Stone

If you value an original more than a copy, consider stone: granite, limestone, slate, soapstone.  Stone retains heat (remember those early bed warmers?), making a stone floor a fine installation over radiant heat or in passive-solar situations.  We know it's durable, and it is low maintenance.

Soapstone sends a worn, venerable message; black absolute granite sends a polished, sophisticated one.  Rustic stone tiles with slightly irregular dimensions will look their best with wider grout lines.  Crisply machined stone tiles, such as the soapstone floors, have edges accurate enough to require no grout.  Just butt them together.  Seal any stone except soapstone. Maintain your floors with a pH-neutral cleaner but nothing that leaves a soap film, which traps dirt.

 PROS - Durability and hardness, enormous variety, simple care, environmentally friendly, no staining or fading, good over radiant heat, moderate cost.

CONS - Less comfortable underfoot, hardness means breakage of dropped items, cold, noisy, grout can stain or crack.