I have hard wood floors throughout my first floor...... I wanted them so much.. and paid a nice penny for them... and I hate them.....
they are scarred.. marked... dull.... ugly....
Nine people living here and not taking shoes off as soon as they walked in the door.. and three-four dogs over 5 years have destroyed them except in the living and dining rooms which are rarely used.... but my foyer and kitchen, breakfast nook are terrible..
I think when I figure out if I am staying here in this house or moving w/ DH's job... I will get tile.......
Thanks everyone I really wanted the laminate but a few were telling me to do the hardwood.
Lovie, your floors are about the same color I'm going for, they have a nice shine, like lilly too....Hardwood floors are more expensive; but also add more value to your home if you are concerned about resale at all.
I'd never get tile through out. I can not stand grout! That stuff is so hard to keep nice looking in my opinion. It's hard and cold feeling in my opinion too.
I lived in a rental house years ago before I married Mr. Lovie and I had the greatest laminate floor. Not the type that looks like wood; but the old fashion linoleum (No idea how to spell that!) that sort of looked like tile; but it was the easiest thing in the world. It was a blended mix of browns and neutral great color. You didn't have to do much more than sweep it unless something sticky got on it. It looked great and it was so easy! I'd put that in the kitchen if my husband would let me. He say's that's "cheap" looking.
Whatever you do don't get a dark colored wood. I have a friend who just built a beautiful new home and put in these beautiful wide plank DARK wood floors through out the entire downstairs. Their really pretty but show every foot print that steps on them. Their going to be a nightmare to keep clean. I'd hate to have those kind.
I've decided that laminate is the way to go for our family also. I love the look of hardwood floors, but with five dogs and lots of "people" traffic it just wouldn't work for me. Currently we have carpeting, and with dogs who do have accidents, they get gross. I shampoo them a least every two months, and it's getting harder and harder to do. I want EASY! Just have to wait until I can afford new floors.
I like the warmth of carpet, and I know I will miss it, but hopefully some area rugs will make us more comfortable. Hubby dreams of having radiant heat below the floors, so they will be warm under foot, but that sounds really expensive!
How about cork or bamboo?Aren't they softer and damage more easily?I would Love bamboo. need to talk dh into it....I love my laminate flooring! It's so easy to clean and is always so shiny!
I have it in my hallway, living room, dining room, bathroom and kitchen. All of it looks so clean because it's super easy to maintain and has never been damaged, despite things dropping and spilling.
My hubby surprised me when I was gone for a few days. It was like one of those make-over shows; when I walked in, I gasped and started to cry. He knew how hard it was for me to vacuum and clean the carpet since RA. I just couldn't do it so was always embarrassed. Of course, he was having to do it more and more...hmmm -I wonder...
awww.. CathyMarie.. how wonderfully sweet!!Both have been used successfully in kitchen and baths for years -- of the two, I would guess that the bamboo would be more rugged. I would personally go with the cork if i were able just for the relief on my joints.I've had both hardwood and laminate. I MUCH prefer the laminate. With kids and dogs in the house, the wood floor was soo scratched. Laminate has held up well.
If you like the look of bamboo..they make a laminate for that. My girlfriend has it. We call it "Lamboo".
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