Hootie hooo! The cork floor in both the kitchen and the laundry room is complete!
Well, except if you count the fact that we still have to add shoe molding, thresholds, and seal it all. Details, details. The point is, we finally get to see the whole picture. Huzzah!
The annoying part is that we still haven’t figured out how to photograph it as true to life as we can (it’s a rich mocha color, and actually looks more like brown leather in person, so the pattern is more like soft movement and less like any sort of obvious shapes or anything) – but the two videos from the last post really are the most accurate depictions of it, although we hope today’s photos are closer to real life than last week’s were. The one above is getting there. We’ll learn the trick someday I’m sure!
When it came to finishing things off in the corner of the kitchen and our tiny laundry room, it was pretty much exactly the same method that we outlined in our kitchen corking post, although we were getting worried that we were running low on cork, so we actually used some remnant planks all along the left wall (leftover cuts from the kitchen) to ensure that we wouldn’t run out.
Thankfully we finished up with about four planks to spare. Not kidding. It was crazy close. So we’re at least thankful to have those as extras, and plan to seal the heck out of these to protect them. Cork can even be sanded, restained, and resealed down the line if it gets worse for wear, so 40+ year old cork floors exist (which is nice to know since cork sounds like such a new-age material). Heck, we’ve even heard from folks who have 100+ year old cork floors that still look great, so here’s hoping!
It’s kind of amazing how much of a difference the new floors make in the laundry room. I mean, we really liked it before since we did so much work on it already (more on the rest of the room’s transformation here), but here’s that room before it got the ol’ cork treatment:
And after:
We enter the house through the door in the laundry room and it’s so nice to walk in and see the rich cork floors whispering “welcome home.” Oh and for those wondering where the laundry basket is, it’s just in the bedroom full of a pile of “flu clothes” that have been washed and have yet to be put away.
Since we already blogged all about where/why we purchased our floor here, and how we installed it (video included) here, this post is more of a big sigh of relief that the last big kitchen undertaking is winding down.
Other than polishing off those last few floor tasks on the list, all that’s left are smaller things like adding some decorative wood molding to the back of the peninsula, deciding if we’ll be adding a window treatment over the sink or painting our stools, potentially doing something fun to the side of the pantry, bringing in a chair and a rug in the fireplace side of the room, etc. And of course we’ll share a ton of before and after pics along with a budget and time breakdown when we finally get to stick a fork in this kitchen (which we’ve been working on in stages since October 5th!).
And remember when we moved in and it looked like this in here?
This shot is a little further back, and a slightly different angle, but it’s semi-comparable. Is there anything better than making a room that feels nothing like you, finally feel like home?
As for our plan with the variety of mismatched wood floors that surround our freshly corked kitchen and laundry room, we’re huge fans of flooring that looks seamless (we upgraded our first house to have the same dark mocha wood throughout the layout for a nice open flow). And sure enough, we plan to eventually refinish the rest of the wood floors in this house in the same rich mocha color as the cork for a much more easy and open look. Although it’ll still be cork in some rooms and hardwoods in others, the same rich tone should really tie things together and not make any of the spaces feel as choppy or broken up.
When it comes to a usability/function update, we have been really happy with it so far. The rich deep color adds so much to the formerly white-washed space, there are no scratches/dings where Burger runs around from his nails, no dents where we drop things, it’s very soft and easy on the back/knees, it should be even more durable once we seal it, it’s eco-friendly, and it’s quiet. We’ll definitely keep you posted as we live with it (and add shoe molding, thresholds, and a few coats of protective sealer). What did you guys do this weekend? We were pretty much laid up on the sofa fighting our little flu battle after finally squeezing in those last few cork boards, but we’re getting a lot closer to feeling like ourselves again! And the finished cork floors definitely have our spirits up. Onward!
More Flooring Projects
If you would like to read about other flooring projects we’ve done, please check out the posts below:
The floors look AMAZING! Ah!! I love them finished (and I agree that the laundry room looks totally different with them now)! It’s hard to imagine that the kitchen used to look the way it did! Will sealing these floors be the same as wood?
PS – Toss us a view of the half of the kitchen with the fireplace!
I think we have that view covered in our last post, but the floors look more red/orange in that post since it’s before we started to learn how to capture them so they look like “real life” – hope it helps! As for sealing them, it’s a little different than wood. We’ll share the details as we go for sure!
Oh wow!! It looks killer! Such a nice contrast to the lightness of the kitchen. Wondering if it is more or less time consuming than laying porcelain tile.
