Wood! Wood! And wood!

Breezy- LOL! I think wood is a good choice, too :)

We've had wood in the kitchen (natural maple) since 1990 with no problems. We've never had a leak (knock on wood) (LOL), though; and water drips from the sink or dishwasher haven't been a problem either. We extended that wood last year with the remodel into our dining area. I love our wood floor.

Lisa!

Have you seen this lovely kitchen by Lagrant (my first inspiration photo found here). She used calcutta marble (similar to your white pearl quartzite) with a travertine floor. This might help you to visualize your original flooring choice. Her's was one of the first kitchens I found when I googled kitchens with a eat-in island in place of a kitchen table, a decision I had struggled with in the beginning of my remodel, and by the way loved all the other details in this kitchen (including the floor!). I think this floor is neutral enough to meld with your choices as well. HTH!

Here is a link that might be useful: Beautiful example of marble with travertine floor

With white uppers and cherry lowers with a white counter, I would choose wide plank walnut.

I vote for wood too. I have a white/grey quartzite counters as well, with Birch floors. My cabinets are walnut with some white too. I like Adrienne's suggestion of wide plank walnut.

I've had wood floors in my kitchens for over ten years now, no problem. They are wonderful, easy on the back, etc.

Here is a pic of my floors, unfortunately you can just see the edge of my
quartzite counters, but you get the idea.

title="_MG_0913_4_5 by World as Eye See it, on Flickr">

Another pic with the white cabs and birch floor, you can see the counters as well.

Thanks Sochi
Your quartzite counters are famous and I remember them well. I believe they're what got me started looking for quartzite. Unfortunately I can't find your stone in Vancouver.

How did you manage seams with such a highly directional stone? Especially in the corners? I love the quartzite I found, but my husband is concerned about seams. He's the practical one. I would never have thought of it.

another vote for wood. i have just extended my random plank quarter sawn oak floors that flow from living room / dining room into the kitchen and so happy i did - they are beautiful! will post pictures when some of the debris is out of the way....

Hi Lisa,

The seams were a challenge. We had a seam disaster in fact. I let my DH (who isn't TKO) view the slabs and okay where the seams would go. When I got home after the install I could have wept. Actually, I think I did. The problem wasn't so much the linear nature of the stone, but the transition in colour/tone from the top to the bottom of the slabs. They placed a seam in the mid-point of the counter, a foot or so to the right of
the cooktop. Talk about a terrible location for a seam. The colours were way off, it looked awful. The other seam was in a good location, right where the peninsula meets the main run. The colour and movement were matched quite well.

They had extra stone and they replaced the whole counter run from the hob to the end of the run. They placed the seam where I directed, just to the right of the hob. The movement isn't a perfect match, but it isn't really apparent because of the cooktop. Also, as you can see from the picture below, there are interruptions in the linear movement in the counters. It
looks like a seam, but that is a sold piece. These random "interruption" if you will allows you to take some liberties with slightly misaligned seams.

My advice : be with your fabricator when they choose where the seams
will go, choose which bits of the slab you want where, and then watch them like a hawk!

Your white pearl will be gorgeous, can't wait to see it!

There are so many ways you could go.
dark chocolate wood stain, light warm wood stain, dark
gray chic tile, earthy brick, slate, A light gray cool tile.
Here are a few more ideas....
~boxer

I love this combination of warm cherry, marble and even
dark wood....oh la la

Thanks again boxerpups!
I think you're right...lots of options..
Right now I think I'm leaning towards wood and having the same flooring throughout the main floor.
I think the trick will be finding something that complements the cherry lower cabinets, but isn't too warm for the cooler toned quartzite. But I'm sure there's a wood out there that'll do the trick...just need to find it.

I don't think wood is practical in a well used kitchen. depending on how much you use your kitchen, do you cook every day? I'm going with flooring from karndean, the Van gogh collection. It's a top quality vinyl floor that looks like wide planks of wood. they have amazing color selections. My sister has this floor in her kitchens,and basements and the wear is amazing, plus it really has a modern cool look. Good Luck!

lisa,
Here is another pic of marble counters and ignore
the color of the cabs or pretend the uppers are white.
And the images below that one is another with wood floors.
~boxerpups

Hi there any feedback on your white pearl? Any regrets of pics