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Checkerboard Flooring Kitchen

Checkerboard flooring in the kitchen can add an elegant or fun touch to this very important room. Your kitchen flooring needs to be durable and easy to clean. One design approach that's making a come back is a checkerboard flooring kitchen look. Checkerboard flooring doesn't have to be black and white, it can be any color combination that works for you. Black and white flooring in your kitchen gives a clean, bright look, but don't feel constrained by those colors. Kitchen black and white flooring is popular, but maybe it's time to start your own trend.

Kitchens are one of the most important rooms in the entire house and aren't just for eating in anymore. The kitchen area can be a meeting place, used for crafts and homework, and a place to hang out. Everyone knows parties always migrate to the kitchen! That's why it is so important to choose flooring that fits the personality and feel of your family and home. Creativity is very important and there are many ways that you can show your creativity through your kitchen flooring choice. Have you considered a checkerboard flooring?

A checkerboard flooring kitchen makes a statement about your family and home. The retro feel of a checkerboard flooring kitchen can help you to have a foundation for decorating your kitchen in the '50s style, complete with a jukebox, though you don't have to go in that decorating direction. Checkerboard flooring can be done in any color combination and can go with just about any decorating style. You are only limited by your creativity and imagination.

If you are looking for a clean, contemporary look, you might consider installing black and white flooring in your kitchen. Kitchen black and white flooring makes the room feel updated, clean, and neat. Black and white vinyl tiles can be laid in a checkerboard pattern or any other pattern to create a room that is contemporary, sleek, and interesting. If you want to make your kitchen look brighter and more interesting, you will want to consider using black and white flooring in your kitchen.

Using floor tiles creatively will help you to create a kitchen floor that others will be envious of. You are only bound by your creativity when deciding what pattern or design to arrange the tiles in. Using tiles of varying colors and hues help to create texture and interest in the kitchen. It gives the room a personality and feel all its own, which makes your friends and family want to be in the room. Whether you just make a border around your kitchen or you create a more intricate pattern or design, you will have a kitchen floor that is one of a kind made just for you.

Changing your kitchen flooring is a great way to change the entire look of the room. Most people don't think of changing flooring when they want to quickly update a room, but your flooring choice can make a huge impact on the feel of the room. Making a pattern or design using flooring makes a room feel more interesting. You can use vinyl tiles, ceramic tiles, or even different finishes of hardwood flooring or stone tiles to make a checkerboard pattern or a design in your kitchen.

Whether you choose to have a checkerboard flooring kitchen, black and white flooring in your kitchen, or another pattern, you will have a kitchen that is full of interest and texture when you choose to use different colors and finishes in creating your floor. If you are looking for a way to make your kitchen into a masterpiece, then adding a patterned floor is a great choice for you.

Comments

I'm interested in the 50's style black & white checker board vinyl tile kitchen floor. Can you provide me with sizes available and cost of same. Thanks so much. Bonner

Steve Bonner at August 26, 2007 3:58 PM

The Flooring Lady is an educational site. I don't sell materials or tools, nor do I do installations. I strive to provide ideas and information to help you deal with the stores and installers you find for your projects.

The Flooring Lady at August 26, 2007 4:26 PM

Were finishing our basement and our looking to do a 50's type dining area with a booth, bar & stools. We would like to do a Black & White checkerboard floor but don't know which type of tiling to use. When we look at vinyl tiles their doesn't seem to be a solid Black or White tyle to choose from. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Rick

Rick Chynoweth at September 28, 2007 8:34 PM

50's-style linoleum checkerboard floors weren't solid black and white either; they were swirled colors in blacks and whites giving the overall effect of being black and white. I recently saw a great-looking checkerboard floor at Forbo's Marmoleum page; check it out to see if you like it (though it wasn't in black and white).

If you want black and white you can go with ceramic tiles, though that seems a bit hard and cold to the feet. Or, you could put a wood floor down, paint it black and white, and seal it really well with several coats of a water-based polyurethane. Considser a plywood or OSB, in which case you'd want to prime it first.

I've seen checkerboard patterns painted on oak flooring, but the flooring was in place and needing work so the checkerboard pattern was a perfect touch. I personally wouldn't go to the expense of putting a new oak floor in just to paint it. But hey, it may be the right solution for you.

