Makely

Let's Make Life Awesome

You are visiting: Home » Decorating/DIY » Decorate Your Home » Brazilian Walnut Hardwood Flooring Installation Before and After

Brazilian Walnut Hardwood Flooring Installation Before and After

by on 1,817 Comments

Have you wanted to add hardwood floors to your home but are scared to take the leap?  Me, too!  I just know my huge dogs would ruin my new floors and then I would cry.  Hardwood floors really do change the look of your home, though.

You aren’t even going to believe the before and after pictures from my friend Fred at One Project Closer.  He recently installed Brazilian Walnut in his home and the results are simply gorgeous.  He put together a guest post for us to show us the amazing transformation.

Take it away, Fred!

Brazilian Walnut Hardwood Flooring Installation Before and After

When we purchased our house 5 years ago, we knew we wanted to convert the first floor to an open floor plan and put hardwood flooring throughout. It took us five (5!) years to get around to completing the project, which had so many dependencies it was hard to start on any one piece without needing to complete the entire project all at once. I’m really excited that we’ve (just about) finished it, and excited that Lindsay is letting us share it here!

Here’s a picture of the original first floor layout of our house when we purchased it. All of those boxes in red… those are the walls that we removed on our own. The green box is a pantry that we had a contractor remove, and the blue box is where we had the same contractor cut a new doorway in a load bearing wall. While we would have been comfortable doing the plumbing work ourselves, we were tight on time… After watching the contractor do the load bearing wall, we felt like we may have been able to do it ourselves, but I’m still glad we had them do it.

Also part of this remodel, we wanted to re-purpose the rooms. We like entertaining and having people for dinner, but the dining room was the smallest room on the floor. So we moved the dining room to the old living room, consolidated the living room and family room into a single room, and added a new office/school room area in the dining room.

So why did it take us 5 years to get started? It’s because every part of this project seemed intrinsically linked to the next step. And we had a few ‘life expenses’ come up, like completing the adoption of our twin boys a few years ago…

Here’s how we saw it…

  • Once the non-load-bearing walls were removed, the flooring would have to follow quickly because the subfloor would be showing where the walls used to be… it would be ugly and it’s a tripping hazard! We wanted to have no longer than 6 months without the flooring done.
  • We wanted to cut a hole between the dining room and living room, which would also leave a bare spot on the subfloor.
  • Since we wanted to use the same flooring throughout the first floor, and we also wanted to revise the kitchen cabinet layout, the old cabinets would need to be removed before the new flooring could be installed. This would require new cabinets.
  • Moving the dining room required a new light to be installed over the dining room table, and we wanted more overhead lighting in the family room… this ideally had to be done when the hole was cut between the family room/dining room, because access was available at that time.
  • We wanted to remove the paneling from the family room and replace it with drywall, which ideally would be done when the hole was cut between the rooms.

Whew…. Basically, in order to remodel the first floor, we had to commit to completely tearing out everything on the first floor, moving it all to the garage, and then tackling the projects one at a time, in order…

Here’s what the rooms looked like when we purchased the home, as we were moving in…

Living Room (original) (now the dining room in the new layout):

Dining Room (original) (now the school room):

Family Room (original) (still the family room):

Kitchen (original) (still the kitchen, but not finished yet):

And here’s the pictures after we tore out all the non-loading bearing walls and painted the rooms a great Ralph Lauren tan color called Parchment, but before we started on the wood flooring. The rooms seemed so open and airy, even before we had put the same flooring surface everywhere.  We did this work back in December of 2009, and then it took another 6 months before we started on the wood flooring in June, 2010.

This first picture is standing in the old dining room (now the school room) and looking all the way across the front of the house to the old living room (now the dining room). I love this picture because it shows how BIG the house felt after we tore down a few walls. It was so dramatic!

And here’s a picture of the family room.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a good “half way” picture on the kitchen… we had done some work to it, but these midway pictures did not include tearing out the cabinets, which we did later.

Then, in June, 2010, we installed Brazilian Walnut throughout the first floor. This was a HUGE job… took us 6 days straight to get it done. We wrote a whole series on how to install hardwood flooring derived from this work, but we are REALLY pleased with the results!

Here’s the front of the house, now looking from the new dining room (where the living room used to be) back into our school room / office (where the old dining room was):

And just to prove this actually IS the same house, here’s the family room… notice we had that door cut between the dining room and family room. You can see that same brick fireplace, but now with the wood it looks like a stunning centerpiece that adds interest to the room.

This is a shot that wouldn’t have made sense before that hole was cut in the loading bearing wall down the center of the house. This is a picture from sitting on a char in the family room looking into the new dining room.

