If I were a designer, the slate would be on my short list of keepers; timeless and classic. The wallpaper is definitely dated but you know that already.

will the adjoining floors stay in that honey color ? what are the 2 little black squares ?

I love a center hall colonial.

I love it, too. Fresh wallpaper and you are good to go! Save your money for the kitchen. :-)

That slate is timeless, and perfect for the entryway. Strip the wallpaper and spend your time choosing a great color.

Another vote to keep it!

You guys are great. Thank you.

The two black squares are soapstone - I was thinking about that for the kitchen counter tops awhile, but I was concerned about adding in lots of black stone in the kitchen with all that blue/green slate next door in the hall - kind of like close, but no cigar! I am now moving toward putting dark brown granite or silestone on the counters.

Honestly, I don't think it looks bad at all. I don't think it's 'dated' but if you're looking for a change, I certainly know how that feels because I went through it recently.

I think if you added some wood moulding detail to the bottom part of the wall and got a good, strong color on the top, it would look great. It's really hard to see but I'd think about changing out the lighting fixture in the foyer with something that has a larger visual interest to it. If it had a dark finish to it, I think it would tie in with the floor, nicely.

Another suggestion would be a beautiful, long runner. The dark color of the slate would be a nice background color that would make the runner 'pop' and the slate would essentially fade into the background.

Another vote for keeping the slate--I don't think using the soapstone in the kitchen would be a problem either, if you still wanted to think about it.

I vote to keep it. It's beautiful and a classic. If everyone removed everything that wasn't "up to date", where would history and charm come from?

My guess from looking at neighbor's houses is that our house had something like that in the foyer when it was built. Previous owners put in large ceramic tile in a cold colorway that I hate and which shows every pawprint at this time of year-- I'd love to have that slate!

Yes, Leafy, this is probably the same slate that was in your house and your neighbor's house. My contractor mentioned that he has ripped out a lot of slate just like it over the years.

I am surprised that there so much agreement that the slate is good. I like it but others, including an interior designer, have told me that it dates the house and that I should replace it. The designer is suggesting I put in terra cotta tile or brown ceramic tile in both the the hall and kitchen.

Love the slate. I would totally keep it.

I tend to associate terracotta tile w/ Spanish/Mediteranean style house more. Not center hall colonial. And I much prefer slate over brown ceramic.

It's exhaustive trying to keep up w/ trend. I have a friend who recently moved into a house with new travertine flooring & she has all of it ripped to replaced w/ wood flooring. Another friend has her 3-year new chocolate wood floor refinished/restained to the new bleached wood look that's so popular now.

I love soap stone countertop too. I like it with quartersawn oak cabinets much better than the usual white cab/soapstone combo. Or maybe with painted cabinets in dark moody farrow and ball colors -- very English. :-)

The slate is GORGEOUS! A BIG vote to keep it! :)

Perhaps re-stain the pale gold wood? Maybe darker? Or perhap that very new gray-washed bleached-then-aged look?

Perhaps a pale silvery gray paint would work well here? Maybe add a silvery starburst mirror where the artwork now hangs (on the left-hand side of the photo)?

And your front doors are very pretty too! :)

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Yep....another LOVE the slate! and ditch the wallpaper...:0)

This is great! I have the same slate in my foyer and sunroom (built in 1963). I've never loved it because of the wide grout lines, but I sure wasn't going to rip it out. I'm going to start appreciating it more now that I've read these responses.

Yet ANOTHER vote for keep the slate - it's gorgeous! Like those paneled front doors too.

Well, I ripped mine out. Very similar, only mine was black. Not because it was dated, and not because it was ugly. But because it made my entry foyer a black hole. So, we ripped it out and ran hardwood flooring to match the rest of the house for continuity and flow, especially nice after we opened the space up.

But no, it's not dated. And your space is no black hole. And I even kind of like the wallpaper, for that matter.

You know, here's what I think about features that "date" the house: there's a difference between things looking shabby and run down, and things that just indicate a time period. There's nothing wrong with a house being from the 1960's (or whenever).

My last two houses had beautiful wood floors with inset details that were in style when the houses were built in the 20's and 40's, but were "dated" throughout the 70's and 80's, when everyone on the block had covered theirs with shag or berber carpeting. Now, home buyers are very happy when they pull up carpet and find beautiful wood with inset border details. What if they had all ripped out the wood when it was out of style?

I think houses only look "dated" when they are like my MIL's house. She bought rooms of furniture straight off the department store floor in 1972, installed them in her home exactly as they appeared in the store display, and never made a change. The plastic is still on the lampshades, bless her heart. It's like a time capsule, and I am sure the Smithsonian will be happy to have it all when the time comes.

"There's nothing wrong with a house being from the 1960's (or whenever). "

One of my absolute favorite whole-house remodels was of a house from the early 1960's. The new owners really listened to the house and did a renovation that kept and enhanced the original appeal while bringing everything up to date. They kept the flat wood panelling (refinished), the terrazzo floors (no one does those anymore -- but they totally work there!), the sliding doors and ultra-simple trimwork. The house just looks 'right'...

