Painted Floor Options

As shown in my last post, I love the option of painted floors whether a total wall to wall paint job, a checkerboard or any of the myriad of geometric choices out there. I have found them to be cheery, decorative and enduring. I have painted trellis on green concrete and green porch boards, a geometric over pine flooring, sponged concrete to look like marble, and painted over many boring entries. This is such a nice way to add interest and brightness.

In this post, I will show you a few check based floors, none of which are especially elaborate, but all which add to a sense of rythmn in the room and all which are effective.

This porch floor moves from the simple to a complicated pattern as it moves to accommodate the architecture of the space. The furnishings here are simple but the effect is  of a complete design due to the floor.

Again, no furnishings are necessary to dress this crisp hallway as the checks on an angle move one right along.

This checked floor is in softer colors and includes the additional interest of a square. From porch to living area - both appropriate.

In another setting a variation on the check provides lightness and pattern to an otherwise bland space.

In a more formal setting, the floor becomes an area rug. Simple to do, this adds welcome and a clean air to this entrance.

Here the checks are painted but their opposing members are left natural.

Lavender and white make a fresh entrance.

Again, simple and effective.

Paint and the floor - what a combo

I first began to experiment with painted floors many years ago when I painted a plywood porch floor with many coats of epoxy white floor paint and it was beautiful. Many coats will seal all of the tiny pores and uneven bits and leave a shadow of edges. Floor paint is durable and easy to care for.

Recently  during a little remodel  I wanted to turn an interior room with one window and low ceilings into a dining room but it was dark and not at all compelling to enter with oak floors and white walls. The walls are now Dove Wing by Benjamin Moore - a soft gray - with White Dove trim also by Benjamin Moore. The draw into the room is the floor which was painted by my very talented artist who has done many floors with me.

This is the process:

This is after the floor has been painted in the white base coat which will be the base coat upon which all other patterns will exist. This also shows the borders in their initial state.

In this photo the center diamonds get their first coat of contrasting color as does the Greek Key border.At this point I am getting very odd looks from my husband.

A little unveiling of the border stripe and we begin to play with the intersecting diamonds.

Part of the border has been revealed and we have decided  to enlarge the center diamonds. It is an ongoing decision process as the tape peels back and the geometric relationships are presented in place. We enlarged these diamonds and added a smaller exterior band to anchor the design.

We are nearing the finish line.

Almost...

And now it is a dining room and the light floor brightens and pulls the space together. Lots of bang for the buck and, with two coats of satin poly, easy to maintain.