Floor design question

[Fstbttms]

I am installing a laminate floating floor in my sunken livingroom this weekend. The adjoining dining room will be done at a later date. My wife and I are debating the proper orientation of the flooring planks. I say the planks in the livingroom should be oriented east-west and the planks in the dining room north-south. My wife thinks both rooms should be north-south. Those of you with experience, what do you say? Bear in mind that my drawing isn't very proportional. The longest dimension of the livingroom is actually east-west.

Edit: Maybe I should've mentioned that there is no wall dividing the two rooms. It is essentially one large room with a vaulted ceiling. You can step down into the livingroom from anyplace along the eastern end of the dining room.

[Freesail99]

I disagree with you. If you run the floor the length of the room, the room will look much larger then it is. In your case I think if you were to run the boards the other way, the upper section would look very stout and boxy. Both levels should run in the same direction.

[sailingdog]

Generally, it will look better if the planks go the long dimension of the room. Is the long dimension of the dining area N-S?? It is also generally less work to have the planks run the long dimension of the room... having done about a dozen of these installations myself.

Having the two floors with the planks in different directions will help differentiate between the two spaces, provided you put in a threshold strip of some sort to clearly delineate the border. Is the dining area raised compared to the living room? If so, the threshold strip isn't necessary, but some sort of edging on the living room side will be necessary.

If you're doing Pergo-type laminate flooring, getting the joints tight is probably the hardest part, and not doing it will leave it obvious that it is a laminate floor.

[ADMTROX]

I am sorry, I think it is fairly obvious here. Your wife is right! Wives are almost always right. LOL

[bljones]

Where is the focal point of the living room? I see the window on the E wall, is there anything on the north wall? which wall is the main entrance to the room on? I'm no Martha Stewart or nuthin', but the planking in both rooms should be oriented the same way, and I fall into the N/S school of thought. If the flooring is running in two different directions in two different rooms without a separating wall, it looks hacked.
Of course, if you're real good with a saw, have lots of time and want a really dramatic effect, run the flooring on the diagonal.

[sailingdog]

My understanding is that the dining area is raised from the livingroom, so the floors in the two rooms are not contiguous.

Originally Posted by bljones

Where is the focal point of the living room? I see the window on the E wall, is there anything on the north wall? which wall is the main entrance to the room on? I'm no Martha Stewart or nuthin', but the planking in both rooms should be oriented the same way, and I fall into the N/S school of thought. If the flooring is running in two different directions in two different rooms without a separating wall, it looks hacked.
Of course, if you're real good with a saw, have lots of time and want a really dramatic effect, run the flooring on the diagonal.

[bljones]

contiguous or not, they still meet without a dividing wall to provide visual distraction.

T'underin' Judas, did I just use the phrase "visual distraction"?

Why do I have this sudden craving for a Cosmo?

Uh... hey SD, do these jeans make my butt look fat?

[sailingdog]

Yes, but that's only because your butt is fat...

Originally Posted by bljones

contiguous or not, they still meet without a dividing wall to provide visual distraction.

T'underin' Judas, did I just use the phrase "visual distraction"?

Why do I have this sudden craving for a Cosmo?

Uh... hey SD, do these jeans make my butt look fat?

[Shade]

I'd say East to West. Because when the sun rises in the morning, it would cast a better reflection upon the floor, and also make the room seem larger and longer.

[Fstbttms]

Decided to go with my wife's preference- north/south both rooms. Whaddaya gonna do?