white floors

credit:: Jonathan Adler, Living Etc June 2008
rhetorically speaking, what would happen if I painted my floors white.
I've been thinking of doing it ever since, well, ever since I painted them dark brown.
And then I stepped into my friend Karla's shop , Patio Culture and it sealed the notion.
But would it feel too 'cold'. Which is not a bad thing on a hot summer beach day.
credit::Living Etc
But then what's it like during those cool winter months when it's dark at 5? Would it feel too austere? too antiseptic?
show dirt and dog nails like a mother trucker.
Maybe not white but bright....
This shot from 'Martha' seen round the blog world, for good reason, has always seemed like a good dare.
But then, so does this sensible serene middle ground. It seems safer:
This one's clearly still in the incubator. In the mean time I'll stand at a good vantage point, chin between my thumb and forefinger, eyes squinted, trying to wrap my head around this 'dilemma'

Comments

preppyplayer said…
Ya had to throw this one at me! Right when I felt so "daring" and told the contractor I want Black/dark floors.
Am I being influenced by the beautiful summer day, your blog, or that the white floors look damn good?
Quandary.
Unknown said…
Love white floors!! I actually like them stained white instead of painting since painting chips. Stain with grain showing through is so beautiful. I would totally do it if I live where you are. Please come over to my blog: http://colorandlightatelier.blogspot.com/
Cynthia said…
I helped a friend once to "strip" and refinish her wooden floors. It was a lot of work and I swore at the time I would never paint wooden floors. However these pictures have me rethinking it. I agree I would love it in summer...not so sure in winter. I think I would like it in a kitchen a lot.
La Maison Fou said…
Nice post Meghan, love the new look of your blog.
L.
72 and sunny said…
it IS a quandary. I really want to do it. I think it will add a much more modern feel but I'm chicken.

Melissa, I love that grain showing through look too, but I've already stained and painted these floors, so I think it will be deck paint again...

If I get the nerve up.

I'll start with the bedrooms maybe

thanks La Maison Fou!
I say do it. If not white, greyish-whitish-white. It's so barefoot, so cottage (or koh-tahge)...plus, throw on a warmer rug for those colder months.

(I've been staring at Maia's bedroom floor thinking it's needs a white wash)
Unknown said…
Have thought about this myself from time to time...currently painting some stairs, could lead to more I can see! Like your "middle" choice best for what its worth!
I love white floors, but would never be brave enough to have them in my own home for fear of any bit of dirt showing. They are so beautiful to look at though!
Renae Moore said…
White floors at the beach......awesome. Kids and dogs, not so much. I like your dark floors, you could always paint your blue walls white and 'whiten/lighten' up your pillows and accessories to give a brighter fresh feeling. OR strip and bleach the floors! Just a thought!
That was my first thought too...start with the bedrooms and then see how it goes.

Don't know if you've had a chance to look at Thomas O'Brien's new book, but his house has white floors and I loved it!!!
Courtney said…
Gutsy decor moves are always worth it. And you've got guts (and mad style!!), so I say run with it!
72 and sunny said…
*pondering, pondering, pondering*
hmm. I wonder if I were to put a heavy duty, super toxic smelling, over-lay of something, then maybe it would withstand the sand and the dog nails.

I'll start with the girls' rooms and see how that works out.
Mrs. Blandings said…
Painting something always seems to resolve ambiguity somewhere else in my life. I say paint.
Karena said…
Megan, from the first image I can see how it would look when combined with eclectic elements and some wood toned furnishings, love it.

Karena
Art by Karena
I say "do it". And I also agree that rug or a couple of rugs in the winter to warm up the room would be great. You know if you do it, we're all gonna be so envious of you...no pressure though;}
Ivy Lane said…
Just think "patina" ... when you think of dog nails and sand!!! :)
Amy Smith said…
Wow, I've been having white room envy for a while now. Thanks for the morning fix! I would like to chat w/you about artwork for my site - I love your surfer blogger girl!

Please email me at mangoandpalm@live.com.

Thanks!
amy :)
rachel blazer said…
i have 'cottage white' painted floors all through our 2nd floor- LOVE them! it's cool, but not cold- clean, but not sterile.
honestly, my only problem with them is that i don't want to put area rugs over them! my girls need a soft place to play on the floor in their rooms, though- i'll do it soon!
you'd love it...
joy said…
oh, those pictures are lovely! i love white rooms--they just remind me of snow.
Kelle Dame said…
White floors would be Completely appropriate for where you live. As for Wisconsin...not so much. The blue and gray options are gorgeous as well! Maybe paint an area rug as a test?? Then see how it feels over time.
katiedid said…
I love the white! I have always wanted white floors....but the rest of the family...not convinced. We have three floors, and I toy with the idea of painting the concrete floors in my studio white. Tough decision for sure!
Visual Vamp said…
Light floors show less dirt.
I love white floors.
Go for it!
xo xo
Lauren said…
love the look... BUT we have them on our stairs and they're IMPOSSIBLE to keep clean. I'm embarrassed any time someone comes over because literally the second you clean them and walk on them from outside, they're dirty.

They're so pretty but impractical for us here.. but you're by the beach so sand might not be so bad ;)
...and if you do rugs where the dirt will be
xo
cotedetexas said…
Love it!!!!!! Do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cotedetexas said…
Miss your old header but like. The new one too.
vicki archer said…
Good dilemna....love the white but hate the thought of cleaning them. Sorry I am just too boring for words today. I am a fan of the black floor too, but that's just as messy. You know what, who wants to be practical....go for it...you can always change it back. xv
I love white floors! My next home for sure will have them. I remember in a recent House Beautiful one of the designers said to use outdoor paint to paint indoor floors because they are easier to clean then. I would really want to know which paint is best. Great post!
72 and sunny said…
I used dark brown outdoor deck paint to paint them brown, so I'm thinking I'll do it with a white deck paint. or maybe tint it slightly as in the one photo.

seems that the vote is leaning toward 'do it'!!!
Gramercy Home said…
Yes. Do it! I have been craving white floors since an early image in Coastal Living early this year...The designer covered the painted floors in a high-quality polyeurothane (excuse the spelling) - what they use on basketball court floors. I LOVE THIS LOOK!
Linda Merrill said…
How about a very pale green/blue/gray in a high-gloss? To pick up the blue/green walls, but a very pale version?
Blog Author(s) said…
Love the light floors, they are very easy on the eye if they are close to the wall color. I read on some blog somewhere recently by some designer who painted the floors at their cottage & then speckled them with some color so dirt would not be so evident. He raved.

Love the light painted floor idea. In a darker/colder climate a lovely plaid floor covering hides a multitude of sins.
grain de sable said…
j'adore quand c'est blanc.Bisous Isabelle
Catherine said…
i love the rooms with lots of white and then a splash of turquoise. It gives the colour attitude like it's fighting against the masses.
Zakary said…
I say yes. I love it. Perfect for you and where you live.
Ok...call me crazy...but maybe you can take a bunch of white sheets and spread them out on the floor in a section of the room, to get the general idea of how it would look...or gray sheets or bright blue sheets. Much easier than painting them and then deciding you wish you hadn't. :-)
jills said…
DON'T paint the floors white Megan. The room is so gracious as it is, but maybe needs more light. Any chance of adding a skylight? It has worked very well for us. I do confess however that we have all white walls as well.
Leigha said…
I wish I was brave enough to paint my floors a bright color, but I am just too fickle. White, however, would be gorgeous. Or maybe greige...

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