Sample of dark stain/light wood transition. Not exactly your situation but a sample..

Just have your dogs lay on that strip. They would make the most beautiful transition :)

and may the doggie be your guide [at times!] but whatever he's laying on might work: a concrete-type thing:


or wood with a bit of design// or concrete, stamped with leaves -see edge:


or do a bit more on one or both rooms' borders [in slate etc.]:

How about a waterproof membrane with a little stream...the dogs could drink from it too...

I was afraid to tear out those 2x4's because I don't know how this closed in porch is tied to the kitchen (underneath structure). Guess I could try it. I would like to grout in some river rock. It looks to be 5". Thoughts?

Is there anything else in your house inside or out that is like river rock?

A wood transition strip is the way to go. See this article, item #4. They come in sizes up to 5". http://homerenovations.about.com/od/floors/tp/Floor-Transition-Strip-Types.htm

No river rock anywhere.

I like your idea to introduce something other than wood... everyone will guess you placed wood there cause you had to.....since it will stick out anyway, why not draw a little attention to it do you know what I mean :) ? I don't know about river rock, which is so rustic... I don't know is your house very rustic? Another natural material might look more transitional than river rock.....

as to dark greys: do you have wrought iron? even slate that has tans in it - don't know why but I like my idea!!

use a double beveled 5" wide wood transition strip and stain it the color of the larger spaces hardwood flooring. Modify the upper floor side of the bevel by cutting it down so even though the floors are at different hieghts, the top of the transition strip is flat and level.

No iron. The house is total cabin-y, floor to ceiling wood. I have zero idea why previous owners wedged that wood and tarry crap in that divide. Should I just pry it all up, then fill the channel? Transition is not level.

msleelee: What Earth Bound Homes is suggesting will, I believe, work. You need a transition strip that is sort of "arched" or "rounded" at the top. When you walk room to room, the rounded nature of the piece helps with the uneven nature of the surfaces.

it used to be a wall and they cut the wall out and left the bottom plate instead of cutting it out. That is why there is still plywood on the side of the 2x4. They could not get the bottom plate out because the plywood was nailed to the side of it and they couldn't fit a saw in there and were too lazy to use a flush cut hand saw.

My guess is that the top of the picture is the existing house and the bottom of the picture is an addition. The bottom floor is a cheaper prefinished hardwood, typical when people put on additions, the cheap out on the finish materials, and the top is a nicer, finished on site hardwood, common in the original home construction. The plywood is also typically on the exterior of the exterior walls.

I think the pro knows best... but here it is in a kitchen --- river rock! though that little amount would look funny. Maybe this will start you on a re-do!!

I was trying to get at this - whether a material already in your house might be 'echoed' in that little space and I don't mean something with color you know.... but tile on a fireplace or who knows, cork, or.......

Thanks folks! The pro indeed hit the nail on the head! Trying not to be stupid, but can I CUT that out?

its very beautiful

Earth Bound, how do I use the flush cut saw to accomplish what you suggested?

Getting out that 2x4 is going to be a b..ear. But it's so butt ugly you have to do it even if you use a chisel and work at it for the next 100 nights. Your choice what you use but putting river rock between 2 different wood floors would not be my first choice.

To minimize the different woods I suggest you put a wood border around the breakfast room that encompasses the transition and is as close a match to the original wood as you can get. Then stain the interior with the new boards a darker color.

>>> Trying not to be stupid, but can I CUT that out?

Hammer, chisel, nail puller, pry bar and 30 minutes of work.

Use a transition strip as Earth Bound suggested above.

ppf you didn't mention obligatory curse words..

I like the "decorative wood" strip would help work this out for you. River rock would only work if you have it "somewhere else" within visual range...like a back splash 10 feet away or something like that.

I think the problem is going to be the plywood. Yes, you can cut out the bottom plate with a chisel and hammer, but it will take a while. The important thing is you also have to remove the plywood, which is probably nailed to the rim joist below the subfloor. If you try and chisel that out, you will trash your hardwood floor on the other side of the plywood as the plywood smashes into the hardwood. you need this tool: http://toolguyd.com/fein-multimaster-review/ or this tool: http://toolguyd.com/festool-vecturo/. These are great tools with tons of attachments and uses.

^ Fein Multimaster - Exactly what i would use.

Thanks so much!

That is the tool to use, however buying the Fein, or the Festool may be more tool than you need. There are less expensive versions by other manufacturers. Both of those are fantastic high quality tools, but for your purposes a less expensive variety might appeal to your wallet more.