Hello, Gentle Readers! As you might imagine, friends and social media peeps ask me interior design questions on a fairly regular basis. I can’t answer every question, but I thought it would be fun to share some of the most intriguing and/or potentially useful Qs+As. Let’s consider this an occasional series ;)
Dear Annie, I want to put in a black and white tile (harlequin) floor, but I’m worried that I’ll be sorry in about 5 years. So, will I be sorry? 😳 – Andrea from TikTok
Oh, Andrea! No you will not! Black and white tile floors put the class in classic. They’re crisp, sophisticated, dramatic, and they never go out of style. Ever.
Black and white floors look great uncovered, or you can break them up with rugs. Try seagrass, Moroccan, or (shameless plug because they are BEYOND gorgeous) Ashley Stark’s Kali rug in Blush or Aqua.
I’m curious as which material you’re considering. If you use marble, please make sure your grout joints are as narrow as possible. You want those tiles tight.
I love a black and white floor in classic linoleum, which is soft underfoot and made of natural materials. (Don’t confuse it with vinyl!) Forbo is the primary manufacturer, and their product is called Marmoleum. Tragically, though, they don’t have the solid white and black colors necessary to create the floor of your dreams. (Are you listening, Forbo? This is a PROBLEM.)
I’ll tell you a secret: I have been considering a black and white floor for my very own foyer! We have beautiful oak floors, but after 110 years,, they’re pretty beaten up. We’ll keep the floor as long as we can, covering it with rugs and oiling it every so often, but it won’t last forever. The minute someone gets a splinter, boom. Black and white checkerboard, baby.
I hope this helps!
Annie xo
Annie Elliott Design is based in Washington, DC, and we have offices in St. Michaels, Maryland and Middlebury, Vermont. Our style? Where classic and modern hang out and drink gin.