A Whole Floor of a Difference

When we moved into the house at 1509 Long Cove Ct., we knew right away that the existing carpet would have to go. It was the typical slightly gray, slightly white, slightly beige color popular with home builders. And, the wear and tear of previous owners over the years really showed.

We lived with this carpet for nearly two years. There was no rush to replace it right away. And, we wanted to be sure that, when we finally did replace it, the new floor would be worth the time and effort. As we debated over what sort of material would be best suited for the home, we also determined how each room's replacement floor would be handled. Should we put the same floor throughout the house, or make the living room different from the bedrooms?

Ultimately, we decided that the living room was our most lived-in room in the house. And, therefore, it needed a more robust and durable floor than the bedrooms. Lowes was having a very nice sale on laminate flooring that week. And, it so happened that it was very nice laminate flooring. So, we took advantage of this opportunity to start our floor-replacement project.

With the help and tools of family members in the construction business, we tore out the living room carpet, cleaned the floor boards, cut the laminates, and laid down the new floor in less than two days. It was a chore. But, it was worth it! The difference in the room's feel, appeal, and charm is so dramatic relative to the carpet we'd inherited! And, we didn't miss that carpet for a second.

After seeing how nice the living room looked with new laminates, we were ready to take on the bedrooms. Again, the difference in feel was surprising. The color we chose for the new carpet worked so much better with the wall colors, making the rooms cozier and more interesting. It was like a new house! It didn't hurt, too, that the new carpet was, well, new.