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Kitchen Progress — Painted Striped Hardwood Floor

Last Updated on May 27, 2014 by Kristi Linauer

I finished painting the stripes on my new hardwood floor in the kitchen, and then put one coat of sealer on it.  It still needs two more coats (possibly three), but I wanted to go ahead and share the results with you.

So, here’s my new striped painted kitchen floor.

painted striped hardwood floor 8

Now I’ll back up and start at the beginning, because this was one of those projects where I changed my mind on a daily (hourly?) basis until I finally arrived at the finished result.

My original plan for this room was to sand down and paint the original wood floor that was here.  But after an entire day of sanding, I realized that maybe keeping this old floor wasn’t the best decision.  It was full of gaps, holes, and stains that I just couldn’t sand out.  (Those dark lines aren’t shadows.  They’re some sort of stains that wouldn’t come out of the wood.)

original wood floor 6

So last weekend, I installed new red oak hardwood floors in the kitchen.  I chose this particular flooring because it’s a perfect match to the original hardwood flooring in the rest of the house (type of wood, thickness, width — everything!).

I really had my heart set on a striped painted floor, but at the same time, I was having a very hard time with the thought of painting the new gorgeous wood floor.

hardwood flooring installation 1

So I came up with a plan to mix painted stripes with natural wood stripes.  That would give me the stripes I wanted, and also allow quite a bit of the natural wood to show.  I used the two colors that I had originally planned (Behr Oyster for the wide stripes, and Behr Polar Bear for the narrow stripes).

painted striped hardwood floor 1

I used interior flat paint for both of those colors.  I didn’t prime first, and I only did one coat of paint because I wanted it to kind of soak into the wood and show the wood grain, more like an opaque stain, rather than sitting on top of the wood and covering it completely like paint.

Then I decided that I wanted to add some green to the floor, so I tested out two different green stripes.  The first was right down the middle of the smaller white stripes.

painted striped hardwood floor 2

Yuck.  That looked awful.  So then I tested out using the green to outline the wider Oyster stripes.

painted striped hardwood floor 3

I liked that much better, so I taped off the edges of all of the Oyster stripes.

painted striped hardwood floor 4

With the green, it looked like this.

painted striped hardwood floor 5

Up until this point, I had planned on using a water based polyurethane for floors in order to keep everything light and bright, but I couldn’t get past the fact that I would have the very same floor in the music room and the kitchen (both red oak), and yet they would look so completely different, with the music room (and the rest of the house) being a really warm brown like this…

…and the kitchen being a much brighter natural wood color.  That just didn’t seem right to me.

So in the end, I decided to use Waterlox on the kitchen floor as well.  That would give the wood a seamless look, with the natural wood “stripes” blending with the wood in the rest of the house, and it would also warm up and tone down the painted stripes.

You can see here the difference the Waterlox made…

painted striped hardwood floor 7

And that’s just the first coat.  I still have two more to go, so it’ll darken the wood just a bit more so that it’ll look just like the rest of the house.

painted striped hardwood floor 8

I’m very pleased with how it turned out!  I really like how the Waterlox made the stripes look more aged and imperfect rather than bright, shiny and new.

*Note:  Waterlox really isn’t recommended for use over latex paint.  But since I used just one coat of flat paint without primer, and the paint soaked into the wood rather than sitting on top, I decided to take a chance.  But just note, if you’re a Waterlox user, using it over latex paint isn’t recommended.

Of course, right now, the floor is the only decorative thing in the whole room, so it’s very much front and center and “in your face.”  Once the cabinets and appliances are in, and the room is finished and decorated, the floor will fade more into the background.

Now I know that some of you were horrified that I would paint this floor, right?  Well, hopefully this will make you feel better.  Here’s a floor plan of my house, and all of the gray areas are the areas of my house that have red oak hardwood flooring.

house floor plan showing areas with hardwood floors

And by the time that all is said and done, these are the areas that will have red oak hardwood flooring.

house floor plan showing areas with hardwood floors - future

The only areas that won’t have wood floors are the bathrooms and the laundry/utility room.

