Mid-century Modern Flooring

Creating a mid-century modern home is an exciting and rewarding experience. Recently, I had the pleasure of helping a client install maple hardwood flooring. As an experienced installer, I understand how important it is to choose the right materials for the job. I'm confident that maple hardwood was the ideal solution for this project.

What Kind of Hardwood Floor for a Mid-Century Style?

This particular installation was in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The client had bought the house and was looking to do some renovations to it. One of the first renovations was to change the flooring. The home owners wanted to go with something that didn't have as much grain and was more modern.

Should I Use Maple Flooring for a Mid-Century Design?

Maple is a great choice for modern designs because it doesn't contain much grain pattern. The owners wanted the flooring to be natural and keep it really light. It really gives the house that mid-century modern look they were going for. They ended up going with a first grade maple. First grade maple doesn't have a lot of color variation, making it a great choice for modern and mid-century modern designs.

The original floor had multiple levels of subfloors which needed to be removed. The floorboards were pine and laid in angle, so they had a tendency to squeak. I had to go back around and nail all that down in the subfloor and sand the edges to get it as flat as possible. That minimized the unevenness and squeaking.

What to Consider When Installing Mid-Century Modern Flooring

I found that the joist changed direction in the doorway, halfway through the floor. I always want the hardwood to run opposite of the joist unless the floor is over a certain thickness of the flooring. The reason for that is that there can be height differences in the joist.

If I were to run the joist in the same way of the hardwood, you would see differences in the flooring height: high, low, and then high. If you have over an inch-and-a-half of subfloor, then I'm okay with it. Most places don't have that. This house's subfloor was around 7/8ths of an inch.

So we changed directions in the doorway. I used a wider threshold board and dressed it up. I installed all of that prior to final coating, put the trim back down, and bordered out the flooring.

Adding the maple floors kept the space really light and airy throughout. We even added it in the bedrooms! I really liked the flow this created in the home. I personally like the flow of things when the hardwood extends to the bedroom.

Isn't Hardwood Flooring Cold?

Some people think that hardwood is always cold. Hardwood actually holds heat. It's not cold like tile. Of course, everyone has different preferences, so if it is an issue, you can always put a rug down.

Creating a mid-century modern home is a great way to both add value to your property and create a unique setting for you and your family. With the right materials, like maple hardwood flooring, you can bring this style of modern interior design into the 21st century. Make sure you hire an experienced installer who has the knowledge, experience, and tools to get the job done correctly. With the right help, you can have a comfortable and stylish home that will last for many years to come.