Were you thinking about using tile on the floor again, or are there wood floors in adjacent rooms that you could install in the kitchen? Can you post a closer up picture of the counter and backsplash?

Close up pic. Dining & living rooms border kitchen but floor is a laminate that will be replaced in a year or so hence plan to put tile back in kitchen. It’s a large ranch & that laminate runs through most of. Eventually will replace with mid-dark hardwood or LVP.

We have quite a few broken tiles in the kitchen that moves when walked on and we can’t find matching tiles

Also changing backsplash as we will have a large gap when the vent hood replaces microwave

What you have now strikes me as a bit too busy - busy floor, busy counter, busy backsplash; competing with the cabinets as to what is the "star" of the space. So, I would be looking for a much quieter floor (perhaps you could decide what you want throughout, & buy it to install in the kitchen? How long do you anticipate before you do it all?) and backsplash (larger, simple tile with minimal, matching grout lines - avoid long narrow tiles also).

I would look for a warm toned tile as well, to complement the cabinets' warm tone - I think one can be found that will work with both the counter and cabinets, but overall, the cool grays (as shown on my computer) with the warm cabinets bothers me. YMMV.

Could your cracked tiles be temporarily fixed with flooring adhesive (the tape type, not the trowel-on stuff) so they aren't loose, and to buy you time until you are ready to do all the flooring at once?

Will your new hood vent to the outdoors? Hope so!

Very helpful, thanks! I assume cream is a warm tone for backsplash as am leaning that way. Love the suggestion on larger tiles. On the floor really prefer tile in the kitchen, last home had finished on-site hardwood in the kitchen & it took a beating. Plus my teenage neglected to notice a leak from the refrigerator so more damage, hence once bitten. But am open to waterproof LVP so will check that out. This is a 3000+sq ft ranch so very expensive to change floor throughout.

And yes, hood will be vented outside.

Cream can be a little too warm for the counter, but it all depends on the particular tile - "cream" comes in a wide range from pale not quite white to downright yellowish! I would look for a white that isn't white white (IYKWIM) but not too far from it, because the counter appears very white.

This is a situation where going for a color might be the best idea - a subtle blue or green to bridge the two major elements, perhaps a green that looks nice with the green in the other room, if you can find that in a tile..

Thank you!

Thoughts on the green to the right?

Green to the right is very pretty. Your current flooring feels very busy but I bet it is great at hiding dirt! I too would try to temporarily stabilize the tile and get the kitchen floor done when you are getting the rest of your flooring done.

How are you moving the microwave? Are you getting a countertop one, or opening up the underside in the island for one?

Thanks Kendrah that’s my choice as well. Replacing the floor in kitchen with 2nd from left tile. I really prefer tile in the kitchen vs hardwood.

On the microwave, am having a sharp microwave drawer installed in the island in few weeks.

Your comment “quite a few broken tiles” deserves some investigation as to why. Is your house older, are the floors level, are the joists sagging? The tile’s themselves look to be a newer style, too new to have “quite a few broken”. Any of these problems will cause your new tiles to crack too. Perhaps a different flooring, hardwood (factory finishes do hold up and floors can be refinished more than once), LVP or other. I am not a fan of LVP because looks so fake and usually far too busy. So careful on the design you choose.

1956 built, flipped in 2016. Excellent layout, shoddy work in some places. We have slowly tackled most items noted during inspection. No foundation or joists issues - confirmed by two separate professionals. Floors not level in parts of kitchen grout cracked & no one can fix without extra tiles which we do not have.

Ah, be sure that your tile installer will go to the time & expense to level the subfloor! Otherwise you will have more cracked tiles in the future.

I like the color of the green on the left too; pics of it next to the cabinet and your gray floor tile would be helpful. Are you sure that you want to add so much gray to the room? I wonder if you can do a computer mockup of your room with the gray tile.

Yes we discussed this with him. Funny that color is accent brown. This is the best I could do.

