to mention it's going to get some uneven foot traction because the side near the counters will be stepped on more than the others.

I think a jute or neutral flatwoven rug would be best. Super easy to clean up any kitchen spills, pet hair, etc. and very durable for a high-traffic area. I'd do a simple roman shade on each window in a bold monochromatic fabric.

The existing rug is perfect - There appears to be some blue in there, but even if there isn't it's a great rug, it has lots of character and it's already paid for.

I wouldn't put curtains up either. I could just see them going up in flames from being next to that hot stove - or at a minimum, encrusted in grease in a very short time...
...and get rid of the chalkboard - It's too juvenile and cheap for your lovely kitchen.

Ummm, I'm with salmonpatty. I really like this room exactly as is. I even like the rug. I don't think it's a big deal that it doesn't go with the backsplash. It looks beautiful in it's own right, and I think it fits with the table and chairs and windows perfectly.

If you want to swap out the rug and go for something that is less clashy with the blue, try a natural jute, sisal or seagrass rug. And then add colors to go with the blue via accessories.

Pottery Barn and West Elm have super cheap (for the quality) good choices. I like Pottery Barn's tweed sisal rug.

http://www.potterybarn.com/products/solid-sisal-rug-swatch/?pkey=x%7C4%7C1%7C%7C10%7Ctweed%7C%7C0&cm_src=SCH

But I really like this as is.

The rug is perfect; it adds just the right colours and textures to make this a rich, warm, welcoming room. The only problem with it is that it is 2 feet too narrow; so if you find something pretty close to it in terms of colours, wear, and pattern, but 2 or 3 feet wider, grab it!!

The window treatment I think would *look* best would be translucent linen roman blinds... Not sure how well that would work though, given the proximity of the stove to the window...

I say no rug and no curtain. Or just a gauzy fabric drapped over a curtain rod.

I like the chaulkboard.

me really, really likes as is too!

I agree, love the current rug but I also think it's too small for the chairs once they are moved out. If you don't need to cover the windows for privacy sake, then I say don't worry with the curtains. It looks great the way it is! Love that table.

I think the rug LOOKS great, just where it is and as it is. However, I question having it in the kitchen because it will get soiled rather quickly.

I love the existing rug - I think it looks fantastic and in no way clashes with the blue and green accents you have elsewhere. I do think you need window treatments of some kind, and I agree with those who suggested roman shades - they're more modern than curtains, and much safer and more practical adjacent to the range. Since you're seeking some softness, I would suggest a relaxed roman shade like this one:

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/product_detail.jsp?sch_cat=Relaxed%20Roman%20Fabric%20Shades&nav_cat=-17993&prod_oid=250333

Personally, I like just plain white - and that will feel the most modern too. However, if you want to do something different, you could look for a fabric that has both blues/green and reds, to pull together the colors in your kitchen and in your rug. Maybe something like this:

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/zoom_swatch_product.jsp?materialId=12108&prod_oid=250333&nav_cat=-17993&actual_mat_id=12108

I like it the way it is too :)

i think the room looks great as is! don't change!

I'm with those who love the room the way it is.

I thought the photo must be from a magazine or catalog and not a "real photo"--that's how great it looks.

However, I do agree that the rug will be too small practically when people are sliding those chairs back.

I would not want the extra cleaning step that having to vacuum a rug requires. Would something like the Chilewich woven floor mats be in your budget (they can be easily swept, and they do last forever)?
http://www.chilewich.com/category/woven_floormats
Of course, their widest width is 5'10" so it may be moot, but they are definitely modern--and come in your desired shades (gray, white, green).

If you don't need any window covering for privacy, I'd leave them as is.

This is one (rare!) instance where I do not think the rug is too small for the scenario. And kudoes for a rug ther ein the first place!

For me, the (slight!) disconnect is not color-related, but one of "polish": that backsplash (which I love) is modern and refined, while the elements of the room are more rustic... but this totally can work (and pretty much is already! I agree with the Likers!).

