This might seem kind of nutty:
we just finished our temporary kitchen makeover and I'm already dreaming of the next one. I know time will fly by and sooner than we think we'll be faced with big decisions, like choosing flooring. The kitchen, entryway, laundry room, and powder room all have the same linoleum, while the rest of the house (excluding the main bathroom, which also has linoleum) has walnut-stained maple hardwood. The hardwood is in okay condition, but it's scratched, dented and
gappy in the winter. Szuka has really gouged it, no matter how well we trim her nails. I think that five years from now it might just be wise to replace the flooring in the entire house and make it uniform for a cohesive look. We've been pouring over
flooring buying guides and tossing around flooring options:
- Hardwood = scratched and dented easily
- Laminate = just not our jam
- Tile = I hate grout and despised cleaning the ceramic tile in the townhouse entry and kitchen
- Vinyl and linoleum = scratched and stained easily
- Cork = just not our jam either
Recently, it dawned on me: concrete!!
We live in a lakehouse, so I think we get a pass concerning any rules
about "appropriate" materials and finishes. Concrete floors bring to mind cool loft spaces, but I
think we can pull it off. It would be super easy to clean and would stand up
to Szuka's wear and tear. We can add in-floor heating to make it cozier
in the winter. There are some cons, of course: it can crack (but can be repaired), it can be rough
on joints to stand on it (we'll tough it out), and it can be cold
(that's where in-floor heating comes in). But I love that it can be stained or
even painted as our style evolves, plus it's pretty affordable.
Of course we have quite a few years to noodle on this, but if I had to decide today I would definitely be looking very seriously at concrete. Thoughts?
