Need help on wood floor 1959 ranch style home

9 years ago

I am redoing the floors and want to choose a non dark color but a modern feel that doesn't feel like the 70's...recommendations? Plus need ideas for office area. Note color of floor in office area is what is currently in house.....

Featured Answer

User

9 years ago

Leave as is. It's alread perfect for the bones of the home. It doesn't need remuddling.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (36)

PRO
TheFurnitureCollection
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Do you have any more images so that we can see windows, doors, light sources, any other architectural details to get an idea of the style of the house or apartment? Do you need to redo the floors for any particular reason - because they look like a nice color and with the addition of the right rugs and furnishings and perhaps painting some of the walls, you could brighten up the rooms and make them very interesting. Would the money be better spent that way? The first thing I would do is paint the wall between the shelves the same color as the other walls. Do you have a color scheme in mind?
revastark
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes attached is the french doors in office area
Related Discussions
LOST - color and look match
Q
Comments (14)
I also have an overwhelming need to see something curvy, flirtatious and round in the space. Consider this when scouting for decor and accesory items (i.e. round rug, curvy fluid light fixtures). Also, would it be a complete abomination to sand down the furniture (so it looks older) or painting it a new color before upholstering to modernize it? I agree with j222b's suggestion in that the furniture and space could benefit from some eclectic coverings but perhaps a neutral fabric against a new color that could bring out the carving of the wood could work too? In my head I see a rusty orange or deep aubergine purple or rich dark green. Just a thought...
...See More
HELP: Small L-shaped kitchen with refuse chute on wall!
Q
Comments (10)
Are you saying that cooking next to the chute would gross you out even if its covered? Andd to use it for its intended purpose? In the first picture, it looks like the stove is directly underneath the chute, but I can see in other pics that it is not. I think it is far enough away. If everything is bagged properly, it shouldn't be that bad. You will have to check on local code regarding having the stove next to the window. Code may make your decision for you. People usually just put shorter cabinets above that type of range hood. I would recommend doing so because you need all the storage you can get. The hood--being different from the bank of cabinets--will provide relief to the eye. With cabinets above, it'll still feel balanced. And, as for covering the chute, do you want to cover it and restrict access or do you still need to use it for its intended purpose and just want to camouflage it? To help the room feel pleasant, cheery, and light, I recommend using a glass tile. Even though it's applied to a wall, the translucency still shows and evokes a sense of the adjectives above. I think it would help keep things light. Consider a slightly higher toe-kick underneath the lower cabinets. It helps to create a lighter-footed feeling. You could also consider cabinets that have furniture style feet. for a more open feeling. Your kitchen seems like an ideal room to use modern, lacquered cabinets. I don't know if you like the super-modern look, but I think it could be nice. Maybe just for the uppers. Use a medium-to-light toned wood on the bottom. A limestone floor might be nice. Or you can do wood or laminate. You could go with dark or light. I think it's mostly about preference.
...See More
Need help with covering windows on French doors that are very close to
Q
Comments (11)
I have to say that well made Roman Shades are not cheap, they are the higher end of the market. Secondly the thing to consider is that they are an all or nothing product, they are either open or closed. What part of the country do you live in? What direction do the windows face, and how often are those doors used? Drapery that can not be moved completely out of the way will get caught in the doors all the time, so while I hate taking out a window for any reason, removing it might make sense as it seems rather redundant. Don't do any type of venetian if this door is used a lot, and if you do, make sure you do an outside mount, allowing for the stack to go above the frame of the doors when they are open. I suggest that you look into Hunter Douglas Polysatin Shutters, they are great on french doors, and the Hunter Douglas Duette Architella Vertiglide is perfect on doors, they also come as a duo light, meaning you can put two blinds into one product - so a sheer and an opaque or semi-opaque product. Just some thoughts to consider.
...See More
The HouzzAU Queenslander club
Q
Comments (2)
I LOVE OLD QUEENSLANDERS.....emphasis on O L D! What a sight, a tall Queenslander...having come into being because of the heat in this State and therefore on tall and not so tall piers...I LOVE these houses but with one exception...and probably because in those days ther were no such things as... LIFTS! Nobody thought of the older Queenslander human whose hips and knees are worn out from hard work on the land..or for the little kids and toddlers.....STAIRS, STAIRS and more STAIRS! Beautiful gracious staircases....but.... Recently a young enthusiastic couple built a magnificent looking replica old Queenslander right across from my place. I watched it go up...and so did the rest of the neighbourhood...well, not criticising the modern builder but I'd rather have a genuine old Queenslander put together with hammer and iron nails! STAIRS seemed to have been made into a feature. The land overlooks a waterway that is prone to flooding so the piers had to be quite high....and that meant more treads! I think that maybe the builders were unaware of the need for a landing every...is it eight? steps? The back steps are straight up the rear of the house...no landings....OOOFFF going to welcome your new neighbiurs! I would not build a replica Queenslander but if I couldn't help myself I'd install A LIFT and I would invent a feature for going up and down .for the children...and I'd get my inspiration from some of the great Theme Parks that have to comply to strict safety standards.....Then and only then would I build a replica Old Queenslander...But I'd prefer A REAL ONE! .It has been my experience that replicas do not have the strength of the enormous oldies. For example: Show me a replica Queenslander with iron cyclone bolts securing the floor of the house to the piers. Show me a replica Queenslander where every VJ board in the walls and ceilings is held to the next with hidden nails? Show me one where the framework is all tongue and groove each piece locked into the other.....that cannot be achieved anymore because timbers are not seasoned for between 30-50 years and such building methods would weaken the structural timbers used today...so said the builder who added a veranda to my old place. He took photographs of the joinery! I LOVE OLD QUEENSLANDERS...But I'd only buy a really old one and renovate it using old methods and as much old timber as possible...and I'd add a LIFT and a kids "upper and downer" if the steps were to be high. One thing above all would deter me from building one from scratch....the unavailability and the expense of genuinely old timber...if it could be sourced.. A replica would never match the longevity and the methods of construction of the old ones. Those times are gone! Those homes can never be repeated...only replicated and its not the same by any bash of the nail. You can't buy those nails anymore and its impossible to hire a crew as large as a swarm of ants to build an old Queenslander from scratch. We just do not build like that these days. Meaning no disrespect to the skilled modern day builder who does marvellous things for the modern day.....its impossible to build a genuine old Queenslander for many reasons. LOVE and ADMIRE and CHERISH the old Queenslander, BUY ONE if you can and restore it as genuinely as possible. We'll never see its like again from any perspective.
...See More
revastark
Original Author
9 years ago
yes...attached
snicole1
9 years ago
I would paint all woodwork white & do the floors in a light (no stain) floor. Paint desk area white with an accent between the shelves. Waincot paint white as well
bgfuqua
9 years ago
I like the woodwork and floors as they are.
jillbertsch
9 years ago
Are the wood floors only in this one room? If so then knock yourself out redoing them. Definitely paint the woodwork.

