another view

one more

This is just an idea - I've never seen wood-look tile in person, but have seen pictures posted here by GWers, and the effect can really nice...can imagine with oriental or other richly colored carpets contrasting beautifully with your amazing FP....BTW, congratulations! And I'm sure you'll get a lot of great ideas from others!

What about high quality vinyl wood-look plank tiles? Easy to install yourself, too (assuming you can get rid of the carpet glue).

I have looked at wood look tiles, and I think that many are really beautiful. My concern is that it would look busy up against the stone - with the patten of the wood grain and the grout lines combined.I may be wrong though. I'll spend some time looking through these forums at pics.

I think, even though it has grain, if you avoid the wood patterns with a lot of color variations, light and dark, etc., wood really fades into the background and just becomes a neutral.

Is your partner in danger of being traded? :)

olychick, my partner just needs to be convinced to tear down the stone wall. I'm confident that I can accomplish that in time.No danger of being traded. If I can actually find a tile that I love, maybe I'll be convinced to keep it.

I wouldn't be concerned about real wood. I'm not as comfortable with wood tile though. Particularly because they are usually in short lengths only and are laid in some kind of more obvious repetitive pattern. The fireplace wall is so visually busy that I feel I need simplicity.

We just finally tore down a very similar looking stone wall and dark paneling. Have you explored taking down the paneling? Taking down the rock in our case was a massive job. Having lived with the stone for years, I know how difficult it will be to try to hang things on it or put things in front of it -- there is simply too much texture.

If you choose to use tile, take one of the medium-light colored rocks and attempt to match it. Use large format tiles or planks, and then use a similar color in a lighter value on the walls. It will help make the stone recede. Introduce color and light in the area rugs, mirrors and furnishings. Although there is nothing you can do about the rock texture, you might be able to update the mantel and make it less rustic, if that is your goal. We did basically the same thing (except with patterned carpet), after consulting with an interior designer.

There are some really nice wood look tiles out there. Go to several different stores because they all carry different lines. Check out the wood look tile floors on houzz.com for more sources. Placing the tiles close together and using a similar color grout minimizes the pattern in the seams.

I think you have 2 choices to make...the product and then the pattern. Low patterned neutrals are available in a wide variety of products:
Luxury plank tile:

Flexitec cushioned sheet vinyl:

Wood look tile:

Ceramic tile:

I would pick a medium beige color, similar to the carpet that's in there. I would not go as light as the tile shown in the dining area...I would also not go dark...very light and very dark will show more dust/dirt. I would also pick the biggest tile I could find (24x24 or long plank style) and lay them as close together as possible with grout color to match for a less busy, more seamless look.

I just put in a wood look tile and I love it. Mine has heavy variation, but most of them that I looked at were very even toned. LOTS of oak/grayed choices that would look good next to the rock. Rectified tile will offer smaller grout lines.

When you pick a grout, look for what seems to be a perfect match and go darker. Grout always seems to dry lighter than the sample color. Mine looked almost black (thought I'd messed up big time) until it dried to the perfect shade. You don't want the grout lines screaming at you. Mine were laid in a random pattern, like wood, but lippage is best controlled with a 33% pattern for planks 24" or more. The porcelain bows when fired, and is then cut to size. The longer the planks, the more careful you have to be about placement.

I was so taken by the stone work you don't like I didn't notice the adjacent room of light tile? - is that staying, because that will significantly impact the direction and recommendations.

Autarch1
That stone could look fabulous if you do the rest of the space very modern. The curved arch of the wall suggests MCM but the arch above the FP opening not so much. Depends on what you do with mantle. Or maybe surround the FP with another material granite? to lose the arch. I even like the paneling...weird but you could paint it dark contrast color, maybe stain darker.
Because the dining room already has large white tile I would continue that SAME flooring throughout for continuity. If you don't you may have to redo ALL floors if/when you take down the stone wall. You could define the spaces by using rugs.
If you want to lose the rustic feel - don't do wood look tile. I just don't think it would help the cause.
Definitely pay attention to the light fixtures. Losing the ceiling fans and putting maybe cable lighting? Careful of the lower ceiling.
That stone wall would stay for me...

Other posters have offered you a a number of options for the flooring for this room, but your first instincts are correct about combining big textures and shapes.. Many of these suggestions are too busy with the rock wall. You already have rock and wood as patterns and colors. You have to be very careful with any additional finishes and patterns.

Taking down the rock and replacing it with tile and then another tile on the floor can be tricky. You can see that once the rock comes down, there's not going to be much happening in the room. So far that wall seems like it will always need some feature treatment, but I'm still puzzled by the shape of the wall. I'd like to know why this wall curves around in this manner? The flue for the fireplace only takes up a small amount of this space. I think I can see a kitchen and dinette in the background, but what is the area beyond the rock wall by the sliding door?

