Checkered Floors or Herringbone…Which Inspiring Pattern is Your Fav?

It would seem that checkered floors and herringbone floors are more popular than ever. Do you have either pattern in your home? We put carrera marble in a herringbone pattern in our former bath’s shower and loved it. That shower floor actually became far more popular than this blog when a photo I posted during construction went viral thanks to This Old House. As I consider ideas and inspiration for our bedroom’s bathroom, I am discovering the eclectic range of examples.

Entry with checkered floor and black railing in Nate Berkus & Jeremiah Brent Manhattan townhouse with 1920s architecture, neutral palette, plaster paint, and marble. AD (photo: Kelly Marshall). #nateberkus #nytownhouse
Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent’s Manhattan townhouse in AD (October 2022); Architect: Danielle Albert; Construction: Killoween Construction, Brooklyn; Photography: Kelly Marshall for AD

Checkered Floors & Herringbone Floors Inspiration

Did you see how Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent updated the Manhattan townhouse? (The townhouse they shared then sold years ago then bought back after a brief stint in LA and missing it terribly!?!)

Dining Area With Herringbone Hardwood Floors

With a neutral color palette, understated elegance, and magnificent architecture, the patterned floors play a starring role.

Nate Berkus & Jeremiah Brent Manhattan dining room with antique table, herringbone wood floor, built-ins, and antique mirror - AD (Kelly Marshall, photographer).
Nate Berkus & Jeremiah Brent’s Manhattan townhouse dining space

The gorgeous home featured in AD has both checkered floors and herringbone, and every single room with its traditional with a Paris twist style stops me in my tracks.

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Hardwood Floors Painted With a Checkerboard Pattern

You need not buy marble for black and white checkered floors, hardwood can be painted in the pattern too:

Oh that charming Connecticut historic country house Nora Murphy decorated so beautifully. Can you imagine having that huge basket to fill with seasonal blooms?

Checkered wood floors in Nora Murphy's country house - large basket of hydrangea hangs on wall above a drop leaf table. #checkeredfloors #americancountrystyle #americanfarmhouse
Nora Murphy Country House – see more from the book HERE

If you follow Nora’s IG, you may know she recently opened a shop where her signature checkered floors play a starring role. But herringbone patterns!

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Brooklyn Townhouse With Herringbone Flooring

Athena Calderone Brooklyn kitchen with black cabinets, marble, and floating desk in front of window. #blackkitchens #blackandwhite #inteiordesign
Farrow & Ball Railings on cabinets – Design: Athena Calderone (Eyeswoon)

Who on the planet has not somehow seen Athena Calderone’s (Eyeswoon) Brooklyn home with all of its artful touches and neutral chic. Cara Fox and The Fox Group are also fond of herringbone patterned wood floors in their projects.

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Unique Large Scale Checkered Linoleum Kitchen Floor

So much texture, charm, and unique features in this European country kitchen with an unforgettable check floor which feels whimsical in its exaggerated scale.

Nate and Jeremiah’s New York kitchen is also unique with its jaw dropping greenhouse-like windows, wedding cake like architecture, and dramatic marble. In this case, the herringbone flooring actually feels quiet and timeless.

Nate Berkus Jeremiah Brent Manhattan kitchen with black greenhouse-like windows, Calacatta Paonazzo marble counters, white cabinets, and creamy plaster walls - in AD (photo by Kelly Marshall).
Jeremiah Brent & Nate Berkus Manhattan kitchen with herringbone flooring and Calacatta Paonazzo marble
Jen Hatmaker quote about change, wisdom, and transformation. #jenhatmaker #quotes #selfawareness #transformation #encouragementquote #parentingquote

Bathroom Floor With Marble Check Floor

Who wouldn’t smile every time they entered this lovely bath designed by Tom House?

Not sure if this is the same property, but here it is near a kitchen:

Checkered marble black and white floors in a hall near kitchen - design by @tomhouseproperty. #checkeredfloors
@tomhouseproperty

Not sure if you have noticed how more folks are opting to choose different flooring materials for each room rather than running a continuous material. One of the effects of such a decision is it feels as though the home’s design evolved over time.

