Less is more. You really are suffering from an excess of materials. Go with a wood floor finished as close as possible to the cabinetry.

If you change the floors I would use the same wood that you have in the other areas. That would give you nice continuity and make all the rooms seem bigger. I'd remove the small decorative items on the window sill and counter tops. One large arrangement of fresh sunflowers would make a lovely statement. If the ones you have are silk you might just want to donate them.
Place some bright decorative items in the glass cupboard....something that will stand out...maybe some bright yellow vintage mixing bowls. Since you like sunflowers and have touches of yellow already, perhaps you might want to use a bright yellow striped rug, yellow kitchen towels, yellow soap holder etc to complete the look.

I like it the way it is. Might add a great area rug and maybe add a color to the neutral mix. Good luck.

I would change the countertop. The black with white is too busy. I think the backsplash is beautiful and blends with the cabinets. I think if you keep the grante tops and cabinet any backsplash would still clash. You have beige as a dominant color. You could go with a dark wood floor, if you want to change it. I think the change of the countertop is all you need.

Since you cannot change the granite countertop or backsplash, the you need to go with a dark floor, an almost black wood floor. There are so many patterns with the top and backsplash, which do clash, you need to keep to a simple solid floor with no pattern. Otherwise it will be extremely busy and a mishmash.

Dark wood floor...YES! I love it, kind of a gothic cathedral feel and the dark wood floors will really compliment that concept...however i would change the cabinet hardware to something dark iron.

Hi if you do wood then stick with what you already have, two different wood floors is not a good option..so for me it would be either wood...or a nice neutral tile..nothing busy at all...you already have a lot of busy going on...its lovely but you just dont need any more patterns...and perhaps some white appliances or plain netural containers on the counter will help to balance the two patters...I love the shiny stuff too but i think in this setting it is adding to the competition going on with the tile and counters

I really liked the suggestion & the color sample up there. Floor's good, cabinets etc. -- how about painting the backsplash that color gray? Would look altogether great.

Paint the brick!! Change the hardware on the cabinets to black and leave the floor the way it is.

Saaay, I always wonder how these things turn out. Let us know what you decide, okay?

Love the countertops

I would not replace the backsplash because it complements the cabinetry well. It seems that you have already decided to change the flooring, and I don't blame you as it is a bit dated. I would go for a natural finish such as a slate tile. You can usually find them in various sizes, i.e. 12x12, 16x16, 18x18 etc... Since your kitchen has a lot going on, I would recommend that you keep the lines to a minimum by choosing a tile bigger than 12x12. Also, adding a nice sisal area rug would be a good finishing touch.

I love your kitchen. May I suggest that when designing a room, you need to decide which element is to be the star of the show and everything else plays a supporting role or takes a back seat. Personally, I could live with the way your kitchen is. But, if you are wanting to make a change, the backsplash would probably be the easiest. If your making a change to the floor, I agree with another comment that it should blend well with the cabinets.

By the way (as you've probably discovered) the floor photos pop out when you scroll over them, so they're fine.

Your backsplash is beautiful. It is a beautiful natural stone and it does go great with the cabinet. Like someone said eliminate items on the countertop, change the floor, find a good paint color for the walls and you should be done. You have to be real careful with the floor. Take samples and feel it out over a number of days, look in the evening, because the colors will look different at different times of the day, sunny day, cloudy, etc. same with color samples for the walls. the cabinets are beautiful. Why paint the items of quality. Then if you paint the backsplash or cabinets the color may not look good and you have wrecked what already looks pretty good. Try dark for the floor and then light for the floor. You should not mix woods. You will be sorry if you do and will be sorry if you paint the cabinets or backsplash. If you had a brown countertop you would have no problem.

Your kitchen is fine the way it is. The current flooring goes well. Change out the hardware for black and ... BOB's your uncle ...

I would put in hardwood floors. You may be able to match the adjacent hardwood with the stain. If you can't match it, I would accent transition by laying the hardwood in a different direction.

