Personally, I think putting a reno on hold until next spring just means you have even more time to search for and consider the perfect flooring. Pick up samples of creamy cabinet colors, soapstone, marble, etc that you love and visit tile showrooms. Ask the showroom designers for help or just browse. Bring home samples and leave them on the floor in your kitchen space so you can think about them. I think giving yourself lots of time to pick the right materials can make a big difference in helping to limit regrets. This could be a good thing in the end. I'm sorry, but I tend to agree with melissastar that I just don't picture the tile you shared with the materials you have already selected. The materials you've already selected have a largely cool palette of creamy white, black (with a green cast?), and maybe some pale gray. The tile in the picture looks to have a warm tan/yellow hue with bits of gray. And they're quite busy/detailed. Also, the color is a more of a mid-tone where most of the colors in your palette are either very light (white) or very dark (black). So, for me, I have difficulty seeing those tiles corresponding to or harmonizing with the other elements in your pattern. I'm sorry. I am certainly no designer, so I could be wrong. I think it would be helpful to bring all of your materials together in samples to help picture how it will all look in the end.

Thanks, Martia8, it wasn't that hard. I knew the bottom grill should just pull out, it snaps in place with a tension system (a little bump that settles into a small depression). Then I just started unscrewing whatever I could. I got the door tracks out pretty easy, they were obviously seperate pieces. Then I took out all the screws on the sides, but turns out I missed the small spot welds that keep the face on, so that had to stay. Still a good idea to remove them so they don't get painted on. Be smart and put them all in a ziplock for safe keeping. So I set up with some drop clothes in the garage and used high temp paint to spray the bottom grill and tracks. Then I just recently set up and painted the rest in place. I used a roll of pre assembled painters tape with plastic sheet attached to tape across the bottom, then another piece to go all the way around the sides, extending about a foot onto the floor on each side. At the corners, I taped a little past the corner, then folded the tape back to make the turn and continue. That gave enough play where it didnt cover any of the face. You will need to attach the open end to something to hold it up, effectively making a tunnel. Wear a vapor respirator, turn off any possible source of a spark/ignition, and open all the windows. To clean the parts, I used a thin reusable microfiber cloth. I'm not yet convinced they are reusable, they're new for me. I just got them damp and wiped until it came away nearly clean. The grill that came off I could thread the cloth through and clean that way. The other one I used qtips. I used craft paper to cover the openings while painting the face. I love the mantel too! I got it at Green Demolitions for $200. I just used some wood putty to fill in a few nicks, then sanded it well, washed, primed, and painted with trim paint. I had the sand paper, primer, and paint already on hand from past projects, so it was super cheap. The other mantel made me uneasy and I hadn't realized that. I think it was the height and how top heavy it was plus hanging over the hearth. Just seemed off size and unbalanced. I love the new one, even though overall it is the same length and the opening is the same size. I told DH that going DIY I've already saved at least $500 on the mantel, probably $500 on drywall repair/hearth, and $1300 by not buying a new surround, so the new logs are already paid for :-). Not even counting the tile job yet.

Jlc--thanks! I'm slowly warming to the idea of maybe tile just around the firebox. And I agree that a darker tile/stone would be best. Slate would look nice and not compete with the Carrara counters. I'd have to see some sort of photoshop or mockup to be able to tell. Mtn--I'm not sure I'd like the balance of dark charcoal top with white bottom. I think it emphasizes my low ceilings. Robo--different on both sides is a viable option I hadn't considered. I also appreciate you sneaking a photo of that fireplace while at dinner! You're very kind. That looks elegant, and helps me consider the options. Hi Colorfast! Nice to see you too. I agree with you about the feeling of the fireplace. I had not planned hearths when we reno'd. The fireplace area you see used to be a gigantic brick mass of two offset fireplaces as part of the wall that separated the two sides of the house, complete with massive ugly hearth on one side. I was rebelling against that set up when I re-designed the house and moved rooms around. I wanted a sleeker look. At this point, there's not enough floor space on the living room side for hearth. On the family room side where you see little DD's art table, there's enough space. I'm hoping that when we are finally able to buy new furniture for the family and living rooms that we can add some sort of little seating by the FR fireplace. Athomeinva--thanks. The fabric is not my style at all. It's hard to see, but there's a metallic thread running through the fabric. And it's showing its 25+ years of wear. Although the settee itself is much too ornate for my taste, I'm never going to part with it, and I don't currently have space to put it anywhere else in my house. It's a very special piece to me. I hadn't thought about having to possibly paint the side shelves. Not sure. The sprayed on finish is so lovely right now. Hmmmm....

Porcelanosa has thin porcelain slabs in sizes you need. Used on my fireplaces. The problem might be finding good fabricator https://www.porcelanosa-usa.com/products/tile.html/porcelain-panels/liemdark-nature