{New House} We Have Floors!

Our goal before moving in the new house, was to knock out the messiest and stinkiest projects. Most of the changes and updates will be cosmetic, and happen over time, but some are just easier (and safer) done while the house is unoccupied.

Because of the whole magazine thing, we needed to stay in our former home after it sold…so that gave us a full month to update the kitchen, and replace the lower level floors. Both of which made a huge difference, but because of the dust and fumes, would have been near-impossible to do if we already lived there. So that was definitely a hidden blessing in the whole ‘ohemgee, we own 2 houses!’ stress-fest.

Of course our rockstar-contractor came through, and had the Kitchen mostly move-in ready a week ago, allowing the floor installers time and space to do their thing. And man did they do it well!

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

Aren’t they just stunning?! After a lot of shopping around, and educating ourselves on wood floors, we decided on glued-down engineered hardwood. They are real wood (not laminate flooring), but are produced with several layers of hardwood bonded together, so they are less likely to be affected by changes in humidity and temperature. They are also pre-finished, so the installation is fairly quick.

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

We used Lumber Liquidators for both the materials and installation, and could not be happier with the experience, or the results. The customer service was top-notch, too, which isn’t easy to come by in some of these industries. We had one small issue with the stairs, but they handled it cooly, and promptly made things right.

After trying out countless samples, we decided on this wide plank, distressed hickory, with dark finish. With kids and a dog, the distressed texture will fit better with our lifestyle, and any knicks can be colored with a stain stick, and blend right in. Glueing them down to the slab, as opposed to floating them, makes them feel more solid underfoot, and helps them to walk quieter.

Side note FYI: For rough pricing calculations, estimate another $6/square foot for installation and additional materials.

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

My camera battery died, and the charger was packed, so I had to snap these with my phone..but you can still see the impact the floors make. We carried them throughout the entire lower level…I’ll show you more soon.

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

As far as more Kitchen progress goes, they sanded down the Corian counter-tops, buffing out scratches and stains, then resealed with a matte finish. I was shocked at the transformation that made…and the mess. 
Imagine a layer of baby powder sprinkled over every surface of the house..including my brand new floors! But we didn’t want to risk the counters getting mucked up during the floor install, so it had to be the last big chore. They also installed the drink fridge and pull-out drawers in the Butlers Pantry. 

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

Trim was added to the windows to make them more substancial. I’m not sure if I’ll paint it the color of the cabinets or the moldings. Thoughts?

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

The black-hole Lazy Susan was converted to deep shelves, and the door will be hinged, and open all the way out.

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

Oh! And thanks to many of your clever suggestions…we raised the tile on the little sliver of wall by the cabinets, so it matches the level of the tile behind the cooktop. Love it!

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

There are still quite a few things to wrap up in the next week or two, but we were able to move in last weekend. Of course the Kitchen was the first place I unpacked. Here she is with our fridge in place, and a few signs of life.

Hi Sugarplum | Kitchen Renovation Progress

Through this renovation, I’ve learned just how important timing is….scheduling contractors, painters, window replacement, carpet removal, floor demo and installation is like a dance…and if you don’t coordinate them in the right sequence, everyone steps on each other’s toes…which ultimately costs you time and money. Same goes for making sure you’re ready with decisions and materials.

I’ve also learned just how much I love managing projects like this! Who needs help with a renovation?? I’m addicted!

Playing Catch Up? Start here:

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