Jeff recently reminded us that random multi-color slate flooring is a wonderful choice for a mid-century home. To be sure, I see this floor all the time in homes I visit from the 40s 50s 60s and 70s. It’s usually in porches, breezeways, or foyers — spots that require a very durable, waterproof flooring material.
(But, I do not see this in kitchens and bathrooms. This floor is, I believe, traditionally used as a transition between the outside and inside, rather than a floor you’d want to live on all day long. That said, in a big open concept contemporary in a hot climate, I can see it being used throughout the house.) Jeff is purchasing his at Vermont Slate Depot, where as today, 10 sq. ft. costs $16.75 plus shipping. I also have seen this floor at my big local stone supply store, the same place everyone buys their patio pavers. So, you may be able to get it locally, as well, and save on the shipping. Design tip: That white grout shown in the photo is not what I’d choose. It will show dirt instantly. I’d have to eyeball it, but at minimum would start with medium gray.
We live in a 1950′s home in Narragansett, RI, which was originally a summer cottage. Our bedroom is downstairs, half a story below the kitchen. We have that stone in the hallway and bathroom – it still looks good after almost 60 years!
The house I grew up in here on the west side of Columbus, Oh had a 3′ – 4′ square of this stuff in black at the front door. The house was built in ’63 and I loved the look of it enough that when Mom and Dad had it removed for new carpeting, I kept each tile! LOL I’m glad I did. Maybe it’ll wind up on the floor here where the house is slowly transforming back to 1954.
Something else I kept and I’m glad – in the basement was a terrarium (sp?) made of all plastic plants and flowers of different types. When we sold the house, I removed each one, numbered it, and drew a diagram of the placement. Another GREAT IDEA!
God-How I love this stuff…we used to play TWISTER on it!
My folks had this in the hallway, only ours was vinyl tile (just like every good 1960′s grocery store had in the Produce Dept.) It really did look authentic, white spacers and all.
My mother AeroWaxed it twice a year and with 11 kids I don’t remember it ever looking bad….the eye was quickly focused on the crayon drawings on the walls…
Kentile made a form of this and if available today, I would buy it in a second- but without the asbestos.
We have the vinyl slate tile in our front entry and we’re trying to find it for a back entry that was carpeted over a few years ago. We know the back entry had the same vinyl slate tile because we could see the same pattern underneath the carpet (and our house brochure points out the house was built with the vinyl slate tiles).
So, does anyone currently sell this as vinyl tile? I know Gavin mentioned Kentile, but I don’t think Kentile exists. Or, is our only option to go with the actual Vermont Slate and just figure it’s practically identical to our front entry vinyl tile?
Diane,
Were you ever able to find this tile in vinyl? We have the slate in our entry-way, but are looking for the same sort of look for the powder room floor and closet. We’re from the South Hills of Pittsburgh too.
Jim — I know just what you are taking about, but I don’t know of any manufacturers making this in vinyl… although the lineup is always being updated. See my Flooring section (all Flooring is housed in Kitchens) for some other possibilities I have identified.
Thanks for putting this up – brings back the memories – and a story about how durable this flooring is. My grandparents’ house, built in the early 1940′s in Island Lake, Illinois, had that slate tile floor in the central hallway – all the rooms and the stairways up and down centered around this entrance area. Miraculously, when the tornado that leveled the house in 1967 came through, the woman and children who were in the house at the time were headed to the basement steps (also just off this tiled area) and never made it – so they laid down on that slate floor. The house around them was lifted up and blown away – the only part of the house that remained was that slate tile floor!
The bungalow we bought last year in Repentigny Quebec has slate in irregular cuts in the very same tones as in the picture. It is in the foyer landing area and continues to the kitchen. We love it!
My first house (a 1956 ranch in Southfield, MI) had this tile in the tiny entranceway and I always wished the original owners had installed it in some of the other rooms. You’ll find it in mid-century homes all through the Detroit burbs. It was very popular. It looks great on a raised hearth as well. I’ve even seen it as a kitchen countertop, but I’m not sure how practical it would be for that use. Glad to know it’s still available.
My grandparents have something very similar to this in the entry way of their split level home.
LOL @ Gavin!
Ah, yes…the slate foyer. Ours had 3-4 colors. In our 2-story home, it was not a great place to land after tumbling down the stairs. Ouch!
My mid-70′s house has a linoleum tile version of this in the foyer. I’ve been taking the paint splatters the previous owner left off of the tiles.
It’s in foyers ALL over MI. Love it. I was thinking of putting it over this lame ceramic tile I have. Do you put it right up against another tile floor when the foyer leads into the kitchen?? Does anyone know?
I have the slate flooring in my entryway (65 ranch)and I love it. I have also found slate remnants in the “garden” that I have started to use as stepping stones in the garden. I’ve also found other items buried in the garden from when the house was built. But the slate was the best find so far!
We live in a raised ranch built in 1970. There are slate tiles in the entryway similar to those in the picture. A year ago I went and scrubbed the tiles clean and applied a dark gray grout paint carefully with a brush to the grout. It looks like new and took alot of work but it was well worth it.