I suppose you could also paint the concrete and then seal it, but you may want a bit of insulation between the concrete and the flooring surface.

Send pictures of what you do. Sounds like a fun project!

The Flooring Lady at September 29, 2007 12:04 AM

Dear Flooring Lady,

I am in the middle of replacing my kitchen floor, my wife and I thought the checker board was a great idea, the only problem I can not find solid black and white smooth surface linoleum, can you point me in the right direction.

Thank you,
Jeff

Jeff at November 2, 2007 8:30 AM

You and lots of people seem to be having the same problem with finding solid-colored linoleum tiles (or of any other material either, for that matter). I don't have any resources for them. It's time to let manufacturers know that's what you want.

Call, write, and email them to let them know you want solid-colored tiles. The astute manufacturers will be aware of your needs from websites like this one, but be proactive in letting them know it's time for them to act.

The Flooring Lady at November 2, 2007 9:59 AM

can you send pics of checkered kitchen ideas 50's look

mike z at December 2, 2007 6:52 PM

Try KMT Trailer Parts for a 4 1/2" black and white checkerboard pattern flooring.

Gwen at December 3, 2007 10:15 AM

i need to know where i can find some pic;s of white kitchens with black and white floors, i have to show my hubby it looks good, he thinks it won't look good,,,,men are nuts,,,please let me know asap,, thank you..linda

LINDA EVANS at December 13, 2007 1:05 PM

Check out Armstrong's web site, and do the "Design a Room". Choose vinyl sheet flooring in the black and white pattern. You can also change ceiling, cabinet, counter and wall colors to play around with it. Great site.

Susan at December 13, 2007 2:37 PM

Hello! I want the checkerboard floor for my 50's ranch house. The problem is I can't find a manufacturer of sheet linoleum (I want an eco-friendly product) that comes in the checkerboard pattern - my preference is something OTHER than black and white. I saw a two shades of green slate in a mega-mansion and it looked gorgeous - it was installed on the diagonal...
Thanks Floor Lady!

Nona at December 18, 2007 4:14 PM

I don't know where you can buy sheet linoleum that's in a checkerboard pattern, but I know Forbo, the makers of Marmoleum, make a clicking linoleum tile. That lets you create the look you want because you can pick from myriad colors.

The Flooring Lady at December 20, 2007 8:40 AM

On the recent cover of Atlanta Kitchen Trends magazine (volume 23 no. 8) there is a beautiful kitchen featuring white and black checkered flooring laid out on the diagonal. The tiles are described as glass tiles and are from Architectural Ceramics. There isn't any further information about them, but the design team is from Kitchen & Bath, LTD. in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The tiles appear to be VERY white - and a true DEEP black. The floor appears very shiny in the photo spread and is just beautiful. It has a very classy and elegant look. I want this floor!

Lisanne at December 31, 2007 1:16 AM

What a great "discovery". I have friends with glass tiles scattered among their stone tiles for a great, fresh look. I hadn't made the leap to doing just a floor with glass tiles. I will share, from my friends' experience, that glass tiles can be VERY slippery when wet. The shiny look can be beautiful, but it can lead to very dangerous situations.

Some of the sites I found that sell glass tiles include:

2"x2" from Glass Tile USA

1", 2" 3" and 1"x3" from Susan Jablon Mosaics

There are actually lots of outlets selling glass tile mosaics, but I never found any that are larger than 3". I'm sure you can find them, at a hefty price. Glass tiles are expensive, but they are gorgeous, environmentally friendly, and will make quite a statement.

Cool idea.

The Flooring Lady at December 31, 2007 8:41 AM

I am going to paint my kitchen floor in a checkerboard pattern. I am pulling up the old linoleum, and painting directly on the plywood subfloor. I need to know how to go about taping the floor to get the right pattern. Can you help guide me in the right direction?
Thank you.
Marjorie

Marjorie at January 3, 2008 9:13 AM

My first question is about your old linoleum flooring. Is it in such bad condition you can't leave it and paint it? If it's not chipped or broken, I think leaving it would make lots of sense and make the project that much easier.

Regardless of whether you choose to paint the linoleum or the plywood subfloor, you know to put a primer coat down first, right? Once you have the primer down and dry paint the entire floor the lighter of the two colors you are using in your checkerboard pattern. Let that cure so it's good, dry and hard.

