I have hated the parquet floor in our entryway since the day we moved in. I have thought about replacing them, but with kids and animals constantly coming in and out I didn’t want to spend the money just yet. A few weeks ago, I was hanging out on fb, when these gorgeous floors from Country Living Magazine popped up…it was fate!
I love the look of painted floors, but it was terrifying to me! Well, I wanted to have them finished in time for Debbiedoo’s Copy Cat Challenge…thank you so much for the swift kick in the rear, Debbie! I didn’t even know where to begin. So, in true Jessica fashion, I winged it.
Do you see this hideousness I have been living with for years? Doesn’t it make you want to hug me and tell me how sorry you are that I had to endure this tragedy?
I really, really could have used a hug yesterday. I sanded the floor, then painted it, then sanded it again, then painted it. It felt neverending.
Then I painted the entire floor a creamy color and started stenciling the small parquet squares. I hated it! I thought…what have I done??? Then I rolled up my sleeves and painted the whole thing again. I decided that I wanted the squares to be much bigger…like the size of 4 little squares together, so I hand painted…every. single. one.
And sanded them again. I finally got the beachy worn look that I wanted, and I am one happy mama!
And just a quick shout out, I have the coolest husband on the planet…he just lets me do my thing even when it scares him to death!!!
Sign up for Mom 4 Real's emails to get all of the easy tips and tricks delivered right to your email inbox and get to chat directly with Jess!
Your information will never be shared or sold to a 3rd party.
Looks beautiful! I’ve refinished floors before and it’s a pain. But painting them sounds like a whole other level of torture! Great work!
OH MY GOD JESS!! GOR-G-EOUS!!!
Holy flipping heck!!!!!
Those looks SO GOOD. Like designer mag layout model home super cool GOOD :)
Awesome job girl. I bow to you…
Looks great, Jess! It makes me wish I had a paintable floor somewhere in our house! :)
Amazing, Jessica!! What a beautiful transformation. You nailed it!! Megan
That turned out amazing! Your home looks so inviting, like I could just pop in for an iced tea and hang out to gab. It reminds me of the home I grew up in, cozy and loved. Great job!
Your floor looks wonderful. Love the beachy feel to it! Great job.
Holly
Dang girl, you rocked this one! Your entry looks sooo good :)
Hugs for your years of torture ;)
Tanya
I want to run my bare feet ALL OVER those floors! Oh My Heck Jess!!!! I love them!!! Great job!
hello!! Those tears were worth it. It’s stunning! What a great work!
Yeah!! You go girl!! I am so proud of you for being brave because your new floor is awesome!
You deserve a big fat hug for this!! All that hard work paid off – it’s fabulous!!
And your hubs is a rockstar for letting you do your thing!!
Kelly
You floor looks beautiful, so worth all the time and effort you put into them.
Looks really good! Maybe winging it is a Jessica thing? ;)
SO amazing and glad you stuck with it :)
Looks great!!! Really. I had to read and reread the post. Hard work padi off for sure.
Cheers Gee
I totally get how you feel about parquet – it’s definitely NOT my favourite kind of flooring! You did an awesome job transforming your floor from parquet to beachy & beautiful! :-)
HOLY MOLY on a summer day! I guess you left me speachless on this one girl! Fantastic..I almost swore in between the fantastic:) HA!!~ Jessica, you really did an amazing job. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I have a feeling you are going to inspire many to do the same. Sharing on my fb wall now!!!
Awesome!!! I love that everyone is redefining the way we think of floors! I love painting them! It’s paid off big time! Good for you for finally taking the risk :-)
you go girl I love them. All your hard work certainly paid off. Way to go.
Love, love, love it! I have one last room of carpet and want to badly to paint the wood floors underneath. This is great inspiration!! Great job!
sara @ applestonedrive.blogspot.com
LOVE IT JESSICA!!! I’m so happy you finished. It looks absolutely fantastic!!
