Hootie hooo! The cork floor in both the kitchen and the laundry room is complete!
Well, except if you count the fact that we still have to add shoe molding, thresholds, and seal it all. Details, details. The point is, we finally get to see the whole picture. Huzzah!
The annoying part is that we still haven’t figured out how to photograph it as true to life as we can (it’s a rich mocha color, and actually looks more like brown leather in person, so the pattern is more like soft movement and less like any sort of obvious shapes or anything) – but the two videos from the last post really are the most accurate depictions of it, although we hope today’s photos are closer to real life than last week’s were. The one above is getting there. We’ll learn the trick someday I’m sure!
When it came to finishing things off in the corner of the kitchen and our tiny laundry room, it was pretty much exactly the same method that we outlined in our kitchen corking post, although we were getting worried that we were running low on cork, so we actually used some remnant planks all along the left wall (leftover cuts from the kitchen) to ensure that we wouldn’t run out.
Thankfully we finished up with about four planks to spare. Not kidding. It was crazy close. So we’re at least thankful to have those as extras, and plan to seal the heck out of these to protect them. Cork can even be sanded, restained, and resealed down the line if it gets worse for wear, so 40+ year old cork floors exist (which is nice to know since cork sounds like such a new-age material). Heck, we’ve even heard from folks who have 100+ year old cork floors that still look great, so here’s hoping!
It’s kind of amazing how much of a difference the new floors make in the laundry room. I mean, we really liked it before since we did so much work on it already (more on the rest of the room’s transformation here), but here’s that room before it got the ol’ cork treatment:
And after:
We enter the house through the door in the laundry room and it’s so nice to walk in and see the rich cork floors whispering “welcome home.” Oh and for those wondering where the laundry basket is, it’s just in the bedroom full of a pile of “flu clothes” that have been washed and have yet to be put away.
Since we already blogged all about where/why we purchased our floor here, and how we installed it (video included) here, this post is more of a big sigh of relief that the last big kitchen undertaking is winding down.
Other than polishing off those last few floor tasks on the list, all that’s left are smaller things like adding some decorative wood molding to the back of the peninsula, deciding if we’ll be adding a window treatment over the sink or painting our stools, potentially doing something fun to the side of the pantry, bringing in a chair and a rug in the fireplace side of the room, etc. And of course we’ll share a ton of before and after pics along with a budget and time breakdown when we finally get to stick a fork in this kitchen (which we’ve been working on in stages since October 5th!).
And remember when we moved in and it looked like this in here?
This shot is a little further back, and a slightly different angle, but it’s semi-comparable. Is there anything better than making a room that feels nothing like you, finally feel like home?
As for our plan with the variety of mismatched wood floors that surround our freshly corked kitchen and laundry room, we’re huge fans of flooring that looks seamless (we upgraded our first house to have the same dark mocha wood throughout the layout for a nice open flow). And sure enough, we plan to eventually refinish the rest of the wood floors in this house in the same rich mocha color as the cork for a much more easy and open look. Although it’ll still be cork in some rooms and hardwoods in others, the same rich tone should really tie things together and not make any of the spaces feel as choppy or broken up.
When it comes to a usability/function update, we have been really happy with it so far. The rich deep color adds so much to the formerly white-washed space, there are no scratches/dings where Burger runs around from his nails, no dents where we drop things, it’s very soft and easy on the back/knees, it should be even more durable once we seal it, it’s eco-friendly, and it’s quiet. We’ll definitely keep you posted as we live with it (and add shoe molding, thresholds, and a few coats of protective sealer). What did you guys do this weekend? We were pretty much laid up on the sofa fighting our little flu battle after finally squeezing in those last few cork boards, but we’re getting a lot closer to feeling like ourselves again! And the finished cork floors definitely have our spirits up. Onward!
More Flooring Projects
If you would like to read about other flooring projects we’ve done, please check out the posts below:
I’ve heard that doggie nails can scratch or pit cork floors I know your dog isn’t a 60-pound lab, but did you hear anything about that? I’ve been considering cork floors as well, but hesitated because of my 40-pound whirling dervish of a dog.Thanks!
We actually have heard from folks with 70lb dogs who have cork and no issues at all! If you seal them and get good quality cork it can last for 40, 60, even 100 years! Believe it or not we’ve heard from folks who have cork that old that still looks great! Maybe bring home a sample and see if you feel it’s strong enough?
Please oh please tell me about the light fixture in the laundry room!!! I am in the middle of a partial laundry room redo and I need lighting help! It looks like clothes pins???? I am new to your blog so excuse me if the details are in an older post, but I am so curious about the lighting fixture…
besos,lynn
We are trying to replace tile with hardwood in our kitchen and was wondering what you did with the bottom of the cabinets when installing the cork floors. Do you have to cut the bottom of the cabinets for the cork floors to fit under it?
We just ran the cork up to the side of the cabinets and used molding/quarter round to make it look seamless.
xo,
s
Kimberlysays
I’m curious how big your space is along the direction of your planks. I’m replacing crummy laminate with really nice laminate, and it says to install a t-molding expansion area for areas longer than 27′, and it looks like your space is way longer than 27′! Currently my space doesn’t have the expansion area, but I’m debating if it’s really necessary. What are your thoughts or experiences? Thanks!
