how about marmoleum?

Many colors...

Gray is nice

Here is a link that might be useful: Forbo

First, check to see if the refrigerator can be lowered, and look at the cabinet above to see if it could be modified in anyway. If you have overlay doors on framed cabs, it *may* be possible to pick up a little space since the cabs are being re-finished anyway.

Once you know your exact numbers, you can look for a flooring that fits the bill. A floating laminate takes up ver little space, or you may have room for a tile floor on a Ditra subfloor, which is considerably thinner than traditional tile backers.

If you remove the old flooring under the Ref, you'll gain that space. If you then replace it w/something of a similar height you won't have a problem. You might also gain some from Oruboris's suggestions.

Whatever you do, don't make the floor in front of the refrigerator higher than the floor under the refrigerator...it would make it very difficult to move the refrigerator (the refrigerator would have to be lifted up & over to the higher floor and if you already have height limitations it would make it worse.)

oruboris--the fridge cannot be lowered anymore--it's as low as it can go already :) We do have overlay doors, and were thinking we might have to modify it somehow, no matter what we do, but I'm not sure that we will be able to get all that much more from it...

buehl--yes, we will remove the old floor, but it is very thin. As much as I'd like to do the floor up to the fridge, that would make moving the fridge out impossible!

Lately, I have been leaning toward cork flooring, in alternating shades of brown, in a checkerboard pattern, but my husband thinks that is not a good "neutral" floor for prospective buyers. Any thoughts?

Here is a link that might be useful: country living cork checkerboard floor

Heyker,

Cork flooring is not inexpensive... sounds like you are doing the minimum to your kitchen to get it to sell. Not sure what the market is like in your area, or what the rest of your home looks like, or even what your kitchen looks like or how it functions. If you think a new buyer might rip out and redo your kitchen, wouldn't it be a shame to have all those $$$ invested in a floor that may be replaced?

Now the checker board might be novel enough to catch a buyer's imagination or keep your kitchen memorable, that may be good or bad...I would look at flooring auctions, clearouts, etc, and try to find a nice looking vinyl floor. Many of the slate/tile ones look pretty good.

raehelen, yes, I know cork is not cheap :( And yes, I believe my kitchen will be redone by the new buyers (that was our intention, too, although it never happened!)
It is a large, bright, well-funtioning space, but it is not updated. And I HATE the thought of putting down something new that will be immediately ripped out and discarded--that is why I am insisting on keeping the laminate counters.
thanks for your input--I appreciate it!

Check out RHome410's bathroom floor...see the linked thread, about half-way down...sheet vinyl that looks like tile.

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread: Does anyone do sheet vinyl floors anymore?

In a re-sale situation, I'd probably do sheet vinyl. Won't win you any friends, but won't make many enemies, either.

I love cork, but it would make a lot of folks nervous in a kitchen situation. I'd guess that it would be a big plus for maybe 10% of buyers, but a turnoff for at least half-- a lot of experts reccomend against in for kitchens and baths.