Kitchen floor options if you don't want tiles?

[TiredMummy2015]

We are having a new kitchen put in and still don't have a floor. I don't want tiles as I find them cold and have small children.

I think I'm decided on a grey tile effect laminate or vinyl.

I've been looking at this new Quickstep range and like this:

www.quick-step.co.uk/livyn/ambient-click-plus/AMCP40034_grey-slate

However, its going to be quite expensive and I'm wondering if there may be cheaper options?

The sheet vinly I have seen so far looks too obviously plasticy.

I looked at Karndean but am not sure about the fake grout strips they use.... don't they look fake and odd?

I love my karndean. OH didn't realise they weren't real tiles until I mentioned it!

I'm hoping Karndean is good as that's what I've ordered.
Walked in socked feet from a wood effect laminate floor onto tiles on a not particularly cold day in a not particularly cold house and my feet were distinctly chilly!

What about bamboo? Not as durable as others, but many seem to enjoy it.

I don't really want a wood effect so not sure Bamboo would work.

Those with Karndean what do the grout strips look like? Do they ever lift off?

We just had Karndean fitted & I don't understand what a grout strip is, sorry!!

I have karndean too and also no idea what a grout strip is! It fits seamlessly - you can barely tell where the join is!

We have Polyflor Colonia in our bathroom - it's lvt and was cheaper than Quickstep livyn, which was what I fancied at first. Polyflor make flooring that's extensively used in shops. Great for kitchens as well as bathrooms.

My parents have Karndean with grout strips in their bathroom - you have to look really closely to even be able to tell.

We had a slate-effect laminate from Wickes in out last kitchen. I was really pleased with it. It was very convincing and not cold underfoot.

I've had Karndean down in the kitchen diner for 5 years and it's great. No lifting, peeling or scratching.
I re-dress it once a year and it looks good as new.

(Buy the cleaner and dressing off Amazon much cheaper)

Karndean - looks great - not fake at all. And it was done years ago.
Friend had it done recently and the 'grout' looks really good.

Highly recommend.

The Karndean that I have seen has strips to make it look as though there is grout between each individual tile.

I have the grout strips. The sales people recommended the grout colour and it looks really good/realistic

I had the exact same requirements as you and I am getting the Livyn in cream travertine

The main reason for me though, was that I will lay it myself and I want an easy job. If I was going to pay someone anyway, I would go for Polyflor Colonia and get the grouting strips. Both are a good quality product for the money (I wouldn't go cheaper, having tested out some cheaper samples) but the Polyflor strip effect is prettier.

Can you save money by laying yourself? It's just click together flooring and you only need a stanley knife to cut it. A lot depends on the quality of the subfloor though.

We've got a version of Karndean recommended by a local flooring shop. It's been great; utterly bombproof, very kid-friendly.

Previously we had ceramic tiles which really hurt when the children fell over/bumped their heads/fell off chairs. And nothing survived being dropped. And it was cold and one of the tiles cracked.

I was mooning over engineered oak but after watching my brother fuss over his, making everyone take their shoes off and worrying about tiny splashes, I changed my mind!

The stuff we have (sorry can't remember the name) is great. Occasionally it scratches when the heavy 8-year-old hefts his chair across it, but somehow any sign of damage vanishes when mopped :)

I am 9 months pregnant so won't be laying it myself.

Has anybody used Kronospan?

I like the look of their slate effect laminate

www.flooringsupplies.co.uk/laminate/7856/kronospan_stone_impression_mustang_slate_laminate_flooring

Small kids here too so tiles were out [too cold and too many breakages], and wood flooring had too much maintenance associated with it for my taste.
Looked at rubber and discovered it stains too so ditched that idea fast [can you tell I don't like cleaning] but found this company that do vinyl too and have been very impressed
www.colourflooring.co.uk/collections/vinyl-flooring

Plan was to change it when we do our "forever" kitchen [prob when the kids move out at this rate] but we're really happy with it, even DH who hates vinyl.

Looked at Karndean but couldn't justify the price in what was supposed to be a cheap and cheerful upgrade.

We've just gone for quickstep and we are very excited about it!

I have Karndean in my kitchen and its brilliant. Nowhere for dirt to get trapped and so easy to keep clean. No problems with the grout strips lifting, and it hasn't marked or stained despite the best efforts of this household

We have Karndean. Tis fine. But if you drop something it still shatters in a million pieces.

We laid Karndean about 15 years ago and it has worn really well. After so long, in the highest wear areas (where DH sits and moves his chair around without getting up) white patches are showing. The wood effect strips in between the tiles have stayed put except in one spot and I think that's caused by something completely different.

We have kompact klick vinyl tiles. Had it for 1 year so far

We have Amtico .... Better version of Karndean!!! Love it!!!!

Amtico is more expensive, basically the same product.

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