Stone or hardwood laminate in kitchen

12 years ago

Hi everyone,

Thanks for any and all help!

I have a tri level townhome where the 2nd story contains the living room, dining room, and kitchen in an open layout.

I plan to have a light grey distressed laminate wood (picture attached) throughout the space, but not sure if i should continue that into kitchen.

Now, if my floor plan was truly open, i would stick with laminate throughout. However, as you can see from my kitchen, there is a breakfast bar that sorta demarcates the kitchen from dining room so perhaps a dark gray stone tile would look good there and also be functional since it withstands water. Btw, I plan on doing white cabinets (example from houzz attached) so a dark tile would look better than a lighter color.... I think lol

As for the color on the walls im not sure.. Maybe white because i dont get a significant amount of light. Any suggestions for wall color appreciated too.

Thanks everyone!

Featured Answer

PRO

Cancork Floor Inc.

12 years ago

Cork that looks like wood/laminate can do all of the above...without worrying about water in the kitchen. Cork floating planks (yep...installed just like laminate) can be sealed in a kitchen (just like hardwood). That way you can have your easy to install, high-end looking laminate (cork laminate...not plastic laminate) that can withstand kitchen spills and splashes without batting an eye.

It is an option that will remove the echo from the space, insulate against heat/cold, wear well, and can be installed in splash-prone areas like kitchens and entranceways. All for the same price as a high-end laminate.

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Comments (18)

User
12 years ago
No laminate. It's too echoey. Do real wood.
David Lin thanked User
David Lin
Original Author
12 years ago
Sophie, say I choose real wood. Would you suggest I continue that real wood into the kitchen? I am leaning towards having some dark tile in the kitchen instead of wood because my kitchen is not completely open into the living area.
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Leslie Newberry
12 years ago
I might look at the new ceramic tiles that look like hardwood. They are very realistic and you might be able to find one that closely matches your hardwood/laminate choice. with the breakfast bar as a partial barrier it wouldn't have to match exactly but you would then have the waterproof issue solved in the kitchen. Nice house, lots of light in the rooms.
David Lin thanked Leslie Newberry
Leslie Newberry
12 years ago
And the choice of distressed wood is good, I have a laminate that looks like old barn wood but the great thing is the way it hides dirt. Not having to sweep and damp mop all the time is great. I have pets and the hair that come with them.
David Lin thanked Leslie Newberry
David Lin
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks Leslie. Another reason to go with tiles is because dark tiles would look great with the white kitchen cabinets. I love the distressed wood as you do, but it wouldn't look as great with white cabinets.

What would you think of a complete contrast from light wood to dark tile in my case? I would not prefer to try and "match" the wood using ceramic to be frank.
Danielle Shepley-Cacilhas
12 years ago
I would suggest doing tile in your kitchen. I have hardwood through mine because of the open concept, and I wish I would have went all tile vs. the wood.

What about a slate look in tile?
Leslie Newberry
12 years ago
If you have your heart set on the laminate you have picked and the dark floors with the white cabinetry then I say go for it. Just be aware that it will break the space up a bit because or the contrast where the 2 types of flooring change. But you already have the breakfast bar that breaks up the space so it is not like you would have to worry about breaking up an uninterrupted expanse of floor. It might be fun to play up the contrast at the demarcation point by painting the vertical space below the bar a dark neutral of even an accent of color, for some pop. Have fun with all your choices. They can be endless.
Carolina
12 years ago
Whatever you do, as long as you like it, that's the most important thing. I don't agree with you that you need a dark floor in your kitchen because you're going for white cabinets. Unless you really don't like the enclosed photos :-)

If you go for the weathered grey laminate, I'd suggest you find a tile that's a similar colour grey. (Not wood-look tiles though.) So you don't break up the floor visually, but have the more practical tiles in your kitchen area. I expect you'll break up the floor in the living area with a rug already.

Grace · More Info

Greenwich Street · More Info

Plain English Kitchen · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/photos/13-foxley-st-transitional-kitchen-toronto-phvw-vp~7441782

Another thought, have you considered vinyl plank flooring? Softer underfoot, less noise and apparently it's water resistant, so you can lay it in the kitchen too :-)
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
12 years ago
I have laminate that looks like slate all through my main living and kitchen, I have 2 big dogs so no real hardwood for me . I love my flooring in fact a few people I know have now put in their places in different colors from mine.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
12 years ago
pics don't know why they didn't load
jdd3612
12 years ago
I chose wood floors in a darker color in a recent kitchen redo. Looks nice, but every crumb shows. I assume that to be true of other dark materials. If I did it over, I'd go with medium gray tile with a bit of mottling or maybe even luxury vinyl plank flooring which is easy to install.
Leslie Newberry
12 years ago
OK forget about what pinchharmonic wants, this is a good idea. (just kidding pinch:)
I have not seen this product. Did not know it could be sealed; Pre install or after? And do they make other styles that look like the original cork floor (not wood look-a-like.)? Would have to see a sample close up. Brand? Anywhere near Fresno CA?
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
12 years ago
I've shown the "printed cork" because it offers the "look of hardwood laminate" with the best possible gray. Gray cork is very difficult to achieve (cork is the colour of pumpkins...gray and whites are very hard to achieve). Traditional style cork floors are now found in all markets in a floating floor (click-together) format.

Most (but not all) of these cork floors can be sealed AFTER INSTALLATION to achieve a water resistant (not water proof...but resistant to surface spills) floor. My company sells Forna flooring products. We have an outlet in the USA in WA. state. We sell all over USA and Canada. We carry 60+ flooring options; of those 40+ are floating floors.

www.icorkfloor.com

Be aware that any of the aluminum oxide finishes CANNOT be sealed = not allowed in kitchens. In bathrooms, a glue down cork tile is required because they can be made water PROOF!
PRO
Julia & Elizabeth
12 years ago
I have hardwood floors in my kitchen and they don't like water. I would never to it again.
David Lin
Original Author
12 years ago
Belle, are laminate floors worse or better off? Thanks btw!
Leslie Newberry
12 years ago
Re: Belle Chaise comment - It is my understanding that because cork is naturally water resistant (i.e. to seal wine bottles) it is doable in a kitchen (or bath if glued down) unlike real wood floors. So if you like the natural feel and earth tones available in cork without the head ache and worry of real hardwood this is definitely a product to consider. Especially if the printed, weathered grey wood grain is realistic looking and pinchharmonic likes it.
So, Thank you Camcork Floor Co. for all the info. I will add that to my arsenal when shopping.
Natalie
12 years ago
last modified: 12 years ago
Hi---I think any of the gray/ash colored tiles above would look nice throughout the entire space. As for longevity/durability---a wood looking porcelain would be better than laminate. Good Luck!
[houzz=
Modern Cottage Dream Home in Edina · More Info
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