I would carry the same red oak hardwood into the kitchen, then use a floor covering in front of the sink and stove.

GelPro mats (click here) protect your floor and cushion your feet. My sister’s kitchen has tile flooring which is really hard to stand on for any length of time. These make it much easier. And they protect your floors.. They are expensive but worth it, last for ages, clean easily. They should be all you need.

I've had wood floors in the kitchens of the 4 houses we have owned over the last 25 years. Those years included kids and/or dogs. Never had an issue with wood floors in the kitchen.

If you really are that messy, I don't see why you can't just throw an old towel on the floor at the end of the days and just move it around with your foot to dry any wet spots. You don't really want to leave any type of floor with standing water/spills.

eam44 ... I do have about a 4-ft mat in front of my sink/dishwasher area--it's a godsend!

Sabrina Alfin Interiors ... My husband has his heart sent on wood, but I know there are wood-like tiles out there ... just don't think it would match up well with the red oak. We're still trying to nail down colors for the kitchen--it's an open floor plan into the family room and breakfast area.

chispa ... LOL, I do 'mop up' after myself as I make the mess, but I would hate to mar the finish. How do you mop the wooden floors? or what do you use?

Tile is also a devil to stand on. It makes me feel like I’m 80 by the end of an evening. Those mats are fantastic, they protect and cushion well but they are also pricey. I wait for things to go on sale. You can buy something that looks like a rug, or something that blends in with the floor.

I should also say that other flooring options include cork, linoleum, and vinyl plank, but nothing will look as good or give you the visual flow that having the same flooring throughout the home will give.

Wood is not titanium. I used wood-look tile under my refrigerator run (I have an ice maker so it has a water line), and it will go under my sink run as well because things can leak, and it’s the leaks you don’t see that cost you. I had to replace the sub floor under the old fridge because of that.

Wood floors are mopped with a barely damp mop. Rinse the mop regularly, wring and repeat. Use a towel to dry right after if still damp.

I have engineered wood floors and use the cleaning solution recommended by the manufacturer of the floors.