Four Gables Update: New Flooring is Installed!

Of all the milestones in building Four Gables, installing our hardwood floors was one of the very first moments the house finally started to feel warm… inviting… alive.

There’s something about flooring that changes everything. Walls and framing give you structure, but floors? Floors give a home its soul.❤️

And today I’m excited to finally share all the details about our Select 3¼” White Oak solid hardwood floors!

Understanding White Oak Flooring Grades:

A grade doesn’t mean better or worse quality — it simply describes how much natural variation you’ll see in the wood.

Think of it like this:
all white oak is strong and durable, but some boards look more uniform, while others show more knots, color changes, and character.

Here’s a quick, easy breakdown:

Select (or Clear) Grade
This is the cleanest-looking option. The boards have very little variation in color and almost no knots. The overall look is smooth, calm, and classic. This is the grade we chose because we wanted the floors to feel timeless and let the rest of the house shine.

#1 Common Grade
This grade has a little more personality. You’ll see small knots and some natural color variation, but it still feels very balanced. It’s a popular choice if you want warmth and character without things feeling too busy.

#2 Common Grade
This is the most rustic option. It includes larger knots, darker streaks, and lots of variation from board to board. The character is beautiful, but it definitely makes the floor a focal point.

Character or Mill Run
This is a mix of different grades all together. The result is a very natural, collected look with plenty of variation. No two floors look exactly the same.

There really isn’t a wrong choice — it’s all about how much character you want your floors to have.

In our Kentucky home, we went with a common grade white oak, but for Four Gables, we decided to use select grade.

We considered wider planks at one point, but in the end, 3¼-inch planks felt more classic and truer to the cozy, cottage-inspired aesthetic we’re building at Four Gables.

These floors will live through muddy boots, holiday gatherings, dogs, spilled coffee, grandbabies crawling, and everything in between. White oak can handle all of it.

And our dog, Honey, thinks we made the right choice too!

Acclimating the Wood:

Before anything was installed, the flooring sat inside Four Gables for several days so the wood could acclimate to the temperature and humidity of the house. This step is crucial with solid hardwood — it helps prevent future warping or gaps. We put stacks of the flooring in each room upstairs and downstairs.

Installing our Flooring – with help from Adan!

One thing I love about this build is how many friends and family members have had their hands in different parts of it. It makes the house feel even more special. Cy and my boys have done most of the work, but he knew he wouldn’t have time to install the flooring.

So we called our friend Adan, who lives in Kentucky, to come down to help us. If you have followed me for a while, you know Adan. We have known him since 2002, and he has helped us with so many projects over the years. He and Cy love working together, and he’s really more like family.❤️

He spent long days bending, kneeling, measuring, tapping boards into place, and working with the kind of precision that only comes from years of experience.

Every time I checked in on him, I felt more and more grateful that he was the one laying the “foundation” of what our family will walk on every day.

The house looked so beautiful once all the flooring was installed…even without the stain! And I was so happy with the way the flooring looked…it was EXACTLY what I wanted!

Sanding + Staining + Polyurethane: Enter Zach from ZFloorz

As soon as the installation was finished, Zach from ZFloorz came in to work his magic on the stain and finish. He is Cy’s main floor guy for Hutcherson Homes.

Let me just say — good flooring guys are worth their weight in gold.
Zach is meticulous. Patient. And so knowledgeable about wood and finishes.

Before sanding, he skimcoats the floor all over the entire house with filler to make sure there are no imperfections in the wood.

Next, Zach sanded down the whole floor until it was baby-bottom smooth. This is the messy stage, but also the most satisfying.

Once the sanding was done… it was time for stain. Insert excited squeal here.

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Choosing the Perfect Stain: Provincial

Zach applied four different stain choices (that I picked out,) on the flooring to help me with my decision. I checked on the stains at different times of the day to see them in different lighting.

✨ Provincial ✨

It’s that perfect warm brown that isn’t too dark, isn’t too red, and isn’t too gray. A true classic. It enhances the natural grain of the white oak instead of covering it up.

When the test patch dried, I knew instantly: Provencial was the winner!

The moment the stain hit the wood, the whole house transformed.

White oak loves Provincial — it soaks in beautifully and brings out all those gorgeous grain lines.

The color instantly made the home feel warmer and more grounded.

Sealing With a Satin Polyurethane

We chose a satin finish because:

• It’s softer and more natural-looking than semi-gloss
• It hides dust, footprints, and everyday wear
• It feels timeless and organic
• And it complements the cozy English-country style we’re creating

Two coats later, the floors were absolutely stunning.

What’s Next at Four Gables

Now that the floors are finished, the next big milestone is…

THE CABINETS!

They’re in, and I cannot wait to share that post with you next. But I wanted to publish this flooring story first since the floors were the very first major installation inside the house.

This build is moving fast now, and every day brings us one step closer to living at Still Waters.

If you want to follow along in real time, I’m sharing daily updates on Instagram @beneathmyheart.

Four Gables is becoming home, y’all.
And I’m so grateful you’re here for every step. 🤎

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