Now that you have lived with the cork floors for awhile, How do you like them? What is the process for cleaning them? We are moving and are contemplating hardwood/cork. We currently have hardwood floors that we laid seven years ago. We have loved them but we are relocating out of state to a new home and my wheels are turning. Appreciate any ideas :.
I heart your blog.
Still like them very much. We mostly just vacuum them (on the hardwood setting) and wipe them down with a very slighly moist rag if we spill something. They’re really easy care, you just don’t want to get them sopping wet, so we don’t mop or anything.
xo,
s
Olivia S.says
Can I pretty please get your opinion? Do you think we could pull off this look in a smaller kitchen/living room that doesn’t get much light? My husband and I LOVE the look with the dark floor/white cabinets, and I really want to just do it, but I am scared it will make the room feel even darker. We’ve got 100% oak (floors, trim, cabinets) right now, and it’s just so hard to visualize the change. I really appreciate your opinion!
Hi There, I am not sure how I got on to your blog site but so thankful that I did. We have new house that is in desperate need of a kitchen redo. It is almost the mirror reverse of the one you had featured in the first house. Thank you for the insight. I do need to hire some pro’s for the main things like wall removal and electrical/plumbing work. I appreciate all the helpful links as well.
How long from start to finish did it take you to complete? I do not want to move into this place until at least he kitchen is complete. Went through a renovation before and rather not live through that again. :)
Malissa Riggan says
I’ve heard that doggie nails can scratch or pit cork floors I know your dog isn’t a 60-pound lab, but did you hear anything about that? I’ve been considering cork floors as well, but hesitated because of my 40-pound whirling dervish of a dog.Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
We actually have heard from folks with 70lb dogs who have cork and no issues at all! If you seal them and get good quality cork it can last for 40, 60, even 100 years! Believe it or not we’ve heard from folks who have cork that old that still looks great! Maybe bring home a sample and see if you feel it’s strong enough?
xo,
s
lynn says
Please oh please tell me about the light fixture in the laundry room!!! I am in the middle of a partial laundry room redo and I need lighting help! It looks like clothes pins???? I am new to your blog so excuse me if the details are in an older post, but I am so curious about the lighting fixture…
besos,lynn
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes, we made that with clothespins! Here’s that post: https://www.younghouselove.com/2011/08/320-pins/
xo,
s
Janet says
We are trying to replace tile with hardwood in our kitchen and was wondering what you did with the bottom of the cabinets when installing the cork floors. Do you have to cut the bottom of the cabinets for the cork floors to fit under it?
YoungHouseLove says
We just ran the cork up to the side of the cabinets and used molding/quarter round to make it look seamless.
xo,
s
Kimberly says
I’m curious how big your space is along the direction of your planks. I’m replacing crummy laminate with really nice laminate, and it says to install a t-molding expansion area for areas longer than 27′, and it looks like your space is way longer than 27′! Currently my space doesn’t have the expansion area, but I’m debating if it’s really necessary. What are your thoughts or experiences? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Our kitchen is actually only 24′ long! Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kimberly says
darn, i was hoping to get away with not doing that… guess i’ll be a good girl and do what they tell me :) thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man, so sorry! Good luck!
xo
s
Angela Kintner says
Now that you have lived with the cork floors for awhile, How do you like them? What is the process for cleaning them? We are moving and are contemplating hardwood/cork. We currently have hardwood floors that we laid seven years ago. We have loved them but we are relocating out of state to a new home and my wheels are turning. Appreciate any ideas :.
I heart your blog.
YoungHouseLove says
Still like them very much. We mostly just vacuum them (on the hardwood setting) and wipe them down with a very slighly moist rag if we spill something. They’re really easy care, you just don’t want to get them sopping wet, so we don’t mop or anything.
xo,
s
Olivia S. says
Can I pretty please get your opinion? Do you think we could pull off this look in a smaller kitchen/living room that doesn’t get much light? My husband and I LOVE the look with the dark floor/white cabinets, and I really want to just do it, but I am scared it will make the room feel even darker. We’ve got 100% oak (floors, trim, cabinets) right now, and it’s just so hard to visualize the change. I really appreciate your opinion!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yes! It would look great in a small room! It’s nice and balanced (the floor is dark but the light cabinets bounce tons of light around.
xo
s
Jennifer says
Can you tell me the wall color in the laundry room? I love it!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s Sesame by Benjamin Moore. Hope it helps!
xo
s
Shirl DiPasquale says
Hi There, I am not sure how I got on to your blog site but so thankful that I did. We have new house that is in desperate need of a kitchen redo. It is almost the mirror reverse of the one you had featured in the first house. Thank you for the insight. I do need to hire some pro’s for the main things like wall removal and electrical/plumbing work. I appreciate all the helpful links as well.
How long from start to finish did it take you to complete? I do not want to move into this place until at least he kitchen is complete. Went through a renovation before and rather not live through that again. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Our first and second kitchen renos took 4 months each, so that seems to be our speed.
xo,
s