I always tell myself that I’m going to hold off and just wait until the reveal to show you more progress in the kitchen but then I get so excited, I can’t resist sharing some progress pictures. I’m too excited to wait! We still have baseboards, trim, built-in open shelving, decorating and our kitchen island to do but the floors are done! The new bamboo flooring is gorgeous!
And then (while writing this post) we discovered that Cali Bamboo entered our floor into the Project of the month contest. We’d REALLY appreciate your vote (Please, please! You know I can’t resist a contest. Those dreams of winning get me every time.) Winner gets a gift card for MORE flooring! We’d like to eventually continue the bamboo throughout the rest of the main floor. Guest bedroom is next on the renovation list and currently has yucky plywood! Winning would be extremely helpful for our budget!
Update August 2011:
WE WON!
Kitchen when we bought our house…some potential, right? It’s big and open.
Kitchen now: still in progress but getting there!
stove area back splash still on the to-do list
(that’s Mr. DIY’s mango salsa on the counter…if I would have known this was the picture they’d use for the contest, I’d have hung a fresher towel and cleared away the clutter!)
looking into the dining room before
looking into the dining room now
Antique Java
{distressed fossilized/wide plank}
strand bamboo = durable green product
This area (below) is getting DIY built-in open shelving.
The cart/etc. is temporary but functional for now.
Lalka loves new floors.
The view looking in (Lalka is sitting where the island is planned):
The view looking out (love seeing our grape arbor).
The patio off the kitchen is convenient for outdoor entertaining and dining too.
Dining room when we bought the hous
e…
Dining room before floors:
(Fuzzy) after of floors. Looking for new rug and working on some DIY decorative accents. And better quality pictures. I promise.
Okay, next time I’ll hold off and wait until the reveal before showing you more. Nothing like 100s of posts on a kitchen remodel to make you sick and tired of hearing about it, right? I promise I’m not the type to insist you open your birthday present weeks ahead of time. I love surprises! I do have patience in some areas. Just not when it comes to showing off! 😉
No signing up, logging in or giving email address…just 1 click vote once.
Then come back and link up!
Note: We were not given free product or compensation. The bamboo was purchased by us after our own research and opinion is our own based on our experience. 🙂
What are you up to this weekend?
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4.If you notice your link has disappeared -please add the link back to The DIY Show Off to your post today, a button or a quick note to your readers about the party and try again! I love when everyone participates and readers check out everyone’s links, but I think the return favor of linking back is the nice thing to do so everyone plays fair and enjoys all of the projects and links. Also – this blog party is for DIY projects only. Links not related to DIY will be deleted.
5. NOW you can “like” the links! Most liked link moves to the top of the list! What a fun idea! Most liked links may be included in a post of DIY Project Parade highlights later in the week! 🙂
Have a Happy 4th of July, friends!Your kindness is making me smile today! See the milestone on the right side bar? You’re awesome!
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oooh…. I so want bamboo floors…
I won't tire of seeing your updates as you go; they are inspiring and gorgeous. I've voted!
Your kitchen looks fantastic! Love the floors and the backsplash! I voted for you!
just voted for ya, good luck!
Your kitchen is to die for! I love it. I voted, thanks for hosting!
You kitchen is amazing. I love the floors too! I voted for you!
Love the floors, I'm so jealous!! Your kitchen already looks amazing…can't wait to see what else you have planned. I voted for you! 🙂
Thanks for hosting this fun party. I tried to go vote for you, but I got a "Not Found" error. I'll try back later because your redo is AMAZING! 😉
Your kitchen is looking awesome! I just love your kitty too, so gorgeous!
Your floors look so great! I didn't know bamboo could look so good. Of course I was distracted in the pics by your pretty kitty. I never grow tired of your kitchen updates so show every little step of it and I'm happy. Can't wait to see what you have planned for behind the stove and that area where the makedo cart and boxes is now with the microwave. That looks pretty good in itself but I'm sure the shelves you are working on will be even better.
My book came today and the special surprise. I've got to find just the right white iron stone container to put it on and then it will be in my kitchen…it is just perfect as you knew it would be. Perfect that it came today and today was my birthday and it started off with my finding your package on my front porch.
I'm now off to bed and will curl up with the kitchen book. Yep, that is how exciting my birthday is! Thanks so much…I can't wait to go through it page by page. I'll be sure to post pics of the doggy snack container when I get it done.
Thanks so much for being my blog friend!
I got the same not found error. 🙁 Gorgeous floor and I LOVE your kitchen!
Your kitchen is really coming together. I just love it all. that little ladder going into the dining room is great!!! Did you get "click and lock" flooring or just the normal stuff? We are debating this ourselves.
