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chrissie_browntorres

**opinions please** brick "look" porcelain floor TILE ...Yay or Nay?

4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago

Kitchen is not started yet but looking to pull all my ideas together and need some opinions. I like rustic accents and a farmhouse style. I try to keep things simple in a room when adding a busy element. I realize the brick look is not for everyone but I find it interesting.


Here are some pictures from Pinterest that influenced my thoughts on doing a brick tile floor in my kitchen, small laundry room and small bathroom;





***Here is what I am thinking for my kitchen - what do you think?***


Stainless steel appliances.


Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams paint with bright white trim;


White shaker kitchen cabinets with black hardware and a black faucet - similar to this;


White subway tile with gray grout - similar to this;


Counter - either gray or white with gray veining quartz - similar to this;


Flooring - Soho brick porcelain floor tiles in the color shown below (it is a little brown, gray, white and shades in between) - just to clarify, these are TILES made to look like brick flooring, not actual brick. With the white and gray of the kitchen, I was looking to add some warmth with the flooring. There is a window in the kitchen that will have a warm toned bamboo blind. And there will be 3 floating shelves that are wood toned to match the laminate floor in the adjoining rooms:

The below photo is from the website;

The below photo is one I took in the store of the display;

The below photo is the same tile but from Pinterest;

The below photo is from my house with the wood laminate floor next to it;

I would run it in a traditional staggered straight pattern, like shown below but this is NOT the same color tile that I would use, it's just an example of the pattern I prefer;

Kitchen floor (brick tile) would bump up against this wood laminate floor in the hall and dining room. This is a very rustic laminate floor with distressing and knots that aren't very visible in the stock photo below. This floor is not waterproof or rated for wet areas so it can not be used. Please do not suggest it, because it can't be used and I am already heartbroken that I need an alternative in these rooms;

Thoughts...? If you do not find this will flow nicely, would you give suggestions on what you think would work? Keep in mind I will run the same tile in my kitchen, small laundry room and small bathroom since they flow from one room to the next. I have several dark accents in these rooms and too much gray throughout so would prefer to stay away from dark or gray floors. These rooms will all be painted Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams. Laundry room; washer/dryer are a dark charcoal color with a black 8-lite back door. The bathroom; black wood small vanity with a white top and black pharmacy style mirror. The kitchen; black 8-lite side door to the deck. Black hardware on cabinets. Black faucet. Thank YOU!!

Comments (35)

  • PRO
    4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    No. I think it's too rustic and too busy for the other finishes you've chosen. Why not go with a black or charcoal porcelain tile that looks like slate? I'd go with a 12 x 12 or 12 x 24 format.

  • 4 years ago

    @Sabrina Alfin Interiors, Thank you! I am trying to keep the rest of the design elements simple since the brick tile is so busy and in my opinion, interesting. My wood laminate is very rustic with knots and distressing in the other rooms. I love a rustic, modern farmhouse look. And I'm sorta trying to avoid a solid gray floor with all the gray I have going on throughout the house. I also felt like I needed a warmer toned floor with all the white and gray in the kitchen. The brick tile would go in my kitchen, a small laundry room and small bathroom. There are very dark accents in each of these rooms, so was also trying to avoid a solid dark floor.. ex; charcoal gray washer/dryer and black 8-lite back door in the laundry room, a black with white top vanity in the bathroom, and then a black 8-lite side deck door in the kitchen. Dining room table is black in the next room over. All of these rooms are painted in Repose Gray paint by Sherwin Williams with bright white trim. Dining room has a white shiplap wall. Bamboo blinds. Hopefully that paints a better picture.. do you still think the grayish brown toned brick floor laid in a straight pattern would be too busy? I appreciate your professional opinion!!

  • 4 years ago

    Not a pro, but can you continue the medium toned wood that's in the hall/dining room areas into the kitchen? It would be quite like your first inspiration photo and wood floors are classic. I think any gray-toned flooring would clash with the adjacent wood floors and the faux brick tile looks discordantly busy.

  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Yes, I do.