...After looking at your photos...its not so bad, really. The countertops are beautiful, and the backsplash is ok; Although I think its a tiny bit busy, you could get away with it just as it is. One thing I think would really make the space seem brighter is painting your cabinets. This may seem tedious, but with the dark countertop, it is sort of ' depressing looking', and I mean that in the ' design sense". Other than that , they are gorgeous,The boyfriend I have lays tile / stone for a living - he looked at your photos and said REPLACE YOUR FLOORING..NOT your countertop) For painting your cabinets. I would not go with ' white white'.. something soft and not too much of a contrast , but with enough light and not a lot of ' ivory'...and change the hardware, to a charcoal- blackish color ( like the one suggested , in the photo of a different post) or even a pewter, Nothing ' stainless steel- too much. I consider paint to be my ' friend' and many times..just updating with paint will make a really big difference and can change the feel / look of your room. As far as the flooring, my Boyfriend does tile.. He looked at your flooring, and said slate is expensive and not always the best choice for a kitchen. ..he suggests laying either a 16 x16 or 18 x18 tile, laid in a ' staggered pattern'...and for color, he suggested a soft creamy white or a plain shade of white, ( no patterns, as it would be too busy) as to not compete with your countertops and backsplash. he also said a grayish color or soft charcoal grout would really set off your space, and tie the colors together. just be aware that its kind of hard to keep up if you dont have the grout sealed. Replacing your backsplash could be an option, but he said if you dont like it after you have the floor laid..paint it..:) You could also paint just your walls; I have used this color called ' Paris Grey..adn its beautiful. Something light, like that color, in any ' grayish shade 'would look great. But with painted cabinets , new hardware, and new ' neutral like ' floor..we both think your kitchen will look ' near new"..:) He cautions you against using wood, or even laminate in your kitchen; not user friendly.; when you go with tile, its will last you for a long long time. :

Not sure why to paint the cabinets. Are they old? They look like quality cabinets. Painting them to me still leaves you in the same dilemma since I don't think the problem is with the color of the cabinets but the three patterns since the black top is not a solid black. Furthermore, the owner is asking what color to do the floors and nothing else. I like the backsplash. It has a tumbled marble look. I know the new look in tile is the subway but eventually it will date itself. Just because the backsplash has a white mortar filling does not warrant introducing white. I think your best is wood and if you think the color of wood you already have would look nice do that. This is your house and if you like what you have why would you paint backsplash.

If your budget allows, pick one area to replace (either the countertops or the tile). If you stay with the tile I can invision the maple cabinets working. Find a suitable countertop that has similar colors as in the tile. DO NOT TRY TO MATCH, but rather compliment. Perhaps use nickel or pewter hardware which would bring together both a warm as well as cool harmony. If you stay with the countertops concentrate on a backsplash that incorporates black, gray and white. Paint your cabinets white (although it's a shame to paint good wood if you really like it) and go with nickel or silver hardware.

. Painting the cabinets might to me still leave you in the same dilemma since I don't think the problem is with the color of the cabinets but the three patterns since the black top is not a solid black. Furthermore, the owner is asking what color to do the floors and nothing else. I like the backsplash. It has a tumbled marble look. I know the new look in tile is the subway but eventually it will date itself. I think your best is wood and if you think the color of wood you already have would look nice do that. I blew up the picture and your floor does blend with the backsplash. This is your house and if you like what you have why would you paint the backsplash. I blew up the picture and saw how the backsplash goes to the ceiling. I would change the color of your walls first. That might be the only problem. if you want to change the floor I think a dark wood would pull everything together. Get samples. That will probably help solve your uncertainty. Hope we get to see the final results. Your paint color is not pulling the theme together. It is a very nice kitchen!

Just to recap my understanding of the situation - livelove only wants to determine what to do on the floor. The items that will not change (be painted/replaced/torn out etc) are:

Granite countertop
Backsplash
Cabinets

And FWIW, I really like Scott Designs suggestion of moorish teak on hardwood.

May I ask if you're looking for hardwood or tile? If tile, I honestly feel that what you have now is working well with all your colors.

do a wood floor... I have not seen your whole kitchen but you have a heavy black marble... consider
painting the upper cabinets black that way you have incorporated the black ... just an idea. Also put
black pulls like iron on the cabinets to bring in more black.

Do not attempt to paint the backsplash - it will never look how you hope! Since you have lots of movement in the splash and counters you have two choices for your floor:
1) Choose a wood that matches the wood that is your adjacent room - but it must really match well for it to look look continuous. If not matching wood is available than:
2) Choose a large format non textured and non pattered tile in a brown tone that works well with the tile and cabinets. Also see how this tile looks next to your wood floor in the adjacent room. Add a lovely rug to the kitchen.

I do agree that your walls should be painted a lovely neutral gray such as BM Revere Pewter. I've used the color and it a very appealing.

Consider changing the cabinet hardware to be darker to tie in w the black counters.

