These “Marble” Tiles Made My Narrow Kitchen Feel Larger
When I renovated my kitchen, I first had to accept that tile floors would be my reality. The existing floor was 12×12-inch silver peel-and-stick tiles with a subtle texture that created an alternating checkerboard effect. I crossed my fingers that we’d find hardwood hiding beneath — and we did. But it had been ruined by a plywood “subfloor” beneath the peel-and-stick that was both glued and nailed to the hardwood.
Matching 1895 heart pine was out of budget, so I reluctantly turned to my tile shopping. The checkerboard look of the peel-and-stick tiles actually inspired me. The way the diagonal layout moved through the room made the small, narrow kitchen feel larger. I could picture a glossy black-and-white checkerboard marble floor looking right at home in my city rowhouse.
However, you’ve probably heard the warnings about marble floors — I know I have. They’re porous. They stain. They’re slippery. They scratch. They have to be sealed annually. They’re expensive.
The reasons not to do marble add up quickly. At first, I figured it was back to the tile drawing board. My vision of a gleaming black-and-white checkerboard floor would simply have to stay in my dreams — that is, until I found an alternative that looks just like marble, so much so that I’m asked about it weekly. Here’s what I found, so you don’t have to go on the same marble look-alike journey.
Porcelain Tile That Looks Like Marble
When I first started down the road of looking for a faux marble checkerboard, I landed deep in the world of laminate and peel-and-stick. If that’s what you’re looking for, there are seemingly countless black-and-white options. But for something that has a bit more permanence, I needed to go the porcelain route.
Compared to marble, porcelain is significantly less expensive and easier to maintain. There aren’t the same staining concerns. There is a small advantage to marble as a harder material, but, overall, the porcelain pros far outweigh the cons.
I ordered no less than 20 samples in my search for fool-the-eye porcelain “marble.” I tried multiple brands and multiple colors within the same brands. Some were too white, and some were too gray, while some didn’t have enough veining, and some had veining that looked printed on (which, in the tile’s defense, it is printed on). It was a long process that included more trips to Floor & Decor than I’d like to admit.
Perpetuo 12" x 12" Porcelain Marble Look Floor & Wall Tile
Wayfair
$53.82
Buy Now
After weeks of searching, I found my unicorn tile, DalTile’s Perpetuo in Infinite Black and Brilliant White — porcelain options that, in my humble opinion, look like a near exact match to marble, gleaming polished finishes included. The tiles have held up beautifully since we laid them down about nine months ago, and I haven’t had any issues with scratches or anything. The look is exactly what I wanted: a classic checkerboard with a just-right amount of “veining” to be convincing as natural stone.
I regularly have people tell me they love my black-and-white marble flooring, and, occasionally, an astute guest will ask, “Is this marble?” But only I — and those who look very closely — will know the answer. And I never have to worry about whether or not I spill red wine or drip lemon juice on my precious tile!
Further Reading
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