Initially I would have suggested going something period appropriate in white tile (penny tile etc) but on further examination of the interior a large format grey slate looking porcelain would be much more in keeping with this homes style. In authentic English kitchens in period homes (such as Tudor etc) slate was the only flooring one would find beyond wood. It's classic and ages well, and with a white kitchen could look amazing.

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This could be a good mix of what you are looking for and at the same time funky and fun.

I have had an oak hardwood floor in my kitchen for about 15 years. I will admit after 4 kids and two dogs, it could use refinishing. However, it still looks good - even a bit worn. it is the only floor I know that can look good even when it is worn:)

I think a tile is a good alternative if you can look again for something not trendy but somewhat period appropriate or something "stone look". Tile is hard and can be feel hard to stand on and cold unless you get the infloor heat - at least where I live.

As the flooring in your living room shows, solid wood is a forever floor - can be refinished many times and last a 100 years or more. Wood flooring would also warm up the white kitchen.

This is what I mean by "stone look". It probably is not period correct for your home, but it has an old, "been here for ages look" that fits well with this older cottage:

marmoleum or cork would be great in there!

My fiancé hired a flooring company to match the 1950 original wood floors in the kitchen. Everything was sanded, stained, and sealed (would never know the kitchen is new flooring). He did have a refrigerator fail and he came home to a big puddle, which warped some boards, but no one notices it except him. I wouldn't swap out the wood floors for anything.

A minor change in size should be just fine. My sister in law did that when adding on to her older 1920's home.

What a cool house! I think a different width board in the kitchen would be fine. There is always a small risk of having water damage with hardwood in the kitchen, but I think the risk is worth it. Although this is coming from someone with hardwood floors in the kitchen and never had a problem.....I might advise differently if I had history of water issue ;-)

I do agree to not get too carried away with a trendy white and gray kitchen in this home. And yes, please post pics of the progress; you have a swoon worthy home!

Yep...those old hardwoods need to be refinished. This is the PERFECT time to put in "matching" hardwood in the kitchen. You have the ability to throw it down and then sand/refinish EVERYTHING all at once. A stain that sits somewhere between the existing floor colour and the trim. Not as dark as the trim...but in the same colour family. That would look VERY sharp!

Beautiful space. If you decide against hardwood, then a slate floor (porcelain tile in a slate-look is even better) would be magnificent up against any wood tone. The blue/gray in the slate always looks very beautiful up against wood tones. That's why they are paired together so often.

There are salvage centers all over the US that specialize in recycling old hardwood floors, doors, windows, etc. The reason using old wood will be important is because new wood will not take the stain the same way and the wood will not have aged. If you can find old wood, your will be ahead of the game. I also know of hard wood floor restorers who specialize in this - use google. Don't rely on your contractor to get this matched up as he/she does not have the time to do the leg work it takes to do it right. If you go the slate route, be sure to use gauged slate.

Beautiful home! When we pulled up the nasty carpet in our 1912 Craftsman bungalow, we found original 3/4 inch oak hardwood in the living, dining and den. The floors in the two bedrooms were thinner maple and beyond repair. Our contractor patched and matched, then refinished everything. You would never know, and it helped us eliminate some hideous transitions between rooms. We chose an English Chestnut stain to help hide some flaws, but if I had it to do over again, I'd go with something lighter to hide the dust and dog hair. A shade between your current floors and gorgeous details would look great! I also think a grey slate or slate-look porcelain would be beautiful. A black or grey and white checkerboard tile or linoleum could be charming and somewhat period appropriate. Have you considered posting to The Old House forum on this site? No shortage of expertise or opinions over there!

The rest of the house looks absolutely stunning!!! The kitchen cabinets look pretty bad though. Since its a 94 year old house you might wanna keep the integrity of the house. First you need a "pro" that knows what he's doing. If they say "paint the cabinets" its a dead give away that they have no idea.

A few simple things would update it. Have them refinished. have the bottoms where the wavy part is cut straight. New counters and backsplash that fits the style of the home. This remodel is where you are gonna find out why slapping white paint all over the place is popular. ITS CHEAP GARBAGE! Any idiot can do it.

Is that floor in the kitchen real oak? Though I do appreciate this type of for and it cost an arm and leg to install one now. I would consider changing it, but not until you do everything else. It might just end up flowing together. It needs to be refinished for sure.

white cabinets, beveled subway tile, and quartz counter tops. Yup definitely a sheep trend follower and not a leader. Shaking my head. Have a very rare and unique house and turn it into the billions already out there. WOW.

I'd rather have a standard but classic kitchen than be someone who is rude to strangers on the internet. Tony, you owe her an apology.

And amanda, your idea seems timeless. And because you are keeping wood in other parts of the house, it will be nice to have a light and bright kitchen.

You live in a house, not a museum.

You are making classic, not trendy, choices. You will be fine.

Well if your keeping all the wood trim then I guess a white kitchen is acceptable. I just hate seeing people take something 3 or maybe 4 times more expensive and slap paint over it and instantly turn it into garbage. That wood trim (unless its pine) is not cheap at all. It literally furnishes the house in itself. It also showcases true craftsmanship. White, is cheap pressed wood. (literally made out of the left over garbage from cutting real wood) you can hack up by hand, fix it with chalking and slap paint over it. Which many people do and the main reason contractors love it. Much larger profit margin.

Starting in the 1920s, kitchens were almost exclusively white. You can find several sources online to verify this. It's because the idea of bacteria and germs was gaining momentum and people wanted sanitary kitchens.

So white is classic for sure. Just go with what you want !

@truey, You may be right but it was only do to clever marketing. A white kitchen doesn't make it any cleaner. But your talking about a time when people thought checking their shoe size though unleaded x-rays was cool. Exposing themselves to radiation. When coca-cola had cocaine in it and was considered a medicinal ingredient. List goes on. Get my point? lol

The 20's were also when electric appliances became more widely used in homes. And imagine, still being used today. Like white cabinets, some fashions and innovations are simply more practical.

Tony, it is right, and marketing or not, white cabinets became the norm at that time. The original posters house is from that time period. So white cabinets are appropriate.

Even if it wasn't, it's her house and she can do what she wants with it.

It it really annoys me when people talk about white cabinets being a fad. They are classic, like white pearls and a sweater set. For 100 years people have had white cabinets. Sometimes it's considered more fashionable, sometimes not. But it's always a classic look.

You are right, its her house and she can destroy it if she wants. White kitchens is a fad. If done right then white cabinets can be ok. But the majority of white kitchens is painted garbage.

are