SFGate

Deborah Butler, Brickwood Builders Okay, not what I imagined when I read your other post. Is there a way to have an inexpensive carpeting tacked in to cover?

trebinje Inexpensive, room sized carpet remnants to cover as much of the floor as possible. Then, with the floor neutralized, you can go in any direction.

vjdawson Ha! I know... Its in a tropical and isolated place (micronesia) and I have not seen carpet for sale. We do have some rugs coming in our shipping but I'm worried they will clash a lot and not hide enough

trebinje I would think you could find native sisal or tatami mats to spread out over that floor ?

vjdawson Here is the view to the kitchen. Its an open plan lounge/dining and kitchen space. We like to entertain and I'm a bit worried about inviting people over to what looks like a hop-scotch party!

Gail Kochie Hmmmm, thats a challange! Maby just embrace the checkerboard. Go with black and white only accents, opposite of attached picture. Black tables etc will ground the room. If you can find an affordable white shag rug (Lowes has some), put in front of sofa with black coffee table. A few blue accents and you're good.
Ooo,like the kitchen. A red hot rug in there would be cute.

vjdawson Great advice! I think I will try to find something to cover the lounge section (carpet, traditional rugs etc) then embrace the checkerboard in the kitchen.... Any other thoughts or ideas on decorating the kitchen would also be great :)

TanCalGal Are you thinking of painting? Or just general suggestions to decorate around what's there?

Here are general ideas: The beige backsplash in kitchen sets off the blue / beige tiles beautifully. Have kitchen counters clear so the beige backsplash shows more. When buying anything for the room: wastebasket, towels curtains....match the beige. Carry a swatch of the beige with you as there are many beiges. The blue empty "plastic water bottles" look like they might be a good blue with the blue tiles. Blue is very hard to match, & those bottles might "match". Anyway, for a whimsical-funky look see how those bottles look placed up on the refrigerators (it may or may not work).

vjdawson Thank you for your keen eye to detail! Will clear back the counters and try to match new accessories to the beige. I could do small amounts of painting for features but probably not the whole house. The white Island that defines the kitchen is also movable and made of two identical shelves.

Thanks again everyone!

Innovative Solutions U can go for vinyl flooring also.

Olwethu Mandla hey,that is a crazy floor vinyl.so go crazy and don't be scared and have a similar pattern on your wall,,,exactly were it starts that is were your wallpaper will start.let the wall and the floor share these properties and maybe,just maybe you will have a well balanced look....dont forget to play with colours....bring it back to life. _South Africa_

victorianbungalowranch You know, I think a canary yellow (like the container on the counter) as an accent would actually look nice and give it sort of a Mediterranean vibe. To me, the tile color is very close to process blue, which is the color used in printing to make other colors and the door is a darker version of magenta, and the yellow would make it almost a primary color scheme.

I would put some doors or baskets on the island and move it out a bit--maybe a bigger top can make it so you can add stools. However, the dining area is right next to it I guess. I like to have a place to sit when I cook to peel veggies and such.

I hope your furniture is pretty nuetral, or you can invest in some slipcovers, which is nice for the beach anyway. I would stay away from anything too traditional for the living room rug, unless it has some bright colors in it or is very neutral.

Bet you can get some great native tropical art there to go with it. Or a large Gaugin print?

TanCalGal I think I'd remove the island and leave the kitchen area open and undefined.

patriciarhall move the island to the wall where the refrigerators are, making a L there to partially disquise the refrigs. add a nice big rug to the kitchen floor.

pjcham Nate Berkus uses inexpensive carpet tiles when renting and not wanting to spend a lot of money. You can do all the same color or mix it up into some type of pattern.

decoenthusiaste Something about your blue tile and your ocean views brought Coney Island to mind, and that's the theme I'd go with in such a fun rental!

Christine I am in the minority here but i LOVE the blue tiles. Your problem is everything else. I see your tiles and think Morocco. So I would paint that red door. and go with a bright white FLAT paint. Then consider leather pouffs, colorful suzani throws and bright pops of color. Put in a modern sofa just to tone down the festival feel and you'll be ok. add more photos too but have fun.

Christine May that a yellow paint. and be sure to buy transition furniture that moves when you do.

Christine May that a yellow paint. and be sure to buy transition furniture that moves when you do.

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design Was thinking how browns/woods and oranges would look with the blue tiles -

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design Still thinking of your space and think a room divider on dining room wall would give a good feel -

decoenthusiaste Sorry the ideabook on blues for Fall 2012 didn't upload. I'm still obsessed with Coney Island and a bit of funky for your great ocean rental. Play with it!!!

decoenthusiaste Oh, wow! It did post! I would have so much fun playing with this space!

decoenthusiaste The zebra was a rug in my mind. I hope Coney Island is still intact - great place!

vjdawson Thanks all - our belongings arrive this week so I will have a go at transforming the space with what we have then search for new things to add. We have quite a bit of art with strong yellow colors and also a Tibetian Chest with yellows and greens. Thanks again!

victorianbungalowranch Saw this 1920's kitchen advertizement for Congoleum floors and thought of you!