• Home
  • About
  • Leslie Hendrix Wood Interiors
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Hadley Court - Interior Design Blog

Gracious Living. Timeless Design. Family Traditions.

  • Decorating
  • Organizing
  • Entertaining
  • Traveling
  • Portfolio
  • Shop
kitchen countertop organizer ideas

Declutter Your Kitchen:15 Kitchen Countertop Organizer Ideas

11 Built-in Kitchen Bench Ideas to Make Your Kitchen Feel Larger

houseplants that improve indoor air quality

8 Houseplants That Improve Your Home’s Look & Indoor Air Quality

Lifestyle

Travertine Floors Stand the Test of Time

Share
Pin3K
Tweet
3K Shares

Who would’ve thought we’d be using the same material in our homes 2000 years later?  Known as traverino in Italy, travertine stone was used for the pillars, walls and floors of the infamous Roman Coliseum.

Travertine Floors

Travertine is timeless and a great choice if you want a natural stone floor in your home.  Rest easy if you already have travertine floors because they stand the test of time.

 

Travertine Floors Stand the Test of Time

 

TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN’

About 10 years ago travertine floors were installed by the thousands.  Builders were installing and decorators were creating an “old world” or tuscan look in homes.  That was the trend, but of course trends come and go as do our tastes in things.

The natural stone has earth tone colors which fit perfectly with warm neutrals. Interior design trends are now toward cooler colors of  white and gray.  If you happened t0 have built or redecorated during that time you’re probably thinking, “what can I do”?  There are a lot of ways to update your look and avoid the expense and chaos of installing new floors!

Even though travertine had been over-used, its still a good choice for floors because of its natural beauty.  It’s a versatile stone and looks great not just on floors but throughout your home.

 

tuscan kitchen with travertine floors

 

New Look, Same Travertine Floors

Does this look familiar?

The last home I completed had a Tuscan look with travertine floors and my client wanted to update to a dressier more tailored look.

 

living room with Travertine Floors

 

I took the focus off the floor by laying a rug on top and moving the focus of the room to the bookcases painted with lacquer.  Her floor was a creamy beige which is pretty neutral and easy to work with.  Read about how I updated my client’s living room on my post Living Room Ideas.

 

Kitchen with Travertine Floors

 

Paint everything white and that will instantly update your room.  The yellow/beige shade of the floors don’t distract at all from this crisp white kitchen.  The travertine tiles are all the same size and looks more contemporary.

 

Dining Room with Travertine Floors

 

Try adding some pops of color to your furnishings and watch how that can transform the old world look to a more modern, cool style.

 

PROS & CONS OF TRAVERTINE FLOORS

 

PROS & CONS OF TRAVERTINE FLOORS

 

Travertine Floor Maintenance

Travertine is a natural stone.  Most people think that it’s limestone, but it’s not.  Travertine is a sedimentary rock identified by winding and irregular holes.

It should be sealed right before or after it is installed because it is porous.  Experts recommend resealing it yearly.  My travertine floor looks great and I haven’t had to re-seal it every year, but what do I know?   I just mop, vacuum and go!

It costs less than marble and granite and is available in many different shapes, sizes, colors and finishes.  It’s so versatile and can be used throughout your home.

 

TRAVERTINE FLOOR COLORS

 

Honestly, I don’t think there are too many negatives about using travertine in your home.  It is heavy so installation is more strenuous.  The porous nature of the stone is alleviated by having it sealed.  It’s in the mid-range price of natural stones, but high end of all flooring options. And its cold on your feet in the winter so wear some warm & fuzzy slippers!

Types of Travertine

The most commonly used finishes for Travertine are honed, polished and brushed or tumbled.  There are others like split-faced and chiseled.   Each has a distinct look and purpose.

 

travertine floor with polished finish

 

If you want a dressy, modern look then choose the polished finish for your travertine.  It resembles marble because of its shiny reflective surface.

