Thank you so much! I just brought home some tile samples (I decided to step up and go for broke) and this will be a great guide - I appreciate your help

When we redid our long, narrowish galley kitchen and adjacent laundry room we also used 12x24 tiles. I could have gone either way since our surrounding wood floor is on a diagonal. Our tile guys recommended it go lengthwise (bowling alley) saying that is how they would lay hardwood in the room. I laid tile out both ways and agreed with them. I think the only time you get the "it makes the room look wider" is when it's laid on the diagonal. Can you lay some tile out in both directions next to the hardwood? Personally, I think it looks better going in the same direction as the wood floor, but it's really a personal preference. BTW, our tile is laid in a 3/4 offset pattern like in your last picture.

you can also try GroutRenew to recolor the lines. it's slow going, but it will work. test in an 'off' spot to see if it colors the quarry tile too. if it does, you'll have to be very careful, or try sealing only the red parts of the floor. you can try doing a darker gray, but these tiles were meant to have the lighter grout. you could also use a tool to grind down half of what's there, and grout in a color that matches.

Again!! THANK YOU ALL! Your comments have given me some direction and helped me rethink some things... I think I AM going to try to keep the cedar siding on the sides and front of the house where it is in better shape. Much of what we removed was not salvageable, but I'm going to take what is good and re-purpose for a feature wood wall in basement! Also thinking maybe I could create my own shingles from it. Anyway, I have ideas to look into and I'll feel so much better putting it to use! I LOVE the look of this photo, houssaon! This is the look I am shooting for, so thank you for finding and sharing!! I'm so grateful to all of you! Not sure how to thank you properly! Positive review for your business? Clearly you all have a love for this stuff and are very giving of your time with no expectations! You are the people I would hire if I could!!