skip to main content

Home Decorating

Carrara floor next to red oak next to??? Please Help!

12 years ago

My guest bath and laundry room open to the same hallway. The guest bath floor will be carrara basketweave, the hallway currently is red oak. What color should the laundry room floor be? The laundry room is the main entrance to the house for my family, in addition to being the laundry room, so it gets heavy use. I was thinking a large format gray tile (the laundry room is tiny--only space to walk by the laundry machines) but not sure. The carpeting in the living room is a light tan. I'm at a loss as to how to coordinate this wacky rainbow. Can you help please???

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

DLM2000-GW
12 years ago
Is the floorplan such that all 3 floors are visible from many different places? If not, I probably wouldn't sweat it. I have carrara basket weave in my powder room and the hall you enter from has natural maple, the dining room a few steps away has red oak. Put the flooring that will be practical for you in your laundry room/entry and make the house work for you.
palimpsest
12 years ago
Why not do the carrera basketweave if its only a little bit, since it will always have a W/D you could use something cheaper where it doesn't show.
Related Discussions
Very disheartened...not sure of my next step. Please help.
Q
Comments (46)
Katie, I wrote a comment yesterday and then deleted it because I felt that I was reading the situation all wrong. But now I am thinking I was okay. Your current layout is very much like mine. My kitchen is the main pathway from the garage to virtually the rest of the house. And your range is right next to this pathway. In my case, I have no countertop next to the cooktop. This pathway will limit you as well, in my opinion. Then there is that big window to deal with! Just like me. UGH! Is your current kitchen a peninsula with room for a table by the large window? I feel for you! I have the same frustrations. We are in limbo right now due to our restrictions/budget. Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like you have the luxury of waiting it out to save more money.
...See More
Please help me decide - natural red oak vs. natural white oak.
Q
Comments (27)
mark_rachel, that is what I told my husband! And, Oak & Board, I've been studying this off and on for at least a year. You are one of my favorite commentors. I have learned a lot from you. Both of the samples are solid hardwood not engineered. KD is pleased with the quality of the floor and barely there bevel. Haven't seen a white oak floor yet in Michigan. Well aware of matching existing flooring of which we have none. Need a little more visual interest than the white oak. Considered natural hickory and I think it is too much for me. In my area, everyone is used to red oak. Boring Detroit area suburbs. Not a high end home.
...See More
please help me take my bathroom to the next level!!
Q
Comments (9)
On my screen, I cannot tell what color the shower tiles are. Are they a warmer beige-y? If so, I wouldn't go with a cool-toned counter. I understand you are on a budget. If that were my bathroom, I'd do what you're doing. Leave the tiled shower (which has some color to it--can't tell if warm or cool), but get a countertop that works with it. I would do neutral. For myself, I'd probably choose white Corian, if that works with the tile colors. Paint the cabinet. Nice touch to raise it up. Instead of those little gray rugs, I'd purchase a rug with color in it (maybe a runner). I do not see any disadvantage in having a skylight in your bathroom, and it seems like a nice-sized room to me. I am unsure why people are telling you to rip out a nice-looking shower. Finally, with lighter colors, I'd paint those mirrors something else. They look black on my screen.
...See More
Help picking floor stain for red oak floors!
Q
Comments (9)
I like the color you have! It is classic. Maybe not "on trend", but it won't be the gray floor of 2017 for the next 40 years either. Anything "Medium Brown" will be classic. Achieving that on red oak is not always easy due to the red part of red oak. Seriously, though, there is no easy answer to this without samples on your floor in your lighting. You can't make your decision based on pictures on the internet because of the variations in lighting and whatever your monitor does to colors, too. If you can't slow the process down to get samples, I would make my own samples by getting some unfinished red oak and staining it yourself. Be sure to add the top coat to get a realistic idea of what it will look like. Then you can move the samples around. However, you need to know what brand of products your flooring professional is going to use. If you have that information already, please share it and the professionals here will be able to give you some input on the quality of the product.
...See More
HomeNoobie
12 years ago
I was just going to suggest exactly what pal did. It would look cohesive and also pretty :)
socalsister
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions!

The laundry room is only about 6x6 so if I used a lesser material under the machines, it is more palatable to DH (and to me!). I hope I have enough after the guest bath is finished!

I could do a 6 inch rug border centered in the walkway area (a rectangle with an open middle). I don't think I would do half the room all basketweave and the other half some other tile since the machines don't cover the entire half (about 9 inches is open on one side of the dryer).

I've attached pictures of the current guest bath (pre-remodel) and the laundry room so you can see how close together they are. The hall closet is directly across from the laundry room.

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I'd appreciate your thoughts on the idea of a border versus complete basketweave as well as suggestions for tile to go with the border and under the machines. I am terrible with colors!!!

Guest bath directly ahead, laundry room to right:

Laundry Room:
palimpsest
12 years ago
Just do about a foot next to the dryer in the basketweave as well. Just make sure the non-basket weave is covered by the W/D. There will always be a W/D to cover at least the normal area of a W/D. That is a complex solution, perhaps, but sometimes it takes a solution that is a little complex to look simpler when done (Two materials total visible and not three total visible)
rmkitchen
12 years ago
We recently did that in our laundry room as well: used a super-inexpensive (love you, Lowes!) tile under the washer & dryer with the prettier (and cher) tiles slightly underneath and along the sides of the machine.

What a fun project for you all!

Related Stories

LIFE Retirement Reinvention: Boomers Plot Their Next Big Move

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Choosing a place to settle in for the golden years? You're not alone. Where boomers are going and what it might look like

PAINTING 10 Rules for Your Next Painting Project

By Jaana Bithell

Take your next painting journey from ‘argh!’ to ‘ta-da!’ with these designer tricks

LIVING ROOMS 15 Decorating Moves to Take Your Living Room to the Next Level

By Laura Gaskill

These tricks with furniture, lighting, color and accessories go a long way toward making a space fashionable and comfortable

SUMMER GARDENING Houzz Call: Please Show Us Your Summer Garden!

By Annie Thornton

Share pictures of your home and yard this summer — we’d love to feature them in an upcoming story

WHITE Room of the Day: Bye-Bye, Black Bidet — Hello, Classic Carrara

By Becky Harris

Neutral-colored materials combine with eclectic accessories to prepare a master bath for resale while adding personal style

REMODELING GUIDES Carrara vs. Calacatta Marble: What Is the Difference?

By Debbie Snider

The answer is in the color and veining of these popular Italian marbles

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 5 Savvy Fixes to Help Your Home Sell

By Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

Get the maximum return on your spruce-up dollars by putting your money in the areas buyers care most about

EXTERIORS Help! What Color Should I Paint My House Exterior?

By Jennifer Ott Design

Real homeowners get real help in choosing paint palettes. Bonus: 3 tips for everyone on picking exterior colors

REMODELING GUIDES Wisdom to Help Your Relationship Survive a Remodel

By Mitchell Parker

Spend less time patching up partnerships and more time spackling and sanding with this insight from a Houzz remodeling survey

LIFE You Said It: ‘Put It Back’ If It Won’t Help Your House, and More Wisdom

By Becky Harris

Highlights from the week include stopping clutter from getting past the door, fall planting ideas and a grandfather’s gift of love

Sponsored

More Discussions

furniture for aging in place

2

light fixture and design styles

1

I think I made a mistake. Grey couch with knotty pine? Floor ideas.

1

Bathroom Design Dilemma

1

A Bathroom LIght/Mirror Question

0