Use similar flooring for open concept spaces.

Hi, can anyone advise are dark grey floor tiles a good idea for a house with young kids and a dog in terms of dirt showing up? I'd love a dark grey slate effect tile throughout the downstairs but hear it will be a horror to keep clean?

hi all, i'm finalising floor plans for single storey new build. We like the layout generally but there are a few niggling things that we need advice on. 1. The sliding door /patio doors are in the family room- there is no door out from kitchen. Would people recommend having this in Kitchen OR Leaving it as is in the family room. 2. The hotpress /linen store size? is it too small? and also it's position accessing through utility. would people recommend this or not? 3. The exterior look has a mono pitch roof on the kitchen diner family room- would people recommend full height in kitchen diner and then reduce for family room? or vice versa. 4. The width of the kitchen family diner is 4.8m- is this enough to allow for island or should we consider going to 5m deep? 5. In general the house is North facing, do people feel that we are maximising light through use of windows and position of living areas? ( that's v general question-but i feel more could be done) I'd appreciate all opinions advice as I really don't want to make any obvious mistakes that I'll regret. thanks very much.

I am getting a herringbone floor laid and I would love some advice. Question 1, which direction to lay arrow pattern, pointing towards window or towards left wall where I will have my upright piano as the focal point of this small room? The width wall to wall is 3.01m the depth to windows is 3.25m. Question 2, should I run a “frame” of planks on the wall sides/all sides of the room or let the pattern run in under the skirting board? I thought a frame edging might make the room look smaller? Question 3, How to transition from the dining room acacia wood floor to the new oak floor? I currently have option of a saddle board between the two which would be level to both floors or an oak T-profile to sit between the two which would give a very small ramp. Thinking of painting/staining the transition black due to the colour difference between the floors. Any advice please?