Hello, we need your travelling ,expert help. <BR>Designing new Hotel in Chianti, problem is do we lay carpeting or traditional Florentine tiles.Truly appreciate any input and comments.

I am an interior designer and am very conscious of this sort of detail in hotels when I travel. If you are planning to use other traditional building materials and accessories, carpeting would seem to be somewhat out of place in the Italian countryside. If, however, you are designing some sort of slick, ultra modern, edgy hotel - well then I suppose that wall to wall carpeting would be consistent with what else is going on. <BR>I've travelled extensively in Italy - have stayed in private homes, various sorts of hotels and have rented a house and an apartment. I cant ever remember seeing wall to wall carpeting in any of these places. One final note - Italy is hot in the summer - traditional materials (stone, stucco, tile flooring, etc) are so helpful in keeping interiors cool. <BR>

I have visited over a thousand hotel rooms as a correspondent for the major travel-agent hotel "bible" (no ads her, but it is the #1 source of hotel info for booking clients). Anyway, I have walked on many floor surfaces in many rooms throughout the world and *strongly* suggest the traditional tiles. A few reasons: cleanliness, sense of place, beauty, allergies, durability and cost--certainly in the long run. Travelers appreciate knowing they are in Chianti, not Cleveland, and one of the joys of traveling so far is enjoying regional products and traditional craftsmanship such as Florentine tile. I commend your posting; no doubt the hotel will reflect your care in other ways as well.

Would also suggest putting radiant-heating under the tiles. Heating from the floor up is much more efficient (as heat rises) plus the psychological factor of having warm feet helps the rest of a body feel warmer. <BR>

Hello, <BR>Tile, tile, tile. We just returned from a month in Tuscany and when I walked into my home I thought, this carpet has got to go? Tile with beautiful rugs and/or runners as accents would be my vote.

Tiles! They say "Italy" more than carpeting does. Also, carpeting retains the odor of every cigarette ever smoked in the room. Tiles are much cleaner.

<BR>I forgive you for even MENTIONING carpeting compared to Italian tile! (and the radiant heat idea is excellent, especially in the bath.) I had similar thoughts to Jennifer's years ago when we decided to remodel part of our house. Italian tile won hands down (hadn't even been to Italy back then, but fell in love with the tile in Mexico). <BR>

Love the idea of tile. The only "down side" of tile is what I have found with the lovely tile in my kitchen: Drop something on it (like glass or china) and kiss the item goodbye. In a hotel setting, clothing items are rarely breakable and it should be ok.