When I set out to
redo the floors in my kitchen I knew I wanted them to have a pattern and a lot
of style but I didn't want a rug. Like many kitchens, mine is the main
thoroughfare in the house, and in my life a rug in the kitchen is a big no-no --
with a labrador retriever it would just get covered in dog hair and footprints.
I also knew I wanted a black and white kitchen. The house is a Spanish colonial bungalow built in 1926 and is packed with original character and details. The previous owner had made
some nice choices that I wanted to incorporate -- gorgeous butcher block counter tops and white subway tile backsplash with dark grout. My goal was to get rid of the country French vibe and make it a little more modern while maintaining its charm. The first step was to prep the floors for painting. They needed to be sanded to remove the existing pattern - a harlequin stencil. For my design, I found an inspiration pic in Elle Decor and enlisted a friend to be my co-weekend warrior and we got down to business. To be fair, my friend did most of the dirty work. The whole project from start to finish, measuring, taping, painting, drying & sealing...took a week. Since it's Florida and very rainy & humid, we waited an additional week before walking on it. The end result is a chic, black and white concentric square pattern that I love even more as time goes on. It's stylish, easy to clean and so far is standing the test of time & doggy footprints!
My floor before...
The inspiration from Elle Decor...
After the sanding, a fresh coat of white floor primer (we also black lacquered the original cabinet doors)...
Taping off the design...
The finished product...
Some other creative examples of painted floors...
