Help! Tile floor is down and I'm not sure it's right

14 years ago

Choosing tile is really hard! There are many beautiful ones, but it's so difficult when you see just 1 or 2 in the tile store. I particularly like tile that has a lot of variation, and so I'm really struggling. Help!

I will have classic inset linen white cabs and black granite on the perimeter with a walnut countertop on the island. The rest of the house has white oak floors.

I narrowed it down to this tile from Naxos -- Pietra Sacra -- love the rustic look and the random size pattern. There were two colorways that I couldn't decide between. Here are the pictures from the tile brochure:

Arx:

{{!gwi}}

Celio:

{{!gwi}}

It's so difficult to tell from these photos. I ended up choosing the second one, but now that it's down in my mudroom, it looks a little too -- gray. I was concerned that the first one would look too orange. There's still time to change the kitchen if I want to. I'll post a picture of my mudroom once it's grouted.

Any of you out there with white kitchens -- please show me your tile floors!

Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

jan_jan
14 years ago
I have a very gray, blue, with a tad of tan tile floor and I love it. However I love gray and blue. I also have white cabinets. My kitchen isn't finished yet so I can't send a pic of the whole thing but here is the floor. I have had the floor 9 years (kitchen is just a partial add on) and I love it as much today as I did 9 years ago. It's so easy and nothing shows on it. Love it.
The picture you showed above looks beautiful.

{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}
2ajsmama
14 years ago
cncnh - can you post pics of your mudroom and kitchen? What colors are the walls and cabinets? You can change the look of the mudroom floor with grout if they haven't grouted yet. If the spaces are contiguous (even if you have a door like I do b/t, how often is is closed?) I would want to keep the tile the same. I do think the first pic looks orange.

jan_jan, your kitchen floor looks like my bathroom floor. I love the kids' bathroom (blue/gray wavy edge textured) that I got the same thing in a brown/gray to go in the master (with maple toffee vanity). Are you the one I offered a spare to? I forget now - if so, did you go with the pebbled tile in front of the door?

{{!gwi}}
Related Discussions
DH says I'm negative and pessimistic, and it's bringing him down
Q
Comments (22)
Since this was brought to the top, I thought I would provide an update: counseling works (see other thread). Regarding my negative and pessimistic behavior, our marriage counselor did not believe I am negative (and I don't either). He felt I was just the kind of person who approaches things in a way that can be CONSTRUED as negative, especially if the person takes things personally. For example, someone might share an idea and I generally respond by coming up with reasons why it won't work. It doesn't mean I don't like the idea at all, I just want to troubleshoot the idea a little. His advice for dealing with my DH was that I train myself to say a positive before I give my reasons why something won't work. My understanding was that I would do this to benefit the person sharing an idea with me, so they won't immediately think I'm sh*tting all over their idea etc. Now, he ALSO told DH that his job is to reiterate to me what he thinks I said, to clarify whether or not he's understanding me. So if I say "it may not solve all the problems because of blah, blah, blah" and what he hears is that I think it's a bad idea (when that's not what I'm saying) then he is supposed to respond "Are you telling me that you think this is a bad idea?" instead of just getting mad. So we BOTH have to take steps to improve our communication, and we are, so it's been a lot better. I wish I could give specific advice to you, cheerful1. My communication problems with DH were a result of BOTH OF US having issues. I'm too blunt and direct for someone like my DH, and he has too much of a tendency to assume rather than seek clarification, which resulted in him assuming the worst and then being too angry with me to want to discuss it. So I'm learning to soften the comments a little, and try (as much as possible) to phrase them in a way that doesn't blame him. I wish I had a specific example but I don't. Counseling really helped clear it up for us. In fact, DH very recently told me that when I would say things to him in a blunt and direct manner, he interpreted it to mean that I did not love him. For some reason, he thought if I loved him then I would sugar-coat stuff. ??? News to me but it explains a lot. Why didn't he say this to me years ago? I don't know, I didn't ask. I told him I appreciated him sharing that with me. jamielovescoffee_az: you are absolutely correct that it seems to be all in the approach and not necessarily the message. By the way, DH later told me...MONTHS later...that the coffee he insisted on buying WAS gross, and that I was right after all. Now, though, I think that whole argument was PETTY and I'm working on just letting some things go. Why should I be so concerned over what kind of coffee he gets for himself at his work?
...See More
Couldn't wait to ditch the peninsula, now I'm not sure, help?
Q
Comments (38)
LOL at the messiness showing comment krabby! Did you see my pictures above? My family room pretty much always looks like that, the messes in the kitchen are tame by comparison. My twins can really tear things up, and they are girls! OK, here's the plan I put together while I should have been sleeping (east coaster here, coming up on midnight, can we say obsessed??): peninsula: I think I love it... Deep drawer bases: 36", 30", 24", 18" 36x39 wall cab corner susan over fridge and over the counter micro cab 2 roll front wall cabs, 18" each and a 24" cab in the dead corner, facing the family room, for storage of seldom used things. I didnt want another corner cab so this was my answer... Thoughts? Concerns? Questions? Comments? Wanna come help me? This is a DIY remodel btw...
...See More
HELP-need photo samples or assurance I'm on the right track
Q
Comments (28)
CircusPeanuts - not the look I am going for at all... I wonder if my kitchen would really turn out that bad. Yikes! (Oops, no offensive to who's ever kitchen that is.) LWO - Yikes again - pricy indeed. I'll look for a knock of or at least broaden my horizons to consider darker pendents. The reason I don't want to do wood, or tile looking like wood, in the kitchen is b/c we already have wood in an adjoining hallway and I don't like it enough to do the same wood but I don't want to have a different wood right next to it. We only had it installed a few years ago though and I certainly can justify, or afford, to replace it. I also just have a thing for tile in the kitchen. I think it is b/c I grew up in Arizona. I think I am going to start looking at wood stains compared to my granite. I think I nice stained wood island could certainly be wood element and add both the warmth and contrast that I need/long for. Beth - I would LOVE to see your kitchen. It sounds a lot like the rest of my selections. Were you going to do something lighter on the floor and istead switched to what you've got to add contrast and something dark? Get a flickr, picasa or photobucket account. Upload the photos. Then there should be like a "share" button and you just copy the html gibberish and post it in the message box. Again, I'd love to see what you've got. Thanks everyone.
...See More
Please help me! I'm excited but not sure what I got myself into!!
Q
Comments (6)
Go for it. I've helped people I know redo kitchens...I've done 6 kitchens already. I do it because I enjoy doing it. I don't charge anything...I do it for friends or acquaintances. I start with layout and then get them to look at houzz for inspiration, I help them determine style, talk to them about function, then help them with their selections. A lot of what I do is throw out options for them to "try on" to see if they'd like it or not. That way, when they decide, they feel as if they've explored all the options and have more confidence in the choices they've made. I also make sure, like a checklist, that they think about all the necessary things: electrical, lighting, plumbing, flooring, hardware, colors, surfaces, etc. Esp in a kitchen redo, there's a lot to think about. You need to be flexible enough to go with them and their style...which may not be your style. (For example, some kitchens were white, some painted cabinets, some cherry wood...some traditional, cottage, or whatever.) You need to work within their budget as you are spending their money, not yours. You also need to be aware that you are not the final decider and they may make decisions that you think are mistakes, but it's they're place and they have to live with it, not you. But I like doing it...it's fun for me. I would never do it 'professionally' because as soon as money comes into the picture, it changes everything. Also, if you do decide to go professional, plan on getting some training and credentials.
...See More
cncnh
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks to you both, jan jan and ajsmama. I took a picture of the mudroom this morning. Morning light works wonders. It's not nearly as gray as it looked yesterday evening. It looks (dare I say it?) orangey in this photo, but it's actually more carmel/taupe colored. Now I'm glad I didn't pick the orange tile! I have picked out grout that should match the lightest colors of the tile, so it will look different once grouted. That should be happening tomorrow.

