What to do...real hardwood floors or laminate?

Currently our home is about 35% wall-to-wall carpet. The carpet is at least, fairly new, but it's just not for me.  In my mind the only option is hardwood flooring. However nice hardwood floors are not cheap, especially considering the square footage we need for our home.

When you buy flooring for a home there is always the tough decision of either spending a lot of money for a great look or saving your pennies and going for a cheaper option that doesn't fully achieve the stunning result you want.

These days, more and more people are turning to laminate, but I've only ever seen cheap laminate that sounds like you're walking on thin plastic. I'm wondering if upscale laminate might be a budget friendly option that doesn't sacrifice looks or other qualities of real wood....

Here are some of the examples I found:

via Houzz.com

Along with cheaper flooring costs, laminate also costs less to install than hardwood. That's two ways to save if you are on a budget...

I seriously can't believe some of these are laminate flooring.  The laminate flooring I've seen never has the groove between planks, which is what always makes it look so fake to me.  Below are actual laminate planks.

via Houzz

I've also read that if you have pets or children, some laminates are actually more durable than some hardwoods when it comes to holding up to wear and tear.

With us having a new puppy in the house, easy to clean floors is a MUST.

via Houzz.com

If cleanliness is something you love, laminate definitely wins the spot on that one. Sounds like it's really easy to clean and keep clean!

You all know how much I love a bright bedroom and this light bedroom laminate flooring looks just as nice as real wood. Once the puppy is potty trained I can add a nice throw rug too...

via Houzz.com

Luckily, with  laminate floors you get just as many options. There are so many different styles of laminate flooring, it isn't going to be hard to find one that fits your style perfectly.

Whether you like a simple sleek finish or one with great texture and color, laminate is a viable consideration if price is a big issue.

via Houzz

This post is in partnership with carpetright.co.uk

Our first home!

I am so excited today, we decided to buy the house in Gaithersburg, MD.

We weighed pros and cons and did some back and forth and decided to take the leap! As soon as I agreed I knew we'd made the right decision. I've easily seen over 15 homes in the area, and this one just had a feeling right away - only the first house I saw and this one could I ever see myself living in. It has some quirks and character, but nothing we can't work with. Our settlement is late May.

 As you can imagine I already have a smorgasbord of ideas for the home. Here are the listing photos:

A summer shot of the front of the house

 Unfortunately the adorable German Shepherd puppy doesn't come with the home... Behind the wall with the TV is the kitchen, which we plan to open up and turn into a breakfast bar...

 Master bedroom.  We also plan on having hardwood throughout - my allergies can't handle carpet.

 Guest bedroom

 Another bedroom, which will be my office

 One of the two full baths...

The backyard is what is really special to us.  It by far and away is the largest and the mature trees give it a secluded feeling.  It needs a little love, but we're excited to get started!

It even has an outdoor fireplace!


I've already started my wishlist:

I'd love to have a settee or something like this in the bedroom,  since it's pretty spacious compared to what we're used to.

We're going to need some additional rugs now that we have more than two rooms

The lighting throughout the house is not our style, so we're going to be replacing it all

4 items above via Joss and Main

 I would like something similar for the diningroom, but perhaps a little crisper than this.

Love the end table.
2 items above via One Kings Lane

Hopefully a real bed! I've been using one of those metal frames with the wheels ever since I left my parents! via Rue La La

Some barstools for the breakfast bar via HauteLook

Mixing white and wood

Happy Friday everyone! I've gathered up some images of spaces that marry two of my favorite interior elements: white, and wood. I personally don't think there's anything more classic, crisp, and "home."

Those floors are gorgeous!

The shelves are a great use of an otherwise hard-to-use wall adjoining a gabled ceiling.

Do you like white and wood?

1.-2. Rue Mag 3.-5. Sweet Home Style

Gorgeous farmhouse modern in Chicago

This home is a great example of how one can do a modern interior and still keep it warm. All of the lovely, dark hardwoods keep it cozy, but the hard edges and careful editing keep it very zen.

What do you think?

Amazing window!


Love their entryway

A farmhouse table mixed with modern chairs keeps both rustic and modernity in check.

I'm a big fan of large mirrors leaning against the wall. It's luxurious but not stuffy.



via Rue Magazine

Amazing inspiration from my favorite blogs

It was other blogs that got me started blogging, so I try to set aside some time every week to peruse three blogs from my blogroll and share my findings with you. Enjoy!

The images below are from the always inspiring Herman Miller "Lifework" blog. Corporate and company blogs can often be a total snorefest, but Lifework is sensational. It really appeals to me because I am a freelance web designer and work from home, and the blog consistently features inspiring home offices from other designers. Super inspiring.

Check it out - Lifework.





The images below are from the Michelle Rago Weddings blog.

Love this wedding inspiration board. Looks like a glam Victorian theme

And this dress? I don't have anywhere to wear it but oh how I'd love it. Simple but not boring. (It's a Badgley Mischka if you're wondering)

Michelle found this amazing artist who she featured on her blog - Jim Denevan makes temporary drawings on sand, earth and ice that are eventually erased by waves and weather.

Beautiful no? See more at Michelle Rago.

And last, but definitely not least, one of my first blog friends - Linda, and her wonderful blog Lime in the Coconut.

Her gorgeous tropical home - looks so effortlessly beautiful.

Love the floors of this kitchen - love the whole thing really...

A REALLY gorgeous house tour - a mix of haute and rustic

This is American designer James Huniford's Hamptons retreat. I love it-'nough said.




This is a rare example of a stark room that still manages to be warm


Love the clipboards as a way to display art

This dining room is simply dreamy - the bench...the table...the art



What do you think?


via Elle Decor