Asked on Mar 22, 2015

SOS! New kitchen/living room floors?!

AmyLee
by AmyLee
I had a flood in my kitchen and need to replace my flooring. Here is what I have-2 teenagers, a pool (with the access being through the kitchen), a lab that sheds like crazy and swims everyday, a firefighter husband with bad feet and knees (part of the job). I am in Southern California and a bit of a perfectionist. I would say I am traditionalist and have antiques. I love the look of Italy and Europe too! This flooring will be throughout the downstairs including the entryway, halls, living room, & kitchen.
HELP!!! Ideas???
This a picture of the cabinets and island we have ordered...
Similar color with a brushed finish.
Yes the Island will be darker.
  23 answers
  • Debbie Williams Debbie Williams on Mar 22, 2015
    i'm redoing my kitchen and dining room and am using porcelain tile that looks like wood
    • AmyLee AmyLee on Mar 22, 2015
      Yup looking into that too. I was worried about it cracking due to our little earthquake tremors we have occasionally and if it would be too hard for the hubby's feet! What are your thoughts on Travertine?
  • AmyLee AmyLee on Mar 22, 2015
    Travertine? Tile that looks like wood? Wood? Tile? I have no idea!!!! And suggestions on color too would be appreciated!
  • Debbie Williams Debbie Williams on Mar 22, 2015
    thats also nice. i put the porcelain wood looking tile in my bathroom already and love it. the tile i am putting in my kitchen is the same tile that my son's restaurant used. so i figured if it's in a busy restaurant then it will stand up to the traffic in my house
    • See 6 previous
    • Cheri Cheri on Jul 14, 2020

      What is the name o this tile and where did you find it. I am looking at building a mother-in-law’s quarters for my mom and I think something like this would look nice in her kitchen dining room living room area

  • Moxie Moxie on Mar 22, 2015
    What us your subfloor material? If its concrete...I would go gor burnished or stained concrete.
  • Darla Darla on Mar 22, 2015
    You might want to look at luxury vinyl planks, the snap-together kind, at least for the kitchen.
  • ACBowlds ACBowlds on Mar 23, 2015
    I second the vinyl plank idea. They look really good, and I say that because I was doubtful when I was first told about them. I saw them in a home built by a local builder. AMAZING! I can't wait for my husband to agree to change our flooring...we are totally going with the vinyl planks (dog, 3 cats, 3 kids)...plus they are a great price. We put wood laminate all throughout the first floor of the house we just sold and we regretted it.
  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Mar 23, 2015
    With all the swimming and teenagers, I would stick with a porcelean tile. I have 3 fur babies and vinyl does not hold up regardless of how many folks say it does. Small dogs, maybe. Larger breeds, NOT HAPPENING.
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Mar 23, 2015
    @AmyLee I am thinking of a bamboo floor when we redo our kitchen. It is supposed to be durable and easy on the feet. Stone tiles are hard on you if you are on your feet for long periods of time, but you can always get a gel mat to counteract that effect.
  • K K on Mar 23, 2015
    Bamboo looks amazing but I had it in my bath & it scratches like crazy! Looked old & worn within a few months- especially with the dog :/
  • Connie A Wallis Connie A Wallis on Mar 23, 2015
    Have you considered cork? There are various colors and it comes in a plank form. It wears like iron, is soft under foot and water resistant (or proof).
    • See 1 previous
    • Connie A Wallis Connie A Wallis on Mar 24, 2015
      Christina, there is a product by Acacia Flooring that is cork and is water proof. It comes in plank form and they have this flooring with a wood look and stone tile look. Its quite impressive looking and it wears well in high traffic areas and is soft under foot. Check it out, I'm really picky and I liked it a lot.
  • Ilona Elliott Ilona Elliott on Mar 24, 2015
    For durability nothing beats the porcelain tiles. You can put a crack isolating membrane under the tile and use indoor outdoor mortars or additives in the mortar to resist cracks, but it is very hard, shatters glass like crazy if you drop any, and not soft on your feet of course. There are plenty of very high end vinyl tiles now that are very durable, some for commercial installations, that come in all sorts of patterns and colors to look like stone, concrete, etc. Some of the larger format tiles are really stylish and easy to maintain.
  • Christina Christina on Mar 24, 2015
    Tiles of all kinds are rated from 1-5. Porcelain tiles are a 5-best for high traffic and indoor or outdoor applications. Some are the same color all the way through. Find out if others in your area have had trouble with cracking due to earthquake tremors. Get recommendations from people who have had tiles installed at least a year ago before you hire anyone. Preparing the floors is really important. If they aren't level tiles will crack. Personally, I would go with hardwood floors. A darker color would look great with the cabinets.
  • Sternj Sternj on Apr 25, 2015
    What kind of tile and color did you use?
    • See 2 previous
    • AmyLee AmyLee on Jul 13, 2015
      Choose Travertine- as in the picture above...Love it! And so far has been indestructible!!!
  • Amanda Peterson Amanda Peterson on Jun 30, 2015
    Nothing to do with flooring, but your countertop is Gorgeous! What is it, if I may ask?
    • AmyLee AmyLee on Jun 30, 2015
      Counter is Granite Juparana Persia. The slabs vary tremendously from granite yards so try many place prior to purchase. Hope this helps!
  • Amanda Peterson Amanda Peterson on Jun 30, 2015
    great! looks beautiful!
  • Donna Donna on Jul 11, 2015
    Love the cabinets color what is it
    • AmyLee AmyLee on Jul 13, 2015
      The cabinets shown are a custom color with a "brushed finish". Just show any good cabinetry person and the two pictures and they will be able to produce it.
  • AmyLee AmyLee on Jul 13, 2015
    I did discover if you are considering going Travertine flooring be sure to consider the Mexican Travertine- Durango. It is has fewer holes and is stronger than the Italian or the Turkish Travertine.
  • Beth Beth on Jul 28, 2015
    I am going with cabinets like this in my new home. Mind if I ask what color the back splash is?
    • AmyLee AmyLee on Aug 09, 2015
      The backsplash is IDG and the color is F12. A similar one is Bliss Spa Linear Tranquility. Once it went up it went a bit darker so keep that in mind. Good Luck!
  • Jill Jill on Aug 05, 2015
    Love your kitchen! I have been looking for counter chairs like yours, if you don't mind me asking where did you get them?
    • AmyLee AmyLee on Aug 09, 2015
      You can have them custom made through Ballard Designs. For a bit less try looking at LampsPlus online. Yes they sell counter height bar stools. They have similar ones.
  • Bes3720243 Bes3720243 on Jan 04, 2016
    Love the window treatment! What kind of fabric is it? Hard to see in this picture?
  • Lon4276624 Lon4276624 on Jan 19, 2017

    Very nicely done.

  • Gms32252552 Gms32252552 on Dec 29, 2017

    can you tell me the source for the island itself? What is wood & finish? Custom made? Any drawers in side facing countertop? Dimensions? Beautiful and exactly what I am looking for.

  • Lara Harb Lara Harb on Mar 13, 2021

    Where did you get those cabinets and island from? What is the name of the company