Thanks to Lowe’s for their support and the professional installation of the floors in this home improvement project.
TThis weekend brought an exciting development at our house: the long-awaited floor project finally began. After planning and talking about these changes for years, the process of removing the old carpet and preparing the rooms for new hardwood felt like a major milestone.
On Saturday the old carpet was removed from the upstairs hall, the master bedroom, the staircase, the living room and the dining room. Seeing those spaces stripped back to their bare floors felt instantly refreshing — just removing what we didn’t like already made the rooms feel lighter and more hopeful.
It’s funny how much better a space can feel once you get rid of outdated or worn finishes. I’m genuinely excited — it almost feels surreal to watch the house start its transformation after three and a half years of thinking about it.
Earlier this year we had the kitchen renovation, and now the floors are being updated. The house is a happy kind of mess as projects progress. Rather than tackling the entire job ourselves, we chose to have Lowe’s manage the process from carpet removal to installation of the new pre-finished hickory floors. That decision saved us time and spared us the headaches of a large DIY installation.
Before installing the new hardwood, the team applied Kilz primer to the upstairs hall and master bedroom subfloors. This extra step seals any lingering odors or stains that may have soaked into the subfloor over time — a practical precaution, especially in homes with pets or older carpeting.
Seeing the white-primed subfloor was interesting enough that I briefly wondered if painted subfloors might be a look worth exploring in some bedrooms that will still have carpet for now. For this home we’re moving forward with the pre-finished hardwood, but it’s always fun to consider other creative finishes in different rooms.
Working with professionals has moved the project along much faster than we could have managed ourselves, given our busy schedule and limited DIY experience. It’s exciting to watch rooms transform in just a few days — the difference is dramatic and immediately rewarding.
The flooring we chose is solid pre-finished hickory with an interlocking design. It’s the same hardwood used in our kitchen and entry, and I love the warm, natural character it brings. I simulated a few planks to help picture the finished look, and I’m looking forward to sharing more progress after the installers complete the next phase. The transformation is already lifting the whole house — and I can’t wait to see the finished result.