And out of all of that, the only room that will have any paint on the floor is the kitchen.  That’s just one little ‘ole room out of many.  🙂

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41 Comments

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  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Krikit
    May 21, 2014 at 8:51 am

    Wonderful! Beautiful! Fantabulous! And a host of other magnificently descriptive words. 🙂

    Luuuuuv it!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Rachel
    May 21, 2014 at 8:55 am

    I like the look of the natural wood and white stripes, but when you added the green and sealed the wood (darkening the tone) it’s too much contrast for me. I’m interested to see how it looks with the cabinets installed!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Phoebe
      May 21, 2014 at 9:10 am

      I agree. And I liked the original, fully-painted floors even better. My way of thinking about things is who cares if it’s new floors or old floors if you can’t enjoy them the way you wanted to?

      Still, as you said, when the room will be full they will be less “in-your-face”. I imagine there will be parts with just a couple of stripes, so them sticking out will be good then. I can’t wait to see the finished result.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi Linauer
      May 21, 2014 at 9:10 am

      I know what you mean. I really loved the low contrast of the unfinished paint and wood, but I just couldn’t get past the fact that the wood was so drastically different than the wood in the rest of the house. Because then it left questions like…What would I do in the breakfast room? Back to the dark wood of the rest of the house, or keep the light natural wood? And how would that blend with the wood that I’ll eventually put in the family room (currently the sunroom). That should be the dark wood, so wouldn’t it look funny to have the breakfast room and kitchen the only two rooms that have the same wood, but yet look so completely different?

      Way too may questions, and way too many complications, so in the end, I decided to just do the same finish in the entire house, with the exception of a few painted stripes. But like I said, I really think that once the cabinets and everything else is added, the floor will fade into the background rather than being so “in your face” like it is now. 🙂

      • Reply To This Comment ↓
        diane
        May 21, 2014 at 12:42 pm

        When you put on two more coats of the Waterloo it will become more subtle. I am looking forward to seeing the walls and cabinets in!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kim
      May 21, 2014 at 9:12 am

      I had the same thought!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Bobbi Jo Thompson
    May 21, 2014 at 8:59 am

    Kristi, this is stunning! You amaze me, wonderful work!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mary Anne Looby
    May 21, 2014 at 8:59 am

    I am certainly not shocked that you would paint a new wood floor. I am a little shocked at the way you did it, as I was expecting white on white. I will be anxious to see the whole look come together with the painted cabinets etc. In the end it is your kitchen and your opinion is the only one that counts. Looking forward to seeing it all finished.

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi Linauer
      May 21, 2014 at 9:04 am

      That’s what I was planning with the old floor when then whole thing needed to be covered just to hide the ugly. 🙂 But I couldn’t bring myself to cover all of the new floor with paint.

      And when the floor is in the breakfast room and finished just like the rest of the house, it’ll look like one seamless floor, but the kitchen will just have the addition of a few stripes.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Billie
    May 21, 2014 at 9:02 am

    Your floor look great. I might be a little weird, but I also love the pattern made with your painters’ tape 🙂

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Kristi Linauer
      May 21, 2014 at 9:05 am

      You’re not weird. I loved that look too, and kept wondering how I could make that pattern on my floor. But after spending two days (and four rolls of tape) taping and painting, I just didn’t have it in me to change the design and do more taping and painting. 🙂

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Lisa B.
    May 21, 2014 at 9:05 am

    I love everything about it!!!! The two colors/thicknesses of stripes, plus the addition of the green stripes and the wood!!! It all works together so well and is so interesting. Plus I like that the warterlox faded things a little to make it look a little older. You should be really proud of your work! Your vision is coming to fruition and once again I am awestruck and truly inspired by you and your abilities!!! Can’t wait to see how the kitchen (and the rest of the house) develops!!!

    Thanks for sharing!!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kim in Houston
    May 21, 2014 at 9:08 am

    I have to be honest and say that the green threw me for a loop. I’m sure once the cabinets are in and the room is decorated, it will pull together nicely. Have you thought about fabrics, area rugs, etc. that you’ll be using to accessorize this room?