Once you have a well-cured floor, it's time to lay your lines. Getting them true can be challenging. A chalk-line tool would be a great way to get a straight line, I just don't know how well the chalk and the new paint would work together.

But my idea is to use the chalk-line tool to get your straight lines, use painter's 2-3" blue tape for masking, and paint. It might not hurt to put a tab of blue tape in the squares you don't want to paint just to keep yourself from getting confused. ;~)

Sounds like a fun project. What colors are you using?

The Flooring Lady at January 3, 2008 11:29 AM

Hey all!

what do you think of this? I have caramel walls and a brown couch. I am redoing this family room and the adjoining kitchen with ceramic tile. I think I may go with a vanilla/cocoa/mocha tile. I would choose 2 colors and maybe put them in checkboard fashion on the diagonal. At least it won't bore me!

geralyn at January 11, 2008 5:13 PM

If the tile colors blend with the walls and sofa, which I suspect you'll do well, I think your place will look quite nice. I like the angled approach to it too.

The Flooring Lady at January 11, 2008 5:21 PM

thanks, I am going to get an estimate on the different design. This is a lot of money for us , but I am willing to give up something else for this. Hopefully the difference in price will work with my budget!

geralyn at January 11, 2008 5:32 PM

You can buy sheets of black/white checkerboard vinyl tile off of Ebay. There is a vendor that sells 8' or 12' wide sheets in any length.
http://stores.ebay.com/Tiki-Toes

John F at January 14, 2008 3:14 PM

I am going to paint a diagonal checkerboard on my hardwood floors in kitchen and den. Probably going to do a country white and tan/khaki. I have heard of a technique where you actually stain the whole floor the country white, then come back and tape off the squares and paint on the tan/khaki. The tan would be thinned out to match the thinness of the stain. If using this technique there should be no reason to prime floors right? What do you think about overall technique?

kathleen at January 22, 2008 9:39 AM

Your floor is going to look wonderful. It sounds as if you are going to keep the wood texture showing which will give you a beautiful country look. If you are wanting the wood texture to show and the stain covers the entire floor, primer probably could be avoided. I know some painters prime before using stain to give better protection and coverage; maybe it depends on the stain.

I think your technique sounds good. And don't forget to apply polyurethane over the checkerboard when it's dry.

The Flooring Lady at January 23, 2008 8:16 PM

I'm looking for a black and white checkerboard look for a commercial kitchen. I'm open to either commercial vinyl or tiles. any suggestions? Thanks!

Rahni at January 29, 2008 11:20 PM

Flooring stores, big box stores and internet stores should be able to accommodate your needs. You can get printed checkerboard patterns or create your own with tile. The advantage of tile is you can replace an individual damaged tile but are stuck with patching the vinyl if a section gets damaged. But with the vinyl roll you don't have the seams around the tiles to cause problems (which doesn't happen often).

The Flooring Lady at January 31, 2008 10:26 AM

It just occurred to me your question wasn't about vinyl roll vs tile but about vinyl tiles vs ceramic tiles. In that comparison I prefer ceramic tile because I feel it's more durable and doesn't negatively impact air quality as vinyl flooring can.

The Flooring Lady at February 1, 2008 3:44 PM

SHOULD THE B&W TILES BE INSTALLED AT AN ANGLE AND NOT RUN DIAGONALLY WITH THE WALLS? PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS

DARRYL at March 13, 2008 6:46 AM

I wouldn't say it "should" be installed in any specific direction, but it seems more interesting to me to be at an angle. The disadvantage of having it run parallel to the walls is that it accents walls that are out of square. The look you are seeking and the style of the room/building you are flooring will help direct you -- this is an artistic decision.

The Flooring Lady at March 13, 2008 7:42 AM

I purchased 12" squares of Armstrong Stylistik II
self-sticking Tile, 1box of Black and 1 box of White to create a racing flag floor. I ran short and went back to Home Depot where I had purchased it only to find out they had discontinued it. i contacted Armstrong only to be told they made it just for Home Depot and it was no longer available. So here I sit with a six inch border around the floor that is unfinished. Any sugestions where I might find it, I need sixteen pieces of each color. Thanks for your time. Sincerely, David Duff, Winter Park Florida

David D. at March 24, 2008 9:59 AM

Can you get your Home Depot store to check with all of their stores? Maybe one of the other stores has what you need, plus some for backup.