Your floors look awesome! Love the texture in the bamboo – Just Gorgeous! Never, ever apologize for posting pics of your kitchen. I think kitchen renos are the most fun to follow along with. Your whole kitchen is looking fabulous! Thanks for sharing and for hosting this linkup each week.
I love the flooring, Roeshel. I installed bamboo flooring in my MIL's house and loved how it turned out. I love the darker color you have. The kitchen's really coming along!
Oh my beautiful. Could you tell me why you selected bamboo?
I am drooling over your floors! Gorgeous! Congrats on 5000+ followers!! Woohooo!! Happy 4th…off to vote for you.
The floors are stunning! I voted for ya, good luck:)
Thanks for hostessing, have a great 4th of July!
Hi Roeshel-
I do love how your floors look – the darker color – just beautiful. I voted for you. I hope you win. Good Luck.
My best- Diane
Thanks for your sweet comments and votes, ladies! We really appreciate it! 😉
Chandeen – it is tongue/groove. It can be installed floating but we nailed it down.
Sandy Quilts – We chose bamboo mainly because of it's hardness rating of 3000 (maple was our original choice and rates at 1450). Bamboo is twice as hard! We love the durability, especially being in the kitchen. We've left a piece sit outside now for over a week in the sun and rain and no change to it. After learning more about it, we liked that it was a renewable product as well.
sandy Quilts – more reasons: we have a cat with claws. I was worried about scratches. With choosing the bamboo, scratches are unlikely but we also chose a distressed finish because scratches add to the character if they do occur and it fits in with the style of our farmhouse. I also liked that it's wide planks and the price was reasonable. All of those things contributed to our decision. 🙂
Roeshel
The floors are incredible. They look beautiful in your space.
I voted for you, too! Floors look great!
They are BEAUTIFUL!! **rushing off to vote for you** OH, and I love your basket that you keep your bread in…we've been looking for a solution for all of our bakery goods and that would be perfect!
mylifeasamrsh.blogspot.com
Oh Roeshel they look beautiful!! I absolutely love them – I'm sure you do too! Thanks for hosting! Hope you're having a great holiday weekend!
wow!!!! those floors are AWESOME!!! going to vote now for you, friend! you always impress me with your diy savviness and your style- love it! hey, and if i move i will actually be closer to you- we are looking in the frederick area!
trying to vote and keep getting an error 404 when i click the link. will you email me the link so i can vote for you? thanks!
Oh my goodness Roeshel! Everything is looking so gorgeous! You guys are doing a fabulous job. Thanks so much for hosting another fun party!
Vanessa
I notices you hit 5001. Congratulations, Roeshel!
your kitchen is gorgeous!!! i pinned it in my kitchen inspiration file….dreaming of a kitchen renovation someday. (our 1961 kitchen cabinets are BLUE!) i voted for you ~ hope you win!
Just hopped over to vote. Your floors and kitchen are just phenomenal!!!!
If you win I have a suggestion for the new flooring. I am having trouble deciding what to do in my living room soooooo… LOL
Seriously best of luck!!!
Susan
http://lifeondovehollow.blogspot.com/
Simply gorgeous! If you don't mind me asking, what is the name of that blue paint? I am in love with it! 🙂
THANKS FOR THE VOTES & sweet comments EVERYONE! I'm so grateful!
Katy, it's True Value's Easy Care Paint + Primer in One. Color is called "Old Fashioned". It's a very light blue/almost white. Here's a link to the post with more about it and more pictures in different lighting:
http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2011/04/kitchen-progress-and-help-me-decorate.html
Everything is beautiful! I went and voted for you! Hope you win!
I love the way the floors turned out! I've never been a fan of bamboo but this has changed my mind- best looking bamboo I've ever seen.
I recently started following the blog- were the french doors into the kitchen already there when you bought it? They are beautiful!
Hope you win- I've voted.
Love=the floors(duh), the ladder, the backsplash, the magnetic knife holder, the french doors(OMG!), the built-in in the other room. So beautiful! Thanks for hosting…you is da bomb!
I especially like the chalkboard wall with the decorative ladder. 🙂 What a classy look!
Living So Abundantly: New meme starting this coming Thursday, July 7, 2011, Give Back Thursday–come join the fun!
Thanks for hosting, Roeshel! Have a Happy 4th!
(and oops. It would not link my image correctly the first time (#111) so I think I linked up twice. Sorry!)
O!M!G!!! Your floors are breath-taking and WHAT un under-taking!! Your home is SOOOO beautiful! Thanks for sharing your transformations (and process!!) with us!! Happy 4th Roeshel!! =) Have a great day!!
xo Lynda
I like those dark-stain bamboo floors. When we first looked at bamboo several years ago, it only came in two light colors.
