The quest for the perfect flooring can be a journey of discovery, not just for your home, but for your life’s next chapter. My own adventure recently began at a prominent new flooring destination in the Philadelphia area, the expansive Floor & Decor store. Initially, my mission was straightforward: to find suitable wood flooring for the entire second level of my house.
For over two decades, the rooms and hallway upstairs have been covered in wall-to-wall carpeting, now showing its age at 22 years old. Downstairs, our home boasts classic hardwood, and the desire to extend that timeless elegance and cohesive aesthetic throughout the upstairs has grown increasingly strong. The uniformity of beautiful wood floors creates a seamless flow, enhancing the perceived space and overall sophistication of a home.
My initial target was to find a medium oak, specifically the shade known as Gunstock, to match our existing downstairs flooring. This particular hue offers a warm, inviting feel that complements a variety of decor styles. However, while exploring the options, I also found myself drawn to a slightly darker alternative: Autumn Oak Solid Hardwood. Its rich tone and availability in wider planks evoked images of the stylish, comfortable interiors seen in popular culture, like the timeless beach house featured in “Grace and Frankie” on Netflix. Wide plank flooring, with its fewer seams and expansive appearance, has a remarkable ability to make rooms feel larger and more luxurious, making it a perennial favorite in interior design.
Little did I know, this seemingly simple flooring project was about to take a dramatic turn. Life often has a way of redirecting our plans, and in our case, the change was nothing short of drastic.
For those who have followed my blog, you’ll recall that my husband, Ed, lost his corporate job six years ago. This setback, however, became a catalyst for new opportunities. He successfully launched a consulting business and now dedicates time as a mentor, guiding students at the University of Pennsylvania in their entrepreneurial ventures. This work led to the creation of his second online platform, TheBlindGuide, a vital resource focused on enhancing the quality of life and employability for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Like me, Ed thrives in the dynamic world of online work, granting us a significant degree of location independence.
The turning point arrived shortly after our house full of guests departed following the Fourth of July weekend. As the quiet settled in, Ed and I found ourselves sharing a profound, unspoken sentiment: it was time for a change of scenery. We both felt a strong pull to move, to embrace a new chapter in a different home and a different environment.
The long-held dream of living by the water resurfaced with renewed intensity. We looked at each other and asked, “What are we truly waiting for?” The timing felt perfect. Our daughters are grown, pursuing their own lives in different states, hours away. Tragically, we recently said goodbye to our beloved pets, Mittens the cat and Schnitzel the dog. Moreover, both of our parents, who lived nearby and required our support for many years, have also passed away in recent years. These significant life transitions, coupled with the realization that we no longer needed the generous space of our current home, created an undeniable convergence of circumstances. It was the ideal moment to transform our long-cherished dream into a tangible plan.
While we are in no hurry, understanding that this significant move could take anywhere from three months to three years, we have officially commenced the process. This shift in our life’s trajectory has brought me back to the exciting task of selecting flooring, but now with an entirely new perspective.
The value of wood flooring in enhancing a home’s aesthetic appeal and boosting its resale value is well-documented. For this reason, I am still seriously considering installing beautiful hardwood on the second floor of our current house before selling it. Hardwood floors are consistently ranked as a top feature desired by homebuyers, offering an excellent return on investment. However, my thoughts have also enthusiastically expanded to a far more thrilling prospect:
I am now envisioning the ideal wood flooring for our future waterfront home. After living with the durability and timeless beauty of hardwood floors for 22 years, I have developed a profound appreciation not only for their elegant appearance but also for their incredible ease of maintenance. The ability to quickly clean up spills, combat allergens, and refresh the look with simple care routines makes hardwood a practical and luxurious choice for any busy homeowner.
This past week has been consumed by a delightful new obsession: poring over real estate listings for waterfront properties across the southeastern United States. My search has spanned homes nestled along picturesque rivers and tranquil lakes, fueling countless hours of “house dreaming.” The allure of waking up to serene water views and enjoying a lifestyle connected to nature is incredibly strong.