The Flooring Lady at March 24, 2008 10:04 AM

I am looking for 8x8 (preferred) or 12x12 vinyl tile for my camper I want to create a white/aqua checkered floor in my camper I am restoring. Can anyone point me in the direction to find aqua color vinyl tiles?

Paul at March 26, 2008 2:59 PM

If linoleum tiles would work, try Forbo or Armstrong. I don't know if they have the look you are after, but it's worth a try. And linoleum is made of sustainable products and doesn't offgas, hurting the air you breathe.

The Flooring Lady at March 26, 2008 6:20 PM

Hi, I sell black/white checkered flooring.
Continuous, commercial grade vinyl. I started
selling it 5 years ago, after doing my hubby's
garage in those stick on tiles (that came up fast).
I sell it cheaper than flooring stores.

It is a 12' wide roll. I am a powerseller on eBay since 1997
and here is the link if you want to check it out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:11&item=200145664828&refid=store

Or, if you want to go directly, go to eBay and type in
CHECKERED FLOORING I am user ID: TikiToesCA

Smiles,
Michele

Michele at March 27, 2008 10:32 AM

We currently have sheet vinyl(?) green and white (8x8) square on our kitchen floor.Iwant to replace it and have been and looked everywhere.With no luck at all..There is a little narbeling in each .Where in the world can I find a simmular floor? I just love the floor but it is worn out .I could use some help here
Thanks
SBHuck

susan huck at April 1, 2008 11:28 AM

susan huck at April 1, 2008 11:29 AM

Don't you know that Murphy's Law is alive and well in the flooring industry? If you like the flooring, it will be "improved" and you'll never find anything quite like it again.

You might be able to recreate it with individual tiles instead of sheet vinyl or linoleum. Because I prefer linoleum to vinyl I think going with either Forbo's Marmoleum or Armstrong's Marmorette would let you put together a great floor, and maybe even improve on what you have.

The Flooring Lady at April 1, 2008 11:36 AM

Hi, we have an old Four Square house built in the late 1800's and the decor is pretty well Victorian, Traditional. I really want the Black and White floor for our Kitchen because it is very true to the Edwardian Style, classic, yet contemporay.. but I am not sure what would work the best and what would be easist to keep clean (I have 2 small kids, a small dog, and a husband!) Our large square kitchen has white wainscotting with the remaining walls painted red. Cabinets are painted white. Appliances are stainless.

I guess what I'm asking is:

1. do I want the sheet vinyl that is sold at the home depot (Armstrong)?

2. do I want the stick-down tiles I found on-line made by Home Dynamix?

3. do I have any other material options (economical) when doing this floor pattern. If so, where do I find them?

4. if I can't do the checkerboard flooring, what else would you suggest would work in this old house but still have that "flair?"

Thanks SO much!

Melissa :)

Melissa at April 15, 2008 8:58 PM

For starters, I'm more partial to linoleum than vinyl because I think it's more durable and is more environmentally friendly. You can buy linoleum from flooring stores that carry Forbo or Armstrong.

I'm under the impression that nobody is making the checkerboard flooring in a sheet product right now, though we can hope that changes soon. So if you truly want a checkerboard pattern I think you are restricted to using tiles instead of sheet flooring.

You can create great looks with linoleum -- like simulating a rug, bricks, or creating your own special design. You could also put wood flooring down and paint it white, coating it with several coats of water-based polyurethane.

The Flooring Lady at April 15, 2008 9:42 PM

I have just put in a black and white checkerboard floor in my kitchen. It is sheet vinyl and we bought it at Lowes from their special order section.

I have 4 kids, a husband and a big dog. I have always found that sheet vinyl works better for us as I have to mop the floor a lot and with the stick-down squares, there are those teeny-tiny spaces in between the tiles and sooner or later the water gets thru to the sub-floor. Also I can usually get a higher quality vinyl in the sheet flooring.

Barbara at April 23, 2008 5:41 PM

I have a white kitchen with a black granite worktop and splash backs with ceramic black and white checker tiles on the floor, I have baby pink accessories, microwave, toaster, kettle etc.. i love it. Everyone makes comment on the floor. I have 4 kids and a dog and tiles are much harder wearing and easy to clean, purchased from Homebase.

