kitchen -- hardwood or tile

[Masked Bandit]

If I had it to do all over again I would never pick a dark hardwood. Every stupid little piece of dust or crumb shows up. I would have gone lighter in colour and probably tile in the kitchen. I'm loving Dave's examples of tile that looks like hardwood. Where the hell were you six years ago Dave?

[blitz]

We're going on 5 years with real hardwood in the kitchen and it looks good, no problem with moisture or dents. I always find flooring transitions in open concept houses sort of weird looking.

[turbotrip]

Originally posted by G

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was this house for sale? or did you build it. I feel like I've been there before when we were looking

[Cos]

.

[G]

Originally posted by turbotrip


was this house for sale? or did you build it. I feel like I've been there before when we were looking

We built it. Took 5 month our possession is next week.

[CapnCrunch]

Originally posted by Masked Bandit
If I had it to do all over again I would never pick a dark hardwood. Every stupid little piece of dust or crumb shows up. I would have gone lighter in colour and probably tile in the kitchen. I'm loving Dave's examples of tile that looks like hardwood. Where the hell were you six years ago Dave?

+1. I hated my dark hardwood. Smudges, dust, even footprints everywhere.

[ExtraSlow]

Had dark laminate in my first house. Vas beautiful for five minutes after you cleaned, then ugly the rest of the time. I think a nice medium shade is pretty liveable.

[msommers]

Yeah a medium colour such as a rosewood or mahogany (or something to that effect) is really nice. Brightens things up enough, stays fairly clean looking and isn't cheap looking like a spruce/pine/IKEA flooring - I think often it's referred to as 'natual' colour.

[z24_wheels]

We are hoping to do glue-down cork tile in the kitchen, some sort of wood in the living room, dining room and front "library" with tile in the front entry, bath and laundry.

Any thoughts or opinions on the glue down cork? We have tile now and find it too cold and hard. Not baller enough for infloor heating.

What about transitions between the different types of flooring?

[CapnCrunch]

Originally posted by msommers
Yeah a medium colour such as a rosewood or mahogany (or something to that effect) is really nice. Brightens things up enough, stays fairly clean looking and isn't cheap looking like a spruce/pine/IKEA flooring - I think often it's referred to as 'natual' colour.

It's a good idea to get a wood thats stained close to it's natural color, that way chips and scratches blend in.

Back on topic, I think tile in the kitchen is the only way to go, although wood floors do feel a little nicer on the feet. When you consider things like spills, a leaking dishwasher, and dishes / utensils falling onto the floor then tile is the best choice.

[turbotrip]

Originally posted by G


We built it. Took 5 month our possession is next week.

congrats! is it a Lupi Luxury or Crystal Creek home by any chance?

[Waldi]

Had a hardwood in the kitchen in old house, it was oak and real hardwood not engineered one. Nice thing about it it was warm and very forgiving when you dropped things. After 12 years or so ther was a bit of discoloration in the area around counter that was used on daily basis.
New home has tile and it does look nice but is very unforgiving, you drop something, if it is glass - gone, if it is metal (pots), dents. Tile is holding well and looks very clean (light color).

So between those two type of floor, I would say it is strictly preference for color and functionality; if you want to have light floor tile is the annser, if you don't care about light color, you can use hardwood. Both perform very similarly and you can always refinish hardwood after wear shows up.

[S-FLY]

If it's an open concept, I'd carry the hardwood into the kitchen so that there's no transition.