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I don't have $30k for hardwood floors, and everyone in my neighborhood and price bracket has LVT. It's better than wall to wall carpet or ceramic tile. It doesn't feel good to hear designers shaming us for the LVT we can afford. Could we get tips for those of us who will never have million dollar homes? If not LVT and not engineered hardwood, then what other alternatives do we have for the same budget?

Changing out lighting, cabinet hardware, electrical switch plates, and door knobs all make a huge difference. These things all tend to be builder grade unless you have a custom home, and by upgrading them you can achieve a more luxurious look for very little money (lighting can get expensive...have a budget and stick to it.).

I have 5 year old solid cherry floors in my empty nest home. Husband wanted hard wood to replace porcelain tile that I LOVED that we had for 35 years - with kids - no muss no fuss. HW is "beautiful" but it's sort of a pain in the a$$, especially in my kitchen!! I insisted on each plank being caulked or whatever so it's like a gymnasium floor - low sheen Glitza sealed so that I can damp mop (not mop-hands and knees with Bona) but EVERYTHING you drop dings it, if you have doggies their nails will scratch sooo if you are a real family the LVM or beautiful,impervious tile makes sense. End of rant.😂

Only 1 argument (maybe a few more, but 1 for this discussion 😆): I have a washable rug in my kitchen. I don't want plush fibers in the kitchen. My thin and pretty washable runner is eminently practical along the sink and range. Not intended for plush walking, It adds a pretty design element while performing as a practical catchall for drips. Then wash, and voila! Nice rug again.

Hi Valentina! I’m in the luxury market in St. Louis and focus on new construction: all my clients do LVP or Laminate with homes over a million. No one wants hardwood in this area. Funny how areas are so different. Love your home and fashion channel ❤

LVT is huge now. Most of the parade of homes in Minnesota are using it in the model homes and yes million dollar homes. Need to do your research better. Especially in Florida. LVT is everywhere! More durable. Don’t worry about the moisture issues, termite issues, and water issues with dishwashers, etc.

I have LVP throughout my 1st floor. I guess real hardwood would be amazing, but this doesn't bother me, and I'm pretty picky. I think it's come a long way. 🙁

I rent an affordable condo from my brother. To keep it affordable he used laminate flooring which was also durable for my Gsp. I'm quite content with what I have and the reasonble rent, which is very high in Ontario Canada. He allows me to decorate including paint any colours I want. 😊 I listen to these videos and incorporate what feels good and affordable for me.

Ruggables has a thicker option that is great and there is also a thick rug pad option. The thinner versions are good choices for children's play areas, basements, etc. You might want to check this out. I would also feel safe taking a bet that the majority of the people watching your videos are not going to be able to tear their flooring out and install real hardwood. That is a very big undertaking in addition to the material costs. Quality-engineered hardwood is very hard to distinguish from real hardwood. It isn't expensive either but it is a more viable option for most families. As an architect, I can tell you that it is good customer service to give people options that they can actually afford rather than insisting that any choice but the most expensive is unacceptable.

$multi million home in san Diego but we have LVP. We love it and so does anyone who walks in. Anyone who says hardwood needs a reality check. Cheap is such a shaming term. We can be accepting of convenience.

My father was a Electrical Architect, therefore I grew up with a solid understanding that Lighting & def Placement is Everything ✨ And Please give Attention to overhead lighting that can destroy a luxe home!

Also, idk why but it annoys me when she says she has “high end clients” in her neighborhood. Automatically puts us in the peasant category. I like your channel Valentina, but I think this video was a miss.

In my area, eastern Canada, engineered hardwood is the preferred choice. Hardwood is approximately $2.00 per sq. ft. and engineered hardwood is approximately $8.00 per sq. ft.

I personally dont feel like painting everything black make a house feel classy. Id also keep in mind people have different budgets..

Did she just diss LVP? It's stronger, more moisture resistant and will last longer.

I have inherited several Persian rugs, I love them. but I listened to you Valentina.. Went online, found a carpet seller in Morocco, via Amazon I believe it was. A big Moroccan rug, white with charcoal/black pattern. Really lovely. It arrived after a couple of days with DHL. Really impressed. Rug was beautiful - the first 2-3 weeks.. Then it started shedding, just a few dots at first, then big balls of white wool.. and it never ended. The shaggy rug was not so shaggy, and it started looking really cheap.. Gave it away on Facebook Marketplace in the end - pictures there with the woolen balls! 🤣 Oh well. That's what you get from buying cheap. A few years back I bought a Turkish kelim for the kitchen on line from Turkey, this is still absolutely beautiful. Love it. Thanks for a fun video!

