Slate Floors

We had slate in the kitchen and dining of a previous house. Slate by nature isn't a smooth tile. There are ridges that little toes trip up on. It does continue to deteriorate after being installed, meaning pieces or slivers of it will flake off. It is a delicate choice for tile. It can be difficult to install due to the uneven surface on both sides.
There may be finished options (where one side is smooth?!?!)
I wouldn't choose it again.

We have slate in the kitchen and love it. Our kitchen is very modern and not at all rustic in feel (frameless Bubinga cabinets, all stainless appliances). The slate is really good at hiding dirt (good and bad I suppose) and it does chew up mops because it is somewhat uneven. I know we are supposed to seal the slate periodically, but we do it very rarely. It is simple - you squeeze a bottle of sealant over the floor and mop. No more time consuming than regular mopping. The downside - a stone floor (even over good subfloor) is still harder to stand on for long periods than a softer floor.

We have slate in our kitchen, dining room, and entry way. It's dark so it hides dirt well and it is pretty and the first thing people comment on when they walk in. I find it a little hard to maintain though so when we move I would not pick it for our next house.

I have traditional black slate in the entry, hall and mudroom. I vacuum it every couple of weeks and wipe them down with wet towels about once a year. What I like about our slate is that it doesn't get slippery, even when wet. Oh, we also used it in the guest bath and on the floor of the shower and it's not slippery even in there.

We had a slate floor as an entry way to our home and it was gorgeous. The variation in the tiles is amazing and creates a variegated look that is really hard to get with any other stone. Ours wore very well and we had no issues. However, it is a soft stone and must, be sealed properly and maintained to look as beautiful as the first day it was installed. If you like natural looking patterns and a rustic feel, that is what slate will give you. Otherwise, not a good choice if you don't really like that look. I think it is rather daring in a kitchen. It would depend on the cabinet and counter colors for me to be able to picture a whole kitchen done in it. Just think it over because you don't want it to look dated or be an issue if you wanted to sell the house down the road. Not everyone is a fan of slate. But I love it!

Slate is a softer stone.
Versus granite, for example.
It is also more porous.
So, you NEED to have it sealed with an impregnating stone sealer.
Because it can absorb things/liquids and get stained. It can also flake etc. and/or get stained by oil. Which in a kitchen, there is cooking oils and splatters.
And the stone sealer, does need to be reapplied every so often.
Also, because it is a softer stone, it can flake/get scraped etc.

Google search "how to care for slate."

We have slate.
Not in the kitchen.
It is sealed.

Another option is:
Ceramic tile, which LOOKS like slate.
Many ceramic tiles now, look real.
And it is easier to clean and does not have to be sealed.
And it feels like real stone.
And the price is different from natural stone.
Just Google search "Ceramic tile that looks like slate."