Hardwood, Stilly. Pre-finished red oak, to be specific. That’s what’s on the ground floor. It’s very common in eastern Ontario, so it’s always available at good prices.

I like wood. I like it a lot, and I’m willing to pay for it when the species is right (please, no pine on the floor!) and the craftsmanship is good. A hardwood floor always looks fine, and it’s easy to maintain with minimal care and attention. Cat hair doesn’t cling to it, and it shows off my lovely Oriental rugs.

Why not vinyl? It’s plastic. Yuk. Tile? Great for kitchens, bathrooms, and spaces where wet footwear is put on and taken off, but too hard and cold for bedrooms in this hard, cold country.

I’ve been thinking about the death of your neighbour’s son. Struck and killed by a motorist, on the street where he was just minding his own pedestrian business. I’ll bet money that street has no curbs or sidewalks. So cruel, so thoughtless, so wrong.