We just had the 21/4" x 3/4" white oak floor installed and finished in our new kitchen 400sqft. It looks fabulous. In my opinion, it is worth the money and hassle. Also, we worry about the floor scratching too, but it is the floor and you have to walk on it. The strip flooring will, IMHO, look better and last longer.

I've never had wood in the kitchen so can't speak as to its durability, but if I had a choice between matching my existing hardwood or going with something else, I'd match what I already have, at least in stain color and finish. My walnut stained Carlisle Eastern white pine wood flooring (12-20" wide) with tung oil finish adjoins the more redder toned 5" wide engineered wood flooring in DD's bedroom. The difference in the color where they meet bothers me - so much I tried (unsuccessfully) to convince DH to replace her floor. If they were the same color but different woods, I don't think I would notice so much.

From pictures I've seen online, it seems easier to match the narrower boards. If you go with the engineered wood for durability, can you get it unfinished so you can use the same stain (if any) and finish that you have on your existing floors?

We're in the early stages of planning a kitchen remodel and I want to replace my slate floors with wood. My preference would be to bring in the Eastern pine floors from the adjoining rooms but DH is adamant against it because they're so soft and I drop things. I like the character of the dents and nicks - DH, not so much. He also would prefer to use engineered wood (he would actually prefer to not use wood at all, but that's another issue!).

So, I'm looking at using either unfinished engineered hickory or white oak flooring that I can stain the same walnut color and finish with the tung oil. Also, instead of even trying to match the 12-20" widths of the pine planks, I'm thinking of using a completely different herringbone pattern for the kitchen. I'm hoping having the same finish and using a pattern will make the difference in wood species less noticeable - and more like the difference in flooring was intended, as opposed to an afterthought.

I'm of the opinion that flooring transitions are a significant aescetic detraction. So I'd go with the same flooring throughout, despite the durability risk.

If they were the same color but different woods, I don't think I would notice so much.

When we remodeled the kitchen and family room in our previous house, we installed engineered bamboo, then we refinished the 100-year old oak floor everywhere else in the house to match color-wise. It all looked great and we loved the bamboo.