Hardwood Or Tile In Spec House Kitchens

williefb

Last spec house that we built had hardwood in the kitchen. My cabinet man suggested that we might want to go with a light colored tile this time (and I am) to brighten the kitchen up. My real estate lady likes the hardwood. The hardwood will be cheaper.

Thoughts and opinions?

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Willie

benchmark2323

ive got a spec now to, i went with hardwood, what i realized is that in a spec , it doesnt matter what you put in , one person will like it and someone else wont care for hardwood and prefers tile. its all personal opinion.go with whats cheaper and that saves you alittle anyway.

osborn

How about pickled hardwood? Or paint it white? I know paint sounds crazy but my floor guy showed me a oak floor he painted and it was awesome!

thom

I use a 12X12 Porcelain tile in my specs.

joasis

I am going with stained concrete...grout lines scores on 18 or 24 squares. The custom we just started is getting 12 inch ceramic...$4 a sq/ft installed.

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cleveman

put four coats of poly on the osb and call it green

Dustball

Are your houses on slabs?

Edit- Doh! Cleveman- why are you bringing up all of these old threads?

orson

Please just put down vynil so when they hire me to remodel their spec kitchen I don't have to tear your tile out.

www.rubycon.us
Ruby Construction LLC
Lancaster Kitchen Remodeling
Lancaster Bathroom Remodeling

ChrWright

If you're using hardwoods in adjacent spaces I think it makes sense to carry that into the kitchen. This can help unify seperate spaces and make them seem larger & more connected--especially in a smaller house.

Take care that you have some contrast between the floor and the cabinets if they're both to be stained.

A large greatroom/kitchen combo can also look good all in stone. The key again is to unify the two spaces so they feel larger & connected.

Kitchens are the most important space in the house for most buyers and most want them opened up & connected to other living/entertaining spaces as much as possible.

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Christopher Wright, CR: President @ WrightWorks, LLC/President @ Central Indiana NARI, Named to the 2010 REMODELING Big50
www.WrightWorks.net - Facebook - Twitter - Carmel Remodeling
Indianapolis Kitchen Remodeling Contractor - You Can Get There From Here

Teetorbilt

There's some tile that's been out for a while that mimics wood. Maybe an option?

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cleveman

Dustball,

See, it's like my dog sniffing at an old turd.

angus242

I'm in the middle of a kitchen remodel right now that I'm using that very tile. AND it's because I knocked down a wall between the kitchen and dining room to open things up. There is already hardwood in the dining so we went with this option.
BE FOREWARNED!!!! This has been the hardest tile I've ever installed. Mostly because it's rectified and there are NO grout lines but to give it the closest look to wood, I chose to do it that way. When finished, I think it's gonna look great!

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orson

I never did like materials that mimic the look of another material, I think each material should look like what it is. Having said that, looks like a pretty neat floor colonel.

www.rubycon.us
Ruby Construction LLC
Lancaster Kitchen Remodeling
Lancaster Bathroom Remodeling

angus242

I was in your boat, Orson. However, after seeing this stuff in person, it is WAY better than I had thought. There are people that have seen this in person and think it's wood. I like it so much now, I would use it in my own home.

cleveman

Colonel,

I think I saw this tile, it was from Crossville. Porcelain, very thick, and a plank shape. I thought it looked very rich. You should post pictures when you are done.

angus242

cleveman

I'll be sure to post. You are correct, the tiles are porcelain 6"x24". This is the brand:
http://www.mediterranea-usa.com/havana.html

MIbeachbuilder

hardwood floor is very big right now for a kitchen application but if you are using a dark or medium toned cabinetry color or a oak cabinet the hardwood floors in the kitchen makes the kitchen look too heavy. If you are using a painted or light toned cabinet hardwood is the way to go.

OneCall

I would go with what the realtor says, they hear what buyers want on a daily basis, plus it is cheaper!

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Cy Megnin
One Call Property Services
"Fixing the world one house at a time"

72chevy4x4

I've got a kitchen floor job coming up-ripping out the old floor ruined by a leaking dishwasher and installing new wood floor. I don't like the hardness of tile in a kitchen, but not sure wood is the best idea with lots of water sources.