As a designer I suggest that before appropriate finish selections can be made for this room, you need a master plan for the room. What is the room? How will you use it? How long are you staying? Is a flat screen going to be installed? Do you plan to extend the flooring into the dinette area and kitchen? What flooring do you have in those rooms? What is the furniture plan for this room? Do you plan to use area rugs? Once all those questions are answered, you'll gradually have a plan and the evidence to support the recommendation for removing the faux stone, and what to use on the floor as an appropriate floor finish. Without a master plan, you're going to make decorating mistakes that will cost you money.

You have a couple of problems with this room. First, the scale of the faux rock appears too large for the height of the room. The rock could probably stay, if the room were 20' tall, but this rock, though the only feature in the room, actually makes the room appear smaller. Taking down the rock is a messy job and should be done first in any remodeling project. If you try to install a new flooring material before this, you'll have lots of labor cost to trim the flooring to accommodate the shape of the boulders at the floor line, Then you'll have to come back and replace flooring when the rock finally does come down because there is bound to be damage from the demo adding more to your costs.

Second, the ceiling fan with the light also reduces the visual height of the room. That really has to be removed. Sorry I can't suggest replacing it with a ceiling hugger fan. That would also lower the visual height of the room.

Third, the wood paneling on the walls. Can't tell from the photos. Real Pecky Cypress is usually a wood that should be saved, so I'm reserving judgement on the paneling until I learn more about it. Good luck.

I have the same question as Beverly, how is the room going to be used? Will you use the FP?

Have you considered engineered wood flooring for the LR, and tile for the dining/kitchen area? I think separating the two areas with two different floorings would look better.

We came very close to using wood like tile, but it would have been very hard on the feet, and it does look like tile. So we went with engineered wood and it didn't take long at all to install.

I'm not a fan of tiled floors in all the public rooms.

I love that fireplace. It just needs the right surroundings and furniture. The suggestion to go modern is excellent. Put a few curved pieces in to settle in the shape.

Imagine a sleek chenille sofa, with slightly curved arms, a oval glass coffee table, and either a persian rug or something modern with ovals or leaves (some sort of rounded lines in it). Or a really FLUFFY flokati rug.

I would paint the cypress a pale cream - one of the colors from the stone. Do it now to lighten up the place. You'll feel better immediately.

Then I would look at wood-grain tiles that are in the cream to tan range, or the darker brown. Big ones with minimal graining, maybe a whitewashed wood look.

I actually like the fireplace too. It's pretty big and is probably overwhelming with an empty space right now, but the rock and mantle are nice. I'd say go rustic modern.

I agree that removing the panelling and doing hardwood or a hardwood-look product (laminate, engineered hardwood, or tile) would be a great combination.

If you really don't want wood/wood-look flooring, bring home a bunch of samples of large format (square or better yet, rectangular) tile and see what works with the fireplace colors. You mentioned that you don't want to go too dark, so how about a color somewhere between beige and cream? I'd also be interested to see how it would look with something like vein cut limestone or travertine, but that could get too busy. Either way, I'd look for something modern either un-patterened/textured or with something linear like vein-cut stone or linen-look.

I think if you don't like the stone, then working with it as you select flooring is a mistake.

If the flooring has to be replaced due to its condition, then figure out the least costly solution, and view it as a temporary fix.

IMHO

I am a little confused. Are you not doing wood because you don't want wood or because you don't want to install over the concrete?

I ask because I personally think real wood would be the best choice if you were going for making the rock wall look best. A nice rustic looking floor. There are plenty of click hardwood floors which would float and not need to be nailed down and would be way easier to install than tile (though admittedly not as modern looking). I would get rid of the paneling and lighten up those walls as much as possible though.

I will disclaim I am with your partner. Though I do not think it looks ideal now, I think if you redo the room right that wall will be stunning.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all of the suggestions. I don't feel quite as aimless. I'm going to a local tile store this weekend and see if anything inspires me.

Just thought I'd clarify one or two things. I will keep the stone wall if I can find a tile that excites me and looks great without clashing with the wall. This tile will extend into the dining and kitchen area - replacing the existing tile, so I wouldn't pay that expense if it was just going to be temporary. I think that I do prefer the idea of the tile being continuous through the different rooms instead of two different tiles meeting. I would just keep it carpeted until the stone wall came down if I can't find something that will work for me. I am not a particularly talented decorator, but I do really enjoy dressing up my home with items that I love, and there are many tile options that I love - I just haven't found one yet that excites me for this room because of that wall.

I had a bad experience in the past with a floating wood floor. It was bouncy. It was probably due to a poor installation job, but it has made me eliminate that as an option for this house.