Thanks, Pam for posting this- it has been a breeze (way)! to install, and a diagram of the placement of the pieces and where the colors should goes accompanies each box.
Yes, the Detroit and suburban area homes have lots of this slate still used and intact, and in fact, my sister in Grosse Pointe installed this Vermont Slate Depot floor in her family room with direct outside access, (lots of snow, rain, salt) and used the white grout with a sealer, and it looks like new- wears like iron! A yearly sealer coat is recommended, and it will literally last a lifetime.
I took your cue, Pam, and used a medium gray grout which suits the scheme better, and it has worked perfectly.
Jeff – send pictures when you’re done! Hey, did you know I lived in Grosse Pointe Park, then Grosse Pointe Farms when I was in my 20s? I had a little house, circa 1938, on Hillcrest. Oh. Where I ripped out red flocked wallpaper, painted perfectly nice wood cabinets, and covered vintage linoleum sheet in black and white press on squares. Fortunately, I was too poor to rip out the lovely black and white tile bathroom, or the knotty pine Florida room. The house was influential in my “development”, I think — it hooked me on vintage charm even though I didn’t quite get it “all” yet. Goes to show how far we are coming!
Jeff,
I had a question from your posting. When you said your sister used it with direct outside access did that mean that she put it outside? If so, did it stand up to the weather? I am in WI and would love to do a patio in this but am afraid it will not handle the elements. Thanks, Rebecca
Rebecca, I think that this particular cut may be too thin for outdoors — it would fracture easily, I think. But – if you set it into a concrete slab, that may be a different story. Best idea: Check with the company for their specifications information. I certainly have seen thicker chunks of what I am pretty sure is the exact same material used outdoors — in fact, I put some down right outside my office door, picked the pieces out, hauled them down the hill and arranged them myself. I was very proud of myself. My husband did help, though, in “setting” the substrate on which they were laid — we dug out the space and then layed small gravel. I also used some pieces as stepping stones in my garden; those I just set into the dirt.
Hi Rebecca, no, my sister used it in a family room with an exterior door that is commonly used to come and go, what with boots, snow, salt deposits from the boots, etc.
So as an entry floor, and in her case a family room floor, it has held up remarkably well. Don’t think outdoors it would last a well, would need constant cleaning and sealing most likely.
I have seen it on outdoor covered porches here in Michigan, and weathered it looks great, just depends on how you want it to look.
Jeff, your comment reminds me that I also have seen this floor with so many coats of sealant / poly (?) that it almost shines like a mirror. I think this would be very slippery and therefore sub-optimal / dangerous in places where there’s a lot of water coming in contact with it. That said, it does show the versatility of the material.
I was given two paintings for my birthday. They are to me absolutely fabulous. There is a sticker on the back of each of them that is from NYCS has artist as Hugo and the names of the paintings. One is Place du Tertre and the other Paris Street. But have not found further info on them. Not sure about the artist.
Pam and Jeff,
Thanks for your comments, I just LOVE this type of flooring and am so excited to see it is still available. I am considering using it in an entrance way for sure. I thought I had seen something similar outdoors but agree with you both that it could be an issue. Thanks for sharing this wonderful resource.
Well, Pam, I was raised in Grosse Pointe Park, graduated from GPS High!
My first apartment was the Windmill Pointe Manor on Alter Road near Jefferson, a magnificent gothic art deco building, then moved on to Merton and Whitmore in Detroit’s Palmer Park in the 80′s in superb pre-war buildings.
Your house on Hillcrest sounded great! Glad you stopped the reno before losing the pine and the tile- flocked paper aint my favorite, so it’s OK!!
The slate flooring can be over sealed, and some cases, people polyeurathane it to death, and it turns yellowy and flakes or chunks off with wear and age (kind of how I’m lookin’ and feeling nowadays!)
Best to use only the sealers rated for such a floor, and people need to ask questions before buying the wrong product.
Your byline “love the house you’re in” is spot-on! We all seem to here, and it shows.
I will be happy to post photos of the house in Southfield as soon as it’s presentable- spring will be good, I think.
As a teaser- it’s got exterior doors with horizontal reeded glass windows, starburst backplates for the doorknobs, giant picture windows that meet in the corners of all the rooms, ledgerstone fireplace and chimney, and the original concrete patio slab inlaid with polished river rocks, circa 1953!
Yes, I love it and will be happy to share, but am traveling at the moment and not there to supervise the work being done, but it’s going great, and I look forward to getting some shots posted.
Thanks, Jeff. Mid-Mod — Modern and Modest, alike — Michigan has quite a contingent!
Nina from MI…with my slate floor. Yes it wears well as it’s right off of the front door. Then there’s a slate lip that leads to the hardwood floor (for the person who asked how it meshes with other floors.). I’ve never ‘protected’ mine, but what is recommended? I’ve only had the house for 4 years but the floor is original.
