Comments on: Matte ebony floors. http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:15:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mixette http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20982 mixette Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:19:47 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20982 Hmmm...checking back to see if I needed to follow up. You're right about mixing enough dye for 800 sq. ft.; yikes. It is safe if the powder is handled properly and after it is fixed in application. But, it sounds like there are much better products for your particular application! Sorry for pushing the carcinogens ;0 Hmmm…checking back to see if I needed to follow up. You’re right about mixing enough dye for 800 sq. ft.; yikes.

It is safe if the powder is handled properly and after it is fixed in application. But, it sounds like there are much better products for your particular application!

Sorry for pushing the carcinogens ;0

]]> By: Amanda http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20931 Amanda Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:08:24 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20931 Go for it go for it go for it! I practically die of lust every time I see photos of black floors. They would look amazing in your home! Go for it go for it go for it! I practically die of lust every time I see photos of black floors. They would look amazing in your home!

]]> By: decor8 Holly http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20926 decor8 Holly Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:40:37 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20926 Nice black floors - if you like it go for it esp if you plan to stay in that house for a long time. Why the heck not? And paint the dresser for goodness sake. It's YOUR dresser, who cares what any of us have to say, am I right? Some of your readers clearly obsess over antique & vintage preservation and hey I respect their opinions but to me a piece of furniture is an object not flesh and blood so you are allowed to screw around with it, alter it, make it into whatever floats your boat. The days of popular opinion are over in my book. If you want to paint it, show that dresser who is BOSS. :) Holly Nice black floors – if you like it go for it esp if you plan to stay in that house for a long time. Why the heck not?

And paint the dresser for goodness sake. It’s YOUR dresser, who cares what any of us have to say, am I right? Some of your readers clearly obsess over antique & vintage preservation and hey I respect their opinions but to me a piece of furniture is an object not flesh and blood so you are allowed to screw around with it, alter it, make it into whatever floats your boat. The days of popular opinion are over in my book. If you want to paint it, show that dresser who is BOSS. :)

Holly

]]> By: Christine http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20890 Christine Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:47:34 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20890 I too share your obsession with black floors. That stained wood floor is absolutely amazing! I love all the tones! I too share your obsession with black floors. That stained wood floor is absolutely amazing! I love all the tones!

]]> By: Katie http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20887 Katie Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:57:27 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20887 we also have that problem with our floors (the entire downstairs) - they are too thin and we are unable to sand them without completely ruining them. ours are not top nailed though, and the top of the groove is actually snapping off. i think we're going to put down all new floors on top of the existing - not at all what i want to do, but it would solve some of our other problems, like the giant plywood patch we have by our front door. i hope that you are able to save your floors though, good luck! we just refinished our floors upstairs and ended up going with no stain, 3 coats of clear poly. i've never heard of using a different process on floors (furniture and woodwork yes, floors, no) - does the wax/shellac/oil protect the floors? we have 2 big dogs, their nails are very hard on floors. we actually had one floor guy come out to talk to us and get all angry at us for letting our dogs walk on our old wood floors - but it's our house and we're going to live in it!! ps - thanks for the advice a few weeks ago about the stacking eames chairs and how to get new bases - we ended up getting the chairs and i don't mind the stacking bases as much as i thought i would. i can at least live with them until i save up enough to get new bases :-) we also have that problem with our floors (the entire downstairs) – they are too thin and we are unable to sand them without completely ruining them. ours are not top nailed though, and the top of the groove is actually snapping off. i think we’re going to put down all new floors on top of the existing – not at all what i want to do, but it would solve some of our other problems, like the giant plywood patch we have by our front door. i hope that you are able to save your floors though, good luck!

we just refinished our floors upstairs and ended up going with no stain, 3 coats of clear poly. i’ve never heard of using a different process on floors (furniture and woodwork yes, floors, no) – does the wax/shellac/oil protect the floors? we have 2 big dogs, their nails are very hard on floors. we actually had one floor guy come out to talk to us and get all angry at us for letting our dogs walk on our old wood floors – but it’s our house and we’re going to live in it!!

ps – thanks for the advice a few weeks ago about the stacking eames chairs and how to get new bases – we ended up getting the chairs and i don’t mind the stacking bases as much as i thought i would. i can at least live with them until i save up enough to get new bases :-)