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Susan C.
    May 21, 2014 at 9:20 am

    Kristi, I’m one of your biggest fans! Always amazed at what you get done. I just wondered if you could do me a favor sometime: maybe set up a video camera showing you at work and share it! I’ve seen other blogs do this with time-lapsed video. I need to show my husband that yes Kristi does all this herself!! I hear myself saying “well Kristi did it all by herself!” or “sawdust girl did it, so we can too!”. More than once my wonderful but skeptical husband has said, “well, they say they do it all by themselves”! I’m working toward having my own tools and area to work but I do enjoy working with someone so hoping I can get him to see that, with a little research, we can learn to do anything! Sawdust Girl showed a time-lapsed video of her actually building all the built-ins for her master closet. Until he saw that, my husband had a hard time believing she could physically build the things she does. (and her master closet is exactly like mine, so really wanting to build those built-ins!) But you can’t argue with video! Anyway, would just love to see more of you accomplishing all you do anyway. Hope someone is taking pics of you doing these makeovers!

    • Reply To This Comment ↓
      Susan B
      May 21, 2014 at 10:04 am

      Susan are you married to my husband? Mine said the same thing, and would always veto buying the stuff finished. One day I just figured out how to make shelves for a bathroom using a hammer, old miter saw, and nails I found in the garage. Now I have three nail guns, a compressor, nice new mitre saw, and a table saw. Oh and kreg jr. I really want a planer, but hub is drawing the line. My hub and I have now completely redone our basement, laundry room and I am finishing up a bathroom cabinet. There were mistakes and do overs, but it was part of learning and when doing yourself it is less expensive to mess up on something.

      Just show him something completed and he will come on board.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Lisa
    May 21, 2014 at 9:28 am

    Nice work just not a fan of painting floors but am interested in seeing the whole kitchen finished. You do very nice work you give women a role model for DIY !

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Becky
    May 21, 2014 at 9:42 am

    It looks so great ! I really really love it.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jen
    May 21, 2014 at 10:24 am

    That is not at all what I envisioned for your painted floor and it is really beautiful. I think the kitchen floor will blend nicely with all the matching floors throughout the house. The stripes make it so personal. I can’t wait to see the cabinets in!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Genelle McDaniel
    May 21, 2014 at 10:40 am

    I admire your ambition and am very glad you are pleased with the results. I’m just getting old and am not too fond of the busyness of the floor. In my home, it would have had to stay natural wood. I wouldn’t want any distractions from the beauty of the cabinets.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sue
    May 21, 2014 at 11:20 am

    I think I like what you’ve done. I hope that doesn’t sound negative because it isn’t meant that way. I’m just anxious to see it with the cabinets, lighting etc. It’s kind of ‘in your face’ right now so I need to see the whole picture. The contrasting stripes are striking and I’m sure it’ll be a nice base for the rest of the kitchen. Go Kristi!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mary Beth
    May 21, 2014 at 1:28 pm

    Can you pretty please share with me the site you used to create that floor plan? I can’t seem to find a user friendly one!

    It’s looking good so far.. can’t wait to see it all done!
    MB

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Debbie
    May 21, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    Looks great! Those stripes on your original floor are probably from carpet tape. That’s what my friend’s carpet guy told her and they did not disappear when she worked on her floor.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Janet
    May 21, 2014 at 3:29 pm

    Lo and behold,you have come up with an idea that this old mind could not fathom! I love thinking out of the box,and not having something just like everyone else……..the striped floor is so different and refreshing,and I liked it even better a little darker,and the sort of antiquing of the white paint! The touch of green to tie in with the green cupboards is fabulous! Can’t wait for every post! Do your thing,Kristi!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Allison
    May 21, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    They look stunning! I think you will really appreciate the continuity the wood color provides when you have all of your flooring in. The green on the floor will tie in the green wood cabinets and the white will tie in your wainscoating and other white wood (I think you’re doing white wood on the ceiling with the old floor boards in another room), so it’s just perfect for your whole design concept. Way to go, creative lady!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Colleen F
    May 21, 2014 at 5:16 pm

