…of about 15 parts I would imagine. Firstly a huge thanks to all the useful advice from readers in the comments of my last floor post. Lots of useful info and things to think about. This weekend was the first time I’ve seen the new floor in person. My mum and dad were coming to stay so I had a couple of minutes to mull it over, then four hours trying to get the dust out of the spare bedroom so they could sleep without breathing apparatus. The day was well gloomy and it was hard to see what was what to be honest. My first instinct was that the floor was lovely and I should leave it natural. Then under evening light it started looking a bit too pink (a phrase I’ve never said before in my life) and I started to notice the bits where new boards have been added and all the imperfections. Then I thought a nice dark stain with an oil on top – my original plan – might give it a more sleek and finished look.

Next day I hastened to Brewers and picked up three colours of wood stain, all by Liberon. Above are the results of my tests – from bottom: Ebony, Victorian Something-or-other and Tudor Dark Oak. In between you can see the natural boards. I love the sexy black ebony, but I’ve done a London flat in that and I think maybe it’s a bit too slick. The Victorian Whatsit is a bit too red, and although it doesn’t look great here, the Tudor one looks best I think. Here it is again below, on a different bit of floor (I went wild):

Sunday morning dawned and the rain had gone. Outside the sun shone and made the beach sand outside the window look a lovely goldy pink – just like the boards in the house. Time for another rethink. Then the builder called and I told him the floor was lovely and I was testing out stains. “Whatever you do don’t stain it black. It never comes out,” he said. Oh…

So, plan 362 is… to stain and oil the lower floor in Tudor oak, to add atmosphere to the black hallway and black kitchen (that only currently exists in my mind). Then once I get to the stairs leave it natural and just use the Osmo Polxy Oil that EVERYONE commented on for the upper floor. That way as you go up the house it gets lighter and lighter, sort of like you’re ascending to heaven. If heaven is really dusty and full of vintage chairs.

 Because the rooms are pretty much empty because of the sanding, I wanted to make a swift decision and just do it all at once. But we all know that decorating dilemmas can’t be rushed. My mum’s visiting cat has already puked on the new, untreated floor, so getting in before it got ‘christened’ is out. And I’ve just realised, typing that, what my cat is looking askance at in the spare room. So anyway, another couple of weeks solid pondering won’t hurt. Heaven can wait…