Here are some photos…

For what amounts to a major aesthetic impact reno, I like to start completely fresh for one of the options. That means as if this were new construction without any pre-existing limitations. I'd be happy with the fireplace. Not with the dark alder. Pale matte French or European Oak is the current choice. All the doors, cabinets and in many cases the floor. Flooring is easy to find. Every source has this type of imported oak. Hakwood, DuCatheau, Monarch Plank, Armstrong everyone. Getting cabinets and doors is more challenging. Spanish maker DOCA and Vedhamn from Ikea are two.

If you prefer tile the suggestion is to get a box of a couple that you like and lay them out in your space to judge the color and texture in your light and space. Italian porcelain tile Cerdomus Pietra di Ostruni has a limestone look.

I'd go for a warm limestone look. With textured tiles for the pets to have a grip.

Thanks for weighing in gentlemen. We are not in a position to replace all the various alder doors, and cabinetry in the home. It’s a second home for us to get away from the Phoenix area heat. We prefer tile due to the little dogs. They are small but one drools all over. He’s a little Norwich but drools like a St. Bernard lol.

We are actually thinking of using some engineered white oak hardwood in the three bedrooms to warm those areas up. Maybe I will ask my builder of my present home (he also owns a cabinet company and is going to do our kitchen island and perimeter ) what he thinks of doing some light oak kitchen cabinets for the perimeter cabinets with the alder island, fireplace built ins and wet bar. The color will consequential.

I keep seeing references to the limestone look tile by Cerdomus. The trouble with that one is getting samples here in AZ. Not to mention the 12-14 weeks to get the product. That’s why I have been looking at some larger profile 24 by 48 limestone look porcelain from Marazzi. That is the one on the right in the photo below. The one to the left is a file from AZ Tile called Salento beige but it reads very flat to me like it’s printed out. 🤷‍♀️

European Oak quercus robur and a couple more doesn't have the open grain of North American white oak. There are 300+ species of oak worldwide. Quercus robur can finish pale brown using matte water lacquer without the yellow of domestic white oak quercus alba. Like tile, get some samples to see in your light. The lack of yellow, the 7-11" flat cut to show off the grain structure haven't been possible in the past. A reason for current popularity in flooring. Also the widespread production in SE Asia. Hakwood is made in Denmark. DuChateau uses 8 different plants in Vietnam. Monarch Plank sources from Malaysia.

Your builder's cabinet company could use French Oak or European Oak by sourcing doors and drawer components from TaylorCraft a Texas wholesaler serving Arizona. They explicitly list it. Another wholesaler, Decore-ative Specialties will supply on request. Olon Industries and Northern Contours are two sources offering European flat cut. they have a distributor facility in Phoenix. Using rift cut domestic white oak with bleached or natural with a matte clearcoat can get close. You do not get the cathedrals only straight closed grain lines. You cannot use flat cut because of the open grain. I like that flat cut and pale tone a lot. Everyone makes their choice.

Tile samples of Cerdomus can be at Arizona Tile, Dal-tile, ProSource of Phoenix. They have or can get a sample shipped on request.