flooring for kitchen

11 years ago

We are trying to decide about the flooring for our kitchen. We recently installed new white quartz counter tops, grey silgranite sinks, updated the hardware to polished nickel, and brushed nickel for the faucets. The wood cabinets are oak. We added undercabinet lighting and got new lighting for above the cabinets. The walls are painted a pale blue..Geyser--by Behr. We want some type of tile for the flooring. I thought it should be grey in tone. We have looked at porcelain and also the Tarkett flooring. The current flooring is sheet vinyl. Any ideas?

Featured Answer

PRO

The Leitzke Architects

11 years ago

You have a very traditional, honey oak cabinet and has survived for decades. The white quartz is a popular material/color and contemporary, but it doesn't "sing" with the cabinets. I see that you are trying to update the look of your kitchen. However,the gray will only make the cabinets look more out of place. I see only one choice : White porcelain tile the same color and tone as the counters. You might also try to find a quartzite with some white in it, but I haven't actually seen anything like that. If I was advising my client, I would suggest re-facing the cabinets with a different door style or painting them. You would then have many options. Oak is open grain so it will show the grain, which is not generally desirable. Definitely replace the door hardware to polished nickel. This isn't meant as a criticism of what you have done, but you have recognized that you now have a difficult design decision. Just a reminder that tile floor and countertop/backsplash finishes are among the most difficult to coordinate and should be decided upon at the same time for the best result.

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Comments (31)

Ann
11 years ago
Tile will look good (preferably large - 18" or larger tiles). Get a few samples and post pics so we can vote on the one most complementary to the counters and cabinets.
AJ thanked Ann
sfskies
11 years ago
I agree with Ann. ;-)
AJ thanked sfskies
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PRO
Northfield Sales Co., Inc
11 years ago
Since your cabinetry is dark and traditional I would recommend going with a floor that is close to the color of your counter-tops. Your cabinets will then become the focal point of the room and brighten the space.. Try to make sure there are no yellow or brown tones present in the new flooring.
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sfskies
11 years ago
If refacing your cabinets is not in your budget, look for a floor tile goes well with all the new materials you've installed. It's possible to bring in some color with muted Italian porcelain tiles. There are some more up-to-date options, but as long as you have those traditional oak cabinets with no plans to change them, don't go overboard with anything too contemporary.
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PRO
InteriorEs Silvana McColgan
11 years ago
Hi Janice! I wouldn't discard painting your cabinets to give them a fresh look. You could keep the perimeter as it is and paint the island in a soft gray. I also think that changing the hardware will have a good impact, just keep them simple to give your kitchen a clena look. I love the look of hardwood in kitchens and love products like Porcelanosa's Oxford line that looks just like hardwood but without the invonvinients, as it is porcelain tile. I have used similar floors in some of my projects and they look wonderful. I am attaching a picture of one that might look good in your kitchen. Good luck!
AJ thanked InteriorEs Silvana McColgan
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I appreciate all the ideas...now to convince someone that painting that island is a good idea....We did paint the laundry room cabinets a soft gray, and I really like it. They were very dark brown and didn't match the ones in the kitchen anyway, though the two are right together, and the flooring will flow through there.
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
We did replace the hardware with polished nickel in a simple style.
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
So, you think gray tone is out or in?
delyanks
11 years ago
I'd have to say a white or marble look but eventually I'd go stainless appliances. I think white floor with white appliances may look weird.

