Carpet. Ugly, grey, literally-threadbare carpet. It is something we intend to get rid of, but carpet here isn't easy, in choice or available installers. But we'll go again with it, with something industrial-strength like we had at a previous house, a warm, dark brown most likely, to deal with the dogs and the dirt and the everything else that still manages to get inside past the mudroom.

Hi eddie6trey if you're after a traditional look in flooring you can't beat floorboards, either in solid timber or an engineered wood floating floor. Solid timber is more expensive than engineered wood but has the advantage of being able to be refinished several times back to its original appearance. Both types come in a large variety of board widths and lengths but solid timber in wider boards runs the risk of cupping if there's exposure to high humidity. Both types come in a wide range of colours but mid to dark tones generally create a more traditional look.

You can install real timber either direct stick to concrete or 'planks on ply'. Perhaps get a reputable timber flooring company to come out and advise. You don't necessarily have to get engineered or laminate

The skirting boards in pic are a meranti type colour as are the doors and architraves. Hubby does NOT want to change the colour or even consider white. Besides carpet what type of flooring could we lay that would still tie in well?