]]> By: radewey http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20886 radewey Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:55:08 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20886 did you say scraping paint is hell. well I am there, i spent the last three days trying to get all the peeling chipping paint off the trim in my spare room and it is most certainly some type of torture. I also tore all the old ugly tiles off the walls in my bathroom and pulled the floor out, oh and i ripped a closet out that was completely worthless. I feel your pain (literally the exhausted, achy muscle pain that accompanies these things). And do you get the feeling like maybe I made the wrong decision doing this....or why did I choose this etc. I don't know if I will ever buy a house again... did you say scraping paint is hell. well I am there, i spent the last three days trying to get all the peeling chipping paint off the trim in my spare room and it is most certainly some type of torture. I also tore all the old ugly tiles off the walls in my bathroom and pulled the floor out, oh and i ripped a closet out that was completely worthless. I feel your pain (literally the exhausted, achy muscle pain that accompanies these things). And do you get the feeling like maybe I made the wrong decision doing this….or why did I choose this etc. I don’t know if I will ever buy a house again…

]]> By: Wendy http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20880 Wendy Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:14:57 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20880 Just to throw it out there, I think everyone should do what they love in their own home. But I had to comment that I intentionally stained my new solid oak hardwood floors a shade of orange (it was called nutmeg) to match an aging ambered polyurethane! I wanted them to look old, like the Victorians in my town. I agree that they warm up the lower, cooler levels of my house. The top floor has new oak floors stained a very modern dark brownish-black color that was here when we bought the house -- and it's already fading near the windows where it receives a lot of light. I'm not sure if others have had this problem? Just to throw it out there, I think everyone should do what they love in their own home. But I had to comment that I intentionally stained my new solid oak hardwood floors a shade of orange (it was called nutmeg) to match an aging ambered polyurethane! I wanted them to look old, like the Victorians in my town. I agree that they warm up the lower, cooler levels of my house. The top floor has new oak floors stained a very modern dark brownish-black color that was here when we bought the house — and it’s already fading near the windows where it receives a lot of light. I’m not sure if others have had this problem?

]]> By: Anna at D16 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20877 Anna at D16 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:00:15 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20877 <b>Dee:</b> Well, I certainly hope it doesn't come across as though I dislike natural wood floors (or natural wood, period). As I said above in my comment to verhext, it's the discolored, orange polyurethane I despise, NOT the wood floors themselves. Had my floors never been coated with poly (and instead been properly treated with oil, wax, or shellac), they would probably still be beautiful. As it is, sunlight has deteriorated the poly to the point that it looks like burnt umber in some areas, and the finish is worn away to bare, gray wood in others. My only problem with the floors being extremely thin and face-nailed is that it makes refinishing them a challenge. Never in my life (well, okay, maybe when I was 8 or 9 years old) have I worried about whether I'm "cool and popular", and my desire to make my floors look better has nothing to do with trying to hit on a current trend. Sorry, but no one is going to convince me that aging polyurethane is beautiful. Old, warm-toned wood with a natural patina is ABSOLUTELY beautiful, however! I suspect that's what you like, too. :) As long as you love your home, who cares what anyone else thinks? The last sentence of your comment is really all that's important... Dee: Well, I certainly hope it doesn’t come across as though I dislike natural wood floors (or natural wood, period). As I said above in my comment to verhext, it’s the discolored, orange polyurethane I despise, NOT the wood floors themselves. Had my floors never been coated with poly (and instead been properly treated with oil, wax, or shellac), they would probably still be beautiful. As it is, sunlight has deteriorated the poly to the point that it looks like burnt umber in some areas, and the finish is worn away to bare, gray wood in others. My only problem with the floors being extremely thin and face-nailed is that it makes refinishing them a challenge.

Never in my life (well, okay, maybe when I was 8 or 9 years old) have I worried about whether I’m “cool and popular”, and my desire to make my floors look better has nothing to do with trying to hit on a current trend.

