Needing new carpet and got a postcard from store at your door type of thing - CARPET NETWORK. Not sure how pricey they are - more than say Lowes, etc. or if the service is great - anyone use either Carpet Network or Costco for carpet - good prices vs. big box store or any other info?

Just throwing this out there for one other option. We have both 3/4" hardwood and laminate in our home, and while I love the hardwood, I'm just not a big fan of laminate. Recently purchased a mobile home in a tourist area for a little getaway and we put vinyl strip flooring down in it (we got Luxury Vinyl Plank in cherry from Lowe's). I absolutely love it and would not hesitate to put it in my other house except we're already through with those floors. It was extremely easy to put down (I'm a 60+ grandmother and did it myself), cuts with kitchen shears, and looks just like wood ... also little to no waste because you begin the next row with whatever you cut off the last row. Easy on the budget too, at a little over $1 per square foot. We also used Henry's primer (from Home Depot), and had no problems with it adhering to plywood. This post was edited by danandcarol on Wed, Sep 17, 14 at 19:32

Be sure to ask questions because you want a good installer. When our carpet was installed, the guys didn't use stretchers and it looked like crap. The company wanted to send the same installers back to fix it. Long story short, it wasn't worth any more aggravation so we cut ties and found a good local guy that fixed their poor install. I've heard carpet padding is more important than the carpet itself. I don't know if I fully believe that but a good base seems to be important of other things. Also really think about what color you're going with. I thought we were picking a 'neutral brown that would work with everything' when it's actually a pinky brown. I'm fine with it now, but couldn't understand why I didn't like the combination of my gold paint with it (orange and yellow clash with pink undertones). So definitely bring samples home - the larger the better.

Thanks Graywings! I went with the Shark because it can be both upright and canister. With all the area rug and multiple surfaces and nooks and crannies, seems like I'll be using the smaller brushes more anyway. The Shark is somewhat heavy in the upright position and unwieldy to maneuver, although not THAT heavy and not impossible to maneuver. It's just my house is so crammed full of stuff to vacuum around! I can't complain that the vacuum is cheap plastic and then turn around and complain a sturdier one is too heavy so I have to pick my poison! Now I need to figure out how to deal with spots. I have one almost every week, and the spray cleaner I have isn't cutting it. Very worrisome, it leaves behind an area discolored and sticky feeling. Gonna have to look into a spot vac/wet vac too I think. Dad bought one so I might try his out first.