This room will be my main living space. The ceiling fan is definitely being removed. I can probably make a decision about the paneling at a later date. I have a lot of artwork, and I'll try better lighting. This wood paneling is not easily painted. It's about half an inch thick and very porous. It is the same wood that the mantle is made from.

Also, the stone is not faux. It is definitely real stone, but that doesn't make me love it any more. I do think that it would be a tremendous hassle to remove though. I don't know why is was put on as much wall space as it was. The fireplace is in a corner. and the stone extends to the two side walls. It must have been a labor of love for whomever built this house. They even used some of this stone on the exterior of the house on the chimney where it comes out of the roof. I've included one more pic to show more detail of the stone.

Thanks again for all of the suggestions.

I don,t hate the stone. Its just one of those things that takes a little extra creativity to work around. Some of the best things do.

I was looking for pics of something similar for inspiration and saw this. Not sure if it's painted, but it sure looks like it. If you hate the stone and know you won't keep it anyway, what about trying something like this to lighten and modernize it?

[Modern Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2105) by West Hollywood Interior Designers & Decorators Elizabeth Dinkel

here's another one. I think the white is too stark, but a warmer color might work, like the one above.

Here is a link that might be useful: One more

I like the stone wall, but it needs to be tied in with the room. I would like a very light floor (tile or wood) or a darker wood floor with it. If that is a quality wood paneling, perhaps you can reuse some of the wood somehow, but it doesn't look like it goes with the rock on my monitor.

I have a floating engineered wood over concrete slab and it is not bouncy.

I found this tile on line. It is very modern looking in the pic, but would it work in my space?

Here is a link that might be useful: I like this tile in beige

I still think tile and stone is too much for the room, unless you're going for a modern look. Even with area rugs the tile will still make the room modern...and cold.

My engineered floor is sealed to the slab. Stone and wood is a perfect combination for a living room. Even if you want a more modern feel to the room, you can still do it with wood flooring.

I still like the idea of a wood look to warm up the space and would consider the flexitec or similar cushioned sheet vinyl option. I have it in my craft room and it is warm and soft and durable. It doesn't float so you wouldn't have the problem with it that the other floor had and it is extremely easy to clean and very durable (not at all like the thin congoleum sheet of yesteryear). I believe the one I got has a 25 year warranty.

I like the stone fireplace too. Pretty stone, interesting lines, not your boring box. I even like the pecky cypress.

I'd take another look at carpet, even though it isn't what you want -- something with a subtle pattern to keep it unfussy. You could layer a rug on top for more interest, even.

You may have already done this, but if not, take a look at the large stone fireplaces in the link below, of Google images.

Like some others, I can't imagine that tile combined with it will do anything but create a cold room. I think it could be beautiful with a wooden floor, and hope that issues of the past haven't turned you off wood forever.

The carpet looks new. Is that your rusty red patterned rug rolled up in front of it in the photos? Could you roll that out in front of it and take a pic for us?

Here is a link that might be useful: Large stone fireplaces

I am giving more consideration to a wood floating floor now. This pic is of my house that I just sold. I never felt that the tile in the family room and kitchen were cold, but I was able to use a color and pattern that I can't use in my new house.

I am not living in the house yet. It is out of state from me actually, so I am unable to take a pic with the rug open. That is a large rust colored rug though. It is 10 x 14. I do like area rugs. I don't care for wall to wall carpet though. I have some allergy issues, and I having wood or tile is best for me.

So nice sharing all comments and pics are so beautiful. I like and get many tips. Thanks

Aktillery - Do you remember what you floors were?

I really like your rock wall/fireplace. If it was my home, I would put in a light color wood flooring like a natural maple.

I have engineered wood glued down on my concrete slab and love it. Mine is red oak natural, but I think it would have too much character & variation next to your stone. The natural maple has more of an even look to it.

The engineered wood we used is made by Lauzon. They offer beveled or straight edge (square edge) planks.

I found a couple inspiration pics
{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Wood will by far look best in this space. I agree with the others, definitely don't go with tile.

Properly installed hardwood or engineered hardwood should never, ever feel spongy, nor should it creak.

I love the rockwall!!!!!

I think you should work with the rock wall - not fight it. It would be a job and a half to get that down anyway. Wood floors would look best. I am on slab and have hardwood so I am not sure why you can't go with hardwood? Mine are solid hardwood (Bruce red oak) and have no bounce at all.

msrose,

I got my floors from simplefloors.com I do not think they carry these any longer. The closest match would be Lepacho Maple.

Here is a link that might be useful: Flooring Link

I am generally not a fan of light wood floors, but the ones Laurie2008 posted look fabulous with the rock wall. Good luck!