 

Honed & filled travertine floors

 

Honed & filled  travertine is the most popular choice for floors.  The pits are filled and sanded down or “honed”.  It provides a smooth and natural look usually with a matte finish.

If you want a more contemporary look buy travertine tiles in the same size and shape.

 

travertine floors

 

For a textured surface that doesn’t reflect light you should use tumbled travertine.  It has unfilled pits and holes with rounded edges.   You could say it looks weathered and should be used if you want a rustic look.   It’s most commonly used  for backsplashes or walls.

 

tumbled travertine

 

Split face is the roughest finish available in travertine.  It’s cut at varying angles and not honed or filled.  Use it on walls, fireplaces, backsplashes.   The wall looks like a contemporary piece of art!

 

Chiseled travertine floor

Chiseled travertine has chipped edges which require more grout when installing.  It has the feeling of being old or antique.  I’m sure it looks familiar to you as it’s laid in the villa pattern that was so popular.

Where to Find Travertine Floors

travertine tiles as kitchen backsplash

 

The travertine tiles in this kitchen backsplash are all the same size, light in color and brick-shaped, which is in more in line with today’s design trends.

 

premium grade travertine countertops

 

I would’ve been fooled by these countertops because it looks like marble to me!  The travertine slabs have been sanded down flat and polished and sealed to create a flawless, modern look.  This is a  premium grade of travertine because of its consistent color and smooth edges.  Read more about countertops in my article:  How to Choose the Right Countertop.

 

Travertine in floors all the way up to the ceiling - bathroom

 

Travertine was used from the floors all the way up to the ceiling in this bathroom.  In the tan, gold shades it creates a warm inviting look that makes me want to soak in that tub for hours!  This a standard quality of travertine because of the shade variations and more holes in the tiles.

 

travertine pavers around the swimming pool

 

I put travertine pavers around my swimming pool because of its natural appeal and because it can withstand extreme heat and cold. The pavers are thick pieces of travertine and can add beauty to driveways, walkways and patios as well.

Read my article on making a statement with patterned tile in your home.

 

Travertine Floors Stand the Test of Time

 

Photos credits:  Sefa Stone, Stoneworkswholesaling.com, myreadlit.com, Avalon flooring, billielourd.org, Pinterest, Lowes, Build direct, Mazzmaer Stone Turkey

Share
Pin3K
Tweet
3K Shares


15 Comments

About Leslie Hendrix Wood

Leslie Hendrix Wood is the founding editor of the luxury lifestyle and design blog, Hadley Court and an has her own interior design firm, Leslie Hendrix Wood Interiors in Midland, Texas.

Leslie received her undergraduate degree in business. She worked briefly in banking and returned to school to earn her MBA.

Upon graduation, she moved to Washington D.C. to work on a Presidential campaign and received a Presidential appointment to a position in International Trade.

At the end of the administration, Leslie returned to her hometown and joined the family oil and gas business, although her first passion has always been, after raising her children with her husband, business and interior design.

When she saw her children were closer to leaving home, she decided to start the blog, Hadley Court. in 2012, which won the Design Bloggers Conference Hall of Fame award for Best New Design Blog in 2013 - a prestigious honor granted by her peers.

In 2014, she is, in addition to blogging, beginning to build the family friendly luxury lifestyle brand: HADLEY COURT, based on her values of Gracious Living, Timeless Design and Family Traditions.

« Bathroom Organization Ideas
2019 Home Design Trends You Can’t Miss »

Comments

  1. Kamen Kojić says

    November 9, 2020 at 1:06 pm

    Travertine is a beautiful material, thanks for the good advice.

    Reply
    • Leslie Hendrix Wood says

      November 16, 2020 at 1:37 pm

      Hi Kamen,
      I agree with you! Thanks for reading Hadley Court.
      All the best,
      Leslie

      Reply
  2. Allison Hadley says

    September 29, 2020 at 6:12 pm

    Will you please provide the white colors that are used in the kitchen with white walls and white cabinets? I absolutely perfect but I’m struggling trying to find the right “whites”!

