"I found a gem!" Update

     So we pulled up our bedroom carpet last night only to discover a HUGE patch job!  Ugh!!  How disappointing and dejecting!  Apparently it looks like the room, at one point, was expanded and plywood was used to bring it up to level height.  It takes up about 1/3 of the room; probably 2-3' wide by 11' long.  And it looks like there was a once-present wood burning stove because there fill a cement fill spot.  That would explain our present chimney, but no fireplace.  And....it looks like what wood was there is in pretty darn good shape!  So that makes it all the more dejecting.
      Once we pulled the carpet, we took it outside so we could start pulling pad and staples.  Then we had to bring it back in and lay it back down.  Now, it's not in there professionally; but we did a "nice enough" job.  And hey, since all the furniture was out, we had the opportunity to go ahead and vacuum every square inch :)  We're going to need new carpet in a year or two anyway, and we can wait.
     And this experience has minimized our desire to pull up the upstairs carpet.  Upstairs, it's obviously covered for a reason.... it must be in terrible shape!
     So, the next big project is NEW KITCHEN & MUDROOM FLOORING!!!!  It's laminate right now, which I don't like, and it's not good for a kitchen.  When laminate gets wet, the core body swells and the seams begin to "peak."  I already see that happening on the steps down into the mudroom.  What's my flooring of choice, you ask?  Well I'll tell ya!  It's LVT, or luxury vinyl tile.  I've chosen Alterna, by Armstrong in color D4107 Mesa Stone -- Gray/Brown.  Obviously, it looks different online.  In person, it's not quite as dark, but it's still grey and light brown.  In my kitchen, it almost looks like a blue-ish grey.  But it still looks really nice.  With the Alterna, there are 16 different looks so each tile will not look exactly the same.  This way, you're not repeating the same one as often; and it re-enforces that natural tile or stone look. :)

     I've always preferred a tile look in the kitchen since you already have all that wood from your cabinets and furniture.  This will look nice butted up against the laminate in my living room.  The colors coordinate nicely.

     This will be a little nerve-wracking because I have NO idea what's under the laminate.  But we'll find out when this project starts....