    Chrissie thanked Sabrina Alfin Interiors
  • 4 years ago

    @tlynn1960, it's not waterproof so it can't be used in the kitchen, laundry room or bathroom. That was the original plan when we started renovations to the downstairs a few years back. We bought enough for these rooms but then we found out recently from a contractor that we need another flooring option. The brick tile is actually really hard to see the true colors in these photos, but it is a combo of gray, white, brown, tan and it actually looks good against the wood floors. That's been my trouble, trying to find tiles that flow with the orange/brown toned wood floors.

  • 4 years ago

    Love the brick idea. But that one specifically has lots of grays in it. For the kitchen I think I’d do a browny wood. I’d love to see brick somewhere tho. I have two crazy ideas. I mean ones nuts
    What about the wall with the range. Create an archwork of beautiful brick. I’ve seen this done. It’s magnificent!!! Will try to look for pics if you like that idea. My second idea is red brick. In a mud room or something. But is this even a new build. Or is it a Reno. Because then that may not be relevant.

    Chrissie thanked HU-187528210
  • 4 years ago

    I guess I'm not understanding how wood flooring needs to be waterproof. All my kitchens (since 1984) have had wood floors as did two half baths and even the laundry room in the first home we built as continuity in flooring is nice. My parents built a custom retirement home and had hardwood all over the first level except for the master bath. But we're in the mid-Atlantic area with mostly traditional/transitional home building here. A SIL in TX has a brick floor in her traditional kitchen-it's attractive, but unforgiving on the feet and with anything dropped. If I ever did tile instead of wood in a kitchen, then I'd look at slate which is another classic like Sabrina Alfin Interiors suggested above. Hopefully you'll get some more input as more pros weigh in.

    Chrissie thanked tlynn1960
  • PRO
    4 years ago

    Too country, too rustic brick floor.

    Chrissie thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
  • 4 years ago

    You will never get "permission" on this site to do a brick or brick tile kitchen floor. That will just not happen here. But your finishes are fine for the flooring you are interested in. Certainly simple enough on your cabinets, etc. to support the detail in the flooring. Personally, I like more of a natural brick - red, brown, etc. But your grey tones can work as well. Go for it.










    Chrissie thanked freedomplace1
  • 4 years ago

    We took brick out of our kitchen and extended our hardwood flooring throughout. It has been a big improvement. The wood is easier on the legs and feet and, when you drop a glass or plate, not only doesn't it shatter into a million pieces, sometimes it doesn't break at all. Wood flooring in a kitchen doesn't need to be waterproof.

  • 4 years ago

    @HU-187528210 , thank you for those examples and sharing your opinion! I would prefer to do the brick tile floor over a wall or backsplash. I updated the pictures that were included as I realize they were not giving a true picture of the colors that I saw at the store. Please take a look at the updated pictures and let me know if your opinion changes any. I can not do a wood floor because I'd have to try and match the other wood floor which is laminate and can't be used in these spaces. I don't want a "tried to match" look with a wood vinyl look. The tile I end up using will flow from the kitchen into a small laundry room and then a small bathroom.

  • 4 years ago

    @tlynn1960 - just to clarify, the wood floor I have is laminate.. LOTS of complaints of it not holding up in wet spaces and it is not waterproof so the manufacturer does not recommend it in the kitchen, laundry room or bathroom. Basically, it's not real wood. It's laminate wood flooring. It can't be used. Trust me I am heartbroken over it because that was my original intention when I started these renovations years ago. I love my laminate flooring. The brick floor I have shared pictures of is actually tile, not real brick so it is not hard on the legs or feet. I updated my post with more realistic pictures of the flooring as I realize the pictures I shared were very different and may not have shown the true colors of the brick tile I am looking at. Take a look and let me know if your opinion changes... thank you! :)

  • 4 years ago

    @vpierce this is tile not actual brick so it is not any different then any other porcelain tile in a kitchen...it is made to look like brick. I can't do wood. I have wood laminate in the rest of my downstairs that can't be used in the kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom. Already tried and can't be done. I do not want to use another wood toned floor where it will not be the same and we are left with a "tried to match look" so I need to find tile. Something that adds warmth to the space with the white cabinets and gray walls. I added new updated pictures to my post that may help paint a better picture. Let me know your thoughts! :)

  • 4 years ago

    @freedomplace1 I am finding that as I search this site for faux brick flooring in the discussions! I don't understand why there is no love for these floors.. I find them so charming and interesting when I search through pictures on Pinterest and the web. Thank you for sharing the photos. They are some of the ones I found and inspired the look I was going for. I figured if all other elements are simple then the brick tile floor would not be too busy. I'm just so conflicted on pulling the trigger on this decision. I updated my post with pictures that show more of the tones in the brick tile floor that I was looking at. While I do like the red tones, I was looking for more of a brown, grayish toned down brick look to flow with the rest of my downstairs. Will you let me know your thoughts on the updated pictures I shared in my post? Thank you!!!

