Do you want the flooring to be boring? Item #2 seems that way :-)

SJ

Thank you so much for the inputs. I am in Phoenix, AZ. Cold flooring is suitable for climate here as most of the year it is dry, very warm or hot.

The house has concrete subfloor. I do not care for concrete flooring. Real wood flooring is stunning, but it is out of my budget, also it is not dog friendly and is not suitable for kitchen.

I know people use wood like porcelain planks, or vinyl coated wood like plank, I suspect those are already on the way out of trend. During my intense house hunting, it seems every other house I saw has those types of flooring, paired with gray color whatever, and man made quartz counter top. The combination is beyond sick and tiring.

I saw a gorgeous pearl white color large format stone tile in a high end flooring stone where they only carry real stone flooring. The price is beyond reach. Do you know if there is any affordable one available? May be now I should also search for while color large format stone like porcelain tiles.

Oak and Broad,

Yes, in my mind being 'boring' is one of the virtues I am looking for in flooring. I want other element being the star. such as a fabulous quartzite counter top, instead of flooring.

Have a look (google images) at travertine-look porcelain tile. It is stunning. You can choose whatever colour you wish (yes...there is a purple version out there). The low-impact (visual impact) versions are very, very subtle. You can find a light beige on off-white for a colour combination. This would give you the 'invisible' look you want without being boring. There will be a hint of movement (for those of us who are flooring geeks...like me) without imposing itself on the home.

https://www.rona.ca/en/quarzo-porcelain-tiles-13-x-13-15-box-beige-04775072?viewStore=61740&cm_mmc=shopping_google--g_115_28--1697007260-_-BC-04775072&gclid=CNaT4NDf3OICFdUfrQYdkj8Asw

The link shows an 'example' of what I'm talking about. You can find variations in tile size and in pattern...but you get the idea.

And just to be clear, this is around $3/sf for the tile. Your budget, for material, is generous. If real wood is out of your budget, it means you are shopping some VERY high end products. That's fine. Everyone on Houzz suggest working with the best quality possible. What you might need to do is step out of the SUPER high-end stores and move into the moderate/high-end stores to look at product.

If you are looking for porcelain tile with a specific look, you can work with a kitchen/bath company or with a professional tile store that only deals with the type of products you are looking for. And just to be clear, $12/sf is a strong budget. You should be able to get what you want within your budget.

Agree, while I know prices vary between areas, I was just quoted $9.50/sq ft for clear white oak, site finished and stained. Your budget seems decent to me. I have had wood in my last 2 kitchens and there were no issues, but I know others feel it is a no no. My first thought for you situation was concrete, but since you don’t like that, large format tiles could look incredible too.

SJ,

While house hunting, an owner put real travertine tiles around fireplace in the family room, even I have heard that travertine is out of fashion and no one uses it now, the fireplace looks really nice. Unfortunately, to save money, the owner put travertine like floor in the same family room, it is such a let down. Seeing that house I decided that I would never put real material next to man made one.

Admittedly, due to lacking of time and patience, I tend to shop at stores with most selections and nice displays. I think I should shop at different types of stores now. I will try to find a porcelain tile with its own porcelain beatify without trying to imitate anything it is not.

rainy,

Where did you get such a great price on real wood? It is unheard to me. I always thought I have to be a hedge fund manager to afford real wood flooring.

Were you extra careful in your two kitchen while using real wood floor, please share your experience.

A 'nice' tile (not too expensive but not bottom of the barrel) should run $15/sf installed. If you go with more expensive tile, then the price goes up with material costs. Stone can be more expensive (real stone) because it requires a different install approach and thinset is not used...it is a mortar based install = stone mason expertise required.

A nice hardwood floor (installed properly in your location and your substrate) should be around the same price with installation. In Arizona over slab, hardwood can be a bit difficult to install (probably need 'floating' which means most solid hardwoods are out) and even more difficult to keep happy (you need to have climate control with the ability to add humidity with the touch of a button).

So before you go down the hardwood route, please make sure your HVAC system has a whole-home humidifier. If it does not, then inquire into the cost of an upgrade to the HVAC system.

It is *possible to use a glue down installation for solid hardwood over slab....but it is fraught with danger. There are SOOOO many ways it can and will go wrong that the only way we can get a hardwood floor installed without issues (over slab) is to float it. And that is a problem with solid because a floating install requires a specific type of edge. These edges require specific milling and that doesn't always happen with solid hardwood. In fact it is quite rare with solid. There are a few solid hardwoods that can be floated, but they are few and far between.

And engineered hardwood is more likely to have the ability to be 'floated'. Again, not all engineered hardwoods can be floated. But that is the exception and not the rule. And to be clear, engineered hardwood requires the SAME humidity control as solid.

In your situation I still think that tile, stone or concrete are your best options.