Hi, I'm building a home with polished concrete throughout. I've noticed this post is a month old, so have you decided yet? I didnt' go with the usual aggregate as I felt it was too "busy". The concrete had charcoal dye added to the mix. I've seen pictures of it done with light colours as well and it looks good.

We have done many homes that included polished concrete in bedrooms and throughout. In Melbourne people opt to have hydronic heating when doing a new build. The use of rugs Is a great way too mediate for any cold during winter months. Also any windows with direct sun light will mean that the concrete will warm up and hold that warmth. Thats one of my favourite things about concrete floors.

R u laying boards over the concrete or beside?

My thoughts are basically a summary of everyone elses . Step 1 -- sort the seepage . If you lay a concrete slab , any seepage will run around the concrete , potentially coming up at the 'join' between concrete and timber ( it will be difficult or impossible to completely seal that ) ; or it will flow somewhere else , maybe damageing other areas , or undermining foundations . Concrete to me is industrial ( cold ) ; timber is natural ( warm ) , and your timber looks to have some age and even yellowing ( which I like ) , so you are mixing the styles . Basically , it works in a shop ( down the concrete to the counter , or meander around the timber areas to see what you want ) , but not so much in a house IMO . Tiles ( personally , I'd like a gloss off-white with lots of grey and charcoal veins , but then that would be expensive and potentially slippery ) would be preferable imo . A terracota would look good and suit the period , just not as classy as an off-white . Charcoal or even black won't work quite the same , and to go anything else risks making it a 'novelty' -- blue or green or butter or purple may 'age' quickly , in fact I think probably 40 years out of date already haha ) .