Hmm, has anyone done both who’d care to weigh in? We have laid tile squares in the bathroom but it was much smaller, although cutting tiles in intricate shapes was a lot harder than cutting the cork (although that took a bit of time too, I think tile took us longer).
xo,
s
Rebeccasays
We did regular floating wood floors (looks like exact same process as the cork) and it was ALOT quicker and easier than laying tile. The tile took alot with laying the hardie backer (not sure if you need this everywhere but we did in our “wet” areas), mixing and placing the thinset, laying the tiles with the right spacing and level, letting it dry (and NOT stepping on it during the drying), mixing and putting down the groute then letting it set, cleaning off the tiles before finally sealing the grout. We did about the same amount of area of both and it took us twie as long. Then you have to throw in the wait time and its definitely a lengthier process for tile.
partyofsixsays
Laying tile is far more labor intensive and much harder on the knees! As a DIYer (not a professional), putting in tile isn’t too bad if it’s around 100 sq ft or less, but when it spans a large room, or two, it’s pretty overwhelming to get it right (ie level and spaced out correctly). I’ll take putting cork (or any other click-in) flooring on a level floor any day!
Tessasays
Having never laid cork myself, I would think it would take quite a bit less time than tile. Tile requires you to wait overnight for the mortar to set, and then grout & then wait overnight for that to set before sealing… (And possibly seal the tile first if it’s a porous tile before grouting.) And as Sherry mentions, more work/messier cuts! I imagine cork installation timing being more similar to installation a pre-finished hardwood floor?
I am so excited to see this because everyone is talking about cork floors. Wow what a huge difference. Enjoy all of your hard work, your kitchen looks amazing!!
I love it & am so happy for you guys! It’s gotta be great to see it all come together & the floor looks amazeballs!!! I am so tempted to do cork now in our kitchen. In the meantime I’ll admire yours from afar. ha ;)
Ugh. Flu bug hit our house too this weekend. No fun and probably it was even worse having to not only just be the patient but also take care of a sick toddler. Hope you guys are feeling 100% better.
I cannot believe this transformation! Would love info about installation of recessed lighting. What is the average price for installation for a small kitchen?
We actually hired a pro for that aspect of the room (anything potentially hazardous like a future fire = a reason for us to call the pros, haha). Here’s a post about that for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/i-see-the-light/
Guys, this is really awesome. I must admit that I’m dying to know the total budget break down (to date), even though it sounds like you guys will do that only after everything is completely done. I will be looking forward to it either way :) Love all you did, it’s just incredible!
I’m dying to know it too! Haha. Since we go in phases we just get things as we go – so I have a stack of receipts to add up. Our only rules are: 1) we need to have the money in the bank or we wait on our purchase and save up, 2) we love a discount/sale so we usually shop around, 3) we DIY as much as possible to save loot (and because that’s our idea of a good time), and 4) we sell old things we don’t need (like our old microwave and granite) on craigslist to help with the budget!
I’ve been hoping for a final cost break down too. But I’ve been waiting to ask about it till it was all over. Which it is! Let the nagging commence! ;)
I love seeing new angles of spaces we have seen over and over. The second shot teetering between the kitchen and laundry room I had to look at for a few seconds before I realized what I was looking at. So cool. Of course the kitchen looks amazing, but I am floored with how much the cork amped up the laundry room. … pun intended.
I am so glad you posted these updated pics! Last week, I wasn’t sure I liked the cork choice because they were reading as orangish/red. But I can definetely see the mocha color now and it really warms up the space! I love the transformation.
Gooooorrrrrgeous! The cork makes a huge difference in both rooms! They both looked great before the floors, of course, but the cork adds another note of sophistication. Do you think it’s a durable enough option for a bathroom too? We’re at a loss of what to do in ours. I’m wary of putting laminate in there with splish-splashy little ones and ceramic tile is cold, hard, and super slippery. We’ve got linoleum tile for the time being, a cheap temporary fix until we figure out all what to do in there.
One other question – where oh where did you get the fabric for the backdrop in Clara’s 21 month old pic?? It’s beautiful! I saw it and immediately thought, “oooh! drapes!” :)
Aw thanks Eve! That fabric is from JoAnn Fabrics (on sale too!) so here’s hoping you can find some! As for cork, it’s recommended in any places except for downright wet ones (a half bathroom or kitchen = great! but a full bathroom or wet basement = beware). It can warp over time if it’s too wet. So sorry! Maybe visit a flooring center just to see your options and that’ll help unlock some new possibilities for ya?
Just wanted to chime in on the “cold” floor dilemma…we recently installed porcelin tiles in our kitchen and put a heating element underneath. It was surprisingly easy to install and is SO AWESOME. We love it. Also, there are a lot of textured tile options so you wouldn’t have to worry about a slippery floor either.
