David asked the other day:
We’re planning our basement finishing project and looking at VCT tiling options in the basement. Does anyone know where to find design ideas for Vinyl tiles? I’m seeing a lot for ceramic, but not many for VCT.
You ask, I deliver: Here are scans from 1950s Armstrong and Kentile catalogs.
The thing I like about the designs in my 1955 Armstrong dealer catalog is that they show the percentage of each color required. The Kentile designs come from a retail brochure, so you will have to do the math yourself.
Also remember: Armstrong still offers the the decorative shuffleboard. Come on — you only live once — get the shuffleboard, especially if you are doing a basement floor. I also like VCT like this for kitchen flooring. If you’re planning a retro remodel of your kitchen, be sure to start here to scope all the products, ideas and inspiration — for floors and much more — available.
Finally — Please know, readers — these designs are provided with the intent that you will use them with new vinyl composite tile (VCT). Always be sure, when you move into a house, to consult with experts to test all the materials in your house, including flooring, for stuff like lead and asbestos — and make informed decisions about how to handle these issues. For more info, see our Be Safe / Renovate Safe page.
READ THIS VIEWING TIP: I have inserted the images very large so you can see the designs well — I had to click on the image THREE times to get to the largest version. Then, use my back button to return to the post.
31 linoleum rugs from Armstrong, 1954 
Installing corner cubby, what not, or knick knack glass corner shelves 
Plastic bathroom tile: 20 pages of images from 3 catalogs 
24 pages of vintage bathroom design ideas from Crane — 1949 catalog 
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What are you using for backsplash? I am trying to find the linoleum type stuff that looks like fake tile. will I find anything? Wallpaper and the wall board I’ve seen just doesn’t cut it.
toni, I don’t know of any current manufacturer who makes the old fashioned linoleum that looks like tile. I have a number of old catalogs that show this stuff. Have not gotten around to posting it. You might want to look for vintage. If so, please test it for midcentury nasty material first.
I have plaster walls in my kitchen that are scored to look like 4×4 tiles. Fooled me! Once sealed/painted they have held up 80+ years. Hope this helps…
Lots of good ideas, but the thing I don’t like about modern VCT, is that it doesn’t have the contrasting striations in it like vintage asphalt tile. Armstrong Excelon mainly comes in monochromatic flecks, and Azrock/Tarket has a light marbelized patern that is closer, but looks more like linoleum which is more environmentally friendly, but not the mid century modern look. As for laying each tile a quarter turn, that is the standard way, which when the tiles have a more pronounced direction produces a cool basket weave effect.
Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze … and some Congoleums … which I have detailed on the blog … have the striations. I have the Azrock Cortina in my kitchen. It rocks the 50s. See Kitchens / Flooring category.
Hi! How do you care for the floor? Does it have to be professionally waxed? Thanks!
Check with manufacturer’s guidelines for the floor you choose. Yes, I have mine coated regularly – not wax, a professional finish.
i’m looking for a brick colored 9×9 vct tile with a black border around it. any ideas?
this does not exist new today as far as i know…
Oh my… perhaps I can talk my hubby into NOT putting down the faux-wood and instead doing this! I’m looking at all those colors and very nearly drooling.
Man, these are great, thanks! I have worked in flooring for 15+ years and i have always loved the old school look. I’m gonna put these in my 71 Shasta Compact, probably a 4×4 checkerboard on a diagonal, which reminds me, you definitely want to use a VCT cutter for VCT, it cuts as clean as the factory edge (provided it isn’t worn out), Azrock is my personal favorite, but there are other good brands. You should stop at floor stores and ask what colors they have left from commercial jobs, a lot of them keep 8-10 boxes and then it’s hard to sell them, so hopefully you can get a good deal.
Thanks for these great tips!
so where does one buy the 50’s linoleum in Northern Calif.?
My 1950 ranch has 9×9 vct on all floors. I don’t know who made ones I have.Mine are a base color, then a contrasting color making a random “cloud ” pattern, and some black splashes here or there. Besides Kentile, what other company names were making vct back in the 40’s . Thank you
Bruce, I don’t have a list of all the manufacturers, this is not something that I’ve researched. Armstrong and Congoleum are two that come to mind…
Where on earth can you buy this vintage lino from (well, preferably Aust or NZ) ???
