We're Floored

By all the choices when it comes to hardwood, vinyl, and tile options for our basement. With winter coming and beer still brewing regularly, we started thinking seriously about putting flooring down. The plywood subfloor gets wet quite a bit with the brewing action, and it's hard to keep it clean. Fortunately our basement is mostly above ground (our house was built into a slope) so we don't have moisture problems...well, at least the naturally occurring kind. Instead we have the it-looks-like-a-toddler-bathed-in-here puddles.

With that in mind, we narrowed our choices down to ceramic or vinyl tiles. The floor gets a lot of wear (if you remember, we also have a workshop down there), which in addition to the waterproof requirement, pretty much eliminates traditional hardwood. Laminate or engineered wood floors could be an option, but we were still worried about denting them (dropping tools, moving equipment, etc).

I was cruising the flooring aisles at Home Depot when I came across a new product called vinyl plank. Now this ain't your momma's vinyl, so before you dismiss it-hear me out.



Looks real, eh? It even has texture, so walking on it will feel similar to real wood. But this stuff is totally waterproof. Not only that, it installs in a jiffy-you only need a utility knife and a tape measure. The grip strips on 1 long and 1 short side overlap, which bonds the floor planks to each other-not to the subfloor. Light scoring and snapping is all it takes to cut planks to size. This type of installation is called a floating floor. Price-wise it's reasonable ($1.79/sq ft here), more expensive than laminate or traditional vinyl but less expensive than most hardwood or even engineered wood products. Plus, when you factor in the cost of floor prep for laminate or hardwood, I think the vinyl tile really flexes its muscles as both an economical and aesthetically appealing choice.

So far, we're digging the "Teak," but stay tuned for an update when we make our choice and install a basement floor!

An Affair To Remember

As far as appliances go, there are tons of completely unncessary ones on the market. The Keurig machine, however, is not one of them. But you know, I never really drank much coffee.



I do now.



I mean those tiny little cups are just so irresistible. Perfectly portioned and air tight, the way the seal pops in the machine makes me giggle like a small child. Even the gurgling sounds-a-bit-like-bodily-functions stream of caramel colored liquid is mesmerizing enough to make my eyes pop out of my head Bugs Bunny style. Are you feeling the love yet?

If the very thought of owning one of these beauties is making you drool with envy, let me give you a tip. Bed, Bath, and Beyond carries Keurigs and the sweet little cups (which can also be found at your local grocer), and sends out 20% off coupons regularly that never expire (despite the fact that they are dated). So while $139 (for the Special Edition) might sound a bit steep, thinking of the 20% off plus a lifetime of perfect hot beverage goodness will ease the blow. Trust me, once you sip your first cup of liquid gold, you'll forget all about the price tag.