  • 4 years ago

    @Celery. Visualization, Rendering images, What exactly is too rustic? The floor is actually tiles, made to look like brick. Is it the style of the floor that is too rustic? The rest of the space is very simple and a clean modern farmhouse look. I updated the photos in my post to show the true colors of the flooring. I guess I thought the faux brick tile flooring would add visual interest to the room. What would you suggest as far as tiles? Keeping in mind that I have a lot of gray in my home and do not want gray tiles. I need something that brings some warmth to the room. And nothing that is too dark with all the other dark accents. Thank you!

  • 4 years ago

    IMO your brick-tile floor will be smashing. Caution - the store displays are done using "cherry-picked" tiles. Tiles right out of the box may not have the same % mixture of colors. Purchasing 50% more than you need (make sure the overage is returnable and all boxes are from the same lot run), and hiring a tile Pro who will lay it out "dry" to ensure the proper color mix is key.

    Chrissie thanked chiflipper
  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Chrissie, I love love love the look of brick flooring. If I were building a house I would use real brick pavers that could be sealed so the mortar would not be an issue. It's a classic look. My favorite inspiration photos are the first two you posted. I love the reddish brown tones, but keep away from an overall pink look. I think it works with your gray/white design scheme, just like brown wood floors work. Classic/timeless goes anywhere, anytime. To me, it's easy for the gray colors of brick tiles to look like gray dirt. My house is on a slab foundation, so I'm already walking on concrete. We haven't made a decision about flooring yet. But the main draw back IMHO of brick tile is the extensive amount of grout needed due to the size of the tiles. I'll be following this thread!

    Chrissie thanked cupofkindnessgw
  • 4 years ago

    I really like it, and all we really know about the space is that you like rustic farmy stuff. So how could it be too rustic for something that doesn't yet exist but we know will be kinda rustic? :P


    Use as dark a grout as you can get away with, because that's a lot of grout.


    I suppose I should enter a disclaimer here: I grew up with a kitchen that had a vinyl faux brick floor, so I am perhaps primed to accept it.

    Chrissie thanked Fori
  • 4 years ago

    @Fori , thank you for your opinion! I planned on using a darker grout for the same reason and I have 4 kids so it needs to hide the traffic!

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    Fori, I remember those vinyl faux brick floors. Slight texture. God knows we were happy with the look. Sheet vinyl was so easy to care for back in the day! Does Armstrong even make vinyl flooring these days? ; )

  • 4 years ago

    @cupofkindnessgw - yes, agreed! That is my concern as well... all the grout with the traffic of a family of 6! I think I'd do grayish grout but all the grout is the biggest drawback. Will see if the store has other colors for brick tile options with more red tones. I am just trying to come up with a floor that warms up the space since I am not doing wood.. just not coming up with much. I do like slate but it doesn't add a warm element to the room and it is dark.. I'm trying to avoid a black or solid gray floor with all the black and gray accents in my downstairs. And I need something that plays nice with the adjoining orangish/brown laminate wood floor.. ugh this is hard! But thank you for your opinion!!

  • 4 years ago

    Have you looked at "travertine look" porcelain tiles? You can get ALL the warmth you want in the stone look visual.


    The "rustic" part is the look of the white plaster wearing off of the brick (I know it is a visual and not an actual look) is the rustic part. Rustic often means "failure to maintain the materials due to financial pressure" .


    In other words, if the finish looks worn or tired or poorly maintained (ie. disrepair) it will be called rustic. Wearing away of plaster (whether over stone or brick) is an indication of rustic look.

    Chrissie thanked SJ McCarthy
  • 4 years ago

    @Chrissie Yes I agree about the grout color, that deep gray is the color of real mortar after all. I did love slate in the past, but I've decided that the blue-greens and rust tones just don't work in my house. You need to make this work for you. I have seven kids, mostly grown up now, and can appreciate the need for something that is family friendly and requires little day-to-day care. Keep us posted!

