Tile for the vestibule.

I love the vestibule at our front door, but I do not love the tile on the floor. It’s cheap, it’s dirty, the color is awful, and it’s just way too big for the space. I have a strong dislike for large tiles in small spaces. We’ve been putting off this little job for years now, but I think we’re finally ready to do the demo work and start prepping the floor for new tile!

This is what we picked out. I’m not sure if there’s a name for this pattern—it’s almost a basket-weave, but not quite. It looks like marble, but it’s actually some sort of cultured material. I like that it looks old-ish, but not fakey old-ish. And it’s graphic. I like graphic. It’s also pretty inexpensive (Home Depot! In stock!), so we should be able to come in at around $200 for this entire project.

We’re planning to use a very dark gray or black grout. The display at HD used a cream-colored grout, which made the tile look sort of faux-Tuscan (which is decidedly not my thing). I’m excited. This is going to look great. The vestibule is the first thing you see walking into the house, so it should look great, right?

ETA: Here’s a close-up!

48 comments
  1. LudmilaJune 24, 20105:43 pm

    Love it! And it suits good the wallpaper (which I secretly ADORE). great choice!

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  2. juliJune 24, 20105:44 pm

    Wow, Home Depot! I think it’s going to look great! Reminds me of old timey entryways, like what you see in the UK.

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  3. Jenny N.June 24, 20105:51 pm

    Can’t wait to see the finished photos! And in-progress photos! And before and afters!

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  4. CapreeKJune 24, 20106:01 pm

    Wow! That tile looks great! I can’t believe it’s from Home Depot, either. Looks Ann Sacks-y! Can’t wait to see the final product!

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  5. HanaJune 24, 20106:07 pm

    Yes!

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  6. KerriJune 24, 20106:36 pm

    I adore it!

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  7. ThessaJune 24, 20106:39 pm

    That tile is so “you”. Best choice you could make.

    I’ll be waiting for lost of photos. :)

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  8. puckJune 24, 20106:48 pm

    That will be gorgeous. Can’t wait to see it against the grout.

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  9. NicoletteJune 24, 20107:08 pm

    Your wallpaper is, of course, gorgeous. I can’t wait to see the completed space.

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  10. robinJune 24, 20107:16 pm

    3 rolls of that wallpaper has been sitting in my house for a couple of years. one day i will have the courage to actually hang it on my wall. **sigh** i love it so but am so afraid of it.

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  11. a perfect grayJune 24, 20107:18 pm

    the wallpaper is wonderful and the tile will look perfect…

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  12. alex sundayJune 24, 20107:26 pm

    great choice. i’d call it a parquetry pattern. and good call on the grout colour. i’m looking forward to the after shot.

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  13. jdJune 24, 20108:22 pm

    I think the tile will look great… and i agree with the darker grout. Just wondering, have you considered not demo-ing? It looks like with those baseboards and the marble… um, what do you call those things again… that maybe it would be easier to just tile over the existing tiles.

    I don’t know? I am facing the same issue in my bathroom right now. My contractor says tile over, but it also looks like that has happened already a couple of times, but then I think with ten foot ceilings, what is another quarter or half inch to the floor… of course, I am just stepping up a bit and into my bathroom, walking across an entryway may be different.

    I am sure it will look great no matter what you do. Best of luck finishing it – and surviving the heat.

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  14. Kerry @ just-you-waitJune 24, 20108:43 pm

    That tile is going to look amazing!! I’m so jealous that your Home Depot has such awesome tile in stock!

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  15. CathJune 24, 20108:57 pm

    Love your tile choice especially for the $$. Dark grout will be nice – kinda like you might see in an old bar and you’ll never have to scrub it.

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  16. FionaJune 24, 20109:03 pm

    Nice! I would love to see a close-up of the tile so I could really get a sense of it.

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  17. Anna at D16June 24, 20109:04 pm

    @jd: I’m not a fan of tiling over tile. You really never know what could be going on underneath (especially in a bathroom!), and laying down tile is no small job. I really think it’s worth taking the time to demo properly, make sure the subfloor is up to par, and just as importantly, assuring that the underlayment is perfectly flat and stable. Tile will fail if the underlayment isn’t right — whether it’s cracked grout, lifting tiles, or cracking tiles. I’d really rather not have something like that happen.

    It’s not a rug, after all. ;) It’s worth doing the demo work!

