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13 Alternatives to Plain Wood Flooring in the Kitchen
Graphic patterns, surprising transitions and unexpected materials make these kitchen floors stand out
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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