Masterful Hardwood Floor Makeover: A Modern Refresh!
- Home Case Studies Masterful Hardwood Floor Makeover: A Modern Refresh!
Here's a typical red oak floor with an aged finish, orange tones are prevalent.
Here you see the entry and railing work in progress- the floor is stained.
Now you see the floor finished in classic gray tones.
This is the final result of our shared stairs and railing project!
Here you see the orange color of the red oak screaming to be refinished.
It was good to get that tired orange finish off the red oak floor!
Now the dining room is finished, waiting for the walls and trim to catch up.
This living room / office is pciture is before we sanded it.
Now the living room contents are protected while the floor is sanded.
Finally the living room floor is done
Here is the side view of the living room re-stained and finished.
All pulling together, the floors are refinished, the walls and trim are painted.
Phase 2- This is the family room before the floor is refinished.
And again the family room (side view) before the red oak floor is refinished.
Getting a fresh start this family room will soon be refinished.
This picture in particular gives you a grasp of the tones of the classic gray on the red oak floor.
Here;s another great natural light picture showing the new stain color and finish.
Instead of being overcome with a dated orange looking finish, this floor is freshly redone and updated!
These floors, stairs and railings are gorgeously refinished and stunning!
Finally the ktichen updating is done including the floors, cabinets, walls and trim!
- Location: Shamong NJ
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Job:
Residential Hardwood Refinishing
Skilled contractor restyles her home with sleek floors, fresh walls and stylish decor.’
Goodbye stale orange, hello vibrant grays and blues! A bold fresh transformation bursts to life!
Continuing on her journey to update her home this client first began with half of her first floor. She then circled back with us to complete the second half of the main living floor the following year. She converted the hardwood floors and trim from an old, stale orange’y’ look to a new contemporary vibe with cool shades of blues, grays and hints of black and browns.
Capably skilled as a project manager overseeing and hiring contractors and managing building and remodeling projects, she does this everyday for a living. Therefore doing the same for her for her own needs was second nature to her.
Each of us hired was researched, questioned and proven before she even let us in her door! So after that process and seeing our pictures on line and reviews on Facebook, we were hired.
Neighbors duly hired— Us for the floors, Our Neighbor for the stairs and railings.
Interestingly enough, along with us so was our neighbor! A master carpenter with a 3rd generational custom wood mill, Warren was duly hired to replace the entire railing system. Gone were the rounded newel posts. In were smartly styled squared ones, with metal balusters. And for this part of the work we would overlap. We sanded and refinished the treads, while Warren of Lakewood Custom Millwork, completed the stair/ landing project simultaneously. (Although Lakeview does not have a website, they do post on Facebook. To take a peek at the work click the following> Lakeview Lumber Custom Woodwork.
Teaming up for the stair and railing portion of the project produced stunning results! Here’s a peek at our tag team effort!
Our Projects
For sake of organizing, and since the work was spaced out over a bit of time I will refer to each separately:
- Phase 1- to refinish the “front of the house” or main and formal living areas: the kitchen, dining room, entry living room, foyer, back halls et al, stairs and upstairs hall
- Phase 2- to refinish the “back of the house” which includes the family room, bar area and sun porch
Kitchen cabinet contractor paid us a compliment
After choosing the stain color carefully we waited our turn in line with other contractors. And because she knew she’d have to “live with her stain color choice, she took her time in selecting it. To hear more about how she chose the color click here to read more: Careful stain selection avoids color mistake.
Namely at this point, we began our work after the kitchen cabinets had been painted.
A side bar comment and compliment was made while the cabinet painter overheard us speaking about the previous job we had just finished. In a nutshell he paid us great respect for even attempting, yet let alone conquering a complicated project: sanding and refinishing maple floors to a dark gray. Understanding the difficulty because maple stains blotchy, he would never accept a job like that. And the fact that we did, and delivered exceptional results was astounding to him. (And while we did, it was not easy, nor one we care to endeavor very often.)
Our work
First we prepped the rooms, removing the quarter round trim and interior doors. And because we were refinishing in the kitchen, and another workspace in Tom’s office, we had plastic ready to cover the kitchen cabinets and counters in each of those area. That would prevent and any minor sanding debris generated from getting inside those areas. (Especially since these people remained at home during us doing our work for them.)
And because this was an open floor plan all the rooms, nooks, closets and halls had to be completely sanded and ready for stain, all at once. This was necessary because there are no natural “breaks” where you can start and stop the stain and coatings. (You would see that, which would be unacceptable.)
When the staining, seal or finish coats are applied they must be done, and were all at once.
A first glimpse of the new stain hints of the results to become.
Out with the old, in with the new. Gone was the tired, aged yellowing of the wood floor. In was the new vibrant color which instantly renewed and refreshed the look of the entire first floor. Or course it settled in and made the kitchen along with the new cabinet color and other updates “pop.” But lagging behind was the wall paint color and vast amounts of trim.
The results of Phase 1
All freshly coiffed, these rooms were converted to a new lively, vibrant look. And with all efforts the attention to detail from floor color, to counters, cabinetry and decor’, it was a whole new space with a fresh attitude!
And eventually the wall color and trim work would round out the job, as well as the updated stairs. To see a glimpse of the stair and railing conversion click here> _______________.
Phase 2- Rinse and repeat.
Over the brief respite, the other parts of the project were caught up. All now were coordinated in the front of the house. Next the same process was repeated in the back of the house. Done capably while the family was out of town for Christmas, our little hooves were working diligently to complete the first floor transformation for them.
This part of the project was much easier. Mostly these rooms were wide, open spaces. Compared to the other refinishing, this went fast and was done so while the they were away. Whenever a kitchen or bathroom, or halls with multiple doors the sanding and prepping takes much longer. These were wide open rooms connected to one another. So the dramatic conversion was done swiftly and beautifully, with full attention to detail and results: a pristinely refinished and beautiful floor with a brilliant new vibe.
Closing Notes
These projects went like clockwork, and the client and her husband is thrilled. She joins other contractor gals who use and refer us. It’s a woman to woman thing, and it works!