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  18. Anna at D16June 24, 20109:10 pm

    @Fiona: Wish granted! Check the revised post. :)

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  19. christianaJune 24, 20109:20 pm

    Woah, that is going to look GORGEOUS.

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  20. the domestic fringeJune 24, 20109:47 pm

    Love this tile!

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  21. YolandaJune 24, 201011:41 pm

    Wow! My HD doesn’t have this tile…..what is the name of the company/style? Gorgeous!

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  22. heatherJune 24, 201011:51 pm

    We had tile in that same chocolate marble in our apt. I really love it in this parquet pattern! It will look amazing with your wallpaper.
    I wonder if you’ll find the original tile underneath when you demo?

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  23. Design LoveJune 25, 201012:11 am

    I feel it’s perfect…I love anything with a touch of black! You go for it…gonna be fab!

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  24. Barb F (Australia)June 25, 201012:58 am

    Ooooh yes. I like it.

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  25. LenaJune 25, 20101:56 am

    I first wasn’t sure about the tile but after seeing the close-up I really like it. I look forward to seeing the results!

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  26. Cat's MeowJune 25, 20104:10 am

    That looks AWESOME! You really have a great eye…

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  27. FionaJune 25, 20104:37 am

    Perfect as usual.

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  28. SarahJune 25, 20104:47 am

    Love!

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  29. LeahJune 25, 20107:53 am

    i love the tile! can’t wait to see it. also,love the wallpaper!

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  30. CherryJune 25, 201010:13 am

    It’s very you.

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  31. m.fayJune 25, 201010:18 am

    Love, love, LOVE.
    m.fay
    http://www.amateurcouture.com

    happy to find you on bloglovin, stop by and say hello. xo

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  32. kay*June 25, 201011:59 am

    wow – LOVE that tile! looks fantastic, if I owned my place – I’d definitely be looking at getting some of that tile…

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  33. MelissaJune 25, 20102:41 pm

    Awesome choice can’t wait to see the finished project.

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  34. Patti PowellJune 25, 20103:34 pm

    That is awesome tile. Who makes that tile? Dal? I love all the work you have done to the house. You continue to inspire us all. Keep waiting to see the finished project

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  35. LoriJune 25, 201010:46 pm

    THAT.IS.AWESOME.

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  36. Lissa@AfterAdornmentJune 26, 201011:51 am

    Wow! That will make such a huge difference. Love the tile choice, especially for such a small space. Can’t wait to see the final pic.

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  37. PhillyLassJune 26, 201012:29 pm

    Gorgeous! It’s going to look amazing (per usual)!

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  38. janJune 26, 20108:36 pm

    i love these tiles – and the darker grout is a great idea. i look forward to seeing the finished project.

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  39. audreyJune 27, 20102:41 pm

    LOVE the tile, it has an old-but-new feel to it. I can’t wait to see the completed look!

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  40. saraheJune 27, 201010:59 pm

    hi Anna, the tiles are very striking, I think they will work great. I love the wallpaper too, who makes that btw? Love your style!

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  41. BeckyJune 28, 201010:49 am

    These are beautiful! I like how intense they are. I can’t wait to see what the finished product looks like!

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  42. Ragnhild Jordtveit KJune 28, 20103:37 pm

    Hi!

    I really really find your blog inspiring and fantastic, so I just had to send you a tiny “Blog Award”.

    My blog is in Norwegian, but you can see the award here:
    http://minevennershjem.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/a-s-t-r-i-d-s-a-w-a-r-d/

    Keep up the great work!

    :)

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  43. JasonJune 28, 201011:06 pm

    Perfection.

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  44. PennyJune 29, 20103:59 pm

    GO to the post office and pick up a couple of address change packet for 10% lowes or home depot coupon(I don’t remember which store it’s for but you can use at either store because they take competitor coupons.)

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  45. LianeJuly 2, 20106:56 am

    love the tile choice. can’t wait to see it with the dark grout.

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  46. CeramicJuly 12, 20102:36 am

    love the tiles,can’t wait to see the finished project.

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  47. rebeccaJuly 16, 201010:03 am

    that tile is BEAUTIFUL! I can’t wait to own a home someday…your site inspires me :)

    [Reply]

  48. susanSeptember 26, 20108:17 am

    love the tile, who wold have know Home Depot!!

    [Reply]

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