David asked the other day: “We’re planning our basement finishing project and looking at VCT tiling options in the basement. Does anyone know where to find design ideas for Vinyl tiles? I’m seeing a lot for ceramic, but not many for VCT.” You ask, I deliver: Here are scans from 1950s Armstrong and Kentile catalogs. Heck yeah there is more →
Hi, We just bought an old house, and under a carpet in one of the bedrooms was a “something” — I am not sure what its real name is… It is 6 feet by 8 or 9 feet, and is a fantastic picture / mural. Looks like it is on masonite or some other fiber type board. The “rug” is not attached at all — we can pick it up and move it. It is not gummy at all, seems like just fiberboard, maybe 1/8 of an inch thick. The house was built back around 1900 as a schoolhouse, then sold, dismantled, moved and rebuilt maybe around 1935. The family we bought it from had it since the mid 50’s… I would like to … see if anyone knows anything about it. Thanks! Heck yeah there is more →
Cindy’s new kitchen and dining room floor is perfect for her mid-century modern home — and is a great solution for other renovators to consider. Cindy reports that her floor is Amtico Limestone Cotswold with Concrete Pale stripping (I will call them “weld rods.”) Amtico: That’s resilient floor tile — man-made stuff — and very versatile and functional. Cindy’s Cotswold pattern is now gone from the Amtico website, but have no fear, the company offers a good selection of other floor tiles with limestone or marble designs. Heck yeah there is more →

A reader recently wrote to ask, “What color stain would be most appropriate or authentic for a mid-century oak floor?” Drats, I cannot find the email. And, I am not academically sure what the correct answer is. I would guess… a “natural” stain. Heck yeah there is more →
OCTAGON FLOOR TILES are great for pre-war homes — 1920s, 1930s, 1940s — and then some colorways came around again in the 1970s. This tile style can work, I think, for either a vintage style bathroom or kitchen floor, and that dot gives you a nice flourish of color to play with. Heck yeah there is more →


