Red oak…such a popular choice in circa 1996. There were specific reasons why we bought the house: 1: because of the neighborhood, 2: the house has great bones, and 3: the market was crazy and after looking at 40+ houses this was really the best for the price. NOW…let me mention that our original goal was to find a house for the boys to live in while I was working in Saudi. The plan was that Rick would join me overseas and the boys would have a place to stay together while we were living abroad for the next 5-6 years. Obviously that plan changed and the first reno project was to tone down that red oak. See the before pictures of the extensive red oak below…
Red oak floors, 2″ baseboards, shelving, banisters, blinds, and doors! It was literally everywhere…including in the previous owners furnishings! I am not knocking red oak for those who like it…but for me it’s just not my style.
There was hardwood on the majority of the first floor…except (!!!) for the formal dining room where 18×18 porcelain tiles were installed! A lovely shade of pink 🙂 complimented the lovely golden tones of the extensive red oak. Please notice the red oak crown molding in the dining room-with red oak cornices, and country-themed red oak shelf with scones. Have I mentioned that everything was pretty much red oak? No? Take a look at the kitchen cabinets….
I seriously despise this kitchen! So many things are wrong about it. The layout is bad, there is no good work triangle, I can’t stand having a sink in the island, there is no pantry, and there is no space for a table. If you want to eat together as a family you have to eat in the ‘formal’ dining room. BUT…I wasn’t going to LIVE in this house for 5-6 years…it was going to be the boys house while I was working in Saudi…so I ignored the kitchen! Big mistake…
The first major project was to remove the 2″ molding and hire a floor guy to refinish the floor in a color more to my taste. I love dark floors, I always have and I always will. This goes waaaaay back to my childhood and the memories of my grandmother’s traditional victorian home, dark floors and 10″ white molding. For me-this is a classic, long-lasting style. My grandmother was always my style icon and my goal has always been to emulate her classic style.
The floors were completely sanded down, the porcelain tile was removed from the dining room and new hardwood was laid. We researched the internet and came up with 3 colors (top) but after looking at the 3 they still didn’t work with the color I was looking for. Now mind you-I am consulting and Facetiming my husband and floor guy while I was in Saudi. There is only a 9 hour difference…so they would get to work early in the morning as I was finishing up work.
The final color? A custom mix of 3/4 Ebony and 1/4 Jacobean. Three coats of poly and they are stunning! Exactly as I had imagined and what I remember my grandmother’s floors to look like.
Kate's Mulligan 