As you have discovered dark and high gloss floors both show everything. choose accordingly.

Yes, you are right. I did learn that dark and glossy shows everything. Maybe a medium tone? I will be continuing the same flooring into the kitchen. The backsplash will be white subway tile as well.

Have you looked at having the floor refinished in a lower gloss, different stain and maybe some distressing? Lovely home BTW.

I would do it in a heartbeat, Kathleen, but it’s not hardwood. It’s laminate flooring (that has held up really well, even if it does show every little speck of dust!). Thanks for the compliment.

We have light hardwood floors (32 years) that are wonderful. Cleanup is very easy. The wood floors are in the kitchen, too. We also have a second open that is more open. Therefore we have LVP throughout the entire place, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, included. It allows for one continuous floor. I am very happy with it. You cannot do that with wood without worry.

Light is the way to go. It will look great with your countertops, too. I am assuming that the gray walls will be changed.

Your space is lovely. I don't think you have to match the ceiling but do make sure that the floors and the ceiling have a similar undertone. A medium tone should be fine.

When you redo the fireplace, I would reconsider your choice of white subways. Your living room has lots of warmth. Depending on the color and the grout and the finish, a white subway could look harsh and out of place. A brick or a stone would be a good choice.

Grapefruit, yes, the walls in the kitchen have already been painted the same as the living room. It is a cream color. The pic below gives a more accurate idea as to the color of all walls. That is the kitchen where my kitty is standing.

Thanks for the advice, d_gw. I will have to look around. I thought using a white tile that matches the trim of the fireplace would work, but you might be right about needing some warmth.

Have you thought of porcelain wood look tile? I love it and it comes in so many medium shades. You have lovely taste by the way. What kind of rug is that? Looks great.

Jennifer, it is the combination jute and wool rug from Pottery Barn. I have thought of tile, and I am in the Deep South, so it would be a good choice.

I have no personal experience with LVP but there is a thread over on the cleaning tips forum that has a lot of posts from people who are having a hard time keeping them looking clean. Don’t know if brand makes a difference.

Thanks for that info, saypoint! I will go read over there. I definitely don’t want something difficult to clean!

What did you go with?

Nothing yet! Lol. I’ve been reading the incredibly long thread on the flooring forum called Audura Max vs Coretec. I’ve been looking at Smartcore SPC flooring. There are some new colors that will be coming out in the summer. I like the durability of tile, but I just don’t think that I want to commit to it. I’m dreading having to remove all of the tile I have now, and I don’t want to have to do it again if I want to change flooring ever again. I like the idea of floating flooring that is easier to change.

How much is tile removal per square foot, dare I ask?

Just another thought about the fireplace. Rather than replace anything I would remove the black trim at the top and change the curtains to a cream color so that the whole thing flows together.

Jennifer, I’m getting quotes of between $3.50 to $5.00 per square foot. But more than that, I’m dreading the mess!

Thanks ingrid. Good suggestions.

They make LVT with a waterproof or stone polymer core that can be installed right over your tile without telegraphing through like regular vinyl wood. That’s what we’re doing soon to avoid the mess and expense of ripping out our tile.,

Lupins, I wish that I could do that. Apparently the previous owners installed this tile on top of tile already, and the top layer has debonded from the bottom layer. You can’t tell by looking at the tile but you can hear it! So far only one tile has cracked but it is probably just a matter of time before more crack. So my contractor recommended taking both layers out.

What is telegraphing? Please let us know how that turns out Lupins4

To do a good job with any new flooring, the old should be removed and adequate new base established. Additionally, in kitchen you could have issues with height of nee base and new flooring. So make sure you can put what you choose under appliances like dishwasher. Sub-flooring could be fairly thick. Some engineered woods are made to accommodate some sub-flooring anomalies. “Telegraphing” is the phenomenon of any flaws or seams from grout or other materials under a new floor like a vinyl will show up through the new flooring. Thus the term “telegraphing” through.