White Painted Wood Floors {a quick fix?}

As I suspected, the wood flooring job that the “specialist” came in to “patch” last Friday still looks like phooey. There are sanding marks, areas where the stain was put on heavier than others, and a distinctive black ring around the perimeter of our entire second floor. The steps were about 3 shades darker than the rest of the wood. They completely obliterated the beautiful bull nose on many of the steps and at the landing. Not to mention, they left areas so rough that I am bound to get splinters should I ever dare touch it. Now that is a fine quality – kidding!The unfortunate thing is that now I am stuck with a botched floor and I will have to refinish them after we’ve moved in. Given how incredibly dusty these guys were the first time around – all of my belongings are going to be laden with construction dust. The one thing I was trying so hard to avoid! I am contemplating telling the wood floor guy to go away. I really, truly think I might just paint them white.Did I mention that there is a fine coat of dust on every surface in the house? The flooring guy led me astray by insisting I have the painters come in first and that he go last. All my fresh paint looks terrible! Always, always paint last – I knew this, and he convinced me otherwise. I am still trying to get through cleaning out the romper room. My right shoulder is so sore from my bike accident that I really can only do little bits and pieces at a time before my shoulder gives out and I need a rest. Since I am moving so slow, I had hoped to have an entire week to prepare the house for move-in. Now I am down to one day. I decided to hire a team of fellas to come in and help me clean the mess that the wood floor guy left behind. It’s the only way I will be ready for the movers to arrive. Why bother to clean if they have to come back? Oh lordy, will we ever be settled?I have been collecting images of painted steps and floors for a while, but didn’t realize I might be painting my own! Here are some images to check out painted floors and stairways: red steps from Dos Family, pink painted steps image via Michael Graydon, black and white steps via pretty organized palace, checkerboard floor via Decorno, an array of flooring options from Wide Open Spaces, High Heeled Foot in the Door gives a tutorial on painting wood floors, white steps with natural wood “runner” and turquoise painted steps featured in this post are from Apartment Therapy.

Posted by Amy Beth Cupp Dragoo / Nesting and The Country House and Uncategorized

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19 Responses to “White Painted Wood Floors {a quick fix?}”

  1. Ludmila {creamylife.com} on 18 Aug 2010 at 10:16 am

    Oh my, Amy, deeply sorry to learn that the floor job didn’t end up as you expected! I can feel your disappointment and all I hope is that everything is done asap, so you can finally relax and forget about flooring guys and paint and everything! xoxo

  2. monika on 18 Aug 2010 at 10:35 am

    The floors are going to be just great , no matter what you do do not tauch this rusty , paint peeled old euro-radiator It’s a GEM

  3. Will on 18 Aug 2010 at 11:08 am

    I say: hire a new flooring guy. The current one sounds more hastle than good.

  4. Tina Steele Lindsey on 18 Aug 2010 at 11:10 am

    Amy, I am so sorry. I feel your pain, too! My father use to use the word phooey, too, and he also said, “It is what it is,” which is what I say when things turn out less than or worse than I hoped. Sending warm thoughts and good wishes your way.

  5. The Hip Hostess on 18 Aug 2010 at 11:18 am

    Sorry to hear about your flooring debacle, beyond frustrating I’m sure. I so sympathize with the dust.Nothing worse, I swear. It’s on everything, places you didn’t even know you had.You are right on about making painting the last step, and not the first. The light at the end of this tunnel is going to be the charming cozy country house you’ve been long for. So happy for you Amy.

  6. ABCDDesigns on 18 Aug 2010 at 11:19 am

    Hey Monika, that is not my house or radiator! I linked to Apartment Therapy…

    Tina – I am full of Mid-Western ‘naughty’ words – I don’t swear a lot, so it is amazing what I am able to come up with! Holy smokes! Holy Toledo! Fudge. Crapfaces… just to name a few. LOL!

    Will – good point. I have a man who has had an intimate relation to the house/floors coming over at 1pm. He is the one who gave me the number for this guy. Fingers crossed, he has power to put pressure on them to get this job done right?

    Thanks you guys for chiming in!
    xoABCD

  7. Jenny on 18 Aug 2010 at 11:25 am

    Oh man, I’m so sorry – nothing worse than shoddy workmanship! You are correct about the floor dust – we had it around forever, and it’s so hard to get rid of and gets everywhere on everything. I really hope you can find a solution to the problem. Nothing like a deadline ;o) Good luck!