Were it me, I'd do a pale blue silk relaxed Roman shade, inside mount at the windows, to make the "installed structure" of the room relate. And/or, I'd glam up the chandelier in a way that speaks to the backsplash.

The other way to go is to leave all as is (plus a window treatment) but "de-glam" the backsplash, with some earthy baskets and more found-object stuff back there.

If you want to solve your issue with a new rug, then find the same style you have, but with a DASH of blue in it. Then I'd do inside mount bamboo or grass Roman shades.

Either way, clear off the top of the cabinets... the only flaw I see in a pretty much camera-ready room. Especially since the blue green glass up there is only calling attention to the tile you want to downplay.

As is totally. Love it. Those chairs look mighty uncomfortable though.

Oh, sure, I ALWAYS put a delicate antique oriental rug under my kitchen table, IN the kitchen. This is a disaster waiting to happen, with food and liquid spills topping the list. Shortening the life of a rug like this is just short of selfish. Sorry for the rant, but with chairs moving around in and out and over it the deterioration factor would be huge.
I agree with others who've suggested a jute type rug, something that won't get caught or bunch up when chairs slide in and out.
Love your darling kitchen, though! Gauzy over the windows gets my vote, and not hanging curtains but draped...
You lucked out with this kitchen, and oh so sunny and bright!

Gorgeous. I wouldn't change a thing. If you must have window treatments I would do some gauzy sheers. I wanna see the rest of the apartment. House call please!

I have to agree with everyone who likes it the way it is. That first photo especially is gorgeous!

May I ask where that light fixture over the table is from?

I have to say I rather like the rug BUT I love your light fixture above the table? Can I ask where you got it?

I love it AND say keep the rug!

so comfortable looking...don't change a thing!

I love the way the rug looks in that room, although it's hard to see the blue in your backsplash in these pictures so the non-coordination might not be as obvious. If you do change out the rug, please don't go with all blue-and-green, as that soft red and gold really does warm up the room and go so well with your table -- you should keep some of it in there.

As for the windows, I'd go with some sheer white roller shades. The you-can-see-out-but-they-can't-see-in variety. That will help keep the light. I usually like curtains, but not in that space, not with the side of one of those long windows right next to your stove. Fire hazard.

I agree with mei ling - that rug will be ruined (is it silk?), which would be a shame. I would put a monochrome cotton or jute rug with a simple pattern, and leave the windows as is, or sheer roller blinds if privacy is an issue.

i also say "no rug, no curtains". sometimes, less is more. =)

Another vote for leaving it basically as-is.

For small changes:

1. I like the idea of white/neutral Roman blinds (nothing flowy and definitely inside the window frames) or simple roller shades with a nice tassel or other accessory for the pull cord.

2. Don't touch that mustard chair! It really looks great with the rug and the warm wood flooring. I think the fabric on the small table chairs is great and really connects with the colors and delicate features of the kitchen (brings a smaller scale to some larger pieces).

3. The only thing that sticks out to me - the blue/green glass above the cabinets. I'd try to mix in some of the warmer tones too, and maybe some older pieces, to help tie the kitchen to the dining area.

4. I like the chalkboard and would be sad to see it go, but you'll need some extra wall decor around it to make it fit. The framing makes it look cheap and it doesn't coordinate well with either the antiqued aspects (rough, warm woods) or the delicate kitchen features (modern, small scale, clean lines). Maybe some vases or planters to bring some greenery into the equation? You have lots of hard surfaces, but I think plants are a great way to soften a room.

Beautiful kitchen, but oriental rugs always look so tacky to me. I think a light sky-blue rug could look amazing in that space.

Rugs are for using! If you like having cushy softness under your feet while you eat, leave the rug right where it is. If you and your family can sit there without your rugs falling off the edge of the rug while you eat, then it's not too small. I think the colors are perfectly fine- the warm wall color coordinates with the rug well enough the backspash is a nonissue. I have to agree with the masses that if you dont *need* a curtain, leave the windows be. It looks uncluttered this way.

sorry, I meant your chairs falling off the rug, obviously, not your rugs falling off your rug.

