The Harlequin floor, that I like, is busy. Do not mix it with something else.

There is a reason you rarely see this pattern in living/family rooms, as it is hard to design the space around such a bold floor.

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Not in my head but I think they are too busy for most types of decor so we need a lot more info as to yours . I think they can work in a really simple and really awesome space with fab furniture pieces sort of the like Chispa posted in the top pic. Only you know what will work the house is not finished enough IMO to choose flooring . I do however think whatever you choose needs to go everyjwere in the spaces you see together .

I think it can be done in an open concept, if you pick the most neutral harlequin floor. I think using a bold color makes it difficult to design around.

Have you lived with these floors before? FWIW i did in an older Boston home - I found them unforgiving: light colored lint/dust showed on the dark tiles and darker smudges showed on the lighter tile - I loved that floor once a week when I had just cleaned it

It’s a bold look and takes over the decor.

I'm with everyone else- this is hard to style around on a day to day basis, and is overwhleming in a large space. I would either do one that isn't too bold, or just avoid it altogether and do the same continuous floor throughout (I prefer a classic wood look).

If you have an entryway, or a powder room, or mudroom, these would be fabulous places to add your harlequin floor moment!

Check in Kitchen only..wood in other connected spaces..do not do harlequinn is abit too Makenzie Child..checkmis classic..you will love it!

No one requires solid black and white. You can choose two complimentary neutrals or any subtle combination.

I agree with Monique. Get the terminology correct.

• Checkerboard
• Checkerboard on the diagonal
• Harlequin

You will not find diamond-cut tiles for floors unless you have them custom-cut from stone.

Yes, I clicked on the thread just to find out if someone really wanted a harlequin floor.

If you just mean a checkerboard floor, my friend has a tan/cream and white checkerboard marble floor in her kitchen only and it is STUNNING. It is pale enough that it doesn't necessarily take over.

You don't mention what kind of style you like, but if you're like me (not a designer) and want to go for something bold, think hard about how that's going to look with allllllll your other choices, and are you serving the real "story" that you want your design to convey.....

I know someone that has a checkerboard floor in her kitchen that is similar to what Mrs. S has shown above (leans more tan than taupe) - and installed a wood floor that has a similar tone to match the tan squares. She initially wanted to do the entire area with the checkerboard pattern - however, when she showed it to me, I told her that it seemed like it would limit her design choices for all the other elements in her living room. Most of the items she liked for her living room wouldn't have worked with the businer checkerboard floor.

I love a checkerboard floor, and I think it would be great in a light gray and white, or white and light green stone.

And thank you Monique for setting the record straight on the terminology. Even some designers don't understand the difference between checkerboard on the diagonal and harlequin. I'm looking at you, Laurel Bern.

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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/my-newest-obsession-checkerboard-floors-verde-marble-cristina-depina-interior-design-in-2024--103371753946110422/

These might not be the right size tiles, but it will give you and idea of the appearance.

I aslo think the rooms are too small for this flooring choice it works best where there are vast areas of the flooring shoing and that will not happen in those smaller spaces Once the furniture and cabinets are in there will be really limited areas to see.

I do agree that pic is not harlequin floor .

Assuming the kitchen will be open plan (no island), maybe explore having living room in neutral wood shade and then continue that flooring as a large border in the kitchen. Then use the square/harlequin tiles as a rectangular shape in the center of the kitchen as an accent for the space.

Am voting for the harlequin floors in kitchen only with a different flooring in the rest of the open space. You might consider a white or black floor to coordinate with the kitchen flooring.

I adore harlequin floors, but they need careful consideration so as to best suit the home’s style, the location/adjoining spaces, decor/furniture, amount of impact/color and size.

I think you will lose its charm by being overwhelming and suggest only using in the kitchen with a transition to a simple, warm wood floor (providing so many more decor options).

To help you decide, there is a ton of inspiration on Instagram and when narrowing down, consider how choice will work with your kitchen‘s cabinetry, dining set and suggest going with a duller finish and an off white. Size depends on kitchen’s layout/size.

Again those are not harlequin tiles. They are square tiles set diagonally in a checkerboard pattern. I personally like them but I don’t like harlequin. Reminds me of clown costumes 😳

I painted my screen porch like that and love it!

Reminds me of Harlequin Romances.

If your rooms are small, try smaller dimension tiles in addition to low contrast.

