I don't think it's more delicate. it depends which bamboo you get. you treat just as you would any wood flooring. I mean, if you're going to drop pots of water on the floor, then perhaps it's not a good choice, but otherwise it would be ok. People use wood in their kitchens and wood isn't supposed to be washed with water either, so, it's up to you. do you know what kind of bamboo flooring you have? if it's a cheaper type, then I wouldn't do it in the kitchen.

what about a nice slate flooring? goes great w/bamboo, inexpensive, easy to maintain, and stays room temperature?

I once put bamboo in a child's bedroom. Was not happy with it. I personally would never consider it for a kitchen.

I also vote against the bamboo...partially because I'm still not on board with wood flooring in kitchens, and partially because bamboo tends to fall on the softer side on the wood hardness scale. I like Beth's idea...find a tile you like and get creative to make a design you love. Wood look tile is another thought, though it can sometimes look out of place next to real wood.

Bamboo is harder than maple and maple is harder than oak.

I have never heard that bamboo is more prone to water damage than any other “wood” but to me in a small space one continuous floor is the way I would go