Rebecca is collecting ideas to update the 1961 kitchen, and she recently asked me what I thought of this kitchen flooring collection: Cushion Step Impressions vinyl sheet flooring from Armstrong. I thought it looked nice, so I asked my contact at Armstrong if she could send me some samples, and she did. (Thanks, Michele!) The box arrived yesterday and: I like the look of this stuff a lot — especially the faux gray terrazzo (above) and the two faux linoleums (shown in the slide show after the jump). P.S., it’s kind of an inside joke to call a vinyl sheet flooring “faux linoleum” because linoleum is itself usually “faux marble.” So, I don’t get too hung up on “faux.”
I recently read somewhere that vinyl sheet flooring and laminate countertops have made a big comeback during the Great Recession. Like it says in our Mid-Century Modest Manifesto, maybe whatnot-luxury doesn’t seem like such a great idea anymore if it means taking out a home equity loan. If you can even get a home equity loan. “Trendy” or not, I have always maintained that vinyl sheet flooring is the easiest there is to take care of. Sweep and damp mop, and you’re shiny and new and off to other stuff. Hey: The two Armstrong terrazzo styles are, like, comprised of faux flakes of chipped marble — aka dust — so I’m pretty sure the real thing will blend right in. If you want to simplify your life: Get vinyl sheet like this.
Rebecca also liked the idea of this flooring because Armstrong touts it as super comfortable underfoot. The terrazzo style is their middle-quality. The “Universal” design, which seems to me to be mimicking linoleum, is clearly thicker, and presumably, that much more comfortable.
One other thing that I will mention in this discussion. Floors like this tend to have a clear “warm” or “cool” color aspect. Like: “Red is hot, blue is not.” Grey=usually cool, Beige=usually warm. When choosing flooring for your kitchen, think about how the cool/warm of the floor will mesh with the other colors you have going on. Usually, you don’t want to put a lot of a cold color against a lot of a warm color. Also: If your kitchen faces west, and you want to “cool” it down, choose cool colors. Vice versa if your kitchen doesn’t get enough sunlight — in this case, you might want to favor warm colors. I think we all tend to make these decisions intuitively, but it becomes even easier (or at least, less haphazard) once you understand the theory. All this said, I notice that the Armstrong terrazzos have a little bit of both going on… there are flecks of beige in the grey, and vice versa, so they are extending the flexibility of these floors. I know this is kind of confusing. I think I need to post on it in more detail again. Just remember, to have “warm color? cool color?” on your radar, too, when you are planning a decorating project.
error 404 says
Oh dear God no!
Vinyl is the devil!
Linoleum is much more authentic for 50s/60s and doesn’t singlehandedly try to destroy the planet.
Same for ceramic, stone and quarry tile.
This is one piece of the 70s you really should reconsider bringing back to life.
And there plenty of cool eco-friendly counter top materials that look retro but don’t ruin the earth in the name of style.
pam kueber says
error 404 & others: “No one can be made to feel bad for their choices” is a key rule of commenting on this blog. Please lay low with the anti-vinyl comments. There are valid reasons to choose this. I will let your comments be, for now, because they are points for folks to consider. However, I will not let this descend into a rant. Thank you.
mstark says
Oh, but I should add we’re in Texas where labor and materials are less expensive than in other areas – here Marmoleum and Vinyl are about $5/sf installed.
mstark says
Just wanna pipe in that any linoleum product is made from renewable resources – Linseeds, whereas vinyl is a petroleum based plastic and also off gasses VOCs that can irritate your respiratory system. Although most people love that “New Car Smell” its actually not good for you!
I work at an interior design firm and just asked our finishes coordinator regarding the pricing per sf and she says that a quality vinyl tile is only slightly less expensive than Marmoleum. I realize you’re talking about sheet vinyl here, which is going to be even less expensive, but I think Marmoleum can be a DIY project, so if you can find the materials I would recommend it over vinyl any day of the week.
Alice says
Hi Pam – yes, please give a post on that whole warm vs cold, red/blue thing! So, I have yellow kitchen cabinets and we are looking at white terrazo that has small flecks of silver, pearl, green and yellow. Do you think that will work?
pam kueber says
Alice, I think your flooring sounds fine. Not sure when I will be able to do a post including links re color research…
Annie B. says
Image # 4 looks just like the Armstron vinyl flooring I have in my kitchen. It’s been down for six years and has been a joy. Love the terrazzo look and it has been super easy to keep. it’s a great look and product for our money.
John says
Hi Pam, Love the terrazzo look. I will have to replace my kitchen floor at some point and love the look of Terrazzo. How can we get them to do it in period colors also. Both choices are so neutral. Where are the reds,greens,blues,orange,ect. that I see in real Terrazzo floors in places like diners and motels!!!
ps just bought a fabulous Stanley bedroom set off Craigs list for my guest bedroom. I will send pics when I have it all set up.
jkaye says
What kind of flooring is in Rebecca’s kitchen right now? I really like those terrazzo-look samples.
Stacey says
I have to have my kitchen floor redone due to a plumbing mishap and so far I have one estimate for Marmoleum tile at $2800 installed for a 240 sq ft kitchen. Sigh. I am going to price some vinyl now! The existing floor is vinyl and I agree about it being easier to take care of. It’s also much more comfortable to stand/walk on and I think it’s easier to clean. So much gunk gets trapped in the grout when you have a ceramic tile floor. Plus, if you drop something on vinyl, it may or may not break. If you drop something on tile, it is pretty much a guarantee that anything glass/ceramic will break, and you may also break your tile!
Tiled floors seem so impractical for a kitchen…why do people install them?
Rebecca Prichard says
Stacey, I ask the same question daily. My knees ache right now from the torturous stuff in my kitchen.
christine says
we have “faux” linoliem in our kitchen, yellow with a green around the outside. my mom’s cousin from Nova Scotia calls it “Battleship Linoliem” he said they used to use it in alot of the schools up there because its so durable and easy to take care of!
Morag says
Hi, it’s the cleaning lady again, and I couldn’t agree with you more that good quality vinyl is the easiest material to keep clean and looking good. Although I love real linoleum too.
I work in one 18th century farmhouse kitchen with an early 1900s “fancy” fireplace mantle, mid-century (1970s?) birch cabinets, late 50s/early 60s appliances, including nutone fan and a variety of gorgeous furniture from the 18th & 19th century that’s plunked right down on the floor you show. It all works! It’s a kitchen for a real farm; I don’t need to fuss at anybody walking through to take off their boots. My favorite kitchen in the world and largely because of the floor.
pam kueber says
thank you, morag! i grew up in houses with these kinds of floors. it was always my job on saturday morning to clean them. i remember that even with a family of five kids – they came back to bright shiny life weekly – well, as least for a few hours until someone made a mess again!