An often overlooked design element is your floor. After the walls which are easily changed with paint, wallpaper or texture, your floor coverings constitute the most square footage in your interior design. The "green" choice is a well chosen porcelain tile or stone which never has to be replaced as long as you own your home.
Choosing the size of tile is sometimes a challenge. The best way to make a decision is to use 1/2" blue painters tape and space it out on your floor at 12" then 18" and then 24" intervals and take photographs of each and/or leave each size down for a few days. Go with the size that "feels" right. You live there, you walk there, you'll know! Don't let the salesperson at the tile shop talk you into some other size that isn't right for you. In later posts, I'll get into floor layout patterns and tile rugs, the blue tape test is the best way to outline your floor design too. Since your floor covering is a major investment it's well worth the time to lay it out. From my experience only about 10% of clients can actually visualize a design without aides so don't be surprised that you can't, you're in the majority!
Your tile choices, either porcelain or stone are guided by the architectural style of your home and your life style. If the changes to your floors are due to a kitchen renovation I recommend that first choose your granite counter tops and let the color choice flow from there. It's easier to fall in love with a granite and then pick your floors than the other way around, trust me.
If you couldn't live without Van Gogh, the fabulous granite pictured below but you had already ordered green slate tile for the floor, you might have to pass it up. Van Gogh demands center stage as the focal point of your kitchen or bathroom. I love this one, but it needs to be balanced with a neutral floor to really shine.
