Travertine. ;D

How about those wood-look-alike plank floors in darker walnut or mahogany? There are several brands and lots of styles out there ......

Rose, I missed that thread where you redid that bathroom. That is spectacular!!

What are you aiming for? Do you want darker floors to not show the hair? I don't think the floors look bad. I think they look neutral enough now that the focus stays put on those gorgeous walls! I'm afraid if you switch to anything darker, it might be distracting/detracting?

Maybe someone else with have a good ploy.

I'm afraid a dark floor will show the dog hair, and everything else, like crazy. I have 3 dogs myself and the best colors have been the beiges, tans, and golds of golden oak flooring and the tones in travertine that Texashottie suggested.

I was thinking of travertine, also. It looks good with everything.

texashottie - that's what I'm worried about. I really think the white looks the best, but I would like something that doesn't show the mess. Isn't it sad that's how I basically decorate my house. What will hide the mess :) I don't think I can go too dark because our dogs are light colored and that might also show the hair unless there's alot of variation in the color. I definitely love travertine, but just didn't know how it would look in there.

teacats - are you talking about the laminate or the vinyl?
I'm worried about water getting in between the laminate and warping it. The vinyl might work, but since I'm thinking about putting hardwoods in the rest of the house, I'm not sure about the vinyl next to it.

Laurie

I have those same tiles in one of our bathrooms and I actually like them. We get lots of traffic too so I use the clorox wipes once a day on my hands and knees and that's it. Takes five minutes tops.

Actually, I think what you have is perfect...

But if you're determined to change it, I'd go for a small pattern in black and white -- maybe hex? Or a marble mosaic?

Fabulous redo! It looks great!

Maybe it's partly the black rug that's calling attention to the white floor by such strong contrast? Is it possible to try a different rug - maybe something with a large check in B&W, perhaps you could even get an accent color in there? Nothing too busy, but something subtle?

tarzy - I've actually been looking for a new rug, but haven't found one I like. The black is just as bad as the white when it comes to showing dog hair. I decided I'd rather use a gray rug, but the only thing I've found is the typical plush bath mat. I want more of a frieze.

Laurie

What about this? It's white and black, but a bit busier and maybe won't show the hiar dirt so readily.

{{gwi:1217894}}

That looks to be ceramic tile, and I would keep that over changing out to vinyl or laminate.

If it were my house, I would keep the ceramic tile, remove the carpet, and simply make a point to vacuum the tile as I vacuum the hardwood.

Otherwise, I would switch to ceramic tiles with a swirly pattern. I have that in my bathrooms and love it.

Laurie,
How about laminate tiles that look like wood? I replaced the carpeting and white tile in my DS's bedroom and bathroom with a fake bamboo laminate. There's no need for grout and it's held up very well. They've been in 5 years and no water damage or warping. He's a teenager who leaves wet towels, candy wrappers, baseball cleats, dirty clothes and who knows what else on his floor (I'm afraid to look under his bed) for days on end. I'm convinced he thinks the floor is his new closet. I've included a picture of the flooring. They have many different styles to choose from slate, travertine, wood and they're pretty inexpensive. I'd like to replace the flooring through out my house to dark hard wood someday so I didn't want to spend a a lot on his flooring.
Ann
{{!gwi}}

brutuses - I LOVE your floor. I know it would work better than what I have, but I don't know if it would be good enough.

graywings - You sound just like my mother :) I think I'm rebelling againt housework. I was a stay-at-home mom for 17 years and I feel very fortunate that I was able to do that. I'm at point though where I've started a new career and when I'm not working, I'm studying for some credentials I want to earn. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I don't ever clean, but I do tend to stretch it a little longer than I used to. So, even though 5 minutes a day sounds easy, I know it's not going to happen :)

Ann - I never seen anything like that. It really looks like bamboo. Is it squares or long pieces like Pergo?

Laurie

Ann's flooring looks like it would definitely hide a lot of hair and dirt. I've never seen that pattern before, it is pretty.

Don't apologize for not having time for housework. I don't want to ever be a slave to housework. With the exception of the guest bath all the other tiled floor surfaces are that beige tile with different tones that's fabulous for covering dirt, etc. And all the floors including the laminate wood that will go in the other rooms, are all very easy maintenance. Swifering is what I call easy maintenance.

I have black/white ceramic tiles in my kitchen and I hate them too. Show everything, even water spots, so you can imagine what a nightmare it is in a kitchen. I asked on the paint forum if you could paint tiles but it sounds like it would require a professional. Putting a flooring on top would raise mine too high. Wish I could help.

Ann, I love your bamboo look-alike tiles! Who makes them?

If you really like the floor other than the cleaning issue, how about a swiffer sweeper-VAC? I keep mine plugged in and charging and run it around every day. It has made a big difference in keeping things looking better until I can clean. I know I would not take the time to get on hands/knees to wipe up, but will use this. It only takes seconds. It's a spiffy gadget!

Ann, that's really pretty! Is it textured or is it smooth?

Rose, I'd leave that tile. You could do polished travertine--in a light creme--but I'm not sure if it's worth it to you. I'm not crazy about that rug either--I would swap it for a neutral jute or sisal rug. I think that would look attractive in there and bring in great texture.

Green really pops against the black-and-white. I wouldn't put it on the floor, because I think that it would draw your eye down, but I would put it on the wall (as a picture) or in a display on your countertop.

What's your new degree you're working on, btw?

You're redo is fabulous, and I think you'll see why I say that, because I redid our foyer bath similarly....

These are hardwood floors, but you could probably find a laminate that looked similar. I love the dark floors, they don't show the traffic at all.

