Thursday, November 14, 2013

Opinions Wanted!!

Have you ever been dying to just let go with your opinion about something, but tact and manners and reputation had you biting your tongue until it almost bled?  Well then, today's your lucky day!  I want your opinion!

As most of you already know we're in the process of buying a house.  (Yay!)  We plan to pull up carpeting in what will become the dining room, as well as pull up an existing damaged laminate floor in the kitchen and lay new floors throughout the two rooms.  I've been pondering over a few different images and can't decide which I like the best.  Now mind you, I've only seen these images online.  I haven't yet looked at any samples since the nearest home improvement store is over an hour away.

So...I want you all to weigh in with your opinions.  Which one do you like the best?  How do you think it will look overall in an area of several hundred square feet?  

I'm not looking for opinions on laminate vs. hardwood vs. engineered hardwood.  We've already done the research and had lots of discussion and for us, for this point in time and this house, laminate is our best option.  Trust me, I would LOVE to have real solid hardwood someday, but that's just not the best option right now for a few different reasons.  So, I'm just looking for opinions on color, texture, style, etc.

(Amber Hickory)

I've already decided I want something that has brown undertones and not the typical orange undertones of oak.  I'm really drawn to different hues of Hickory.  Hubby likes this Amber Hickory pretty well.  He likes that it's a little more uniform in color and "texture."  I'm not sure if it would be too dark though.

(Lake of Bays Rustic Tan)

I really like the rustic-ness of this one, but not sure if it would be too busy when done in a large area?

(Marcona Hickory)

Here's another hickory option, not quite so rustic as some of them, and just a little lighter than the Amber Hickory.


 (Bala Tan)

This is another one I really like.  It's different from the others in that it's not nearly as dark, but to me it seems to have a more authentic, aged, and charactered look to it.  Hubby thinks the differences in colors might be too drastic and look too busy once two whole rooms are done in it.

1. Amber Hickory        2. Rustic Tan           3. Marcona Hickory          4. Bala Tan


Here they are side by side for an ever closer comparison.



And here are the two rooms it will be going in so you can picture how it will all flow from one room to the next.  (Walls and trim will be getting a paint job and will no longer have yellow tinted walls and dark trim, but will become white trim and most likely tan walls for now.)

**Update** - after receiving several comments already, let me just come back and say that the kitchen cabinets will remain the same for now, but within a couple of years will probably be painted, most likely white.


So what say you?  Which one would you choose if you were going for a warm, rustic, vintage farmhouse look?  Do you happen to have anything similar to any of these in your home?  Do you love it?  Hate it?  Think one is too dark or too light or too busy?

Speak up and let those opinions fly!

                                                             

34 comments:

  1. #4....would be my first choice!!!.....then 2 & 3 are tied...lol....i don't care for the dark....im so excited to see pics once you get there!!!!!

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  2. #4 is the one that stood out to me immediately. Next is #2, then #3, and the one I like least is #1. There. You have my opinion. haha :)

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  3. Here is my opinion:

    I love the look of #4 however, with the natural look finish on your cabinets I think you need a little darker color. #3 is color choice but I would consider (when you go and look) doing a variation of sizes of planks if that is a possibility with laminate. I have seen this a lot lately in houses I work on and it is a nice look. Congratulations on the new house - it is so exciting!

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    1. I agree about needing a little darker color to contrast. I'm leaning towards #2, but we ordered some samples so we'll see. It's all so fun!

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  4. Okay, you asked for it! LOL! I like them all! I personally would prefer to stay in the medium range of color and the least busy. A lot will depend on if you keep the kitchen cabinetry the same or if you plan to paint it, will the cabinets be a flat painted finish or a distressed?
    Seeing it in person will help a lot. Can you call the nearest store and see if you can get some samples mailed to you?
    I'm really excited for you, as this is something we want to do too. :o)

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  5. Go for option #2. It's beautiful. Do they have it in a wider version? If not, I would still do this one anyways. Good Luck and Have Fun!

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  6. Two & four look like there are oily paw marks in it & would make me wonder if it was ever clean. Then again that could be a good thing?! :-) my choice would be three. The blondeness of the cabinets would pull the lightness from the flooring as an accent sort of thing.

