Home / Kitchen / Kitchen Flooring
pam kueber - November 5, 2010, Updated: October 1, 2021
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
If you are designing a diner style retro kitchen, laundry room or even basem*nt, you might want to consider this black-and-white floor tile in resilient sheet vinyl from Mannington, Armstrong, or Tarkett. Above: Armstrong.
In my experience, sheet vinyl is low cost and super easy to keep clean. 9″ squares, if you can find them, would have been the size typically used in mid century homes. 12″ squares are more common today. And Armstrong has both solid and marbleized squares to choose from. You also can achieve the black and white checkerboard look using 12″ x 12″ VCT tiles, which are going to require regular polishing and buffing… in linoleum from Forbo/Marmoleum or Armstrong… updated 2021: now there are 9″ tiles too! … or by using ceramic tile, which will be harder under foot.
Click the following links to get the manufacturers who make these patterns:
- Tarkett Fiber Floor Checker Berry design
- Armstrong – several designs— Armstrong seems to have black and white checkerboards in a number of lines. They also have marbleized (vs solid) checkerboard.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
Maryanna's black and white ceramic tile checkerboard floor
Red and white checkerboard floor -- where to find it
A 1965 kitchen updated with red checkerboard linoleum floor tile
26 companies that make flooring -- cork, linoleum and vinyl -- suitable for a midcentury house
Checkerboard floor tile -- retro-authentic 9-inch squares in luxury vinyl tile (LVT)
Reader Interactions
58 comments
Comments
Donna says
Had my kitchen done in Black and White Check by Mannington, Checkpoint. I love it but it is a sheet vinyl and now that the bubbles and seams are showing the installer told me they ALL do this!!!.
He is ripping up the floor I paid $2,000 for and going to replace it. He said if its sheet goods it will show every crack and granny in the floor so I’m on the search for tiles. Having trouble finding white white, but can find black in marmoleum. Any suggestions?pam kueber says
Go to the Commercial section of companies’ websites. See our Kitchen Help / Flooring page for our research. I recall I recently did a story on all the companies we could find that offer resilient tiles.
Bill says
I am looking for 18 x 18 peel and stick black and white tiles. Please note that each 18 inch tile has four 9 x 9 black and white squares.
I did a very small apartment kitchen many years ago and it looks great. Ran them at a 45° and with each color tile only being 9 inches makes that small space seem large.
However I need to replace from of the tiles by the door and I can’t find them. Please help!pam kueber says
I do not know where to get these any more…
Sharon says
I have been looking for the black and white checkerboard sheet lineoleum for a very long time. I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado and do not know where to look for it. Can somebody tell me where I can get it in my area. I don’t want the tiles. Can you also get me the cost ? I don’t want the kind that you have to polish. Just plain balck and white smooth.
Thank you !pam kueber says
We do not sell anything here, Sharon. Refer to the companies profiled in the story – I am sure you should be able to ask them about local distributors. Or, take the list to your local flooring company and have them help you get one of these. They will also tell you the cost.
Click on the links — the are in bright blue!
mary wellman says
I am looking for large retro black and white laminate flooring for my farmhouse I want to do my dining area my kitchen and my bathroom in this design. need help locating
Thankyou, Mary Margaret Wellman RN MI
pam kueber says
Mary, we don’t sell anything here. You need to refer to the sources listed in the story. Note, I do not write about laminate flooring, it’s not a vintage style material.
Carol says
Mary,
You might want to try VCT black and white — it’s very inexpensive, easy to DIY, retro, and many places stock it. We put it in our forties cottage kitchen and love it.Elena Werner says
Hi,
Does anyone know of a navy blue and white checkerboard vinyl sheet or vinyl tile option? I know that Armstrong and Mannington have black and white, but I’m not finding much in blue and white.
Thanks.pam kueber says
Elena, I don’t think that I have ever seen blue-and-white checkerboard sheet vinyl. However: You could do this with tile. See our research on companies to search out, and also be sure to read the comments as readers add to: https://retrorenovation.com/2015/02/10/23-companies-flooring-cork-linoleum-midcentury-house/
Travis says
Thanks much for posting this information. I have been looking for a couple months for small, true black and true white check with no luck. Found this article yesterday and last night found a store that carries Mannington. I’m in Los Angeles and the store actually keeps the Mannington Checkpoint floor in stock as they supply the studios with flooring. This will be installed in my 1951 kitchen and laundry room as soon as I can get an install appointment.
pam kueber says
Yay!
