Here is what we did in the entry to our home. There is no substitute for solid stone when it comes to durability. We wanted solid stone, character, texture and of course we were on a budget. While browsing tile, we found it nearly impossible to pick out just one kind of stone, one size and one shape. We loved all the different kinds of stone, shapes and sizes, so we collected them all. As the project went along, we picked up remnants and samples as we found them at bargain prices. The entry was the ideal place for our collage as it is very rustic and would not be suitable for areas that have furniture. Architecturally we liked how this floor tied in the multi colored composite decking and river rock. We wanted the outside and inside to flow together so as not to make a contrasting break between the two. It was a lot of extra labor to make it work, but it is absolutely worth it.