WOWZA you did an amazing job, it looks fabulous!!!!!
XO
Kristin
THAT IS GORGEOUS!!! You have me wishing I had a crappy floor to paint! Great job!!
Simply amazing…congratulations on your new floors!!!! No more tears no the ugly is gone now =0)
I just love this idea! And you didn’t have to do any math either … the checkerboard pattern was already there for you!
Thanks for sharing at our Crazy for Color link party!
:)
Linda
http://www.itallstartedwithpaint.com
Your floor is beautiful! I love the color and the pattern and the finish.
Mary Alice
Oh my!!! I hate, hate, hate parquet floors but you have made me love them!!! How gorgeous is this?! You are a rock star.
ADORE!!!
Sorry they gave you such a hard time but I think it was well worth it! I want to rip the carpet off our stairs nd landing so I can do something similar. I’m not brave enough yet!:(
Wow! They look great!! Job well done!
Oh thanks so much for this post – I have the paint already for me bedroom floor and don’t know where to begin! You’ve given me incentive with your gorgeous floors – Incredible job!
I’m definitely your newest follower – would love to have you come by for a visit and follow back :)
Wow! your floor looks fantastic.
Awesome!!
This is gorgeous! And hugs to you for painted this all by yourself!!! Thank you for sharing. Just lovely. Visiting from The DIY Dreamer. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-8.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Wow oh wow!! Jess, It seriously is incredible! And all of your hard work-sanding, painting, sanding,painting!! You are a studette!!
Thanks for sharing with us so we can all be inspired by you!!
Have a wonderful week!!
Meegan
Love this new look! Stopping by from Ginger Snap!
http://makingitfeellikehome.blogspot.com/
Your floor is gorgeous! Beautiful copy cat and transformation!
Oh wow! Your floor turned out so GORGEOUS!
That looks so awesome! I am so glad you stuck with it it.. it was DEFINITELY worth it!
Jessica it was worth every back breaking second! Your floor is one of the nicest I’ve ever seen! LOVE IT!!!!!
Susan
Homeroad.net
All that hard work was worth it! They are gorgeous! You might want to consider using a sealant on it?
I love the new look of the floors. Great job. I saw you over at Debbie’s. I would love for you to come and link this up to my party going on right now.
Your floor is amazing! I love it! You go girl!
Wow! What a great job you did, I’m sure a lot of sweat and tears went on while doing it, at least with me:), but it turned out fantastic!
It turned out just perfect. I love the look. Stopping by from Debbies CCC.
Wow!!!!!! What a fantastic transformation!!! Night and day!! So, do you go outside and shut the door so that you can come back in again?? I’d totally do that!!! :D
This is really great Jessica. I’m totally inspired to get off my butt and figure out what I’m doing with our blah kitchen table set. I’ll hug your over your floors if you hug me over our dining room chair cushions – 8 years of bachelors and 3 years with kids. They are NOT pretty. *sigh* Seriously great job on the floor. I LOVE IT!
OK, now I wish I had parquet floors somewhere in my house so I can do what you did. I love, love, love how you obtained the worn, beachy look…the parquet floor just enhances that. Thank you for linking up your beautiful floor with us at the All Star Block Party. I’m showing it off today on my social media sites (I’m sure I won’t be the only one!)
Shasta @InTheOldRoad
Wow! I love it Jessica! So awesome!
I love this. It’s such a fun “upgrade” and it looks TOTALLY beachy cool.
Thanks for sharing on Show & Tell at SNAP!
xoxo, Tauni
I, too, think it is the GREATEST thing ever!!!!!
I have parquet I want to do the exact thing with.
I have NO experience so have to ask the most obvious question (to most)…..how did you do the sanding? Please tell me not by hand?
If so, I CAN I CAN I CAN DO THIS!
Wow! That’s a whole lotta work – but the results are just WOW !
thanks for sharing – I found you through Thistlewood Farm!
gena
Oh, but it’s so beautiful now! Bet you’re glad you went to all that trouble. Stunning!
