why don't you grab or order some samples of the planks you think you'd like the best and bring them home and see them in your space... then choose the one/s you like best and see what others think then?? it's so hard trying to really see colors accurately based on website photos... I agree that the cherry might look alittle too red in person- when I was looking at fiberglass front doors with wood look stains, the cherry stains that looked nice in the brochures/on line in different brands were too red in person and never looked like real cherry to me (I love real cherry- stained and natural)

Hi Sally, as the manufacturer of EPIC Plus we wanted to share a bit more information on the product. We’re incredibly proud of our EPIC Plus line and have analyzed its performance through and through. We understand your concerns regarding the reviews are working with each of these customers individually to determine the cause of the issues. Their installations do not represent the experience of the vast majority of consumers who have purchased EPIC and EPIC Plus flooring. We’ve sold thousands of square feet with amazing outcomes. The EPIC Plus Collection features a different core than our other engineered hardwoods. This core, called Stabilitek, is the latest technology from the Shaw Hardwood Innovation Lab. We went to construction sites, engaged builders, consulted climate specialists and hired the leading wood and concrete specialists as part of our efforts to create EPIC Plus. Like any hardwood, you’ll need proper installation to ensure the product’s success for many years to come. We recommend you work with hardwood flooring specialists who will see to it your floors are acclimated properly and installed at the recommended humidity levels. We offer several styles within the EPIC Plus Collection featuring three species: Hickory, Maple and Oak. We would be happy to answer any additional questions you may have about EPIC Plus or Coretec (as it is part of the Shaw family). Hope this information was helpful to you.

I totally feel your pain! Remodels aren't cheap and it's not easy for everyone to picture what something will look like before its done. I had a similar situation - I just didn't feel that I could afford to redo the tile in the entire house - so I only did part of it. Huge mistake. I "solved" the problem with carpet squares. You can buy just what you need, get pretty creative and install them yourself. I'm sure there are many companies, I used Flor. I recommend getting samples - as it's impossible to accurately assess color from the computer monitor. (Samples are free during promotions and sales are frequent.) I would also suggest that moving the sofa to face away from the kitchen will not only cover up some of the transition, but also define the space in a way to enhance the separation of the rooms.

Thank you groveraxle. The plan is now to replace all the tile. The space does get lots of light, and we have white woodwork and as well the bottom half of our walls mimics wainscotting and are white as well so I think the dark tile could be ok (the wood floors are relatively dark), but as I said, the white floor does really brighten the space as well (but shows dirt easily and it is in a high traffic area) so I'm torn. I agree with your point about the backsplash. It comes in a plain flat version too. We are converting the closet pantry to a pantry cabinet next to a desk and glass upper in the dining area. I could reserve the textured tile for that section.