the picture of your space is not well lit....makes it difficult for viewers..... I would get a new floor. I would try to avoid anything to cabinets except painting the island...or get a new island with drawers since a new floor would be going in..... New counters??? counters and splash after you use the utmost discretion in working on the cabinetry.....wait and see what exists for money for counters , when you shift around the priorities a bit.........Right now I would bring in many other floor samples, and hold off on refinishing. If cabinets are in good shape what is the rationale for refinishing? it would be huge to refinish the number of cabinets..... and to what end result?

here are two quite different floors with birch cabinetry.....porcelain tiles..always a classic floor if you want tile.....then the interesting hex floor w soapstone counters....simple and beautiful.

Wentworth Drive Kitchen, Bedford · More Info

Bungalow Kitchen · More Info

Suggest you look some more at counter samples. Those samples you have seem to blend into the floor so neither one attracts attention. Who will be boss? Choose backsplash last. Avoid the double backsplash look like is there now, should be tile all the way with no 4” piece on the counter.

What is the floor finish surrounding the kitchen? Wood? Carpet? Picking a kitchen floor is just as much about that relationship as it is with the cabinets. Go back to the drawing board with your kitchen inspiration finishes in your ideabook. You are all over the place with your 66 images so just focus on kitchens with birch cabinets. Do not get swayed by any other images. This will help you narrow down what’s right for you. I agree with herb about the refinishing of the cabinets - have you actually gotten quotes and know the results you would get with refinishing? Also, don’t even worry about backsplash until you solve the floor. Also hard to tell if your home has wood trim or painted? Paint would be selected last after all other selections are made.

thinkdesignlive Thank you. The floor in the room adjacent to the kitchen is birch wood. I don't have much choice in terms of the floor than to put tiles. The tile will be going in the kitchen, the entrance, the hallway, the kitchen table area and the mudroom. The floor needs to be redone in that our tiles are cracking. The trim all over the home is white. So far I have picked the Olympia Glam series Tortora a neutral, good-for-traffic area tile. ( see picture above )

The wood of the kitchen cabinets is in good shape, but some doors need to be refreshed. The wood in some doors is getting bare due to water damage or lack of varnish in some areas. Luckily, I found someone willing to do a trial in my powder room cabinet to see what it would look like and whether he could refresh the cabinets. I would love to redo a full kitchen however I was quoted $ 70000 just for the cabinets if we still want wood. I agree with you that I am all over the place. I will follow your suggestion and create a new inspiration board. Thank you for this suggestion.

FLOORS - If it’s not in the cards to feather in wood to match and then refinish all then a classic charcoal slate look for the floor would work….then you would have more options for your counter. So basically a reverse of what you have now - instead of dark counters and light floor think dark floor and light counters. Having both the counters and floor in a medium tone (with the existing wood cabinets) will look ‘meh’. You need the contrast of the dark floors to make your cabinets look fresh. Get a few tile options in the space and then post back with more photos. Once you have a good floor then you can take that tile and one of your doors to look at slabs.

Thinkdesignlive. Thank you so much for all your suggestions. I will go look for other flooring.

There are nice porcelain tiles that look like slate and you can consider a layout like this (however I would not do light grout with it - a dark grey to match would look more elegant and less busy).