We got a 10×7 heating mat for the center of our kitchen (it doesn’t go under our cabinets or appliances since we didn’t feel the need to heat under there! :) It cost us around $700 and worth every penny. We will definitely install another when we move onto our bathroom reno! (Here is some more info about our heated floors…http://anexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/2012/02/and-in-with-new.html)
I used to work in a high end flooring store, and I loved Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) for situations like yours. It is NOT like nasty sheet vinyl; it’s a high quality, thick and realistic looking vinyl that comes in individual tiles or planks, depending on whether you go with a wood look or tile look. And it’s perfectly waterproof! Many of the styles (like Armstrong Alterna) have a nice coating on top so it’s not at all slippery.
I personally plan on putting wood-look LVT throughout my downstairs; we’re (hopefully) having kids in the next few years and I think it’ll be a durable, quiet solution. We have laminate now and I hate how noisy it is and how it’s susceptible to water damage.
Anyway, that’s what I would recommend to you if you had come in my store! :)
I LOVE cork too– it was always so much fun to get a customer who wanted cork. It’s gorgeous, quiet, green, easy on your joints… LOVE the color and style you guys chose, Sherry! Enjoy it for many, many years to come!
I agree with Kate on the luxury vinyl tile. We put it in our bathroom last year and I love it! We even grouted them, just like real tile, so it’s hard to tell that it’s not, except that it’s not cold and it’s not slippery. I want to put it in our other bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room now!
Thanks everybody! The luxury vinyl tile might be the next option… Armstrong had a nifty pseudo bamboo pattern in their sheet linoleum a few years ago that I loved, but I think they’ve since discontinued it.
And I found the fabric! 6 yards is (hopefully) on its way to me! :)
Okay, I admit it. I wasn’t totally on the cork train but now I am a believer. It looks great and really makes a big difference in the kitchen and laundry area. Here’s hoping you kick the flu bug!
One more thing … I also bought the RETUR bins for my front hall last year. Did you notice any sagging on the top surface because of that vase (or other things being placed on the top)?
Yes, we did notice a little, but nothing too crazy. We still keep stuff up there so I guess I’m just immune to it. Haha.
xo,
s
Krissysays
Did you do some kind of frost application to your door in the laundry room? If so, did you use a spray? We have some doors/windows I was thinking of doing that with. Thanks!
Love it! Crazy what a big difference it makes in the laundry room! You guys are making me want to buy a house again and redo it all! We moved last year (we moved from Richmond, actually!) and are still renting, but I’m getting the itch to own again!
What a difference the new flooring makes! The before and after pictures of the kitchen are incredible – seriously looks like two different rooms! And it really picked up the glam of the laundry room a notch or two!
The transformation is astounding! And I was one of those people that was originally a little iffy on the dark cork, but I am converted! I can’t imagine it with anything else.
Its looks SO amazing… and pretty. You guys truly out did yourselves in making that kitchen unrecognizeable from what it used to be. Way to go!! Enjoy. :)
I love them! Truthfully I did not think I would like the cork floors, but they look beautiful in there! You guys have such a good eye for the final pict
Okay so I’m confused. You have to leave room for it to expand, but you had to cut some of the doorframes out for it to fit underneath? How can it have expanding room, yet be wedged underneath, at the same time? Sorry if I am just totally dense about this. Looks great, of course!
They’re not wedged underneath, they float underneath if that makes sense. The movement of the floor is very gradual across the horizontal plane (any floating floor does this) so the trim is cut up to accommodate that movement – which is very very slight. Shoe molding is put right on top of the installed floor as well, but it’s hammered into the wall, so it floats over the floor just like the doorframes and the floor can scooch under it if it needs to. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
angel psays
Looks awesome! We demo’d our master closet this week in preparation for putting in an organizing system that we picked up for less than 1/2 price because it was the floor model. woohoo!! Your post has us thinking we will also add cork in the closet and rip up the carpet. It will have to be replaced anyway since some of the shelves we ripped out had the carpet running around them and not under them. We’ve only tried Lowes so far and they only had 1 really horrible piece of cork out on display so we are going to keep looking around. I’m so excited to get this all going. Right now we either have to learn to fix sheetrock or find someone in the next day or so to fix it for us.
The floors look awesome!!! It is such an amazing transformation. I still can’t get over how well the mocha color anchors the room.
For a fun suggestion on the side of your pantry: I made this really fun wall calendar for our kitchen http://www.picardyproject.com/2010/11/wall-calendar.html
It’s fun because it adds color, but also totally practical (and it’s fun to do what you want with month labels and scrapbook paper :) I’ve found it to be a pretty way to stay organized :)
Yeah, it would be crazy expensive and we love our original hardwoods, so we don’t think covering them up is the way to go. We just love refinishing them (we did that in the old house and they looked as good as new).