But, if the wood floor runs through the house, I wouldn't redo them unless they really need it. I suspect if you paint all the wood work (I presume it is dark throughout the house), and update fixtures, new rugs, etc, you will not be bothered by the floors.

If you have money that just needs to be spent then carry on. Oak floors left natural are very pretty.
PRO
Interior Affairs -- Vickie Daeley
9 years ago
I would just paint it and put a dark top on the desk area...it will make a clean fresh look.
PRO
Sheri Wilson Fine Art
9 years ago
https://www.etsy.com/listing/194061980/1920s-antique-photograph-of-a-man?ref=shop_home_active_7

revastark You question a non-dark color but modern feel not 70's?
Set on re-doing?
I am in agreement with the other suggestions.
Either way paint and allow the floors to remain the same today.
Place your money with fun in decorating with rugs and all.

I have to ask about the photo to the right with mirrors and carpet?
Is this primarily the room in question?

What is your style? Consider the flooring to complement your
existing furnishings and accessories you have.
Consider the 1950's hardwood you presently have. It is probably the
hardest to withstand wear and tear .
Do they need refinishing?
Have you found anything along these pages as to color of woods you like?
https://www.houzz.com/photos/trendy-hardwood-flooring-phbr0lbl-bl~l_77431

Looking forward to hearing about your style? And to know the function of
the office study area.
moonblue
9 years ago
I think the colour of your wood floors is just right. If it were me (admittedly it isn't) I wouldn't change the colour.
maestro67
9 years ago
Omg. What don't you people understand about her first sentence, "I am re-doing the floors." Maybe they are water stained, or perhaps scratched... who knows? So answer the question!!! I assume you are doing it yourself? If not you should, as its easy. I had the same floors in my place and re-did them. I also had the same concerns as you did. However, as I was sanding with the vibrating floor sander, I realized that the color left behind was almost perfect. Now I had the luxury of a closet where I could experiment by putting on samples of clear urethane. The urethane darkens the floor so I took some more color out of the floor by sanding some more,( I would say that if you want the finish color half as dark, you need to sand it down an 1/8th of an inch. To remove all of the stain would require sanding away a 1/4 inch." but I soon had the perfect color without having to stain it! Good luck!
PRO
Jarret Yoshida Design
9 years ago
Whoa there, cowboy. Keep the floors the same throughout whenever possible. If you want the room darker, change the paint color and add a dark rug. The last thing I'd do is stain the floors a different color.
fanofmyfam
9 years ago
We just redid our 1962 floors...just natural...oak...out of necessities with three kids!! Less dust shows.
mrssan
9 years ago
I agree with maestro67, your question needs to be addressed with a little less bias. We have to remember that everyone's tastes are not the same and if the floors are not to your taste then by all means, change them! Try something like this
Contemporary Basement · More Info
or this
Hykes Residence · More Info
The reason these feel more modern is because they have true brown and grey undertones respectively. Yellow and red undertones probably feel more traditional to you. I suggest going to a flooring store and picking up some samples in tones you like. Lay them on the floor and weed out the ones you don't like right away. Then take the ones you do like and place them in different areas of the room over the next week or so, and look at them at different times of day and in different lighting. Chances are you can eliminate some others slowly and come to a decision this way. Then pick a stain that is as close to this color choice as you can get.

