You asked, so here’s mine: Don’t do it. In the pictures with the wood plank floors you posted, the dark floor looks obviously plastic.

I agree don't do it!!! Especially since your "real" wood cuts halfway through one front door - it will not have the look of your inspiration picture.

A suggestion - try staining/painting your grout first to match your tiles. The tiles aren't that bad, and light grout will really make them look so much better. You can find the grout stain at Home Depot or other home improvement stores - for less than $20, you might find that you can keep the tile.

I never noticed that the real hardwood starts where the front door is! That’s so weird!

Regarding the tile, I really can’t stand it. It’s so dated and I hate standing on tile. Everything shows on it and I end up vacuuming and spot cleaning every day.

I guess there’s no love for a tile strip, lol. I honestly don’t see why, but I’m keeping an open mind :)

Regarding the fake wood looking fake, I do like the LVT I chose. I don’t think it looks fake at all in person.

Initially I wasn’t looking for a wood look b/c it’s going near real wood. I want LVT b/c it’s softer on your feet and I can afford it. I don’t like anything I’ve found in a stone look. I’ve been looking since Sept. i really don’t think there’s anything I haven’t seen. I want a brown floor, not gray and I want planks, not square tiles. I don’t like swirls or anything.

The tile accent you posted will just bring more focus to the mis-matched flooring. If you love the flooring you chose, use the threshold that comes with the product. It will look better. Do have them end the new flooring at the end of the door, tho!

I am all over the place with this! I don’t totally love anything, which is why I can’t commit. Maybe I should reconsider tile. I hate walking on it, but I think it’ll be prettier in my long hallway than dark brown wood LVT and will look nicer next to the real wood…

Something other than the LVT would be better but...

I think the tile strip works kinda in your first example because it is in a cased doorway so it really IS like a threshold. If you decide to go through with it, pick something very subtle and neutral, like a monochromatic slate or marble. The idea is to NOT make it an accent tile, but to just have it there quietly.

But...I'd keep looking. :)

Thanks!

I’ve now come full circle and have decided to replace the tile with… tile! As much as I hate walking on it, I think I can find the pattern I want with tile and it’ll look more interesting and elegant, especially down the 40’ hall.

I’ve made so many posts over this and can’t commit to anything b/c I really don’t like any LVT I’ve chosen well enough to make a decision. Thanks for your help!

the tile choice is better than the LVP. plenty of tile options to choose from.

you could also get the same type of wood flooring and feather that in to cover the entry way. have it all refinished to match

or, look for the same type of wood in a herringbone

some tile options.

Slate

black slate in a herringbone

smaller rug inlay w/the slate (or whatever) surrounded by the matching oak wood flooring

porcelain large hex tile

you can inlay it into the existing wood floor so that there isn't a clear demarcation line.

something like this would actually work nicely w/your warmer wood tone floors

can't see the other wall, but I'd do something decorative with that, find a nice long runner, and perhaps a new light.

I'd also paint your front doors if youre keeping all the other walls as is. The white is rather blah

the tile choice is better than the LVP. plenty of tile options to choose from.

you could also get the same type of wood flooring and feather that in to cover the entry way. have it all refinished to match

or, look for the same type of wood in a herringbone

some tile options.

Slate

black slate in a herringbone

smaller rug inlay w/the slate (or whatever) surrounded by the matching oak wood flooring

porcelain large hex tile

you can inlay it into the existing wood floor so that there isn't a clear demarcation line.

something like this would actually work nicely w/your warmer wood tone floors

can't see the other wall, but I'd do something decorative with that, find a nice long runner, and perhaps a new light.

I'd also paint your front doors if youre keeping all the other walls as is. The white is rather blah

I also vote for feathering in real hardwood to remove the off transition at the front door. Better than tile that shows everything.

If the tile showing everything is a reason to change it then you do NOT want dark floors. It'll be even worse.

Look at LVT.

I would do tile. I'd choose a neutral, warm color that makes sense next to those warm wood floors. I'd choose a large format (12X24" or bigger) rectified, so there are fewer (and narrow) grout lines, and try to blend the grout so it disappears as much as possible. Then, for warmth, put down some beautiful rugs. Voila.

Thank you! I made an appt at a tile store I like for Sat. I like those hexagon tiles that Beth posted. We are getting new front doors this spring (already purchased and waiting to get here). Interesting about painting the interior doors something but white… Should I paint them the same color as the walls? The other side of the wall is closets.

Interesting about dark colors showing dirt. What I have now shows everything! I do have 3 elementary aged children and cook a lot, so maybe that’s part of it.

Tile is the best choice IMO. Some thoughts as you add up the costs.

Make sure you understand the total labor cost and dump fees because you will need to remove the current tile. It all adds up fast.

Make sure you know the return policy for unopened boxes of tile. A tile store I was at yesterday has a 15 day return policy that can be stretched if they still have the dye lot in stock, however that's probably unlikely to be the case. Getting trades people to commit to an exact schedule is next to impossible right now. With a tight return policy, be certain the installer can arrive and complete the job within the return policy of receiving the tile. That probably can't be counted on so be prepared to be stuck with any unopened boxes if the store has a tight return policy like this one did. It all impacts the budget.

Don't drive yourself crazy over this, summer is coming and you and the kiddos can spend a lot of time outside soon. Maybe some inexpensive area rugs will distract you from the current floor.

Where the floor transitions in the middle of the space will always be awkward. Why not remove the tile and put in oak and refinish all to match? Price wise it will likely be a wash for the cost of installing tile. Real hardwood throughout is a classic look (and softer underfoot than tile)

What about parquet in same colour as your wood floors? Make the transition seamless though.

Also you said you are getting new doors. Have you considered getting a door with a sidelight instead of a double opening door? Maybe you could incorporate a built in bench at the transition?

I can’t get sidelights due to the weird size of the door. I don’t like parquet, but thank you!

I like your double doors. Can't tell what they look like on the outside but the style of them is nice from the inside. A bit modern which I like.

BTW, overall the very best choice is to put in hardwood to match existing but that opens a can of worms to refinish your existing floors so all will match. Nothing is easy, Explore all options and you may be surprised which is actually the most functional, cost effective and appeals to your eye.

This may sound crazy, but there are some awesome sheet vinyls out there now. Here's an Armstrong product. It may be good for now and then when the budget expands, you could replace it.

One more thought in case you haven't decided. Find a tile refinisher. Here's a picture from one in my area. Yes, you lose the contrasting grout but it might be a lower cost solution while you budget for the most desirable change, adding hardwood to match the rest of your house.

(well, looks like pics are posting on Houzz again today, so here's a link to the site https://renov8co.com/gallery/#form)

I've decided to refinish the olive green tile of a very, very rarely used guest bath shower (not my bath above) instead of replacing the tile. I'm doing three bathrooms at once, major painting, a new driveway and replacing flooring in a lower level. The costs are just crazy, crazy so I'm looking for ways to reduce the budget.

When I read you have three elementary school age children, my heart went out to you. You may be flush with funds, so all these lower cost options might not be necessary, but just in case you aren't flush with funds, please don't get sucked into the HGTV vortex of having to have the very best renovation at the cost of other things in your life. Also, time impacts our decisions so much. I see countless design choices I really wanted ten, even five years ago that I am so happy I didn't do.

All the best to you!