I hadn’t wondered if you were thinking of more cork for the entire house (ie. the actual hardwoods), but I had wondered if you guys ever considered replacing or covering the parquet in the living room and “little hall” if you were to come across any more “clearance cork.”
Sadly, this cork is sold out and that one room of parquet would be mucho expensive to replace (it’s a giant gymnasium sized room – 25′ feet long by 18′ wide I think) so since parquet is still made of solid wood, we think a nice rich stain will help it work right in with the cork and the other hardwoods once they’re all the same tone.
xo,
s
Sandisays
Beautiful! We are looking for cork for what I’m calling “phase four” of our kitchen reno. Only phase one is complete, so it’ll be a while.
Glad you’re on the mend. I’m home with a sick toddler today.
Looks great! I can’t wait to see all of the final touches put together!! Especially the area by the fire place…I just know y’all have something special planned! Well done!
Your floor looks wunderfull!!!! We have been in so many flooring stores since December that I am pretty sure I know what your cork looks like in person. It really feels and looks like it grounds the kitchen well. Like it’s solid. I like that. Ummm…guess what? Yep. Mmhhmm. Why yes we did close on our house on Friday, thank you for asking and how big is my cheesy grin right now?? Yay wide! Haha! And now we are in the process of ripping up what looks like 10 year old hunter green shag rug and putting down our new brazilian cherry wood laminate floors. My mantra was “Make John and Sherry proud…” This house renovation stuff is exhausting and fulfilling all in one breath.
Wahooo! That’s so exciting Lynn! Congrats and good luck! Rooting you on!
xo,
s
Christinesays
I once stayed in a very old place in Prague that had 150+ year old cork floors, and they were in fantastic shape. I think even the “pattern” that’s picked up in the photos looks great.
(…and in other matters, I can’t wait for next week’s Walking Dead!!!! That last shot flipped me out!!)
So sorry you guys are down with the flu… get better soon!
Ahhh! So excited for the next Walking Dead too! We’re finally caught up and on the edge of our seats! And wow- 150+ year old cork floors = amazing!
xo,
s
Ilanasays
I really really really love it. It looks incredible, and it’s great it’s so eco-friendly. I’m redoing my kitchen and going to go for stainless steel countertops and cork flooring, because of the eco-friendly/non-toxic qualities. Your kitchen is truly incredible.
Wow! You guys have vision. After seeing that before photo again….I can’t believe you bought the house! Clearly you could see the potential! Looks great!
Oh yes, it’s true! I think it’s because all the heavy wood cabinets made the room feel so closed in. As crazy as the pics are, it’s crazier for those who have been here in person. They all say the cabinets used to feel like they were closing in on you and now the room breathes so much more. Yay!
xo,
s
Urban Wifesays
Such an amazing transformation!! Hope you all have a quick recovery from the yucky flu.
Looking amazing, especially in the laundry room, which makes me think the main kitchen could do with some more pink pops like in there!
I did some spray painting this weekend – in gold sparkly shoes (funnily enough, they were the only shoes i had that i didn’t mind getting paint all over!)
Yes, I think we’ll get one at least for the fireplace area and toy with the idea of one in the cooking area too. Not sure yet, but can’t wait to play around!
xo,
s
LaTonyasays
The cork floors make such an amazing difference. I would love to see what the former owners think of the changes! Do you have any plans to invite them back for a peek? I’m sure they would love to see how much potential that kitchen had. Kudos to the both of you on your vision for this project. The before and after pictures are unbelievable!!
They actually moved pretty far away (our of Richmond) but we’d love to hear what they think someday if they’re ever back in town! We also want to invite the realtor who sold our house to us back over to see how much has changed and get her take on the upgrades!
That would be really interesting! Hearing what the realtor thinks and also her/his opinion on the value you’ve added to your home v. the amount you’ve put into it would be a great post.
Sarahsays
Alright, you guys are officially pros. I love the simultaneous kitchen/laundry room shot – beautiful!
Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says
That cork looks amazing in the laundry room!
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
The floors look AMAZING! Ah!! I love them finished (and I agree that the laundry room looks totally different with them now)! It’s hard to imagine that the kitchen used to look the way it did! Will sealing these floors be the same as wood?
PS – Toss us a view of the half of the kitchen with the fireplace!
YoungHouseLove says
I think we have that view covered in our last post, but the floors look more red/orange in that post since it’s before we started to learn how to capture them so they look like “real life” – hope it helps! As for sealing them, it’s a little different than wood. We’ll share the details as we go for sure!
xo,
s
Kristen @ Popcorn on the Stove says
Woops! This daylight savings thing has left me all discombobulated!
