what material is the hardwood?
if it's oak or harder than oak, then i say hardwood.

if it's a soft wood like pine (or non-woven strand bamboo), then do the tile.

that said, if tile hurts your feet, then forget the tile, and get the hardwood.
get a true 3/4" solid wood, and it'll stand up well to abuse, and if need be, you can always sand it and refinish it when the littles are grown up.

Thanks, looking at engineered wood that us oak and oil finish, so it looks distressed but can only be refinished a time or two. Light grey or more golden?

Go for wood. Can you post pictures of the possible finishes?

what color do you like more?

light grey is a very modern look, while golden feels more traditional.

I dont know why you would consider a product that only allows itself to be refinished 1 time. I would purchase a white oak floor direct from the mill (like us) and then use one of Rubio's oil/wax finishes to give the floor the look you want. Here is a link to their list of colors. http://www.monocoat.us/Creative-Effects/ Email me for a mill direct quote on solid 3/4" white oak flooring. joel@eutree.com

Steph,
Your question is a very common one. I install all types of hardwood, laminate, stone and tile flooring and I will share with you the same advice I give to all my clients. There are lots of great floors out there and each has their own strengths. The thing with these discussion boards, try to filter out the advice that serves the interest of the poster. Before deciding, you need to consider your lifestyle, subfloor, design style, and budget. I can type for the next hour breaking down the pros and cons of each decision or I could spend 5 minutes on the phone to help you make a more informed decision. Good luck with your project.
Patrick Peyton
714-269-3364

We have Mirage prefinished engineered wood floors. They look beautiful when first installed. We also have a lab and he tends to pee in the house sometimes when we are gone for long periods of time. The pee gets in between the planks and they are starting to warp. Also, putting prefinished in the kitchen you also have to watch out for spills getting in the seams. Our floor scratches easily. Truthfully, I'm sorry I put this floor in and will not do it in my next house. I would rather go with a wood floor that is finished once installed and sealed. I find that tile is so much easier to keep up with especially with small children and a dog.

Laurie, the only problem with site finished floors is that their finishes are not as durable as engineered wood. But I do feel your pain.