cateyanne, Check out the "U-Sand" floor sander and "Waterlox" floor finish. I just sanded and refinished my "new" master bedroom floor (antique heart pine original to the house) and had great results with the U-Sand and Waterlox Original. The U-Sand uses four 6" random orbit disks and comes with its own vacuum system; there was some dust, but not much. It also gets right up to the edge of the floor -- you probably won't need to rent an edger. Yes, it's probably lighter than a "pro" machine and it'll take you longer to do the sanding, but as a first time DIYer I found that to be an asset. (I don't mind a little extra time if it means I'm less likely to damage the floor.) Waterlox is a penetrating finish that is very easy to apply and, since each coat "melts" into the previous coats, you don't have to sand between each coat. (Next time I'll probably screen before the final coat because in an old house dust particles seem to generate spontaneously.) I'm very happy with the product and final finish. I don't have any floor-specific pics online, but (provided I can do this correctly) here's a "before" finishing (mid-woodwork strip and refinish) pic: [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd195/Synrgystyk/Bedroom%20Renovation/baseboard.jpg[/IMG] and an "after": [IMG]http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd195/Synrgystyk/Bedroom%20Renovation/P1020089.jpg[/IMG] The lower right corner of the "after" pic shows the same area of flooring as in the "before" pic. HTH Lorree

Do you want a monochromatic color scheme or do you have enough of the browns, golds, and other warm colors and need a gray or grayish green to complement the other materials?

I always tell my clients to wait before doing anything major like flooring in a new house . How that kitchen functions for you will be a huge deciding factor IMO . I don’t see the whole space so can’t comment on the layout but honestly a non functional kitchen will make you nuts in no time .Do you love the cabinet color is it something you would have done if you had the choice? I know its a pain but flooring is a huge investment through a whole house so take your time.

If you have enough natural light in your kitchen, white walls will make your upper cabinets “disappear” for a cleaner look so your beautiful blue counters and backsplash can stand out. Blue and white is a beautiful combination. There are so many undertones to white—yellow, blue, pink (ugh!), green… If you want to go that route, make sure you do your research and sample test. The wrong white against your current white cabinet may contrast badly. It’s usually best to match whites against each other or at least be in the same undertone.