I LOVE your floors! They are gorgeous!
Your floors are amazing! It's all coming together so nicely – I know you're thrilled! Heading over to vote- hope you win!
Great job on the kitchen redo! Just a quick question: I'm probably missing something obvious, but how do you "like" the links from the DIY showoff parade?
Thanks Abbie!
You're not missing anything. It is an option with linkytools and it's selected and turned on (there would show a like button underneath) but I believe linky tools is having some technical difficulty and it's not showing at this time. 🙁
Everything looks GORGEOUS!!!! You have done an amazing job Roeshel! I am in love with your back splash, ladder and barn style door in your dining room!! Just beautiful!!!
xo
Just catching up on some older posts. LOVE your floors!
I love your floors! We are looking into to buying the Cali bamboo java wide plank floor. I want to do our whole house in it. Since you have had it for a while,how do you like it? And what does the shipping cost? I know that the floors are not the cheapest but with shipping cost I don’t know if it is worth it. I placed a ice cube over night on the samples we recieved and it was dry the next morning. I can’t believe the water didn’t mess up the sample.
I have no complaints about our floors at all. Love them. So durable. The cat (with claws) even slides around without scratching them … when she gets into that crazy mode. We actually left a piece of it outside for months in the weather and it didn’t affect it. I’m afraid I don’t remember the shipping costs. The fact that it didn’t leave an impression leads me to believe it wasn’t something ridiculous, although you’re right – the cost isn’t the cheapest but the quality is so worth it. Even on the occasion that I have scratched it…it adds to the character or a Sharpie/dark marker makes it impossible to find. They do offer free quotes though so definitely do that or even call. I do remember customer service being extra friendly and helpful.
Now that you’ve had your floors for over a year would you recommend them to those that have large dogs? We need to replace our engineered floors which did not stand up to our active household. Debating between Cali bamboo and laminate. When you have had the occasional scratch, do you recall what caused it? Would love to get your input and feedback. You have a gorgeous home by the way.
Now that you’ve had the floors for a few years would you recommend them to those with large dogs? My 80lb Boxer has scratched my engineered floors so badly it’s time to rip them out and replace. When you mention your floors have been scratched in occasion do you recall what caused the scratch? Love your house and would appreciate any input.
Hi Vanessa! The floors hold up beautifully. What I love about the antique java finish is that if on occasion it is scratched, it only adds to the character. Sometimes I just take a black Sharpie and color it in. The only time I’ve scratched them is when moving furniture that had sharp feet. Cali Bamboo will send you samples…so you can see the quality and durability for yourself (we even left a sample piece sit outside in the rain after installing it…for months! with no damage). Try scratching up the sample. It’s not easy to do. I don’t have an 80 lb. dog but 13 lb. cat with sharp claws tears through the house once in a while and only slides around on the floors. Hope that helps.
I just came across your blog while looking for strand bamboo flooring reviews. I am wondering how they are holding up 4 years later and do you still love them? We are purchasing a new house and looking for something very durable with dogs and kids. In our current house we have terrazzo, which is hard to beat as far as durability. Have you had any warping/water damage issues in the kitchen. The only negative I’ve read about bamboo is the warping.
Hi Lane, the floors are holding up perfectly. No warping anywhere (not in the kitchen, not by the door we enter either). They’re still gorgeous! For the rare scratch, I’ve just rubbed a walnut on the spot or even used a Sharpie & paper towel. We have no regrets and get compliments all the time – people even thinking this wide plank/distressed java finish are the original floors for this old house. 😉 Good luck with your decision!
I just came across your blog after researching Cali bamboo floors. I must say your kitchen is gorgeous! Did you redo the cabinets yourself? If so, do you mind sharing how you did it and what products you used? Also how are your floors holding up? We are a family with three kids age 5-18 months so in a little nervous to spending so much money on these gorgeous floors if they don’t hold up well over the years. Thank you.
Hi Becky!
First, the floor – we do not regret our decision. They are holding up beautifully! One thing I really like about the distressed look is that any scratches blend in, add to the character of distressed/handscraped look with a quick touch up. Sliding furniture is the ONLY thing that’s created a scratch (completely my fault…but I keep a ‘stain pen’ on hand – color in the scratch/wipe with a paper towel). I LOVE these floors. We get so many compliments. People even think they’re original to our old home but I’m pretty sure they didn’t have access to bamboo back then. 😉
And yes, the cabinets. It’s time consuming but it’s so worth it! Sand away shine/varnish. Clean then prime and paint. We used Benjamin Moore Impervo (color is Moonshine). Holding up so well! RustOleum also makes an awesome cabinet paint which I’ve also used with great success and beautiful results.
Hope that helps! Best of luck!