Cork was my first choice, but after laying a tile sample next to the mahagony paneling, I'm not so sure. To me it gives a more rustic feel than modern. Maybe a lighter shade of cork. I'm thinking of using a light shade because the paneling is so dark.
Bamboo flooring is option, but I've been reading that it's tredy.
Concrete is out of the question because we hope to have kids in the near future, and I'm afraid of the consequences if they were to fall. I do however, love the look of custom painted concrete like the picture below.
Does anyone know what flooring can be used to acheive a similar look? I want the floor to be fabulous, but not to scream "look at me!!"
Please provide recommendations for a spectacular new floor.
Keep the concrete...use rugs
Small humans are only small for a short time, your house will last much longer. Doesn't make any sense to design a house around a situation that lasts only a year or so. Just adapt when you need to. And kids bounce just as well off of concrete as they would off of any other hard surface. The difference between hardwoods and concrete won't be that big to them...they don't have far to fall anyhow. Lots of people have children with concrete floors. Indestructibility is a good thing!
Joan
I assume that you've done the most cursory Google search and so have already seen pages like http://www.eichlerforsale.com/eichler_flooring, which lists pros and cons for a number of flooring options.
If you don't care about the radiant heat (or if yours already doesn't work), then I like hardwood or concrete. If you want the original look, then do the original cork.
http://www.eichlerforsale.com/eichler_flooring
Hi Woody
We want to cover the kitchen, living room, and dining room right now. We want to switch out the carpet in the bedroom to better carpet or the keep the same flooring throughout.
It's actually ugly carpet and uglier tile right now.
Hmmm... carpet tiles. I'll have to look into that.
Hi Olive and Fast
We don't have concrete right now. I really do love the look of concrete. Howevery, the hardness and cold feel is a concern. I like to feel comfortable when I walk around. Area rug is a good solution. The concrete is just so beautiful that I may have to reconsider.
How about a laminate bamboo? Is it too trendy?
Radiant heater still works (knock on wood).
I'm with Olive on this one. ...
I'm with Olive on this one. Small children are surprisingly tough. I wanted to put my first daughter in a helmet when she first started walking. My wife and I laugh about that now.
Floors are not the real danger...its sharp corners at eye/head level (side tables, elevated fire place hearths, radiator covers etc.) Go with the concrete if that's what you want. You can always put rugs over it if it will make you feel safer.
"Rustic"
(If that's what warm-looking, textured materials are) could be the new modern. It wouldn't be the first time. . .
Original surfaces in Eichlers were not as "cool" as Neutra or Ellwood or Mies -- there was cork, mahogany, warm color to offset white and glass. Don't "chill" yourself (and your kids) out of house and home -- for a preconception of modern -- unless that's really what turns you on.
For me, it's the contrast between warm and cool, smooth and rough, light and dark, that makes architecture attractive in a sustainable way. And THAT's modern !
Radiant heat works? Too bad.
Carpet tiles insulate, so they're contraindicated if you want to keep the radiant heat.
Concrete radiates real well, but the inevitable radiant-heater repairs will require cutting through the concrete, and it'll be hard to make the resultant patches blend in with the rest of the floor.
Hardwood and bamboo won't be happy with the radiant heat, either.
If you really hate the cork, then maybe some other sort of tile -- anything from vinyl to slate, depending on your budget. Maybe marmoleum.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Marmoleum-FlooringThe-New-Linoleum
concrete + kids
My wife, 8 month old, and I recently moved into our brand new home, with concrete throughout. We have simply laid out a few more rugs than we would have normally and it has worked just fine. In fact, yesterday Anders bumped his head twice. Once on the floor from a spill, where he cried for a moment and wads quickly back to laughing and trying to grab my shadow. And once on my coffee table. The coffee table definitely left the bigger "reminder."
It's gonna happen. I don't love the fact that it's inevitable, but it is. But remember that baby noggin's are a lot more forgiving than adult noggins. Not to say that you shouldn't take the proper precautions, but don't have a stroke over it.
That being said, if they don't bump their head on your concrete floor, they will find somewhere else to do it. A pal of mine took his kid outside the other day and his toddler bumped his head on the driveway!!! As soon as you spend mega $$$$ to make your home safe they'll just hurt themselves right outside your front door. Kids. It's what they do. That's why God gave them bouncy heads. 😉
The second picture I posted a...
The second picture I posted above is not from an Eichler-it is from a house designed by George Nelson. It was used to illustrate the appearance of VCT tiles. Black VCT is also very nice but a huge pain to keep clean.
Hardwood is also a great choice but may not be ideal for radiant heat
I'll second all the above.
I would stick to period.
Do some more research.
Stained faux concrete is trendy late 90"s.
And is now hitting the mcMansion market.
All good photo examples.
I have original cork in my entry. 50 years old. And kids were raised
in this house.
I do think cleaning up the concrete and just adding area rugs would
be best. Flor tiles can be used as an area rug. Very durable and stay put.
(the bottom grips) and they clean easy. They could be considered trendy
but in practicality and non-permanence, can't beat it. Super to help
delineate a play area.
Flooring is the first big expense and the hardest to change down the line.
And often the biggest regret. Keep it simple and classic.
Rugs, furniture, pillows can be changed in minutes or seasonally...
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