I have the washable rugs because I have 4 dogs . I’ve found that taking it outside to clean is a lot easier that a traditional rug and it still doesn’t fit in my washing machine. But I will say the thinnesses of it doesn’t bother me on the least because a well- worn rug is also thin. I like that look.

Thanks for giving those who are asking you, plus the rest of us, good ideas why something just feels or looks off in our spaces. Lighting, yes that can be a frustration for sure. Oh window coverings can make one crazy. Poor workmanship - oh dear 😳 Floors, I’ve heard every kind of complaint over the years. Do the best you can with the budget you have. But it sure helps to have someone give ideas. Thanks

Hi Valentina, Please try placing your black vase with the tan foliage up on the fireplace mantel. It will highlight the height & drama of that focal point in your room. As it is now it looks / feels off on the coffee table, because it blocks the view of your room, in an awkward way. Leave the other two tall black empty vases on the coffee table , for vertical interest, texture & contrast . Try it you might love it even better ! Also I love your new deeper hair color with your newer simple classic hair cut too !

Last time I spilled an entire carton of yogurt on the runner in my kitchen, I was so glad it was an adorable Ruggable rug and it went right into the washer!

So glad you always say to get the best quality we can for our budget and remind us to make purchases for a home that we’ll enjoy and deserve. I watch your videos everyday and I’m sure your lounge room is a permanent fixture in my lounge room. ❤

Thanks for all of your fabulous videos, Valentina! In the Colorado mountains where we have radiant in-floor heating we are encouraged to use very high end engineered wood flooring and the one our luxury designer picked was imported from Austria and cost WAY more than the gorgeous “real” wood we recently updated in our Austin home. Few people commented on our 100% real wood floors, but everyone comments on how much they love our new imported engineered wood floors in our mountain home!

I think one thing in your list is off….LVP. High end builders in Cincinnati are using it for durability. My friend had hardwood installed when building and her dogs scratched it so bad they look awful…her home isn’t old enough to justify sanding & refinishing yet. Animals & children are rough on flooring, so sometimes it comes down to lifestyle. And I haven’t seen where re sell is an issue with it either. Now if you’re speaking of a 3-5 million dollar house then hardwood would be preferred. Most of American and your viewers don’t fall into that category.

I’m not offended. I still have carpet in some rooms. We clean it and it looks nice and cozy. We also have laminate flooring that looks just like the real thing. I don’t need to impress my neighbors nor do I want to overspend for my area. I take her sarcasm lightly because I think she does it playfully. I love her tips and advice and have elevated my spaces by listening to what she shares. If people get offended, that’s on them.

I’ve recently painted my walls white and it feels like it added 4” to the height. Today I’ve put up black curtain rods just under the crown moulding and the walls feel 1ft taller. Can’t wipe the smile off my face. It makes the scrolly black metal and frosted glass pendant b**b lights go with them, and the faded dusty pink carpet and orange hardwood floors almost tolerable. Better is good. Thank you for all the great advice. 😊

Excellent! Even for apartment dwellers, improving lighting, draperies, or area rugs and paint are great ways to let you enjoy the space so much more, and YOU CAN TAKE IT WITH you when you move or purchase a home. Dimmer switches, light switch plate covers, all those touches. Just save theirs so you put it back! The great things move with you.

I've seen renowned designers choose to bypass hardwood in million+ dollar homes. These days alternatives are beautiful as well as practical. You may be way off-base with that one.

I keep in mind Valentina and Hack style to resell. The advice is solid but I DON’T NEED TO PULL OUT STUFF IN MY HOUSE RIGHT THIS MOMENT. When it needs replacing, then I can choose from her suggestions. Right now? I maintain what I have and keep what I love.

Oh, I have hardwood floors all right, in my owned co-op apartment built in 1950. The damn things squeak like crazy and I haven't seen any practical fixes for this. Our downstairs neighbor complains when we walk around in our socks on padded carpets. Hardwood: good. Hardwood over time: unpredictable. Any fixes, Valentina, would be most welcome.

*Shoddy Work* . When I purchased my home 9 years ago the bathroom had been remodeled but the one thing that drove me crazy was the baseboard. They had used the original ranch style baseboard with oddly cut quarter round that just looked hideous. $50 and a few hours of time, they have been replaced and now flow seamlessly with the space.

You're laugh is infectious. I love all ur videos.

