I am in the planning stages of redoing a kitchen, greatroom, laundry room, and formal living room. The flooring options have been my greatest dilemma, because all of the rooms flow together. I know I want tile in the kitchen and laundry rooms, and hardwood in the great room and living room.

I was in the tile store yesterday and saw some interesting patterns using hardwood and tile, and learned the term "mixed media" floors. I was thinking about somthing like this in the tiled areas to transition the floors to the hardwood areas. Has anyone done this lately? Another idea I had was using the wood-look tiles in a pattern in the tiled areas instead of real hardwood, which would still be used in the great room and living room. The wood-look tiles would be the same color as the real hardwood, but that would make the tiled areas easier to clean.

Thoughts or pictures of this?

Thanks!