Looks lovely as is. A slightly larger rug might make moving the chairs easier, but it would also encroach on the strip of wood floor in front of the counters that delineates kitchen from dining area... and that would just look weird, imho.

I have to agree with some earlier comments about the chairs, alas. They look better suited for an outdoor cafe than an indoor dining table. Seem like they might grow uncomfortable during a long meal.

Why is the range in the corner? If possible it would be good to move it maybe, where the dishwasher is... besides... forget about any window treatment so near a heat source.

Instead of rug in the kitchen.. maybe a painted pattern similar to the rug's... on the same area the rug is right now.

Like other people said.. just plain sheer or nothing at all...

Can I move in? .....

don't change a thing... it's perfectly imperfect

lol@ hrhprincessfiona. I was thinking the exact same thing: *showoffs*.

But seriously, the room is gorgeous as is. In my opinion, the rug is absolutely perfect. (FYI: Persian rugs just have to sit there to look cool. They don't have to match the room, they just have to *relate* to the room.) However, I'd remove it. I like clean (translation: undusty/ungreasy) surfaces in a kitchen. Rugs and food aren't a great match. Same with curtains. They collect dust and grease, and probably start to smell musty after a few months (or even weeks) of intense cooking. It's a kitchen; let your surfaces shine.

As for everything else, I love it all. The light fixture is especially awesome. But........ if it were me I'd make the following changes:

1. Clear the tops of your cabinets.

2. Clear the stuff off of your refrigerator. (Hang a bulletin board instead--right next to your chalkboard.)

3. Lower the painting between your windows. Or, better yet, hang another painting below it.

4. Get something big and cool for the middle of your farm table. Not something rustic, but something that relates more you your sleek backsplash tiles. Maybe even a small collection of those bottles I told you to clear from the tops of your cabinets.

It does look very nice, but I am wondering if the lighting in the photos does not reflect how it looks in real life, since there's an overriding pink hue that goes well with the rug but might be an effect of it and I can't tell if the (extremely subtle?) tile colors are accurate.

I'm also a little leery about the chalkboard when I think about chalkdust getting on the rug.

Perfect. I agree with many above: do not change a thing.

The green in the chairs match the backsplash, and the yellow/gold in the rug matches the chair in the corner.

This current arrangement looks effortless and inviting -- I want that kitchen! If you change the rug to something more neutral and "matchy", then it will look like you tried too hard.

As is. Love it!

Jute rugs are *ridiculously* impractical underneath a dining table. Believe it or not, a patterned Oriental is a much smarter move.

Patrick is 100% right about that.

There's no cleaning a Jute, Sisal or Seagrass rug.
Once they're spilled on - They're done for.

Wool carpets can be taken up and cleaned as often as you'd like. Wool is naturally stain-resistant, the multiple colors in a Persian such as this help camoflage spills...
...as a bonus, Wool is also naturally fire-retardant: Exactly what you want in an eat-in kitchen.

Just realized that the iron chairs exactly match the iron pattern on the windows!

Jute Seagrass etc. can't be cleaned... I learned the hard way. And if your family is like mine? We spill. Especially in the kitchen. However, I did manage to find an indoor outdoor rug for my kitchen and it has lasted forever. Which is saying something. Whenever it gets too dirty I take it outside and hose it off and it is as good as new.
But if you aren't worried about that? I love the room how it is...!

Appreciate what you have - a great kitchen and an awesome rug. And they look great together.

Thank you for the feedback, everyone!
First, to answer a few questions- the chandelier was a find. It was an in-store fixture at a clothing boutique in Brooklyn that was going out of business. The owner's brother had made two of them, and my best friend insisted I purchase it immediately.
Second, the room looks better in the photos than it does in real life bc I am a professional photographer...
Third, the yellow chair looks like crap in person and I bought it off the street two weeks ago for $10.
BUT, I'm glad so many of you like the rug in the room! I'm still considering a more graphic and more modern rug, but to remove the rug and go with a simple window treatment would certainly be more cost-effective.
Any changes and I'll certainly send new photos along to share!
Thanks so much!

lose the rug.

add sheer white cotton gauzy curtains.

