Dressing up your hardwood floors…

Okay, I realize what I’m about to say might not be everyone’s cup of tea… I mean, there are many people who love all hardwood floors the same. But in my opinion & past decorating experience, not all wooden floors are created equally. My very first kitchen years ago had heart pine floors (much like the ones I have now only more yellow/orange in color) and I decided to paint them. It took me 2 weeks of OCD precision taping to get it perfect. Many of my friends were scandalized at the time, but it was my favorite part of the whole house. I didn’t have much money to spend on furniture or rugs, but for the cost of a few cans of paint I was able to achieve a lot of look for very little.

Anyways…today while trying to catch up on my stack of magazines, I ran across these gorgeous images of a floor done with two-tone stained squares. Dear god, I’m having serious floor envy. I present to you, exhibit A:

from the April/May 2008 issue of Belle Magazine

They’re gorgeous, right? I like how they’re a very subtle pattern and how the owner of the house used what looks to be stain rather than paint to create his pattern. Anyways…these pics made me re-think how I’m using the hardwood floors in the rest of my house. (Who knows? Maybe one day…long down the road.)

Here’s some additional inspiration:

This first one is great because it creates the look of inlaid hardwood without having to spend very much money! I love simple details like this one.

from the April 2006 issue of House & Gardens

My first foray into floor painting. Sorry it’s such a grainy photo…this was back in 2000 with a 1.3 megapixel camera!

via flickr by Xenophile12

Do you any of you have any additional photos of floor painting or stencilling? I had a hard time finding any inspiration other than what I already had collected…

How do you feel about hardwood floors in a kitchen?

I’ve only had limited experience with hardwood floors in a kitchen, but with the reality of an impending kitchen renovation looming I realize that I’m going to need some ideas on what to do with my new kitchen floor.  Currently it has disgusting linoleum floors…and the floors are slightly uneven so tile is not an easy option.   My friend has a source for me to get recycled pine barnwood floors at a reallllly good deal, but I wanted to get some feedback first.  Any thoughts?