Robin and Ed are a DIY-loving couple with over 20 years of design and build experience. Also, Robin is a Nutritionist and former Registered Dietitian and Ed is an award-winning Business Educator. We share strategies for living a rich life on a DIY budget: creative money-savvy ideas for a stylish home, healthy meals and family fun. Our work has been published in the pages of Do It Yourself, Farmhouse Style and Better Homes & Gardens magazines.
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by Robin
This picture doesn’t do this Before floor enough injustice. It looked like a 70’s disco queen who spent the next 40 years smoking many packs a day and never wearing sunscreen.
It was tired, wrinkled, yellowed – with just enough gold glitter showing through to make you feel very, very sorry for her. Her prime was long past.
We needed a cheap floor makeover!
Three days after owning our vacation mobile home an unsuspecting Ed poked his toe in the soft floor next to the back door. Moments later we tore back the old carpet and pulled up handfuls – handfuls! – of floor. We could see the ground below.
We then emptied our savings account into that hole.
This rustic-looking, hickory-looking laminate was finally covering the hot mess that was the now repaired floor.
I say finally because we bought this flooring even before we got the keys to the place!
Child labour – those little hands are great at getting out old carpet staples!
I wish I had taken photos of the kiddos using the chop saw – makes this momma proud. A family that DIY’s together stays together?
Plus, each flooring brought it’s own signature smell: mouse poop, incontinent dog, forgotten shoe… carpet microcosms are not for those with noses.
Blowing a kiss emojii goes to the Hudson Bay Blanket Inspired knit pillows I made last year.
If you love this floor too, and wonder where we got it – it’s this one:
Home Decorators Collection Autumn Hickory Laminate from Home Depot.
It was $1.78 per square foot when we bought it last year. It has a built in underlay which meant there was no extra cost and it was really simple to install.
A cheap floor makeover triple threat: beautiful, inexpensive and easy to install!
Laminate has come such a long way. I’m glad to live in a world that has laminate this nice and this affordable. Happy Mother’s Day to me!
Linda Ward
Tuesday 9th of April 2024
Your sense of humor is wonderful and such a gift! I am 75 years old and needed a good laugh when I stumbled onto your blog. I laughed (real belly laughs) over and over again! Then I made my husband sit down and listen to me read aloud.! We were highly entertained! I am now in the process of reading all your blogs. You and your husband are so creative and “diy gifted”! Having the ability to be able to see a piece of wood and automatically see what that piece of wood could become is fantastic! Your projects are incredible! Your husband’s tutorials are spot on. His ability to write them on a level that is so simple gives the reader that “Wow I can do this!” feeling. Thank you so much for sharing all of your projects and for the much needed laughs!
Robin & Ed Hicken
Thursday 11th of April 2024
Hi Linda! You can't know how much your comment means to us - the timing couldn't have been better. We'd been feeling discouraged and you brightened our outlooks! Thank you so so much. :) R
Becky
Wednesday 28th of March 2018
I'm curious- how has your floor held up for you? I'm looking at using the exact same product (someone locally is selling a bunch of it for a great price that they didn't end up using)
Becky
Wednesday 28th of March 2018
Thank you so much for your reply & that is so great to hear! :) I'm filled with gratitude that I can get an answer to an important question (will this floor hold up to three busy kids) from (likely) thousands of miles away. :) Blessings to you from Calgary, Canada!
frugalfamilytimes
Wednesday 28th of March 2018
It’s held up really well, Becky! We don’t baby it at all - it gets wet and dirty constantly and we have a big dog with nails that usually need trimmed. No problems at all! We still love it.
Anonymous
Sunday 26th of February 2017
that big dog will ruin it in no time
frugalfamilytimes
Thursday 13th of September 2018
It's holding up perfectly! There isn't a scratch anywhere. I am always really careful to clean up any puddles - and with the kids' friends around there are ALWAYS puddles. My worry is that the seams will absorb water and swell - but it hasnt' happened yet!
If I were to choose again - I would choose the type of floor we just installed in our basement: vinyl plank. Super easy install, looks great and water doesn't affect it. Maybe worth looking into for your bunkie! :)
Cindy
Thursday 13th of September 2018
Sorry, I meant to go on to comment that the flooring looks excellent. It a good choice for a cottage space- water and dirt can be so readily brought in from fun outdoor activities but laminate cleans up nicely. My sister swears by linoleum in their cabin for easy clean up (they're a dog family) but i like how nice your laminate looks- may be a solution to our bunkie floor which is currently just concrete.
Cindy
Thursday 13th of September 2018
I wonder what your experience has been so far. We had super cheap (and fairly unattractive) laminate in our old house and a big dog, and never saw a scratch from her. I think laminate holds up pretty well to animals- my experience has been that hardwood is more vulnerable.
frugalfamilytimes
Sunday 26th of February 2017
I guess we did ask for comments! Have a great day!
Anthony
Sunday 4th of September 2016
What the beautiful pictures! I love family take DIY together. The floor looks truly difference, so cool after redesign.
frugalfamilytimes
Saturday 24th of September 2016
We had fun - the kids love the difference, too!
Jeff M. Feshour
Friday 22nd of July 2016
Completely different. Very cool
frugalfamilytimes
Saturday 24th of September 2016
We love it!