I've got pets with their food and water bowls in the kitchen. They do make an icky sticky mess on the floor! I know some people use water on their hardwoods but the manufacturers say not to, including Murphy's oil soap which leaves residue. The steamer sounds interesting if it dries immediately without wetting the surface. I wouldn't worry as much with a solid wood. I wish I could get the real solid wood floors but will have to get engineered. I don't think they will wear and last like the floors which can just be refinished down the road if need be. If you have to do prefinished, the finishes they put on these new floors are a problem long term, imo. If you've got pets and kids they mar pretty easily but without getting the nice patina from wear like the old floors did. They seem fragile to me in that way. The companies also say no water so they're really not made to go that route. I'm looking for an unfinished 1/2" solid to go on my lower level slab after reading about a product called Monocoat today. It's a one coat onsite finishing product, oil I believe, that I hope will test out as good as they say it performs. It looks doable if you have to live there at the same time the floor is being finished and touchups to reseal the surface are easy, like tung oil, for the inevitable damage pets and kids will do. You can even sand an area and wipe more on, good as new.

If sunlight will dwell on the tile for a portion of the day, the darker one will collect and retain heat better--more useful for passive solar--free heat! Even in summer the dark color will take in the heat and tame the air heatup and will release the heat at night when the air is cooler--to even out the day/night disparity in summer rooms. (Plus you should shade those south-facing windows in summer--honeycomb shades? landscaping? overhang? etc.) And in summer you can put a seasonal rug over the dark tile to cut down on heat retention if the floor seems overly warm in places where sunlight touches it.

I just took a DW out of a home built in 1976. The DW panel on the original DW was so nice we kept it just in case we want to use it in the new remodel. Same for the trash compactor. I wouldn't let that stop me from using a panel. But, I must admit that I drink a lot and need to have my appliances be recognizable at all times...so I never do panels. (I'm kidding about the first line but not about the second). I like appliances to be appliances :) I'd look at where they are...are they all in the white cabinet line or are any in the black? If they're in the white, I'd do white for the DW for sure, but if the range is a highlight...I'd keep it black dear :) Make it a focal point with the island! Let the DW hide itself (i'd actually consider a panel in this case) and go ahead and do the black range. I have all SS appliances in my new kitchen...except for our gorgeous black enamel range :) It's the heart of the kitchen and I want it noticed. I have other black bits and bobs in the kitchen as do you...so it will flow well. Consider that panel and then do the range you love! And I have fabulous taste myself :oP So go with my idea LOL

I would be more concerned that the black/charcoal tiles will be a maintenance hog of your time. It will show every speck and crumb in the kitchen. You will be constantly swiffering, or you will be looking at the crumbs against the dark floor. if you want the charcoal family for floor color, what about going more to the gray end of that spectrum rather than black?