Flooring Options for Kelly

Christine, I really need your help! We are buying a new home and the entire downstairs flooring is wood, EXCEPT a room next to the family room. It's currently carpeted in a very light carpet and being used for their pool table. Our plan was to have the room finished in the wood to match the rest of the floors. But sadly it's discontinued. We have looked high and low. You can see this room from the family room, entry and kitchen area so what in the world do we do? I have considered seagrass wall to wall, travertine and possibly a different wood in a contrasting color and maybe running a different direction or in a pattern. I just don't want this room to look odd. It needs to flow. This flooring will meet up to the current wood. I am including pictures that will show you how the graining in current wood looks and how the room is somewhat open to the family room. I am not wild about seeing a pool table all the time, so keeping it is not a must. It will either be used as an additional sitting room with an area to play board games, read etc or the pool table will stay and a sitting area at one end of the room. If you could PLEASE let me know what you think might work on the floors and how you would use the space, I would SO APPRECIATE IT! 

I am in a panic. I needed these floors done like yesterday. If I can make a decision and have them done prior to move in it would be a HUGE help. Thanks again for your input. You are so talented and I know you will have some great suggestions.

p.s. I do have pets and children so the floors would need to be practical for a family.

Kelly

Hi Kelly,

I hear that sad story all too often.  People want to extend existing hardwood, and it is discontinued.  That's too bad.  It is hard to beat hardwood.  With that said, here are my thoughts:

1.  I almost never like a bunch of different hardwood floors in the same house, especially right next to one another.  If you could get a parquet or something that truly matched, that would be something to consider, but I kind of doubt you could find a really good match.

2.  Travertine is super durable.  I have it in my home with four kids and a puppy and have been thrilled with it.  For a change of direction next to your hardwood, try a herringbone.  I have always adored a herringbone floor.  Remember this can come in many different colors.  I would find something that has a subtle look next to your wood.  Find a stone in similar tones.

3.  I do like you idea of a sisal. It won't be as durable as a stone, but still a good option. 

4.  Another good option would be an Axminster Broadloom.  Get a beautiful patterned carpet that looks like an area rug, but comes wall to wall.  You can get great patterns in many different styles.

Years ago I worked with a client and we put braided rug in wall to wall.  (custom job by Capel Rugs) It was pretty cool- a very "country" look.  Her home was used in the old countrytime lemonade commercials with the grandpa on the porch with the grandkids. 

Congratulations on your new home, it looks beautiful. 

Sign up for this week's webinar, Color in Interior Design here.

Candace's Carpet

Hello!

First of all - LOVE your advice! You have fantastic taste and a wonderful frank way about you. I love it!

Secondly – my husband and I are buying an 80+ year old home in Webster Grove, MO, moving from Chicago (city). The home is beautiful, but needs to be updated in some places, specifically the flooring on the stairs and bedrooms. I’m attaching pictures of what it looks like now. The runner also covers the landing hallway, and the three bedrooms’ carpeting all touches the pattern, which looks hectic to me. Here’s what the flooring company we’re working with is recommending:

· Hardwood in the master (removing the carpet). Putting down Somerset 5” Hickory floors in nutmeg.
· Runner / Landing carpet: Shaw’s Bella Flora in Venezia or Roma.
· Other two bedrooms off same landing: Masland’s Sheffield in Woodrose or Palamino.

Total cost for all, including labor/materials/cost, just over $8,000.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks so much,

Candace

Candace, it sounds lovely. The Internet did not help me find a photo of the bedroom carpet- so I am not sure how it fits in. But from what I can see- it is really nice flooring. A couple of things:

1. Just make sure your tones are consistent. The photos I was able to pull up on the Internet- (which are quite likely not the right colors-) I would say are not similar enough in tones- the wood is a bit too golden for the carpet. If the samples look nice next to one another on the floor- they are probably a good blend.
2. I like the idea of the wood extending through the little hall area. Halls are always the first place for carpet to wear- plus- I just like the look of hardwood with runners in halls.

Enjoy your new home! Your wainscot looks nice in the hall. It sounds like a big move- I hope it goes great for you!

