Flooring design help for open floor plan

12 years ago

We are buying a house that is at the top of our budget. The present kitchen has tile flooring, the dining room has wood and the living room has carpeting. We would like to redo kitchen and take out walls separating it from dining room and living room. We have the money to redo all floors to all wood for flow and hopefully take down walls that separate kitchen. We do not have enough for full kitchen redesign at this time. Should we do living room floor and wait to do kitchen floors? The cabinetry and appliances only line walls right now. Could we use same layout with new cabinets and appliances and add island later? Or will we have to use different flooring in kitchen?

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Comments (4)

Allison Koestler
12 years ago
Could you go ahead and purchase the extra wood for your kitchen and just store it until you are ready to remodel the kitchen? But if you are certain you aren't changing your layout, go ahead and lay your flooring in the kitchen now.
Curt D'Onofrio
12 years ago
With the walls now you have complete separation from the kitchen and living room so floors need not match. First, remove the walls. I would first install the living room floor to your liking, then upload pictures on this thread you started so we can better advise to what flooring in kitchen ought to be in our opinion. Personally though, i don't like wood floors in kitchen. BTW, they have tile that looks like wood...google, "tile wood look a likes"
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PRO
MacFlooringservices
10 years ago
Kitchen floors are a good investment in
your home and can add beauty to any space. If you are designing a new kitchen,
it helps to choose the

first and build your kitchen from the ground up.
We have everything from rustic timber effects to smooth classic marble,
something to suit your space, your needs and your style.
PRO
M Squared Flooring & Design Centre
10 years ago
Hi annievla

So if you are looking to do wood all over, including the kitchen (which personally I recommend for an open design) It is a good idea for you to install all the floors at the same time. You don't want to start and stop the installation process. If you choose to put an island on top of the wood floors later, then the floor is ready to go.

Also I would advise against purchasing the wood and storing it for a long time. It is very important where and how hardwood floors are stored. You don't want to to put them in an attic or in a basement and you definitely don't want it to be in a garage for an extended period of time (We wouldn't recommend that even for a short period of time). If you have it in your budget to do all the floors at once, I would strongly suggest doing that. You will have the mess once and everything is done all at once and you are done with it. Whatever you choose to do later can be done on top of the floors.

Since you are going with an open concept, maybe look for wider plank engineered hardwood flooring. The trend these days is to go wider and distressed. If you are using hardwood in your kitchen make sure you stay away from a smooth surface. You want something wirebrushed or distressed. Hanscraped floors won't help with wear and tear as much as wirebrushed and distressed floors. You will be dropping things in the kitchen and you don't want to have to worry about little dents and scratches. That's where distressed wood floors are your best friend. Also the closer to the natural colour of the wood you are, the less imperfections you will see in the long run.

Happy hunting. I hope you find your perfect floors.