Advice from DIY folks

 The snap together laminate should be easy.  I would think the hardest part would be trimming the pieces to fit.  My DH did a hallway in the engineered wood, which goes in the same way.  Didn't take him long at all...

 PS...laminate is not really recommended in kitchens and baths where it could get soaked.  That said, I have laminate (tile looking) in my kitchen and love it.  But that could change if I get a water leak...

Yeah....laminate in a kitchen may not be good. But, my mom and I did tile in our bathroom ourselves. Are you sure what you have is laminate? Maybe you have linoleum?

Lowes provides these handy instructions 

http://www.lowes.com/cd_Install+Floor+Tile_688517080_ \

Our front hall used to join the  living/dining room with a curve. We  had someone else do those floors, and they just changed it and made it a straight edge rather than mess with cutting the curve. 

This reminds me that I need to replace and regrout the bathroom tiles next time before I go away for a few days. 

Edited to add- look at the videos on ehow. Apparently, they are very good. I've been debating doing my bedroom. It's pretty small, and I would be a lot better off without carpet. 

 It could be laminate or linoleum.  I'm pretty ignorant on these matters lol!  I LOVE the look of tile, but I've seen how easy ceramic tile can chip - and we're pretty rough on that floor.  Especially during ski season.  The significant other will drop his heavy ski boots roughly on the floor, stores his skies down in a corner, things get dropped, etc. 

All I know is my current kitchen floor is wood looking and it is attractive, minus the tear in the middle of the floor.  Otherwise the other parts have held up very well despite spills, things being dropped, etc.  It's also very easy to clean.  The more I think about replacing the floor, the more scared I get and just want to call a handyman for a quote! 

Honestly, I'd also love to rip up all of our carpets.  But, that will never happen at least not for a long while!  We have three floors of wall to wall carpeting!

What is underneath the laminate?  If it is concrete you may want to consider a stain and sealer.  I wanted to do that but let a contractor talk me out of it and like you mentioned I now have some chipped and cracked tile :(.  I have seen some beautiful floors done with the concrete stain.  I have laid tile...just about wore me out and I would never regret paying someone else to do it.  My son-in-law has laid the floating floor method of lamanate wood and said it was very easy.

 Ya know, I don't have a clue as to what's under the floor!  Outside of ripping up the floor, not sure how I can figure that one out.  I just googled stained concrete floors and WOW those are very nice looking!  I suspect that underneath my current floor is likely wood.  But, that's just a guess. 

 If it has a tear in it, I would tend to think that would be linoleum, not laminate. I bet if you took a picture, people could tell what it is.

 I'm thinking it is indeed linoleum.  I think tonight I'm going to tear up a small corner to see if I can what is underneath.  After looking at stained concrete, I would love to go that route! 

the_gopher

I think tonight I'm going to tear up a small corner to see if I can what is underneath.

Sooooo the verdict is?

 Concrete!!!!!!!  I won't be able to get around to ripping it up and staining it before winter hits (too many other projects are taking precedence right now), but if I can convince the significant other to go this route (he wants to see an acid stained floor in person - which might be kinda hard) then it's on the docket for Spring or summer next year.  I think I can strong arm him into it lol.

It looks like a moderately difficult process, but I think I can do it myself.  Mostly it's the prep work that is so intensive to get the concrete ready for staining. 

the_gopher

Mostly it's the prep work that is so intensive to get the concrete ready for staining. 

That would be my thought.  Removing old linoleum and clean concrete would me very labor intensive but wow the end results :)

 Yeah, I keep drooling over the pictures.  It's hard to believe those floors are concrete!  Some are stained in intricate designs, but I just want one stain.  I probably wouldn't tackle something larger than my kitchen, but I think I can handle the kitchen.  One of my coworker says she actually has some of the tools necessary, so if I go this route I probably won't have to buy too much. 

I'm just afraid that the concrete will be damaged/cracked enough to need a thin layer put on.  That might scare me a tad!

Actually the biggest challenge to this project will be convincing my significant other!  

the_gopher

I'm just afraid that the concrete will be damaged/cracked enough to need a thin layer put on. 

Since I did my floors eons ago and was talked out of stained concrete, they have perfected the "self leveling" for your floors.  I have seen it on HGTV several times...of course they make it look easy but  is supposed to be a good way to level and smooth old floors before staining.  In my opinion as hard as it was to lay the ceramic tile and level and grout each one in my kitchen...how much harder could it be?   At least it would not be near as much time on my hands and knees and......less chips and cracks for sure.  My sweet boys can be really rough on the floors, that would be human and furr :).