[onewhippedpuppy]

Z, in regards to the floors are you going to DIY? If so, the polycrylic (water based) finish is much more user-friendly with a nearly identical finish to polyurethane. It's easy to do with a wool floor varnish "mop". I'm pretty sure I went with 2 coats of polycrylic in my previous home when I refinished the oak floors.

For refinishing the existing floors, consider lighter stains. Any darker stains tend to show off existing deep scratches far more than lighter ones. Depending on floor condition this may not be an issue.

Be careful refinishing existing floors then adding a new wood floor in the kitchen. The two woods will never match, no matter how hard you try. Consider either going with a totally different wood and varnish, or going with ceramic tile or similar hard floor. Think about the sort of spills that happen in a kitchen, tile is far more tolerant than wood. Not to mention sliding bar-stools, etc.

Personally I also agree with the island based cooktop, it's what I plan to do when I remodel. Can't you fit a 30" cooktop in your island?