It sounds like you don't want to continue the hardwood floors into the Kitchen? We find that this works well when the spaces flow into each other, even if we change the plank width or adjust the color. This also can be the most economical choice.

For a contrast to the hardwood floors (as well as a harder surface), a porcelain floor tile can be an attractive and functional option. I would suggest choosing your floor tile and countertop together to make sure they work together in overall color. The backsplash can be the last decision since there are so many version of "whites."

Hope this helps. Jennifer

This is helpful; thanks! I'm shying away from hardwood: 1) I'm concerned that the kitchen may occassionally have standing water, 2) even if we matched the original wood, the slab for the kitchen is about 3" higher than the current hardwood and I think it would look odd or obvious at the transition points. But it's something to think about. Thanks!