I would visit a few flooring stores and talk with them. It should be standard practice to have them out to your place, they have to measure anyway. Hopefully they can give you some good information (make sure the place sells different types of products to get an honest opinion). Many of your questions seem to be about the function more than the design of it - so that's why I think the flooring people would be best.

During my search for hardwood floors I discussed it with several interior deigners. I was amazed that I often seemed to know more than they did about the details of the floors. I'm sure there are designers who have a lot of knowledge about floors, but I'd try the flooring people first. BTW, be sure do some some research on your own first. Check the flooring forum here and other internet resources to educate yourself somewhat. I like to have some knowledge before walking in somewhere. Good luck!

Did you post this on the flooring forum.

brutuses - I did post it on flooring. Things are a bit slow over there, so I came here (my real home), too.

I have done a lot of research. I'm worn out on the research, actually. But we've got some odd variables with this space that the conventional wisdom just doesn't address. For example: slab would indicate floating, but floating requires gaps at the edges, and it's hard to figure out how to accomodate the gap at a metal window frame (two adjoining walls like this, so not an option to just "turn the floor the other way") that won't look hideous, and we also have to deal with 20' of existing pavers to butt it up against on one side (looking for what will give us the least obnoxious transition there -- currently there is a rubber threshold thing - yuck).

So, as I ramble on, you can see my problem!

I agree with Polkadot's suggestion to go to some nice flooring stores. We did a couple of years ago when we decided to replace our carpeted floors. We found a knowledgable salesman who helped us decide what was best for our needs. When we had decided the material and some of the possible color choices, then he came to our home with the samples. My DH is not great with colors, so the salesman helped me confirm my choice of wood, and also provided some guidelines as to which direction the planks should run. Good luck.

Here's a link to the flooring forum here. It helped me so much to decide what we would do in our den. We decided on a Bruce solid wood which we had professionally installed and we love it. I did google flooring recommendations and found lots of info there and then hit the stores. Some people buy theirs online but I had to see it and get reputable installers. I have no regrets.
We'll put down an oriental come the winter. We have no cellar under this part of the house as it was an addition. I'm sure you'll make the right choice. We got Butterscotch as it was in a medium tone. I can't believe how easy it is to maintain. Carpeting is a constant upkeep. This is a large room, it doesn't creak or bend, solid as a rock.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/flooring/

I feel for you-- those aluminum frames are a bear to deal with. We had them on our last house and when we took the carpet out, we weren't sure what to do. we were on a slab. We looked at a lot of options and ended up going with bamboo, which worked really well for us. I was afraid of the same thing with a floating floor (the laminates). I can't remember if they had to put the padding under it or not, but we got if for a very reasonable price at a liquidation center and then got it installed professionally.

Where it butts up to the pavers, how much of a height difference is there? have you looked at the different transitions available at the flooring store? you can also have one custom made to adjust for a larger difference in height.

Thanks, all. We went to the best local flooring place in town today and have an appointment for someone to come out Monday afternoon. We told her what we were dealing with and she said "we really need to see that first before I can tell you what the best option is." We liked that answer. I'll let ya'll know what happens.

We bought our flooring, Brazilian Cherry from Lumber Liquidators...used their installer and LOVE the floors--have had them a year and love them more every day...
The prices at Lumber Liquidators are VERY hard to beat...
We had eight rooms to floor so $$$ was an issue..
Susan

If I were you, I would defintely not do WTW carpet on such high-traffic areas. I would find it so hard to keep clean.

I would do a hardwood. You can always do an area rug if you want. I wouldn't do laminate, or anything that isn't true wood. My neighbor has a laminate floating floor, and it looks like plastic and worse it clicks when you walk on it in anything with a heel. Perhaps they've come out with some better laminate products over the years, but with so many durable wood options, I would exhaust looking at all of those first.

Just now reading your post, if you want a second opinion (and it's not already your first) go to Issis and Sons in Pelham. They know floors. Even if you do not buy from them, you can gather info.