This includes the backsplash & floor

My first choice would be to leave this floor alone until you can do LVP everywhere. Your kitchen seems very open to other rooms, so the same flooring is aesthetically pleasing.

I do hear you when you say that hardwood took a beating. LVP is much, much more durable and kid-proof - hence its popularity. It’s also good if you have a dog or two.

If you insist on tile again, I would vote for a creamy color and match the backsplash to it. Your eating area right next to the kitchen has lovely light colored wainscoting and a lighter floor connects the two. It also lightens up a kitchen with dark wood cabinets.

Don’t buy backsplash tile until the floor is installed. It’s very hard to do all these decisions at once and hope they work together when installed. One tile is vertical, the other is horizontal. Store shopping (under completely different lighting) on design tables in showrooms is not as good as checking out several backsplash tiles along the countertop placed vertically.

Your kitchen is in great shape. Floors are another way to make it even more beautiful.

Thank you. Head spinning! So many decisions. Lots to consider. I appreciate it!

I also vote for a single, continuous flooring material.

these 3 are the wrong colors for you cabs/granite top. only the white one works.

If you want tile, please don't do 12x12. I wouldn't even do 12x24. it's a large floor space I'd do 24x24. (and yes, make sure that subfloor is leveled before redoing the new tile)

is this tile going into the dining area too? and then where does the other floor begin?

It's fine to do tile in these two spaces, LVP or wood elsewhere.

If you choose LVP, make sure to buy extra to do the rest of the home. after a year or so it gets discontinued, or they do diff dye lots.

If you do stain on site oak flooring, you can always add to it down the road and have it stained to match.

if you choose engineered wood floors, just buy enough material for whatever rooms you're redoing.

this is basalt. it's a natural stone. (or you could look at a gauged black slate) It works beautifully w/every element in this kitchen and will work w/any other flooring you choose for the rest

Basalt comes in honed, flamed, brushed finishes, and varies from a dark black to a light gray

this is flamed/waterjet. it does need sealing prior to install. (very importain) and then seeling every few years or so. it's super hard (it's cooled lava) and very durable.

flamed and brushed

they even do many diff shape/sizes of basalt for backsplash tile

if you want porcelain in a basalt look alike :

if you don't like the dark charcoal color, then look at porcelain tile

in the larger format.

Marbella Griege, 24x24 (home depot carries it under IvyHill. )

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ivy-Hill-Tile-Malaga-Greige-24-in-x-24-in-Matte-Porcelain-Floor-and-Wall-Tile-4-pieces-15-49-sq-ft-box-EXT3RD101188/308104632

marbella smokey gray. 24x24. this would be pretty w/your elements too

also comes in a Pearl color.

Beth, I really love these suggestions especially that first slate floor! Wow. Thanks very much for these. And I was only going to do the kitchen. This is another view of the dining area and explains why I don’t want tiles in that room.

I think doing just the kitchen in the 24x24 basalt (or if you can find a gauged black slate, this is Montauk slate. It will need sealing every two years or so, but otherwise holds up great. )

24x24 black slate tiles. slate isn't expensive. feels nice on your feet, even in the winter.

wayfair has these on sale for $29 a box

https://www.wayfair.com/MSI--Montauk-Black-24-x-24-Gauged-Slate-Wall-and-Floor-Tile-MVP3665-L2970-K~MVP3665.html

18x36 montauk black gauged slate for $5.59 sq ft. also very nice.

get something w/minimal grout line, just like this: (you'd have to go porcelain to get 1/16" or less)

This one show a slightly larger grout line (again, don't use a light grout). plenty of porcealin tiles on the market that look like this if you don't want real stone. don't go smaller than this size.