And here’s a picture standing at the front door looking to the left…

Now, I *wish* I had a final picture of the kitchen to show you. Unfortunately, we haven’t gotten that far yet. We set the base cabinets and installed under cabinet lighting. We’re planning to install DuPont’s Zodiaq Countertops… but like most things DIY, this project has just cost more than we expected.  Here’s a sneak peak shot of our new kitchen with the under cabinet lighting all aglow. Hopefully Lindsay will have me back to share the final results in a few months!

So what do you think?

About Lindsay Ballard

Lindsay Ballard is a former college mascot turned political geek turned roller derby playing, DIY fanatic.

Lindsay chronicles her projects, design ideas, and lifestyle tips here at Makely, where she shares tutorials and inspiration. Her DIY designs are bold and graphic, while her spirit is fun and full of color.

Comments

  1. Janell Beals says

    It appears the place grew in the process! Having hardwood flooring and continuous flooring throughout a space does wonders for opening up a floorplan and giving the appearance of spaciousness! Fabulous job!
    Janell

    Reply

  3. Katie says

    Wow, what a great job! Don’t you just love all those weird pony walls and spindle things that were so popular back in the day? 😀

    I noticed you tore out one of the walls on your staircase. I’m hoping to do the same thing, one of these days. Did you not put railing on the freshly torn out side? How does that work with your kids?

    Reply

    • Fred @ One Project Closer says

      Hey Katie… well we PLANNED to put a railing in… but just haven’t gotten to it yet. Our 6 year old boys LOVE it. They just jump off the edge 4 stairs up now. I might be a little concerned with really young kids, but ours do just fine with it.

      We plan to put in Brazilian Walnut banisters in the future.

      Reply

      • Katie says

        Awesome, thanks for the reply. I’m sure my boys would love it too actually. I think I’m now more worried about the Great Dane knocking someone down the stairs. 😀

        You guys did an amazing job!

        Reply

  6. Lorrie says

    We’re in the middle of much the same renovation – tearing walls out, reconfiguring, laying down hardwood. No hardwood is installed yet, but we’re getting closer. I can hardly wait. And I love the look of the reno here – gorgeous wood, gorgeous house.

    Reply

  8. Robyn says

    I love the open space and the continuity of the flooring throughout. I’ll have to share this with my husband. Trying to convince him into wood floors.

    Can’t wait to see the final reveal.

    Reply

    • Fred @ One Project Closer says

      We got a tip from some designers that using the same flooring and wall colors throughout an entire first floor REALLY opens the space up. We’re glad we took the tip. Each room just flows into the next, and you can use other decor to spice up the space. We just hung a beautiful piece of Central American art on the wall…

      Reply

  9. Kathy says

    Stunning results! It looks like a completely different house. I never would have guessed those boxy, outdated rooms could turn into what looks like a brand new home. The wood flooring is amazing.

    Reply

  13. PJ @ Home Decor Accents | Outdoor Garden Decorations says

    I can’t believe the big difference. Great job guys.
    I watched some guys putting hardwood flooring in some rooms of my neighbor’s house and can tell, this is quite a bit of a job to do.
    Now I am seriously thinking about, if maybe we should put hardwood flooring in our home too, when in a few years it will be time to replace the carpet.

    Reply

  14. Debbi says

    Lindsay,

    Wow! The floors made a huge difference! You mentioned your school room. Do you home school? I’m getting ready to home school in January.

    Reply

  16. Carrie says

    Your floors are beautiful! I am also wanting to install brazillian walnut in our house….what brand is your floor and/or where did you get it? Thanks!

    Reply

  757. qnqendpaq says

    You cannot use a credit card to play on a slot machine, but you can make a deposit at online casinos and play online slots. Make a credit card casino deposit, and the money you deposit can then be loaded onto any online slot machine at the casino.  If you plan to make a credit card casino deposit, count on there being a fee. Most casinos charge a fee of around 2.5 percent for credit card deposits. That’s a fee of $2.50 per $100 deposited. Check with your casino for any fees before depositing. PayPal is a fast, efficient, and reliable online payment system, widely accepted by online casinos.One of the key advantages of PayPal is that it enables players to avoid entering sensitive financial information directly online, providing an extra layer of security that’s great for peace of mind.
    https://galvanluxe.com/the-best-aviator-sites-ranked-by-ugandan-users/
    Irritated, Dry Eyes May Be Signs That You Have Digital Eye Strain Digital eye strain, also called computer vision syndrome, is a condition that often affects people who work or play on laptops, tablets, smartphones, e-readers, and other digital devices. The buzz around Return to Player and the emphasis on choosing high RTP slots can sometimes be overhyped. It’s important to remember that RTP is a long-term measure. In the short term, your experience can vary widely — you might win 60% of your bets on a game with a 96% RTP, for example. However, this doesn’t mean you should ignore RTP altogether. The more you play, the more accurately it reflects your expected payback. If you plan to play a more extended session, RTP should factor in your slot selection.  The casino section arranges 300+ multi-vendor slots in categories like featured games, trending now, bonus buy games, newest games, and jackpot games. It offers hot drop games with guaranteed jackpots that drop hourly and daily.

