Checkerboard floors have been used in design for thousands of years—in fact, they date all the way back to ancient Egypt—but there’s nothing old school about these looks from the WL archives. Keep on scrolling to see what we mean.

Check Mate

Checkerboard floors and manor houses go together like peanut butter and jelly, as evidenced by this West Vancouver estate. Extending from the foyer, through the great room and toward the kitchen, it lends a touch of whimsy to the entire main level. Check out the rest of this Kelly Deck-designed home.

Photo: Phil Crozier

Reality Check

This two-storey library, with its floor-to-ceiling bookcases and custom phoenix chandelier, was inspired by Dumbledore’s office… and another fantastical book! Designer Julie Lanctot of Paul Lavoie Interior Design also incorporated a couple elements from the world of Alice in Wonderland, including the colour-coordinated books and white-and-black checkered floor. Step inside this dazzling Calgary home.

Photo: Janis Nicolay

Check, Please!

A Bocci chandelier, a custom (and unusually shaped) Lock and Mortice table, a large picture window that frames the rocky landscape, checkered flooring—Sherry Hakimzadeh’s dining room combines all of her favourite things. The Ann Sacks tiles are a nod to the patterns of Morocco, which the designer fell in love with during her travels. Get more trade secrets from this beautiful space.

Photo: Michelle Johnson

Checkered Past

Alykhan Velji was tasked with giving this circa 1970s Calgary home a modern manor aesthetic—hence the Tierra Sol tiles in the entryway. Remember what we said before about checkered floors and manor houses being a match made in heaven?

“The over-scaled checkerboard was perfect for the entry,” says the designer. “We wanted to keep the vibe of a stately, large foyer and make it super dramatic.” Tour the rest of this 3,300-square-foot residence.

Photo: Ema Peter

Fake Check

If you don’t feel like committing to checkerboard floors in a permanent fashion (read: by installing tiles), take a cue from this Gillan Segal-designed bedroom and lay down a checkered carpet instead. We also love that she opted for a brown-and-cream colour palette rather than the classic black-and-white. Explore this beautiful Vancouver home.

 

Kaitlyn Funk

Kaitlyn Funk

Kaitlyn is a design-obsessed writer, editor and content manager based in Vancouver. When she's not busy swooning over gorgeous homes, you can find her reading, hiking and befriending as many dogs as possible.