"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....

I found a gem!

     I know I haven't blogged in a while, but I had to blog about this.  Last week, my husband told me he wanted to check underneath the carpet in our bedroom to see if there was any original hardwood flooring.  I was pretty skeptical.  I mean, why would they cover it up if it was there??
     Then today while sitting at work, my curiosity got the better of me; I texted my husband and told him we'll pull back the carpet when I get home.  This got me excited, and I couldn't wait for 2:00 to get there.
     And lo, and behold!!!  There ARE hardwoods underneath that carpet!  I couldn't (and could) believe it!!!  Our house was built in 1910, after all.  I can't believe it took us almost 5 years to even THINK they could be there and take a peek.  I don't know why the thought never occurred to me.   
     Well... can't dwell on that fact.  Now we know they're there, and we will be pulling up that carpet and exposing the wood strip flooring.  Of course, I want to do it ASAP!  Like, this weekend lol.  But my husband most likely won't want to since he has to help his brother.  And Sunday is the Packers game, so he'll be busy during prime hours, hahahaha!  But there is no rush; so maybe in the Spring.

      What little of it we can see, it looks to be in good condition.  Naturally, there will be holes from the tack strip and also where the pad is stapled.  I just love that warm, golden color!  I don't see much figure pattern (commonly mistaken as the grain), so I don't think it's oak.  But I can't say for sure since I'm not seeing a whole lot.  I just hope the rest of the floor looks this good!  If we can get away with not having to refinish it, I'll be a happy girl!!
     After finding this gem of a discovery, I was ecstatic!!!  Excitedly, I told my husband that we had to check our upstairs bedrooms!  But I was even more skeptical since I had thought most of the time that original hardwood is found only on the main level.  Apparently, I was wrong.  And in this case, I have no trouble admitting I'm wrong! :)

 

     The hardwoods we found upstairs are a darker stain, and I can't tell what species it is.  Obviously this looks to be in much poorer condition.  After doing some research, I'm telling myself that the black "muck" is old decomposing black rubber carpet pad.  I just hope it cleans up easily.  I will try using denatured alcohol or Resolve carpet cleaner.  I'll just have to be extra careful because I don't want to ruin the wood with too much wet liquid  (because wood and water DON'T mix!  It leads to cupping and bowing).  Fingers crossed, the black mess will be few and far between.  And hopefully we won't have to re-hang our baseboards.....

     This should be a very exhilarating project!  Should this happen sooner-rather-than-later, I'll post pictures.