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, no worries! Me too!
xo,
s
John@Our Home From Scratch says
Oh wow!! It looks killer! Such a nice contrast to the lightness of the kitchen. Wondering if it is more or less time consuming than laying porcelain tile.
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, has anyone done both who’d care to weigh in? We have laid tile squares in the bathroom but it was much smaller, although cutting tiles in intricate shapes was a lot harder than cutting the cork (although that took a bit of time too, I think tile took us longer).
xo,
s
Rebecca says
We did regular floating wood floors (looks like exact same process as the cork) and it was ALOT quicker and easier than laying tile. The tile took alot with laying the hardie backer (not sure if you need this everywhere but we did in our “wet” areas), mixing and placing the thinset, laying the tiles with the right spacing and level, letting it dry (and NOT stepping on it during the drying), mixing and putting down the groute then letting it set, cleaning off the tiles before finally sealing the grout. We did about the same amount of area of both and it took us twie as long. Then you have to throw in the wait time and its definitely a lengthier process for tile.
partyofsix says
Laying tile is far more labor intensive and much harder on the knees! As a DIYer (not a professional), putting in tile isn’t too bad if it’s around 100 sq ft or less, but when it spans a large room, or two, it’s pretty overwhelming to get it right (ie level and spaced out correctly). I’ll take putting cork (or any other click-in) flooring on a level floor any day!
Tessa says
Having never laid cork myself, I would think it would take quite a bit less time than tile. Tile requires you to wait overnight for the mortar to set, and then grout & then wait overnight for that to set before sealing… (And possibly seal the tile first if it’s a porous tile before grouting.) And as Sherry mentions, more work/messier cuts! I imagine cork installation timing being more similar to installation a pre-finished hardwood floor?
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, I think you guys are right!
xo,
s
Eva says
I have installed all natural glued-on cork and even that is a lot less work than laying ceramic tiles.
Ainhoa@ALittleBite says
I love how your white kitchen looks with the dark floors!
Jordan@the2seasons says
I am so excited to see this because everyone is talking about cork floors. Wow what a huge difference. Enjoy all of your hard work, your kitchen looks amazing!!
Holly says
I love it & am so happy for you guys! It’s gotta be great to see it all come together & the floor looks amazeballs!!! I am so tempted to do cork now in our kitchen. In the meantime I’ll admire yours from afar. ha ;)
Callie says
Ugh. Flu bug hit our house too this weekend. No fun and probably it was even worse having to not only just be the patient but also take care of a sick toddler. Hope you guys are feeling 100% better.
The floors (and the whole kitchen) look awesome!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Callie! Hope you guys are feeling better too!
xo,
s
emily says
Charming! What a cool transformation.
Anna says
Gorgeous!!! I’m excited to see the kitchen transformed! Can’t wait to see you work your magic on all the other rooms too.
Brittnee says
Looks Awesome!
Jessie McStay says
I cannot believe this transformation! Would love info about installation of recessed lighting. What is the average price for installation for a small kitchen?
YoungHouseLove says
We actually hired a pro for that aspect of the room (anything potentially hazardous like a future fire = a reason for us to call the pros, haha). Here’s a post about that for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/i-see-the-light/
xo,
s
Jess @ Little House. Big Heart. says
It’s gorgeous. Love it.It really grounds your light-and-bright-and-airy kitchen/laundry room with a warm, welcoming, homey feel.
Did I just called your kitchen and laundry room homies? :)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, they are our homies.
xo,
s
Tiffany C. says
Looks wonderful, guys !
Monika says
Guys, this is really awesome. I must admit that I’m dying to know the total budget break down (to date), even though it sounds like you guys will do that only after everything is completely done. I will be looking forward to it either way :) Love all you did, it’s just incredible!
YoungHouseLove says
I’m dying to know it too! Haha. Since we go in phases we just get things as we go – so I have a stack of receipts to add up. Our only rules are: 1) we need to have the money in the bank or we wait on our purchase and save up, 2) we love a discount/sale so we usually shop around, 3) we DIY as much as possible to save loot (and because that’s our idea of a good time), and 4) we sell old things we don’t need (like our old microwave and granite) on craigslist to help with the budget!
xo,
s
Heidi P. says
Ooh. la. LA that is one mighty fine floor.
I’ve been hoping for a final cost break down too. But I’ve been waiting to ask about it till it was all over. Which it is! Let the nagging commence! ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahah- as soon as we get it figured out we’ll post it for sure!
xo,
s
Heather says
Its absolutely beautiful.
