How do I transition different floor types in an open floor plan??

15 years ago

I am currently in the process of building a home that has an open floor plan. The entryway steps down into the living/dining/kitchen area.

I am planning to have 5" plank hardwood in the living area and fiber floor in the kitchen and eating area. And the entry way will be tile. Is this too many flooring types in one area? I think they do all compliment each other color wise, but I'm still a little nervous.

I've considered going all hardwood but I really don't want expensive hardwood in the kitchen and eating area due to possible frequent food and drink spills. Then I considered doing the same tile as the entryway in the kitchen and eating area but I REALLY dislike the idea of tile in the kitchen because it's so hard and dishes will most always smash when dropped and I hate trying to the grout clean of spilled food and drinks.

I would LOVE any suggestions. I wish I could post my floor plan to give you a clear picture of my situation.

Comments (3)

jacobfloors
15 years ago
Hi
first its depends how you going to dived the are even that its open area the question is if you going to have a island in the kitchen that will separate between the living room to the kitchen or every thing will be open kind of big loft,

I saw houses with three deferent kind of floor some times is good some times is so so, depends how you do the connection between them

You donÂt have to go with a high price wood for the kitchen; there is many kind of wood that will be chipper then tile for the kitchen, oak, pine or Bamboo in good quality (not the 99c or $1.30).

Hope its help, and like you say its hard to say with out the floor plan.

Jacob
kat_ofhb
15 years ago
Personally, I would not be too hung-up on worrying about how wood will hold-up in the kitchen. Spills, if dealt with immediately (and who lets liquids sit there through a dinner!) will not pose a significant problem.
Take a look at Strand Bamboo for most areas. $6 a square and pretty decent to look at. Sure, others will tell you how to stop one and start another material but only you will be looking at it daily. Trust me, my floor plan is as open as they get!
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Are you planning on a total redo? I would put the sink under the window and move the fridge to where the sink is to fix your fridge location, but at that point, you need new cabinetry and new counter tops on two of your three walls. Alternatively, you could just put a tall, narrow cabinet on the outside of your fridge where it is now to help it link in with the kitchen without doing a total reno. Now, to diminish the openness... You don't have enough room for a stationary island, but putting something functional between your dining room and oven will help make it feel less like your oven is the focal point of the room and make your kitchen feel more closed off. You could do a peninsula. If you do a peninsula, have it extend from where your sink is. Again, though, this involves replacing cabinetry and counter top. Alternatively, you could do a mobile island on wheels in the middle of the room without doing a total reno. Additionally, if you're doing a total reno, I wouldn't use such a high contrast palette in an open floor plan kitchen. It's hard to compliment all around the room unless you're committed to the black and white motif and it definitely draws the eye to the kitchen. Without doing a total reno, you can also help the visual appearance of closedness vs openness by just replacing the open shelves with cabinets.
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bigdoglover
15 years ago
I have same situation of open/flowing plan. We are going to put hardwood everywhere, but leave the tile in the kitchen and put a hardwood border around the edges. I'm sure you could substitute whatever you like for tile.

I've never liked tile in the kitchen either but since having it in this house with tile in kitchen, I've really grown to love it. DH sealed the grout and, really, nothing ever gets stuck in it.

In my opinion with an open flowing floorplan it is much better to have all one flooring flowing with the plan.

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How do I transition different floor types in an open floor plan??

Comments (3)

jacobfloors

kat_ofhb

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bigdoglover

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