Updating Our 90s Home With Coordinated Hardwood & Vinyl Planks
This post is sponsored by Malibu Wide Plank.
When we decided to update the floors in my husband's childhood home, we knew we had our work cut out for us.
The flooring hadn’t been touched since the 90s—vinyl tile in the kitchen and worn-out carpet in the living and dining areas. It just didn’t reflect our style anymore, and we were ready to give the entire space a fresh, cohesive look.
Here's how we tackled our DIY flooring makeover using Malibu Wide Plank in the color Astoria—both in engineered hardwood and luxury vinyl plank (LVP).
Spoiler alert: the transformation was so worth it!
Table of contents
Tools and Materials
- Malibu Wide Plank Engineered Hardwood (Astoria)
- Malibu Wide Plank Luxury Vinyl Plank (Astoria)
- Flooring saw
- Jigsaw
- Oscillating multi-tool
- Utility knife
- Pull bar
- Rubber mallet
- Tape measure
- Spacers
- Damp rag
- Underlayment (for engineered hardwood)
- Adhesive for tongue & groove seams
- Broom or vacuum
Step 1: Clear the Room
We started by moving all of the furniture out of the way. It’s not the most glamorous part, but trust me, a clean slate is essential before jumping into demo mode.
Step 2: Remove Old Flooring
We tore out the old carpet in the living and dining areas.
Underneath? A sea of tiny staples in the subfloor—so fun, right? Not really. But removing them is a must if you want a smooth surface for new flooring.
In the kitchen, we chose to leave the existing vinyl tile in place and install the new LVP directly over it. More on that later.
Step 3: Prep the Subfloor
With everything cleared, we gave the subfloor a thorough sweep to make sure there was no dust or debris. Then we rolled out the underlayment for the engineered hardwood areas.
This layer helps with sound absorption, adds a bit of cushion, and provides moisture protection.
We also taped spacers around the walls in every room to leave space for an expansion gap—super important so the floors can expand and contract naturally with temperature changes.
Step 4: Install the Engineered Hardwood
We chose Malibu Wide Plank Engineered Hardwood in Astoria, and wow—it’s stunning.
Each box comes with planks in four different lengths, which made staggering the pattern really easy and gave everything a high-end, custom feel.
Cutting & Fitting:
- For straight cuts, we used a flooring saw.
- Around the pillars, we pulled out the jigsaw for custom cuts.
- At doorways, the oscillating multi-tool helped us undercut the door jambs so planks could slide right underneath.
Installing:
- The engineered hardwood has a tongue-and-groove design. We used adhesive between the seams for a snug, secure fit.
- Kept a damp rag nearby to wipe any excess glue before it dried.
- Used a pull bar and rubber mallet to tap each piece into place and close up the seams tightly.
Step 5: Install the Luxury Vinyl Plank in the Kitchen
In the kitchen, we went with Malibu Wide Plank LVP, also in the color Astoria. I love that we could match the color exactly between the two materials—it makes the whole space feel cohesive, even though we used different products.
One of my favorite things about this vinyl? The underlayment is already attached, so we saved a step and could install it directly over the old tile.
Cutting & Fitting:
- For straight cuts, we scored the plank with a utility knife and snapped it.
- Around cabinets and tight spaces, we used the jigsaw.
- At door jambs, we undercut again with the oscillating multi-tool.
Installing:
- This LVP uses a click-and-lock system, making it super beginner-friendly.
- Just like with the hardwood, we used the pull bar and mallet to lock everything into place.
The Final Result
This flooring update completely transformed the home. The Astoria color is cozy, warm, and timeless.
Even though we used two different materials, the matching tones tie everything together seamlessly.
The vinyl is perfect for the kitchen—waterproof, stain-proof, and dent-resistant—while the hardwood brings a natural warmth to the living areas.
Malibu Wide Plank Engineered Hardwood (Astoria)
Malibu Wide Plank Luxury Vinyl Plank (Astoria)
Thanks to Malibu Wide Plank for helping us bring our vision to life. We couldn’t be happier with the result!
Comments
Join the conversation
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Well 👍🏾 done
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Wow great job. I love the extra hands you had at the start. What a great help to have caring hands to give a helping hand where they can. Love the work between a couple. Wish my husband could feel confident enough to take on a project with me.
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