  8. Belly on 18 Aug 2010 at 1:43 pm

    Amy- I hope everything with the previous owner goes right and then you can hire a new, better floorist (Ha! I crack myself up) or make this one o a better job…
    The painted floors look amazing, and I admire you for still having the inspiration to think up ideas at this stage. Good luck, and lotsa hugs!

  9. sandy@oohlafroufrou on 18 Aug 2010 at 1:54 pm

    Gosh, Amy, I’m sooo sorry about your floors. Things like that are SO VERY DISAPPOINTING AND FRUSTRATING when they happen. And to have it happen when you’re not 100% physically just adds to the whole drama in a bad way. But I am just aghast at how lovely everything LOOKS in the photos. You do beautiful work, girlfriend. Don’t be sad. Really. Someday it will be an interesting story to tell and you will have a FABULOUS looking floor, I’m sure. How can the end result be anything different? … it’s YOU! In the meantime … eat chocolate ;) xoxo and an extra xoxo because of the floors

  10. Cynthia on 18 Aug 2010 at 1:59 pm

    Oh Amy – so sorry this is happening, especially when you are not 100%! I had a similar experience building my first house. Three coats of poly on the floors, but oops! They did not clean the floors before sealing! Such a mess to fix.
    This too shall pass.

  11. Catherine on 18 Aug 2010 at 2:01 pm

    Amy,
    So sorry to hear about the flooring debacle and your hurt shoulder/collarbone.
    I DO love the white painted stairs with the turquoise blue runner – divine!
    Whatever you choose I know it will be just gorgeous.
    And a year from now (ok maybe two years), you and Mr. D will be drinking a glass of wine in your backyard, watching the stars and laughing about this. Really…
    Catherine

  12. trish on 18 Aug 2010 at 2:25 pm

    huge case of “a lot on my shoulders” sweet one. the river is running fast and letting go of the oars for a few hours sounds like it might be the answer. Buy some tiger balm for that shoulder. it stinks but works. i have the same shoulder issue. constantly healing it. busy girls have heavy shoulders. access ways lighten the load:) ox huge hugs for you here. ox t
    it will be fine in the end.

  13. ABC Dragoo on 18 Aug 2010 at 2:34 pm

    Oh you guys ~ you’re too kind ~ all your comments and hugs!

    I have the adorable perfectionist painters coming over this afternoon to help me paint it…
    white, white, W H I T E! They’re going to stop in once they’ve finished a different job.

    Trish – you are so right about the heavy load on my shoulders – doesn’t make it any better when I have a sore one! ;)

    Catherine — two years from now?!?! Ugh.

    Sandy, I should be clear, none of those photos are mine.

    Jenny, Debbie… any ideas on how to get dust off the walls without leaving rag marks?
    @Jbint suggested swiffers…

  14. Jenny on 18 Aug 2010 at 2:41 pm

    Yeah, swiffer dusters are what I used. Sometimes a Mr. Clean magic eraser, but it’s kind of like a rag, so you do have to deal with marks and some drips, so wipe, wipe, wipe. Good luck! Can’t wait to see the white floors!!!

  15. Lindsey on 18 Aug 2010 at 2:43 pm

    Your place is so beautiful, I wish I had the money to fly you to Paris and redecorate ours for us!! Can’t wait to see the rest!

  16. ABCDDesigns on 18 Aug 2010 at 2:50 pm

    Thanks Lindsey! You’re too sweet. :)

    I am afraid gave people the impression somehow that these photos are mine – they are not.

    Maybe however you are speaking about the images of my old place? I am not sure.
    Regardless, any time you like I will be more than pleased to visit paris and help you out! ;)

  17. priscilla on 18 Aug 2010 at 6:14 pm

    I am so sorry for your hassle. Listen, it will be fine in the end, you will get rid of the dust, and you’ll have a beautiful house. You will.
    Now, on the subject of the floor guys… if they coulda done a good job the first time, they woulda. Get rid of them, and get someone else to do it right. Stop throwing good money after bad (whatever that means.)
    You know what to do…

  18. nkp on 19 Aug 2010 at 11:17 am

    Oh, I am so sorry about the setbacks, both house-wise and health-wise. Hopefully all will be rainbows and sunshine soon. Keeping my fingers crossed for you. But I have no doubt that with your ample talents, this gorgeous new-old home will be everything you imagine and so much more. I have been following along with your posts, albeit silently, and I love living vicariously. Best of luck!

  19. Erin on 24 Aug 2010 at 12:09 am

    we are in the hardwood floor debate right now – light, dark, white, glossy, bamboo, cork…I’m confident yours will turn out beautifully.

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