LVT is all we could afford and I think it looks good! I’m sorry but this is the one time your criticism sounds a bit snobby. We looked at hardwood but it was too expensive. I love our floors and for us it was a good alternative. Guess we aren’t in the “Luxury” crowd.

Thank you for your videos. Can you make a video about flooring in more detail? Porcelain tile that looks like stone, different type of wood, etc. not about vinyl that everyone knows about and I personally dislike with passion. ❤

Not giving up my washable rugs, *nope!* Ruggable has thicker covers now, Lorena Canals' washable wool and cotton rugs are stunning (and def not cheap), and even IKEA has introduced large machine-washable flatwoven cotton rugs (including one for $39.99). Rugs are gross, and a clean rug is an amazing feeling. I’m never going back! ✨

After watching this video, I want to design my own dream home. I cant wait to implement these tips my designs.

I just visited an open house to a beautiful $1.7mill home and the LVP. The builder told us that this is the new normal. The mable flooring in the master bath was fake as well. I’m not sure what to think to be honest. I was surprised. I expect for an almost 2mill home that everything would be real

I’ve noticed that in the western US most people don’t use wood floors. It’s either tile or LVP.

Everyone seems to hate the b**b light as it is derisively called. I like it!

Those plants on the coffee table are unexplainable.

I am saving this video to show my husband that our new house build will have "Real Wood floors". We are building a "Organic Modern" lake house that will raised to prevent flooding.

The “band-aid” fix reminded me of the time we moved into a rental and under the sink was a portion of the dishwasher connection hose wrapped in ziplock and tie-dye print duct tape!😂

We are constantly upgrading our lighting. It just feels like after 4 or 5 years it’s outdated. You guys are amazing, thanks for all your video’s. Now I have to go remove my curtains😂

I'm a mutt. I have a super amazing, all organic, made-in-the-USA gorgeous Avacodo mattress, high-end blackout blinds and curtains, and great lighting but LVT throughout my ADU. This wasn't a 600k+ build; it's an ADU on my property. I will say I did get Ruggable rugs for my bedroom and living room but I hate them. They look great in terms of the design and print but Valentina is so right about the thinness. I want cushy rugs but not the 3k$ price tag.

You are so right! I'm on disability in Canada. I rent so we don't get to pick n choose our surroundings. It's cringy when a door gets put on upside down and inside out. Or the laminate flooring is warped and curling up. But there's nothing we can do. It blows! No matter what I do, it still looks a bit trashy😢

Omg! The boob light fixtures! I have them! 😢 ok, they're going this week! Thanks for the reminder! Love your videos! I'm in Atlanta as well. Wish my home looked like yours! 🥰

Bought a place with shotty work because I got an amazing deal since others werent buying it. I got to low ball and now I've got a loft by the beach with water views. Also horrible grey floors lmao. But, been fixing the shotty work and the floors are a maybe one day thing. Compromises were made and no regrets. Thankfully my styling has distracted from a lot of the not so great stuff.

I’m in Little Rock Arkansas. We are building a million dollar home and we toured several million dollar homes. I’ve only been in one that has real hardwood floors. All of the houses have LVP or laminate floors. We are building and we chose lvp. We went to several design stores and they said most people are doing LVP.

I agree vertical blinds aren’t the most attractive. But I have them in my sunroom on the doors out to the patio because I have cats. They like to look out those doors and cat fur and drapes do not agree. So they have a place I think.

the house we bought 5 years ago either had builder grade lighting or some terrible ikea lights that replaced whatever was there before. we changed out the boob lights for some lights we found at costco. they were brighter and allowed us to pic the color, cool or warm. they look nice too for being cheap lights, we put 1 in our walk in closet and one in the office. there are a few places we still need to change but these lights made a huge difference. - we live outside of ATL and our house was built in the mid 90s. we have cheap flooring. the downstairs is damage and we need to replace it but we did replace the upstairs flooring, the rooms had carpet and the rest was the same flooring as downstairs. we put real hardwood upstairs, its soooooo much nicer, i can't tell you how much i love it. when i walk up stairs and i see it, ahhhh my eyes are just happy. it's so nice to have this seamless flooring and not the carpet and cheap wood flooring. Downstairs since we don't have a basement we can't do hardwood on slab, thats what we've been told but we do want to put something nice when we redo it. My hubby installed the flooring himself to save money. it took him a while but he did 1 room at a time and it was worth it, we saved thousands. He also found the tools he needed on craigs list instead of renting and the place we got them was a little shady but they were tools that were returned to places like home depot or lowes, nothing wrong with them but the box was missing or broken but the tools worked so we saved about half price on that too. - I don't have a birch mattress but when we moved here we got new beds, we have the adjustable base tempur pedic mattresses, omg so worth it. we both have back issues and we are so happy with them, it was a splurge but totally worth it. we have the split king so we each get the firmness we want/need and we're both happy.

