Are you remodeling this time of year? This will be my first Thanksgiving and Christmas in my new kitchen. Last year a contractor was literally in our kitchen on Christmas Eve installing our Dutch door. I’m grateful he did that, but I’m thrilled to have the kitchen finished and ready to enjoy this season. I can’t wait to set up my Christmas kitchen.
Before I decorate, many readers have asked about the kitchen flooring, and I realized I never dedicated a post to the herringbone tile. Several people also asked about cabinets and lighting—great topics, which I’ll cover later, likely in January.
We debated for months over kitchen flooring. There were so many options, each with its own advantages. Typical remodel concerns like budget, coordinating with adjoining rooms, and the location of an exterior door made the decision more complicated.
In the end we chose a neutral porcelain tile. I wanted a floor that could carry the room on its own, especially in summer when we might skip rugs, but that would also serve as a versatile backdrop for runners and area rugs in different textures, patterns, and colors.
The tile we selected has subtle, attractive coloring and texture. Since our kitchen is a galley layout, we wanted flooring that would create a sense of movement. Laying tile on the diagonal helps the eye travel across the space, making a narrow room feel wider. We opted to have our tile installed in a herringbone pattern.
You don’t need a specialty “herringbone” tile to achieve this pattern. Our tiles are large rectangular pieces (12 x 24 inches). We considered smaller tiles at first, but the larger size makes the pattern bold, simple, and easy on the eye.
Our installer laid the individual tiles in the herringbone pattern. The tile runs under our cabinets, though you can also choose to install tile after cabinets are in place—just be sure appliances can still be removed if needed.
We chose between a polished and unpolished finish. Initially we worried about a shiny or slippery surface, but our contractor recommended the polished option. It has a very matte look rather than a glossy shine. So far it’s been easy to maintain and hides everyday dust and dirt until we clean, which makes it an excellent kitchen floor in my opinion.
Are you remodeling a kitchen right now or planning one soon?
If you need tips or inspiration, I’ve linked kitchen remodel posts below.
If you missed the kitchen reveal, you can find it in the original reveal post.
HERRINGBONE TILE FLOORING:
Daltile Imagica — ig97 Haze ColorBody Porcelain (Light Polished), 12 x 24
RUGS:
Jute runner and a black-and-white Dash & Albert rug complement the neutral tile and add texture and pattern when desired.
FULL KITCHEN SOURCE LIST:
See the galley kitchen remodel source list for detailed product information.
KITCHEN REMODELING TIPS AND POSTS:
Related posts include tips on shiplap walls behind the stove and sink, Carrara-style quartz counters, Dutch door sources, design tips for kitchen remodels, choosing appliances, and mixing hardware finishes.