Was intrigued that you are thinking of a checkerboard. They are not terribly popular right now, but we have just done a checkerboard in our kitchen. We have a small kitchen with wood cabinets. Looked at many options and only this one felt correct in our old house. We used Seneca hand made tiles -- they are glazed quarries and really look hand made with little divots and variations in the glaze. We used dark brown and cream -- they are called espresso and cappuchino and they really do evoke these, and have the feeling of an old bakery. I'm really pleased with how the floor turned out. Good luck with yours!

I like the idea of checkerboard -- especially if you lay it on the diagonal. Like Sayde's suggestion, or maybe even a crisp black/white (altho' you did say you'd like to get away from white!)

I was inspired by kitchengodswife, who did a checkerboard with VCT and some other pics I found by doing a search. Most were done on the diagonal and also with a border. I will have to look for the Seneca tiles. I am in Ohio, so not a great selection tile here. Thanks for your responses!

Seneca Tiles are actually made in Ohio -- in old beehive kilns. I confess that this was part of their romance for me.

I have black/white checkerboard ceramic tile on the diagonal with maple cabinets, BM Weston Flax paint, black accents and love it!

I have black and white checkerboard in my kitchen with white cabinets, and I love the floor. I think black and white checkerboard is a classic style. I have seen them in old antebellum homes to 1930 homes to today. But I don't think you are talking about black and white.
But I think checkerboard in any color looks good and dramatic.

.....Jane

I think a black and white checkerboard floor with black countertop would tie everything together nicely. Have you ever thought of perhaps painting your bulkhead a similar color to your cabinet color? I saw it done on Divine Design, it is amazing how it transformed the kitchen.

Actually I have thought of painting the soffit - found a swatch at HD called Fresh Baked Pumpernickel. I'm just chicken I guess, and I used to have plates displayed up there. I watch Divine Design now and again and usually like what she does. Thanks for the suggestion!

I could see you going with a nice vintage look in tan, black and white. You could do a black counter top and paint the soffet in a soft butterscotch. Use your white appliances and back splash as an accent color and go with white throw rug (if you do that sort of thing) and white towels, oven mits, etc. Well anyway...JMHO...LOL Here are a couple of inspirational pictures. I couldn't find one of tan and black flooring but that would be cute too!!!

{{!gwi}}

Vampiressrn, thanks for the inspiration pics! My sister-in-law had the black and white years ago. I'll have to check with her and see if she liked it. Guess I do need to think of changing the soffit. I'm slow in making decisions.