Sorry, but no one is going to convince me that aging polyurethane is beautiful. Old, warm-toned wood with a natural patina is ABSOLUTELY beautiful, however! I suspect that’s what you like, too. :)

As long as you love your home, who cares what anyone else thinks? The last sentence of your comment is really all that’s important…

]]> By: dee http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20876 dee Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:25:45 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20876 Hi Anna I love your blog. The meticulous effort you put into every home project is inspiring. I value your opinion and taste in decorating very highly, therefore I was so sad to hear how you so strongly dislike yellowy-orange wood floors. My house has thin, face nailed hardwood strip flooring and I love it. I live near the 55th northern parallel where winter has a grip on us 7 months of the year. With all the snow we get the light is very cool and my "orange" floors are a welcome reminder of sunny warm days. I know dark floors are very popular right now so my love for "orange" floors makes me feel like the uncool kid of home decorating. Oh well, I'm too old to care about being cool and popular. I guess everyone should just make their home a place that they love no matter what the trends of the moment are. Hi Anna
I love your blog. The meticulous effort you put into every home project is inspiring. I value your opinion and taste in decorating very highly, therefore I was so sad to hear how you so strongly dislike yellowy-orange wood floors. My house has thin, face nailed hardwood strip flooring and I love it. I live near the 55th northern parallel where winter has a grip on us 7 months of the year. With all the snow we get the light is very cool and my “orange” floors are a welcome reminder of sunny warm days. I know dark floors are very popular right now so my love for “orange” floors makes me feel like the uncool kid of home decorating. Oh well, I’m too old to care about being cool and popular. I guess everyone should just make their home a place that they love no matter what the trends of the moment are.

]]> By: Elissa http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20874 Elissa Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:37:31 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20874 If the floors are really that shot then go black. I'm usually a natural wood kind of girl, but if they were poor quality wood to begin with... Also, if you are going to poly them, I've heard that lower luster polys don't wear as well as the high gloss. I think they recommend to put high gloss for the bottom coat(s) and then satin or matte for the top coat. If the floors are really that shot then go black. I’m usually a natural wood kind of girl, but if they were poor quality wood to begin with… Also, if you are going to poly them, I’ve heard that lower luster polys don’t wear as well as the high gloss. I think they recommend to put high gloss for the bottom coat(s) and then satin or matte for the top coat.

]]> By: Anna at D16 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20873 Anna at D16 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:15:32 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20873 <b>Magchunk:</b> Our walls throughout the house are BM Moonlight White. Trim is BM Simply White. Selected doors, window sashes, stairs, and hallway beadboard are BM Toucan Black. Magchunk: Our walls throughout the house are BM Moonlight White. Trim is BM Simply White. Selected doors, window sashes, stairs, and hallway beadboard are BM Toucan Black.

]]> By: Magchunk http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20872 Magchunk Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:02:14 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20872 I actually like the matte look more than the stripey one. Just think of all the things you'll be able to do with a black floor! But what color will the walls be? I actually like the matte look more than the stripey one. Just think of all the things you’ll be able to do with a black floor! But what color will the walls be?

]]> By: erin@designcrisis http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20868 erin@designcrisis Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:10:05 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20868 It's a good thing I didn't see those floors treated with vinegar and steel wool before we refinished out kitchen/dining area, because I would have been FORCED to redo all 1500 sq ft of flooring in that stain. Amazing! I also love the black stain. Very classic. It’s a good thing I didn’t see those floors treated with vinegar and steel wool before we refinished out kitchen/dining area, because I would have been FORCED to redo all 1500 sq ft of flooring in that stain. Amazing!

I also love the black stain. Very classic.

]]> By: Anna at D16 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20866 Anna at D16 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 14:36:05 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20866 <b>verhext:</b> I absolutely LOVE natural wood floors! Really! What I don't like, though, are what could have been beautiful pine or oak boards completely spoiled by polyurethane that has turned orange or yellow over time. I am not a fan of polyurethane, period. If I were to finish my floors, I would most likely do a tung oil finish that's sustainable and repairable -- either that, or polished wax. <b>mixette:</b> My concern with aniline dyes is that they are extremely toxic. I don't know if I want to cover 800 sf of my home with something carcinogenic. If I am able to get the floors sanded down to a point where they can be truly refinished, I would greatly prefer to use something less hazardous. <b>biba:</b> Thank you, that's sweet! :) verhext: I absolutely LOVE natural wood floors! Really! What I don’t like, though, are what could have been beautiful pine or oak boards completely spoiled by polyurethane that has turned orange or yellow over time. I am not a fan of polyurethane, period. If I were to finish my floors, I would most likely do a tung oil finish that’s sustainable and repairable — either that, or polished wax.

mixette: My concern with aniline dyes is that they are extremely toxic. I don’t know if I want to cover 800 sf of my home with something carcinogenic. If I am able to get the floors sanded down to a point where they can be truly refinished, I would greatly prefer to use something less hazardous.