BEST OF LUCK, it will look great!

It looks like tile on your floor that could be painted by a professional to match one of the neutral colors in your backsplash but not the same as your cabinets.

Yeah, I'm wondering if there's a russet town somewhere in the backsplash that can be picked up for the floor. The black hardware for the cabinets that someone suggested also seems as though it can tie a lot of it together. Here's to all life's problems being solved with a little hardware!

PS I have no idea where the word "town" came from in preceding, and take no responsibility! Did I mean brown?

I would go with a slightly deeper version of the cabinets for the flooring.

The floor look okay to me and as someone already posted change the cabinet's handle to carry the black a bit further then the counter top.

I found this picture but in comparison to yours I like yours much better
http://www.ikitchensetc.com/images/new_range.jpg

Wood floor to match cabinets as some have suggested. Although both counter top and cabinets are beautiful, you have too much going with the backsplash. If you paint wall, go with some color that is in that backsplash. If possible, I might paint backsplash a solid color (on the light side) also to make that countertop pop. Get a dynamite rug to go with the countertop. You also have chair-rail that is next to the backsplash. Make sure that is in some color that is already going on in the kitchen to unify it.

I also had maple cabinets and had the same granite as yours. I used 18" italian ceramic tiles in golden shades, the floor looked just like honey onyx, beautiful. My kitchen sold my house! Good luck!

Wow! Genevieve sent a great picture for you. Hopefully a wood floor of that color would go with the other wood floors you have. I wish I could find a picture with dark floors to see what it would look like and if it would work to complement with the black tops.

Onthefence is correct, livelove is looking for flooring advice. Right now, you have a tile floor that appears to do well with the back splash, but you are unhappy with this look. I'm with you on that. Although it "works" on paper, in your space it is giving off "too much" business...if that makes sense. I suggest you do one of two things:
A) Bring in a floor that very closely matches your cabinets; OR
B) A floor that very closely matches your counter top

I'm for the "counter top" match because you have black appliances. As a cork flooring specialist, I'm going to suggest cork...'cause that's what I know/have. But the ideas that I suggest can be worked with in other formats (tile,slate, hardwoods, laminates, etc).

A cork floating floor (or any floating floor for that matter) can be installed directly over top your existing floor! This is A HUGE BONUS! No removal costs...just new flooring. There may be a little bit of prep but in essence you can put down a floor without too much fuss/dust/labour.

I noticed your spelling leans towards the Canadian ("colour" is a dead give away). Feel free to visit our website: www.corkfloorsales.com. We offer free samples delivered anywhere in Canada.

But I digress. Here are some ideas that my help you find a solution to your question: "What to do with the FLOORING"

That's so strange... I was just logging in to suggest a very plain cork (or even allure cork) in a tone close to your cabinets as an alternative to the wood. I agree you can't put two hardwood floors beside each other that are different. Or match the counter top grey/black like the previous cork specialist said. I just put it in my kitchen and I love it.

..I also asked my boyfriend in reference to a darker floor; ( I commented previously , about the flooring) he said that oft times people like that ' dramatic look' in the beginning ..but it loses its novelty when its difficult to keep up, and will make a smaller space - or one that already has a lot black (appliances. etc) feel dark and enclosed. Hence, I did not even address that in my previous post. Personally, I like cork flooring. But he said in relation to your countertops, it might not give you the look you are really want.

I think the safe bet would be a floor close to the cabinets. You will not regret that. Cork would be great since you have other wood floors and the color of the other floors won't blend possibly with the cabinets. Or you go with a tile of a color close to the cabinets. If you go black it will probably show more debris on the floor. I would put something on the floor like dark rugs as a sample to experiment with to see if you like that combo before you do anything. If you go with a light floor you can have a blackm rug in front of the sink to pick up the dark top. The rug you presently have.does the work well.

I have a similar kitchen w/o brick backsplash. I have a hardwood floor that matches the cabinets and it looks great. Since you have the dark hardwood butting up to the tile I don't think that will work for you. No matter what material you use, I would get rid of the square tiles as they seem to add more to the "busy" (colors and patterns). They make several tiles that resemble a wood floor look and don't have a lot of color variation. I would look at them and try to match the cabinets as best you can without going darker. I think the subway tiles (mentioned in suggestions) are far to small and would just add more business. Keep the floor simple.

I agree with those who say the backsplash is too busy....most kitchens and baths I see in contractors' notebooks also have way too much going on--its best to check with a designer or friends BEFORE choosing...

