Q: I have a loft-style upstairs attic space with lots of light and soaring cathedral ceilings. Currently, it's a very large expanse of light wool carpet (sorry for the bad pic, none of the whole space was available) which has seen better days. As I also have tenants downstairs and wanted to be very sensitive to everyone's sense of privacy, it seems that hardwood floors are out of the question.
I've looked at cork flooring but it has either seemed too broken up for such a wide swath of space with the tile edges clearly visible or the colors are too retro 70's/80's for my taste:
What flooring material should I use that would at least be as sound dampening as the current carpet flooring and hopefully be much more attractive?
Sent by Sunny
Editor: Leave your suggestions for Sunny in the comments - thanks!
• Got a question? Send us yours with pic attachments here (those with pics get answered first)
100 DIY Ideas for the 3-Day Weekend
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
Party Recipe: Creamy Crawfish Dip
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
You can use any type of flooring as long as you isolate the vibration. If you do a hardwood or tile floating floor, make sure the sleepers are sitting on something that can absorb the vibration (foam or neoprene).
I don't have an answer for you, but I just wanted to say that you are a good neighbour and I wish you were MY upstairs neighbour. Thank you, on behalf of all downstairs tenants, for being so considerate.
In encourage you to look at all your cork options! Cork is not only sound insulating, but soft on your feet, warmer than wood, sustainable, and easy to install. Floating cork floors are easy enough to be a DIY (click together 1'x3' tiles). Some of the patterns they have make it very difficult to detect individual tiles or seems. AND you can find some that are naturally finished so you won't have the harmful off-gassing of chemicals in your sweet little apartment! Add a few area rugs for punctuation and you will be all sorted. Definitely my top recommendation!
I agree with INCHHIGH. Thank you for being considerate! My upstairs neighbors sound like they are putting together furniture every single day, leave their iphones on the hardwood floor and run up and down the stairs, which is right above my living room.
If you like the benefits of cork but the look of hardwood check out this line from US Floors.
Cork made to look like wood plank.
http://www.usfloorsllc.com/products/natural-cork-collection/almada/
I also vote for taking another look at cork - the floating cork floors, not individual tiles. Cork has been vastly improved in recent years. Another option would be to put good quality engineered wood floors installed over a soundproofing layer. You would still need to use area rugs and runners, but you probably would want to do that for style and comfort even without the sound issues. You are indeed a kind soul to consider your downstairs tenants. I hope it brings you good karma in getting a great price for beautiful new floors whatever you decide.
I'd suggest cork if you hadn't already decided against it, but I should note that certain shades/patterns of cork can make the seams less noticeable.
Since it's a place for your kids to play, might be a good opportunity to use some really cheap click-n-lock laminate as a floating floor over something a sound dampening material, like cork padding (you buy it in rolls and is under $1 per ft). Build that on top of your current floor, paired with runners or an area rug, and I don't think your neighbors will even know you're up there.
P.S. Sorry, I didn't mean to imply to lay hardwood over the carpet, only that a floating floor installation wouldn't require you redo the sub-floor.
I'm in the same predicament as you. I'm using a rubber flooring that looks like bamboo. It's pretty chic, easy to install, and the best part is rubber is the ultimate soundproof flooring. Plus it's water resistant - I'm using it to cover some of the ugliest linoleum I've ever seen in an apartment bathroom. :) It snaps together in pieces and is easily removable and a relatively cheap flooring option. Check out your local flooring places for their rubber flooring - it's one of those textures you want to touch to make sure you're okay with it.
Good luck!
You could also do what I do, which is put down hard flooring but go shoeless in your apartment. My neighbors are subjected to me putting on high heels in my hallway in the mornings before work. Also plenty of rugs that can be easily cleaned.