{you can find my exact floors at Mohawk: Natural Hickory Hardwood Flooring}
Last week, when the painters removed the protective paper after painting the kitchen cabinets, family room trim, walls and ceilings, both of them exclaimed, “Wow — the floors really make this room!” The cabinets and paint look lovely on their own, but the new floors introduced a natural element that brought the space to life.
Flooring plays a major role in the character of any room. The right material and finish can change the mood, scale and flow of a home. For us, installing consistent hardwood throughout opened up our main level and gave the entire space a cohesive, welcoming feel.
This was our kitchen before the remodel and before the new hardwoods in the dining room. So much has changed—over the past year we made several updates that improved how the rooms flow together. The new flooring played a big part in that transformation.
After new hardwood floors
Previously, the main level had different flooring in adjacent rooms, which visually broke the space into smaller, disconnected areas. Last spring we installed Mohawk Natural Hickory pre-finished hardwood in the living room, dining room, up the staircase and in the master bedroom, and the change has been dramatic.
During the kitchen remodel this summer, we discovered large holes and damage in the original floors after removing cabinetry and plumbing. We evaluated refinishing, patching and replacing, and weighed what made the most sense for the whole main level.
Our family room was well loved and ready for updates.
We also needed to replace damaged carpet in the connecting family room, which had endured years of heavy use from kids, pets and the occasional paint spill. Ultimately, the option that made the most sense was to install the same Hickory hardwood throughout all of the connected main-level rooms for a consistent look and improved flow.
Watching the new floors go in after all the planning and decision-making was exciting. The Hickory wood has a beautiful range of light and dark tones that add warmth and brighten even the grayest days here in the Northwest.
Along with the new hardwoods and the kitchen renovation, we refreshed walls with new paint and added tongue-and-groove plank paneling in select areas to introduce more texture and character. We also completed a fireplace makeover. Together these updates have made our home feel lighter, fresher and more intentional.
Although furnishings and accessories are not yet finalized, installing these foundational elements opened up the next phase: layering color, texture and personal touches. I’m looking forward to adding rugs, curtains, blinds and a few furniture updates to complete the spaces.
Dash & Albert rugs complement the floors
Even with many of the same pieces of furniture, the consistent hardwood makes a dramatic difference. The rooms now feel larger, more connected and much more inviting.
I’m excited to add the finishing touches—blinds, curtains, seating and accessories will continue the transformation. We’ll be sharing more updates and tips soon, including how we care for and maintain our hardwood floors.
I’m grateful to Mohawk for partnering on this flooring project; it was a generous opportunity that helped bring our vision to life. I’ll share a final post soon with cleaning and care tips for keeping these floors looking their best.
If you missed any of the hardwood floor updates, they include posts about the family kitchen makeover, preparing for new hickory floors, installation updates, inspiration and cleaning tips.
Note: The wood floors shown are available from Mohawk.