George asks…
Can we install a wood floor in the kitchen?
We just bought a house and would like to install wood floors. It’s all one room–living room and kitchen–and it has to be one floor. We’re NOT looking for design ideas but answers about buckling wood based on your experience with wood floors and water. We’re also NOT interested in mere horror stories that go on without a point. The floor will also be right at some French doors that open onto the backyard. So there’ll be alot of weather and water. Please let us know your ideas and solutions, if any. If it’s impossible, or if it can work.
Suntan answers:
A wood floor is absolutely gorgeous in the kitchen and it is warm under foot compared to a tile. The wood is easier to stand on for longer periods of time compared to tile. If you drop something on a tile floor it is likely to break compared to wood.
I am a home builder that builds homes in the upper end and we almost exclusively install job-finished floors in all of the kitchens that we build! It looks great and is durable.
A solid hardwood floor with a three coats of polyurethane is very durable. It will over time show wear in high traffic areas and can be marred by high heels and pet activity. The nice thing about wood is that you can refinish it at a reasonable price and you have a floor that looks new again.
You can damp mop it with a solution of white vinegar and water so it is easy to take care of. The wood at the door where water is brought in from outside can be problematic and you should be careful to use area rugs to prevent any water from getting between the door threshold and the edge of the wood. Make sure that this joint is properly caulked with a matching caulk.
Unless you have some huge leak from a dishwasher that goes unattended for a long period of time (which has happened) you should have no problem with wood. I have had a home with wood one with porcelain tile in the kitchen. You can’t beat the warm look that wood affords although you can get some awesome looking tile patterns that look great as well.
If tile and wood is not in your budget, you may want to look at some of the new sheet vinyl floors that are out. They keep improving them and they can also look nice.
If I were to build another home I would use wood in our kitchen. For more information on wood floors and other options for your kitchen, go to my website at: http://www.premier-kitchen-design.com/best-hardwood-floors.html
I hope that helps. The best of luck to you!!
Chris
Donald asks…
If you have absolutely no clue about how to start your own garden, what should be your first reference?
It would be nice to know how to start laying the tiles and pots in my backyard, but I have no idea what of what designs or where to start! Is there a good book or someone I should talk to so that I can start the perfect garden in my own home?
Suntan answers:
A favorite of mine is The Victory Garden Landscape Guide by Thomas Worth. Full of practical information. I am not sure it is still in print but you should be able to find it on Amazon used.
I have used this book as a reference for many years and have worn out 3 or 4 copies.
I also love Elements of Garden Design by Joe Eck. Much less “how to” in it than the first book but
deeply thoughtful look at design.
David asks…
Backyard wedding idea?
I am getting married this June and my vision for the wedding is a backyard wedding ceremony && reception. I am a total flower child (hippie) so I want everyone barefoot. I want fresh picked flowers for the bouquet. I want all bridesmaids and flower girls in sundresses with different color ribbons. I want all the groomsmen and ring barrers in light blue jeans with white button up shirts and the colored tie to match their bridesmaid they’re walkin with. I want “I want to hold your hand” playing while I walk down the aisle. I want people on blankets instead of chairs and tables and benches (except for those who need a chair and table or bench). I am planning on wearing a dress I designed with a hippie head band across my forehead. Reception I have a low budget so i need help with food ideas. My cake I am going to have peace && love signs on with flowers 
Suntan answers:
We had a backyard wedding and we wanted it to have a more casual feel…what we did for food was we had our cakes (we had our wedding cake, and then 4 other kinds of cake people could choose from), we had fruit bouquets (that we actually made ourselves…you just buy fruit [strawberries, grapes, pineapple] and stick everything on skewers, except we cut hearts out of the pineapple with a cookie cutter…) and a lemonade fountain. It was very laid back, but we were really happy with it.
E-mail me if you want to see pictures or have any other backyard wedding questions…might be able to help!!
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