Faux wood always looks bad when placed next to real wood. So I'd either change the plan (get engineered planks instead, which have a real wood veneer) or plan to separate them with a wide threshold of something pretty different.

So do you think that the threshold needs to be of something that contrasts with both of them?

I'm honestly not sure what break it would take to sufficiently distract my eye. Three inches of marble won't do it -- maybe two feet of wood mosaic? Bring home a couple of planks and lay them next to your current wood, with a flipped plank in between, and see what you think.

I'll see if I have time tonight to get a picture. Thanks, acm!

Wait and have hardwood installed and finished at the same time as your existing floors.

EXACTLY as above. Do not put the two materials near one another. Just don't do it.

Is there a door that closes off the den so that the transition is not noticeable all of the time? We recently toured a house that had real wood floors that butted up against LVP in the kitchen. The above posters are correct. The first thing you think when you see it is that it is not the best look.

Faux next to real always a bad idea , why not get a vinyl that does not look like wood.

To be perfectly honest, I would live with the carpet until I could afford to put in hardwoods that match the existing floor. Or consider a tile look LVT. I also like the idea of trying to find an engineered hardwood that matches your floor.

As mentioned above, the differences between LVP and real hardwoods are going to be glaring when they are next to each other.

anglophilia - The reason I'm replacing the bedroom floors is because of allergies, so waiting is problematic. We also have pets and I don't want the extra care they'd cause with hardwood in the bedrooms.

dgw - My budget won't let me finish the hardwoods in the den and install the LVP at the same time (I've got to have some of the planks and subflooring replaced so it's not just sanding and finishing). I expect there to be about a year in between projects.

I'm searching for something that looks just like a standard oak flooring so I can match them as much as possible. This is a pretty good representation of what I want:

smit - there is a door between the den and the hallway but it's open pretty much all the time.

acm - I didn't have time to take a picture of the existing floor and what I like so far.

So here's the (revised) question: If I pull back on my plan to LVP the hall and foyer and just do the two bedrooms, might that work better? The look would be similar to the current look at the den door where the hardwood parquet and the hardwood plank meet. I'd still search for a color/stain that goes together like the den and the hall floor currently do.

I've also been told that you shouldn't re-sand a parquet floor because the heat softens the glue and pieces can come up. Has anyone else heard that?

Thanks guys!

I think if the LVP is not butting right up against the real thing and the hall is in a tile look or carpet it will work ok.

Also talk to local floor companies about refinishing and matching the wood you have now. The price might be comparable to LVP.

can you just float the LVP over the existing hardwoods (no glue) and then everything blends. Would probably be the most cost effective (don't have to refinish and deal with that mess) and best looking. I really like the LVT planks and I am a total purist when it comes to that stuff. Kids and dogs are tough on floors.

In the meantime, save for real hardwoods for when the LVT is ready for replacement and site finish the whole shebang at once.

Cleo, I really like that idea. Definitely worth getting a quote for it.

Carolina K&B, I completely understand the budget and timing issue. I am sure you will be able to work out a solution that is cost effective and looks good too. It may take a while to find the best combination. If you can, post pictures of your samples of different material next to your floors. We love pictures.

Thanks to all. I've got some time which is why I asked the question. I know the Houzz crew will always have answers. You all gave me ideas I hadn't ever considered. I'll let you know how this turns out.

On the left is the parquet floor in the hall and on the right is the oak hardwood in the den. The transition strip lays flush with the parquet and slopes just a bit to meet the hardwood. As you can see, I've got three samples that are the closest so far that I've found so I'm not going for something like "Barnwood gray" as a replacement to go next to red oak. When I sand and refinish the den, I'll choose a stain as close to the laminate color as possible.

I'm shooting for late November/December to start this project, before pollen season, which is starts in late February. I'm considering buying 1 box before I start and dry fit them in the hallway. If I like that, then I'd order. I'd spend the $50-100 to avoid a $1,500-2,000 mistake.