Donna at April 25, 2008 4:43 PM

Trying to locate Black and White Checkered Flooring in Sydney Australia......
Any suggestions where to start looking or any contacts here? Want to use it for double garage for the floor.

Thanks
Donelle

DONELLE at May 25, 2008 8:58 PM

Hi Donelle!

Nope, haven't a clue. Have you tried using a search engine like Google? What kind of material are you wanting to use? Linoleum, stone,......??

The Flooring Lady at May 26, 2008 9:10 PM

armstrong and mannington make sheet vinyl that is a black and white checkered pattern.

SlO at January 14, 2009 2:24 PM

I sell the black/white checkered flooring on eBay. Both in a 9' or 12' width. Each of the
squares on the pattern are 9"x9". It is a
commercial grade flooring and I have been selling it now for 4 years. It's my best seller!
I sell it under 2 user id's: TikiToesCA and
CraftEnterprises

Thanks!
Michele Craft
805-479-8454

Michele Craft at February 20, 2009 12:03 PM

Thanks for dropping in Michele and leaving your information.

The Flooring Lady at February 25, 2009 8:37 PM

Hi, I've just bought a 1912 craftsman with some VERY ugly old lino on the floor. The kitchen has light green/dark brown tiling on the sink (maybe original) and light blue/red tiling on half of the walls!
I am thinking of putting in black/white checkerboard, or wood? No Idea- here are some pics.

Help!!

Sasha at February 26, 2009 2:50 PM

Hi Sasha,
The pics aren't coming through. You can get a free image hosting account at photobucket.com and upload them, then paste the urls in a comment.

It sounds like anything would be an improvement though! Don't forget about stone, ceramic or porcelain tile - you're going to find that your choices are endless! You might want to walk around a store like Home Depot or Lowe's for inspiration as well. Lots of dreaming to do!

The Flooring Lady at February 27, 2009 10:50 AM

Any opinions on Marmoleum vs linoleum from Tarkett? Do yo feel one product is better than the other??

Thanks!

Maria at March 19, 2009 1:22 PM

I'm not very familiar with Tarkett's lino. I do know that Marmoleum is a good product. Most linos are good choices as well. I would suggest doing internet searches to view what customers have to say about their experience with these products. Epinions.com is a good website for looking up user opinions on products too.

The Flooring Lady at March 20, 2009 11:07 AM

Hi, I am looking for black & white linoleum flooring in Ottawa, ont. Thanks.

kerry at March 22, 2009 4:13 PM

Hi Kerry,
I'm in the USA, so really don't know what's available in Canada. Several posts above yours there is a somebody who sells this on eBay. I would think you should be able to find one product line of tile that has black tiles and white tiles.

The Flooring Lady at March 24, 2009 2:55 PM

Hello,

We just purchased a mid century rancher and wanted to do the kitchen floor in a olive green/off white chekerboard pattern, preferably in a laminate. Does laminate come in pre arranged checkerboard patterns or is it done on a tile by tile basis. None of the on line florring sights really explain this.

Thanks,

Mark,

Willow Glen (San Jose) CA

Mark at March 29, 2009 6:44 PM

Hi Mark,
You might get lucky and find vinyl or linoleum flooring in the colors you want in a checkerboard pattern, but chances are you'll just have to find two different colors of tile and do it yourself.

The Flooring Lady at March 31, 2009 5:27 PM

I am trying to do a black and white checkerboard floor in my kitchen and am having a lot of trouble finding the correct materials. I have finally located a 12x12 ceramic tile but would love to find a true linoleum in either 12x12 or 16x16. I'm not able to find a solid black or white. Any ideas?

Kate at April 4, 2009 8:44 PM

Hi Kate,
If you look directly under this post, you'll see a link to see all of the comments.... click on that. There is a post by an ebay seller who sells these, though I don't remember if the tiles are lino or not. Have you tried doing a google search?

The Flooring Lady at April 5, 2009 1:08 PM

Yes, I did check Ebay and they look like 6" vinyl. I've also googled multiple times (that's how I found this website!) I've really been surprised at how difficult the floor has been to find. I thought a b&w checkerboard floor was quite popular. I see lots of pictures of it in the decorating magazines. I just can't seem to create it!