House and Home
Of course, our budget realistically prevents us from acquiring an opulent oceanfront estate or a sprawling, custom-built lake house like those often featured in magazines. Instead, our dream is to find a charming, perhaps smaller, home situated along a scenic river or a peaceful lake. And while the starting point may be modest, rest assured, I will apply every ounce of my decorating prowess to transform it into a stunning retreat, inspired by the grander visions I admire. Embracing a “fixer-upper” is not just a budgetary necessity for us; it’s an exciting opportunity. It promises an abundance of compelling content for this blog, allowing me to document every step of the renovation journey, from initial demolition to the final decorative touches. Many of the homes I’ve encountered in my search are ripe for transformation, and as I browse through listings, my mind instantly begins re-imagining each interior. My initial, almost instinctive, impulse for any potential new home is to paint every wall a fresh, crisp white and to completely replace all existing flooring with the timeless elegance of hardwood. These two foundational changes alone have the power to dramatically elevate the appearance and appeal of virtually any property I’ve seen.
Just yesterday, I made another trip to Floor & Decor. While the immediate purpose was to gather supplies for a mudroom makeover project at our current home, I seized the opportunity to broaden my exploration of wood flooring options, specifically with our future waterfront sanctuary in mind. This time, I allowed myself to wander, soaking in the vast array of colors, textures, and wood types available.
On this second visit, I truly took my time, allowing myself to be immersed in the sheer scale and variety of the store. I was genuinely wowed by the extensive selection, competitive pricing, and the impressive quantities of every type of flooring imaginable. This mega-store is truly immense, easily spanning between 60,000 to 80,000 square feet, and it took me well over an hour just to navigate through all the aisles. What truly sets Floor & Decor apart is their commitment to keeping thousands of products in stock, allowing customers to take home their chosen items on the same day. Their inventory covers a comprehensive range of home improvement essentials: from a vast collection of tiles and various types of wood flooring to durable laminate and versatile vinyl plank options. Beyond flooring, they also stock countertops, including elegant butcher block and granite, as well as bathroom sinks, and all the necessary installation supplies for these surfaces. It truly is a one-stop shop for major home renovations.
I returned home with an armful of exciting wood flooring samples. One in particular immediately captured my heart: Montpellier Oak. Its light, airy tone and subtle grain pattern speak to the aesthetic I envision for our new home – one that is very open, bright, and casually elegant. This flooring would be absolutely perfect, especially when considering its striking contrast to the darker Gunstock oak currently in our home, highlighting the dramatic shift in my design preferences for our future space.
Elements of Style
Another captivating option was Driftwood Lyptus. This engineered hardwood strikingly resembles actual dark driftwood, with its rich, deep tones and beautifully textured surface. I am particularly fond of hand-scraped wood, where each plank exhibits a unique, artisanal pattern, adding depth and character that feels both rustic and refined.
Brooke Wagner Designs
I also discovered a liking for the more refined, dark wide planks of Coastal Maple. This style exudes an elegant, slightly upscale appeal, yet maintains a versatile charm that could still feel wonderfully casual in the right setting. The beauty of these wide plank options is how they can transform a room, giving it a grander, more expansive feel. The options are truly endless, offering a beautiful blend of aesthetics and affordability, and my decorator’s mind is now brimming with fresh ideas for our future home. The only missing piece of the puzzle is the house itself, but the vision is becoming clearer with every sample I bring home!
I promise to keep you updated on every step of our journey toward moving. Currently, I’m viewing every corner of our existing home through a stager’s discerning eye, meticulously preparing it for sale, including the ongoing mudroom transformation. Our next exciting step is a road trip, planned for the very near future, to actively begin our new home search in person. The anticipation is immense, as we hope to uncover hidden gems along the rivers and lakes of the southeastern states.
If you happen to know of any captivating riverfront or lakefront homes for sale in the southeastern states, particularly fixer-uppers or those with great potential, please don’t hesitate to share them with me. Your insights could be invaluable!
For real-time updates and an insider’s look into our waterfront bargain hunt, be sure to follow me on Instagram. I’ll be sharing all the exciting discoveries and challenges as we navigate this thrilling new chapter.
This post is sponsored by Floor & Decor. I extend my sincere gratitude for supporting the generous sponsors who make “In My Own Style” possible. Please be assured that all content and opinions expressed here are entirely my own, reflecting my genuine experiences and perspectives.