I have had both and think both ways look beautiful. I think it depends on the other choices you make. My choice in my present home was to go with tile. Reasons why...I choice dark tone wood cabinets, my kitchen is north facing, my wall color is midtone. For those reasons I choice tile to "lighten up" the kitchen. Had I of gone with lighter or white cabinets, I would have choosen wood floors.

I think that is a total personal preference thing because aesthetically they both can look beautiful. I don't have tile but from what I've heard if you spend long periods of time in the kitchen cooking or baking it maybe be hard on your feet and/or back. Personally, I LOVE the look of wood floors in the kitchen, with white or stained cabinets. I'm very picky about my tile grout looking dirty or getting stained and it seems that it would be much easier keeping a wood floor clean in a kitchen than tile. JMO and some things to think about.

Tena

Wood floors in kitchens are beautiful, but just not practical.

There are so many beautiful tiles out there in colors and patterns which would flow with your floors, I'd seriously check them out. You'd never have to worry again about high traffic areas or water damage which is my biggest concern.

I honestly would never do either, but that's just me...both are really common.

My in-laws have wood in theirs and they got thrashed much faster than the rest of the house. But they also never reapplied poly, which you can do every few years to stretch out your finish.

We had tile in our last house and I swore never ever again. It's so hard on your feet and back...it's an absolute killer. Anytime I had something to cook that was more than an in-and-out dash, I had really sore feet.

Myself, I like cork or linoleum. We have PO's vinyl right now, and it's not great to look at but easy to clean and very nice on the feet.

We have hardwood floors in the kitchen; we moved into the house 9 years ago and the hardwood floors still look really good; not thrashed in any way. Ours are red oak. What kind of hardwood do you have in the kitchen? Is it a soft wood like pine?

I also disagree with wood not being practical in a kitchen. I put white oak in 3 years ago - have 2 active kids - and it still looks great. Way easier to keep clean and looking good that the white vinyl that was in prior.

Wow- you are great! Thank you so much for your quick responses!
A little bit more information and some answers.
We have redwood oak floors with light finish. It's not considered a soft wood but it still got pretty damaged since we sanded it three years ago.
We also have two little kids and we spend a lot of time in the kitchen. We like the contemporary style and we picked glossy white cabinets.
As I said before- the kitchen will be completely open to the main living area. No walls. This is my major problem- if it was close- I would pick tiles without even hesitating just because it will be more practical. I'm not sure how it will look like if we have two different floor types in one big open area. I saved some modern kitchens photos on houzz and I'm trying to imagine how it will look like and see if I really like the combination. It's not easy to find open spaces with two types of floors but some of them look nice (I think).
What do you think?
(If you enlarge the photos with the two floor types- can you please tell me what is the material combined with the wood- tiles or linoleum?)

Thank you so much!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: my Ideas for kitchen floors

I used to think that the hardwoods in the kitchen was no problem...until we got a dog! I'd do tile any day! Here's a shot of our basement "kitchen" (bar) where I did tile--I LOVE it! I say, if it's too hard on your feet, wear your shoes :)

As another idea, have you considered brick?? We had that in our foyer in the old house and it was great! In the 30 years it was down, that brick was sealed once. No maintenance at all! I would do it in kitchen in a heartbeat. Also, you can have tile/brick installed with hardwood inlays. This would be a wonderful way to carry the wood theme throughout the space.

I personally have been happy with wood in my last two kitchens, but we have an open floorplan and I just couldn't see doing wood-tile-wood. If your kitchen is at a visual dead end, then maybe a different material could work.

How about Marmoleum? You could get a color that feels similar in tone to the wood, so there is not that jarring transition from wood to kitchen flooring shown in some of the photos you bookmarked. Here's a pic from my LR into the back hallway/mudroom/etc. It is not a drastic color change and transitions smoothly.

I think it also depends on how large a space you are working with. My house is fairly small and if I changed flooring, it would only emphasize that. If your rooms are vast, then you also have more leeway.

I have wood in the kitchen with rugs where the floors get the most abuse, which for me is where things drip and splash. A rug might be a way to make tile easier to stand on too.

It sounds like your problem is more one of floor maintenance... perhaps there is a finish that will better protect your floors. Do you wear shoes inside? We don't... maybe that makes a difference.