Where art thou OP in response?

Love your floor, Beth Allen!

What are you doing down hallways and other areas adjacent to these 2 rooms?

I love the checkerboard floors - especially the ones that are done with softer colors ( white and gray or off white and cream ) . I do think you could do them in both area since they are not large. But having the ceiling height change also gives you the ability to do just that floor in the kitchen.

You do need to take into consideration your furniture and how you like to decorate the living room. The checkerboard can make it more challenging with patterns.

Honestly - I think I would go with both spaces! Once you have furniture in there and a simple area rug, it would all come together nicely.

Not a pro….but, I agree with lala girl, think hard if you have never had this type of floor before. If you decide it’s for you I wouldn’t do black and white, rather very muted colors. You’re going to look at it for a long time so be certain.

debra

Thank you everyone for your replies! I came across a design article a few weeks ago that referred to it as Harlequin, so I just presumed that was the right terminology, But after everyones insights, I realize that it is just a checkered pattern on a diagonal.

Being an original 1940s farmhouse - I wanted to keep it simple but give it a bit of charm in character. It is a second home, so not a full-time space.

I will only be doing base cabinets in a sage green color, butcher block counters with a natural oak oversized hood and open shelves in the kitchen - no wall cabinets. The backsplash walls will be an Eldorado stone with German shmear (so far), otherwise I may do an oversized textured subway.

As you walk in the front door, you see straight through the family room and into the kitchen. This is why I struggled with deciding whether to do one floor style throughout the foyer , family room and kitchen - or whether to break it up with the checkered diagonal only in the kitchen. I certainly don't want it to look choppy if I do the diamond pattern in the kitchen and do hardwood floors throughout the rest of the space. I've tried visualizers online but that doesn't really help much. My other thought is to potentially do a Herringbone pattern in family room and kitchen and a traditional pattern in the remaining areas. That's my "safe" option, but don't know if it'll yield the same visual punch I am looking for...

Herringbone and checkerboard is way too much pattern overload. Especially with fake stone that shouldn't be anywhere near a kitchen. You really need to reel it in here. If you really like checkerboard, a more cohesive idea would be to do a very subtle two tone wood checkerboard, with a natural oak, and a slightly darker stain. Through the whole space. No fake stone, or anymore pattern anywhere, other than rugs.

sounds like a fun project! have you lived with open shelving before? i did in a cottage kitchen years ago and it was darling but I had to rinse dishes before use and every 2 weeks everything came off for a wipe down - I am def not a clean freak but woah it was much dustier than I anticipated- just something to keep in mind for a 2nd home as everything will get much less daily use - but perhaps you’re planning on dishes in drawers in which case just ignore me :)

@minardi I didn't realize Eldorado Stone was faux - definitely not my style. My other option was Sandstone ledger at Floor and Decor (real stone) .
For the checkered pattern, I wasn't planning to do a bold Black and white - I was leaning more towards a charcoal with veining and a cream - or potentially a cream and taupe for a more subtle pattern. You think there is still too much pattern given those shades ?

Stone splashes are horrible ideas, whether fake or real. They are impossible to clean. Checkerboard is far from a timeless choice in a more rustic secondary home. In a slate, painted floor, or even old fashioned VCT,, maybe. But nothing marble like you'd find in a Georgian entry.

I think you are trying too hard to be trendy.

I would do the checkerboard in the foyer only, and then just a plain strip oak in the remaining rooms, including the kitchen. I love Minardi's idea of the checkerboard pattern on the wood, using 2 different stain colors.

An old farmhouse calls for simplicity, so keep it simple.

@HU-18205843

Thanks for your input. I'm not wanting it to feel or look rustic... Far from that actually. I personally like the way those details look, so it's not about being trendy and moreso reaping an opportunity to be able to incorporate a look that I like in my home.

Stop with the Joanna Gaines trends.

Noted. Thanks 😊

I still think the checkerboard floor would look amazing all over. I would soften the colors so it is not so harsh like a black and white. The softer tones may work better for a farmhouse.

You can play with sizes - a 20 x 20 or 24 x 24 tile would look less busy than a 12 x 12.

You could also do a painted wood floor.

The graining and texture can come through is you have a semi opaque color. Then if you tire of it over the years, you can sand it and stain it.

Good luck - I can't wait to see it all finished