    I love that striped floor Kristi!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sheri
    May 21, 2014 at 5:37 pm

    You were so smart to replace the old wood floor. I am still caulking cracks and priming my old kitchen floor. I don’t mind that they look old, but the cracks are collecting dust and look awful.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sally A.
    May 21, 2014 at 5:57 pm

    Love it! Love it! Love it! I’m amazed at how straight you got the lines! You are definately a perfectionist. I would not have the taping skills…I’m sure my lines would turn out all wonky.

    Can’t wait to see it with the cabinets! It’s going to look AWESOME!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Martha Gish
    May 21, 2014 at 7:45 pm

    Just gorgeous!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Jan
    May 21, 2014 at 7:59 pm

    I am one of your biggest fans, and you inspire me daily!! I have to say that you do impeccible work. I’m not a fan of the stripes… maybe if they were wider, maybe two or three boards wide for the white and wood tone… BUT… that is my taste and what I’m accustomed to.. You open my eyes to all the possibilities
    with your website, so I am so looking forward to the finished result!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Mitzie
    May 21, 2014 at 8:30 pm

    Your floor looks fabulous!! Some people said, it was in your face!!! Well, I must like in your face! !!!! Ha! I don’t understand why you always do everything by yourself? Are you married? Doesn’t he help! But you obviously do not really need help!!! I am amazed at what all you can do, and how great it always looks!!! I would hire you as my carpenter!!! Love your ideas!! Can’t wait to see what you do from day to day!!!!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Kimberly
    May 21, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    I like the compromise of leaving some of the floor natural wood, while painting the rest in stripes, and I love that you varied the striping pattern up a little. It reminds me somewhat of a Dash and Albert area rug! It’s going to look gorgeous with the cabinets and I can’t wait to see the whole finished kitchen.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    kelly barrows
    May 21, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    I hope this comes together when all is said and done. I feel like it screams bowling alley right now. I don’t quite get what’s going on with the green – interested to see what happens next.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Grace
    May 21, 2014 at 11:55 pm

    Not Feeling Better…….

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Lot
    May 22, 2014 at 12:11 am

    I usually love everything you do, but this? No. I’m sorry but I think it’s just too much stripes and colors.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Pat
    May 22, 2014 at 3:43 am

    I usually am in awe of your choices and ability to pull a room together but I just am not feeling it with these floors. I hope you love it because that is all that matters. You are such an inspiration!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Alexandra
    May 22, 2014 at 6:23 am

    Very neat! I can’t wait to see the finished kitchen.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Sheila F.
    May 22, 2014 at 6:40 am

    I like it very much. I think seeing it in my mind, with the cabinets and appliances in place, I think it will give the appearance of a painted rug. Can’t wait to see more! Lol

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Becky Bormann
    May 22, 2014 at 7:29 am

    I love it! I check every day to see what’s next. You are a true inspiration to all women,keep up all the fun projects can’t wait to see it all together.

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    My (re)Painted Kitchen Floor — Striped Floor Version 2.0
    May 22, 2014 at 8:54 am

    […] got up at 6:30 and began looking through my pictures that I had taken of my project the day before (my painted kitchen floor that I worked on for two days).  I chose a few pictures I wanted to share with you, edited the pictures, and wrote my post.  As […]

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    Elizabeth Sagarminaga
    May 28, 2014 at 4:49 am

    Just came across your blog and love your painted floors. Nice job! Thanks for sharing this idea. Painting floors is a wise idea. It will give your home an attractive and elegant look. Your projects are giving me many ideas I don’t think your guests will ever leave!

  • Reply To This Comment ↓
    FAQ: “How Does Matt Handle Your DIY Projects?”
    July 24, 2014 at 9:55 am

    […] Now that doesn’t mean that he likes everything I do.  He hated the original painted floor in the kitchen. […]