So along those lines -- Even though slate was popular in the 1970's, it was also popular in the 1870's and 1770's, and I suspect the 'dated' comments are probably induced by 'guilt by association'...

I also don't see the soapstone as being problematic. A few more watts on the light fixtures can fix any too-dark concerns.

Definitely keep it, IMO. Those house builders could have extended the hardwoods to the door, but they made a very smart choice instead. And they didn't pick a busy multicolored slate, which I was expecting when you were asking whether it was dated. Simple black slate is like a simple black dress. Can't go wrong with it.

Dated is gold shag and an avocado fridge.
Slate like that is classic. I love it! I would just update by taking out the wallpaper and painting. I suppose you could tear it out, put in ceramic tile, and then you'll be just like everyone else. No unique classic style.
Keep it, it's really nice.

I love it! It really grounds the space. I don't think 70's at all.

Yes to the slate, BUT, IF you were to rip it out, I would do hardwood, not tile. Soapstone is fine even if you keep the slate. I think once you rip off the wall paper and paint, you will feel a big difference!

Keep it. One person's "dated" is another person's "classic."

I'm having a hard time figuring out why that would be dated. What could be wrong with black slate? Even wide grout lines are not a big deal.

I can't see the wall paper very well, but I also am not having a problem with what I see. I think we can really go overboard on the "dated" concept. Is it good design, or is is not good design? Do you personally like it, or not like it? I think slate is good design.

That word 'dated', in connection with decor, always sets my teeth on edge. In my vocabulary, anything that isn't brand, spanking new would be 'dated'. But checking my thesaurus, I see dated is a synonym for outdated, unfashionable, antiquated, obsolete, etc. So I guess the word conveys the point. I'll try to stop grinding my teeth.

Its a million years old. Of course its dated.

:) but like I said, looks great, is appropriate for the house and as a material.

I cant thank you all enough for your replies. I have to say I am pretty amazed (and happy), that the opinion is unanimous about the slate. What is too odd is that both the designer and my sister (who considers herself good at decorating) really detest the stuff. Maybe it IS guilt by association - the rest of the house is in dire need of updating.

Just in case the photos I posted make the slate look better than it does in real life I have posted a few more! Maybe the camera angles or lighting explains this??

You will clearly see from the photos that the wallpaper is, in fact, pretty nasty. Any ideas on what I should replace it with would be appreciated!

I am grateful for all the suggestions, especially those about rethinking the color of the wood floors - I never focused on that before. Is the honey oak color something that places the house in the 1970's?

I love soapstone, it is so beautiful, but I think I am not as happy with a black/white contrast in the kitchen since the rest of the house is mostly brown and blue. I am hoping I can find some honed brown quartz - that, plus some butcherblock on the cherry island, I hope would be nice and a little bit softer. If this sounds off to anyone, please let me know.

Thanks again!!

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Yes -- I still stand by my earlier comments -- the slate is great (LOL!) -- and the walls would be lovely in a pale silver or mid-tone gray.

Add a silver-toned mirror -- and fresh lighting.

And yes again -- consider switching the tone of the oak of the stairway -- I wonder how it look if you simply painted the stairs in high-gloss white to match the rails of the handrail?

JUST a thought -- have you ever considered adding a transom window above the doorway to the kitchen area? It would really bring a wonderful amount of light into that area! Remember -- JUST a thought!! :)

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

Nope, the latest photos don't make the slate look any worse in my opinion! I like it. It reminds me of the tile my stepson chose for his new, custom, and very upscale home in England!!
We have slate in our gallery (foyer). It is durable, easy to keep clean and beautiful IMO.
Admittedly I am not a floral wallpaper sort of girl so I would replace that.

Sorry - I just could not help posting one more time to make sure! Thanks Jan and sis! Ok the slate will stay.

Jan, the undertone to the slate is almost a teal - so I am thinking cornflower blue or maybe sable/sand brown on the walls - wouldn't silver clash with such undertones? A transom window sounds wonderful !

Sis - I would love my house to look like an upscale home in England - That comment made me happy! Maybe after I take the white vinyl off the floor in the kitchen I will get closer to that!

Zip over to the "Gray" topic by redbazel -- look down the list of messages and clik on the link over to the Gallery here -- it shows a wonderful collection of gray rooms and spaces.

I would LOVE to see one of these colors in your foyer:

All Benjamin Moore colors:

Revere Pewter
Ozark Shadows
Sandy Hook Gray
Oyster Shell

P.S. I do spell "gray" with both an "e" ("grey") and an "a" ("gray") so do check those colors under both spellings! LOL!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

I think that my house I grew up in had similar slate. It was installed about 1963. This is reminding me of that. It was really nice. I think it is a classic. I agree that the stairway oak is not a great color. I think the slate would look better with a darker wood or what teacats said. Is the grout in good shape(still trying to figure out what they object to. )

Timeless, classic, and will look wonderful with wood floors in other spaces.