Brenda
I have those same parquet floors in my foyer and dining room. I would love to do something like this to them. Thanks for the inspiration!
Looks Great! Stopping by from 52 Mantels!
Great job!! I really LOVE your floor! Blocks, colors, all great! Liz
You rocked this one! I LOVE it!!!!!!! Pinning it and hoping to do that in my new house (or my old house) or where ever I live.
WOW! Your floor looks amazing! I would love for you to share this with my readers on my Blog Stalking Thursday Linky Party! http://www.thecraftyblogstalker.com/2012/08/blog-stalking-thursday-52.html
Way to go Melissa!!! You were persistent… you didn’t give up.. and now you have a FABULOUS floor!!
Thanks for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality!!
Wow, what a difference! Your foyer looks freakin’ great!!! You must be so, so pleased with the results. I have always loved painted floors. Congrats on one of the best copycats I’ve seen!!!
Linking from Debbiedoo’s,
xo,
Ricki Jill
Wow these look amazing! What a process but I bet it’s worth it-we just painted our first floors and it was easier than expected-love the distressed look too!
I would like to invite you to show off your wonderful wonderful floor at our linky party: http://www.finecraftguild.com/party/ . Thank you in advance for joining in! ~ Rose
It came out so awesome, Jessica!!! I am totally into check pattern right now, yours is perfectly beachy!! Just sorry it took so many tries. :) Thanks for linking this too!!
Well done on taking the plunge and painting the floors. They look fantastic and I love the new rug you bought to go with it.
OMGoodness! I had to come over to see what all the buzz was all about! You did a fabulous job! LOVe, LOVE , LOVE it!
Great job! You must be really happy now that you solved this little per peeve! I don’t know if it’s just the pictures, but your version looks better than the magazine, because of the underneath texture :)
Absolutely gorgeous. I’m wondering if I could do this to the floorboards in my bedroom…
You have just convinced me to do mine! I have the same kind of flooring in my kitchen!
That is amazing I love it……..I’d like to invite you to link up @ CountryMommaCooks party going on now-Mon…….and have a great weekend : )
That is one ambitious copy cat project! Your perseverance paid off. You did a fine job. I absolutely love the end result.
sharon @ mrs. hines class
Jessica your painted floor looks incredible!! I’m giving you a virtual congratulatory hug right now. Lol! You are inspiring me to do this in a little closet we have that has some yucky carpet. Well done and thanks so much for sharing this at Inspiration Friday!
Vanessa
Your floor turned out beautifully! I’m sending you hugs (lots) for enduring that process!
ooohhh baby that is beautiful! holy moly, i can’t get over it. now i feel like i need to do this at my house, which i’ve never wanted to do before! I just became your newest follower, and I would be flattered if you came and checked out my brand new blog, and if you like what you see, follow me too! Thanks for the awesome idea!
I’m in the same place, I love the look of painted floors- but I don’t think I’m brave enough. Your story of how you got to this beautiful floor terrifies me even looking at the great after pictures! You are one brave mama!
http://www.onceuponasewingmachine.com
What a great idea! It looks amazing! I would love for you to come link up your blog to my Get social Sunday link party!
http://alivedinhome.blogspot.com/2012/08/get-social-sunday.html
It’s party time over at Debt Free Mommy Blog! Please come by and link up your spaces with Making Space Mondays link party #10. I hope to see you there at http://www.debtfreemommyblog.blogspot.com! -Tabitha
I love your floor! Congratulations on pushing on and getting it done! It looks fantastic…I found your blog today and thanks for sharing all your fun ideas! Have a great day…
Wow, that looks really great! All your hard work paid off… and yes, I want to hug you and console you for having to live with the ugly “before” floor for all those years!
Tania
Here’s your *hug*.
:)
I LOVE the paint! And totally agree with the larger squares! You did a fabulous job…and I’m sure you’re so much happier now!
