Hi  IÂm a bit stuck and would appreciate any thoughts.

I pulled up carpet in a room upstairs, exposed and refinished original red oak hardwood floors. It turned out great (used Waterlox!). Now I would like to extend it to the stairs and the upstairs hallway, which leads to a back bathroom and 2 bedrooms.

The problem is the very back of the hallway does not have original hardwoods (itÂs an old house and I believe this at one time there was a 2nd stairwell). I am fine with lacing in new floor boards and that was the original plan. As I get into the floor though it is becoming apparent this will be nearly impossible (moving floor joists etc) due to height issues. In other words, I wonÂt be able to get the subfloor down the ¾" necessary to lace in the new pieces. Not to mention even if I could it would create a somewhat awkward height transition to the bathroom which is about an inch higher (the carpet currently disguises this).

I would like to preserve as much original hardwood as possible. Here are the options I am considering:

1. Put new hardwood over everything except the first room I did - Two reducers at entrances to this room. I would prefer not to do this as it covers a lot of beautiful original hardwood.

2. Have a transition to carpet in the back of the hallway. There is a logical place to do this where the hallway widens as it enters the bedroom area.

3. Have a transition to new hardwood (which would be higher) using a reducer to transition in the hallway. It would be at this same logical place as described above in 2.

I am tempted to do option 3. Has anyone ever seen this done in a hallway (change from original hardwoods to new and go up 3/4" as opposed to a more logical spot (room entrance)? I am not trying to hide it, so I may stain it a darker shade or somehow make it stand out. I could even add French doors eventually to make the transition more logical.

All that said, I am still worried it will be awkward at best and a trip hazard at worst.