Open floor plan, can't decide on flooring

14 years ago

Hi there! We are moving to a new home and are wanting to make improvements before we move our furniture. We are removing carpet in the living/dining room and were thinking of going with laminate flooring (due to durability with dog/kid). However, if we choose that route, I'm afraid it will limit us with what we can do to the kitchen, family room, entryway down the road. Any thoughts or suggestions? I really appreciate any insight you could offer! Thanks in advance

Featured Answer

betsyweisberg

14 years ago

Don't use laminate!
Can I suggest a few things- walker zanger tile that looks like hardwood, it's great and has many colorations. It's amazing, people can't believe it tile and it super easy to clean.
Also, there are some beautiful ceramic tile that looks exactly like limestone. Both of these ideas give you a wonderful neutral color palate to begin you overall home design. I suggest finding something that can go from living and into kitchen. Using different flooring can make rooms feel choppy and disconnected.

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Comments (10)

PRO
DeCocco Design
14 years ago
Is wood a possibility in your budget? Engineered hardwoods have come a long way and have amazing guarantees when it comes to durability. It's a very pretty house. Hardwood floors, properly maintained, will last a very long time and they'd look gorgeous.
msdroz
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks for your comment and its a possibility. If we chose wood flooring for the dining and living area though, I can't imagine what we would do in the kitchen, entry, hallway and family room?
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msdroz
Original Author
14 years ago
ps my fear about wood is scratching/denting. We have a dog and our current hardwoods are nicked and scratched up from her nails :(
ivyb
14 years ago
I agree with engineered hardwoods they have some with a hand scraped finish that wouldn't show scratches. You could do that throughout and do tile in the kitchen.
PRO
Arlene Awarda Architect
14 years ago
last modified: 14 years ago
Hardwood is great for the living, dining room. You may want to in hallway, kitchen and bathrooms add slate, or natural stone. It comes in 12"x12" squares and over 25 colors. It can be mixed. It is hearty and earthy for dogs. an a natural material. it is about 2.00-3.00 a foot. You should bring home samples first! lay it out. Thanks.
PRO
Millat Marble
14 years ago
I suggest you to use Natural Stone. There are hundred of colors and choices available and they always come in unique texture and shades.
PRO
Brothers Custom Works
11 years ago
A large - custom home we are building for a couple with two large dogs, a smaller dog and 3 cats will have "stranded" handscraped bamboo, with a hardness rating that is as high as the hardest hardwood in the world (search and find bamboo flooring - read wikipedia), and is water resistant (I soaked a piece of stranded bamboo in a bucket of water for 2 weeks - only slightly pealing on the clear finish - no swell of warping).

Stranded bamboo ("stranded" being the key word in description) is ground and recompositioned with binders with a variety of looks that can appear as a wood floor, except with much more durable features. Some products, information and very good pricing per square foot can be found at Lumber Liquidators. In the new home case above, stranded bamboo will be installed in the Kitchen.

Several years ago, we specified "stranded" handscraped bamboo for a home in all rooms except the bathrooms (at client approval), The home is now 4 -5 years old - no complaints or problems - 30 year warranty.
leelee
11 years ago
VOP (VERY OLD POST)
PRO
Brothers Custom Works
11 years ago
Thanks leelee - did not see that until I posted (only on my 1st cup of coffee : - ).