Black and white floors

Simpsongal1

I gravitate towards the classic look of black and white floors.  Whether it's diagonal squares or a smaller/busier pattern.  I'm considering installing them in our entryway/bathroom/kitchen area.

Does anyone have an argument against black and white floors?  Are they hard to keep clean?  Do you think they look dated? 

I'll open it up - what do you prefer when it comes to non-hardwood, non-carpet floors?

Susie Derkins

I like black & white ok in a bathroom, but I'm less a fan of it in larger spaces, particularly an entryway.  I'm not sure why.  I feel like it might look kind of stark/sterile in an entryway, which I prefer to feel warm and welcoming.  Whereas in a bathroom (and possibly a kitchen) sterile is more of a positive attribute.

This is the tile I recently picked out for our half bath.  Eventually I plan to put the same or similar in the kitchen and entryway.  It's porcelain; I also like similar looking natural stone.

 

FoxinFiji

Well of course it's going to look dated!  Isn't that the point?  Dated doesn't have to be a bad thing.  You said you wanted classic and classic is dated. 

I would never put a small mosaic tile in my entry or kitchen.  That style looks best in a small space like a bathroom IMO.  Plus that is just way too much grout that will stain and need to be sealed and resealed.  So then the big checkerboard pattern is left with the options you gave and I'm not really a fan of that.  I think a porcelain tile that looks like natural stone would be the best choice.  It can be gray and white if you want to keep that color scheme or a nice tan color for a warmer color.  Pattern on the tile hides dirt, dust, and water spots better.  In a high traffic area like the kitchen and entry that is important.  Solid white and black will show everything...dust and waterspots on the black and dirt and stains on the white...the worst of both worlds.

Simpsongal1

I would definitely want some variation in the tile to hide dirt.  I guess I should just go to a flooring store and see 'what's out there.' 

I don't think we have the funds to do this now anyway, so I guess I'll stop around.

Magdala9

My old apartment had black and white floors.  It showed every speck of dirt and dog hair (Room mate had a golden retriever).  What did not show on the white tiles showed on the black tiles and vice versa.  

These looked dated (as did the whole kitchen).  If you have dogs or it is a high traffic area, I think you will regret it.   

juno

We have b&w matte glaze hex tiles in our bathroom and love them.  I don't notice it getting very dirty in there, but we normally don't wear our shoes in the bathroom.  I Swiffer once a week.  We have gray grout, so that hides all sorts of sins.  I've never noticed any water spots.

We're debating what we're going to do in the kitchen, and a black and white checkerboard pattern is a top contender.

I have no opinion on using them in the foyer other than I wouldn't (not right for my house). 

We have an old house, so "dated" is what we're going for, and I love it.

GildedIcon

I LOVE black and white floors!  They are so classic and beautiful.

 

 

 

FoxinFiji

I just wanted to clarify around here people get "waterspots" in their entry way in the winter from the snow and salt that gets dragged in.  It's more like rings of salt spots from the dripping wet boots.  Our neighbor has a dark tile entry and it can look pretty bad in the winter when she has a big group of people over.  That or maybe she just doesn't clean it enough. 

FoxinFiji

swimbikepuke:

But if you did a black and white tile without a grout line, like some of the pictures PP posted above, that would probably work really well. 

This is not possible unless you are talking about a pricey commercial application.  You have to have a grout line but it can be very thin.  The tile manufacturer has to make it specifically for thin grout lines though and those tiles cost more.  The best option would be to use epoxy grout which doesn't stain and never needs to be sealed but I digress. 

GildedIcon

swimbikepuke:

FoxinFiji:

swimbikepuke:

But if you did a black and white tile without a grout line, like some of the pictures PP posted above, that would probably work really well. 

This is not possible unless you are talking about a pricey commercial application.  You have to have a grout line but it can be very thin.  The tile manufacturer has to make it specifically for thin grout lines though and those tiles cost more.  The best option would be to use epoxy grout which doesn't stain and never needs to be sealed but I digress. 

Then assume I am talking about a pricey commercial application.  

Pricey like beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.  Sometimes the best option/solution is not the least expensive. 

 

Passanie

I love the look of a classic black and white floor! I'd recommend getting white tile that's not true white, something with specks or something in it so that it doesn't show everything. I'm also really this floor (that's linoleum, right?):