Thanks to all those persevering with me, or even just stopping by to see what's happening. I should probably confess that I don't intend to start anything until the New Year, except maybe some wallpaper stripping during the Christmas holiday, so that still leaves me 4 full months to 'perfect' any ideas that come my way. I'm also finding Floorplanner a little addictive. Far more entertaining for me than any of these premium computer games. If only enthusiasm and creativity came in equal measures. Thank you for those layout images Carolina. They have helped a little, if negatively. Seeing the vestibule size & shape, along with the way it changes the living room make me inclined to leave it as it currently is. Not only smaller, but it has, at least to me, a better look & feel. Another thought I had is that I'm unlikely to put any shelving in the larger alcove. I don't really have anything I could use shelves that size for. The small alcove would be ideal for some books & DVDs, but for the few I still have it would be enough. Plants wouldn't be an option either as the corner doesn't really get enough natural light. I'm still toying with the idea of having my computer desk in the smaller alcove. the main problem here is the gas & electric meters in the cupboard below. So far I'm working on two possible solutions, but if anyone has any thoughts on how, or even if I should do it, feel free to share them. My first idea was to have a desk (style to be decided) with the monitors on. I could have a pull out shelf underneath for the keyboard, similar to the one I have now. The meters would be housed in a small cupboard, though not much smaller than the current one, with the computer accessories on top of it. The second idea, which started from the earlier suggestion from Jenny, would be to just have a larger cupboard hiding most of it when not in use, and I just open the cupboard doors when using it. The second option is much better for legroom as, apart from the meters, there's plenty of space between them.

You’re right to be cautious! Scotia beading is meant to be nailed or clipped into place, not glued directly to the laminate flooring. This is because laminate flooring expands and contracts with temperature and humidity changes. If the scotia is glued to the laminate, it could restrict this natural movement, potentially causing the laminate to buckle or warp over time. Ideally, the scotia beading should be attached to the wall or skirting board, not the floor. That allows the laminate floor to expand and contract without interference. If you're worried about it, you might ask a professional to assess the situation and possibly remove the glue to avoid any future damage.

Flooring family here , son is a fitter, husband works for a supplier and I worked in a carpet shop . The reason they have to use a scotia is they have to leave what is called an expansion gap . This allows for the wood laminate to expand and contract depending on the seasons as anything with wood will expand and contract. They should have explained this to you before fitting . If you had LVT like the picture with a border some has put on this doesn’t need a gap hence being able to butt right up to the bottom step . The only thing you can do as you will need an expansion gap is to build up the riser below the bottom stair to cover the gap and then fit underlay and carpet over the top. Just seen this post is a few days old now , hope you got it sorted out

Hi Charlotte, Can I start by saying it looks like your husband has done a great job fitting this herringbone floor, especially if it’s engineered. All the other edges seem to be neatly laid underneath, like the undercut skirting. I’m guessing he’s left the gap around the stair balustrade as you shouldn’t undercut that (for obvious reasons). As mentioned before, you can go for a scotia or beading from a local DIY or flooring accessories store. You could either match it to the floor, which should be easy enough since natural oak is a very common colour, or paint it to match the balustrade. Another option is to use something called a flat bead, which I’ve attached pictures of here. This has a flatter profile, sitting on the wood and being less noticeable than scotia or beading. All the best in finishing your new hallway floor. The Floor Warehouse team