If you feel you're "stuck" with tile, there are still options. Have you considered cork? It can complement hardwood without clashing. It's much more forgiving in terms of showing dirt, etc. Super comfy. As durable (or more so) as hardwood. I put it in my kit and love it (so I'm not biased or anything). :)

Of course, there are more options like lino, rubber, etc. but I am only here to push my cork agenda. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: DuroDesign

Also consider looking at something that would be similar in color to the soapstone (in a porcelain tile) That way, although it won't be dark like the brazilian cherry it will be a dark floor and be less of a contrast with it.

I think the cork is also a good idea if you can find one that goes well with the brazilian cherry.

What about grey slate tile? I know you didn't want the maintenance of real stone, but slate can be pretty low maintenance and gives you that "old farmhouse stone floor" look.

I would do a checkerboard on the diagonal with the 20" tiles in the Parisian White and one of the darker tiles that compliments your soapstone. Look at the Empire series by Crossville. Comes in polished and matte. Link below. Also download their brochure while there. Would be very pretty.

Here is a link that might be useful: Empire Series

Cork does sound like a good idea. I like linoleum (the real stuff, not vinyl), but I'm not sure it would be the right style to compliment your island or table. Are you at all worried about tile being too hard or uncomfortable?

If you want that French country look check out the tiles from Tagina. Click on the "Rustic" tab.

Here is a link that might be useful: Tagina Tile

Have you considered Marmoleum? They have some neat checkerboard patterns. It is a very durable floor the possibilities are endless.

Here is a link that might be useful: Marmoleum

We were ready to settle for tile as the rest of the house is old-growth red oak and we didn't think anything would look right against it. Our contractor removed two ancient layers of linoleum and found a glue-encrusted Douglas fir subfloor. Sanded, finished in a medium stain, and voila! Rustic and most lovely perfection. People pay big bucks for what was hidden under our checkerboard linoleum the whole time!

We love wood. It is so much easier on the feet than tile. Do consider all options before capitulating!

Thanks all so much for the replies.

re: Cork -you know, I have gone a couple of times and looked at it, but it just doesn't sing to me, I don't know why. I have never seen it installed though, and wish I could.

re: Slate -we have a slate-look tile elsewhere in the house which we LOVE. But I'd really like the soapstone to pop and so am thinking that I will leave the other surfaces light to mid-tone.

The Empire Series I definately want to go look at. Hadn't even considered checkerboard, though I can imagine how interesting that would look.

That Tagina is to DIE FOR! Seriously beautiful. I am definately going to chase that down! Seems spot-on in terms of the old French farm house look.

Marmoleum- I first started looking at this a couple of years ago. It really intrigues me and I love the look. But I am a little nervous to consider it because people just do not use it here in the kitchen. We may sell this house in five-to-seven years...

yesdear -you are so lucky. What a dream. Unfortunately our house is only twenty years old... nuthin under the existing tile but concrete... I have looked at reclaimed wood, just thinking it would wear better. But I've only been able to view it on the internet, not IRL. Wish there was someone local that could show me some.

Thank you all so much!

Not to confuse you, but if you love hardwood, I can attest to its hard-wearingness in the kitchen, and we're not easy on the floors. What scratches might be there (and I can't see any that jump out) just look like they're part of the space. It looks and feels great. We get many compliments.

That said, for the "nook" at the end of the kitchen, which is 14" lower than the kitchen and is being raised to be level with the kitchen, we've been talked into going with tile by our GC ... winning point: underfloor heating! Something to consider, perhaps as "compensation" for being "stuck" with tile.

Hi BestYears -

If you really want wood, what about a mixture of two species in two different finishes? Use something lighter and more wear-tolerant for the body of the kitchen floor, and trim it out with a border of your Brazillian Chery? That way, the majority of the hard-wearing areas will be in a more forgiving wood, but the border will tie it all together and make it look intentional -- a design feature rather than a mismatch.

Or go with tile. It wears like iron and can take the abuse you'll give it with grace, and it's more comfortable than most people think.

