Jeniffer Kim (@floorsandflowers) says that she is always on the lookout for unique Instagrammable floors around the World, whether she’s in LA or abroad: “In 2017, a few of my friends and I traveled to Cuba and I was hooked. From then on, I always try to find new floors to snap at home and while traveling.”
Here are some examples of beautiful floors in cities around the world.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
The “Met” museum is the largest art museum in the United States and has a permanent art collection of over two million works. It was founded in 1870 and opened in February 1872. Alongside the art on the walls, it also features gorgeous mosaic floors, like the one below.
Siena Cathedral, Siena
The Duomo di Siena began construction in 1196, with its stunning allegorical floor being crafted from the 1300s to the 1800s. It consists of 56 panels which cover a staggering 14,000 square feet and was created by a number of artists. However the floor is only on full display for a few months of the year in order to protect it from damage.
Via Laietana, Barcelona
This unique light clock is located down a passageway in the Ciutat Vella district of Barcelona. It was built in 1935 by watchmaker Juan Cabrerizo and is part of a set of two almost identical clocks, with the other being located on Carrer de Rocafort. They were commissioned by the Banca Rosés, who owned the buildings that the clocks are in front of.
Café de Flore, Paris
The Café de Flore on Boulevard Saint-Germain was opened in the 1880s and is one of the oldest coffeehouses in Paris. It is known for its array of famous customers, which have included some well known writers and philosophers – and it still attracts many famous faces today. However its beautiful floor is also something to be celebrated.
St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne
This 19th century Anglican cathedral in Melbourne was designed by an English Gothic Revival architect called William Butterfield. The floor is paved completely with imported English encaustic tile.
Bestia Restaurant, Los Angeles
It’s not only historical landmarks that have contributed to the Instagram floor trends; restaurants, cafés and bars have all jumped on the bandwagon too. Italian restaurant Bestia in Los Angeles describes its flooring as “bathroom tile work that reads as unfinished”.
What factors made you start taking pictures of floors?
Back in 2015, I was in Miami and came across the Art Center/South Florida. It’s a huge creative space where local artists can showcase their art. As I was wandering through the space, what struck me the most was the mosaic floors in the hallways. They were so colourful and fun – I just started snapping away with my feet in the frame. From then on, I always found myself looking down, hoping to find new treasures AKA new floor designs.
Do you believe Instagram has changed the way we visit and travel?
Absolutely! However, I feel like it’s a blessing and a curse. Instagram opens up so many possibilities to find new cool places that people may have never known existed, but it also takes away from people enjoying their vacation since they are obsessing over that perfect Instagram photo. When I’m travelling to a new city, I will always search for coffee shops and follow food bloggers; fun floors designs are usually nestled in cafés or trendy restaurants and the food bloggers are ALL over that. The caveat to this, is that many Instagram accounts are highly edited so the floors are actually not what they seem in photos. I’ve come across this a few times and feel a bit cheated but this is life in the digital age.
Would you say that floors have been classified as a tourist attraction that people actively visit when they’re on holiday, including restaurants and cafés?
For me personally, definitely! I plan vacations around “floor hunting” as it is a hobby of mine. Gen-Z and millennials are obsessed with that perfect Instagram shot. Having good and reasonably priced food will not drive sales in cafés and restaurants anymore – and owners have caught on. You need an “it” factor like a pink wall with cascading plants or a fun floor design or a witty neon sign. Interior design has been a huge factor for many of the trendy spots around LA.
Can you spot any a trend on floors? Tiles have been a trend the past few years, is there any other trend that you have spotted?
A trend I’ve noticed is tile shapes. Traditional tiles are usually square however people love hexagons. I’ve seen big and small hex tiles all around.
