Building a new custom house in Tucson AZ. Kitchen will be walnut cabinets and island with soapstone counters. No upper cabinets. 10 Ft ceilings. White or light walls. And an 11 ft by 5 ft window and a 4 ft x 5ft window so plenty of light. Leaning toward Happy Floors Utah Slate porcelain tiles for kitchen, butler pantry, entrance, laundry and bath floors. (DH had few requests, dark kitchen floor was one) Wanted hand scraped engineered hardwood in a rich tone in living room, dining room, hall and bedrooms. What wood species and color would coordinate best with the kitchen materials? Also, really hate the raised wood t strips for tile to wood transitions. I know the wood may expand and that’s the reason for the transition strips. Is there a flush option that my heels won’t catch on?