As far as obsessing over which tile -- I'm SO guilty of that -- so I suspect you may be over-thinking it also. If your goal for the floor is to be a neutral background that will wear well, then there are hundreds of tiles that will do that. Or, if you want the tile to be a design feature in its own right (like the checkerboard idea), then that's cool too. But the thing to do first is to decide what role you want your flooring to play. Think about it, then write it down -- yes, seriously -- pencil and paper:

"My ideal flooring will:

- be a neutral background to my creamy cabinets and soapstone, wearing like iron, not showing any dirt, and fading quietly into the background -- something that won't be noticed so the eye can focus on my fabulous table and countertops. (If you want 'background', then virtually any subtle stone-look porcelain that blends nicely with your cabinet color and hides dirt will be a great choice.)

OR

- will enhance the earthy and rustic feeling, toning down the formality of the painted cabinets and bringing a more casual feeling to the kitchen -- while wearing like iron. (If you want 'earthy and casual', then a slate or slate-look would be perfect.)

OR

- will join the light cabinets to the dark soapstone and be an eye-catching design statement in its own right. (A checkerboard in the Crossville Empire in Corsican Creme and Elba would be made to order!)

You see how each of these very different mission statements would lead to very different selections? Yet all of them good!

Your kitchen sounds a lot like the one we are planning! We are going with butcher block island, soapstone countertops, greenish paint on bottom cabinets and cream for top cabinets. We are using wood flooring in the kitchen, hoping to create a warm, old-world feel. Would love to see pictures posted of your kitchen when finished! Good luck with your decision - we are still in the drafting phase and I feel like I am overwhelmed with "details" and "decisions"!!

I agonized over this issue a lot. Our wood floors are pretty scratched in some areas of our house...but not our kitchen. I think a lot of our scratches are from our dogs. Anyway, please consider putting wood in your kitchen. I'm really glad we did!

lanugget -could you email me more pictures? I'm really trying to visualize light floors vs. med/dark with the soapstone and cabs. In the Finished Kitchen Blog I cannot find anything with cream cabs/soapstone except wood, which of course I love.

Sweeby and other wood lovers... you are bad! Now I am back to thinking well maybe I CAN have wood... Seriously Sweeby, that trim with cherry idea is very interesting...
It's funny because our bc floors are so lovely, truly love them. And honestly, it isn't that they are scratched all over the place. Just that where they ARE scratched, it looks just horrid. We can hide it with furniture for the most part, but couldn't do that with a kitchen. And the kitchen takes a bigger beating than the rest of the house. Sweeby's idea really has me thinking. Because if the floors were lighter they simply wouldn't show the scratches as much. aaaaarghhh!!!

I'm using 12x24 dark porcelain tiles with my cream cabinets and soapstone-like (in color, at least) honed jet mist granite. It's AKDO Fibra in Black, which has a matte, linen-like texture (the texture is more subtle in real life than in their website photo, linked below). I love it! I will try to take photos this weekend, although the cabinets aren't in yet.

Here is a link that might be useful: AKDO Fibra Black

Very interesting looking tile fivealive. I would love to see your photos.

Sorry this took a while - turns out when I went back to the apartment, the floors had been covered up again for the cabinet install. I was finally able to take a pic of the tiles where the range will go. At least now you can see the tile relative to the white/cream cabinets:

lanugget

What kind of soapstone do you have? It's gorgeous . .

bestyears, sorry to tangent.

Thanks for the pic fivealive -very unique beautiful floor. I'll have to go to the store just to look at that IRL.

Wood wasn't an option in our kitchen due to existing floors and matching issues. I've had wood in the last 2 houses and thought I would miss the warmth. However, after living with tile... I'm totally sold and wouldn't want to go back to wood. I do love the way wood looks, but with a two year old, I felt like I was constantly cleaning up spills and such.

We went with a gray porcelain and used black marble with white veining as accents. Here are a few pictures. I agonized over flooring option for months and am happy with our choice.

I have creamy cabs w/ black honed granite. I love the tile I picked & now after living in my new home for just three weeks I love my floors even more. Here they are. It was bought from the The Tile Store, it is called Philadelphia Series Light.

Acountryfarm- I LOOOOVE your floor--

how do you post the pics so they are big?? whenever I embed they come out small?