After almost five years in this fixer-upper, we are finally planning our kitchen remodel (woohooo!!!!!!)
When we first moved to this house, we decided to wait on refinishing our flooring until we did the kitchen over. We have hardwoods in our living room and dining room to the left of our foyer, and in the family room on the right side, with those spaces separated by LOVELY 80s tile in our foyer.
The living room a few years ago, with the sweet 80s tile and then the family room in the background.
The foyer tile doesn’t look too bad from afar, but upon close inspection…….
I think we can all agree it has to go!
We also have hardwood-looking linoleum in the kitchen at the back of the house, which we initially held in deep disdain until we discovered that no teenager that walks through the house forgetting that he has muddy cleats on, or sweet but slobbery Saint Bernard who enjoyed napping in the mulched gardens can destroy it!
(I miss my slobbery furbaby)
The real hardwood floors have been in a desperate need of resanding and finishing since we walked through the door, but since we ultimately want continue the hardwood flooring throughout the whole first floor it didn’t make sense to do them before the kitchen renovation since the layout will change and new flooring will be installed.
In the meantime, this is what some areas of our floors have looked like: our dining room on the left, and the kitchen linoleum on the right, with a really bad cheap wooden threshold separating the floor transitions (and very attractive screws exposed).
We’ve covered up the worn out hardwoods with area rugs as best we can, but the entries into those rooms are really hideous.
So – all that being said, you can imagine our excitement over finally getting around to tackling the flooring project!! I think the newly installed and refinished floors will make our house feel brand new and I can’t wait!!!!!!!
I’m almost more thrilled about the floors than getting rid of our bologna countertops!!!! Almost.
NOW – it’s decision making time and I’d love to hear your thoughts on this subject:
Hardwood floor staining.
Martha Stewart
Before we make major decisions on the kitchen we need to think through our floor color options. The majority of – if not all – the cabinets will be white. Our table is a dark walnut with black base and black chairs, and I do like the way these two tones contrast a light floor.
However, in every house we’ve lived in, we’ve had unstained polyurethaned red oak floors that take on a bit of an orange cast over the years.
This time around we’re ready for a change.
The question is – how dramatic?
After living with our dark stained stairs for 5 years, I LOVE the look of them, but they are high maintenance. Every speck of dust shows on them, so I don’t think I want to go super dark.
Here are a few colors I love, some of which might be edging into the “high maintenance” category.
Duraseal Coffee Brown (on oak, but didn’t specify red or white)
Also Duraseal Coffee Brown
Auburn Refinishing
Minwax Ebony and Jacobean 1:1 ratio (on oak, didn’t specify red or white)
Minwax Dark Walnut on red oak
Antique Walnut stain on hickory (which will look different on red oak) (brand not specified)
Edward Postiff Interiors via Home Bunch (check out the rest of the house – it’s amazing!!)
Minwax Early American and Gunlocke 2:1 ratio
Duraseal Spice Brown
Duraseal Nutmeg
What are your thoughts on deep, dark and delicious wood floors,
medium stained wood floors and natural oak floors?
What is the most timeless,
and what will stand up to my busy and messy family
and my lack of desire to incessantly shine my floors?
If you have thoughts on this subject and/or stain color recommendations, I’d love to hear from you.
Thank you for your help my wonderful and design savvy readers!
