We have a 1950 limestone ranch. We just remodeled the kitchen and connecting laundry/mud room, and used a 12x24 dark grey porcelain tile in both areas. We had the same "issue" of dark handscraped hardwood throughout the rest of the main level that wouldn't work or look right in these two rooms. The tile has a high traffic tolerance, will withstand leaks that may occur from appliances, and looks exactly as I hoped it would w/our cabinetry/etc. Our tiler did make sure to have the tile running the opposite direction of the hardwood in the connecting rooms...visually, this matters.

Thanks for writing. I hadn't thought about running the tile in the opposite direction, and yes. It matters. We are also thinking 12x24 which creates another distinction between the two floors.