FLOOR WAR

June 2008.

(robins before/robins after)

Floors meant we were closer to the end than the beginning. Floors meant we could take off our shoes and hide the subfloor that haunted us with memories of The Battle of the Tarps and mother nature's evil side. Neither of us realized these floors would cause a different war.

(Country Honey Ash installed/before)

Northern Michigan Hardwoods, Inc. pulled up their truck and delivered Country Honey Ash, pre-finished hardwood flooring for the entire cabin. I should have known by the name. I was enticed by the great price and swayed by the warehouse lighting. Beautiful product, super price, wrong color. I couldn't live with it. The hard part was telling D. He didn't take it well. But...

(we ripped it out)

...I did sway him.
What was it D said?
"...either I pay for it now or hear it the rest of my life."
Look at how happy he was reloading it all back into the truck and driving it back to the warehouse...

(Old Mission Maple installed/after)

This is the fabulous new Old Mission Maple which (D's first choice - ouch). Better, huh? Everything worked out. Ed at NMH was great and exchanged what we hadn't laid down and our mason took the stuff we carefully ripped up in exchange for future stone labor. Best of all our marriage lasted through it all. I think we're in it for the long haul!

Our cabinet guy, Dave - a true talent in the north. It was so long ago when we approached him about our cabin kitchen he probably thought we'd fallen off the face of the earth before we finally resurfaced, ready to go. He's done a brilliant job with our cabinets and came up with so many cool ideas that we would have never thought of. Did I mention his attention to details? He really cares about his work and it shows. We've really enjoyed getting to know him and his family. Oh - and he was so nice about taking out the cabinets he installed to allow us to change the flooring. He took it better than D did. Thank you Dave!!

(Check out the scribing detail around the logs)

(Custom chainsawed detailing by D)

We've also been very fortunate to work Eric and the rest of the guys at Northwood Paint and Supply in Traverse City. They've taken care of all of our stain and paint needs and were eager to give us help and advice. It was always a pleasant trip to town visiting the guys at Northwood. The photos don't do the paint any justice...

(Mudroom: French Linen)

(Guest Bath: Drifting Dune)

(Master Bath: Winddrift)