    Reply

  799. ayejexbjh says

    O’yin interfeysi sodda va foydalanuvchi do’stona. O’yin panelida garovlar va multiplikatorni belgilash imkoniyati mavjud. Statistika va g’oliblar haqida ma’lumot olish uchun «grafik» belgisidan foydalaning. Onlayn chat orqali boshqa o’yinchilar bilan muloqot qilishingiz mumkin. Получение двух лицензий способствует широкому распространению продуктов компании — теперь игровые автоматы на реальные деньги доступны во всем мире. Oyunun hər raundu üçün oyunçunun potensial uduşlarını müəyyən edən müəyyən bir çarpan var. Göstərici mərc edilən anda dayanarsa, oyunçu çarpana uyğun olaraq müvafiq qalibiyyət alır. Oyunda həmçinin qalib olmaq şansını artıra biləcək müxtəlif bonus xüsusiyyətləri ola bilər.
    https://labdynamics.co.uk/glory-casino-aviator-r%c9%99qibl%c9%99rl%c9%99-muqayis%c9%99li-t%c9%99hlil/
    Aposte em Probabilidades Pequenas e Grandes: Apostar em chances pequenas significa que você tem uma maior probabilidade de ganhar, mas um prêmio menor. Apostar em chances grandes significa que você tem uma menor probabilidade de ganhar, mas um prêmio maior. Ambas as estratégias têm seus méritos e podem ser usadas dependendo do seu apetite por risco. Como Jogar o Jogo Aviator: A decisão foi tomada após duas inspeções realizadas por inspectores da CAF nos dias 17 e 28 de Fevereiro de 2025, nas quais foram identificadas várias deficiências que impedem a aprovação do estádio. Entre os principais problemas destacam-se o estado do piso e da relva, além de outras anomalias que não atendem aos padrões exigidos.

    Reply

  837. olmiqhkhs says

    Card game enthusiasts, as well as slot machine lovers, will find Dragon Tiger Slots – Up Down the perfect blend of their favorite games. With a plethora of levels and strategic moves, this app offers an unlimited array of tactics and exhilarating surprises. Bonus Upto ₹101 100K+ | Bonus ₹51 There are so many online games played by card lovers in Pakistan. Among the top trending games, we present you the best online game S9 Game APK which is very popular these days. There are multiple benefits of this game like you can play your favorite cards from your comfort zone and make money. By logging in to the game, you can earn gold coins that can be used to achieve your goals. It offers various daily activities, such as welfare and tasks, that can help players accumulate gold coins. It’s a very rewarding game even if you don’t play as much, so long as you regularly log in and remember to receive your bonuses.
    https://majesticlimos.netspace.dev/2025/06/03/bonus-activation-tips-for-jetx-players-in-kenya/
    This rating reflects the position of a slot based on its RTP (Return to Player) compared to other games on the platform. The higher the RTP, the more of the players’ bets can theoretically be returned over the long term. In summary, JetX casinos offer a lot of interesting features and elements beyond just the ability to play JetX online. For instance, you can enjoy instant deposits and withdrawals via cryptocurrency, access games from hundreds of different gaming providers, play live casino games, explore sports betting, and play on the go via a mobile web browser. JetX crash game is available at so many online casinos, but if you want to play it for free, you can also use our free demo mode to see what it is all about. No matter which one you choose, make sure to always play with trustworthy brands that don’t make false promises or have unfavorable payment policies.

    Reply

  891. mpvrxnyyp says

    O processo de criação de marcas-branding-decorre do trabalho de uma equipa de especialistas com perfis disciplinares diferenciados. Comunicação, marketing, naming eo design são alguns dos campos que influenciam a construção da identidade da marca. … A aposta máxima é de $100, e você pode fazer 2 dessas apostas em uma rodada! Isto significa que você pode ganhar cerca de um milhão de dólares. Mas este é um grande risco, portanto, tome sua decisão com responsabilidade. O acesso à aplicação móvel 1Win é um processo simples, garantindo que pode embarcar na sua jornada Royal Minas com o mínimo de confusão. Para os utilizadores de Android, a aplicação pode ser descarregada diretamente do site 1Win ou de fontes de terceiros de confiança, enquanto os utilizadores de iOS podem encontrá-la na App Store. Uma vez descarregada, o processo de instalação é rápido e intuitivo, exigindo apenas alguns toques para ser concluído.
    https://helta.eus/review-completo-do-jogo-penalty-shoot-out-da-evoplay-estrategias-e-dicas-para-jogadores-brasileiros/
    You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence’s blocking tools, or visit wordfence to learn more about Wordfence. Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites. The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site. Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites. The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site. Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites. The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site. If you think you have been blocked in error, contact the owner of this site for assistance. Your access to this service has been limited. (HTTP response code 503) You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence’s blocking tools, or visit wordfence to learn more about Wordfence.

