When we bought our house, the previous owners had installed stick on vinyl "tiles" over sheet vinyl. (We still have them in our yet-unremodeled kitchen.) The tiles seemed to stay stuck down fairly well, as long as the tiles were fairly large. In fact, we discovered a nasty plumbing waste pipe leak that had been flooding underneath the original vinyl in our laundry room and bubbling up the vinyl. The stick on tiles were still thoroughly stuck on. Make certain to thoroughly clean your floor before you attempt to stick them down. Also, take the time/effort to plan out a good layout, just like you would with laying real tile. You want to maximize the size of the stick on tiles, and keep the lines straight. A poor installation job will be obvious.

We just installed vinyl tiles in our main (ha-only!) bathroom, replacing very old sheet vinyl. The difference with these tiles is that they can be grouted so they look just like tile. I think they're referred to as "luxury vinyl tile". The benefit of tile, yet without the coldness/hardness. Many of the major manufacturers carry them, ours was Armstrong. Although they're "peel & stick", a friend in the flooring business recommended using additional flooring adhesive rather than just the glue on the back of the tile. My only advice is to get the highest "grade" in the line...ours is only "better" and I can see minor scratches showing up. We purchased from Lowes so I expect flooring stores to carry better quality. But overall, it is beautiful and really does look just like ceramic tile. Very easy for the DIYer, unlike real tile it can be grouted immediately after laying the tile. Hope this helps, as I never knew there was such a thing. Here is a link that might be useful: Armstrong's Groutable vinyl tiles

Amen, Glenn. I started when I was 12 helping Dad on weekends and evenings when Mom worked. At 15, I helped during evening weekends, and summer vacations (and getting paid!) when he went out on his own. At 17, I went to the Armstong School of Resilient Installation to learn all that I could, which was before certifications. They confirmed shool completions back then but didnt "certify" as they do now. All my life I have been taught on the job and Dad pulled me aside when other co-workers and his bosses did things inappropriately to save time and cut corners, telling me this isnt the way you should do this, but we do what we have to when we work for someone else. Every facet from pattern scribing inlaid resilient sheet in a room full of pipes and old radiators, all the way down to professionally and expertly installing vinyl/rubber cover base corners. Nothing was too big or too small to do right. At 21, me and Dad had a falling out in business. He had his own busienss now doign commercial and residential subcontract work and was becomming like so many others we laughed at and despised for doing shoddy work to make a buck, then I went out on my own. I am not maligning my Father. I love Him and he taught me pretty much evrything I know, but I couldnt do the work he was asking me to do anylonger when I knew it wasnt right. He had changed. Business had changed him. Money and time was becomming more important that job quality. Business certainly isnt easy, but a time comes when it's either right or its wrong, with little middle ground. Whhen professionals hit that crossroad, then take the wrong path, it changes them, and each time they elect that improper path, it makes the next crossroads easier and easier to take the wrong path, until the day comes that money and time means more than giving people who trust use with their work a professional job. I am an advocate of installer and buiness educataion no matter how they go about obtaining it, whether that be on the job, through a mentorship, union apprentiship, manufacturer or distributor training session, or certification. If certifications are the only way they can get proper training, they shoud go get it. Consumers need to step up and make a fuss when anything isnt exactly how they want it to be. We live in a low cost wallmart and home depot world, where as long as the price is right, they can live with almost anything. As an employer, I instill in my men and women the same installation and customer service values my Dad originally instilled in me, and I demand that on every job. I believe much of the talent has moved to the commercial spectrum too. Its where the money is at. Interesting you should say that (about commercial work getting the good men). When I left Dad, I went all commercial for about 10-11 years before we started opening up stores. Did alot of traveling and made alot of money. Now we bring those values and quality to the residential sector. In the end if something isnt done right, it doesnt matter why.

I also would advise just doing the wood flooring throughout. If you get good, high end materials wood is surprisingly durable and the new technologies make it a lot more maintenance-free than past products. FWIW I also live in Florida and have engineered HW floors throughout my house including the kitchen and our DR which has French doors that lead to the backyard, and which is the main entry area for most of my foot traffic. Haven't had any problems with dirt or moisture anywhere. Also, if you may be thinking resale it will be a lot more desirable to have the same nice flooring throughout the house. Someday you may have buyers who look askance at two sections of a house with different floors, especially since you say your choice is somewhat unique and would be hard to match down the road. So my advice is get a rug for the craft room and a leak-proof pan for your washer and go with the hardwood. Ann