    Reply
    • Leslie Hendrix Wood says

      October 14, 2020 at 1:55 pm

      Hi Allison,
      I believe that is Soft Chamois by Benjamin Moore. Thanks for reading Hadley Court.
      All the best,
      Leslie

      Reply
  3. Cindy wieties says

    February 23, 2020 at 1:24 pm

    Would you be able to provide the name/type of countertop shown in the all white kitchen? I have a polished ivory travertine floor. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Leslie Hendrix Wood says

      February 24, 2020 at 12:12 pm

      Hi Cindy,
      That looks like a quartz countertop which will look nice with your travertine. It’s always best to get samples and put them next to your cabinets/floor & paint to see how it looks in the room. Good luck!
      All the best,
      Leslie

      Reply
  4. JENNIFER Holland says

    December 3, 2019 at 11:46 am

    HI there, this is my first experience with Travertine floors. I have the colors that are a cross between your bathroom and the picture of the chiseled kitchen. The texture is more like the chiseled kitchen picture. I’m at a loss as to what kind of white paint I should pair with it. I’ve thought of Wevet by Farrow and Ball and Whisper by Dunn Edwards. Do you have any suggestions on a soft white that would pair well with my travertine? I am intrigued by the gray cabinets in one of your other pics, because it is exactly the type of gray that I want to paint the current cabinets. It looks like a very rich/bold medium gray. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Leslie Hendrix Wood says

      December 4, 2019 at 2:33 pm

      Hi Jennifer,
      It sounds like a fun project! I would need to see a picture of the stone in your room before suggesting a white paint color.
      All the best,
      Leslie

      Reply
    • Leslie Hendrix Wood says

      January 9, 2020 at 4:11 pm

      Hi Jennifer,
      Without seeing the other elements in your room, it would be hard for me to recommend a paint color. You can try painting a board with the whites that you like and place them next to the floor and cabinets to see which one looks the best. Thanks for reading!
      All the best,
      Leslie

      Reply
  5. LCH says

    October 18, 2019 at 1:44 pm

    I think it would be smart to mention the non-slip aspect of tumbled travertine vs. the slip-and-break-a-hip aspect of the polished travertine. Honed might be the sweet spot in between, if not honed too smoothly. We have an aging population! Plus, I’ve seen tumbled natural stone look awesome in modern and contemporary settings. You don’t have to have a slippery-when-wet floor to look modern.

    Reply
    • Leslie Hendrix Wood says

      October 29, 2019 at 10:19 am

      Dear LCH,
      I appreciate the information. Thanks for reading!
      All the best,
      Leslie

      Reply
  6. susan . says

    September 30, 2019 at 4:20 pm

    Hello,
    Do you have record of the paint color used in the grand entrance photo towards the top of this article? It is the 5th picture listed. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Leslie Hendrix Wood says

      October 3, 2019 at 10:23 am

      Hi Susan,
      I don’t know what paint color that is. Are you looking for a neutral or white?
      Leslie

      Reply
  7. Kim Sneed says

    January 12, 2019 at 9:08 am

    Loved all of the info on travertine. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Leslie Hendrix Wood says

      January 13, 2019 at 10:48 am

      Kim,
      Thanks for reading. We appreciate you!
      Leslie

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Leslie Wood, Interior Design Blogger

Hadley Court

Interior Design Blog

MarthaStewart.com Contributor

AS SEEN IN

As Seen In AD - WSJ - HGTV - HouseBeautiful - The Editor AT Large - Zillow - DHome

Hadley Court - Interior Design and Lifestyle Blog

Hadley Court is my family’s summer home where I spent my summers as a child. Every day at Hadley Court was a celebration of fine living.
Read More

Archives

Categories

Search

Copyright © 2021 · Hadley Court · Logo Design by Gadabout · Blog Design & Hosting by Servously

Copyright © 2021