Jama, is that a typo? Is your home an 1870s center hall Dutch colonial or a 1970s center hall Dutch colonial? (Usually when someone's worried about ruining a house with a remodel, it's a historic house they're talking about.)

jama, wood would be the most appropriate flooring for the home you describe, whether it is from the 1870s or 1970s. Painted cabinets in a cream, wwhite, soft green, colonial blue, etc. would also be a good match. The dark cherry cabs are now over as completely as golden oak, and the newer kitchens are more modern and streamlined. A plain shaker door or raised panel, no "rope" molding or anything fussy like that, and no paint glazing... you're almost always better off selecting fewer finishes and buying the best quality you can afford. Granite countertops are still a preferred material and can tie together the colors of wood and cabinet paint. If you live in a very cold climate an Aga stove would be a wonderful addition. They are expensive but you can find reconditioned ones. Good luck!

I think you could pick up on the brick in the den & use a red brick floor tile for the kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: Brick Floor Tiles

I think she meant 1970 because she makes a mention of the 70's in another part of her post. If it's a dutch colonial it probably was built to look like it was built in the 20's or 30's. I really think if you don't do anything crazy you'll be OK. Nothing too modern. Our house was built in 1928 and we want to make sure it fits the house too.

I googled "Dutch Colonial" and found this:

Here is a link that might be useful: Very pretty

I'd second the recommendation for brick. I live in a town of 18th century homes and all of them that still have their original kitchens have brick floors. If you can't (or don't want to) use 1/2" brick pavers, there are 1/4" ceramic tiles that do a nice job of imitating a heavily waxed brick.

I agree with kswl that a simpler door style will recreate the colonial look better than something with a lot of detail. I disagree that cherry (or mahogany) is over in a period kitchen. The period look is not about what's in or out, but what's historically appropriate. However, if you're worried about resale with a 1970's dutch colonial, you may want to give more thought to what's "in" in your neighborhood.

Thanks so much for the responses! Yes, my house is from the 1970s - that was no typo. It has a definite colonial style to it, though.

Kswl - thanks so much for your very helpful comments! If I did go with wood floors and painted cream color cabs, what granite would you choose to tie it together? Could I choose a honed golden granite or silestone similar to my wood floor color? Would golden counters still keep a "colonial" look going? Any better choices?

Cilantro and lmarletto - I see what you are saying about brick-like tile being a good floor choice - it would be pretty and certainly be easier than wood to keep undamaged. I would need to switch the in the entrance slate for brick, as well, but I think that would look good.

What type of cabs would go well with the brick? I will have to search for more kitchen photos using brick!

Thanks again for all the help!

Jama

Jama, brick floors are beautiful but they can be very tiring to stand on in the kitchen, and anything that drops on them will break. Wood is a more forgiving surface, both on your knees and feet and on your possessions.

I love brick in a kitchen, and suggest you use it on a wall or for your backsplash, especially behind your cooktop.

I would not change your slate entry.

I would select your paint color, then take a sample of the flooring and the paint (not a paint chip, but a good-sized piece of wood or drywall that has been painted with your cabinet color) to a granite showroom and find the type that best ties together the colors and appeals to you most. Since you don't actually have a period house, per se, you don't need to worry about preserving any historicity, but rather you want it to be in keeping with the style. Granite counters are appropriate to almost every style unless you are doing a restoration project (and then wood counters would probably be in order).

Hi... I too have a center entry colonial w/ lots of dark wood and my old kitchen (torn out 6 mos. ago) also had a red brick wall. I have a huge red brick fireplace in the adjoining family room and was initially convinced I needed to include red brick in my new kitchen. But I've emailed some pics of the beautiful stone that I ended up using for the backsplash/hearth/accent wall instead. Also, I put in light colored cabinets with a chocolate glaze, and I cook constantly for my four teenage sons, and I am a slob, and 6 months later the cabinetry is still gorgeous. Smudges look like the glaze. I have dark wood trim and dark wood beams and the creamy cabinets really lightened everything up. Also, I have hardwood everywhere, and love it in my kitchen. It's easy on my legs and it's easy to vacuum or sweep. Also, it hides lots of dirt! Good luck!

I also don't think you'd need to change the slate in the entry. Does it have a color you can work off of and love for the kitchen?

If you don't think light painted cabinets will suit your taste or lifestyle, then don't use them, or use them sparingly and do the rest in a wood. There are so many colors and species of wood to choose from. ...Or one of my favorite kitchens is one of Crown Point's 'Early American' kitchens done in black painted cabinets with a combo of wood and grayish granite counters...So light colors are not your only option with paint. I've seen 'Colonial' done in reds, greens, and gray blues. What other colors are going on in your house (on architectural elements as well as your other furnishing and decor)? What other color of wood? Is all the trim painted or wood? I think that besides continuity of style it is good to have continuity of the architectural detail colors, like on wood trim.

Keeping it simple is good advice, since that always seem to better stand the test of time and fit into more types of styles and decor. If the builder wasn't fanatical about doing authentic colonial details, which would give you cues from which to work, I wouldn't worry enough about the integrity of the 1970s version as to limit all of your material options, like granite color. You just want to avoid styles that will jump out as being different from the rest of the home...as if you've stepped into a different house. But you should have the flexibility to allow your own personal preferences and style to shine through.

Here is a link that might be useful: crown-point black kitchen

That site is wonderful, rhome! There are some beautiful kitchens featured on the early American menu--and on all od them, for that matter!

You might also check out the David T. Smith website. There are some beautiful kitchens there.

Here is a link that might be useful: David T. Smith

The first pic is a house about 10 y.o. and shows one form of colonial. It was built as a reproduction, BUT IS NOT in the kitchen - it just has a bunch of colonial millwork. The second is a house about 15 y.o., its very modern, but in a colonial location and a blend between an impression of colonial and an impression of georgian.

I think they both work well.
{{!gwi}}

Jama--I agree with the others that you don't need to switch out the slate. Slate really is the perfect flooring for foyers because it can take all kinds of abuse. Plus, it is slip resistant--another factor in its favor for rainy/ snowy country.

Thanks so much for the advice and links. You have given me so much to think about.

I am convinced I should keep the slate in the foyer (which I love) and put wood in the kitchen. Thanks for helping me make that decision!!

Rhome, thanks for forwarding the crown point link. The black crown point kitchen is stunning, but I also love the painted blue one at the same site, and I think it would go better with my home. The slate in my foyer is a very deep blue - almost black - and seems to go better with the blue kitchen.

I guess now the question is: do I have the guts to choose blue?! Cream seems like such a safer choice - we may need to move one day. I guess I will need to think about that one awhile. . .

bmorepanic - I get your point regarding making the kitchen "have the impression" of a colonial. That is what I will work on achieving -

Thanks again so very much !

Jama

Here is a link that might be useful: blue kitchen

After I posted, I was sad I hadn't encouraged you to look at the whole Early American portfolio, so I'm glad you did. Each kitchen had a Colonial bent, but are so different from each other, like the 2 Bmorepanic posted. (I LOVE the 2nd one.) I don't think you need to be afraid of a gray-blue, especially in a Colonial house. Classic and not trendy. It will appeal to those who want something different than every other house, and stand out in a potential buyer's memory. It will look like it 'goes' with the house if it coordinates with the slate, so it sounds like a beautiful choice, even though I don't usually choose blue. You can't guess what others may like, and you don't want to give up something you'll prefer and have regrets over for the years you're there. And what if you don't move?

I love the blue-do it -it's beautiful!!