For the past 22 months, I have lived in a complete state of chaos as we have moved walls, added spaces and put character back in this house.

With heat, without heat and with makeshift heat. With piles of dirt in the kitchen and calculations and shop drawings on every available surface.

And the dust, don't get me started on the dust. I am the only person I know who vacuums herself before leaving the house. The only problem is that I often have a white plasterdust pouf on my back or my butt that I couldn't reach.

After all the trials, thing that bugged me the most was not being able to have quality floors, beneath my feet - especially in the kitchen. Call me old fashioned but I don't think a floor you can eat off of, is such a bad thing.

My floors had gouges, purple plumbers glue, spray painted lines to clarify the footprint for future cabinets and the worst offense, they were going the wrong way - having been laid width wise instead of length wise.

Well today was finally the day I have been waiting for.

The day that signals we are closing in on the grand finale of this renovation — the new hardwood floors went in. That means we are down to moulding, cabinets and appliances and we are done!

First Chris installed the radiant heat in the subfloor. There's over 500 feet of hose in my house.

Here's a close up of the floor I chose.

Then Leo and his partner from Verrazano Floors started in the middle of the Parlor level and worked away to the ends.

Here's a view from the stairs looking through the new kitchen and into the dining room.

Here's a view from the stairs to the front door.

Here's the view of my new "mud floor" in the entry which I laid yesterday.

Of course this hereby launches the official "shoes off" policy. Though I doubt anyone would blame me - at least not for awhile.

Tonight I am going to celebrate by drinking champagne on my new, toasty warm, beautiful oak, bare hardwood floors. I just want to stare at them for awhile!

~Laurie