- Christine

Jerri Take Two

Hi, Christine.
I didn't have a google account, and when I signed up I lost all I had typed. Hope you don't get this twice. I was away for a girlfriend weekend, and was so excited when my hubby told me you had responded to my question. I couldn't believe I'd have to wait 2 more days! Anyway...Loved your ideas and the fabrics/patterns you chose. See this post

I have a couple of follow up questions/comments. Love the tile choice and of course the white grout is the perfect tie in. I will do that exact color. The dining room is open and to the left of the foyer and I was planning on putting large print damask wallpaper in there and a toile wallpaper in the powder room. I'm afraid my hubby will freak when I tell him I now want to do wallpaper in the kitchen. Do you think that would be all too much? Yes - I think it is too much - but my new idea will still make your hubby freak :) I'm going to do Sherwin Williams blonde for the neutral areas of the home. Love that shade! We are going to be picking out new carpet this week. I still want to use an area rug in the family room for additional pattern/interest, but what would a good base carpet color be? Something looped? Yes - I would do a looped piece. If you know you are adding an area rug - go looped. Stay away from olefin! Check out this post on carpet shopping. Thanks again for taking the time to answer my (and all your readers') questions. I am amazed at your generosity. Congrats on your recent award!

So - look at your kitchen at the top of the post. Medium colored wood cabinets, medium colored wood flooring, and in other pictures I can see that your molding and doors are the same tone of wood. Someone definitely knew how to "match". But the result is too much matching! It has created a totally monochromatic boring situation. Wallpaper was the easy idea - I have two that are a little more involved. Either paint the kitchen cabinets, or paint the floor. Now is when my husband would freak. Usually when I suggest painting these things they are older, more outdated, beat up... Yours look like they are in great condition. However- we need it to not only be in good condition, but interesting and beautiful, right? I recently showed some beautiful painted kitchens in this post. There is a pretty green kitchen and a partially painted kitchen in this post. Or- for another option- paint, or stencil the floor.

You could do this look without painting the entire floor - just add the stencil look to the top.

I did window treatments for one of the Dodgers when I lived in LA - and they had a wood floor with a checkerboard pattern similar to the one above. It was white paint in their case. You could do it with green... You would think I could remember his name - AND you would think I would have taken a picture...

When your floor already looks nice - this stencil look is a perfect way to add interest - which is all we need to do.

Again, I would only paint one color and leave the other the wood finish.

I thought this was especially fabulous. Be careful not to ruin your floor. :) Do this by hiring the job out, by a professional that has a good reputation and portfolio.

A Ticket to Tuscany

Hi Christine,

I saw your blog and offer for designing advice. I am finishing my basement and wanted to get your thoughts on layout and design. I have a large space which is about 2400 square feet. I wanted to include an exercise room, wet bar, storage, full bathroom with steam shower, bedroom, pool table, wine cellar and home theater. I want a dramatic space with earth tones and a Tuscan/old world feel. I attached a schematic of the unfinished and preliminary design I came up with. Keep in mind that the bedroom and bathroom locations are fixed due to plumbing and egress window placement.

A few questions for you:

- Am I optimizing the space for my needs?

- How would you layout the wet bar? I want something large that makes a statement.

- The wine cellar will be the first thing you see when you get down the stairs. What else can I do to make it stand out?

- The space is large enough to relocate the pool table between the bar and theater. Is this is a good idea? If so, what other options would you consider for the pool table area?

- Any design/finish ideas to give the dramatic old world feel I am looking for?

Thanks for your help.

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

You clearly have given this layout some thought and you have done a terrific job. Here are a few thoughts for you:

1. Vary your wall art. Use some paintings, (the one below is 80 inches wide) some metal, some mirrors, some plaques.

(wall decor from Uttermost)

2. Keep your fabrics rich and use lots of different pattern. Your rooms don't have a lot of furniture- and there are not long drapes- so use furniture that incorporates multiple patterns in single pieces. (furniture and mirror from Horchow)


3. Don't forget a lighting plan. Start with light from the ceiling. Put directional lighting to accent art and wall decor. Add overall lighting with cans on dimmers throughout. Add a hanging light over the pool table. Add sconces in your theater room,- I added six sconces in my drawing- and lamps in your living area and bedroom. Add some nice quality faux greens to every room. Put uplights on timers next to each one. Add hanging lights over the table near the wet bar. Think of LAYERS of light.