The mudroom is not right off the kitchen -- there is some oak hardwood in between (the family room) -- but they are within sight of each other so I did want to keep them the same.

I guess I'm feeling better about the whole thing. Whew! The things that keep you up at night! Thanks again!

{{!gwi}}
katienic
14 years ago
No doubt about it. Your floor is going to look wonderful with your linen white cabs & black granite!

I have a white porcelain tile with a light walnut glaze and in some lights it does look quite gray, and yet in others the walnut glaze shows up much more.
I went with a grout called dove, which picks up on the lightest area, but now I wish I had chosen a bit darker from the more heavily coloured area of the tiles(even the standard gray grout might have been a better choice)as the lines show up quite white. The flooring people said the grout would darken over time, so I'm counting on that to mute it a bit.

BTW, I love the tile layout & the colour. It's warm, has interest yet isn't busy. Great choice!
bellcrest
14 years ago
I really love your tile floor. Love the warm and tile pattern. Good choice.
megradek
14 years ago
I'm glad you're feeling better about it, because it's REALLY pretty. I love the 'hopscotch' or versailles patterning. and the tiles have lots of nice variation in them (porcelain??) to give visual interest. fear not, you chose well!! now move on to other angst :)
olga_d
14 years ago
I really like that pattern! Glad you're feeling better about it this morning. :)
tkln
14 years ago
We have the Naxos tile...LOVE IT! Not sure if it's the exact one but it looks awfully close. I think we have the warmer color though, our cabinets are a chestnut color.

Glad you are feeling better about the tile...we've had it for over three years and I still love it.

here are some very old photos...
boxerpups
14 years ago
cncnh,

I love the tile. You picked the perfect color.

~boxerpups
cncnh
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all SO much. This forum is a wonderful sounding board with so much combined experience. These decisions can be a bit hairy at times, and your reassurance helps. Knowing that tile isn't the easiest thing to change, I really want to get it right the first time.

I especially appreciate your comments of "warm" as that is exactly what I was going for -- a warm, old stone farmhouse kind of look. I am very happy with the variation in the tile. I can't find any duplicates. Would have loved real stone but wanted the ease of porcelain.

lnersian - yes, I think it is the same tile! Yours may be the warmer color but it's difficult to tell. They really were quite close. Your kitchen is beautiful! I see you used the 2x2s on your backsplash as well. Very nice!
weedmeister
14 years ago
To be honest, I liked the first one more from its picture. But what you have looks good as well. I think if you are using incandecent lamps, it will accentuate the warm colors, like the last picture above.
remodelfla
14 years ago
I think the grayer one is fabulous. It'll look even softer against the linen white cabs and they'll play off each other beautifully. Your kitchen is going to be wonderful.
jan_jan
14 years ago
ajsmama - Yes, it was me. You are the sweetie that offered me up tile. Too nice! We ended up moving all the applicanes and found only 2 tiles under one that we popped up and can use. I was sooo excited! Thanks again for you nice offer.

Help! Tile floor is down and I'm not sure it's right

Comments (13)

jan_jan

2ajsmama

Related Discussions

cncnh
Original Author

katienic

bellcrest

megradek

olga_d

tkln

boxerpups

cncnh
Original Author

weedmeister

remodelfla

jan_jan

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Help! Tile floor is down and I'm not sure it's right

Comments (13)

Related Discussions

cncnhOriginal Author

cncnhOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

cncnh
Original Author

cncnh
Original Author