Keep the tile!...Wipe up after your dogs....

Are you going to clean up after the dogs any LESS with a different floor? Prohably not, so keep the tile since you love it.

maybe a dumb question - is there another entrance you can use when you walk the dogs? one less telling?

Thanks, Lindac and Shermann. The other con is that I was kind of looking for that wide, sweeping look a consistent flooring gives.

mtnrdredux: The dogs don't leave through that door. My male's favorite place is in front of one of the closets in that area, and he breathes on the floor. Their paws also leave faint prints.

The picture below is taken from the dining room. The entry door is on the left, great room on the right, den, bedroom, and bath straight ahead.

It's distinctive and beautiful. If you ever wanted to sell, buyers would say, "Let's go back to the house with the black & white tile entry!"...no way they'd forget that. You probably get compliments all the time, right?

On the other hand, if you really want open and flowing, then, do the same hardwood throughout. Once you have that, you may not miss your tile. Swiffers work beautifully on floors that don't have deep grout or ground in dirt. It can't take more than 2 minutes to clean that?
I would probably keep it and do wood elsewhere. We did wood all but our entry and only left that so we would have a more indestructible floor for the entrance, NOT because the entry tile in this house is all that pretty!

Red

Dee, I think your floor is wonderful. And I don't think you would be happy without that flash of drama connecting the two rooms. The scale is just right - big enough but not too big - and you were smart to lay the pattern diagonally, which gives movement to the floor and pulls you along, unlike a checkerboard, which stops you.

If you want to minimize the doggy tracks, you could consider a wide runner in a natural fiber that could take some abuse - one with a backing that keeps it from sliding around. A natural shade and fiber would look nice with your scheme, and you could roll it up and stow it if you were having a dinner party or something, and wanted to have the full effect of your patterned floor.

"... maybe we should just keep what we have and if we tire of it later, replace it with another tile."

Seriously, do you think you're going to tire of that floor? It's classic and beautiful.

I have that same floor in my kitchen and it's my nightmare! I love the look but hate the amount of maintenance it requires because it shows everything. I think I'd have to vote to replace it because I'd love to replace mine.

Love your floor! Honestly, I think doing it all hardwoods would make it look more closed in rather than open it up. I love bronsywnsmom's idea of a seagrass or similar runner. It would look great and contain some of the mess.

I have to be the voice of dissent.
I vote for full hardwoods throughout.

With our dogs, this is much easier to care for.

I think you could do a black and white runner to add the zing you like to the space, but still have the visual continuity of hardwoods throughout. But of course, this is America. So please do what suits YOU best.

I like your tile as well, but would also vote for hardwood throughout based on the information you've provided. As much as I like the tile, I find the lack of continuity a bit jarring in the last picture you posted. That just might be the angle though.

I love your tile! I'd keep it.

I think the tile is fantastic and oh so classic too, but I also hear you when it comes to cleaning it so often. I have a blue and white checkerboard patterned tile in my bathroom that I love yet it drives me nuts. Only me in the house and even when I had three or four dogs at a time they didn't hang out in the bathroom, but the floor is always dirty. I garden, and if I could train myself to remove shoes every time I enter the bathroom it might be ok. But that's just not going to happen. I tried in the beginning when it was new, but. Add to that all the dust and my own hair, ugh. I also have been thinking of replacing with wood, that's what is underneath the tile but I thought the wood (original floor) was too dark and dirty looking. ha. It was MUCH easier to take care of.

Your black and white is so beautiful. You have a hard decision to make.

Until I saw your picture I was going to say replace the tile with hardwood because I love continuity, but after seeing it, I have to say keep it. It's really beautiful and because it's so symmetrical with your entry, it doesn't seem out of place like many tile entries. It goes beautifully with your gold wall, drapes and clock and offers an amazing interest right up front. I like bronwynsmom's suggestion of the neutral runner that can be moved as needed.

Or have you considered gating it off briefly to train the dogs to avoid it? Or perhaps a brief stint of placing something like a scat mat (slight electrical charge mat that keeps cats off unwanted places)--perhaps they have them for dogs? I know our dogs in the past seemed to catch on fairly quickly to where they couldn't go--however, I realize they do love to get into places they shouldn't also.

I haven't read all of the other replies, but your picture says it all to me. It's gorgeous! I am absolutely a sucker for the beautiful contrast of black and white. And your installation looks lovely. Just my opinion, but I'd probably keep it.

OMG I LOVE your tile so I am of no help. You helped me though since I want to do black and white tile in my kitchen & mudroom!

I have tile and hardwood, and two big dogs who constantly leave a trail of muddy prints and drool.

Clean-up is the same with both.

Keep the tile. I love the mixture of tile and wood floor.

Fabulous as is! On first reading, I thought your picture was an inspiration photo from a high-end shelter mag. What a gorgeous enfilade - distinctive, classy, exciting....

However, only you can determine how much the upkeep irritates you. Would wood substantially reduce the time you spend on upkeep? Would dog hair seem less obvious with wood? We have wood or stone floors throughout (less one room still to be done), and pet hair is pretty obvious if not regularly vacuumed or swept up. My solution is to not let it bother me. :)

Bear in mind that you might not get a perfect color blend if you do decide to go with wood. If the tones are distinctively different, will that bother you? Another issue for you to think about.

I think the tile makes a real statement and therefore would keep it. Would some sort of carpet help with the dog issue? Because I think you'll still have issues, even with wood.

Thank you all so much for your wonderful, thoughtful input. Everything posted helped me clarify my thoughts to make a decision and not second-guess myself.

We have decided to keep it, and called the contractor to adjust his estimate.

Redbazel: Thank you for your kind comments. You're right. It doesn't take long to clean; I keep a mop thing in the closet. I can just see the marks when I sit on the couch, which then propels me to clean it over and over.

bronwynsmom: Though I didn't comment on your "I'm back" thread, I'm very happy to see you back. It's always nice to have a pro! We do usually have a Karastan English Manor rug there, but during the spring, I remove it since it needs cleaned more often, and it's less hassle.

enduring, sis2two, pricklypearcactus, oakleyok and daisychain01: Thank you for your sweet postings. I took every one into consideration making up our mind (Well, my mind since DH just does whatever I want:))

arapaho: I couldn't do it in the kitchen, unless I had full-time in-house help, so I realllly understand you.

juliekcmo and sochi: I posted to hear everybody's thoughts, so I appreciate yours. My style isn't sleek, so I guess I can give up on the sweeping look to keep what love.

sujafr: Our dogs are Australian Shepherds, who have to be with us at all times, following us wherever we go. Keeping them out of the entry would be keeping them out of other rooms we use, and I can't do that to them.

TheFoxespad: One of the problems I've had is finding a cleaning product which doesn't streak. About 18 months ago, I found what I thought was a wonderful cleaner, J & J all-surface - no streaks, cleans like a dream. But I recently started thinking maybe IT was causing so much of the dogs' paw prints sticking. Two weeks ago, I changed to white vinegar/water/castille soap, and have already noticed fewer marks. I think it was adding some kind of coating. If you go with the floor, keep that in mind.

lynxe: I love you! What a beautiful comment! You made my day. Dog hair is a whole 'nother issue.......

Thank you all so very, very, very, very much!
Dee

Missed you, fillagirl. You're right; their paw prints are everywhere. They're just less noticeable.
Dee

Yay! Love the tile. Some day we will have the B&W in the kitchen.

Love the tile, even with paw prints and dog hair!

i like it! i would almost want to replace some of the wood with more tile to continue the look! very different and striking!

i wouldn't replace it... i would probably get a large wool entry rug though to put down during the wettest months or to warm it up during the cold months...