Julia @ Chris loves Julia says
I love seeing new angles of spaces we have seen over and over. The second shot teetering between the kitchen and laundry room I had to look at for a few seconds before I realized what I was looking at. So cool. Of course the kitchen looks amazing, but I am floored with how much the cork amped up the laundry room. … pun intended.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Julia!
xo,
s
Gia says
I am so glad you posted these updated pics! Last week, I wasn’t sure I liked the cork choice because they were reading as orangish/red. But I can definetely see the mocha color now and it really warms up the space! I love the transformation.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Gia! It’s so frustrating when our pics don’t look like things in real life! Glad we’re finally figuring out how to shoot the new floor!
xo,
s
MamaJ @TheSecretLife of a Scientist'sWife says
I literally said “Ew” when I saw the old kitchen picture!
The whole thing looks great, kids.
Eve says
Gooooorrrrrgeous! The cork makes a huge difference in both rooms! They both looked great before the floors, of course, but the cork adds another note of sophistication. Do you think it’s a durable enough option for a bathroom too? We’re at a loss of what to do in ours. I’m wary of putting laminate in there with splish-splashy little ones and ceramic tile is cold, hard, and super slippery. We’ve got linoleum tile for the time being, a cheap temporary fix until we figure out all what to do in there.
One other question – where oh where did you get the fabric for the backdrop in Clara’s 21 month old pic?? It’s beautiful! I saw it and immediately thought, “oooh! drapes!” :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Eve! That fabric is from JoAnn Fabrics (on sale too!) so here’s hoping you can find some! As for cork, it’s recommended in any places except for downright wet ones (a half bathroom or kitchen = great! but a full bathroom or wet basement = beware). It can warp over time if it’s too wet. So sorry! Maybe visit a flooring center just to see your options and that’ll help unlock some new possibilities for ya?
xo,
s
Lizzy says
Just wanted to chime in on the “cold” floor dilemma…we recently installed porcelin tiles in our kitchen and put a heating element underneath. It was surprisingly easy to install and is SO AWESOME. We love it. Also, there are a lot of textured tile options so you wouldn’t have to worry about a slippery floor either.
We got a 10×7 heating mat for the center of our kitchen (it doesn’t go under our cabinets or appliances since we didn’t feel the need to heat under there! :) It cost us around $700 and worth every penny. We will definitely install another when we move onto our bathroom reno! (Here is some more info about our heated floors…http://anexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/2012/02/and-in-with-new.html)
Kate says
I used to work in a high end flooring store, and I loved Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) for situations like yours. It is NOT like nasty sheet vinyl; it’s a high quality, thick and realistic looking vinyl that comes in individual tiles or planks, depending on whether you go with a wood look or tile look. And it’s perfectly waterproof! Many of the styles (like Armstrong Alterna) have a nice coating on top so it’s not at all slippery.
I personally plan on putting wood-look LVT throughout my downstairs; we’re (hopefully) having kids in the next few years and I think it’ll be a durable, quiet solution. We have laminate now and I hate how noisy it is and how it’s susceptible to water damage.
Anyway, that’s what I would recommend to you if you had come in my store! :)
I LOVE cork too– it was always so much fun to get a customer who wanted cork. It’s gorgeous, quiet, green, easy on your joints… LOVE the color and style you guys chose, Sherry! Enjoy it for many, many years to come!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Kate!
xo,
s
Beth W. says
I agree with Kate on the luxury vinyl tile. We put it in our bathroom last year and I love it! We even grouted them, just like real tile, so it’s hard to tell that it’s not, except that it’s not cold and it’s not slippery. I want to put it in our other bathroom, kitchen, and laundry room now!
Lowe’s carries it- that’s where we got ours. Here’s a link to some of the options they offer: http://www.lowes.com/pl_Luxury+Vinyl+Tile_4294773820_40_?cm_cr=Vinyl+Flooring+%26+Accessories-_-Web+Activity-_-Vinyl+Flooring+Top+Flexible+Activity-_-SC_Vinyl+Flooring++Accessories_TopFlexible_Area-_-175631_4_vinyl_Pop_Cat-4
Eve says
Thanks everybody! The luxury vinyl tile might be the next option… Armstrong had a nifty pseudo bamboo pattern in their sheet linoleum a few years ago that I loved, but I think they’ve since discontinued it.
And I found the fabric! 6 yards is (hopefully) on its way to me! :)
Alisha says
I love how the floors make it all really work! Kudos and congratulations on finishing this big step!
Lisa@wanderdownpennylane says
Okay, I admit it. I wasn’t totally on the cork train but now I am a believer. It looks great and really makes a big difference in the kitchen and laundry area. Here’s hoping you kick the flu bug!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lisa!
xo,
s
Whitney Dupuis says
Love it – especially in the laundry room! What a difference that rich color makes! Hope you guys are feeling better quickly.
