With the sanding complete…
It was time to evaluate the stain. The wood I always have installed is white oak (not red oak) so I can get a nice amber or yellow sunshine color. Last time a mix of equal parts Natural and Puritan Pine stain worked well to get the color I like. (These are Minwax colors, I believe.) This is the view standing in the hallway looking into the room. The Natural and PP combo is on the left and natural alone is on the right.
Look how different they look standing inside the room looking toward the door with the windows to my back. The direction of the grain of the wood really makes a difference. I went with just the natural stain because the floors always naturally amber a bit over time. We didn’t want to go too dark or amber right now.
Unfortunately, they finished staining and putting on the first coat of polyurethane and sealed up the door before I realized it, so I missed getting a finished picture. I can unseal the door tomorrow morning and walk on it by 1:00 PM, so I’ll share some pics tomorrow. Final coats of poly will go down on Monday and Tuesday. If you missed them, you can view Part 1, HERE and Part 2, HERE and Part 3, HERE.
Mr. Max listened to all the noise today but never acted scared. Brave kitty. 🙂 Hope you enjoyed following the process of having wood flooring installed. See you tomorrow with a final photo. Have a wonderful weekend!
That's noisy work. I'm as impressed with Max as I am with your new floors. I have to refinish my kitchen floor and I dread it.
Love it! I love hard wood floors. We have them in a house we rent out (use to live in). They are beautiful. Cannot wait to see it all finished!
Susan, how exciting for YOU!!! The grain in the wood is beautiful, I love it and I love a natural stain. I have white oak in my home and I went for a natural look also, I have never regretted it!!! Can't wait to see them all finished, Kathysue
Susan,
Wow! Look how you are blowing through that list! How exciting! I just love hard wood floors and would put them in every room if I could. By the way, if that cute little Max is bothered by the noise, I would be happy to take him until you are done with the room! LOL!
Shelley
I;m so excited to see the finished office you have put a lot of work in so far. Happy Weekend.
Pattie
Your office is going to be beautiful! Thanks for taking us along for this process!!!! XO, Pinky
Isn't it just fun? I can't call mine an "office" though, cause I do so many things in there. I just settled on my Mom Cave! I think you started it though! Have a blessed weekend. Sandi
Sandi…I like that…I should be calling this my Mom Cave! Ha! I wish I could have created it back when the Mom Cave campaign was going on with HomeGoods. 😉
Gonna be gorgeous!
The floor is great!
When you rent your steamer, be sure to have rubber gloves and a bucket to put the steamer plate in as you have to move your ladder etc. Those steamer plates drip HOT water!
Mary
Your wood floor is gonna be gorgeous!!
Wow! The floors are looking terrific! I can't believe how fast the crew worked. My BFF and her hubby just put hardwood in their home and it took them 5 days to install it in 2 rooms. Although, I suppose contractors don't take beer breaks. 😉
I can't wait to see them and the office finished.
I'm sure it is a messy, noisy process…but the floor is really beautiful. I can't wait to see the finished room!
I just love wood floors. Glad you are going that route. Can't wait to see the finished product.
Susan, your new space is going to be fantastic. We have hardwood floors. They are so easy to care for.
Enjoy the process and this new office. ~ Sarah
Gosh Susan, this is beautiful, I can not get unfinished wood where I live, what a money saver….they look awesome and will darken just perfectly…BTW I loved the idea of the bamboo thingy for your chair.
Lisa
P.S. I love how you have run the wood direction differently from your hallway. I think people are sometimes hesistant to change up wood pattern/directions? And it can make things so interesting and also take advantage of room shape and light when we don't think it all has to run the same way!
Lisa
How exciting Susan, I'm glad to see Max didn't seem to be bothered with all the activity. Thanks for taking us along during this phase of the office redo. hugs ~lynne~
Wood is so warm. I know the finished product will be amazing. Ahhh the war rages on with the wallpaper…
Mr. Goodwill Hunting