I have spent hours poring over flooring. My eyes have turned to tired squinty slits and my brain can no longer discriminate between oak and stained hickory. My plans to install solid white oak and have it site finished have been dashed by a dastardly concrete floor… and our pocketbook. I’m starting to think wood should be traded on the NYSE.

I’m suffering from wood overload.

I need someone to tell me what to buy: white oak, red oak, stained hickory, brazilian walnut, etc etc. Dark, light, in between. Gloss, semi gloss or low sheen. Thin strip or wide plank.

Help.

I’m drowning in a sea of trees.

Hardwood floors always give me… hard wood. I can’t think of anything sexier than light gleaming off a set of bronzed, well oiled, shapely planks. Mmm hmmm. Obviously I have my heart set on wood floors for the new house — the real stuff, please. None of that ersatz laminate or engineered and oddly beveled woodish product will do for me. But guess what? Wood is expensive. And there are waaaay too many choices. But look how pretty it is:

Yes. This is the house I want. But maybe with less expensive flooring.

Or maybe darker?

Wait — maybe lighter…

Except the grooves kinda freak me out. Dirt traps?

We will probably do strip oak like this, but is this finish too light and modern for a Tudor?

Ok, here is your homework for today:

Please tell me whether you think we should go light, dark or somewhere in between.

Prefinished or site finished?

And finally, does anyone have experience with oiled finishes — like tung oil or Waterlox? I love the idea of a matte, European style finish.

Stay tuned for an MLS tour of Old House this week… I have been a busy girl.

As the weather starts to dip into the low 90s here in austin, I can feel myself starting to crave a hot tea and cardigan sweater.  Ahhh yes, weather below 100 degrees:  You feel like fall.  Fall:  I want to spend you here:

Yep, that will do.

Also, happy birthday to my sweety!  He is one million and twelve today.  Good thing I love him.

PS, this is Luis Barragan architecture via

If you dudes are looking for a project this weekend, might I suggest laying down new wood floors throughout your house – wait, let me finish – when laying them, be sure to select several different shades of wood so that you can arrange them in your own image:

See, you just pick a picture and do some fancy stuff with your computer.  Be sure to make the floor spread throughout your entire house.  Then just lay the wood and enjoy

If you have extra time on sunday, try photographing all the rooms to make one large photo of your floor portrait:

Happy weekend homies, I’ll be looking for your homework in my inbox on Monday.

I wish I had a cyber tour bus to drive in front of my kitchen, just so I could drive it off, thereby making the big reveal dramatic! and exciting! I would jump up and down — propelled by the overwhelming spirit of joy and gratitude — screaming and crying about how amazing it is, and about how getting a new kitchen has changed the very core of my being. But that would be untrue, because (let’s face it) macaroni cooked over a bunsen burner in a dorm room is the same as macaroni cooked on a brand new stove in my pretty new kitchen.

But that don’t make it any less pretty.

Remember when I first enlisted your help with my junky kitchen a looooooooong ass time ago?

Yes, the red is very charming (unless you have to live with it), but everything else in the kitchen deserved to be burned in a pressure treated blaze of glory. Trust me, it was a LOT WORSE than it looks in my awesome picture. Well, a mere six months and 10k later — with only one week to spare before the baby is due — it looks like this:

I know, I know! You miss the tile and the bank of head bonking cabinets, the chipped almond formica and the spectacularly filthy appliances, but at least the rugs are cute, right? In all seriousness, this was crazy hard to shoot because the light was not cooperating and the paint wants to read as brown instead of gray, but hopefully you get the idea.

We still have a lot of trim issues to deal with and loads of accessorizing to do, but it’s 95% done! Hooray! And despite what must be universal hatred of barstools, I love that we have some extra seating near the kitchen instead of wasted space on the living room side, like we had in our old kitchen. Plus, you have to admit that my vintage Thonet stools are pretty fly.

Hallelujah, you can even see into the living room without busting your head open on a fortress of low hanging cabinets! Downside: I have the sudden urge to replace those hideous ceiling fans, STAT! Any recommendations?

So, what did we do in here, anyway? I detailed the floor renovations a while ago, but you can read about them here. We yanked out all the old oak cabinets and mounted them in the garage (whee! extra storage), then replaced them with Ikea Abstrakt gloss white cabinets, and Ikea Applad black cabinets mounted to form a pantry wall.

