That stained concrete stuff is neat! I always kind of wanted the black and white tile floor for kitchen (at least concrete subfloor will hold tile - my floor joists aren't built for the extra weight).

I read the book "Help, my house is killing me" once and have had to try really hard not to think about it since I moved in here. Way too much stuff lives in carpet. It's not so bad if you wash it regularly and replace it every 5-7 years, as apartment complexes should, but most homeowners don't.

And yes, my cats hate me now too. But if they hadn't shredded the carpet enough for me to see the hardwood, I probably wouldn't have taken the risk of tossing it yet!