Kelly
Wow, you’ve made a great ENTRANCE!! You are so talented, what a fantastic job! Magazine worth. I’m visiting from Nifty Thrifty Tuesday.
FABBY
What a terrific entry. Love how it all blends so well together Jess.
You’ve been featured on the All Star Block Party. Head over to grab your button!!
WOW Jessica!! Your entry is amazing!!! Love it. I will be featuring it at my party Thursday. Thanks so much for partying with me!:)
Hi Jess, are you tired of your great floor being featured all over blogland? I hope not because I’m featuring it on my blog tonight for the start of this week’s All Star Block Party. I hope you’ll join us again. Keep up the good work!
Shasta @InTheOldRoad
http://intheoldroad.blogspot.com
Wow! Beautiful job! I love painted floors and you did an awesome job!
Another feature!!
http://www.nutmegplace.com/2012/08/all-star-block-party-10.html
They look AWESOME Jessica! I’m pretty sure my hubby would have freaked out a little. LOL but you did it and they look great!
Wow, that looks amazing! Did you use any sealer or wax over the paint? I love how the parquet pattern looks through the paint.
This turned out so cute and pretty!
So beautiful! I wonder if that would work on concrete? I think I’m going to try…
Amazing!! I LOVE it! Sharing at the party tonight~ thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!
Beautiful job! I love the color it adds to the entry.
OneCreativeMommy.com
I featured you tonight on Blissful and Domestic. Stop by and snag a button:>
http://www.blissfulanddomestic.com
Danielle @ Blissful and Domestic
Amazing!!! Magazine-like perfection! I’m featuring you tomorrow. Xo, Aimee
Hi-just wanted you to know I featued your amazing transformation on my blog today-haha reading the other comments I guess I was late to the feature party! Have a lovely weekend!!
This is an amazing transformation-just wanted you to know I featured your entryway on my blog today- Have a lovely weekend!
Jessica!! You continue to always amaze me!! There is so much fabulousness going on here!! LOVE it!! VERY well done, friend!
{HUGS},
kristi
Wow, that is amazing. I think i would have had some high anxiety painting hard woods, but it turned out great!
Thanks so much for linking up. Remember to link back or grab a button. and be sure to like us on facebook for contest updates and winners!
https://www.facebook.com/OneProjectCloser
THANKS!
Jessica.. wow! I love that you softened the paint with the sanding’s to a more worn look. My house is 1831, it was badly abused for 35 years of renters before we bought it 35 years ago. Each room has been an unending project in itself. This year my biggest project is to tackle the painted floors upstairs and the steps going up. I want to lighten them and paint some designs on them for character. May I ask what kind of paint you used since this is also a high traffic area.
I am a newbie here, I am enjoying all your posts. :)
Oh Jessica! I am so happy to find this post. Just bought an old farmhouse with parquet floors….cannot afford to cover at this time…I told my husband I should paint..he laughs….I am so glad to find proof that it can look good….so gonna do this! Girl, thank you so much…Blessings1
What an improvement from the wood floor. Looks amazing.
Bravo to you Jessica! I’m so proud of you for sticking with it, even when it wasn’t going exactly the way you wanted it. DIYing things is scary sometimes, and I’ve definitely messed a few things up, but because you stuck with it, there are probably MANY other floors out there copying YOUR idea now! Well done!
Debbie
Wow – I also have parquet crap – and painted my squares black & white. I’ve been wishing I’d gone for a lighter color and larger squares like you did eventually – but after handpainting all of that once, I haven’t been really motivated to sand it and start over! Thanks for the inspiration – I think I can get on it now. :)
LOVE IT!!!!!! I’ve wanted to paint mine for over 10 years…probably more like 15. It’s just a matter of getting everything out of this house in order to do so. Hopefully this summer!!!
How do I get the recipe for the Strawberry lemonade cupcakes? Thanks so.
Here is the link to the Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes, Michele!