CasaSugar

Have You Ever Stained Your Hardwood Floors?

CasaSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:15:16 -0700

Staining your floors can be a very time-consuming task if you have a large space. But it's also a very rewarding one. Worn floors do have a certain je ne sais quoi, but unless your décor is shabby chic or cottage-y, they can look a bit informal. A rich wood stain will really transform a room. Have you ever stained your floors yourself?

Source: Flickr User Philo Nordlund

Ask Casa: I Have a Problem Room!

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:30:58 -0700

Hi Casa,

I love reading your posts! I'm getting some great ideas, and implementing them in my very first house. My home is an older brick house, and my style tends toward warm colors, sort of a rustic look - the living room has beautiful wood floors and a brick fireplace. The house is really in need of many updates, but I'm completely stumped on one room. It's the smallest bedroom (9 feet by 12 feet), but I teach music lessons from my home, and that room is my studio/office. I'm in there a lot, but I don't enjoy being in there because I have no idea what to do with that room. The walls are the old fashioned knotty pine paneling (nice wood, but how to decorate!), and the floor has carpeting over the original hardwoods which don't exactly match the color of the paneling.

I don't know whether to rip out the paneling, paint it, leave it and try to make it work for me? And of course, I want to do whatever will add the most to the resale value of the home.

I know it's a long explanation, but if you have time, I'd love some help!

Thanks!
SC Cutie

To see my response, read more

Hi SC Cutie,

Your home sounds so lovely! I think that your solution is pretty straightforward, though it will take some work. Since wood paneling has fallen out of vogue, the best thing you can do in the short term is to paint it. I really think that white will make your room seem both modern and more expansive. The picture here is what the room from the earlier picture looked like after the wood paneling was painted white. Isn't it an amazing change? You'll definitely need to use primer - perhaps several coats of it - and at least two coats of paint to make sure the color is even, but I think that the change is well worth it.

The second change I'd make is pulling up the carpets. Hardwood floors are coveted by buyers, and they also increase your home's resale value. Beyond these monetary benefits, hardwood floors are also easier to clean than carpets, and help to improve your home's indoor air quality because wood doesn't collect dander, pollen, and dirt the way that carpets tend to do. Because the size of the room is limited, this won't be a very difficult job. Even if the wood floors need refinishing, this change is well worth the time and money. I think that it will make your music lessons much more enjoyable as well!

Cheers,
Casa

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Casa Quickie: Cold Tea on Hardwood

CasaSugar — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 13:39:52 -0700

It may sound weird, but cold brewed tea is a great way to get varnished hardwood floors clean (and if you don't believe me, ask your grandmother-chances are she used this method). Here's what you do: Take a lot of tea bags (about 15 per 2 quarts of water), brew and cool the tea, and then clean your floors with a damp mop. The tea mixture will clean the floors while bringing out the wood grain and adding shine. And since you're only using tea, there's no need to rinse.

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Definition: Parquet Flooring

CasaSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 16:09:40 -0700

Parquet (pronounced "parkay") is a type of flooring made from pieces of wood laid in geometric patterns. Parquet comes in a seemingly infinite number of designs: The individual wood pieces can be squares, rectangles, triangles, and other shapes.

A very basic parquet floor would involve a tile-like pattern, such as the one on the left. More intricate parquet patterns, like the one at right, can have an almost three-dimensional effect.

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Do You Have Hardwood Floors or Carpeting?

CasaSugar — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 05:00:26 -0700

Though I grew up in houses with wall-to-wall carpet, most of my adult dwellings have had hardwood floors, which I've come to love. What do you have in your house?

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