I like the first slab picture. Use flooring that matches the darkest vein in it. For backsplash you can use traditional white subway tile (the bigger size ones). It will tie in nicely with your antiques.

That is a good suggestion.

It is hard to choose finishing when you worry about them possibly being dated or too trendy. What do you think will be the next popular back splash to replace subway tiles? I love the large slab porcelain and the kitchen will have white cabinets but I am wondering if the veining will be too much on island and as a slab back splash. I also find it hard to find a hardwood floor that "goes well" with all the different types of furniture and woods we have.

Good eye it is the Mercier Crema ! I think it looks good with the porcelain marble look slab too so happy to think you do too. Do you think the Crema Mericer White oak hardwood is a trendy choice of flooring? The other one is Treasure Mercier hard maple and I wonder if it is a safer choice since it is darker.

As for the wood floors, always go with white oak, especially if you have many different woods to enjoy in your furniture.. The white oak is highly popular and sought after and it plays nice with whatever you put with it, wood tones and wood grains. For the tile in the entry way, with all the light colors of tile/marble/granite you are looking at, maybe you need some shock and awe?<https://store.aaaplusfloors.com/product.php?productid=43019>; They should just call this a step into Heaven? LOL If you like the tile kitchen backsplash, and are unsure about the subway tile, maybe you should just use the regular size white square tile, and offset it like so many do with the grout lines to give it the appearance of the subway, but it is square. Use the grout that is white also. Something in me thinks if you could find a same square soft gray tile that matches the gray veins in the countertop, looking at your top slab photo of tile, doing the white and gray alternate square tile backsplash might be very attractive, timeless and unique, and have the grout be the light gray in your countertop. Than there is this option, (as with so many times you may have to copy and paste to make the link function, or just go to the website and search, serene white bricks seamless pearl shell tile) which I think is timeless for the tile backsplash in your kitchen no matter which option above that you choose: wall tiles in Mother of Pearl <https://tilebar.com/serene-white-bricks-seamless-pearl-shell-tile.html>   There are variations of tones and colors if another one matches closer your final decision on the counters surface-- and these do not have any grout lines.

Hi b c- Your idea books are great, good luck with your remodel!

Will the wood you are choosing go throughout the house or only in your kitchen?

Maple is harder than white oak.

Maybe that is a good thing in a kitchen where plates and pots are dropped, and in a living room where people walk with heels on, or maybe you (or your handsome son) host dance parties?

The white oak looks a bit more contemporary.

The maple might go well with your vintage furniture pieces.

Both of your counter choices are lovely.

Have you thought about Rain Cloud by Corian?

It is beautiful, looks like marble, and doesn't have the installation problems of quartz.

Why not invite some pros into this thread and ask their opinion

Joe Corlett, and Sophie Wheeler for example.

Here are some photos of white kitchens with Corian Rain Cloud.

Raincloud Corian Countertop · More Info

https://gmm2012.org/the-20-excellent-corian-rain-cloud/corian-rain-cloud-seam/

Both wood choices are nice. Maple is slightly harder than white oak (white oak is harder than red oak), but if they are engineered they are pretty much the same as they both have the same structure underneath (layers of some other type of wood).

Also, dings show less in the white oak than maple.

I vote oak. Oak is a gorgeous wood and the color is beautiful. I also love the first stone slab (is that one porcelain?) it is gorgeous but I agree with your concerns. Will the edge look right with a thin slab? Find out what the edges will look like from your fabricator. Maybe they can create a chunky looking edge that you will like.

Tile ideas with pale floors and light counters...

Sweetwater Homes 2017 · More Info

San Mateo Kitchen Remodel · More Info

Cambria Quartz Berwyn Kitchen in Raleigh, North Carolina · More Info

12"x12" Herringbone Thassos Ephesus Greek White Lines Honed, Set of 250 · More Info

Calcutta Tile, 11"x11" · More Info

14"x17" Ribbon Thassos White Polished Waterjet Mosaic, Single Listing · More Info

Calacatta Gold Calcutta Marble Fish Scale Fan Shape Mosaic Tile Honed, 1 sheet · More Info

10"x12" Stretched Hexagon Metallic Glass Tile · More Info

Thank you for the suggestions. The tile and back splash ideas are very helpful as I would never have thought of many of the suggestions as they are quite bold and yet subtle at the same time. I love the Ribbon Thassos Mosaic and the Mother of Pearl. The inspiration photos reaffirm for me how I love the light airy feeling of the interiors with light floors and white walls. This combination makes my heart skip a beat so I guess that should be the direction I take regardless of trends.

I am going this week to see a porcelain slab counter that has been installed with a mitered 2 inch edge. When I see that I hope to not see any seam lines and then I will go ahead with the porcelain. I feel that because the cabinets are white the walls are white and the floor is light the calcutta top porcelain will give the kitchen the focal wow it needs. The Rain Cloud Corian looks beautiful from the photos provided. Last thing is how do I invite pros for their opinions as suggested ?

I vote the white oak.

I love it! I did a focal point with my granite as back splash on an area by the table. Everyone comments on it. I guess it depends how big your space is and how much back splash space you are talking about.

Do you have photos of your back splash? Our kitchen is medium sized and the island will be 6 1/2 feet by 4 feet wide. We have 9 foot ceilings so the extra height is awesome and the cabinets will go to the ceiling with crowns and stacked upper portion cabinets.

My kitchen is in demo right now. I do have a photo of the slab I am using. This marble slab below will be cut up into a slab backsplash and countertop

Boxer's kitchen choices 2018 · More Info

My hope it will look like this... I have high ceilings and will be having white shaker cabinets with a navy blue island. I love the idea of gold or brass hardware but DH loves the brushed nickel. I will have darker wood floors than below.

Westover Hill Renovation · More Info

That will look incredible I love your slab and think it will look stunning with the navy blue island. Is your marble slab honed or polished?

To invite someone into your thread, go to the search bar at the top of the page and type in their screen name. For example, Joe Corlett's is Joseph Corlett

Scroll down to their name for User and click.

Then go to the right where you see a chartreuse box that says contact and contact them and ask them to contribute to your thread giving them the URL of your thread and telling them what the thread is about.

Sophie Wheeler is the lady with the purple hair.

You mentioned looking at porcelain slabs for the counters ... you might want to search the forums for some recent posts of people who are having major problems with those products.

Thanks for the suggestion Have you had issues with porcelain slab counters yourself or have you heard of difficulties with them?

I love the white oak and I think the lighter tone is more functional as well as more timeless.

bc my stone will be honed. Thank you ~ boxer

I am wondering if I would be better to just do real marble rather than the porcelain slab as it is relatively new to the market. The unknown issues of cracking and edge profile issues versus etching and staining.

People have had issues with the large format tile. I would stick with quartz or another surface.

If etching doesn't bother you, I'd pick real marble over the large format tile.

Funny also how everyone is voting for oak and 7-10 years ago no one, and I mean no one would touch oak for flooring. Everyone was tearing out their oak floors and putting in exotics. Now of course no one is putting in exotics anymore and everyone wants white oak.

What that shows is that anything you pick today is not timeless but trendy so pick which you love the most.