Painting the island is always a great idea.
AJ thanked delyanks
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
Here are some pics of tiles we have looked at.
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
And a couple more..
PRO
Interior Affairs -- Vickie Daeley
11 years ago
This is where you can use porcelain tile...
AJ thanked Interior Affairs -- Vickie Daeley
Carol Johnson
11 years ago
I kick the 1st tile pic.
AJ thanked Carol Johnson
acm
11 years ago
I think a quite light gray could look nice -- like the right-hand two in your first post, if they're representative pics.
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Carol Johnson
11 years ago
Sorry -- like !
AJ thanked Carol Johnson
PRO
The Leitzke Architects
11 years ago
Alternatively, do a 180 and introduce a complimentary color that is subtle, but can balance the redish cabinet...................like a green hue
Try going with a much darker warm gray-green (check backsplash accent tile) with a non-reflective finish (similar to a cut stone but porcelain) . Match the intensity of the cabinet. There is too much contrast with the lighter grays. I was wrong suggesting white to match the countertop. My bad. You need a recessive color that absorbs light. By the way I assume you plan on taking up the underlayment under the vinyl. There is a possibility that your vinyl is over the subfloor with no vinyl. It's too late to raise your cabinets at this point, so you will lose some toe-space clearance. You will want to use a tile backer board under the tile. It is possible to use the 1/4" thickness, although the manuf recommends 1/2".
If your floor is real solid the thinner material is fine when bedded in adhesive and screwed down.
Painted cabinets would really make an enormous difference here :)
AJ thanked The Leitzke Architects
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
I am thinking about your suggestions. I would love to paint the cabinet, but hubby won't go for it. My first thought was to match the intensity of the cabinets, and I hate the trim strip..I think when we get the flooring, I will have it changed out to a darker color. I like the idea of color. And yes, we do plan to remove the vinyl. I know it is on a concrete slab, and they will have to level it for porcelain tile, which we would like, I think. Much to think about.
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
Here are three more tiles...all a bit darker, as The Leitzke Architects suggested. One is called olive, and is a gray-green.
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
They didn't have a larger tile of the one with the four little ones. It is more of blue-grey color., and of the three, is the darkest.
PRO
The Leitzke Architects
11 years ago
The one on the right is the best of the three. It could be darker and even a little more green. Upper left is too blue, but offers another option in size. If you go with a smaller pattern, the texture and grout joint treatment (color) are another way to unify the cabinets and top. This illustrates how many options are available to you. United Tile has an online showroom as do many others (Oregon Tile). The salespersons typically are very qualified Designers and can help you feel comfortable with your choices. Unfortunately, there are subtle differences in color online, so you don't want to make a choice based on what we see. I think you can see the cabinets toning down with the tile choices above and that is a good direction to go.
AJ thanked The Leitzke Architects
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
And more....
Kivi
11 years ago
At the very least paint the island cabinets to work with a new tile. The other updates are a great idea but the cabinets just pull the kitchen back to an outdated look. Why would your husband want to hang onto an outdated look for the cabinets while updating and giving a fresh look to the rest?
AJ thanked Kivi
PRO
The Leitzke Architects
11 years ago
That lower right one looks rich and is "recessive". You could go a little lighter... maybe , maybe not. It does set the cabinet off though. The best by far.
PRO
The Leitzke Architects
11 years ago
BTW use REDGUARD or similar crack isolation membrane over the concrete floor before tiling.
PRO
Chermac Builders Inc
11 years ago
An option to 1/4" backer board, or the 1/2" recommended by the manufacturer is Ditra by Schluter. Will help preserve the toe kick space. That is if you vinyl is on a wood subfloor. If you are on concrete the architect is spot on in recommending the application if an anti fracture membrane like red guard, or fracture guard. We have also painted many cabinets over the tears with a number of different paint materials. Black lacquer on oak, oil on oak, even some of the newer latex products designed specifically for cabinetry. All allowed the grain to show through, and they looked very cool. Painting the cabinetry opens your options dramatically. Often we two tone the Kitchen - base cabinetry one color and wall cabinets another. Even in these cases we will tweak it bit more by setting the island off with yet another color.
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
11 years ago
It sounds like hubby is a 'wood lover'. Someone who loves the look of wood and thinks it is a crime to cover 'all that beautiful wood'. If this is the case, you might want to look at stripping the old finish off the cabinets and applying a "clear coat". The oak underneath all that orange MIGHT JUST BE blond...not orange.

You might be able to strip the "orange" off and apply a clear coat (for cabinets) that does not amber. This will allow the "light blond" of the oak to show through. The blond will naturally have a "grayish" hue to it (lots of oak blonds with gray streaks if it is left in sunlight for a decade or two). If this is the case, you could have your "wood" and your "gray" at the same time. Finding a floor that coordinates with cream, gray and "blond" is much easier than with "orange".

Just a thought.
AJ thanked Cancork Floor Inc.
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
I wouldn't have thought of that..maybe that would work. May try a little spot on the back of one. It would be nice if it were blond, not the reddish color. I am trying to find a grey..not too dark...tile...more medium color.
PRO
InteriorEs Silvana McColgan
11 years ago
Hi Janice, if wood is preferred by your hubby, I think Cancork's approach would be good, but don't expect that to be less work! I love color, but would incorporate it in accessories, and get neutral flooring like some of the options you have that aren't too grainy ;). I want to show you a picture of a kitchen I did a couple years ago with custom maple cabinets. We added a porcelain tile that looks like wood, as the client wanted a traditional kitchen with a warm look. The kitchen is in sand color but the wood looks wonderful paired with the neutral counters and flooring.
If you choose to keep the wood for a while you could later decide what to do next. In case you choose to paint them, no problem you can add color to the cabinets because of the neutral background.
Good luck!
PRO
Cadence Custom Cabinetry, Inc.
11 years ago
The bottom left tile in your third set of pictures seems to coordinate well with your paint color and looks really nice against your cabinets. Have you thought about doing a pattern?
AJ
Original Author
11 years ago
These are all good ideas. We thought about the larger tiles..12X24 size, in a third-set pattern. I am looking for a neutral gray..medium tone. I think that will work. I like that herringbone type pattern, but I don't know how that would work in our house because of the arrangement of the cabinets.