Elegant Hardwood-Tile Foyer Floor??

10 months ago

We bought this century-old house and love it. However there is a reason why all the floors have carpets in the listing photos: The hardwood floors are as ancient as the home and per several quotes, need to be completely replaced.

Someone essentially gave me enough gorgeous hardwood to cover all but 80 square feet of my contiguous dining/living/foyer. Due to the shortfall, I'm having to be creative. My plan is to interlace tile with the hardwood in the foyer only.

How would you do your foyer? Here are some inspiration photos. I love the travertine and hardwood look. Would this be technically challenging to install? Suggestions all welcome!

Central tile w/ hardwood

Different kind of hardwood in a herringbone pattern

Brick pavers w/ hardwood

Faux wood tile w/ hardwood

Checkered tile

Heck tile it all!

Featured Answer

kempek01

10 months ago

I would not interlace tile with the hardwood. No brick pavers, no faux wood tile, no checkered tile.

I might think about doing some sort of cool border/inlay with a contrasting hardwood. You might have to do this in a the larger space, rather than just in the foyer.

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Comments (6)

Aj Rog
Original Author
10 months ago
To clarify, I have 600+ sqft, and the total dining room and living room and foyer is 680 sqft. So I could just do the dining and living room in the hardwood floors, but that would leave me with the problem of what to do with the foyer floor that still needs to be replaced
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kempek01
10 months ago
If your foyer is a separate space and your climate is harsh enough to need tile in the foyer, I would definitely just do tile (or maybe a nice slate) in the foyer. But a creative border in the living space (to take up your 80 sq ft) would be nice too. It's just a matter of what you want...
Yvonne Martin
10 months ago
I suggest that you use a different color wood of the same width to make a border around the main rooms. The different wood could be along the walls or a foot or two in from the walls. I searched on Pinterest to see many stunning examples. For this you will need a real expert flooring person.
Aj Rog
Original Author
10 months ago
Bump! Great comments so far but I need more advice!
kempek01
10 months ago
@Aj Rog,

Of the options you presented in your poll, the only one that is likely to get any votes is the option the different wood laid in a herringbone pattern in the foyer.

@Yvonne Martin has given you a great suggestion (she explained what I was thinking better than I did).

Something like this is what we are both trying to describe. Here is a link to where I found the picture (to give them credit for it) Link to Source of Photo.

I don't care for how the wood in the back room is a different color than the wood in the front of the picture. But if it were all the same wood, with just the contrasting border, that would be fantastic in my opinion.