I want to stencil my kitchen floor, DH says no AIBU??

[MamaMumMama]

We bought a house with a gorgeous kitchen, it’s in the southern Mediterranean region so it has terracotta tiles. I don’t like them. The kitchen is white with marble counter tops, it needs a nice white floor. We have been looking at tiles in shops for weeks now and I know what I want in my head but I can’t find them. I don’t want to spend a load of money until I find what I want. So I was looking for some inspiration and I noticed that tile stencils seem to be a thing now (all over insta and Pinterest) with some amazing results. I told DH today and he said that something you do when you’re skint not when you could afford to have new tiles! I’m kind of hooked on the idea and when people (DH) shuts down an idea without even entertaining it, it makes me more determined to do it!! So AIBU to think it’s in fashion, paints have improved, last longer and it looks good! Or is my husband right that you only do it when you don’t have another option?
If you have done it yourself please let me know how it went? Would you do it again?

Personally I agree with your DH.

Can you afford to not have a kitchen for a few weeks? I know what you mean, I like the results, but this shit takes ages.

“Nice white floor” wtf??

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a white floor in my life

I'm with your DH

If you’re going to be ripping up the tiles anyway, why don’t you do one tile & see if you both like it. And how quickly it scuffs up.

Oh my god you don't want a white floor in your kitchen! Or anywhere! You'll spend the first year obsessively cleaning it, and then the rest of its life feeling pissed off by how dirty it is.

And get proper tiles, don't bodge.

Neither of you are being unreasonable, you just have different opinions. This isn't a 'right' or 'wrong' issue.

I hate DIY Changing Rooms stuff. Looks awful, wears quickly and goes out of fashion even faster than that.

Do you mean those sticker things? My sister has them in her wee tiny toilet and I love them. That’s a very small area though. Can you undo it if you don’t like it?

I would have white painted floorboards but I don’t think I’d have white tiles.

Regardless, if I had a white kitchen and marble counters I don’t think I’d choose white floor - too stark.

Do you have any photos of your current kitchen and of your inspiration?

I wouldn't. It will look very shabby very quickly.

What about slate grey tiles? I have those in my (white) bathroom and they’re lovely. Hard-wearing as well.

I agree with @Shemeanswell if you're going to replace it anyway, just do it and then if you hate it or it looks shit, replace! Simple!

he said that something you do when you’re skint not when you could afford to have new tiles

sigh, not everything is about affordability - some people enjoy doing things themselves & making artistic expressions more personal.

All white would look horrible. Terracotta tiles are lovely.

I had a beautiful white floor installed in our kitchen, never again! It showed every bloody speck.

Buy some tiles like the ones you have and give it a go on those. Unless you know what you’re doing, any are artistic and habe patience, it’s likely to look like something a school kid was let loose on.

Personally I agree with him, because loads of folks do that simply because they can’t afford to replace. Few do it because they are experienced and creative.

This is the sort of thing I’d do, and then regret it.. join a couple of Facebook groups and you can see other people results. Often they are not pintrest worthy

Terracotta's very forgiving, I wouldn't write them off just yet...

White floors...in a kitchen, with white counters.
Bet you will need to wear sunglasses to go in there

There's a reason people pay professionals for this. Are you talented in this sort of thing? Do you know what you're doing? If so then go for it; if not then I really wouldn't.

Long story short my decking needed to be painted a dark colour. Just like a pp said, it is either newly painted or looks like shit.

If you're very, very good at this kind of thing, then maybe. The paint will wear down quickly though, and you'll sort of get worn down patches over the most commonly used/walked on areas in the kitchen. I think it has the potential to look a bit shabby a few months down the line.

Id stick to tiles tbh.

My SIL did them in her utility room and they look really good

It’s your choice, of course, but the only room I’ve ever been in with a white tiled floor was a mortuary...

I can’t see stencilled paint lasting more than a few weeks in a high traffic area like a kitchen, unless you plan on sealing it in with some sort of varnish, but that might also deteriorate quickly with wet cleaning.