I second the suggestion for the waterhog mats. I'll post where we purchase them if I can find the link - you can get custom sizes, colors, styles, etc. LL BEAN sells them too but they are very pricey IMO. We use them around our dogs water bowls too since they are sloppy drinkers. In addition to our entry way, we also use them in the back of our SUV's in the cargo area since we travel with our Boxers. Keeps the truck nice and clean and absorbs liquids. After my dog had surgery he peed in the truck on the drive home from the vets office (post-anesthesia, if I remember correctly) and I was thankful for that waterhog mat. Not a drop of urine on my upholstery; the waterhog captured all of it, and it was easy enough to clean -- I sprayed it down with a hose and some cleaning solution, left it out to dry and no residual smell whatsoever. They're awesome mats.

I'd also match the trim. And if you can, get one with a bit of texture to it. We put some in at the cottage and it is perfectly smooth and shows every smudge and footprint. The salesperson warned us about this but at that time the textured ones were quite a bit more expensive.

Thanks - I was at HD last night (for tile workshop that was scheduled via email, I got there and they said no, Saturday). I asked KD and she said their pre-made countertops were 25.25" so it sounds like modular factory made them, but made them 25.0" and didn't care about the walls being bowed (the worst place of course seems to be at my sink where I have a 1/4" gap at the wall and only 3/4" overhang at the front so I drip water down the face of the cabinet). She suggested I sue - but I've already taken $500 for the screw they put up through the same stretch of cabinet by the range, and the house was built 21 mos ago and only 12 mo warranty on workmanship so I'm out of luck. I guess I'm just going to have to hold off on tile b/s until DH lets me spend the $ to replace the countertop - either this "L" shaped run (6' x 11') or everything incl the island I just paid $1500 for June 2008. Good thing I have 1 spare door for sink (finish was bad on trash pullout which was the same size, they got me replacement but I never put it on). I'm just going to stick some oak shoemolding on to cover the gap at the back - maybe some paintable wallpaper? HD has beadboard and tin "ceiling" tile patterns - what do you think? Wish they had subway tile pattern I could paint. Pardon the mess - I've got to post better pics! Closeup What we're doing on island - all oak, no b/s

Don't get me wrong, a solid argument can be made for any of these. But what I like about glue down vinyl plank is its wear-ability and repair-ability. Lets say you replace an appliance like a dishwasher and when it gets dragged out a sharp edge of the appliance gouges into the flooring right in the middle of the room. With sheet vinyl your faced with a tedious repair that will most likely be noticeable from that point on. (Live with it or replace it). With the laminate you can replace the affected piece, but it s in the middle of room. So to get to that piece you have to take half the room apart (and probably have to remove some quarter round from the base board) and it never seems to go back together quite like it was. (takes half a day if your lucky and hopefully looks and feels right after its put back together) With vinyl plank you can heat up the affected plank with a heat gun or hair dryer, peel up the bad plank, apply a little glue and lay down the replacement piece and your done. (10-15 minute job and you never know anything happened.) Vinyl plank is superior to sheet vinyl in repair-ability. Vinyl plank is superior to laminate in repair-ability and wet area performance. Again this is just my opinion.