...when walking barefoot through the sand... DON'T step on the lumpy mounds!

Low maintenance also - when its dirty you can just vacuum it up and lay new sand. :eyebrow:

Laminate definitely does the best of both worlds: the smooth feel AND the look of wood.

I was pretty annoyed that the floor people didn't tell me about the problem of standing water.

BUT, my father in law tells me that he sealed all the joints, so no seepage problems at all. And it is still a floating floor.

The biggest drawback can be a hollow echo sound, but that is easily remedied by putting down the proper subflooring material - foam underlayment.

I have solid hardwood floors (red oak). No problems with water, but there are some scratches that have shown through over the last decade. No problems with cat barf / hairballs.
Use area rugs under chairs that move frequently (dining room, etc.)

Just because I'm bored...
Here's some 200yo+/- American Chestnut showing some "character"

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL162.../224268141.jpg

And 150yo+/- Pine with amber shellac.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL162.../224268147.jpg

I am fond of the bamboo.

Jinx, when I think of "wood floors" THAT is what I'm talkin' about! Yeah, baby!

I am really leaning towards tile. My neighbor had brought home a brochure last year about a new tile, perhaps ceramic?, that was 'warmer'...I want to go to a flooring place and check things out...
hh

My parents did tile throughout their home. It's in Arizona, so the heat/cold argument certainly makes sense. They didn't want desert sand tracked in to mar the floors.