Patterned floors have been mostly used in middle eastern design for centuries.  Ranging from elaborate and intrinsic techniques such as Mosaic– small pieces of stone or glass (mostly the same size) are glued together to form a scene or picture to Pietre Dure- where small pieces of semi-precious stones are cut in different shapes and forms and then glued together to form geometric or figurative patterns most often used on floors, walls or tables; to Parquetry-where a similar process (in geometric shapes) is done with wood.  There are simpler and less compromising methods such as painted or stenciled floors.  Although many people would be afraid to commit to patterned floors permanently when a consecutive geometric pattern is used, as seen in these images, the result can be as classic and easy to adapt to as plain tiles or wood floors.  And the outlook could be simply stunning.