A friend of mine used this as a backsplash and it looked great.
we have this classic in the entryway of our 1965 brick rancher. one of us wants to replace it, but the other (me!) wants to keep it. there’s nothing wrong with it (except it needs a little caulk along the threshold) and it fits the the house so well.
thanks for your awesome site! (i’ll send you pics of our new marmoleum checkered & bordered kitchen floor here soon. my Capel braided rugs came in; they are perfect. just need to get the camera out and take the shots.)
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for posting this! I have this tile in the entry way and in front of the fireplace of my 1964 split-level and have been looking for more. Excellent!
You’re welcome. That’s what I’m here for!
Thank you for your comments. My wife’s Dad laid this “New England” slate floor with the random colours in 1952. Absolutely first rate! When we saw the tile on the Vermont slate Depot site we knew we’d like to order it.
My question concerns the US and our Canadian Visa. We would have to pay the entire cost on our visa and then pick up the tile at a trucking depot. We do not have a way to check the quality of the tile. It could be broken in shipment or not what we see in the picture.
Does anyone hav e any comments about the Vermont Slate Depot and this order re. across the border into Toronto, Ontario?
We’d appreciate any advice.
Seniors
J Goad, honestly, I think you need to talk to Vermont Slate Depot about this….
I currently have the multishaped multicolored old slate floor it has this coating on it, is the coating what is making it multicored? It looks kind of bad, it is probably from the 1940s and some of the top coat is chipped off leaving some white. I want to either replace it or ideally just get the ugly (in my opinion) multicolored coating off. Any ideas?
The University of Michigan has large tiles in this Versailles pattern in the hallways of the Michigan League (a Collegiate-Gothic building from the 1920′s) and outdoors on the sidewalks of the Law School. The grout between the tiles outdoors is pretty messed up, but the stone looks pretty great for being walked on by the whole town for over 80 years. I don’t have a mid-century home, my house was built in 1920, but I am planning on buying this for my foyer. Many of the craftsman and Tudor revival kit houses from the 20′s-40′s here in Ann Arbor have this tile in the entrance and on the front porch.
Jim, sorry I took so long to get back to you, you may not see this, but hopefully you will. We ended up getting actual slate tile for our basement room entrances. We used Stout flooring, they ordered the slate for us (but I can’t remember where they got it). I went with the slate tile because after I researched our front entrance, I determined the front entrance had slate. Anyway, I highly recommend Stout flooring; they did an amazing job installing this slate. If you use them, you will need to be persistent in finding this tile, they didn’t know where to look, I had to guide them.
Diana
Thanks, Diana. See my original story on Vermont Slate — has links to where you can buy it — at great prices! http://retrorenovation.com/2010/01/20/multi-color-slate-flooring-an-authentic-mid-century-choice/
I have the mutli-colored, irregular, original Vermont slate floor in the entryway of my 1964 trilevel house. I just (last weekend) completed ripping up the industrial sparkly title in the adjacent laundry/bath combo room. I ordered from the vermont slate company and got a really close match to a 48 year old floor. It looks great, and updated, but maintains the original style and integrity of the home.
Call David at Vermont Slate and he will send you some color samples to ensure you get the color you want. Of course, they don’t all “match” as they are a natural stone and there are color variations.
Pam,
my 1963 house has natural slate slabs in the entry. I would love to pull up the fake-cork vinyl (dark! ugly! 1980s!) in the dining room and kitchen and replace it with slate tiles like these. Would it be too inauthentic with the large amounts of knotty pine in these rooms (including wainscoting)?
I don’t know, Anita… The thing about tiles in the kitchen is that they are hard underfoot. Although in warm climates, they can be cool, which can be very desirable. What is your house telling you to do?
I am so glad I found this! I looked at many tile web sites and I was almost beginning to think this was a figment of my imagination. Actually, Pam I would choose the white grout but because I want to use this as a backsplash. What I want to do is replace the 80s kitchen cabinets to look like it did in 1972 but nicer, with new darker cabinets and a marble look Formica top and this would add color.
My brother works for a company that sometimes does work at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant, maybe sometime I will ride with him to check out this slate place.
Bob, see all my stories on World of Tile — a time capsule tile store in Springfield, NJ. (Use the search bar.) They are a motherlode of authentic 70s at great prices. If I were trying to do a 1972 kitchen, I would be all over the place.
Pam, If I ever get approval from my family to do this remodel I will take pictures and let you know how it comes out. I figure it will actually save money – Solid surface did not exist then and granite was not really around so the Formica should save money. It will have current appliances though, but I am thinking of using a white Kohler sink to break up the stainless steel.
I was also looking at the article about the red refrigerators. We have a Frigidaire refrigerator from the 90s that is bisque (puke?) but I would like to spray paint it to be poppy red like when Frigidaire was part of GM. Has anyone sprayed one poppy? I figure if I screw up, the refrigerator is old anyway.
Our 1962 Dearborn, Michigan home has this exact slate floor in the foyer and fireplace. Honestly, I h*** [edited] it. It is so dark and dreary. However, I don’t like removing perfectly good flooring, especially since we don’t have money to replace it with similar quality material. I thought about covering it up with linoleum, but the slate is a tad uneven in places.
How can I make this floor look better? What wall paint colors would complement it and brighten up the foyer?