MamaJ @TheSecretLife of a Scientist'sWife says
One more thing … I also bought the RETUR bins for my front hall last year. Did you notice any sagging on the top surface because of that vase (or other things being placed on the top)?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, we did notice a little, but nothing too crazy. We still keep stuff up there so I guess I’m just immune to it. Haha.
xo,
s
Krissy says
Did you do some kind of frost application to your door in the laundry room? If so, did you use a spray? We have some doors/windows I was thinking of doing that with. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
That was frosting film. Here’s that post for ya: https://www.younghouselove.com/frosty-the-side-door/
xo,
s
Lizzy says
Looks so warm and cozy now! Great job!
We finished installing our backsplash/tile wall this weekend. We plan to starting grouting tonight and hopefully hang some open shelves soon too! http://anexcellentadventure.blogspot.com/2012/03/tile-mania.html
Enjoy your new floors!
YoungHouseLove says
Wahoo! You’ve been busy!
xo,
s
olivia says
Love it! Crazy what a big difference it makes in the laundry room! You guys are making me want to buy a house again and redo it all! We moved last year (we moved from Richmond, actually!) and are still renting, but I’m getting the itch to own again!
Lori says
What a difference the new flooring makes! The before and after pictures of the kitchen are incredible – seriously looks like two different rooms! And it really picked up the glam of the laundry room a notch or two!
Hope everyone is feeling better :-)
Brandi @ His Shabby Her Chic says
The transformation is astounding! And I was one of those people that was originally a little iffy on the dark cork, but I am converted! I can’t imagine it with anything else.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Brandi!
xo,
s
Suni says
Its looks SO amazing… and pretty. You guys truly out did yourselves in making that kitchen unrecognizeable from what it used to be. Way to go!! Enjoy. :)
amyks says
Wow, oh wow! that looks so gorgeous! Job well done.
Amelia says
I love them! Truthfully I did not think I would like the cork floors, but they look beautiful in there! You guys have such a good eye for the final pict
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Amelia!
xo,
s
Rachel says
Okay so I’m confused. You have to leave room for it to expand, but you had to cut some of the doorframes out for it to fit underneath? How can it have expanding room, yet be wedged underneath, at the same time? Sorry if I am just totally dense about this. Looks great, of course!
YoungHouseLove says
They’re not wedged underneath, they float underneath if that makes sense. The movement of the floor is very gradual across the horizontal plane (any floating floor does this) so the trim is cut up to accommodate that movement – which is very very slight. Shoe molding is put right on top of the installed floor as well, but it’s hammered into the wall, so it floats over the floor just like the doorframes and the floor can scooch under it if it needs to. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
angel p says
Looks awesome! We demo’d our master closet this week in preparation for putting in an organizing system that we picked up for less than 1/2 price because it was the floor model. woohoo!! Your post has us thinking we will also add cork in the closet and rip up the carpet. It will have to be replaced anyway since some of the shelves we ripped out had the carpet running around them and not under them. We’ve only tried Lowes so far and they only had 1 really horrible piece of cork out on display so we are going to keep looking around. I’m so excited to get this all going. Right now we either have to learn to fix sheetrock or find someone in the next day or so to fix it for us.
YoungHouseLove says
We got ours from Lumber Liquidators if that helps!
xo,
s
meryl rose says
The floors look awesome!!! It is such an amazing transformation. I still can’t get over how well the mocha color anchors the room.
For a fun suggestion on the side of your pantry: I made this really fun wall calendar for our kitchen
http://www.picardyproject.com/2010/11/wall-calendar.html
It’s fun because it adds color, but also totally practical (and it’s fun to do what you want with month labels and scrapbook paper :) I’ve found it to be a pretty way to stay organized :)
YoungHouseLove says
So cute!
xo,
s
Brandy E says
Simply Amazing!
Ginny @ Goofy Monkeys says
The floors are beautiful – great job!
Have you considered doing cork throughout the house for the sake of continuity? I’m sure it would be crazy expensive….
YoungHouseLove says
Yeah, it would be crazy expensive and we love our original hardwoods, so we don’t think covering them up is the way to go. We just love refinishing them (we did that in the old house and they looked as good as new).
xo,
s
Todd says
I hadn’t wondered if you were thinking of more cork for the entire house (ie. the actual hardwoods), but I had wondered if you guys ever considered replacing or covering the parquet in the living room and “little hall” if you were to come across any more “clearance cork.”