biba: Thank you, that’s sweet! :)

]]> By: biba http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20863 biba Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:55:26 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20863 Anna! Totally loving dark/black floors. I have awarded you the kreativ blogger award! How could i not, you work your ass off and are very inspiring to me. Check out my blog to see :) Anna! Totally loving dark/black floors. I have awarded you the kreativ blogger award! How could i not, you work your ass off and are very inspiring to me. Check out my blog to see :)

]]> By: mixette http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20860 mixette Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:18:18 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20860 Have you looked into black aniline dye? I use water-borne black aniline all the time on furniture with fantastic results. It is easy to do, and hard to mess up; it's not a fussy finish. The water-borne is key because it is much more resistant to fading than the alcohol-borne formulas. Putting a water based product on wood may seem counter intuitive, but following the directions for preparation by pre-raising the grain really does work. It's bedtime...but if it sounds at all interesting I'll search around for more information to link to. Have you looked into black aniline dye? I use water-borne black aniline all the time on furniture with fantastic results. It is easy to do, and hard to mess up; it’s not a fussy finish. The water-borne is key because it is much more resistant to fading than the alcohol-borne formulas. Putting a water based product on wood may seem counter intuitive, but following the directions for preparation by pre-raising the grain really does work.

It’s bedtime…but if it sounds at all interesting I’ll search around for more information to link to.

]]> By: verhext http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20857 verhext Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:59:30 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20857 oops, add "anyone with" the idea that no one in the past... oops, add “anyone with” the idea that no one in the past…

]]> By: verhext http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20856 verhext Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:57:50 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20856 it's so weird, because i am normally extremely sensitive to color, but that stain doesn't look "orange" to me, but actually looks nice. & yet everyone seems to be bemoaning their "orange" floors. bizarre! i like natural wood, i think it's cheery, but the idea that no one in the past ever painted wood floors has clearly never been in a new england farmhouse with decades of paint layers on the floor!!! in the cabin i am putting up pine shiplap inside as the walls, i am thinking about doing a white wash stain over them to keep them pale, though most new "natural" poly/stain doesnt yellow the way the old stuff did. it’s so weird, because i am normally extremely sensitive to color, but that stain doesn’t look “orange” to me, but actually looks nice. & yet everyone seems to be bemoaning their “orange” floors. bizarre! i like natural wood, i think it’s cheery, but the idea that no one in the past ever painted wood floors has clearly never been in a new england farmhouse with decades of paint layers on the floor!!!

in the cabin i am putting up pine shiplap inside as the walls, i am thinking about doing a white wash stain over them to keep them pale, though most new “natural” poly/stain doesnt yellow the way the old stuff did.

]]> By: red.door.read. http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20851 red.door.read. Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:34:22 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20851 just wanted to come back to say blaaaccckkkkkk ! beautiful just wanted to come back to say

blaaaccckkkkkk ! beautiful

]]> By: Anna at D16 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20849 Anna at D16 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:54:13 +0000 http://www.doorsixteen.com/2009/02/21/matte-ebony-floors/#comment-20849 <b>melissa:</b> I had no idea they can just sand the nails down! That's very interesting. Hmmmmm. Maybe we DO need to get somebody out here after all... <b>shannon:</b> We've had black floors in our kitchen (where the dogs spend a lot of time) and black stairs for three years now, and I haven't really noticed it being a problem. I vacuum and mop once a week and that's enough. Our dogs don't shed very much, so maybe that's why! Also, the dogs really don't go upstairs (where we'd be doing the black floors) unless it's to go to sleep at night, and they pretty much stay in bed with us (under the covers!) the whole time. We don't wear shoes in the house and we don't have any kids, so these things just aren't really that much of an issue for us. melissa: I had no idea they can just sand the nails down! That’s very interesting. Hmmmmm. Maybe we DO need to get somebody out here after all…

shannon: We’ve had black floors in our kitchen (where the dogs spend a lot of time) and black stairs for three years now, and I haven’t really noticed it being a problem. I vacuum and mop once a week and that’s enough. Our dogs don’t shed very much, so maybe that’s why! Also, the dogs really don’t go upstairs (where we’d be doing the black floors) unless it’s to go to sleep at night, and they pretty much stay in bed with us (under the covers!) the whole time. We don’t wear shoes in the house and we don’t have any kids, so these things just aren’t really that much of an issue for us.

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