daltile rittenhouse square is a quality tile

I think you made very nice choices in the end. I like the backsplash you picked, because as others posted about the glass.... it brings down the quality of the kitchen..... The flooring...I think it will work out fine. We are having the same problem. I actually like the wider plank but either would work. I do like the color you choose and it was my first choice....then it would have been a brown picked up in your original flooring. I hope you post pics when you are finished! Oh just as an afterthought....did anyone suggest you do the backsplash in the same countertop granite? That might have worked also, but it's a different look and maybe an outdated look also?....I think you chose a good product...bet it's gorgeous! Best wishes on it's completion!!!

Luxury vinyl planks were looked at at the flooring store and quickly dismissed, as was laminate. They just seemed plasticy. I know I wouldn't be happy with them right next to the solid hardwood. As for tile or staining the concrete, I live in Chicago. I like to walk around my condo barefoot. No way am I having tile or bare concrete for floors. That would be good for Florida or something but not here. Actually, the longer I have the samples here, the more I am drawn to the cork samples. They have a warmth and a natural feel even more than the engineered hardwood. handmethathammer- what I'm worried about with cork isn't so much the bikes. The bikes have always lived in the house and I've never had any kind of mess that didn't come undone with a damp rag. I'm more worried about the other bedroom which we will also do and is used as a bedroom. I have a very heavy storage bed. I'm worried about denting the cork from the weight of it. blfenton- that's a good idea, except I really, really hate gray. Also, it's a dark enough room that gray would look even more sad. I definitely want to bring in warm tones. crl- every floor guy I talked to refused to do it. Said it was just too much of a height difference. Said I wouldn't be happy with the result at all. So, all said, what kind of cork should I go for? I'm leaning towards the lightest sample at the moment.

presumably you don't want to *match* these pieces (which would make them disappear) but harmonize with them...? I'd go with a very light natural white oak or maple, which would be lighter than your current floors and thus let this furniture stand out. the other direction would be to go darker, like with a walnut-type stain. hickory is a *very* busy floor, so it would win any competition of attention centers...