YoungHouseLove says
Sadly, this cork is sold out and that one room of parquet would be mucho expensive to replace (it’s a giant gymnasium sized room – 25′ feet long by 18′ wide I think) so since parquet is still made of solid wood, we think a nice rich stain will help it work right in with the cork and the other hardwoods once they’re all the same tone.
xo,
s
Sandi says
Beautiful! We are looking for cork for what I’m calling “phase four” of our kitchen reno. Only phase one is complete, so it’ll be a while.
Glad you’re on the mend. I’m home with a sick toddler today.
Suzanne says
Looks great! I can’t wait to see all of the final touches put together!! Especially the area by the fire place…I just know y’all have something special planned! Well done!
Wendy says
It looks absolutely beautiful! Great job you guys! My hat is off to you for finishing a big project while having the flu. You’re troopers!
Lynn @ SafeBeauty says
Your floor looks wunderfull!!!! We have been in so many flooring stores since December that I am pretty sure I know what your cork looks like in person. It really feels and looks like it grounds the kitchen well. Like it’s solid. I like that. Ummm…guess what? Yep. Mmhhmm. Why yes we did close on our house on Friday, thank you for asking and how big is my cheesy grin right now?? Yay wide! Haha! And now we are in the process of ripping up what looks like 10 year old hunter green shag rug and putting down our new brazilian cherry wood laminate floors. My mantra was “Make John and Sherry proud…” This house renovation stuff is exhausting and fulfilling all in one breath.
My best, Lynn
YoungHouseLove says
Wahooo! That’s so exciting Lynn! Congrats and good luck! Rooting you on!
xo,
s
Christine says
I once stayed in a very old place in Prague that had 150+ year old cork floors, and they were in fantastic shape. I think even the “pattern” that’s picked up in the photos looks great.
(…and in other matters, I can’t wait for next week’s Walking Dead!!!! That last shot flipped me out!!)
So sorry you guys are down with the flu… get better soon!
YoungHouseLove says
Ahhh! So excited for the next Walking Dead too! We’re finally caught up and on the edge of our seats! And wow- 150+ year old cork floors = amazing!
xo,
s
Ilana says
I really really really love it. It looks incredible, and it’s great it’s so eco-friendly. I’m redoing my kitchen and going to go for stainless steel countertops and cork flooring, because of the eco-friendly/non-toxic qualities. Your kitchen is truly incredible.
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Ilana! Good luck with your kitchen!
xo,
s
Penni McNamara says
Wow! You guys have vision. After seeing that before photo again….I can’t believe you bought the house! Clearly you could see the potential! Looks great!
Christine says
…also, to me, the darker color of the cork makes the kitchen look bigger than it did with the lighter vinyl floor. Does anyone else see that?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, it’s true! I think it’s because all the heavy wood cabinets made the room feel so closed in. As crazy as the pics are, it’s crazier for those who have been here in person. They all say the cabinets used to feel like they were closing in on you and now the room breathes so much more. Yay!
xo,
s
Urban Wife says
Such an amazing transformation!! Hope you all have a quick recovery from the yucky flu.
annabelvita says
Looking amazing, especially in the laundry room, which makes me think the main kitchen could do with some more pink pops like in there!
I did some spray painting this weekend – in gold sparkly shoes (funnily enough, they were the only shoes i had that i didn’t mind getting paint all over!)
YoungHouseLove says
Hahaha, I love it!
xo,
s
annabelvita says
PS. do you think you’ll get a rug for in the kitchen like in your last house or leave the floors as is?
YoungHouseLove says
Yes, I think we’ll get one at least for the fireplace area and toy with the idea of one in the cooking area too. Not sure yet, but can’t wait to play around!
xo,
s
LaTonya says
The cork floors make such an amazing difference. I would love to see what the former owners think of the changes! Do you have any plans to invite them back for a peek? I’m sure they would love to see how much potential that kitchen had. Kudos to the both of you on your vision for this project. The before and after pictures are unbelievable!!
YoungHouseLove says
They actually moved pretty far away (our of Richmond) but we’d love to hear what they think someday if they’re ever back in town! We also want to invite the realtor who sold our house to us back over to see how much has changed and get her take on the upgrades!
xo,
s
Malissa says
That would be really interesting! Hearing what the realtor thinks and also her/his opinion on the value you’ve added to your home v. the amount you’ve put into it would be a great post.
Sarah says
Alright, you guys are officially pros. I love the simultaneous kitchen/laundry room shot – beautiful!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Sarah!
xo,
s
Allyn says
Man, I wish my floors whispered to me!
I worked on getting our veggie garden ready for planting. Woo hoo.
YoungHouseLove says
Sweet!
xo,
s
Steve C says
What are you guys using to seal the cork?
I am starting the install of cork in my kitchen this week :)
Steve
YoungHouseLove says
Some sort of water-based poly is recommended. Will keep you posted! And good luck with your cork!
xo,
s