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  7. #3 would be my first choice. We just took out 15 yr old laminate and carpet and replaced with oak colored laminate. The old laminate was a cherry color and showed everything. It looked dirty all. the. time. I would mop and it looked like it had a film, as soon as someone walked on it showed footprints. I tried all kinds of cleaners and techniques. Nothing made it better. Now the new LIGHTER colored laminate looks clean all the time. It has more of a matte finish than the cherry colored laminate. I love it! So what I am trying to say is don't go too dark and stay away from glossy finish.

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    1. I agree about staying away from a glossy finish, I don't care much for it at all. We found a really nice one at Home Depot that lots of authentic looking texture and had a great rustic look. Not too dark so as to show dust and dog hair, and not too light. It just might be "the one." : )

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  8. I absolutely love #4 but I'm with you in thinking it might be to busy. I think #3 is maybe the best one to go with. LeAnn Weaver

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  9. My top choices would be #1 and #3. Our lv rm laminate is #1. At the store I thought it looked dark, but it was on sale for a really great price. We got it and I told myself I would learn to like it HA After Jaron installed it - I absolutely LOVE it - no learning necessary :) We have white trim & tan(ish) walls. In my opinion the darkness of the wood really makes the white elements in the room "pop"! it also visually hides dirt well - another huge plus! Andrea S.

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  10. I like all of them except for #1. :) #2 is especially gorgeous.

    Would this be an appropriate time for you to tell hubby that he is on the Finance Committee but not the Decorating Committee? Heehee!

    After that statement, I should sign this as annonymous....

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  11. #4 and check out chalk paint when you are ready to paint cabinets so easy . Pat

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    1. Yes, I have seen a few blog posts about using chalk paint to do cabinets and it's definitely something I'll consider when the time comes. Thanks so much for your input!

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  12. I really like #3 because I like the wider planks. That is an older ladies opinion.

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  13. I would do 3 because of the wider planking. Will probably make your space look a little larger. No matter what you do, it's going to look great!

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  14. I love #2!!!...it looks like it is just dark enough to have contrast to the cupboards but dark enough to match the trim in your pictures.

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  15. Ok you asked, I am telling. I will NEVER use laminate flooring again. It looks beautiful....mine is a medium brown......but, it is nearly impossible to clean. It streaks. I have bought 2 different cleaners....they streaked....I tried vinegar and water....so I am sorry.....I know they look beautiful, but hard to take care of.

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  16. #1 if you want a more "polished" farmhouse look but #2 if you truly want rustic. You definitely need to see in person though before you buy. Good luck!

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  17. My choice would be 4 but I love the wideness of 3......
    Rhonda

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  18. I like #3, Marcona Hickory !

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  19. I really like Bala Tan #4. I have real hardwood floors and that one looks more like real wood and the color seems neutral enough to go with almost any decor.

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  20. So many opinions, right?! I would go with #4 or 3. Too dark of wood and you can see all the dirt, hair, dust every. single. day. We have the thinner planks, and it looks fine, but I would prefer the wider ones if we had the chance to redo floors.

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  21. 1st choice #3. 2nd is #1. I HATE making decisions like this as I am commitment-challenged. Mary

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  22. I love #1. We have a high quality laminate in our house throughout and I love it. I use white vinegar and water to clean it - no streaks and lots of natural shine. It is a dark rustic walnut color tho and probably a little darker than I would've liked - but it is a very rustic old farmhouse look that I wanted so we went with it. You'll love that hickory color.

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  23. just found your blog through pinterest!!! anyway, my opinion...I love the rustic look of 2 and 4....but the darker color of 32 would show a lot more dust etc....omg, it would drive you crazy cleaning. My daughter just put down laminate and it is a darker shade, and that is her only complaint, the darker color shows all the dust!!!

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  24. Love #2! Wish I could get it myself!

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  25. Aren't these tough decisions??? We put in laminate flooring two years ago, and love it! We have NO problems cleaning it, or having streaks. It cleans with plain water like a charm! A couple things to consider about the busy-ness of the wood........ are you planning on using area rugs over the wood at all? That would make a difference. And I also would not go with number 1, it looks so evenly dark that every little foozle would show! And in order to not show every spot, I would tend to go with the more busy wood, esp. 2 & 4. (and notice they also have the darker lines between the boards, which would also be good!) So, I look forward which one you use!!!

    Hugs from Diane in Michigan

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  26. (see above - forgot to check notify me!)

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Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I love hearing from you!

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