I love the space and the high ceilings with the exposed beams. The built in desk is a nice feature. It looks like you have a lot of work ahead with finishes, but at least the bones are there. Good luck!
mrssan
9 years ago
Just another quick note. I assumed that "redoing" meant refinishing. If you plan to replace the floors instead (i.e. get rid of carpet and existing hardwood to install one consistent floor), and if those really are original oak floors, do try to remove the boards carefully and sell them to a salvage store. As you can see from the comments above there are plenty of people out there that are huge fans of original oak flooring and those boards can have a new life somewhere else.
spudette
9 years ago
If the floors are in good condition, just sand and refinish. If you're going for a lighter interior, a whitewash/gray toned floor would help brighten the room. I would paint the wall and desk area trim white while the recess wall could be a contrasting color, add a rug for an additional pop. I would advise to treat the rest of the house the same way to keep uniformity and flow.
abbybelknap
9 years ago
I can't believe you are going to do the floors, you will never have anything of that quality again. Unless you are prepared to spend a lot on it. changing the bones will make the house a mish mash
spudette
9 years ago
P.S. Replace the shelf supports in the desk alcove unless you are trying for a cottage/country feel.
Lizzy L.
9 years ago
Is there anything wrong with original floors? If yes, you can have new boards feathered into the old floor. I would not replace original hardwood floors. Sand and stain them in a color you like, and then paint the trim white. It will look great.
darbarollins
9 years ago
We have pine flooring that was original to our 1929 farm house. It needed refinishing so we rented the sander and did it ourselves. We didn't stain, just finished with a couple of coats of polyurethane. Your floors look lovely, but if they need refinishing I think a light sanding and a polyurethane finish is all they need.
Tammy Arguijo
9 years ago
Lye wax.
magilojoh
9 years ago
This might sound crazy a bit but here on Houzz and other places I have seen lots of people re-do houses to look more modern by actually darkening the floors even more and then going with crisp white cabinets, counters etc. Sorry I can't find a pic to show you though & I especially liked maestro67's comment it made it seem like this is a very doable thing for you. Good luck!
magilojoh
9 years ago
Here is a photo that I liked of the dark floors and the crisp white-located at http://www.cottagesandbungalowsmag.com/fourth-of-july-house-tour-an-americana-cottage/img_5942/
Dana Perez
9 years ago
When I had my floors professionally refinished, I was told that you can't buy hardwood as thick as what was used in the 1950s. If I were you, I'd paint the walls and woodwork a bright white and then have the floors refinished rather than replaced. I'd definitely keep the floor and the ceiling beams the same color. You're so lucky to have a gorgeous mid-century home. I would try to keep it true to the period.
PRO
Mary Plouffe Designs
9 years ago
Paint the wood work (trim and desk area) white, after floors are sanded, restain with a stain a bit lighter than the original floor. Paint the walls a beautiful "greige" color that will contrast well with the white trim and wood work. Use a crisp white paint, not an eggshell shade.
PRO
Business_Name_Placeholder
9 years ago
i have lots of old wood flooring in my house. i decided on a warm honey color and i love it. all my walls are painted white and my trim is white also. i have beams from old barns which i have left a natural color. personally, i am not a fan of painting wood as i love the "natural" look, feel and texture of wood. my wood flooring is full of knots which i think adds personality . i love to work with natural products.
msbabz
9 years ago
Having grown up in a house of this era, why don't you consider cork floors?
ohsuyque
9 years ago
I have to agree with the many who commented to leave the floors as they are, and paint out the woodwork white. You can always lay colorful area rugs for pops of color. I personally love darker shades for wood floors, never cared for blond ones.
PRO
National Floors
9 years ago
Lighter flooring always brightens a space. If you want to be more eco friendly, I suggest bamboo. If you still want to maintain a more traditional look, I suggest light oak or maple. If you want the rustic look, then a rustic oak as well as rustic maple will suffice.
PRO
Select Hardwood Floor Co.
9 years ago
The point is probably moot by now... but having read some/most of the "constructive suggestions" above... some should be totally ignored.
Example:
someone who will remain unnamed suggested grinding away 1/8" to 1/4" of a hardwood floor in order to do the job right... my question is: "on what planet"?
