Polished concrete? Or are you on bearers and joists?

I'd still go with polished hardwood floor. Such as mixed Aussie hardwoods. These are more red's than browns. Also with a satin oil finish rather than a gloss finish and use the second grade timber as it has more character.

Limed look? in either bamboo or even tile failing that tiles that look like lime stone flagging (if you're not too precious can I suggest those expensive Lino tiles that look like limestone so much easier on the feet!)

High end vinyl is fashionable..................again but I do know just what you mean:)

Dressed stone or stone-look tiles in a grey colourway. Lay on fibrecement, not boards.

Linoleum has morphed into a new gen product that is highly favoured by architects as environmentally positive. Lots of colours.

you will need the fibre cement under if you go high end to get quality finish but worth it!

The story of a kitchen floors life. Started out with terracotta tiles very pretty but failed to seal the kitchen end of the floor, toddler toddled open red cordial bottle.........sad, stained, but with me for a good few years (lack of funding) replaced with floating floor good looking and handsome , but the toddlers now grown dropped knives and pans and soon scarred it up a great looked really ugly! With funds flowing a little more freely replaced with upmarket Lino tiles, bliss! Damage limitation, handled two getting ever bigger male cooks and two Irish wolfhounds! To be fair I think if I had bought top of the range floating it may have lasted better, I think the motto here is get the very best quality you can afford at the time of whatever you choose, I think the only thing that is light coloured and life proof is polished concrete , but even that can crack!

SO glad you aren't painting the beautiful cedar ceilings!! I have them too & have white walls & brushbox floors. The bamboo floors would look great too.

cork is underrated but wins on many fronts.

There is certainly nothing wrong with vinyl floors. It is more forgiving than tiles. And with your home having so much wood, you need contrast and texture.

I like to watch the English shows like 60 Minute Makeover or Homes Under the Hammer and vinyl is very popular. Watching Australian shows such as the Block and Reno Rumble, they tend to go more for tiles, wood or concrete.

Thank you for your informative floor story maggiekn. I'm getting close to having to decide what to renew my high traffic floors with and after many months your comments were very helpful. Librans can hardly make a decision at the best of times till they have all the facts. Although with less expensive items I can jump in where angels fear to tread. As these will be my forever floors ( empty nester ) and finances tight , I have been sitting on the fence till now.

Just to throw another option into the mix – look up Marmoleum for your kitchen floor – it's a modern version of linoleum (not vinyl!). It comes in the most amazing range of colours and looks (about 300 to choose from – from very bright primary colours through all the secondary and tertiary colours, marbled or stripey or plain), has all the green credentials (97% natural components like linseed oil, wood flour, jute etc; nearly 50% recyclable content and 100% biodegradable – it even smells great when it is first laid), extremely hard-wearing, easy to clean and maintain, comes in either sheets, tiles or planks and it is quiet to walk on. It is used in hospitals and schools because of it hygienic characteristics and doesn't give off volatile gases like vinyls. We have put it down in our new kitchen about six months ago and I love it. One of the things I love most is how quiet it is – no clicking, clanking noises as people walk on it. It sweeps clean easily, wipes clean (for spots), mops beautifully every now and then and looks wonderful. Highly recommend it!

Love the floors!

Great choice pgsinclair! My floors are this sort of colour (Brushbox) & i have a grey couch likes yours with a black & white rug that gives it a bit of pop. Excuse the dog toys & mess, it's house cleaning day today! :- )

Nice!

The trouble with rugs.......................I do get masive rug envy,

langoys floor is a similar colour to my "natural" Tasmanian oak, which through different rooms I have ,blue navy and lighter,, cream, black, red both dark and brighter, the joy of rugs they all look great on "natural" floors and if you want to change your look, buy a new one! I think you are going to have great fun.