I have to agree with Lynn. Laminate flooring is great for starter homes, maybe basement flooring, etc. but it will not last like hardwood. You can have extra coats of finish applied to your hardwood if you are concerned about the dogs and kids but it is a "renewable" product. It can be sanded and refinished over and over again! I just don't understand why people want to use laminate when it is just a "faux" product; of course price is a factor but every laminate floor I have walked on looks and sounds so cheap! I have hardwood floors with dogs and grandkids and have never had a problem. There are scratches but they are not noticeable and are not deep. Engineered floors are a little bit better than laminate but, there again, they can only be sanded once or twice then you have to replace! Good Luck!

I have had a lot of tile floors and a lot of wood floors in my house and at our weekend lake place. Weekend place has the greatroom type thing with wood floor throughout the main level including the kitchen. House at home has tile throughout the lower level and wood throughout the main level except foyer, bathroom and now the kitchen - which previously had wood. I like both but the thing I really prefer about tile over wood is the durability. The tile floor in my lower level (which is where we come in from the garage) is 36 years old and it looks like new - and requires no maintenance except washing it. It's impervious to water and slops and that's what I wanted in my kitchen. Wood floors are lovely when they're new but they do wear and they do need refinishing if you want them to continue to look good. They are not impervious to cat claws - I know from experience. Water is not the greatest thing for wood floors so I always use it sparingly when cleaning them. I don't want that kind of surface for a floor that gets very dirty - I want one I can scrub with as much water as I want. So I've had tile in my kitchen now for four years and could not be happier with it. Fortunately I don't experience the pain and agony some people seem to have standing on tile. I find it to be no different than wood in terms of comfort. It is colder but I wear something on my feet so that's not a big factor for me. My adjacent wood floors are completely even with my tile. Good luck coming to a consensus with DH. Both kinds of floors are nice but have their pros/cons.

When it comes to hardwood, trends are something to ignore! Why? Because hardwood is pretty much a lifetime purchase, and unless yours is damaged in some way, you're probably not going to replace it. So, light wood vs. dark wood, wide planks vs. narrow planks -- that stuff's all going to come and go. With that in mind -- as well as the very real concerns about cleaning dark wood -- I'll vote for a nice, neutral midtone every time. Not too much contrast, not too red, and (unless it's a beach house) not too pale. I think this is the wood that's most likely to give you good service and stand the test of time.

Definitely choose wood. Vinyls are great, however, for resale value, wood is the absolute best ROI especially for the main living areas. You can choose an engineered or solid- whichever makes most sense. We are able to provide engineered HW that can be sanded and refinished just as many times as solid. If the wear and tear is something you are worried about, consider choose a floor that has a reclaimed look with a strong grain pattern and saw markings that can hide many of the scratches and discrepancies that will happen over time. If that specific design isn't your style, consider a light color floor. Oiled floors are a decent choice because fixing superficial scratches are relatively easy. Oaks are good because of their graining and if kept a light color- will be able to disguise many of the scratches. You can ALWAYS sand and refinish your floors a few years down the line if needed. Plus, when you go to sell and the floors have been lived on- they can be sanded and finished for the new buyer. A vinyl floor will need to be replaced. Hardwood is more expensive at the moment, but they actually end up paying for themselves years down the line with the proper care and maintenance. Or you can choose wood in the dining and great room and a tile in the kitchen. SJ McCarthy has a good recommendation for hickory and oak. Another option is Character Maple(make sure it is hard maple). If you really want to be bold- go for Brazilian Pecan. :)