So much better than the floating fridge situation we had before! Oh, and surprise! I am the kind of person who sticks stuff all over the refrigerator. Hunny Bunny hates it, but how else will I know where to find my Babies R Us coupons? What do you think of my crazy Moroccan brass tray up there? I know it’s kind of passe to stack stuff on top of your cabinets, but because our room is vaulted, it felt really naked without something…

The peninsula was ripped out and HB built a new, taller wall for the bar to anchor the cabinets onto. He and Matty bear also tore out the old post and replaced it with a smaller, dry walled post. The counters are Ikea Numerar in oak, and the backsplash is soapstone, which Matt installed. Karly bought the vintage Danish pendant lights on Ebay and decided they didn’t work for her. Bonus! They are perfect in my house. I got a new stove on sale at Lowes, the Datid hood for half price at Ikea, and I am unnaturally obsessed with our new Ikea spice rack. Now I just need three more spices to fill it…

On the sink wall, Matt installed a soapstone tile countertop in a very labor (and dust) intensive process so that the countertop looks like a slab. No grout, and half the price! He did a super excellent job, and if you live in Austin I highly recommend you contact him for all your handyman/renovation needs.

We bought a Kohler cast iron sink that has a very low divider, so it’s kind of the best of the single/double sink worlds. Love it! The faucet is also Kohler, and the dishwasher was on sale at Lowes. I had the vintage light fixture already and it’s ok (I like the brass), but I think I could do better. Someday. Maybe. Oh, and the reversible cotton rugs are from Ikea, of course.

The window wall feels a little unfinished, so we’re planning on putting up a couple of shelves where I can display cute dishes and whatchamadoodles. What do you think: glossy white? black? or butcherblock? Who knows when we’ll get to it, since we’ve only got a week until the baby is due and still need to clean renovation dust out from under the furniture, but we can dream, right?

So, that’s it for my kitchen tour. We hatched a half baked plot in November of last year, started gutting in January, and “finished” just days ago. I think our original idea was to slap some paint on our ugly cabinets and call it a day, but I’m glad we took the advice that many of you gave us — which was to rip it out and go for it. Including the appliances (except for the fridge), the floors, counters, sink, hardware, cabinets, lights, paint, and Matt’s labor, we came in at around 10k, which was pretty close to my original estimate. It took the short side of forever to complete, but because Hunny did most of the work himself and Matt helped out a lot, we were able to spend most of our budget on materials instead of labor.

So far, we’re super happy with it, but I’ll be sure to let you know if any of the walls fall down…

Our new kitchen floors are finally dry enough to walk on, so I was able to finish documenting this chapter of our epic kitchen renovation tale which began with a dastardly tile floor, crescendoed into a blaze of dust and fumes, and denouemented in a lazy state of vague anticipation which ended with teary eyed appreciation of The Divine Holy Grail finally within our grasp. And also we are glad that the haze of polyurethane no longer threatens to incite hallucinations (for more information, see Tuesday’s post). So, without further ado, I present the illustrated and unabridged version of the chapter entitled, A New Floor Means Never Having to Say You’re Sorry.

1.1 EXPOSITION

The old floors were a hideous screen printed tile which gave stomach cramps to anyone who happened to glance upon them. The mismatched grout was an eyesore unparalleled by any floor ever before seen. As mistress of the house, the tiles especially vexed me whensoever I was put upon to clean their uncommonly bilious faux marble surface.

Oh! The horror!

1.2 A SURPRISING DISCOVERY

Before the vile tile could be replaced by gleaming new wood, a very unfortunate post in the center of the bar needed to move. A sea of plywood cabinets were demolished to leave space for the work to come.

Much to Ben’s surprise, when one cheaply milled, warped pine panel was removed from the post, a Budweiser beer can was found inside. Who had built this house? A tribe of beer swilling uncivilized monkeys? Ben scratched his head in earnest. Obviously he would never do such a thing.

1.3 MOVING MOUNTAINS

Moving a heavy load-bearing post should not be taken lightly, so Ben enlisted the help of his trusted friend, Mattypants, known to many in these parts as “Karly’s Husband.”

Matt did a fine job of moving said post four inches behind the original, by first installing the new post and then cutting the old one out. We are pleased that the ceiling still stands, and feel lucky that we will have Matt’s expert assistance with upcoming kitchen projects.

1.4 A DUST STORM HITS

Once the area was prepared, yon fugly tile was removed by wondrous workers.

We were ecstatic this job was not undertaken by ourselves, as it was a particularly horrible job, which created tremendous clouds of dust.

Despite our best efforts, dust was tracked into the four corners of our house, surreptitiously appearing even in closed bedroom closets.

1.5 RESCUE

At this time, Dean Warren and his magical crew laid a sub floor of 2x4s adhered to the concrete slab by some very stinky chocolate tar. Bundles of our future wood floor were left inside to acclimate to the house.

1.6 TWO ROADS DIVERGED

Once the wood was ready, Dean stapled tongue to groove and created 151 sq ft of gorgeous goodness.

Despite the dangerously upturned nails, lack of sink and stove, and enormous mess, our hearts soared at the sudden realization that the tile was gone, never, ever to return!

And here, the plot thickens (and the wallet thins). Sensing that the road ahead was fraught with perils untold, Ben, as master of the house, put his foot down. To ensure a perfect match, he decided that the old floors must be sanded and refinished along with the new floors. As mistress, my job was to argue against this expensive proposition, but I was overruled.