Sandra says
Hi, I am wondering if the Mannington is true white or is it off white? We are too, in search of replacing the flooring in my Moms kitchen. Her checkered pattern is worn and looking to replace with a higher quality product. Her cabinets are white so must be a true white
pam kueber says
As with all such things, you should order up samples and check…
Carolyn says
We really want to do black and white checkerboard for our kitchen. Currently have cork which is great to stand on – but the colour choice by the previous owner was um… “disappointing” and it is quite scratched up in a few areas.
We would love to keep the warmth and softness of cork but haven’t found any good opaque cork tiles to do a checkerboard pattern.
We are wondering if we could lay the vinyl (thinking of the Mannington 9″ squares) OVER the cork – or is that both stupid (this question would be sacrilegious on cork sites :). We have also heard mixed reviews about painting cork floors.
Any advice?
pam kueber says
Carolyn, on these questions, I think you need to ask the flooring manufacturers directly…
Lisa says
Does anyone know where I can buy the black and white square vinyl. I live in the Houston area. I would like it to be in stock so I dont have to wait to order it. Having a party soon! Anyone have any ideas??
LisaHazzy Ratchford says
Where can I buy 12″ x 12″ Black & white tiles. solid vinyl, COMPLETELY SMOOTH SURFACE – NO RIDGES, NO TEXTURE. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. I’M DESPERATE TO MATCH EXISTING FLOOR. THANKS ..HAZZY
Angela says
I had Mannington Gold brand b&w vinyl sheet years ago. Didn’t care for the product (shrinkage!) but LOVED the look. New (to us) house…want to revisit the checkerboard tile in kitchen, considering Armstrong tiles. Here’s the issue: this eat-in kitchen has lots of funky angles (3-sided bay window that overlooks sunroom & an angled entryway to living area on same side as the bay — yikes!) I just keep picturing odd lines, especially along the perimeter, with both diagonal and squared alignment. Need some input, stat! Thx!
applehillcottage says
Can you line the squares up so they will be parallel to the diagonal of the entry way? You should start in the middle, so all the lines along the edges, should be equal (ha! easier said than done…)
Carol says
I know this is an old thread, but we’re getting prepared to lay a VCT black and white floor in our 13×13 40s farm-cottage kitchen. It won’t be completely retro, but I’ve painted cabinets off-white and we’re using schoolhouse lights. Dithering about diagonal vs. straight and also wondering if anyone else waxes and buffs these floors and just how much hassle it is…
pam kueber says
We have some stories on the polishing issue. It’s a hassle, I think. I have someone do mine.
Carol says
Thanks Pam! I’m heading over to “polishing my new VCT tiles” now!
« Older Comments
As an enthusiast and expert in retro kitchen design and flooring, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the discussion of black-and-white checkerboard floor tiles, particularly in the context of mid-century homes. My expertise extends to various materials used in retro kitchens, and I can provide valuable insights into the pros and cons of different flooring options.
In the article you've provided, the focus is on achieving a diner-style retro kitchen with black-and-white floor tiles. The author mentions resilient sheet vinyl from manufacturers like Mannington, Armstrong, and Tarkett. I can affirm that sheet vinyl is indeed a low-cost and easy-to-maintain flooring option. The article also touches on the historical aspect, indicating that 9" squares were common in mid-century homes, while 12" squares are more prevalent today.
Armstrong is highlighted as a manufacturer offering both solid and marbleized squares, catering to the desired checkerboard look. Additionally, alternative options such as 12" x 12" VCT tiles, linoleum from Forbo/Marmoleum or Armstrong, and ceramic tiles are discussed, each with its own set of characteristics.
For those interested in specific designs, the article provides links to manufacturers such as Tarkett and Armstrong, making it convenient for readers to explore the available patterns. The inclusion of reader interactions further emphasizes the practical aspects of choosing and maintaining these retro-style flooring options.
To address specific reader queries, the author suggests exploring commercial sections of company websites for resilient tiles, providing practical advice on finding suitable options and local distributors.
In summary, my expertise encompasses the historical context, material characteristics, and practical considerations related to retro kitchen flooring, especially focusing on the black-and-white checkerboard design discussed in the provided article.
