Travertine tiles are a great choice for a kitchen floor. Tumbled or unfilled tiles can be used for a more rustic, natural look. Filled and polished tile will give a sleeker, more modern, appearance. Most travertine is warm colored with natural variations or patterns of other colors throughout each tile. Darker color tiles in the red or grey color families can also be found. Travertine has finishes available to complement any décor and has the high end look you can only get with real stone.
Travertine is a natural stone used for building since the middle ages. The largest deposits of travertine are in Italy, but most of the tile available in the United States today is imported from Peru or Turkey. It is not truly limestone although both are sedimentary rock. One example of travertine forming in the United States can be found at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Travertine is a softer stone with natural pits and air pockets.
Most travertine tiles are sold filled and honed. The pits and air pockets have been filled with resin to make the tile smooth, and the surface is polished but not to the point of being shiny smooth like marble. Honed travertine tile flooring is not slippery when wet. Ideal for kitchens. Generally the smoother and more uniform the tile, the more expensive the price. Some tiles have beautiful, dramatic, light and dark patterns called banding. Those tiles are usually less expensive than the one color varieties. A real stone floor is never inexpensive. It is the natural variations in a real stone floor that make it so desirable.
Tumbled travertine tiles may be filled or unfilled. Tumbling produces a more worn looking tile with somewhat uneven edges. Perfect for that Tuscan Vineyard kitchen. Tumbled tiles can also be used as a border or pattern element in concert with other types of tumbled travertine tile. Or you may choose to do the floor in a smooth, easy to clean finish with the tumbled tiles reserved for the backsplash. Slightly wider grout lines will also add dimension to a rustic floor. If your kitchen design is sleek and modern, choose a more uniform travertine tile and use thinner grout lines. The finished travertine flooring will blend perfectly with your décor.
With minimal care, a travertine tile floor should last as long as your home. Your natural stone floor should be a one time investment. Other than routine damp mopping and picking up spills, all that is necessary is a yearly application of stone sealer.