Red

The Slate is gorgeous! Please keep it, it looks stunning.

I would get rid of the wallpaper and just paint the hallway. Not sure what other colors you have in your home but I think a nice coat of paint would really spruce up the space. Good Luck!

Absolutely not, honest!

It really makes a very cold entrance. I'm a wood person myself but I don't think I would change it out unless I was doing a total redo of wallpaper removal, etc.

Definitely keep the slate.It is gorgeous. I spent an entire summer rescuing the slate floor in the front entrance of our old house because my husband had PAINTED it (before he knew me) with off-white flooring paint. Poor baby,he had no idea that slate could be rejuvenated and re-sealed.

Let me jump on ' the keep the slate bandwagon'! It's beautiful and classic. Just curious .. do you live in the North East?

Room for one more? Keep the slate. I consider it timeless, rather than dated.

After seeing your latest pics, I stick with my opinion to keep the slate. IMHO, I'd be tempted to paint the handrail on the stairway the same color as the spindles. Then, I'd put a traditional-styled patterned runner on the stair to pull in some darker colors in the same vein as the floor. A rich color on the top half of the wall (perhaps even a tone on tone stripe painting technique) and some molding on the bottom half to make it look more traditional.

We're doing a complete remodel of a 1951 house and are planning to use slate in all three entry areas. I think it looks classic and contemporary at the same time (and is cheap and practical!). The pattern of your slate is lovely.

I think your slate is absolutely beautiful. The layout is unique and looks to be well done. It is difficult to tell from the photographs, but if the floor looks "old" or "worn out", perhaps the grout needs a good scrubbing? Or even new grout? (It can be ground out and then re-grouted.) But if you like the slate, I would not replace it. I WISH my 1970s home had your beautiful slate.

My one other recommendation would be to unify the wood stains throughout your home. I see you have a different tone on the stair railing than on the stair treads. And it sounds like you will be adding in a new wood floor in you kitchen. I would recommend choosing the stain you like for the kitchen floor in order to compliment your new kitchen cabinets, and then refinishing the stairs and stair rail to match.

Too late for one more "Keep it!" comment?

It looks gorgeous. Slate is not a manmade material and will eventually become very hard to find. Natural materials always look richer and classic.

You say "I like it, but others, including an interior designer,.......... ". Whoa. If YOU like it, keep it. Don't listen to your relatives or some stranger who claims to be an expert and may not be at all. At least delay ripping it out for now or you may regret being pressured into it. (Just tell them it is not in your budget and that should get them to drop it.)

I like it but others, including an interior designer, have told me that it dates the house

yes, it "dates" the house ... but so what? It's a great color, suitable for the style (way better than terra cotta or brown) and the money you don't spend on ripping out and replacing perfectly good slate can be spent on something else.

I hope you don't mind one more opinion--LOVE your entry. I especially love your double doors. Gray would be a gorgeous color, but the slate is so versatile. One thing I would consider is painting the stair risers white. (I know you didn't ask, hope I don't offend!) I think I would leave the railing as is. Are you changing the runner? Although I love the look of bare stairs too...but very noisy :)

Slate is the "new" tile. It is showing up in all the stores now. So what was dated is now back. I think the only difference is the use of different grout colors, depending upon the interior design.

I love the slate. Have you considered switching out your light fixture? Something with a little more omph would help update the space. It should be a relatively cheap and easy change.

Ok, ok! I will keep the slate! What is great is that now, not only do I like the slate floor (I always liked it), I am proud of it, too! Thank you all so very much!!

I am overwhelmed with the wonderful ideas here and am very grateful. I love the idea of gray on the walls. Gray and grayish/blue are my favorite colors. The idea of a putting traditional runner up the stairs that picks up the slate color sounds wonderful - maybe with some maroon and blue in it - , and I will definitely switch the fixture - maybe oil rubbed bronze. . .

I have printed out all your comments and am so excited that I will have such great start on the hall project.

Is there a consensus that I should change the color of the oak? If so, to what?

My kitchen remodel will begin at the end of this month and I need to decide pretty quickly whether to stain the new wood kitchen floor to match the reddish/honey/caramel color on the rest of the floors or choose an entirely new color and refinish all the floors.

Whereas the wood downstairs could use some refinishing, the upstairs wood is in great condition. I cant see how I could refinish the downstairs and not do the upstairs, too, though.

I will refinish it all if the current color is stopping my house from being beautiful - do you think it is worth the expense and hassle? If so, what stain color would you choose?

I have been in this house awhile and really can no longer see which elements work and which don't work anymore - So, again, your honesty is appreciated!

Also, if I stained the floors a darker color, could I avoid staining the stair handrail? It is finished so beautifully - I would hate to mess with it.