floor tile layout - subway or herringbone?

[Anonymous]

Looking at 12x24" ceramic tiles (large pattern variation from tile to tile) for our kitchen/foyer floor. Can't decide between subway (stacked brick) layout, or herringbone. Hb would require more time and waste (and thus $$), but part of the (continuous) area to be tiled is a narrow hallways and we are worried the subway layout will look a little odd there.

[Anonymous]

I think herringbone looks better with longer tiles (1:3 ratio at least). Go for offset.

[Anonymous]

Do you have some of the tile to lay out as a test? Any diagonal pattern is going to have a lot of energy to it and might feel too busy. The stacked brick will be in line with the walls and will be easier to look at. This doesn't mean you can't do diagonal, you just need to be prepared. I personally get dizzy with floors set on the bias, (I don't like squares set on point, either), so I would vote for stacked brick. I don't know if I'm typical, or if you're worried about resale.

[Anonymous]

The Subway pattern is timeless. Herringbone is lovely, but trendy, and is going to be an eyesore before long

[Anonymous]

Subway should be perpendicular to the walls - not parallel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Subway should be perpendicular to the walls - not parallel.

The area to be tiled is roughly in the shape of a capital P with serifs. So, perpendicular to the stem of the P? Which is the narrowest area, about 3 feet wide in sections--so only wide enough for 1.5 tiles if laid perpendicular.

[Anonymous]

Not worried about resale. I quite like diagonal tiles, but I don't want it to look too busy either. Will go with coordinating grout, not contrasting, which I'm told makes the pattern more subtle.

[Anonymous]

I love those large tiles but I think they're too big for herringbone. I think the standard subway layout will look classic. There is also the option of doing a 1/3 offset instead of a 1/2 offset so that it takes 3 rows to repeat instead of 2 rows. That might add a little bit of interest but unless the room is really large, it might not be noticeable.

[Anonymous]

It sounds you need a smaller tile for your area.

[Anonymous]

What about herringbone not set on the diagonal, like this? (Tile is similar to what we've picked, too.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds you need a smaller tile for your area.

DH wants big tile (was originally thinking 16x16 or larger). I want all the tile to be the same and am pickier on color. This tile is a "compromise" but one we are both happy with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think herringbone looks better with longer tiles (1:3 ratio at least). Go for offset.

I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about herringbone not set on the diagonal, like this? (Tile is similar to what we've picked, too.)

I think that looks very nice. But it wouldn't if there were a lot of cut tiles, so think about how it would work in your space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Subway pattern is timeless. Herringbone is lovely, but trendy, and is going to be an eyesore before long

Timelessly...boring. HATE subway tile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Subway should be perpendicular to the walls - not parallel.

The area to be tiled is roughly in the shape of a capital P with serifs. So, perpendicular to the stem of the P? Which is the narrowest area, about 3 feet wide in sections--so only wide enough for 1.5 tiles if laid perpendicular.

Pick the main path and make it perpendicular to that so you're not looking down the long lines of grout.