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September 16, 2020 ·

Big Home Update! Choosing Hardwood Flooring for the Upstairs

decorating· DIY

 
This post is sponsored by Twenty & Oak. All opinions and expressions are my own. 
 
Exciting big changes are happening in our home! This week we are ripping out all the carpet and choosing hardwood flooring for the upstairs! I have been wanting to do this for years now. When COVID hit and we were all under mandatory quarantine we obviously had a heightened focus and awareness of our family’s health and definitely had plenty of time on our hands. My husband and kids have pretty severe allergies and the 15 year old carpeting on the bedroom level of our house isn’t contributing to their health. After removing and replacing the carpeting on the first level with hardwood flooring, we instantly noticed the difference in our home’s air filters. The upstair’s filters still remain significantly dirtier, even though we are very diligent with changing the filters out every 3 months. The amount of dirt is pretty eye opening. 
 
We decided now is the time to rip out all the carpeting in the bedrooms and start shopping for hardwood flooring. Twenty & Oak is exclusive to the southeast and I explored their website to get inspiration and begin the process of choosing hardwood flooring. Their online showroom features high quality flooring brands, has hundreds of flooring options to choose from and they are connected to the best flooring retailers in the southeast. Twenty & Oak carries laminate, luxury vinyl, waterproof flooring, engineered flooring, solid hardwood flooring, and even rubber fitness flooring.  No matter your budget, they carry something for everyone!
 
Twenty and Oak Flooring Brands
 

Choosing Hardwood Flooring

The hardwood flooring collection that I am drawn to is the smoked French oak of the Tuscany Flooring by Palmetto Road. 
 
SMOKED FRENCH OAK

The Tuscany collection offers elegantly wire brushed French oak hardwood in a gorgeous modern color palette.  The depth and richness of color is pronounced and made possible by a smoking and antiquing process.  An unprecedented clarity to the natural wood grain is achieved through an 8 coats of super low gloss finish which also seals and protects. The Tuscany collection features longer and wider planks to accentuate the colors and natural beauty of wood. 

Why am I choosing French Oak? French oak has a smaller grain pattern. It is stronger than American red or white oak. It is less likely to expand and contract noticeably which is a nice trait for flooring to have, especially living in humid, coastal Virginia. The boards in the Tuscany collection come in 7.5″ x 75″ lengths. They are 1/2″ thick, with rolled edges and ends, are wire brushed, smoked and antiqued. To top it off, they have a 50 year residential warranty! The flooring is ideal for high traffic, kids and pets, all of which we certainly have. 

Tuscany Hardwood Flooring by Palmetto Road

Two colors that immediately catch my eye are Nola and Fondi. It is important to find a flooring option that will compliment and blend beautifully with our existing weathered oak stained hardwood flooring on our first floor. The stain colors have a lighter, coastal style that is reminiscent of bleached driftwood and sandy shorelines. Twenty and Oak - Tuscany Flooring - Fondi and Nola

Free Hardwood Flooring Samples

I ordered some free samples and they arrived so quickly! My little furry helpers have their own opinions on which samples they like! The 3 on the left are from the Tuscany by Palmetto Road collection (French oak) and the 2 on the far right are from the Windsor Park by Azalea Lane collection (hickory). 

Choosing Hardwood Flooring samples

Willow says she prefers the lighter Nola flooring and Aspen prefers the Fondi. 

Twenty-and-oak-flooring-samples

WATCH MY VIDEO BELOW TO SEE THE DESIGN PROCESS!

Now commences the process of deciding upon a color. Welcome to the battle of the sexes! It’s no surprise that I am drawn to the lighter, airy, and more natural wood tones, whereas my husband gravitates toward darker, richer, more classic wood tones. Decisions, decisions! Thankfully, Twenty & Oak makes the decision process easier with an awesome feature where you can easily order 3 flooring samples for FREE with the code “THREEFORFREE”.  

But what if you need more than 3 samples? I have you covered! Twenty & Oak is offering all Sand & Sisal friends a SPECIAL OFFER! You can receive up to 6 FREE FLOORING SAMPLES from any collection you choose!

Click the link above or the photo below to get yours now!  

Twenty & Oak Free Flooring Samples

Visualizing the Space with Design Boards

I am a visual person, and creating room mood boards help me solidify design decisions. We will be replacing flooring in 6 bedrooms overall. Below are two mock-ups of my master bedroom and my son’s room showing how the flooring choices might look in the rooms. The master bedroom design board below features the Tuscany Fondi flooring by Palmetto Road.

Coastal Master Bedroom Design Board

In addition, my son’s modern coastal bedroom design board features the Tuscany Nola flooring by Palmetto Road.

Modern Coastal Bedroom Design Board

I love both but it’s always best to see the flooring on a larger sample board before making such an important decision.

My next step is to visit one of the local Twenty & Oak retailers. Twenty & Oak’s customer service department is amazing! They will email you local retailer information of where you can see and purchase the flooring. They also follow up with a helpful and friendly phone call to answer any questions. The level of communication and service they offer is impressive. 

