Sacrilege, or Daringly Awesome?

I have recounted... on more than one occasion... my outrage – nay, disgust – with people who cover original hardwood floors... Alas, here I stand before you, asking the question – to paint, or not to paint...[GASP] the wood floor in the family room! 

Here is where the thought process is... Flooring in the reno is an issue. It's an issue because when we bought the house there were piles and piles of flooring (tile and hardwood) in the rooms upstairs, waiting to be installed. So we did not factor flooring into the budget. Fast forward a year later, and I've changed my mind on the tile for the bathroom, and after measuring out how much hardwood was there, we realized it was not enough to do the hallway AND the family room (which already has an existing, albeit a bit beat up, hardwood floor). Leaving our choices to be a.) buy flooring out of pocket (which we are already doing for the bathroom, leaving the metaphoric "pocket" looking like a cartoon with a moth fluttering out of it....) to do ALL of the family room plus hallway, or b.) keep the existing floor in the family room and have it not match the new wood flooring going down in the hallway. 

As you can see in the sketchup, it's a pretty large expanse where the floors meet. Which leads me to today's question, and possibly choice c.) [wincing] paint?

I was a little unsure on the idea, until I saw these photos from Sunny's Goodtime Paint (don't you just love the name?) via Young House Love...

Admit it, are you smitten? Outraged? Banging your head against the wall, wondering if I've truly, finally lost it? I dunno, I might be convinced... especially that first one; I kinda love...