This week, our contractors finished installing the new wood floors on the main level of our cabin and it CHANGED EVERYTHING. We really debated and mulled over flooring options before landing on these. We wanted something rustic (because, hey, it's a cabin), but all the dark options felt TOO rustic and almost cliche. We went through about 30-40 different samples from all different companies before we ordered a round of lighter samples from Stuga Studio--a newer company that carries, literally, the oldest, top quality, hardwood flooring in the world--Kährs of Sweden.
In the end, we fell for their Oak Aspeland floors. They were a little out of our normal wheelhouse, in a good way!, while feeling modern and rustic and really interesting with some large cracks and knots and a warm-whitish hue.
Fall at the cabin is already magical (just look out those windows!) but seeing everything coming together is making it even more so. Even though we aren't on site every day, our contractors cannot stop raving about how easy these floors are to put down. They've already taken notes and plan to use them on other projects. It comes with a black and you use the block to tap the boards together while pressing down and it locks it in place and makes it virtually seamless. In fact, Stuga Studio says their Woodloc joints are so tight, you could lock two pieces of wood together and hang a car from them!
We put this short video together showing the install and floors in action (you can watch it on our YouTube channel here):
As you can see from the below photo, there's still a LOT of work to be done. The next time we go up all the flooring should be covered with ram board to protect it until renovations are done.
One last really cool and unique thing about these floors is they don't need to be climatized. So they have gone from box to floor over and over again.
I love the little peek above with the dark exterior and the light interior floors. We've gotten a few questions about whether we're reconsidering staining the interior walls. We're not opposed to it, but don't have any plans to right now. We love the natural wood! Although we do plan to add some paint to areas.
This week, the rock for the fireplace is going up, carpet is being measured for the loft (and we just decided to add a crow's nest up there too!) and we are finalizing kitchen plans. Can't wait to show you more.
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First of all your cabin looks amazing! The wood flooring choice is great too and the inside and outside looks promising. Would love to visit your cabin and see the exterior too.
Sorry, I realize this post is a few months old, but you guys are such a good resource, and I always learn so much from exploring your site. These floors are beautiful, but I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the laminate floors that look like hardwood floors? My brother-in-law recently installed them in his home, and I have to admit that I was shocked at how "wood-like" they looked. I am always inclined to go for traditional hardwood, but we are in a poorly remodeled 80's era home that has a long list of much needed updates, and we're trying to keep our costs down. I would love your input, if you have a moment. Thank you!
Some laminate options are really great! There's no shame in using it if that's what makes sense for you and while floors like what Stuga offers are probably highest on the list, every situation is different.
You have explained everything in detail about woods floors. Very helpful blog. Thanks a lot for this beauty Enjoying article with me. I appreciate it very much!
Stunning! GREAT choice!
Love the floors! They are the perfect color! All the agonizing over coloring options definitely paid off!
How do you feel the wood floor will hold up with regular foot traffic and pets? We currently have wood look tile floor in our main living area, but we are wanting to replace the tile with a real wood floor. We are just worried about how the wood will hold up to our Australian Shepherd, and energetic children going in/out in the PNW weather.
Thank you!!
It's super high quality, so we hope well! But time will tell.
I'm in love with your cabin. Dark exteriors, light wood floors, high ceiling... just a dream. Can't wait to see it all finished. You both are incredible!
Looks SO great!!! I'm thinking the window wall would look great painted black also?!?!? Would be like a large steel framed- ish vibe and carry the black inside. I'm sure you've considered it and whatever you decided to do will be fab❤️
Absolutely gorgeous! Would you mind divulging Cost per sqft?
Thanks!
$8
I’m super late to this post but love these floors! Is the $8 installed price? If not how much would installation cost?
Beautiful!!!
So glad to see someone has gotten on the
lighter floor choice bandwagon.
We installed a very similar flooring and I could not be more
happy.
Yeah!!!!
I checked the supplier's website and didn't see many dealers near MN in the US. Did you mail-order the wood, or are there more dealers than the website indicates? I think the wood is outstandingly beautiful and would like to send info on it to a relative who is contemplating hardwood flooring, but not if it's limited distribution. Thanks!
We had it shipped to us, which most dealers should be able to help with even if they aren't in your area.
I wasn't sure at first but am now a believer! It looks so great. What is the green paint color of the master?
Victorian Tapestry by Valspar.
I love to see how it came together! I have to admit, when you were selecting the floor color and laying all the options next to the warm wood toned walls, I was surprised when you decided to go with a light, more cool toned floor. But now that I have seen the install, I love it! I especially love it in the dark painted bedroom. I knew I just had to be patient and wait and see! You guys never steer us readers wrong :)
Any chances of a "look for less" post? Maybe options in wood, laminate or tile? We are in need of new flooring and although your floors are indeed drool-worthy, we do not have the budget for $8+ sqft flloring :(
I'll research some!
Love that idea! I'm in the same boat, Alicia.
Julia, we need flooring for a rental, so low cost/high wear potential ideas would be appreciated!
Looks Amazing!!
Question.. Did you replace the exterior doors or paint over the white?
If you painted them, is there a specific paint you need?
We painted the whole exterior with an acrylic solid stain (see that post here), including the doors. Still gotta paint the inside of the doors though!
Will you paint the inside of the doors too? And the windows? I think that if you painted that wall of doors/windows in the second photo black like the outside, it would look so good and play well with your gorgeous view! Looking amazing guys, well done.
That's definitely a possibility. We just like waiting for everything to come together before making any big decisions like that.
The floors are beautiful! I hope that you will have follow up posts about caring for the oil finish. While I love the look of hardwood floors that have oil finish, the ongoing maintenance keeps me from choosing them. My family installed similar hardwood floors in a lake cottage, and while beautiful, it is a lot of time & effort to re-oil each year. Looking forward to seeing more about the cabin design - it is coming together splendidly :).
Looks awesome! What kind, if any, underlayment did you use between subfloor and wood floors. And what are you doing on stair treads? Thanks
We used this Eco underlayment! And I heard they just finished the stairs yesterday so we'll update you with more pics when we head up!
Really cool find on the floors. Added bonus, they're the perfect color to hide dust (though maybe not-so-much black dog hairs...)! Also, glad you're not staining the interior for now. Of course, it's your home, do what you want. But I'm somewhat of a wood purist. Once you mess with it, you can't really go back. The floors are actually nice compliment. Hope all is well! By the way, have you watched Cabins in the Wild on Netflix? It's a fun, quick watch (only 4 episodes), but you get to see a unique spectrum of cabins out in Wales.
Ooo! We'll have to check that one out!
Floors are beautiful but the reflections of the changing leaves in the glass-- MAGIC!
Wondering why you chose to have the seams line up every other row of flooring vs staggering? Know it can add to labor cost though, so maybe that's why!
They're staggered, with seams lining up every 4th row.
ah, gotcha, now i see that it is every 4th--for some reason those horizontal seam lines jumped out at me. Thanks for taking the time to reply. Color and "texture" from the knots is just gorgeous. Love following along with your renovations :)
Can't wait to see!!
Love the black with the light floors. What is a crow's nest??
A crow's nest is kind of a lookout or landing or little hideaway up high. In the loft there's a small bathroom in the corner, and we think it would be fun to make a little ladder leading to a crow's nest for kids to play in.
The floors look AMAZING! I am so excited to watch the rest of your design play out!
The flooring already looks 100x better than I thought it would next to the walls. Great choice! You made me a believer!
I feel the same way!
Eek! I love the floors, but I'm not convinced I like them with the walls. I hope with better photos of the wood actually butted up against the walls will make me a believer, too!