Hi,

I have a open floor plan with a kitchen that steps down into a family room. The dilemma I have is that my contractor needs to install the hardwood floor in the kitchen perpendicular to the floor direction in the family room. I'm wondering if this break in the pattern will be unattractive or might it define the space and look o.k. I imagine most people would choose to lay the floors in the same direction, but since we don't have a choice, is this sometimes done? Any suggestions to make this look more eye pleasing? Thanks!

Elena

To offer an opinion on your layout question I would need to see a floor plan.
What is the contractors reasoning for only being able to install the floor this direction? Hard to believe there's no choice. There's easier and more cost effective ways than others, but usually a choice.

Personally, I have no problem with a change in direction of the floor, provided it is aesthetically attractive within each space. Often, this is a better look than a unified direction, but as Floorologist says, a floor plan would make it much easier to determine if the change would be suitable in your space.

I guess it is the most cost effective way to do the project (and we have a small kitchen remodel budget!). He will be able to install the floor over our existing harwood floor instead of removing it.

It looks like we might opt for ceramic tile instead. I think it will drive me crazy to see the planks running a different way than the family room because it is such an open floor plan.

Thanks!!

AmatoCoates,

As others have noted, I am surprised that a contractor says that he has no choice but to install the hardwoods that way. There's almost always a choice (but some choices are more expensive than others). You say there's another hardwood floor already present in the space? If so, he probably wants to install the new floor perpendicular to the existing one; or he wants to install the floor perpendicular to the joists. Do you have a real subfloor or is your house old enough that it's tongue and groove hardwoods directly over the joists?



In any event, one question I have is will you have to raise all the doors because you're raising the floor another 3/4" rather than pulling up the existing wood?

To address your original question. A change in direction for the floor will not ook bad at all, especially if it is "framed out" correctly. New wood floors really dress a place up and are often quite uniform in look. While I would prefer all the boards to run in the same direction, if you are transitioning to a new room and the transition happens in the doorway, I say no harm in turning them - in fact it could look good that way.

As far as considering ceramic tile for the space, you're probably looking at a healthy increase in installation cost for tile.

Were you planning on prefinished or finish-in-place floors. Finish-in-place are better for kitchens, although both can work.

edited by admin: read the rules

FredOPC,

To answer some of your questions -- he wants to run the new harwood perpendicular to the existing floor. Yes, I believe there is a subfloor. Luckily, we would not have to raise the doors (complicated to explain in writing, but it will work).

There was a family room built off the kitchen about 10-11 years ago, and you step down into the family room. It is a totally open space (not just a small door opening). That's why I am most concerned about it looking strange. There could be some sort of border at the edge of the step-down that would break up the space, but I'm not sure how that would look.

I think we will do finish in place floors...

I will have to look into the cost of tiling. My brother-in-law is the contractor, and is doing the kitchen for us at a very reduced price. My husband is pretty handy, so he could probably help with the tiling.

Thanks for your help!!

Why not just take out the old hardwood and replace it or for that matter just refinish it. It's not that hard to take out old wood.

Unfortunately, the floors are too damaged to be refinished. Maybe, we should just take out the old floor. I think they're not sure what's underneath the current floor, and since it's an old home, maybe they could run into some issues/damage that costs more to fix??? I have to talk to my brother-in-law again and understand better about what the issue is...