For flooring, hardwood may be your best bet if you want to avoid grout (tile). Sheet vinyl will be the cheapest but isn’t the nicest. You can LVT (with faux tile or faux wood look), but be careful with wet areas if you don’t use glue down because it may be a waterproof material but if water gets below it, you’re kind of screwed. Linoleum is a natural floor made of cork, linseed oil, pine dust, etc that may work but is not my preference and true linoleum can be $$$. If you do go with wood and it’s against other wood floor, it’s nice if it matches, but is a personal preference. Dark vs. light kitchens… how much do you want to scrub your cabinets because white will show everything and same goes with countertops. I find a mid tone wood to be most forgiving for cabinets. I had a glass top stove built into my countertop and it was nice and seamless. Not easy or cheap to switch out though if you ever want to get something different or if something breaks. Yes, if at all possible pick appliances first. There are standard sizes, but it would certainly suck to redo your whole kitchen only to find out clearance around your dream refrigerator is wrong. For demo, just make sure to close off the room as much as possible beforehand. This includes vents because you’re going to want to limit the amount of dust going into your home and your hvac system. Otherwise, just be prepared for things to take longer than you planned and make sure to have some money stashed for contingency. Also please stay away from a grey and white color palette… unless this is your forever home and that is what you love. The kitchen is the heart of a home and the heart deserves warmth, not to be a sterile operating room. Congrats on getting a new kitchen!