I think the dark counter is throwing the balance way off. If you got something like a granite or the newer product with a smaller (no streakes) color bits and softer, it would be lovely with the back splalsh.

Since writing last I have gone through many pictures on houzz just to look at decorating ideas. I saw so many kitchens with wood floors similar to the cabinet color. Does not need to match exactly but they were absolutely stunning. I vote for a wood floor similar to your cabinet, a little darker. Nothing else.maybe you can refinish the other floors to all be the same color. Hopefully the other wood floors are not much different in color? Check out kitchens on houzz. With your black granite and backsplash I saw many pictures similar to yours and the wood floor was stunning! If you felt unsure about wood floors then a cork or whatever close to your cabinet color I am sure would be great.

OMG, so much information. Sorry i have not been on line, i dislocated my thumb. lol.
Thank u everyone for taking the time to help me.
I like the light hardwood floors or the light tiles. But if I do the light hardwood floors am i able to have dark hardwood floors against them? Or just be safe and do the plain tiles 12x24 in a subway tile layout?

@livelove I'd still suggest doing the floors the same color wood that you already have. Others said they could see it in your pictures but I can't. I wouldn't match the floors to the cabinets....just continue with what you already have. it will give your house a nice clean look if the floors continue the same throughout

You may want to click browse rooms on this site and then kitchen. You will see floors close in color to the cabinets. They do not have to match but blend. If the other floors in your house are dark how dark. Do you have any extra pieces of wood of what is laid down already and abut it to your cabinets to see if it works. If that does not work either sand the other floors and restain or find a cork or tile flooring that would blend. The tile you have now resembles the backsplash but does not blend well due to the black top. I saw some pictures of a backsplash similar to yours on houzz, either in the kitchen or backsplash section and the blend was just gorgeous.

Hello livelove. I hope that your thumb is better.. and that you arent overwhelmed by the amount of input on your issue.lol. Its a big contrast to do light wood against dark wood, with flooring. Not sure I would recommend that, but it is your home.:) I suggested to you what my boyfriend said, as he lays flooring for his profession; he said that laying the tiles " staggered" is best, or even on the diagonal . You are very welcome, I know you must have had tons of suggestions. I do believe that tile is the better flooring, for a kitchen. My boyfriend stated that wood or even wood laminate will not stand the test of wear, tear and time. He has just recently REPLACED two kitchen floors in homes that had laminate hardwood. I looked at your photos again, and I think if you wish to ' lighten ' up your kitchen, that will go a long way in ' refreshing ' it. I failed to mention that I would also replace the rug, when time allows ..to something that has a ' soft, subtle' pattern in the colors you finally choose to go with.OR something solid, to add contrast, as you prefer. In my kitchen, I have opted for contrast. I have a sort of soft apple green color, for my rugs. Green is a great color for kitchens, in small doses.. as ' green' signifies ' life'.. and growth. :) What better place for that .. than ones kitchen...:) Blessings to you and hope to see whatever you choose to do, in a future post.

I swore I wasn't going to comment again but -- re light floor to dark floor: possibly put a narrow strip of black stone (I mean, like, two inches) between the two floors. Your brain will know anyway that it's just a transition from one space to another. No stress. And if you do the other small black accents (knobs, handles) it'll help clarify that. You've tried the tiles. Try the wood you like. You've remained admirably focused on the floor.

I will say too that wood floors in a kitchen require more care. If you spill something you need to wipe it so it doesn't stain the floor. I myself do not like the feeling of wood floors in a kitchen but that is me. I would say to put a honey color tile or cork to,blend with the cabinets if you don't do wood. If you had another color it might add more business. I cannot envision a dark wood floor in kitchen but it might work. An interior designer would know. It might work to have wood floors of two colors but I would think pattern should be consistent but I am not sure.

I will go with dark granite tile.

Sorry about your thumb. Page 16 of kitchen cabinets on this site houzz has a dark wood floor with a cabinet color similar to yours. Dark wood floors should look great. What i saw was beautiful. Very rich and classy. I also saw a picture similar to your kitchen including a tile floor similar to yours. Only difference was the cabinets were a darker color than yours. It had a backsplash similar to yours, black granite tops also. It was also beautiful! Maybe these pictures will help.

I recommend lightening the tone in the kitchen by adding an off white flooring and off white backsplash. Consider a glazed tile for the backsplash to add some reflection under the cabinets.

She only will replace the floor, and not anything else. Everything stays but the floor.