I wouldn't worry about that. I doubt I would even put radiant heat there to begin with since you don't really use that space as a living area or where you may spend much time.

I keep thinking about the animal print...could I really be so daring?? I am also drawn to the antelope one, though I also really like the 4th one that Kellie posted (with the green walls). I'm going to bring home a sample and see how it looks. I have two carpet stores in mind that I'll visit later this week. I'm a little concerned about how the brown animal prints will look with the tile floor. I also kinda like this Nourison one since I have a thing for polka dots. One of my dogs is white and she's the worst shedder, so I can't go too dark because the fur will show like crazy. On the other hand, I don't want to go too light (even though we are mostly a no-shoes-in-the-house family!). I just need to get out there and bring some samples home. I'm so excited to do this -- I have been so tired of this rug for so long! Here is a link that might be useful: Nourison runner

I work a lot with slate (for roofs) and it has a nice rugged feel to it. What might happen is that, in certain circumstances, blows to the edges might cause it do shear off in layers. Note my lack of certainty about whether this would happen because I think it largely depends on how the slab was cut. Your fabricator can reassure you on that point, or ought to be able to. When I cut or split slates it never ceases too amaze me how easily (with very modest blows) I can cause a hard rock to separate into layers. What makes for easy fabrication of roof slates might be a nightmare if it kept separating along the edge of your sink cut out every time you accidentally whacked it with a pot lid, for instance. While it's quite touchable, it doesn't have quite the "pat me" warmth of soapstone because it always feels cooler due to its different thermal properties. That could be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on how you use it and your typical room temps. In a cool to cold climate having that much slate mass (absent counter heating) might seem like too much of a good thing. OTOH, if your mountain-y house is in AZ, or AL, it might be just the ticket. It's also pretty pricey, even here in northern NY next door to still active quarries in both NY and VT. It's even pricier than some granites and soapstones brought from far overseas. Go figure. However, at least with US-mined slate you csn have a reasonable hope that mine safety and environmental issues have been addressed. Not so, I fear, with stuff hauled out of Brazil and Asia. Slate is a really nice rock and I have seen gorgeous counters made with it (in showrooms, not in private houses). I would have it in my kitchen in a heartbeat except that I think it is too cold to work well in my wood-heated, but still very chilly (by most people's standards) house. HTH, L

Climate and integrity of the materials would be the first things I would think of. But flooring can always be protected with entry carpets or runners. I personally live in Oregon, and hate our slate front entry floors because of the grout. Very challenging to keep clean with dogs and the environment, even when shoes come off. A non textured wood floor would also be challenging though. If your wood has scraping or wire brushed texture I bet you’d be ok as long as you use entry mats and/or runners.