1.7 BEN WINS

Even our senseless house cat can tell that Ben was right. That’s all I’m gonna say about that.

1.8 HAPPINESS, AT LAST

The gleaming new floors were very difficult to photograph, but anyone can see that the new satin stain is delicious, and the marked lack of tile should uplift the hearts of all who gaze upon it.

I would not have chosen this stain color to begin with, but my hand was forced by the nearly 1300 sq ft of wood flooring already in place that I had to match. Sigh. Nevertheless, I am excited by the level of quality and the difference the new floor has made in our kitchen already.

1.9 EPILOGUE

I would like to thank Dean Warren and his crew for their honesty, professionalism, quality and service. After receiving four bids, we were pleased that the lowest bid also came with the nicest person. True to his word, the final price came in on target, and the smile never left his face. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone in town.

I promised to give numbers for all souls brave enough to undertake this heroic journey, so here goes: the price for 151 sq ft of tile removal and haul off ($250), new sub floor materials and installation ($185), 151 sq ft of red oak ($300) and installation ($330), and 317 sq ft of sanding and finishing ($730), added up to about $1800. Ouch.

Does it hurt? Yes. We are not wealthy people! But the floors are gorgeous, and I like that our money went to a hardworking person who deserves it. In our troubled economy, it’s all about helping out small businesses.

Thus ends this chapter of our adventures in kitchen renovation, but tune in to later chapters where we install cabinets! A sink!!! Countertops! And new paint! It’s all DIY from here on out, but with help from multi talented Matt, everything should be smooth sailing.

To be continued…

It’s a woodtastic wonderland here at Casa Erin. The crappy tile has been ripped out of our kitchen and beauteous new wood floors are going in as I write this. Right now we’re living in a dust laden war zone, draped in plastic sheeting that has transformed our once innocent abode into a crime scene straight out of Dexter, but I know it’s going to be worth it. I’ll be sure to do the big reveal when the floors are finished next week, but until then here’s a sneak peek to tide you over:

Aren’t you jealous? Don’t you wish you could wash dishes in the bathroom sink just like me? By the time this adventure is finished, I’m going to weigh 8,000 pounds from eating takeout every day, but that’s another story. Today’s story is about wood lust, not wood dust.

(Tom Scheerer)

I’ve always loved wood. In its most elemental form it speaks of the trees from which it was hewn, reminding me of the Pecan Orchard I grew up tending.

Sadly, we did not have giant moose on the farm. This absence remains a travesty of my childhood for which I shall never forgive the latitude of my upbringing.

On the other hand, who needs moose or a farm when one could have a giant shiny faceted end table thingie? I like the way wood softens modern materials and relates interior to exterior, and Suzy Hoodless is a master of that balance.

This cozy bedroom photographed by Annie Schlecter makes me rethink my hatred of the horrid wood paneling trend from the 70s (laminate not allowed!). If I didn’t already have wood floors, I would copy this room right down to the hot little pendant sconces. It just looks so enviably clean. And dust free.

(Marie Claire Maison)

Je deteste that table and those chairs, but the knotty pine paneling reminds me of my naughty youth.

And then there’s this sexy number found via the inimitable blog, If the Lampshade Fits. Check out that hourglass figure. Hubba hubba!

(Office for Word and Image)

Why stop at wood walls when you can have it all? And by “all,” I mean the most amazing house of wood, ever.

This little gem comes courtesy of my super seventies deco bible, Living Spaces, and I love the way the inside connects with the breathtaking views of the great outdoors. Skiing anyone? (I think my unborn fetus is foolishly raising a tiny hand.)

Meanwhile, for some spaces a little dab will do, like this gorgeous Riad in Marrakech. That glossy black door is my new inspiration for our exterior entry, since I now realize it could be fantastic with our rustic split rail fence.

(Annie Schlecter )

Oh, what a feeling… when we’re using wood planks on the ceiling. A nice change from the ubiquitous wood flooring, I think. Not that I’m in any position to hate on wood floors right now.

(Office for Word and Image)

Although not the most practical in terms of cleaning, I do love wood ceilings with white floors. It’s like the world got tuned upside down.

(Edina Van Der Wyck)

And wood helps to keep white spaces from going sterile, although that table on casters has definite medical potential. And do you see the console table on casters in the background??? I NEED IT. I’m thinking of cultivating a new entirely mobile lifestyle. My kid is sure to love it. Post to come someday.

(Office for Word and Image)

No self respecting post on wood would be complete without a touch of the rustique. While it’s not really my style, I do think using logs to create an indoor tent of softly canopied fabric is a pretty genius idea.

This tiny touch of woodsy eye candy comes courtesy of my man, Per Ranung. Is it me, or is there something a bit sinister about those knotted sheets hanging from rafters? That’s probably why I like it.

Alrighty friends, It’s time for me to inspect our own masterpiece in the making and attempt to contain the dirt damage. I can’t wait to give you the full report next week, but until then, Happy Weekend!