KarinL

Is the wood already there??? You would be a fool to cover it up!!
Refinish it....and if you are dealing with kids and dog issues, get a hunk of carpet, have it bound and lay it down the center....and in 2 or 3 years throw out the carpet and you still have lovely wood floors!
I have tile in my kitchen...it looks lovely and it is over wood....
But the wood needed more restoring than we had money for.
If the wood is there....go for it!
Linda C

Emily,
I was in the same boat until last month when we were deciding on the floors for the whole 1st floor. Our kitchen currently has white vinyl and every thing else is carpet except for the foyer which has wood. And my thoughts were just as what Amy said - "we have an open floorplan and I just couldn't see doing wood-tile-wood. If your kitchen is at a visual dead end, then maybe a different material could work." (not sure how to italicize her words so quoting them). Hence, decided to go with wood which also matches with our maple cabinets. Installation is next week.

Our kitchen lies almost in the center of the 1st flr and we almost have to go thru the kitchen(partially) to go anywhere, so I wanted to keep the flow going with the floors. If our kitchen was at a corner or dead end I would definetly have gone with tiles. I have 2 young kids too but no dogs. Planning to cover up splish-splash areas with the rugs. Good luck.

I have tile in my 8 year old home. We moved in 3 years ago and while living here, 2 tiles have cracked. We do not know where these tiles came from so replacing them will be difficult. Plus standing on them for long periods of time is painful, kind of like shopping too long at a home improvement store with concrete floors for way too long. If you have wood floors already, for crying out loud keep them. They are gorgeous. Get rugs if you need to. I love the brick and hardwood idea too.

We also have wood (red oak) and absolutely love it! I have 2 small kids (one with new roller skates!) and all the activity is in the kitchen (also open floor plan). After 4-5 years, our floors still look great. I do keep a few throw rugs in the main areas to help with the abuse.

We put wide plank pondersoa pine in my kitchen 20 years ago. Have raised 2 children & now have 5 grandchildren & an occasional granddog on it. I still love it. We had it originally sanded & sealed by mopping on poly. While it has some dents & scratches (Mainly from the dogs) it just gives it character. A few years ago, we lightly sanded & added another coat of poly to the very worn high traffic areas & are good to go for a while.

If you drop a glass or plate on wood it stands a chance. Ceramic tile? You are getting out the broom.

Former house had hardwoods...loved 'em. We lived in that house 13 years...with two little boys...no problems. Current house has high end solid vinyl tile...it's nice to stand on. Don't care for the color...but I'm living with it until The Boy is through college and I can re-do the kitchen.

I would keep the wood, just refinish them with a satin poly 3 coats. High gloss tends to show scratches must more than a satin finish.

Yep, I agree with Carol ~ keep them since you have them & save the funds for something else.
Have you looked at the cute rugs at Dash and Albert? Sooooo freakin' cute.

I've had them in 2 houses in the kitchen with no probs. But of course, my floors are distressed daily by life with kids, dogs and DH kid!! Matte poly is much kinder to scratches and dents:)

Smiles:)

Here is a link that might be useful: Dash and Albert rugs....

Emily

My first ? is what happened in 3yrs to the existing wood floors? - WHat type & how many coats of poly were applied?
If I had to guess I would venture that the floors were not properly refinished.

I will agree others who say have the wood refinished - esp given the application open plan. I would make certain that the refinisher is using high quality poly & 3-4 coats allowing plenty of dry time in between.

The key to HW in high traffic areas (that have been properly finished) -is to limit the amount of dirt/grit that really attacks the finish. Yes water should be wiped up, but unless it's a large amount and left for long period it is less of the evils.

The other KEY issue to protecting finish to HW in high traffic areas is to have a new coat of poly applied every yr - preferably done by professional. This is where most homeowners fail, they feel it is a hassle and end up needing a full sanding/refinishing. We put coat on our new kit floors a little more than 1yr following orig install - for a whopping $124!!! So glad I did it. WIll do it again in the Spring. Orig install had stain + 4 coats of oil based poly - the still look new

In order to reapply poly you must not use ANY oil based products to the floor - Murphys etc - this will not allow adherence of any further poly

Good luck