Some of the most memorable interiors begin underfoot. Just ask designer Jan Showers, who recently recommended a honed gray-and-white checkerboard marble floor for an entryway in a Highland Park home.

We've all seen the checkerboard pattern before – perhaps as the floor in a retro kitchen or as the upholstery on a trendy, Gen Z-approved accent chair. It's a pattern that's been reused, adapted, and ...