apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I love it, very fashionable, but functional.
Though white floors in a kitchen are a bad idea, they're just never clean for more than an hour after you mop.

I absolutely loathe the white-tile floor in my kitchen. I think the previous owner picked it in an effort to make the small kitchen look larger and brighter, and/or because it was very inexpensive.

I do love the tile counter, though. I have one now, and it withstands heat, stains, impact...it's pretty much indestructible.

This entire house is so beautiful with details

"We're wondering if a poor-man's version of the gold leaf could be done with this aluminum foil idea? "

No, then it would look like aluminum leaf - which is glitzier to my eyes than the more subtle and understated silver leaf, and of course isn't yellow like gold-leaf.

I do love that argyle-pattern to the tilework on the kitchen countertop.

This is gold done right. Just enough to give it that luxury look without look gaudy.

I'm surprised at how much I love the counter tops. They're gorgeous.

Aluminum LEAF is no more glitzy than silver leaf.
Aluminum FOIL is another story entirely.

I've always wanted to gold-leaf something. One of those British remodeling shows -- Trading Spaces -- used to use cheaper substitutes for gold and silver leaf, but I don't remember what they used. I did find this:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Liberon-Gold-Leaf-(Substitute)-22694.htm

I like the pattern on the counter, but I have lived with grouted counters for too many years to ever want another. There is a reason everyone has gone nuts for sold-surface counters.

I, too, find the white floor tiles harsh (are they marble?). It looks like the white tiles on the counter have a softer color and finish. Perhaps if the floor tiles had a more organic, off-white finish, or were set on the diagonal to match up with the counter tiles... but as they are, I don't think they work.