    Reply

  972. yoifezjge says

    ContentMostbet Vegas Is 1 Of The Best Slot-centric Sociable Internet CasinosTop Mostbet … Wskaźnik RTP w Aviator gra to 97%. Oznacza to, że na każde 100 USD (około 400 PLN) średnio wraca 97 USD (388 PLN). To stawia grę mocno ponad konkurencją. Jednocześnie zmienność jest wysoka – raz zgarniesz x50, a raz crash na x1,1. Takie fluktuacje oznaczają duże potencjalne wygrane, ale też duże straty. Innymi słowy stabilne zyski nie będa domeną Aviator, ale adrenalina i potencjalne wygrane na mnożnikach x50 wynagradzają ryzyko. Aviator Predictor to narzędzie, które obiecuje przewidzieć rezultat gry Aviator, pomagając graczom decydować, kiedy wypłacić wygraną. Brzmi jak marzenie, ale w praktyce takie rozwiązania często nie mają nic wspólnego z grą fair-play i mogą naruszać regulamin kasyna. Rzekomo oprogramowanie ma działać w następujący sposób:
    https://social.instinxtreme.com/read-blog/43801
    Aviator nie jest przeciętną grą slotową online; to pełna adrenaliny podróż, która stawia cię w fotelu pilota. Od momentu powstania w lutym 2019 r. Aviator szturmem podbił świat gier online, oferując wciągające wrażenia z zakładami w czasie rzeczywistym i potencjałem znacznych zwrotów. Nie ma jeszcze żadnych recenzji ani ocen! Aby napisać pierwszą Nie trzeba wykonywać żadnych dodatkowych czynności, ikona pojawi się na Twoim wyświetlaczu. W systemie Google android użytkownik otrzyma powiadomienie o wydaniu nowej wersji i może natychmiast zdecydować się na jej automatyczną instalację. W systemie iOS program jest aktualizowany za pośrednictwem App Store, gdy smartfon jest naładowany. Stali klienci kasyna mają dostęp perform kumulacyjnego programu lojalnościowego i indywidualnych ofert bonusowych. Konkurencja na współczesnym rynku hazardowym wymusza na firmach” “opracowywanie systemu bonusów my partner and i promocji. Deweloperzy są zajęci aktualizowaniem aplikacji, aby jeszcze bardziej zoptymalizować wydajność.

    Reply

  1076. oowaluavl says

    Brak produktów w koszyku. Gry hazardowe na pieniądze w internecie są zabronione, jest to powszechnie akceptowana metoda płatności. Dzięki nim można cieszyć się ulubionymi grami kasynowymi w dowolnym miejscu i czasie, Obsługa klienta jest taka sama. Gra Aviator zapewnia ekscytującą mieszankę ryzyka i nagrody, oferując graczom unikalny zwrot w tradycyjnych grach online. Dzięki łatwemu procesowi pobierania i instalacji gry Spribe Av iator, a także szerokiej kompatybilności z różnymi urządzeniami, Aviator zaprasza graczy ze wszystkich środowisk do zanurzenia się w jego dynamicznym świecie. Pamiętaj, aby grać odpowiedzialnie, mądrze zarządzając zakładami, aby zmaksymalizować zarówno przyjemność, jak i potencjalne zyski. Zapisz się do naszego newslettera, aby otrzymywać powiadomienia o wyprzedażach i nowych produktach. Dodaj tutaj dowolny tekst lub go usuń
    https://seomotionz.com/member.php?action=profile&uid=71109
    Warto dodać, że gra oferuje również dwie opcje automatyczne, a mianowicie auto bet i auto cash out. Jeśli cenisz sobie swój czas i nie chcesz poświęcać go zbyt dużo na grę w kasynie online, gra Aviator to idealne rozwiązanie dla Ciebie. Koniecznie sprawdź funkcjonalność tej gierki! As a natural problem-solver, Jim decided to run with his concept. He established GPSmyCity in 2008 making use of the aim of producing an iPhone app that offered engaging walking trips without calling for cellular or websites. The software officially established for apple’s ios this season. “It turned your new iphone into an individual trip guide,” stated Jim, whom also functions as the business’s Chief Executive Officer. Upcoming, the application was created on Android features had more than 12 million downloads since the launch.

    Reply

  1685. Shella says

    best new is beau rivage casino in biloxi open (Shella) sites usa, dollar 5 deposit online
    casino united states and traditional native united statesn gambling games, or online casino in canada 2021

    Reply

  1695. Sherman says

    canadian casino no deposit bonus codes 2021, how much does united statesn roulette card game, Sherman, pay and play free usa bingo, or 100 australia casino free keep online spin winnings

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *