Flooring Choice for Kitchen Remodel -- Redux! (Help, please!)

15 years ago

Hi! MANY thanks to all of you who offered such helpful opinions and advice in my earlier post about choosing flooring for our new kitchen remodel.

I am having a HECKUVA time! I was really trying to find a Duraceramic tile that worked... but I just don't see that happening. They are gorgeous, but none of them seem "juuuuuuuuuust right"! They seem too BUSY and too complex for my space, and seemed to compete with (rather than complement) the granite.

I found a pattern I really like in a Tarkett Fiber Floor sample. (Tarkett's FF is a high quality, lifetime warrantied, vinyl sheet flooring product.)

Here are some pictures. (I had trouble in my last thread with photos hosted in Picasa not showing up; all these are from Photobucket. I hope this works!)

First of all, here's our [in progress] kitchen... off-white Showplace cabinets with ivory glaze. St. Cecelia light granite (coming on Friday, yay!), stainless appliances. My decorating style is country/cottage. The dining room and hallway floors adjacent to the kitchen are oak hardwood.

[Haha, just a note to let you know that the installer has since lined up the shelves in the glass fronted corner cabinet perfectly with the mullions!) I know my fellow GW'ers would like to know that! ;o)

Here's the sample I have of the floor:

Tarkett Fiber Floor Lifetime

Arizona Saltio/Taupe/#38062

Here it is with the small samples of granite that I have:

Another:

In front of the sink base:

Another:

In front of a base unit (stove will be on the left)

Butted up next to the hardwood:

And here's the photo from the Tarkett website showing how the "all-over" floor looks:

At least by my monitor, the *color* in the last photo (by Tarkett) is not really an accurate rendition. So please mostly just use that photo for the all-over *look* (rather than color) and tell me if you think it's *right* for my kitchen.

Thank you!

Lynn

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Comments (8)

plllog
15 years ago
Lynn,

I think it looks fine with all your finishes. It has a warmth that, in fact, helps cozy up the overall appearance. A cooler color could make the white look a little stark.

But is it just the right one? I dunno. Does it complete your mental picture of "this is my kitchen?"
alice462
15 years ago
Think your choice will work very well with the other elements in your kitchen. Looks nice with the granite, hardwood and cabinets.
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I disagree that there is such a thing as "too much" wood. I personally love the look of wood floors throughout and actively dislike carpeting (in part because I have allergies). Wood floors thoughout a house gives a continuous flow to the areas and creates a more unified feel, IMHO. I generally dislike the look of tile kitchens abutting wood/carpet living/family rooms. It just looks too chopped up for my taste. That said, I just saw an amazing combination of stone, wood and carpeting over in the flooring forum. One poster -- chiefneil - who has impeccable taste, ran a border of dark wood flooring thoughout his house and did insets of different materials in different rooms. I think the reason I liked this way of doing it is that the wood is still the unifying element that gives a cohesive look. Check out the photo's of chiefneil's floors (there are a couple) Here is a link that might be useful: flooring
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Thanks, Sandy, for your input. Unfortunately we are limited in choices since the old floor is no longer made or available through salvage (from the 1940's). I am rethinking the lighter inset and think we should go all dark-toned, but keep the picture frame idea with mitered corners to define the space. Then if we redo the other floor later we could match it better since the Gunstock tone from Bruce is commonly used now. Most other materials are out due to variances in the subfloor. Since the walkway to the kitchen is smack dab between the dining and living areas, the floor heights have to match or we would be walking one foot on one side and the other foot on the other side. We only had 1/2" to work with, not nearly enough room for tile or stone there, by the time you get your cement board, mastic, etc. The Bruce floor is thin plank (engineered) and at 3/8" we can shim up to our existing height. The kitchen is actually 1/4" cork tiles laid on a diagonal (I wanted something soft due to a bad back). So, as you can see, without redoing the whole floor we are really limited, ya know? So it goes with remodels and a budget!
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I just wanted to chime in about the radiant heat/wood floor issue. I have researched the heck out of this over the past two years. We are in the process of building a home in Colorado and are using hydronic radiant heat with poured gypcrete over it. I was never told that I couldn't use wood flooring. There are many companies that sell wood floors that are able to be used over radiant heat. One company that comes to mind that makes beautiful solid hardwood floors is Carlisle Wide Plank Floors. The only thing that you might have to be concerned with is the width of the plank. Most people that I spoke to do not recommend using planks wider than 8" over radiant heat due to "cupping". The product I chose to use is a site-finished engineered walnut floor with square cut edges made by Owens PlankFloor. It is the most beautiful engineered product that I have found. It comes in a variety of widths (I am using 6" planks) and very long lengths. I did not want any short boards installed so I had my contractor order some extra so only 3 ft and longer boards are being used. It is being installed right now in my home. From what I have heard/learned about this product is that people can not tell that it is an engineered wood product...they think it is solid hardwood. Your kitchen cabinet selection is gorgeous and your dinig room is beautiful. I would definately do some more research into using wood floors. I don't think tile would look right in your home. Good Luck!
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Sorry I didn't mention it--new appliances are not installed yet. I chose stainless. I like the black slate look. What do you think of the gloss factor? The granite is pretty shiny. I really like the natural look the slate provides.
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berf
15 years ago
I think it looks fabulous and suits the style. Warm, cozy, complements your other finishes without shouting "look at me!" It will transfer to the wood quite nicely. And you'll absolutely love the ease of care (and it will never look dirty!) I'm biased because I used a very similar product (made by mannington)...right down to the same type of pattern as you, different colors. I had fallen in love with it very early in the process and it was actually one of the first things I chose for the kitchen as a result!
newdawn1895
15 years ago
Hardwood floors work and look good in any room. You can't go wrong with hardwoods.
caryscott
15 years ago
I'm not so big on the faux tile sheet but I do like the Tarkett fibrefloors. I like the way this particular pattern and colour look with your other elements (it s a bit darker to gound the space which I think is a good) I might like more contrast (something with a colour registration closer to the adjoning harwood) but I think I see where you are going.

I'm curious what made you select a different drawer front for the the bottom drawer of the drawer base? I don't think I have seen that before.
jennibg
15 years ago
It looks soft and warm & the floor won't look dirty all the time! note* we have Faus flooring and love it. They have some nice cottage style stone look floors. cinch to install. love your cabinets, I'm deciding between white and cherry myself.
tiskers
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the posts and opinions and feedback! I appreciate every one!

Oh, before I forget: caryscott: I first saw the drawer thing in a magazine and really liked it! Just done for fun and to add a little interest. Our KD actually really liked it, too, and said she has sold three more kitchens since ours done similarly.

Now, back to the floor... here's something I forgot to mention. I have looked at hundreds (if not thousands) of floors in every store and showroom in my area, and I have dragged home dozens. And probably 95% of the floor samples that *look like* nice/neutral colors, when held next to the granite, go PINK, or GREEN, or PEACH, or ORANGE, or GRAY. It is crazy! My DH thought I was kidding until I dragged home a huge pile of samples on Friday and he saw it for himself. It's just the DANGDEST thing! ;o) So this particular floor (the Tarkett FF) is one of probably only FIVE that I have found in my relentless search that truly blends with the granite.

I love color, but I think I like the idea of a medium value, neutral, but beautiful floor. I want the kitchen to feel open, light, inviting, warm and soft. Nothing stark or dramatic for this space. Does that make sense?

Jennibg, I would certainly consider some cottage style stone look flooring (as long as the color[s] blended with my granite, of course!)... do you have any links?

Thanks all! And please keep those opinions coming!
plllog
15 years ago
Thanks for telling the whole shopping story. In that case, you've answered your own question. You only showed us one of the five possibly possible, so it must be the one you like, it does everything you want it to in terms of color value, feeling and color, it looks good with all your finishes, and now you sound enthusiastic about it.

I think you've finally found it!!

Flooring Choice for Kitchen Remodel -- Redux! (Help, please!)

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plllog

alice462

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Flooring Choice for Kitchen Remodel -- Redux! (Help, please!)

Comments (8)

plllog

alice462

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plllog

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