I think that would be too small of an area. What would be the purpose?

Personal opinion only (as in I can't come up with a reason why it doesn't appeal), but I don't think it would look good.

It's to protect the floors from the stools at the island. It sounds really practical and I'd love to not worry about the floors. But it seems like no one does it?

I would think it would make the island look like an afterthought and you couldn't match the floors.

I've never heard this idea before. I think it does sound practical, but chairs get pushed out from the counter (when people get up) much more than 1-2'. Go and push out a chair, and measure how far it gets pushed and you will see that 1-2' is not enough.

I would ask your architect to see photos of this in other kitchens, and then decide if you like the look, and if you do, then increase that perimeter to 4'.

I don't have an island, I have a table in my kitchen with wood floors. I have those felt pads on the bottom of each of my kitchen chairs. They work well. The only down side is that pet hair gets caught on the felt, but so what, you vacuum that.

Well, he did it in his own home. Which is why he recommended it. This is what he sent me. I thought it looked ok but I wish I could find more examples!

I understand the theory behind doing this - but I think it would look like you made some last minute change and was unable to match your floors.

Well, it does continue the idea of the visual island. Personal preference only, I'd tile the entire kitchen space and transition to wood. It's more based on practicality than aesthetics. I'm more of a function first type of gal. I see in the top of the picture that he used tile in an adjacent room. I would just continue it. But, that's me.

This is not what you asked, but I have a compulsion to mention it. What glares out at me with your architect's photo is the placement of the warming drawer at the floor. That is poor kitchen design. It won't get used in that location because of the lack of ergonomics. You won't just be bending to use it, you will be squatting to use it. Warming drawers should be placed next to the oven and/or cooktop, just beneath the counter so that you can easily put food into them, and take food out of them.

The reason I am bringing this up is that we have seen many times on this forum that architects are not that good at kitchen design. The kitchen may look great, but won't work that well. I suggest you post your architect's kitchen plan on this forum, and have the experts here take a look at it before you commit to it.

I definitely understand the practicality because sliding the stools on a wood floor can damage the finish. In this case I think its as much a strong design choice. It emphasizes the island and creates a two tone feature that you may like. Sometimes people do the wall cabinets in white and the island in stained wood (or vice versa) to create a similar two tone effect. It can work but it would need to fit in with your overall strategy for furnishing the space.

friedajune, I really appreciate your advice! But, actually, I had a KD design my kitchen, not the architect. The architect just happened to give me some additional advice that I wanted to look into more.

OK, that is good to know Misaltow!

I appreciate the thought, but if you're going to tile around the island, I think you should just tile the whole kitchen. If practicality drives the design, you'll want tile near any water source as well; sinks and fridge.

I'm sorry, but it doesn't look good at all. There are many kitchens with hardwood floors and islands or peninsulas with stool seating. And yet I can't think of any discussions where there's been a big problem of marks from the stool feet. In the photo it looks like a floor bib.

@Linelle LOL!! I want to make design choices that will stand the test of time. Looks like the tile around the island is out. I'll probably just stick with hardwood throughout, which is what I initially wanted anyway.

Are you doing site finished or engineered?

@benjesbride I'm planning on doing site finished oak floors.

Misaltow, that's what I have. Admittedly my two stools don't get that much action. However, like all the other pieces of furniture that sit/move on the hardwood, they have felt pads to help prevent damage moving across the floor. There's more damage to the wood where my two cats romp around their favorite scratching post. Tiny pinprick holes. Cats. Gotta love 'em.

Nope. Looks weird.

I agree it is weird. I have dining chairs on wood. I have chairs on laminate. I have felt on my chairs and love felt. Go with felt and skip the tile.

I have always had hardwood in our kitchens. It is timeless and can be refinished. On the other hand, tile types, sizes and styles change more rapidly and can definitely date the space. Go with your first instinct.

Cheryl, while I would love a critique, I already ordered my cabinets. I'm worried it'll be too late at this point!

I think you're right. I know I'd hate to hear what I shoulda/coulda done after the fact. :)

I'll be the dissenter. I have a tile "rug" in my kitchen in front of the sink. it is a decorative cement tile. I think that is the key here. your architects floor is a basic tile. I think the idea of a tile rug is much more appealing than the way most homes just transition from tile to wood. it continues the flow and gives you the easy maintenance of tile in the kitchen.

I wish I would have extended this rug to more of my kitchen as the wood in here has been scratched and dented to death.

I would suggest this would be beautiful with a more decorative tile

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I also is going to depend on what your floor plan looks like as well and what else is happening in adjacent rooms but it can work.

@isabel98 This is exactly the type of photos I was looking for. I agree, it looks better with a pattern. It's certainly very practical. Thanks!

sure, I found a few more.

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My Houzz: Clean, Family-Friendly Update for a 1935 Home · More Info

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I would say to be sure it's not too small. that what I don't like about these that are under the island.

I actually think that sounds cool if you choose an interesting tile like in the pics you posted. Sort of like when you inset a stone hearth into a wood floor. But the 1-2' is not enough space to pull out your island stool.

I like tile rugs but I don't like his example. His would've been better if the contrast wasn't so glaring.

I would probably tile the whole thing and use a tile rug because I love that pop of pattern. It's what I really wanted to do in mine but chose to keep the wood floor since it flowed through the full house and I like that it's warmer on my feet.

This was the picture I liked with a tile rug:

I read through the thread and it does sound like you decided against this idea which is of course totally fine. But I just ran across another photo that I thought I would share. I guess I'm wishing I would have extended my tile under the island!

Thanks isabel98 for all the great pics. I really liked the hardwood floor look throughout but second guessed myself after my architect's comments.

A lot of these pics look lovely but I think I'm going to stick with my initial choice. :)

We have had it since we built our house- the wood has worn horribly below pur kitchen desk where there is a chair: our wood looks awesome still at the island because the 4 bar stools sit on it. Weve replaced this tile once because we changed color scheme.
We are now about to redo our kitchen entirely and are planning to do it again. We hired a kitchen designer for the renno and she likes it too. We will do a modern print tile or maybe just herringbone pattern of some sort.
That being said: Our kitchen is particularly big and has a lot of open floor space so a shift in material suits it well. I do think it is a very practical way to keep floors surrounding island looking nice.