I finally managed to attach photos as requested !! What I did last year was to mix one part house paint with 30 parts water and brushed in long dragging strokes to achieved the weather drift wood look 18 months later which about 4 weeks ago, I bought a grey deck paint and watered it down 1 part paint to 3 parts water Thus is the results It covered the grain a bit more

I will be the loan naysayer and go: Vinyl Plank timber pattern tiles. I did these in my kitchen and they helped make the room. Used Karndean, but any European brand should be fine (avoid American and assume they are using American or worse if they don't say the country of origin). http://www.karndean.com/en-au/floors/landing-pages/new-looselay-longboard?gclid=CjwKCAjwspHaBRBFEiwA0eM3kQ7eEFPH5FlK2IwV3o7ZsbbmJ19srG0OM_tWK5dhPMNyDdwxGPUr4BoCoYcQAvD_BwE Caveats: Ground must be FLAT. 100% flat, ruler FLAT. If not you will have to level. If flat, you can lay them yourself. Our floor had to be levelled and it was tough. still got a few high patches and gaps because of that. However I have done it on a concrete surface myself since and it's beautiful. Benefits: Nice and soft on the foot. (less ankle pain) single tile replacement. Looks fantastic. No PVC glue fume issues and fairly resilient. Do be wary though of metal chair legs scraping the floor. Waterproof! when installed right with no gaps! (why I would choose them in a kitchen over timber or Eeek carpet!.... Yes previous owner installed shagpile carpet in the kitchen).

Absunitha, I would love to know what you finally decided. I’ve just noticed you posted this last year. I actually love terracotta tiles. They are a funny fashion. I’m nearly 60 and have watch people embrace them with great enthusiasm, only to pull them all up a few years later, claiming they have no idea why they ever thought to use them. This is usually as people decide to wall to wall carpet everything and so the fashions change again. Tiles of any style are the most durable and easiest to clean. They add colour and texture. I also loved your very comfortably cushioned couch. I thought the blue complemented the the tiles well. I found a picture that proves this, that I’ll include. I also have a design for your living area that you may not have thought of, that would allow for a larger group to gather and watch sport, concerts, or non gender biased movies together. I based my measurements on approximates, by using your tiles as a rough guide.

Would never use epoxy highly toxic stuff you would be breathing in for years. I looked pretty Heavily into PCM it gives its heat off in a 6 hour cycle at least the product available here do. Whereas concrete is 8-10 hours which is closer what you need to even out the day / night cycle. Thanks for the heads Macyjean up about lead in recycled bricks I will look into it! I think there is low VOC sealers for Slate. I am struggling to find a good local supplier of slate. I love the idea of the faded rugs I think that would work well. I am going to look into the colour options Thanks so much everyone