I've had both types of the tiles described and I'd say vitrified is better. Both chipped but it's less obvious with the vitrified tiles.

While I'm with Siriuskey regarding real timber, it would always be my choice, I recently saw a brand new house with very similar tiles down the long, wide hallway into and throughout the open plan kitchen and living area. It could be that it had a north facing, predominately glass wall allowing the sunshine to flood the room, but I was surprised just how good they looked. Perhaps you could check out the real estate websites to find an open house near you to check for yourself? I do think the quality, of both the tile and the expertise of the person laying the tiles, could make a huge difference also. In the meantime, perhaps your partner may see the light before the final decision is made ;)

Hi mluh You've obviously done your research on these products, so it's most likely going to come down to personal preference. As you've mentioned, a natural stone is going to come with an amount of maintenance but the beauty of Travertine is within its variation. Once sealed with a good quality sealer (I recommend Guard Industry), the maintenance is really quite low and most spills are lost within those natural variations. 99% of spills can be cleaned up without too much trouble. Porcelain, on the other hand, can be quite difficult to clean once it's been marked. That said, the external porcelains have a great non-slip texture and are very hardy when used as paving/tiles. I'm personally not a fan of using them as pool coping, but many people love it. Again, both have their advantages and disadvantages so I would recommend using the product that you're happy looking at for the next 10-20 years. - Jordan

If the renovation is taking full advantage of the north, then the porcelain tiles will warm up during the winter months from the sun. If you have wooden floors in the direct sun, they may start to fade. We have porcelain concrete look 600x600mm tiles, with rectified edge. Very pleased with the look. Have been laid for almost 5 years and have no scratches etc.