LUXE Wood Flooring, Lighting, window Coverings & even Accessories unfortunately cannot overcome the cheapening effect of... PAMPAS GRASS...in my humble opinion!!!

You mentioned that VLP is cheap for high-end homes. But what about the rest of us? My home is a $300k 3br townhouse. I covered my hardwood with LVP cuz I have cats. It's the best $10k I've ever spent. Unlike hardwood, LVP doesn't scratch, does rot when it gets wet, and won't get damaged by common household cleaners. Hardwood may be pretty to look at (often only from a distance), but it's impractical. My LVP has given me a peace of mind I wouldn't trade for the highest quality hardwood.

I dream of replacing the stained white carpet that came with my condo 20 years ago. It’s Berber and was beautiful at the time but alas, a cat. However, being on the top floor, with HOA soundproofing rules, I have few options. I don’t know what to do, especially since I’m well moved in and can’t imagine where my stuff would go if I even attempted replacement. So I do nothing. I guess that was more of a vent than a question 😂🤷‍♀️😊

I feel like LVP has gotten a bad rap. Hardwood is just not practical, you can’t put it in kitchen and bathroom, scratches and shows wear and tear. I have kids and cats, hardwood would def not hold up. I have a high quality LVP throughout my home and into the kitchen, it’s waterproof and scratch proof and looks so much like hardwood. I really think it’s a better option than hardwood.

I can’t afford hardwood floors. Nor would I take up all the tile which is 90% of my home. Luxury Planks are great! Tiles came with the house except bedrooms so we swapped carpet to LVP & it’s good.

I hate curtains. Two reasons: One, they have to be washed and therefore if you don't do it right, they stay dirty and wrinkly. Two, I hate having curtains bunch up on the sides.. that looks cheap to me. I don't use curtains, but instead plantation shutters. They let the light in and out. They don't take up more space than the window itself and therefore interfere with the decor. Sorry but that's my opinion and how I decorate my house. Another cheap thing are doors. I've seen some flimsy doors and I don't think they look good. Heavy and substantial doors and windows is what I like.

Do a video on guests sleeping over for the holidays! Please!!! Trundle beds with comfy mattress that can fit underneath. How to make room for guests when there is no guest bedroom…..etc.

Re light fixtures: relying too much on overhead lighting in general sucks. For crying out loud: get some lamps (with nice, warm shades) already -- and make sure they are not too bright.

Where is the beautiful timber coffee table?

If your rug fits into your washing machine, it's not a rug. It's a blanket.

Can you pls share your fireplace wall video and home tour too

Question: Can you recommend a good place/site to get a Ceiling Fan w/ Light in Black? Thank you for all the Awesome Tips & this Awesome Channel ❤

One word: DIY 😂😂😂😂 Those photos had me cracking up so hard !!! I might have to rewatch that whole section again because it was so good! 🙌🏻

You're right but my home is huge 4300 ft.² and there's several boob lights I haven't swapped out yet ... I just don't know what to replace them with

There are many quality levels of LVT or LVP flooring. The cheap stuff looks cheap. The expensive stuff looks great. There’s nothing worse than badly scratched hardwood floors when you have large dogs.

Thank you for sharing

Let me copy/paste of what I wrote to another commenter because when it comes to flooring I disagree with you- I had hardwood floors when I bought my home in 2009 and let me tell you is a PAIN IN THE ASS!!! If you have kids and pets I do not recommend hardwood floors because of the wear and tear and let me tell you refinishing those floors is NOT CHEAP either! I don't have the time and money to continually waste away because someone says it looks luxurious..pay my floors then 😂😂😂 We renovating and it has been HIGHLY recommended luxurious vinyl planks because it looks like hardwood and recommended for people who have animals and kids, very durable..no worries that's her opinion 😂😂😂 I had hardwood and trust me it is a hype!

Most people don’t want real hardwood floors too much maintenance even some million dollar home owners at least here In California some million dollar homes are barely even upgraded

Omg re mattresses - they are so important!!! If I had to pick one thing that would be it. Health & sleep go hand & hand

Quality for the price, I like the sounds of that 😊

I love my Ruggables for kitchen and hallways, and wash them regularly. Nothing more disgusting than a kitchen rug you can’t wash. But I agree 💯 on the living room. Hard to make that thin covering look lush.