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The pattern on the hardwood flooring above may be chevron, not herringbone, but oh la la! Here’s another similar floor:

Unica round dining table by Athena Calderone for Crate & Barrel.
Unica round dining table, Crate & Barrel
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A bathroom seems like an excellent place to try this pattern if you dare. Would you go for a checkered tile floor…

or a herringbone tiled floor?

Luxurious marble bathroom with clawfoot tub, herringbone marble floor, and symmetrical French doors. Design by The Fox Group. #luxuriousbathroom #bathroomdesign #frenchdoors #thefoxgroup #clawfoottub
The Fox Group
Inspirational quote about Home from Maya Angelou on Hello Lovely Studio.

What a happy pattern for a laundry room!

Checkered floor in laundry room of Milieu Showhouse 2020 in Houston - a beautiful modern French country style space with neutrals and a whimsical pattern. #checkeredfloors
Milieu Showhouse 2020

Right? You could paint the cabinetry any color of the rainbow, and it would likely make sense with the black and white check.

Herringbone Tile Pattern in French Country Bathroom

I adore everything designer Jenny Martin did with this incredible French country home, and the bathroom is understated and charming:

The large scale herringbone tile (above) feels modern in combination with the clawfoot tub, yes?

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When Chip and Joanna Gaines renovated a Tudor cottage in Waco, the design and materials chosen for the project made the home feel original and so classic. In the kitchen, black and white ceramic tile feel very 1920s:

Scrivano episode kitchen breakfast nook with bnquette! Tranquil Tudor cottage renovated on HGTV's Fixer Upper by Chip and Joann. #scrivano #breakfastnook #banquette #checkfloor
HGTV Fixer Upper – Scrivano Episode

So which pattern in your favorite?

My tree went up this weekend, but I have no energy left to trim it so it may remain minimal until further notice! Is it time to get your online shopping cart ready for Black Friday? Maybe these recent guides will provide ideas:

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

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6 Comments

  1. Carole
    November 21, 2022 / 12:00 pm

    Beautiful post, Michele. I love black and white tiles and would have said that I love herringbone pattern floors too. However, I realized when looking at the pictures, that I only love them when they are dark wood. Light woods or tiles with slight veriations of shades are just too confusing for my eyes. Thank you for the examples. I learned something. Actually, I always learn something from your posts! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

    • Michele
      Author
      November 21, 2022 / 8:03 pm

      That’s so interesting! I think I love black and white tiles best too, and I know they are my husband’s fav. We have ceramic tile (installed just before they sold us the house) in the laundry room and toying with the idea of doing the checkered thing. Not sure since we haven’t painted a tile floor before. Happy Thanksgiving week to you, friend.

      • Amy
        November 21, 2022 / 10:21 pm

        I also considered a black/white checkerboard pattern for our laundry floor (we did opt for a black laundry sink for something different…my husband’s idea and I’ve loved it!). But in the end we laid heathered/muted grey tile in a diamond pattern…I think I decided that might show less dirt than the black & white…and I was all about camouflaging in this house in that way & what would show less! Remember, we live on a mountain & dirt does get tracked in! Haha! But I’m always love the look of a checkerboard floor!

        • Michele
          Author
          November 22, 2022 / 5:58 pm

          Same! I decided to leave the existing terracotta toned tile since the room is off the garage, and we are constantly bringing in mud and dirt. Since I have to mop so often, I am unsure about painting the tile or even continuing the LVP from kitchen since we don’t have experience with the material. If you could see how much debris almost daily I sweep from our projects! 🙂 I still need to shop for materials for our bathroom reno so who knows? As I type this, some type of power tool x demo is happening in that bath, and the floor is shaking. Good gracious!

      • Carole
        November 22, 2022 / 9:16 pm

        I haven’t painted a tile floor either. Please share your experience, if you do it. Then I can learn another thing from you!

        • Michele
          Author
          November 23, 2022 / 5:48 am

          Sounds good – we seem flippers and renovators do this quite a bit on HGTV shows, but we don’t hear about how these changes hold up. 🙂

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Distressed White French Country Chandelier
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Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
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Terracotta Pots & Basket
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French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
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Rattan Armchair
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Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
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Tray Side Table
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Wicker Trunk Set
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Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
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French Country Farmhouse Baskets
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White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
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Highback Armchair
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Round Woven Placemat Set
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Wreath Doormat
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