I LOVE A TRADITIONAL COLORFUL AREA RUG IN A KITCHEN FOR SEVERAL REASONS....
1) COLOR! KITCHENS CAN BE A LITTLE MONOCHROMATIC....A GOOD RUG CAN LIVEN IT UP!
2) WARMTH... SINCE KITCHENS HAVE SO MANY HARD SURFACES, YOU CAN CREATE A GOOD BALANCE SIMPLY BY ADDING A RUG.
3) FORGIVING....TYPICALLY, AND OLD ORIENTAL HAS BUSY PATTERNS...WHO CARES IF SOMETHING SPILLS ON IT...IF THE RUG IS DARK ENOUGH, YOU WONT BE ABLE TO SEE IT!