We had cork floors for 18 years in kitchen, dining room, entry way and bathroom (same material/color). I loved it and it wore well. It was light colored and almost impossible to see dirt/hair on (we have a shedding dog). After awhile there were very slight raised ridges between tiles that probably was due to washing and letting water soak in. These slight ridges were probably only noticeable to me. When we remodeled, we didn't get cork because we felt like we needed a change and we couldn't find the right color of cork for our new cabinets. I would definitely get cork floors again for the areas you are considering. My preference would be for the floating installation. If you or someone decides to remove the floor, this would definitely be easier to take out. I have a friend who just installed a high end glued down cork floor. Can't remember the reason, but she also would get a floating one next time.

Feisty I have beat you to it, the bathroom downstairs is also brick and I think it is fabulous! Will post pictures, we have a new khaki countertop and Handy Guy is painting the vanity a barn red next week. Having a soft yellow/ gold shower curtain made to hang behind the (new) arched opening over the shower/tub and cabinet person is making enough paneling for the fireplace wall to front the side of the tub. And we are ordering antique finish brass faucets and tapes for sink and shower, yay, the existing satin nickel ones look incongruous with the brick. We may install siding on one long wall of bathroom also but I only want Handy Guy to do this, not the GC's guys. ( I am anxious to get them out of my house, no one seems to own a pencil and paper, they come back endlessly, to do small jobs they could have done in one call, this is true of the electricians, carpenters and drywallers.) Lol, I have even ***pretentiously*** coined a new descriptive phrase for our basement style to encompass the brick floors, siding on interior walls, black wrought iron rails and sconces, etc.... renovated carriage house.

I learned that lesson the hard way also lol!! Also, when I DID get samples the next time, I didn't paint a big enough space apparently and once the whole room was done it looks sooo much lighter than the sample had looked once it was everywhere and I wish I had went with the color up :(

I would personally choose a carpet that is in matching in colour to some of the lighter areas of the tile. This is highly dependent on the colour of your DOG....if you have a white dog then the lighter the carpet, the less 'hair' you will see. If you have a darker dog, then a slightly darker carpet (not by much) will show less. I mid-tone gray that matches the overall colour family of your tile will do just fine. Carpet in bedrooms are well accepted in the housing industry. Most home buyers do not get upset if you have carpet in bedrooms and then hard surfaces elsewhere.