I love the rug. I say keep it.

I think some bamboo shades for nighttime would be great, but leave them pulled up during the day; the lighting is nice. Great table!

Walmart surprisingly has some great, durable rugs for super cheap. The upkeep is better and they last longer than wool rugs.

Also, roman shades in a color to match a new rug would be cohesive and nice. I think the crisp lines of a roman shade would go nicely in that kitchen.

Good Luck!

Linoleum floor rug. Buy a cheap stretch of vinyl flooring, turn it over, prime it and paint it with acrylic paints that match the backsplash. Then a quick coat of poly and you have a wipeable custom 'rug' to define the space and make for easy cleaning. You can even cut it to fit your preferred shape! I wish I had pics of the old undulating one I made years ago. Sadly, we have carpeting now so it went to my friend's house to live...and they took it with them when they moved away!

http://makinglifeup.blogspot.com/

I also suggest going against a wool, silk, jute or seagrass rug in the kitchen unlesss.. you don't have kids, don't cook and rarely eat at the table.

Ikea makes some nice washable rugs.. even beter to find a large format rug with a rubber backing for safety and washability.

Many years ago, I saw an artist selling "canvas painted" rugs. Imagine a large piece of canvas painted in some cool swirly patterns, the edges were folded and taped underneath and top must have been sealed or something. Very tough, very washable and sweepable.

Another idea, if you own the place, would be to paint or stain the floors in an unusual pattern - but that would depend on the condition of the floors.

Linoleum floor, rug... great idea!

For the windows, I would go modern and clean so that the kitchen is not the only thing that way (love the mix with rustic, BTW). Since privacy is not an issue in the kitchen, I recommend those IKEA translucent shades - I call them filters because they don't really make any shade. As a photographer, you will go wild when you see the wonderful diffused light they make.

Have fun, and can't wait to see the "after" photos!

L

http://lapsushumanus.blogspot.com/

I love, Love, the table. Love the rug, too, but it will get worn by the chairs, and since it's probably wool, will be a pain to clean. And in a kitchen, it will need to be cleaned.

Make a painted floorcloth to look like the rug of your dreams. Washable and cheap, perfect for a kitchen. Use this lovely rug elsewhere.

Roman blinds in white or linen would look great, but unless you need privacy, I'd leave the windows as they are.

No rug at all.

Use a nice pale blue or green linen (or other "casual" fabric) table runner instead. Maybe a nice pitcher of flowers or something on the table -- casual, country, but a bit of color.

No curtains or really simple white ones -- sheers or gauze or something that lets light through.

I can't make out the art between the windows, but that's another spot you coupd hang something in the blue/green range -- maybe a nice watercolor or something not too dark...

I love that chandelier, at least what I cna see of it. Score! It does seem to call for a bit more glamor, though. (Although the glass collection on the cabinet tops helps with that...)

Overall, it's great! But really, no rug under a kitchen table, trust me! ;^)

I also love it as it is.

take a look at flor's needlepoint stripe in laurel.
it is an AWESOME kitchen/dining area flooring option - nothing has stuck to it after 2 years of toddlers learning to eat, and it is muted enough to work in both modern and traditional interiors. the website colors are really off from real life, so you need to get samples - the laurel is a very soft blue green mix rather than dominant beige look on the website:
http://www.flor.com/service/flor/shop/item/Needlepoint-Stripe/1008U02500-7455.html

Thank you for your ideas. There are some beautiful lace curtains with a matching skirt that look good in a country style type of cooking. The lace allows plenty of light still provides a degree of privacy. Keep sharing.
denver replacement windows

I think a rug goes well under a kitchen table! A plain, soft seagrass or even white would look great and give the room a nice touch. I'd try to get one a little wider, the rug you have looks great there, but it's pretty narrow. I think something like this would look great, keep the room bright, be easy to clean (esp for a kitchen rug!), and go along with the rustic look.

http://www.rugstown.com/rugs/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=&idproduct=11266

Sphinx Rugs also has a nice variety of rugs that would look great under your table. If you're still undecided, you should take a look!