I assume you will be installing staple/nail down since we are talking about solid wood being an option. In my opinion it looks better to go with option B as the break if you can use the same plank width to continue into the hallway. If you have to use a different width plank in the hallway vs livingroom/kitchen, it might be best to just break off at A so you have 2 different floor covering throughout the house instead of 3. Having too many different types of wood floors on the same level looks too choppy.

Just so you know some brands make engineered hardwood which are similar height to your existing floors (3/8") with a pretty good wear-layer, if you are able to do a glue down installation. This would be ideal if you haven't chosen a product yet since the height will be pretty much flush and you can extend it into your hallway. Check out Haro Strip Prestige 2-ply construction.

>Why would you use different plank width in the hallway?

> In my opinion it looks better to go with option B as the break if you can use the same plank width to continue into the hallway

I was planning to use 5" width planks in the living room/kitchen because those are bigger rooms. Currently that hallway between A-B, and the bedrooms all have 2" width planks. Given how narrow that hallway is, I figured I'd keep it that way.

Also, the living room/kitchen would have planks running north/south (in this diagram), where as the hallway would east/west.

Would it look weird to have 5" width planks in the hallway?

(BTW, yes - this is nailed down)

What is the era of the house? If its an older house, a wider planked floor may be out of character. Though the floor plan suggests the home is newer. This would also influence my decision to choose a flooring product that matches the existing in height as close as possible.

Also, the orientation of the floor needs to run perpendicular to the floor joists. Without serious work, it might not be practical to run the hallway different than the living room and kitchen.

This is a 1959 house. It's basically a ranch that pretends to be woodsy. Currently the living room has random width planks widths of 4"/6"/8" (everyone's shocked about the 8".)

Here's a photo of the current hall way at Point A. You can see the random width planks on the left side, and the standardized ones on the right side.

My general rule is to try to limit height differences from one floor to another to 3/4" or less, so 7/16" should be fine.. I feel a reasonably abled person should be able to cross that without calamity. That's the difference between a solid wood floor and adjacent vinyl in a typical older home, or the thickness of a nice area rug with pad sitting on a hard surface floor.

Here's a related question - what do folks think about using 5" blanks in both areas? Would it be an abomination to use 5" planks in this narrow hallway?

5" is fast becoming the norm. Many new products aren't even offered in narrower widths.

Hm, not sure I agree with that. When I was out shopping these last 2 weekends, I saw sizes anywhere from 2"-6".

This is the manufacturer I was looking at - it feels like everyone carries Somerset. A lot of their non-engineered lines max out at 3 1/4"

http://somersetfloors.com/pages/landing_collections.html

hillyhouse, I was referring to "new products" to show that the trend is toward wider boards. Most new products are engineered and are being offered in widths 5" and wider. For solid wood the narrower is a better option. I have some Somerset 3-1/4 solid Color Strip White Oak natural on order right now. It's not what I would call a new product.

Got it. One of the weird shockers of my house (I've been here less than a year) is that my 5/16" flooring has 8" planks. When flooring people see this, they're stunned.

8" wide or 8' long?

I personally like the narrower width, especially with solid flooring. It serves a purpose as a quality-look backdrop type floor. It should last a long time and can be refinished repeatedly and given a different look to keep up with the times.

My house currently has planks that are 5/16" thick, and are in random widths of 4", 6", and 8". (Lengths are very random too.)