{you can find my exact floors at Mohawk: Natural Hickory Hardwood Flooring}
Last week, when the painters peeled away the protective paper after finishing the kitchen cabinets, trim and ceilings, they both said, “Wow — the floors really make this room!” The cabinets and paint look lovely on their own, but the new flooring added a natural warmth that brought the whole space to life.
Flooring is one of the most important design elements in a home. The material and color you choose can completely change a room’s character and mood, so it’s worth thinking through how floors will affect the overall flow and feel of your space.
This was my kitchen before the remodel and before we extended the new hardwood into the dining area. A lot has changed since then. We made several updates over the past year, and replacing the floors is a big reason the main level feels so much more cohesive now.
After new hardwood floors
Previously, each room had a different floor, which made the connected spaces feel smaller and disjointed. Last spring we installed Mohawk Natural Hickory pre-finished hardwood flooring across the living room, dining room, up the stairs and in the master bedroom. The uniform material instantly improved the flow between rooms.
When we began the kitchen remodel this summer, removing cabinets and plumbing left a large damaged area in the original floors. We considered refinishing, patching or replacing, and because we also needed to remove worn carpet in the connecting family room, the best solution was to install the same Hickory hardwood throughout the main level.
Our family room was well loved and was ready for an update!
Seeing the new boards go down after so much planning was really exciting. The Hickory’s mix of light and dark tones adds warmth and brightness, even on gray Northwest days.
Along with new floors, we updated wall paint and added tongue-and-groove plank paneling in places to bring more character to the rooms. We also completed a fireplace makeover. With these foundational updates in place, the house feels lighter, fresher and more intentional.
Although we haven’t finished all the final touches—re-hanging artwork, choosing window treatments and adding a few new chairs—the floors give us a solid base to layer color, texture and personality. We’re excited to bring in rugs, curtains and accessories to create a warm, comfortable home for our family.
Dash & Albert Rugs
Even with much of the same furniture, the new floors transform the look and feel of the rooms. The consistent hardwood visually opens the space and ties the main level together.
I’m excited to finish the details: blinds, curtains, chairs and accessories will complete the transformation. I’ll be sharing more updates and styling tips as we finish each space.
I’m grateful Mohawk selected me as a brand ambassador for this flooring project. Their support made it possible for us to install beautiful floors, and we’ve been thrilled with the results.
I’ll share a final post soon with tips for keeping hardwood floors clean and looking great. There are more room reveals and details to come in the weeks ahead.
If you missed any of my hardwood floor posts you can find previous updates on my site.