Here is my Floor plan:
[img]http://www.floorplanner.com/qe2f5a/
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These are the details: Red Oak unfinished, solid, 2 1/4 X 3/8. Subfloor is 3/8 inch plywood. Walls are very straight : )

These are my questions (to start):
I would like the 45 degree angle look for the living room.
If I do this, should I run the boards parallel to the fireplace or the other way?
Does it have to be an exact 45 degree angle?
If it has to be 45 degrees exactly, how do I know if the fireplace is at an exact 45 degree angle (it looks like it is to me, but I don't know how to measure to be sure)?
I would like to put a border around this with a darker edge (see Gary's picture in Sept. 7, 2007 post in General Hardwood Flooring "Floor registers" posted by DIY Hippy). I have the flush mount registers and would like to do that type of border around the living room. Should this border then be carried straight across the doorways (then a new direction would begin in the kitchen and entryway)? There are no doors, just openings there.

Thanks for all the information you've already provided and the help you continue to offer!
Kay

Is the subfloor a typo? I can see the wood being 3/8th's but not the subfloor?
I see you are using flush mount vents (to the best of my knowledge they arent offered in 3/8th) So I am going to guess you meant 3/4 by all of it.

Running the boards on a 45, its all preference lay a few rows out each way and see wich way you like it.

To find the 45 of the room i usually measure out from one corner of the room, measuring 8ft one way and 8ft the opposite direction (from the same corner. then snap a line between the two and you will have a 45 degree line wich you would then transfer to the middle of the room and start from that point working both directions.

If it were my house I would restrict the border to the one room, sometimes when it crosses multiple rooms it starts to look a bit busy, othertimes it looks good. again its all prefeerence.

and if you didnt plan on carying the 45 throughot all the rooms, then its border shoud definatley be restricted to the room.

Thanks so much!
It was a mistake about the measurements -- it is 3/4 -- I was guessing but just now measured : )
I am going to do just the living room at an angle and with a border. Thanks so much for the great idea on finding the angle.
Then I'll just lay the wood straight for the rest.
Do you think there would be any problems if I did just the living room now and the rest a few weeks later? Is it okay to sand and put the polyurethane on the two sections separately?
Thanks again!!
Kay

Its best to sand and finish everything together. Sometimes you cant and have to do it in sections, sometimes you can notice you did it in sections.
I prefer to do it all at the same time, but I have done it in sections and had it look like it was all done at the same time. It is the opposite of easy.