Lorraine: All my known sources are archived here: https://retrorenovation.com/category/kitchen/flooring/
Azrock Cortina Autumn Haze and Azrock TexTile are the leading choices for reproductions although there are a few other options.
Hi Pam, we are looking for patterned sticky tile for our 1963
Shasta trailer and love the 50s tile that you show. The yellow, gray and black pattern. Any idea where we can find this? Thank you!!
Kim, that sounds like it will be a needle in a haystack… vintage, that’s about it. Note: Old floor tile can contain vintage nastiness such as asbestos — make sure you consult with a pro to know what you have and can make informed decisions about how to handle.
I think I finally talked my DH into VCT in the kitchen after finding this blog post:
http://karapaslaydesigns.blogspot.com/2012/10/unexpected-hexagon-flooring-finished.html
Isn’t it cool? I just had to share. As beekeepers, it’s right up our alley!
DH did ask: “So… how are we going to get a bee in there?” and I had to show him these patterns. LOL. Too bad the 50’s weren’t big on bees in your flooring. I then suggested perhaps we could just paint bees here and there on the cabinets… 🙂
very cool!
Does anyone know of a shop who that is still stocking some of the vintage Armstrong patterns – I really would like to get my hands on the style no. 0377 ( the house came with it originally )
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Liv
Nope, these are no longer available as far as we know. You may be able to find them vintage. But… we don’t know of any sources…
Our 1953 ranch came complete with a finished game room, the tiles are playing card, champagne glasses and the fish with the long snout. We will Never change a thing. Built in wet bar, with stainless steel sink and drying board, wood paneling and red brick fireplace. We are the second owners, the parents, we are told, would host square dancing parties.
Wow! Lucky you! I used to LOVE square dancing!
These vintage tile patterns and colors are FAB-U- to the -LOUS!!! Love, love, love ’em.
I shop at estate sales here in San Francisco every weekend, and am occasionally (less and less often as they years go by) halted-in-my-tracks in the kitchen, yearning for the chance to take the original lino tile flooring home with me. But, no dice, of course.
I do very rarely find a partial role of vintage lino in the garage, and feel like I’ve struck hidden gold. I use the lino scraps to re-surface vintage chrome dinette tables whose tops have been loved to death.
Neil
ooooh
The sailfish is absolutely the living end.
Yes — aren’t these designs fabulous!
Thanks so much for this post Pam.
I scored a 1927 craftsman home in CA., completely untouched or ‘remudeled’ since day one. Think, original wallpaper in every room! (yes, I took photos 😉
They did overlay 70’s sheet vinyl flooring in the Kitchen/Laundry Bath. I removed a 5×9 area of press board sub-floor in the old laundry room. Surprise! Original hand cut linoleum floors! I couldn’t imagine the labor involved back in the day.
So grateful for your site Pam! Thank you for the wealth of knowledge you preserve & inspire.
PS: The original bath is PINK tile with Maroon trim ((( <3 )))
Woah, lucky you! And lucky house — to have found you!
The dining room, entry, living room, and kitchen house I grew up in had whitish tiles with a few green flecks. They then, in the dining room, laid a border 2 tiles in, were green tiles with whitish flecks. It wasn’t much but funny how a little detail like that affects the room.
Just found this darling linoleum under my 1960s gold-flecked vinyl. I wonder if it might be Kentile brand.
https://pathwayspast.wordpress.com/2016/06/19/bathroom-mini-renovation/
Hard to say, so many brands. Be sure to know what you are working with – there can be vintage nastiness such as lead and asbestos in old flooring. https://retrorenovation.com/renovate-safe/
do you people actually sell this stuff or are you just showcasing it?
I do not sell anything. I do research and in other stories, point you where to go. In this case, look at the subcategory at the top — Click Kitchen Help, then it will open subcategories. Go to Flooring. Lots of research where to find things there.
Also read the Terms of Use, which explain the website.