Chisue: Exactly! I don't like a lot of the "faux stone" patterns -- too complicated, and I don't want to take away from the wood floor. I want something that is just "there." Hit on 4 more options today (at 2 different stores) -- two are Mannington sheet vinyls, the others are a sheet vinyl from a company I've not heard of. Have samples of the first 2 being mailed. (Plus today I got my first estimate, based on my I-wouldn't-bet-my-paycheck-on-it measurements. Yikes! It's been a while since I replaced the carpeting and installed the wood floor in my place, so I've forgotten that all the basics of a home just don't come cheap! Even with vinyl!)

In their online literature, Armstrong shows a stack of peel-'n-stick sitting on OSB in the second picture, clearly inferring OSB as an appropriate underlayment. Clearly confusing! As Armstrong’s more detailed installation instructions says this: Source p.50 There are certain OSB panels that are designated specifically for underlayment. And as referenced here by a flooring professional, some vinyl manufacturers advise against OSB without further treatment and a liquid underlayment on top of the OSB. I confess, I've only taken the easy route and just used plywood underlayment panels!

Sina, thank you for your response. You've said what I thought would be the best options. Considering we were not planning to change the flooring in the kitchen to start with: 1) replacing all the tile would be ideal but it is more cost and work than we have budgeted for. 2) Replacing the kitchen floor with the exact same floors in the FR/DR/LR is also not really viable either as they are inexpensive parquette that ideally will be replaced as well in the future (just not right now). Do you think it would be ok to use a different wood floor in the kitchen area but in the same colour as the floors in the FR/DR/LR (all the wood floors, bathroom and kitchen cabinets, and stairs are the same colour)? I'm concerned about the cost of wood flooring though. 3) Replacing all the flooring on the main floor is way beyond the scope of this project (though I agree would be ideal).

Since your wood floor appears to be factory finished or engineered hardwood, it will be INTENSELY difficult to match it. If you can...great but don't set your hopes on it. For that reason I vote "no" to continuing the wood. Not because it would look 'bad' but because it will be near impossible to find. Now onto the question at hand. You have counters that 'read' gray (regardless of the other colours found in them...from 10ft away they look gray = reads gray). You have backslpash that reads gray. You have what appear to be (photos can be deceiving) off-white cabs and a light tan colour on the walls. In other words you have a monochromatic scheme in the kitchen. That makes this a bit more difficult to deal with. Your hardwoods are a deep espresso colour (which mean you have a dark house). This would be easier if the wood was lighter...but that probably won't change for another 10 years....so we have to deal with things as they are. Personally I would say a 'vein cut' travertine-look porcelain tile will look very good in the kitchen. BUT any colour you add to the kitchen (gray with some gray and some off white) is going to have issues with the DARK reddish/brown hardwood. That's where things will need work. Personally I think the ideal colour is currently on your kitchen floor. It is light, it is bright and it is soft enough to work with the wood. An update at this point would be a repeat of what you have. Or you have to choose a THIRD colour for your kitchen. Right now you don't have a third colour. You have monochromatic. A blue slate-look tile would work but your kitchen will look VERY dark...as in 'black hole' dark. A dark(er) floor will require a lighting update, a paint up date and then furniture update. Dark wood table on dark flooring is a tough look to 'like'. That would mean you either update the stools and table OR you find a WHITE or very light AREA RUG to help define the table from the floor (this is super helpful when walking through late at night with the lights off...your toes will thank you for it). Think this through. And think through the hardwood as well. And think through the wall colours and the budget for new lighting (as in adding 50% more lighting).