I wouldn't put hardwood in a front entrance but that is just me. Do you have any hardwood now? I know that you are switching from carpets to hardwood. We have just put 1400 sq ft of hardwood in our house and I am amazed at the scratches that have appeared in less than a month. Hardwood in a front entrance with just normal street shoes (and the brazilian cherry wood is a dark wood and will show the scratches even more) would drive me nuts. I would have to put an entire mat down to protect them and then whats the point. I'm with your husband on this one. The style of your house will then probably dictate the type of stone that you put down. Is it elegant (marble), is it post and beam in a hilly forested area (like us -then slate). There are a ton of choices as you know. Good Luck.

When it comes to hardwood, trends are something to ignore! Why? Because hardwood is pretty much a lifetime purchase, and unless yours is damaged in some way, you're probably not going to replace it. So, light wood vs. dark wood, wide planks vs. narrow planks -- that stuff's all going to come and go. With that in mind -- as well as the very real concerns about cleaning dark wood -- I'll vote for a nice, neutral midtone every time. Not too much contrast, not too red, and (unless it's a beach house) not too pale. I think this is the wood that's most likely to give you good service and stand the test of time.

Do choose your overall look for the kitchen, thinking about what component will be hardest/most expensive to change if you start to dislike it. I wouldn't put wood look vinyl or tile next to natural hardwood - I just don't like the way they look next to each other - although overall, I think wood look tile is a great look. So, I would be looking for a natural stone look tile or vinyl - stay far away from tile with a pinkish undertone, and choose one that matches the overall warmth (ie cool colors vs warm colors) of the rest of the adjacent spaces. That will be about as "timeless" as you can get. Sometimes the classic black & white square look doesn't fit the character of the rest of the house, sometimes it is perfect - so keep that in mind, too.

That is quite a dilemma. I would love to help out but that is tough. Maybe a ceramic-type vinyl? https://www.homedepot.com/p/Shaw-Vista-12-in-W-x-24-in-L-Atlantic-Grey-Click-Lock-Vinyl-Tile-Flooring-15-83-sq-ft-case-HD88105062/308658025?g_store=&source=shoppingads&locale=en-US&&mtc=Shopping-VF-F_D23-G-D23-023_004_FLX_VNL_PLST-NA-NA-Feed-SMART-2150536-WF-New_Engen_PL3&cm_mmc=Shopping-VF-F_D23-G-D23-023_004_FLX_VNL_PLST-NA-NA-Feed-SMART-2150536-WF-New_Engen_PL3-71700000084477455-58700007168062769-92700064420034729&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw9qOBhC-ARIsAG-rdn4p628XIRlRFShfUdzGJw8eY_pAZiuWDe70u-OguLbnH3NRbE9p4XgaAqXSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds