13 Alternatives to Plain Wood Flooring in the Kitchen
Graphic patterns, surprising transitions and unexpected materials make these kitchen floors stand out
Erin Carlyle
October 16, 2019
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
Wood flooring laid in a straight pattern can be a beautiful option for a kitchen and continues to be popular in photos we see uploaded to Houzz. But what if you want a kitchen floor that’s a bit more distinctive? The pros who created the following 13 kitchens demonstrate creative use of materials — including wood — to give these spaces a unique flavor. Which kitchen flooring would you like to see in your own home?
1. Herringbone Medley
This Dallas kitchen by Studio Neshama marries black porcelain tile with solid oak pieces in a herringbone pattern, interspersing the two materials along the transition. It’s a nice effect that softens the divide between flooring while providing an artistic surprise. The white lines on the floor are veins within the black tiles, which are designed to echo the look of Nero Marquina marble.
Find an interior designer near you
This Dallas kitchen by Studio Neshama marries black porcelain tile with solid oak pieces in a herringbone pattern, interspersing the two materials along the transition. It’s a nice effect that softens the divide between flooring while providing an artistic surprise. The white lines on the floor are veins within the black tiles, which are designed to echo the look of Nero Marquina marble.
Find an interior designer near you
2. Graphic Green to Organic Wood
The flooring in this London kitchen by dRAW Architecture shows a similarly blended border, with cuts of wood edging into the green tile floor at the transition to the dining area. The green tiles with white lines look a bit like palm leaves and complement the natural look of the wood floors.
Find floor and wall tile in the Houzz Shop
The flooring in this London kitchen by dRAW Architecture shows a similarly blended border, with cuts of wood edging into the green tile floor at the transition to the dining area. The green tiles with white lines look a bit like palm leaves and complement the natural look of the wood floors.
Find floor and wall tile in the Houzz Shop
3. Inlaid Brick
This rustic yet sophisticated kitchen floor in a townhouse in Brooklyn, New York, remodeled by Think Construction consists of bricks laid in a herringbone pattern. The material has an indoor-outdoor feel that works well as a transition from the walk-out patio beyond the kitchen.
This rustic yet sophisticated kitchen floor in a townhouse in Brooklyn, New York, remodeled by Think Construction consists of bricks laid in a herringbone pattern. The material has an indoor-outdoor feel that works well as a transition from the walk-out patio beyond the kitchen.
4. Midcentury Mod
In this reboot of a Michigan midcentury kitchen, remodelers Halm & Perkins placed square white cement tiles with gray edging in a strategic grid. The result is a formation of gray rectangles placed evenly and at perpendicular angles.
Find dining tables in the Houzz Shop
In this reboot of a Michigan midcentury kitchen, remodelers Halm & Perkins placed square white cement tiles with gray edging in a strategic grid. The result is a formation of gray rectangles placed evenly and at perpendicular angles.
Find dining tables in the Houzz Shop
Here’s an up-close look at the pattern. Have you ever see anything like it in a kitchen?
5. Escher-Like Cubes
This cube-like kitchen floor in Singapore from StyledbyPT is reminiscent of M.C. Escher’s optical illusions.
This cube-like kitchen floor in Singapore from StyledbyPT is reminiscent of M.C. Escher’s optical illusions.
6. River Flow
Many elements of this kitchen from MAB Design in Newark, New Jersey, are distinctive, including the floor, which is reminiscent of water flowing through ice. In fact, the floor is made of 2-centimeter-thick Panda marble slabs cut into 24-by-24-inch tiles.
Many elements of this kitchen from MAB Design in Newark, New Jersey, are distinctive, including the floor, which is reminiscent of water flowing through ice. In fact, the floor is made of 2-centimeter-thick Panda marble slabs cut into 24-by-24-inch tiles.
7. Checkerboard
This classic kitchen floor from contractor Leonard Unander Associates in a 1937 estate in Santa Barbara, California, blends two colors of marble for an elegant updated look. Designer Lizzie Dinkel of Elizabeth Dinkel Design Associates and architect Daniel M. Longwill of Two Trees Architects also worked on this project.
Find a general contractor near you
This classic kitchen floor from contractor Leonard Unander Associates in a 1937 estate in Santa Barbara, California, blends two colors of marble for an elegant updated look. Designer Lizzie Dinkel of Elizabeth Dinkel Design Associates and architect Daniel M. Longwill of Two Trees Architects also worked on this project.
Find a general contractor near you
8. Homespun Grid
This updated Michigan cottage kitchen by designer Kate Marker Interiors features floors painted in a modern quilt-like grid. Dark brown, a soft rose-tone brown and a light taupe on the floors bring out the warm tones in the wood cabinets.
This updated Michigan cottage kitchen by designer Kate Marker Interiors features floors painted in a modern quilt-like grid. Dark brown, a soft rose-tone brown and a light taupe on the floors bring out the warm tones in the wood cabinets.
9. Cute and Classic
White penny tile with dark grout gets interrupted by cheery florets composed of teal penny tiles spaced at regular intervals in this London kitchen.
White penny tile with dark grout gets interrupted by cheery florets composed of teal penny tiles spaced at regular intervals in this London kitchen.
Here’s a closer look at the motif.
10. No Need for a Rug
Square hand-painted cement tile surrounds the island in this Montreal kitchen by HB DESIGN, creating a rug-like effect. But unlike its fabric counterparts, this rug will never be off-kilter. The surrounding floor is wood.