Kate at April 6, 2009 8:00 AM

Hi, I am thinking about doing my open kitchen and balcony in black and white flooring. Will it appear too "busy" when the rest of the house's flooring is dark wood? Will it appear awkward and not flow right? Also, does it go well with yellow pastel walls? Thanks!

Matt

matt at April 12, 2009 1:59 AM

Hi Matt,
I'm not sure what your definition of "too busy" would be, but I think of checkerboard flooring as 'stylish simplicity'. The colors can harmonize with any other colors as black and/or white go with anything.

The Flooring Lady at April 14, 2009 2:09 AM

ecohaus.com has 13 inch linoleum tiles

Karen at May 11, 2009 10:43 PM

Hi, I have just found the perfect color green and white tiles for a checkerboard floor for my kitchen. But, I have a small 10x10 kitchen and the awesome vinyl tiles that I found in the exact colors that I want only come in 16x16. Do you think that size will be too big for my small kitchen. Will it make it look even smaller?
Thanks,
Matt J

Matt J at May 13, 2009 12:23 AM

Thanks Karen!

The Flooring Lady at May 14, 2009 9:15 PM

Hi Matt,

Big tiles in small rooms might not really be a problem. 10x10 is small, there isn't much you can do to harm that fact. The biggest thing is that with such a small room, you're not going to be using that many tiles. You'll still have your checkerboard effect, but it may not look quite as impressive as it might with smaller tiles. I can't say "no! don't do it!!". It's a personal call and it's going to depend on if you like the effect. If you feel really creative, you could always get some posterboard, old cardboard, etc. and cut them to 16"x16" - have dark ones and light ones. Lay them on the floor and see what you think. It might sound weird, but it will give you a much better 'visual' on whether or not you think you'd like it.

The Flooring Lady at May 14, 2009 9:21 PM

I have a checkerboard floor in my kithchen.....I recently painted the walls a pale yellow and added 3" x 6" black ceramic tiles around the counters as a back splash.......it is awesome!!!

But now I need to replace some of the tiles, and NO ONE has them anymore......I even went online to Armstrong.......Lowes and Home Depot do not carry them anymore :(

Where can I get some??? (These are peel and stick vinyl 12" X 12")

Davieguy at May 22, 2009 1:05 PM

Hi Davieguy,
I don't suppose you recall who the manufacturer is? Look on ebay - I know there was a seller there that had checkerboard tiles. Earlier in this thread, ecohaus.com was also mentioned.

Hah! I looked on ebay - check out the listings when you search for black white tile*, such as this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Black-White-Vinyl-Floor-Tiles-40-Pcs-Adhesive-Flooring_W0QQitemZ250427271364QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArchitectural_Garden?hash=item3a4ea0e8c4&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1240|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

tada!

The Flooring Lady at May 25, 2009 12:06 PM

I want to do my front porch in a checkerboard design. The porch is concrete and covered on top but the sides are open. I was wondering if the vinyl checkerboard is what I should get or something a little more sturdy? Also, will it stick to concrete?

Donna Turner at July 6, 2009 11:08 AM

Hi Donna, Have you considered painting a checkerboard pattern? Or staining the concrete? Please have a look at my Concrete Flooring article for additional ideas.

If you wish to go with the vinyl, you will need to repair any cracks or low spots in the concrete and if the concrete is uneven, you will need to use a self-leveling compound which will allow you to have a nice, even surfact to work with.

The Flooring Lady at July 7, 2009 9:28 AM

Hi, I love the idea of checkboard flooring. Thank you for this article.

Speaking of green, does anyone make a green and white checkerboard vinyl?

Proberta at July 11, 2009 10:20 PM

Hi Proberta, green and white checkerboard vinyl is a great idea - I don't know but you could probably do a Google search and find some great ideas or just consult with a local flooring or home improvement store.

The Flooring Lady at July 14, 2009 8:51 AM

Ok Now I am not sure after reading your recent comments. I am planning on putting a black and white checkerboard floor in my small kitchen (9.5x18.5 ft) but I thought the small tiles (12 x 12) would make the room look too busy so I have been looking for the bigger (18 x18 OR 15 x 15) tiles. Would I even have much of a pattern with my small kitchen? I can't find the big tiles anywhere anyway. Which would look better? Thanks

marlene l at July 16, 2009 10:10 PM

HI Marlene, I don't think the 12x12 tiles are so small that they will make your kitchen look "busy". You may not have much of a pattern but they will still give your kitchen a distinctive look.

