Flooring: I've got it on the brain. We're weighing lots of options for the office project I'm working on now. My client is moving into a new space next month. It's filled with light, courtesy of fantastic black framed windows that run from floor to ceiling. Those windows look out onto Oakland below, and give the office a real sense of place. It has a good vibe, but the finishes aren't where we want them to be yet. So we've been talking choices, starting from the ground up.

Wall to wall carpet is the least expensive, of course, and what most of the other tenants in the building use, but we'd much rather do a solid surface material. The issue is that the client--a digital agency named Favorite Medium--is growing, and doesn't expect this space to be their forever home. So we don't want to go all out with this reno. We need to balance budget with the durability needs of a commercial space, all while hewing to the aesthetic goals of the project.

The client wants the office to feel modern and clean, but with an organic bent. We know we're going to do a lot of white: Benjamin Moore White Dove for the walls, white cabinetry for their kitchen and storage, and the space has stained wood doors and those black framed windows already in place. So I'm looking for something that will work with those elements.

In researching all the options, I was surprised to find myself really taken with this one: a solid green floor. Check out the following:

home of Frederic Malle, via Architectural Digest

photo by Pernille Kaalund for Bolig Magasinet, via Remodelista

photo by Brooke Holm via myscandinavianhome.blogspot.com

photo by Bob O'Connor via Boston Magazine

Some of those floors above are painted wood, some are lino or rubber. Given my project's demands of durability and budget, and our limited time to get the materials, I'd probably go with vinyl tiles if we did this look. They're a real deal at about $1 sq//ft, and easy to get quickly. They come in a fantastic array of colors, but, as you can tell, I am partial to the green. Depending on the shade, it brings either a real serenity or a bright liveliness to a space. And though we'd use a manmade material, the green color feels a bit organic, too. It would certainly be bold choice, but I think it could be great.

I'll keep you posted on the progress of that project. In the meantime, consider the possibilities of green!