I love your bathroom redo and am so jealous! I also love your floor. I would keep the floor and ditch the black rug. I had a black bathroom rug once and it lasted about 2 weeks. It showed too much lint for me. I would put in a smaller white textured rug instead. Out of curiosity, are your dogs really in your bathroom that much? and if so, why? Mine only goes in our bathroom in the winter time when I give her a bath in the tub. Then I take the rug out so when she shakes, it doesn't become a hair magnet.

nanny2a - There's just something about toile and beadboard. Love your bathroom!

texashottie - Is jute the tan straw looking stuff? That would definitely hide the dog hair. I've heard of sisal rugs, but I'm not really sure what they look like. When I originally redid the bathroom, several people mentioned adding greening accents, but I really just wanted a black and white bathroom then. Now that I've had it awhile, I'd be open to adding some green accents. I'm just not sure what type of pictures would look good with the toile. I just graduated in May with my Associates in Health Information Management. It took me 5 years to get a 2 year degree because I was homeschooling my oldest son at the time. I just have to pass an exam to earn my other credentials, but they're really hard exams. I'm working at one of the hospitals downtown and never thought I would say this, but I love my job!

Laurie

How about slate? It comes in a wide array of colors including blacks and tans, and I can tell you through experience it hides the dog hair and dirt. Here is mine Its by the much used back door and I clean it way less than the hardwood

Congratulations, Laurie! That's fabulous! Are you at the FW Harris Methodist?

Yes, I think you have the right idea about the sisal/jute. I'm linking you to a pic. Test them out---they don't always feel good on nekkid feet. But I would try to go with that "look" even if you have to go with a different material.

Green would really pop! Since you have a very elegant hunt scene with horses in that toile, I would probably stick to that genre for a picture. Or get a pretty, clean-lined topiary---I have one in my kitchen. I bought it at Sam Moon's but I also saw it at Target. I put it in my own black pot and added the spanish moss.

Here is a link that might be useful: World Market

Texashottie - Yep, that's where I'm working now! Thanks for the link.

joanie - That's the funny thing. The dogs aren't in there that much, but somehow their hair ends up all over the black rug.

amylville - Now that's my kind of floor! I can definitely see how it would hide everything.

Laurie

even a small manual swiffer would take a minute to pick up everything, I would save myself the trouble and expense and get a medium grey rug and keep the floor. The room looks wonderful !

mitchdesi - It looks like that's probably what I'm going to do since everyone seems to prefer the white floor. Now, to find the perfect rug!

Laurie

I'm a big fan of the manual swiffer. It's quick, easy and does a great job at picking up that hair.

Hi,
I'm sorry it's taken this long to reply to your questions. It's graduation time here and life's been a bit chaotic.

Laurie: They are 16X16 square and very simple to install. I'm not sure, but I vaguely remember they might have been installed over my existing tile. BTW I love your toile! My family and dinning room both had toile slipcovered furniture. It's a timeless look.

Arapaho: Thank you for your compliment. It's been 5 years, so off the top of my head I'd guess Armstrong or Mannington. If you're really interested I can pull my 2003 files down and let you know.

Texashottie: Loving your sign in name!! Thanks for the compliment. They are textured and are meant to emulate bamboo or sea grass. This entire line of laminate flooring is suppose to feel and look like the real deal. Who knows? It works for my extremely messy teenage son and it's very easy to clean.

I didn't realize how dusty and dirty my baseboards are until I took these pictures. Yikes!!

On the subject of housekeeping, I have 2 Swivel Sweepers and if there's ever a fire I'm going for those babies. I have one in my pantry for my family/kitchen room and one for my bathroom. I'm not sure how I'm not going bald with the amount of hair that I shed daily!?

I like the existing floor better than any of the proposed changes, and agree that a nubby-textured, medium gray to charcoal coloured rug would look better and hide more. You'll probably find one one day when you least expect to. :)

I think you might be happier with white grout. I think you can just go over it with white grout and it will blend in with the white tiles. You probably won't notice them as much with white grout. I love that bamboo look too, very nice! Let us know the results!

I like it as it is and wouldn't consider putting laminante over tile.

Maybe just bite the bullet and vaccum it or make it off limits for the dogs? I don't have dogs but maybe this is easier than new flooring?

Is the black rug part of the problem? I had a black rug that lasted for about a day. I have a mammoth shedding machine and teens in and out and just gave up on big nice rugs. I prefer to use simple cottony type rugs (no backing) that can be easily shaken out or tossed in the wash. I like to have several of the same kind so that some can be in the process of being laundered. I don't always get to these things quickly. An empty floor or w/some simple toss in the wash rugs would be a lot simpler to keep clean for me.
I'd put a nice rug down for company but it wouldn't work for me on a daily basis in the bathroom.

As for white grout, never again. I had all my white grout recolored and never looked back.

You have very nice wallpaper and counter top. How about paintng the cabinet white to go with the beadboard?

brutuses -- I agree about the swiffer! In fact, our DS (14 mos) loves to swiffer. He plays with it so much that we just put a clean pad on and hand it over. Little does he know that the swiffer is now and forever his chore. :)

okay, y'all have convinced me to keep the white floors. Can't promise I'll vaccuum any more often, but if I could just find the perfect rug, that would help.

Now for the next question. Should I leave it black and white or accent with a 3rd color?

Laurie

There is another post with a black floor and turquoise rugs -- it looks awesome - it has toile too if I remember correctly, maybe the shower curtain.

Just hide the white tile with more/larger rugs that hide the hair and you should be good to go!

My vote is for accent --
- Turquoise
- Yellow
- Red
- Bright/Lime Green
- Orange
- Royal or Light Blue
- Gray