You can do the same! Click HERE to find a Twenty & Oak retailer near you. 

Next week come along with me to the store and help me decide which flooring to choose! Sound like fun?

Which flooring sample do you like so far? Let me know in the comments below! Also don’t forget to get your 6 free flooring samples!

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Comments

  1. Lenora Everett says

    September 16, 2020 at 8:18 am

    I vote for Fondi after seeing it on the mood boards. I particularly like the way it looks with the headboard in your Master Bedroom.

    I need to pick flooring for the house, too. We have ruled out hardwood because of pet damage issues and past water problems that we worry about reoccurring.

    My husband wants porcelain. I’m concerned about the hardness and grout. I’ve seen and read about some top-of-the-line luxury vinyl. What are your thoughts?.

    • Kim @ Sand & Sisal says

      September 16, 2020 at 11:32 am

      Thanks for weighing in Lenora! I appreciate it!
      I think luxury vinyl is a smart choice too and it comes in so many gorgeous options! It’s pretty indestructible. Twenty & Oak carries luxury vinyl and also waterproof hardwood. Here is the direct link to their luxury vinyl if you’re interested. https://twentyandoak.com/flooring-types/vinyl-plank-tile-flooring
      And if you see something you like, feel free to get your 6 free samples for all my readers! Just use the promo code: SAND or click on the free sample button on the blog post.
      Have a great day!
      KIM

  2. Nancy says

    September 16, 2020 at 10:26 am

    Hi! I got a big kick out of seeing the photo with one of your fur babies. Your fur babies would be the main reason or consideration for me. I would go with the Nola floor boards although the Fondi is a great choice to go with your decor.

    Light floors definitely help hide the hair until of course they start gathering into floor bunnies which just thinking about makes me freak out. We have two blonde boys and now they are shedding like crazy for winter.

    We have light hardwood flooring and in the kitchen a Duratile called Tiger Eye which really hides any messes until you can clean it up.

    Looking forward to seeing the rest of the story stay safe!

    • Kim @ Sand & Sisal says

      September 16, 2020 at 11:36 am

      Hi Nancy!
      Oh I hear you about the fur bunnies…. mine are EVERYWHERE! I have to vacuum every other day. I’ve never seen shedding this crazy! I need to see the bigger sample boards at the showroom before I decide for sure. Thanks for weighing in! I appreciate it!
      Have a lovely week,
      KIM

  3. Mar B says

    September 16, 2020 at 10:29 pm

    Love the white coastal bedroom furniture! Who is the manufacturer? Or what store did you purchase it thru? Thank you

    • Kim @ Sand & Sisal says

      September 17, 2020 at 12:32 pm

      Thank you! All of the furniture in that room is from the Hemnes collection from IKEA. It’s solid pine and we’ve been very happy with it all.

  4. Michelle says

    September 17, 2020 at 10:27 am

    I vote for Fondi, as well. I know that very light flooring is really “in” right now, but I think the Fondi will be timeless. Plus, it reminds me of driftwood on the beach.
    Is your master bedroom chandelier from Serena and Lily? It’s stunning!

    • Kim @ Sand & Sisal says

      September 17, 2020 at 12:31 pm

      Thank you Michelle!
      The chandelier is just on my design board. It is from Wayfair (so much more affordable). I would love to have one in my room but my husband won’t get rid of the ceiling fans. (One day I’ll get my chandy!!!)

  5. Amanda says

    September 22, 2020 at 12:14 am

    Hello! Could you share where those black and white beach theme photos are from in the Modern design board? I love that design and want to duplicate it!

    • Kim @ Sand & Sisal says

      September 22, 2020 at 1:50 pm

      Hi Amanda!
      Thank you so very much! Those photos in the design board are from PB Teen. They are crazy expensive though (like $400+ each). I replicated the look in my son’s room with photos of him and his friends surfing instead! Here is the link, you can see them here: https://www.sandandsisal.com/2020/05/modern-coastal-bedroom.html

  6. Mary Dunstan says

    September 22, 2020 at 7:40 pm

    I love your blog. In your kitchen remodel after the dishwasher flood there was a beautiful painting of a white egret in room next to kitchen.. I love that painting can you share where you got it. Thanks

    • Kim @ Sand & Sisal says

      September 23, 2020 at 3:05 pm

      Awww Thank you so very much! That painting is from Ballard Designs and they still carry it in several different sizes.

Trackbacks

  1. How to Select the Right Flooring Retailer and Prepare for Installation says:
    September 23, 2020 at 1:43 pm

    […] week I shared how we were choosing hardwood flooring for the upstairs level of our home. We ordered free flooring samples from Twenty & Oak and started narrowing […]

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Kim WilsonWelcome to Sand & Sisal: where love of home and sea meet! I share tutorials in DIY, decorating, crafts, gardening, & recipes.  [READ MORE]

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