AJC's Profile

While the DWR route would probably give you a nice-looking end result, it would also be very safe -- and it sounds like that's exactly what you're trying to avoid. Any way to combine the two concepts? Eames LCW in red?

But honestly, if you're looking for a little "pop," color-wise, attitude-wise, etc., I agree that antiques would look great. There's a cool Danish Modern lounge chair in orange naugahyde at a vintage shop here in Boston I've been coveting--I bet it would look great in your room.

WOW. Thank you, everyone, for the very nice words. I'll try to answer all the questions ...

As 2nd DC Christine pointed out, the rug is the Water Lily pattern from FLOR. We are really loving it because a) it's soft enough that it doesn't feel like commercial grade carpet and b) it's firm enough that the chairs don't leave indents. Also, right after we put it down, our dog ran over and went to sleep on it (tacit sign of approval). In fact, we liked the FLOR tiles so much, we ordered some of the Fedora in "Oatmeal" to make an L-shaped runner in our kitchen (L-shaped to fit around an island). I'll stop before this really turns into a FLOR ad ...

The wall color(s). Both of the paints are from the Ralph Lauren Urban Loft series. The paler gray on the left is called, oddly enough, Pale Gray. And the darker gunmetal color on the right is called Bleecker.

The table is the stock Parsons table from Crate & Barrel. We were looking at another one of their tables in a store, not really loving it, when one of the sales associates gave us their catalog of dining furniture. The Parsons is (weirdly) kinda buried in the back of the catalog, and it's nearly impossible to find it in one of their stores -- odd, because it's extremely well-made, beautiful and costs A LOT less than Room & Board, et. al.

Promise to send more pictures when we're all done. Thanks again for all the great comments!

Andy & Sarah

Agree that it looks unfinished. And while I don't like it in the context of that particular photo/environment, I don't think it would be bad in a more Zen-inspired, Asian bedroom, along with some fabric and high ceilings. Then again, that's not really my thing either. Not great, not terrible, just ... meh.

Thanks for the continued input, all! Leaving the floors bare is definitely an option - but I should clarify: the dining area is part of a larger, open living space (while I wouldn't call our apartment a loft, the kitchen/living space/dining space is open). So a big reason we're thinking "rug under the dining table" is spatial dilineation (and yes, Patrick, to protect the floors, since we eat most meals on that table and the chairs move a lot).

Sounds like the FLOR tiles might be the best option; and surfing the website, I came across the following, which looks like a nice middle ground between the two designs Maxwell selected above:

http://www.florcatalog.com/service/flor/shop_detail.html?mv_arg=1243302500%2d6806_02

Oh, and pollyhyper - I agree, the table looks a little big for the chairs in the photo. But the feel, when you're seated, is right on. Table top is 29.5" off the floor, and seat height is 17.5". That's pretty standard, no? Also looking for art for the walls - I'd love something more mod-looking, like three of Rothko's red/orange/yellow prints next to each other or something. The wife wants a big mirror on that wall. So ... we'll have to duke that one out a while longer. All just ideas at this point.

Thanks again, all!

Andy