Project Updates

Here on the blog, it feels as if I have written about a lot of projects in the works, but so far, I have nothing to show for any of them. Now seems like a good time to update what has been happening behind the scenes.

Refinishing the Hardwood Floors

A few weeks ago, I posted about the hardwood floor project. Since we are refinishing nearly all of the first floor, there are many moving parts with this one. We have to move furniture, do a little demo, rent equipment, repair shoe molding, and order products and supplies.

While I was in Florida, Andy finished the demo in the hall. After working on the floor upstairs in the Scary Bathroom, pulling up the old vinyl and linoleum in the hall was a breeze — most of the adhesive for the base layer peeled up with almost no effort. What a difference from the thick petroleum-based mastic I wrestled with upstairs. If anyone is keeping score, the downstairs bathroom remains the only room with a floor covering that is not original hardwood. Cheers to progress!

In a stroke of good fortune, the entire hall floor is in excellent shape, including the area by the exterior door. I am always wary of what is hiding behind new flooring products and acoustic tiles. It turns out that we had nothing to fear.

Choosing a Floor Finish

While I was trying to decide on a floor finish, I received a couple of recommendations. One was Bona Professional which comes from a different division of the company that supplies the products that are readily available in US stores.

The other suggestion was Rubio Monocoat oil. Rubio Monocoat is a company out of Belgium, and their products have a loyal following within the preservation community. When I mentioned it on Instagram, I got a DM from a follower who offered to answer all of my questions in a phone call. (Thanks, Sarah!) I could have called the company, and I still might, but it was nice to hear from another old home lover and DIYer who was several years out from their project. Rubio Monocoat oil holds up well, it seems. Her experience convinced me that I should order some samples to see how it would look in BHH.

Rubio Monocoat Samples

Our floors are two different types of wood. We have Douglas Fir in the laundry room/office and on the step in the living room. Everywhere else, it is white pine. The oil-based poly has ambered over time, and currently, it’s all very orange.

I ordered four samples from Rubio, pure, natural, mist, and 5% white. My hope was that one of the tinted oils might pull out some of the orange color.

In inconspicuous areas, I sanded a small section of Douglas Fir and white pine. Then, I taped off the edges.

The Douglas Fir boards were pretty uniform in color, so I spread the sample tints vertically on single planks. The white pine was another story. Each board seemed completely different. So, I applied the samples horizontally to see what the oil looked like across the varied wood grains and shades.

The idea that I might whitewash the floors freaked out a lot of people on Instagram. My goal was not to whitewash the floor at all. I only wanted to see if I could mitigate some of that orange. In the end, the answer was no.

Pure (top sample) was clearly the winner. Anyone else love a good floor finish pun? Pure will do the best job of marrying different floor types. The laundry/office (fir) flows into the kitchen (already finished), which flows into the white pine floors of the hall, butler’s pantry, dining room, living room, and foyer. While I wish that the Rubio Monocoat did not make the entire floor quite so dark, I think it is going to work beautifully.

Laundry Room/Office Discovery

Speaking of the laundry room/office–Last weekend I found a little something interesting in there. Andy and I were clearing out the room in advance of the floor project, and my curiosity got the best of me.

The walls were covered in a weird fiberboard product which was probably the precursor to wood paneling, a popular mid-century update. The ceiling was dreaded acoustic tile. I am a very optimistic person overall, but I always wonder what the previous homeowner was trying to hide when I see this kind of fix. In BHH, I often suspect cracked or missing plaster.

Well, we sure got a big surprise. Hiding behind all of that junk was perfectly imperfect original shiplap and fully planked ceiling. Take a look at the color too!

Never in my wildest dreams did I suspect that is what we would find. While I thought there was a possibility of an old tongue-and-groove ceiling like the adjacent breakfast nook, I was sure the walls would be plaster. When BHH was built, this room was likely a pantry or storage area for the staff. It was strictly a utilitarian space.

Since the floor refinishing will take up the next month or so, I’m going to save the laundry room/office as my spring One Room Challenge project. Yes, you heard it here first. There will be no surprises this year. I have some creative ideas for this multi-use room, and I am excited to make it beautiful and functional.

The Cabin Vibes Bedroom

Over the Christmas break, our oldest confirmed that he is probably not coming home to live for the summer. Since we are not in a hurry to finish his room, and we already have a guest room, we are putting the Cabin Vibes bedroom makeover on the back burner. We are placing all of our focus on the first floor instead.

The good news is that I have almost all of the supplies and decor that I need to complete the makeover. When it is time, it should not take too long. Perhaps it would be a good fall One Room Challenge project. That is something to consider.

Did I leave out any updates? I think I hit everything hanging out there in the ether. Let me know if there is anything you want to make sure that I post about in the next few weeks as we work on the first floor. Which project are you the most excited about watching unfold? I am pretty energized about all of it. That weekend away in Florida is just what the doctor ordered.

-Stacy