Find cement tile in the Houzz Shop
Square hand-painted cement tile surrounds the island in this Montreal kitchen by HB DESIGN, creating a rug-like effect. But unlike its fabric counterparts, this rug will never be off-kilter. The surrounding floor is wood.
Find cement tile in the Houzz Shop
Here’s how the patterned tile looks from the vantage point of standing at the kitchen island, looking down.
11. Circles and Straights
This one-of-a-kind floor in a San Francisco home blends tiles shaped like squares, rectangles and wedges of circles in a riotous pattern.
This one-of-a-kind floor in a San Francisco home blends tiles shaped like squares, rectangles and wedges of circles in a riotous pattern.
All the shapes are hand-painted tiles from Fireclay Tile, here in custom colorway.
12. Softly Urban
Polished concrete forms an urbane platform for this softly colored loft kitchen from Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. The color of the gray floor repeats in the lighter gray kitchen counter and the darker gray of the mobile above the dining table.
Polished concrete forms an urbane platform for this softly colored loft kitchen from Jessica Helgerson Interior Design. The color of the gray floor repeats in the lighter gray kitchen counter and the darker gray of the mobile above the dining table.
13. Rich and Polished
Finally, this Los Angeles kitchen from Pearl Remodeling features elegant wood floors set in a herringbone pattern. The variety in color of the wood makes the floor look considered and artistic, and brings out its rich wood tones.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about flooring
Find a pro
Shop for products
Finally, this Los Angeles kitchen from Pearl Remodeling features elegant wood floors set in a herringbone pattern. The variety in color of the wood makes the floor look considered and artistic, and brings out its rich wood tones.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about flooring
Find a pro
Shop for products
What are you working on?
Related Products
David Johnson has over 25 years of experience in residential and light commercial design and projects. Read More
Related Stories
Kitchen Backsplashes
30 Bold and Beautiful Range Backsplashes
Get ideas for eye-catching tile and stone backsplashes inside stove alcoves and behind cooktops
Full Story
Kitchen Design
7 Essential Features of a Well-Designed Kitchen
Make sure your new kitchen not only looks good but also functions beautifully
Full Story
Kitchen Workbook
How to Map Out Your Kitchen Remodel’s Scope of Work
Help prevent budget overruns by determining the extent of your project, and find pros to help you get the job done
Full Story
Kitchen Storage
Foolproof Storage Solutions for Corner Kitchen Cabinets
By tidgboutique
Consider Lazy Susans, pullouts and more to maximize storage
Full Story
Trending Now
The 10 Most Popular Kitchens So Far in 2024
Get inspired by the warm neutral palettes, ample storage and inviting islands in these most-saved new photos on Houzz
Full Story
Houzz TV
5 Trends for Kitchen and Bath Products in 2024
See fascinating new features for showers, tubs, faucets and more launched at the 2024 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show
Full Story
Kitchen Backsplashes
Where to Start and Stop Your Backsplash
By tidgboutique
Consider these designer tricks to work around cabinets, windows and other features for a finished look in your kitchen
Full Story
Kitchen Workbook
How to Find Your Kitchen Style
If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, here’s how to find inspiration and start narrowing down your choices
Full Story
Kitchen Design
15 Stylish Kitchen Range Hood Ideas
Get ideas for hood shapes, sizes and looks that can elevate a kitchen’s design while ridding it of bad air and odors
Full Story
Kitchen Workbook
How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Follow these start-to-finish steps to achieve a successful kitchen remodel
Full Story
Completely agree with CK.
Phyllis Carlyle it took me years to decide on flooring and I am glad I waited. Thought briefly about ceramic tile, linoleum, and wood. I pretty much had to eliminate all because I am one of those lucky 60s era homeowners with the original congoleum flooring still in place. This means the adhesive used to adhere it to the wood subfloor has a very good chance of containing asbestos. While I’m all for renos I think sometimes houzz does need to address that reno can involve removal of asbestos containing materials from flooring and drywall in many older homes. It’s not as simple as ripping out & replacing especially in homes built before the 80s
I am not willing to disturb this in any way because it’s cost prohibitive & would likely mean a complete gut of my kitchen. And I’m just not comfortable that it can be contained. I’d rather leave it in place in my kitchen. So a floating floor it must be. Considered wood but to try to match the existing wood flooring in the rest of my home would be difficult. So I’ve decided to go with luxury vinyl tile instead which somewhat solves another problem. LVT is likely kinder to arthritic joints, easy to maintain especially with K9s in the home & being an active gardener.
I’m in Chicagoland and linoleum was not easy to find. Big box stores are just not an easy source and anything outside the norm is not on their radar screen. It’s better to go to an independent flooring dealer instead. They do know their stuff and even if not routinely stocked can be sourced for you. I’m hoping to have the LVT Installed in 2020 just need to decide on what I want as well as finish the bead board install and repair/paint cabinets.
Of all the flooring photos provided only the herringbone wood caught my eye. Some of the others are nice but I’m not sure I could live with them over time.
I agree that #6 is very personal but reminds me of the one time I drank gin and had a horrible case of bed spins afterwards.
Concerning flooring is about to find the ideal rug to your space, therefor i invite you to take a look to this gallery where you can customize handmade rugs with the size and design you want https://www.etsy.com/shop/FatimaRugs