LVT Flooring options

[GraciousPiglet]

So we have a new kitchen diner extension. It's not huge, about 6*4m.

Originally we wanted herringbone lvt - karndean probably. But wow. The cost is eyewatering. Esp as the fitting is more too.

We both like herringbone but I am concerned somewhat that it'll date. It feels like it's quite faddy at the moment - it's everywhere. I also suspect maybe it's a bit busy for our room, which isn't huge.

With the cost and my concern it'll be a bit dated in 5/7/10 years time we are now considering laying lvt in plank style. It's about 1/3rd cheaper.

I sort of feel like you can't go wrong with it. But then herringbone is also traditional, so maybe it is worth the extra cost?

We like the soft feel of karndean. Amtico was a bit rough for our liking and we looked at polyflor which was ok but had a weird texture, definitely felt a bit cheaper but we didn't hate it.

Are we missing anything? Any brands you'd recommend? And herringbone or not? What have others gone for.

We aren't interested in engineered wood as I just want no upkeep.

We've just laid 'quick-step livyn click' lvt tiles. I'd hesitate to recommend them.
Fine to fit, but I chose a lightish grey which seems to mark quite easily.
But they were a good price compared to other options. We're hoping to sell soon and needed to rid of the carpet tiles.
I know what you mean about polyflor, they have a surface like one of those lenticular pictures that moves when you tilt it.

We've got polyflor laid plank style in our kitchen. It looks great and is wearing well. Herringbone is classic. We have herringbone parquet in our living room. Traditionally you'd have more expensive designs in the "public" parts of a house, especially in Victorian and Edwardian times, but if you like it then have it.

I’ve got Polyflor Georgian Oak laid in my kitchen, dining room and hallway. It’s fab. Cost just under £3k including levelling screed and labour.

Excuse the mess and dog but you can see the lived in look… this is karndean and I was a bit worried it would be too fussy. It’s in our hall, cloakroom, kitchen, dining room and utility. We’re doing the kitchen in the summer (navy cabinets) so it was chosen to go with that (water leak meant flooring was done first). I love it and it looks good without being overbearing. Anything you do is likely to “date” but done well will still look good. Life is too short to worry about fashions. Choose what you love for your home.

We have amtico in diffused charcoal (dark grey, almost black) in the Signature range. I never thought I’d go for a darker colour but it works well. We have a kind of staggered stone pattern.

Wouldn’t let me attach a photo yesterday so I’ll try again here. Excuse mess and dog.

There are two finishes that Amtico comes in, Tick and Barn, so worth making sure you know which one you were looking at before discounting it, if there was something you liked otherwise in that range. I found it had a nicer feel that Karndean, which seemed more artificial to me, although they were both good.

I have Amtico 'tick' finish in New England oak, and went for planks in the end, as I found the herringbone just too busy for what was a relatively small space with a fair bit of furniture, accessories, etc. So maybe consider your decor in the room as well and how busy or open it is.

Watching with interest. We’re due to start our extension in a couple of months, initially was keen for LVT flooring in herringbone but now changed to a concrete/ stone effect. (Have solid oak plank flooring in rest of house and feel I need a visual contrast).
The main reason though is exactly as you describe, it feels like it’s very now and will date easily.

I was also looking at Amtico and Karndean and getting quotes soon. Keeping fingers crossed it isn’t ridiculous.

We love Karndean. Had it in our old house and have laid the same in our new house recently. It’s such low maintenance, warmish and soft underfoot and even after five years looked great. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend. We dithered over laying it parquet or just straight and ended up going for the latter because it seemed less fussy and less likely to date.