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 have slate effect Karndean in my kitchen and I really like it. Most people think it's real slate (although I can definitely tell the difference as real slate sounds different when you walk on it). It's been down for nearly five years and I haven't had any issues with the 'grout' strip.

I took this photo last week before repainting, so that's how it looks after 5 years wear.

Amtico is thicker and more robust than Karndean, with price to match, but there are places on EBay selling off leftovers from large industrial jobs making it much more affordable. Ours has underfloor heating which leads to minor issue of small children lying on the kitchen floor in winter!

You don't need grout strips for either.

It looks like we are going for Quickstep Exquisa after all.

Op we have Karndean and don't have grout strips, it's optional.

In response to a pp - Amtico isn't thicker and more robust than Karndean. The technical specifications for many of the products are the same. Amtico is a better known name, but there are alternative products available which are just as good without the price tag.

Agree with wowfudge. When you compare products, look at 'wear layer'. The cheaper products eg karndean knight will have 0.2-0.3 mm whereas the top tier products, including some karndean, amtico, polyflor and other brands will be 0.7-0.8 mm. Amtico, and karndean to a certain extent, charge a premium for being a known brand.

Any updates from people who used quick step? Thinking of getting the ‘Liyvn’ range..