Kitchen floor opinions please!

[Bramshott]

Okay, so after the second flood in 2 years (leaking dishwasher, and then leaking water softener unit) the slate-effect laminate on our kitchen floor is officially buggered. Soooo, what should I get to replace it O wise ones of Mumsnet?! Should I go for:

(a) slate-look vinyl tiles
(b) sheet vinyl in slate or terracott look (I think this might look nicer than tiles, but I don't really know why)
(c) terracotta or slate proper tiles (which will cost loads, but last well, but won't I break everything when it drops onto them)?
(d) Amtico - what's that? I have heard about it, but isn't it dead expensive?
(e) more laminate - not really an option as we buggered the last one so effectively and it was a pain to put down

Soo, what do you have on your kitchen floor, and if you were re-doing it, what would you go for? It's a Victorian cottage-type house if that makes a difference, and the kitchen is dark.

we've got c)
they look fab but yes, if you drop anything it is gone for good
easy to clean though

Amtico is fab, vinyl tiles but can look like wood or slate. There are loads of designs to choose from, it is very expensive though, Karndean is a good alternative, less pricey but still not cheap.

Hi Bramshott - we had this laid last month.

We have an upstairs kitchen so laminate wouldn't have been much good due to the give/bounce in the floor and slate tiles (which is what I wanted) was also a no no.

We got a terracotta-style ceramic floor laid a couple of months ago. It's fantastic. Very easy to keep clean and not as cold underfoot as we'd feared. We did look at Amtico, too, as it's supposed to be very hard wearing. Depends what look you're going for, really.

Amtico - if you can afford it.
There's a next rung down from Amtico (can't remember name) that John Lewis sell.

slate looking vinyl looks tacky to me ... sorry to those who have this.

We have laminate effect vinyl. Is quite dark in our kitchen (Victorian 2-up 2-down + extension type affair) so wanted something light. At time had laminate in neighbouring room so chose beech type colour to match that. Only thing I'd change is that it has a textured surface, given the choice again I'd go for a smooth one.

Lovely, lovely, good ideas - keep them coming - all views welcomed!

Slate very unforgiving if you drop anything, and can be cold and hard on the feet if you are standing on it for too long.

We have Amtico which is great, tho not cheap (but then what is nowadays!) Karndean very similar but a bit cheaper. IIRC it wroked out at £50 per sq metre supplied and fitted.

we have dalsouple rubber tiles which are fab - you can custom pick your own colours and patterns.

We have marmoleum (lino) in the toy room which is nice - but prefer the rubber.

We've got Karndean - it's warm underfoot and hardwearing. They have a showroom (can't remember where it is) where you can see their entire range and work out exactly what you want and if I remember correctly take home free samples.

Just checked, it's near Evesham....it was a bit of a long drive for us!

Was just going to suggest Karndean. A number of times I have asked about a lovely wood floor/tiled floor and discovered it was something like that. Kitchen floor, you need it to take the knocks.

We have terracotta tiles, nothing stains but after a bit you do start to wonder if the grouting will ever be really clean.

Karndean is really good. Very hard wearing and plenty of design. They have a website and you can order free samples from it.

I have red quarry stone tiles on my kitchen floor - love them dearly >>>

Thanks ladies - I am waiting for my Karndean samples to come, then getting ready to work on DH to prove we can afford it!!