4. Add a bench to the foot of the bed. Consider a couple of end tables with your chairs. Not because the design needs them so much, but because the lighting plan needs the lamps.


5. In your wet bar area- curve the bar to mimic the curve in the round table- see my altered floorplan. This will give the area a richer more dramatic feel.
6. Add some old world columns leading you into the sitting area- (cast stone columns like those used outside would also be perfect for a Tuscan interior. repeat them by the wet bar where you have an existing column. Find some cool art for the pool room especially. Fill the walls with art in that room and put directional lighting throughout. With only a pool table- this will be what still gives that room ambiance and style.


7. To create your Tuscan feel, you will need to do more than just select "Tuscan" furniture.

• Your walls need a Tuscan old world texture to them.
• Consider paneling the theater room and wallpapering the bedroom.


• Don't forget your ceilings. Do a cool surface on the ceilings of your main area with the wet bar pool table and sitting area- perhaps a wood ceiling, (only if you do not have wood floors) or a wallpaper ceiling- a metal or raised relif celing would be fantastic.
• I participated in a home show a few years back where the wine cellar had an amazing wine country Tuscan mural. - that would be something to consider. The one below can be found here.
• Carpet does not say "Old World Tuscan" at all. I would do a distressed hardwood or chiseled edge stone . (Except in your theater room where sound is an issue.) Adding some great rugs will also add to your atmosphere.
• I would add floor skirts in place of baseboards. I would have my doors and mouldings either a warm dark wood or painted a darker color. No white. White is not Tuscan. :)
  

So- there you go- it will look fabulous! What a fantastic basement you are going to have! Talk about party central! Invite me over! I'll bring "Ticket to Ride." (am I a partier or what?)

Hey everyone- don't forget to vote :)

Walls are Going Lighter

Christine:

What a delightful surprise. Thank you for responding so thoughtfully to my inquiry. It really does help. I think oftentimes people like me can just think waaaay too much about something and your post really helps to focus.
Christine, I am going to ask you, and you do not have to reply, but I thought I would ask...we are going to remodel our 25-year-old house this year. We will be putting in hardwood floors basically everywhere except for bathrooms. My husband and I have mostly cherry and mahogany furniture throughout our house. We also have a large dog so we are trying to find a very hard floor that fits in a budget. That being said, I am looking at hickory and acacia flooring prestained. I tend to like a more brown Brazilian cherry look, but then took a couple floor samples into our bedroom (which has a cherry sleigh bed, a cherry dresser, armoire, lingerie, etc) and then started to wonder about my choices. I do really like this color choice (as opposed to e.g. Brazilian walnut), but am really stumped. Also, we have 8 ft ceilings so I think I would have to paint all the walls with very light colors (b/c the floors would be pretty dark). What are your thoughts? This is a big ticket item at 2000 square feet plus, so I want to get it as right as I can.
Thanks again for your blog and post.
-Michelle

Dear Michelle,

If you have read my thoughts on hardwood floors- I really like Brazilian cherry. I like how it has a lot of variation in color- which ties in different woods. I remember the first time I used it- my client moved into a home with oak doors and baseboards throughout- oak kitchen cabinets- and yet they were bringing with them lots of cherry furniture. I brought many samples to their home- and we went with the Brazilian cherry-- I could not have been happier- so much so that I have used it on many jobs since. It is also one of the strongest, most durable woods. Keep in mind that different sources (brands) for your Brazilian Cherry will have different shades- look at several before selecting.

I would not worry about your walls. The "dark wall color trend" is on its way "out" and walls are lightening up. Go to Borders and look through Metropolitan Home and Elle Decor- I bet you will only see light walls. I have started going a shade or two lighter on my clients' homes than I was four years ago. Go with your Brazilian Cherry- your walls will be great. Interior Photos from Decor Magazine- Fall- Winter 2007.