Definitely depends if the ground floor is slab on ground or lightweight structure. If it is lightweight than concrete isn't an option anyway! Concrete is a hardy material, but it needs to be protected during construction. Timber integrates that warm natural feeling that can often make or break a home! What materials are being used for the remainder of the design. If there is already a lot of timber, it can be beneficial to incorporate concrete or tiles so that the timber isn't overbearing. If the remainder of the palette is simple white plasterboard, than the warm timber floor is often beneficial.

Well here you are Marilyn, the final finish. It is a light look, the first photo appears darker than what they appear in real life, it's more like the third photo. I am happy with the look. I have a few issues with the quality of the work with a 'burnt' mark you may see in the first photo and 'boot' marks in other areas. That aside I am happy with the American Oak and Bona Traffic HD Satin. It's not too shiny but has a lovely subtle sheen to it. The Bona Traffic HD is supposed to stop the timber from yellowing or getting darker.

Lots of good ideas here. If you do have a carpet remnant overstitched along edges, be sure to specify the thread is to MATCH the colour of carpet. I know this sounds like a no-brainer, BUT we had long and wide carpet runners made up, colour was dark brown. When we unrolled them, low and behold the overstivhers had used WHITE thread. We were stupefied. Who knew one must specify the obvious! Anyway, hubby had a brilliant idea: he used black magic marker and carefully coloured over the white. You would never know it had ever been anything but!

If you were selling , are you sure you will recoup the extra $$$$ ? Get it wrong , and a potential buyer will walk and/or offer $50k less , whereas if you leave it as it is , they will know it needs replacing , offer $10k less , but you have gotten an offer ! Just me , but what I would do is rip up the fake tile lino in the foyer ( I assume it is lino -- it doesn't look to be 'proper' tiled ? ) , and do that in a darkish timber laminate -- slightly lighter than the front door , slightly darker than the stairs . Or go really dark -- almost a dark weathered grey or a similar dark brown to the drawer unit in the lounge -- the rest of the colourings will lighten it a bit , but it will all tie in . OR actually tile it , maybe a black or charcoal gloss marble or marble effect with lighter streaks through it ? The house and colourings look an older style , this continues that theme , but I feel white or beige tiles would look too bland . $2k max instead of $10k -- marble tiles may be more than $2k , but up to you .