Point being: be judicious in your acceptance of the "free advice"... it's usually worth exactly what you pay for it!
karen3jk
9 years ago
Painting a wood floor is blasphemy, difficult to maintain and expensive to change later! Sand off just enough to show the natural tone and then give it a light colour wash (paint mixed with water, brushed on and wiped off with a dry cloth so it's a little "splotchy". You'll need to lightly sand before any subsequent coats or a sealer, but you can always stain or paint over later, do more coats, etc. Much less of a commitment and you won't be covering the beauty of the wood grain!
libradesigneye
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The house has more traditional elements than pure 70's . . . library wainscot, corbels under shelves, mullioned french doors. Lots of ways to go here, but you definitely want to keep the beams and floor in a wood tone. You could use a bleaching oil or wash on everything except the floor .. floor tone closer to dirt the better . . .
kmichaelson44
9 years ago
I just bought a 1960 rancher with original natural oak floors. They were one of the reasons I bought the house. I painted all the trim bright white to bring out their color. They have aged to a golden color. Some day I may sand them down (there are a few small damaged areas), but I will put a clar finish over them.
Ceci Garcia
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Agree with Select Hardwood Floor Co! The oak floors in our 1971 beach shack had a lot of damage. The floors were sanded enough to remove stain and then re-stained a golden oak in a satin poly finish. The largest damaged section was in a bathroom, that portion was replaced with matching resourced wood, some of those boards have very small flecks of paint. I am saying this to say the following. The golden oak stain looks different in every room due to the paint colors and lighting and are hardly the focal point of each room. Whatever stain you go with will possibly be affected by light and wall color. Someone suggested you try samples from a floor store to move around the room at different times. Sounds like good advice to me. ... The different way the golden oak stain looks here is that in the blue room painted Royal Islander color Ocean Exploration in eggshell the floor looks greyed and lighter, less golden, it's a northeast facing room with lots of window light. It's a blue with black in it. (Royal Islander is specific to Hawaii made by Sherwin Williams). In the orange room, Benjamin Moore's Autumn Orange, orange with black in it, the floor is more golden, darker, it's a north west facing room with lots of light but shadowed from a porch cover. In the one bathroom with Benjamin Moore's Soft White, a white with a little pink to it, semi-gloss, like the inside of conch shell, the floors appear more brown, less golden, it's a west facing room with a porch overhang. The other bathroom, is Royal Islander High Hide White in semi-gloss, the floors there are deeper, slightly golden, incidentally after trying 3 different colors there the white looked the best. The trim in each room is the same as the wall color. The point is if re-doing the floors makes you happy, do it. Be honest with what you have to work with, damage, imperfection, how much can they be sanded, etc, or even keeping them as is after you paint if in good shape for your taste. No harm in exploring. We did and are very happy. I was apprehensive about golden oak initially but was sure I did not want a dark color because it's harder to keep looking clean with so much light coming in. Good luck with your home.
Ceci Garcia
9 years ago
This is how the same golden oak turned out in different rooms with different wall color and light.
PRO
TheFurnitureCollection
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi revastark - What a beautiful house - lovely windows, beams, high ceilings! Could you give us an indication of which way you are leaning since receiving opposing advice. If you are confused, which I know I would be, first consider the budget then the practicalities. Dark floors are in fashion right now but they may not be in a few years time. Through the windows, it looks bright out of doors and fairly dark indoors. Dark floors are going to make it look darker. Very light floors show every speck of dust and pet hair (this may not be a consideration). Also light floors may not look right with all the other woodwork. Your floors are a beautiful warm mid tone that you will never get tired of. Rather spend the money on rugs and paint, furnishings and lamps. The world is your oyster as far as color, style, texture are concerned. Once you make these decisions the floor will attract less attention than it does now. You may consider bringing the pool and garden colors indoors in more muted shades i.e. aqua and various greens to achieve flow.