Lynn recently bought a 1960 ranch house and asked me whether I thought her wood parquet floors (small photo to the right) were original. Almost without a doubt I answer: Yes. The lead photo above is my dining room floor. This floor is original to my 1951 colonial-modern ranch. The parquets are each 12″ wide. They are made from fullsize pieces of wood flooring — this is not a thin veneer. In fact, somewhere in my travels I have heard that parquet flooring like mine was more expensive to purchase and install than the more common long runs of oak tongue-in-groove flooring. Wood parquet was more complicated, more fussy, and therefore, more expensive. The adjacent, step-down living room, by the way, got wall-to-wall carpet.
We have explored recently what color stain is most appropriate for your midcentury hardwood floors — the mass, we believe, were done in “natural”, like mine. But we’ve also seen darker stains.
Stella says
Your dining room looks just like my Mom’s house. We lived in an early 20th century house which she decorated in the 1960’s in a colonial style with some modern danish accents. She had white painted built-in buffet and cabinets with black hammered hardware. We had conventional wood floors and wool braided rugs.
pam kueber says
🙂 That’s my idea! Our dining room/living room is full of Early American architectural details built in. I had to reference that.
Lee in Florida says
My grandparents had those floors in their 1948 ranch. When I was a kid, I realized some of the individual pieces had come loose, so I tilted them up and used them as jumping ramps for my matchbox cars.
gsciencechick says
Love parquet floors! Congrats to those of you who have them!
Laura MacKay says
We recently purchased a ranch that was built in 1960. The woman that built it had lived here until just last year, so much of the house was left with the original features. We have parquet floor everywhere but the kitchen and sunroom, and I love it. It’s natural stain as well, but each blocks is only 5″ by 5″. I absolutely love it!
Felechia says
I agree. Our neighbour’s house, built about 1962, is a beautiful big two-storey with original oak parquet flooring in the living room, dining room and hallway. Our house, built the same year, is smaller, much less grand, and has the “usual” oak hardwood on the main floor.
Megan Stark says
Where can I buy parquet flooring today? Not the vinyl stuff, real wood, or bamboo 🙂
Sara says
Hi – I have the same question. Did you ever figure out where to purchase the original style parquet floors? Thanks!
pam kueber says
Not so far but I have not looked hard. I’m kinda interested myself… Not sure how soon I will be able to dive into this research… Let me know if you find anything !
Retrosandie says
I LOVE parquet floors!!!! Lovely!!
Shanna says
i just purchased a home that was built in 1966. we pulled up all the carpets to reveal beautiful parquet in most every room. each little square is made up of 7, 1 inch pieces of wood! we were shocked that someone wanted to carpet over them but were pleased that they had been somewhat “preserved” under the carpet. there are some worn spots in the dining room that will need to be refinished and a couple of places where the wood has been stained. i spent a good 5 1/2 hours on my hands and knees scrubbing the living room/dining room to removed carpet glue and some weird dirt (dead skin? eew!) traffic pattern. our only problem is that some of the pieces of wood have popped up…what do we glue them back down with? the floor is originally installed directly over the concrete sub-floor with some type of adhesive/cement
pam kueber says
Hi Shanna, your parquet sounds lovely. Regarding the fixit, I recommend you get with a pro — also please know, there can be vintage nastiness in adhesives — again, consult with licensed professionals to know what you are working with.
hannah says
Circa 1965-1969 our family lived in a little ranch in Redondo Beach, CA (on Grant Avenue, for any of you locals out there) and the entire Living, Dining and Family area were all parquet. It was quite the challenge for my mother to keep up on, but it was fabulous.
Jackie says
Can anyone recommend some good original flooring for a 1963 ranch house in Arizona? We had wanted cork, but we want it in the bath and kitchen areas too and I read where it isn’t good in wet areas. Parquet is out of the question too. I lived in too many Air Force base houses in my husband’s career that had those. Please! All suggestions are welcome!
Greg says
I think large cork tiles is a great idea. You could do tile or refinished concrete in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Jackie says
We had thought about ceramic tile, but our concern is being unable to match the white tile on the back splashes and countertops and make it look right. It is original 1963, I wonder how hard that would be. There is wood in there now, but we were trying to give it that “special” look. I love ceramic tile.
Greg says
Don’t match — compliment.
As for original, I’d suggest a terazzo tile, or a decorative concrete mixed with glass for a terazzo look (if you have enough room to pour a new layer).
Mary Sisson Eibs says
What about painted concrete? We live in Tucson and see a lot of it. I think it’s beautiful and much easier to care for than wood.
Katie says
I’d go with ceramic tile. I live in Arizona, and have seen a lot of mid-century houses that have the original tile. Overwhelmingly, the floor tile is eight inch white or off white and from what I’ve seen, in the ’60s they didn’t care if the floor matched the wall or counter tile exactly. Daltile makes some eight inch floor tile that is a very good match for the mid century originals.
Alternatively, finished concrete is also an authentic and attractive option.