Daltile has this porcelain similar to slate called Graphite

14" hex tiles (you can also get these in basalt) but I'd use a dark gray/charcoal grout, not white

they even have slate in the hex. (but I'd go larger

and, you can weave it into your wood flooring

if you want something lighter that looks like a natural stone, try the Rizo tile. this comes in 6 or so diff tones/colors. I have used it in a bathroom remodel and it's a great porcelain tile.

also 24x24. HomeDepot has it under their IvyHill tile line (same as Tilebar tiles, just diff name)

natural limestone, but plenty of porcelain in this color range:

Thanks very much! My husband and I are looking at these now. I also am open to the lighter tile you suggested given the fact that am a fan of a more medium toned hardwood. Very helpful!

if you go w/that larger charcoal tile (which I really like), I'd think about painting this isand a neutral white. it will break up all that wood (cabs, the other flooring) and the darker tones.

And, if you choose to do that, bring in some MDF trim for the panels on the island so it has more of a finished look.

similar granite top so you can see what it looks like. this is more of a T&G panel trim work.

these are just board and batten pieces.

you'll also be able to remove that shoe molding. Put down the new tile floor, then do the trim around the island and paint. the island will now have proper base molding that goes all the way around the island

see the diff?

I'd use pulls instead of knobs. updates it a bit. I also gave you some less modern looking pendants since these cabs are more traditional. gave you a roman shade too

They don't have to be this exact pendant, just showing you some options. tried to bring in the charcoal floor tile so you can see how the white looks with it.

The white island will also help tie in your granite much better. right now NOTHING in that kitchen has white. even if you do a white tile splash, there is still no other white.

if you don't want a white island, I'd do a basalt tile backsplash (something dark) change out the hardware and pendants, and maybe do the lighter pearl Marbella floor tile.

Thank you, Beth. WRT getting the island edge a more finished look, I spoke to the carpenter today on the exact same thing so these sketches are timely. I ordered some of the tile samples suggested as well so that I can narrow down my choices. Love the suggestions on the lights and window treatments. Don’t like curtains so these work! You are the best!!!

If I were to use the lighter Marabella Greige tile, could a green backsplash also not work?

This is with the basalt backsplash & Marabella Greige

I do like the green tile, I think that it works very well with the counter and cabinets - but based on how the mock up looks on my computer, I am not sure about the floor tile - it seems to veer into a different, not so complimentary undertone from the counter.

I support getting a lighter floor, though.. The cabinets (which are lovely) add enough darkness to the room already IMO - and that goes for a basalt backsplash too.

Overall, I'm just not feeling the grays with the cabinets - but, you may react differently and that's fine!

Thanks! Agreed on the tile. Still searching for something on the lighter side that will work.

Beth, im not trying to hijack this thread, but since you mentioned sealing prior to install….we’re doing marble shower and floors/wall in one of our guest bathrooms; will the marble also need to be sealed BEFORE install? (I think in the other bathrooms we did it before grouting.)

@Beth H. and others, really appreciate your input. Space is almost complete…delay on tile as tile shop sent a box of blue plus one box w/broken tiles but should be finished this week. Absolutely love the lighter floor & my backsplash. I chose glass tiles. Love when the sun hits the tiles.

Beth H’s last mock up with the light floor/grey backsplash is cohesive and looks great. While you may want a green backsplash, it doesn’t work.

@jodyrah, and that’s ok. All input considered & I made the choice that was best for me. After serving in the Navy I do not care for gray. Its a depressing color that reminds me of the “haze gray underway” months away from family. Besides, can we make room for the fact that we all have different tastes? I was born & raised in the islands so I love color. And I think the most important thing is that it works, for me!

@Beth H. Updated:

lynn, beautiful. the green goes perfectly w/the cabs and the new counters

Thanks Beth! Also did finish the island as suggested and painted SW greenblack. That’s why we selected brown & black veins in the quartz.

I am also a lover of anything green and I think this looks fabulous! That backsplash is happy! Great job. Most important- you love it.

Thanks so much, RedRyder. I truly appreciate all the input in getting this done.

Gorgeous! Love your dark cabinets. I am replacing the counter tops and adding new backsplash to my kitchen. Love how you worked to find what was perfect for you while still giving your kitchen a new fresh look.

Thanks, Susan! Good luck on your reno also.