The Flooring Lady at July 17, 2009 12:17 PM

I want to lay black and white checkerboard flooring over existing linoleum in the kitchen of a rental house. My problem is that the sides scoop up about an inch and a half at the walls, making me think that the only way to do this is to lay roll-out vinyl flooring, which I don't think will look as crisp as the tiles. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

CyBug at August 10, 2009 10:12 PM

I am considering a checker board design for my new kitchen.. It is a period home from the 1940's and has high ceiling and a very regal air to it..with a very shabby edge.. we have stipped back three layers of lino tiles.. and found that the original flooring was checker board.. the kitchen is dark and the cupboards are white.. should I go with checkboard or the wooden finish lino.. anyone with thoughts.. for this first time renovator..!

Michelle at August 11, 2009 3:30 PM

Michelle,

I mention in the article "You are only limited by your creativity and imagination." I would search the internet for checkerboard patterns. I am sure you will see something that sparks your creativity and imagination.

The Flooring Lady at August 11, 2009 4:10 PM

Cybug,

Without seeing the issue, the best I can suggest is to use large molding to cover over the overlap.

The Flooring Lady at August 11, 2009 4:17 PM

Hi! We are putting in 12 x 12 lino tiles in our kitchen which is 11 x 23. I have picked my colors of a light green called spearment and a pale yellow called sunlight. My question is I can't decide if I want a traditional checkerboard or predominantly green with the yellow thrown in a random pattern. I live in a 1911 home. Any thoughts on which would be the best? Also, is there a free site on the internet where I could see what each would look like? Thanks so much! Jackie

Jackie at August 12, 2009 3:21 PM

Jackie,

What a wonderful dilemma to be presented with. The research for this should at the very least be inspiring.

I suggest a search using Google and click on Images with your search terms. It is a fabulous resource for finding vintage flooring ideas.

The Flooring Lady at August 13, 2009 11:19 AM

Hi Flooring Lady,
I am the seller on eBay who has
been selling black/white checkered
flooring for years. I just wanted
to say a big thank you for all the
new customers I have met from your site.

The black/white checkered flooring I
sell is the continuous vinyl with a 9"
pattern. I carry it in 2 widths. 8' for
smaller bathrooms/laundry and 12' width
for garages, kitchens, beauty salons, tattoo
shops, etc.

My office is in Southern California but I ship
this out of the east coast where it is less
expensive for me to house. This is the only
flooring I carry. It is a commercial grade
and I have samples I can mail to anyone.

Priced per LINEAR FT. NOT Sq. Ft.

Smiles and thanks again Flooring Lady for this
blog!

Michele Craft
805-479-8454
Craft Enterprises
CraftEnterprises@aol.com
or Jarmmy@aol.com
eBay user ID: TIKITOESCA
and eBay user ID: CRAFTENTERPRISES

Michele Craft at September 22, 2009 12:52 PM

what colours could I paint my kitchen walls if I had a predominently white ceramic floor with black accents, and backsplash is mostly white with a black design? Cabinetry is white, coutertop is black....

margy at November 9, 2009 1:50 PM

Ok, I'm desperate here and need help. I have a decent size eat-in kitchen that has black and white 8" checkerboard floors. Currently, it has white cabinets (the nasty 80's style melamin with the oak strip) and white countertops.

I am going to replace the doors and countertops. What do I do about the doors? Should I stick with white? Am I "safe" to have wood? If so, what colour stain? If I go with wood (my preference would be dark, or medium-dark), what do I pick for a countertop?

HELP!

Paige Mertens at November 12, 2009 11:16 PM

Margy,

I'm sorry, decorating is really a personal choice.

I would suggest getting some color samples and compare them to the room, and see what you like the best.

The Flooring Lady at November 16, 2009 9:03 AM

I was wondering if it was more accurate to do a black and white checkerboard pattern in vinyl or in ceramic in a 1952 kitchen? We are about to redo the kitchen and I want to try and stay as accurate as possible (while keeping it stylish too!). Thank for any info.

Autumn at November 16, 2009 5:36 PM

Paige,

Decorating is a personal choice that is really difficult to help with.

I would suggest using color samples and comparing them to the cabinets, and choose what will look best for you.

The Flooring Lady at November 19, 2009 8:31 AM