    Chrissie thanked cupofkindnessgw
  • 4 years ago

    @SJ McCarthy Yes I have but it is a bit too orange for me. Haven't found a travertine look tile or vinyl that I loved yet...

  • 4 years ago

    I have a nice green-gray slate in my kitchen that's pretty uniform in color with no rusty bits (and apparently stainproof). It's dark enough to use a very dark grout. Lighter would have looked better...for a few days. :)


    I wonder why sheet vinyl fell out of favor. It's practical and squishy underfoot.


  • 4 years ago

    The travertine tiles come in every colour....even purple! Yep. Seen it.


    Google "Brown travertine porcelain" . You should see thousands of pics. You are trying to add cool tones to a VERY warm floor. That's were things are going wrong for you. It isn't the brick LOOK, it is the colour we are against. Everyone is encouraging you to look at warmer tones so you match the laminate.


    Of course if you want to ditch the laminate, then go with the brick you've found. It's very pretty. But don't expect the floors to get along. The washed brick will DEMAND you remove the orange laminate MUCH sooner than you thought (like 2 years tops!).

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    @SJ McCarthy Everyone has been super helpful and either the brick is a look you like or you don't which I get but no one has mentioned the brick against the wood laminate except you. The washed grayish brown brick looks completely fine against my existing wood laminate - I included a picture with my floor and the brick tiles and there is nothing wrong with it. The reddish brown brick suggested here is also a washed looked and something I am considering. Both the brick I selected and the tone that was suggested are warm. You say that I am trying to add a very warm floor to cool tones, but how is that wrong? You can mix gray/white cool tones in the same room as warm tones so I am not following where you say that is an issue. I see it all over Pinterest and HGTV with gray walls and orangish brown wood floors and the same toned wood in bamboo shades and baskets so..... And yes, I am saying I want a floor to add warmth due to all the cool tones. Most people select wood floors to add the warm element. I am in a situation where I can't add wood floors so I need another option. I have looked at silver travertine, brown travertine and everything in the middle. I've been to 4 flooring stores. I do not like the look of travertine because I see too much orange in the options that would go with my color scheme. I appreciate your suggestion but I spent $4,000 on the laminate I have throughout my downstairs 3 years ago. It's not going anywhere anytime soon.

  • 4 years ago

    Nobody who isn't on site can really tell what matches in your house. That's all on you. :)

  • 4 years ago

    If you feel the colours a lovely match of tone on tone (no clashes) then please continue. We cannot see the warmth in the brick.


    In Design, the changing of plane (wall to floor) is a chance to change colour. White walls + natural wood floors. White counter tops sitting on natural maple or natural cherry cabinets. A hint of blue in a backsplash....up against oak cabinets. That sort of things.


    When the floors (on the same level) are of different tones (again, we can't really see the warmth in the brick...it must be there in person as you say your floors do well with the sample) then the clash becomes very noticeable.


    That's what we are trying to point out.

  • 4 years ago

    Yay

    Chrissie thanked Kim Reiner
  • 4 years ago

    I would be more concerned with the functionality of having all that grout on a kitchen floor. Even with a darker colored grout, it will be very hard to keep it clean because the grout will be a lower level than the tile, and will catch all the crumbs, spills, etc. If you want to use it, keep it for the laundry room and powder room, and find a larger tile that can have very fine grout lines for the kitchen. Have you considered slate-look porcelain tiles?

    Chrissie thanked calidesign
  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I originally wanted brick-look flooring in the kitchen/family room and EVERY flooring place I visited said DON’T DO IT. So I feel your pain, though I had to concede all those grout lines were a concern. Have you considered a larger tile, still with a rustic look?


  • 3 years ago

    I agree about not using laminate in the kitchen -- people are commenting about having hardwood in the kitchen and how it doesn't need to be waterproof.......that's true, but you're talking about laminate, not hardwood. Laminate's weak spot is water, and it can ruin a floor quickly.

  • 3 years ago

    I love the brick floor and I love brick with a german shmear effect. (Not sure I spelled that correctly). Heavy on the white wash and grout. I do not think its too busy and I think it works well with the modern farmhouse and shaker cabinets with matte black hardware. PS: I would design what YOU love as you will be the one living with it.