So good and on point!

Our home would look best with the same flooring running through all rooms except the bedrooms. I would never want hardwood in the kitchen, even if we could afford it. LVP would be a much better choice since hardwood would be ruined if the dishwasher flooded or some other disaster happened.

I thought engineered hardwood is as pricey as hardwood or almost as pricey. People prefer that more nowadays due to the wider planks..

what floor do you suggest for kitchens and bathrooms. My 1860 house has hardwood but former owner replaced with pergo in K&B. It needs replacing now Hardwood won’t work in a wet environment. Everyone says LVP?

Yeah, I remember mural wallpaper the first time around and how everyone was thrilled to finally be rid of it as they scraped it off their walls. Don’t care if it’s back in vogue. It’s a very niche item that won’t be resurrected in any of my homes.

-even on real estate listings, I want to rip down the window panels! If you cannot afford for a designer/expert to come in,- don’t do them. We have a three story home with tons of windows. We had a few tinted to reduce sunlight and called it good. THANKS FOR THE GREAT CONTENT AS ALWAYS!

I got a 9×12 ruggable and regret it...yah I tried throwing it in the washer didn't fit and I've got a big washer.only way your gonna wash that sucker is if it's a 3×5 or smaller..so I used a carpet cleaner machine which made me think okay I can do that with a regular rug thats plush and comfortable...if your gonna get a ruggable save your money and use construction paper feels the same.....

Hello! And thank you for your informative videos! I am a subscriber, and often agree with your opinion...thank you again!. However, today's youtube post regarding LVP flooring was definitely a House Of Valentina personal opinion. Perhaps, of just one person, or of all business affiliates. Either way, we're all entitled to our likes and dislikes. And that includes you my trusted friend. I just had LV flooring installed with a major moody mid century makeover of my great room, and I, including everyone else love's it! I believe that you always want the viewer to absolutely love what they've chosen to invest in when it comes to space and finances. So as a solvent to this subject...perhaps, choice or options of luxury vinyl flooring could be recommended in addition to hard wood flooring. In my opinion that's the only thing that was omitted from your post my friend. I applaud your intention to want the best for us all. Happy Holidays and bless you!🥰

I hate ceiling fans with lights however summers are so hot here in VA that it’s necessary. Do you have any ideas?

Paint your fireplace a very dark green.

Valentina, I like your ring on your right hand. Can you send a link where I can buy it?

Everything is wonderful when you get it for free. I like the rest of us we have to pay for this stuff

I like this video. Gonna look around and assess my house and do what I can.

Thank you for the mattress recommendation!!! I was literally just thinking about how to find a mattress that is good for the planet!!

California law has outlawed “real” hard wood for new home builders and contractors with exception to current requirements of residential replacement. People love the low maintenance and durability of laminate floors. It’s crazy but they are so engineered and durable much better than real hardwood that gets scratched and marked by moving furniture and high heels marks.. it’s just a tree thing and better for the environment all the way around and not to mention almost all homes are over one million dollars out here in California.

Love your videos! ❤

I’m having a hard time finding the right dining light. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

If a homeowner cannot afford a pro, I give them credit for trying to improve it themselves. An ounce of praise is worth a pound of criticism. Don’t crush a person’s spirit.

What's your favorite room spray Valentina?? =)

Most people in the US definitely do not have hardwood floors!

Wanting curtains isn't an irrational fear! Bare windows look unfinished.

Today is my birthday!

Walking distance to the beach, we installed engineered walnut flooring from Germany 20+ years ago. It was recommended by every installer and way more expensive than hardwood. Just saying…

Awesome tips V!! Blessings!!

Hi Valentina! Love your channel and Jack cracks me up every time. Can you include renters with your tips? Of course we won't be putting down new floors but just non permanent things we can do to jazz up our rental homes? Thanks!

Wow , I’ve loved your videos always , but certainly not everyone can afford hardwood flooring - LVP is so much better than carpet

💯 on the hard wood floors; however, if it’s a lake or beach house, it may not be the best choice. Nonetheless, what you put into a home has to be commensurate with its price point. And if you must use vinyl flooring, then I really think it should be in a color of actual wood, anything else (i.e. greys) make it really look fake, cheap and will date it very quickly.

Arizona is a next level for DUST. Curtains are not an option. Any suggestions aporeciated

The kids toys throughout my house hahaha but it’s okay I don’t live in a showroom