i added a dining room extension 2 years ago and chose cyprus pine flooring to match the existing timber floor of my old cottage. Im near beaches so decided to lime wash the floor. 2 years down the track whilst i really love the look i can tell you the finish does not last. It is not even a high traffic area and you have to keep an eye on it to keep it clean of any little marks so they dont damage the surface of the wash. So my advice would be whilst a really beautiful look avoid because it does not go the distance.

I'm always surprised whenever I read discussion threads on the pros/cons of timber vs engineered or timber-look products is that I seem to be the only one who cares about the sound, not just the aesthetics. I grew up in very old houses and for me, that sound as you walk along a real timber floor is majestic and cannot be replicated by other products that to, seem to all sound like fingernails on a black board in comparison (okay not really, but it evokes the same reaction in me as does walking on lino). So, for that awesome sound of "real" timber and for longevity's sake, authenticity's sake, and all the reasons above I say option 2. Of course, budget is also important and I totally understand the width argument too.

i was once told that "any wood matches any other wood" and that's helped me live happily with mismatched timbers for many years..of course it's probably possible to sand and stain the floor (ask a laminate timber floor supplier) but it'll be a tedious waste of sweat and tears for an uncertain result..what about make sure the walls, ceiling, architraves and skirting boards all look great and don't worry about under the hearth if it's not being moved, maybe add a matching trim around the hearth and plan a new floor for "later"

I was hoping you would say that! great minds... A navy blue would look great accompanied with your colour scheme, and would add a focal point and some character to your fairly neutral kitchen! Navy is always trendy, and never really goes out of style - timeless. More importantly it's a wonderful colour! I have outlined some darker navy tones that I think would work well with your pallet. I re-painted my bathroom incorporating a blue accent colour - I also chose a bright white for the panelling. (for reference - similar colour choices to yours) - that's the tricky thing with paint, it looks so different in each environment and will react differently when next to other colours. Not sure what your lighting situation is, how much sun comes through etc.. I found it incredibly useful when doing this project to paint a large piece of cardboard or thick paper - cardboard worked best in my experience(just cut a square out of a box or something) Tape it on the island - I found doing two colours at a time works best - having a variety will get overwhelming. Keep an eye on the colour during different lighting scenarios through out the day; morning sun, afternoon daylight, dusk, artificial lighting, etc.. Anyway! Here are the navy's - the colour on my feature wall is Cobalt blue - very dark, but in my bathroom appears much lighter than you'd expect! I would highly recommend doing this exercise if you haven't already - gives you a great feel of the colour before you commit :) http://www.resene.co.nz/swatches/search.php?colour_palette=Blue&type=palette