Scratching comes from movement. Denting comes from DROPPING something. Since the machine will be PLACED on the floor (no one is going to drop it from an upstairs balcony). Staining is something you may have to deal with. You may not. Yes the feet may have rubber on them...but the small amount is fine. If it does stain a little bit, you can be content in the knowledge that you can always hide it with an area rug AFTER the work out machines are gone. Trust me when I say this, rugs and mats and rubber stuff can cause WAY more problems to a hardwood floor that 4 rubberized feet (per machine). If you really are worried then remove the hardwood (nope, not kidding) and store it. Then install some cheap cork flooring in there and go for the works you want. When you are done with your fitness studio, you remove the cork flooring and reinstall the hardwood. There. No harm no foul. But you don't NEED to do anything but put the machines down and live your life. Wood is AWESOME at being a floor. That's why the world has been doing it for 10,000 years (probably more...but historical records are hard to find on the subject).

When you say 'dark island' what did you have in mind? And what type of travertine. The traditional cut often looks swirly and is considered soft and full of pits (of course a higher level product won't be so bad), whereas a grain cut travertine (my favourite!) is a stunning linear look that can be a bit 'harder' (without so much pitting). The travertine might be the star. The cabinets might be the star. The ISLAND in a different colour is going to STAND OUT which means it will probably be the star...or the counter tops could be the star. All of this means you could have too many Divas in the same room. Can you share your pics for your flooring and your cabinets (colour and style for both cabs and island). Not to be rude but the question begs to be asked: Where is your Designer in all of this?

I haven’t decided on a dish set yet, I was thinking a cream for everyday use and I also have my grandmothers dishes that are retro and gold rimmed with green bamboo for when guests are over.

Do choose your overall look for the kitchen, thinking about what component will be hardest/most expensive to change if you start to dislike it. I wouldn't put wood look vinyl or tile next to natural hardwood - I just don't like the way they look next to each other - although overall, I think wood look tile is a great look. So, I would be looking for a natural stone look tile or vinyl - stay far away from tile with a pinkish undertone, and choose one that matches the overall warmth (ie cool colors vs warm colors) of the rest of the adjacent spaces. That will be about as "timeless" as you can get. Sometimes the classic black & white square look doesn't fit the character of the rest of the house, sometimes it is perfect - so keep that in mind, too.