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nfreckle

Dark stone tile for Black Lab

3 years ago

We’ve just bought a new condo with matte off-white 16 x 16 tile across the main floor. But we have a 9-month-old Black Lab and the shedding is insane. The white tile has to go.

We want to install new tile flooring throughout the condo (tile best suits our lifestyle) but I’m not sure what to look for. It’s a narrow 750-ft2 open-concept entry + kitchen + living room spread with light coming in through slider doors along the back wall but otherwise it’s a bit dark. White Shaker kitchen cabinets, white walls with one navy blue wall, and white oak furniture. We have a transitional style.

The tile should probably be dark to mask the dog fur (we vacuum every day but still…ugh!), but I don’t want too dark since it’s already pretty somber in there. I’m at a loss. Generally speaking, I like wood-look tile but I’m open to other styles.

Ideas?

Comments (22)

  • 3 years ago

    This is the room, but it will have white cabinets, white walls, the right wall will be navy, furniture will be warm white oak and fixtures/lamps will be warm brass.

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    A forgiving LVP, ( luxury vinyl plank ) or an engineered hardwood would be a lot better. Buy a Roomba........and keep it charged and running.

    The very LAST thing I'd want is a dark tile, or even a wood look tile - harder on your back, anything dropped and a lot of grout.. A nice LVP ( planks at 60 to 72 inches) will withstand moisture, dogs, dog toe nails, and you. Add a forgiving and large area rug in the sitting area. As to LVP ? No gray. A nice warm medium brown tone. Stain the stair treads to harmonize,

  • 3 years ago

    I agree with Jan (have had several Labs over the years and have a big yellow one now) LVP or hardwood would be so much nicer than tile - softer on joints and hides dog hair super well. totally agree on the Roomba - ours runs every day and makes a huge difference - they shed but are so worth it! ❤️

  • 3 years ago

    Congrats on the new pup ! I know you asked for dark tiles and I’m not a pro, but I agree that a medium toned engineered wood or LVP would look nicest. I think dark stone is so cold looking. You would have a long narrowish swath of it and I don’t think it looks very home-y. Plus, IME, the medium wood tones are more forgiving with dog hair, people hair, cooking spills, etc. As well, wood or LVP is much kinder to bodies and dishes.

  • 3 years ago

    Thanks for the very helpful feedback!

    I wasn’t expecting to be advised not to do tile, but I’m listening. Leaning now towards hardwood throughout, and refinishing when it gets too banged up. I like the idea of the grain helping to mask the fur.

    LVP or engineered wood on a high-end Silicon Valley property doesn’t seem right, but also hubby hates both, so those are off the table.

    And yes: Roomba! We run it twice a day but it’s never enough. 😂😂😂 Thanks to the dog-lovers who chimed in.

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Good for you! Life is choices. Dogs and Roomba's are both good ones, and bear in mind - hardwood sand on site will last many lifetimes. BUT...... so will an excellent engineered hardwood product last for decades and yes.....can be refinished.

  • 3 years ago

    Extra points to the OP if they post a cute dog pic ❤️😅

  • 3 years ago

    nfreckle - I hated engineered wood after living in my former home which had gorgeous finished on site wood. I will say I don’t hate it anymore since it held up surprisingly well to everything. But at 750 sq ft you might find it worth a quote on finished on site wood.

  • 3 years ago

    Awwww such a beauty 🤩

  • 3 years ago

    Awww…lookatdaface…. ❤️

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    This could help.


  • 3 years ago

    We swore we would get a medium sized black dog that doesn't shed much. But you cannot help who you fall in love with at the shelter. We ended up with a 65 pound super shedder, mostly white. My wardrobe is nearly all black as is all of the furniture in our home. We keep swiffer in business, I use lint rollers a ton, and have always had hardwood floors. They are easy on my joints and on our dog's too. These big breeds don't last forever and have a load of hip problems as they age. Wood floors are more forgiving and comfortable for them too. And, yes, they hide hair better than black or white tile.

  • 3 years ago

    I had a wonderful lab, too. He had 2 shedding seasons, Jan-June and July-Dec. Agree that it’s more important to have a good cleaning system than dark flooring. You will need to accept that the shedding is the only unlovable thing about such a great companion. And yet I wept bitterly the day I vacuumed the last of his fluff and realized it would no longer be what filled the canister.

  • 3 years ago

    Thank you all for your help! We’re going for some mid-tone hardwood flooring with lots of variation, and definitely keeping the Roomba. 😂

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    IMO the dog will shed regardless of the floor color at least the white tells you before your guests socks are covered in fur. I do agree a pet Roomba is a wonder for pet hair . BTW black floors will show a lot more that dog hair .I do not like wood floors with big dogs the nails do a number and pretty quickly .

  • 3 years ago

    We have hardwoods and this guy - no issues, i think you’ll be happy :)


  • PRO
    3 years ago

    I WANT that dog : )

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Which one? Haha! They are both beautiful!

  • 3 years ago

    I have a giant breed black dog and, for most of her life, either white carpet or hardwood and always light furnishings. I keep her nails short with a dremel and curry her daily and make sure that her paws are clean after outside adventures. While I do groom extra when she blows coat and deep clean upholstry (sp) once a year, she’s always had run of house (including furniture) and my houses have always kept clean. Get the materials you want and groom!

  • 3 years ago

    You love your Roomba. Me too. Have you considered it's mopping buddy, Braava? 

    https://www.irobot.com/en_US/braava.html#braava I just put in my very first tile floor and had the contractor install an outlet just for the Braava. Can't wait until it arrives. Meanwhile, I don't have a dog, but I fell in love with this one.

  • 3 years ago

    We had southern yellow pine floors, two Goldens, one cat, and the granddogs, an English mastiff, a Rottweiler, and a Great Dane….. 18 years later our floors were still beautiful.