The three R’s in Green

“Going Green” can mean many different things. There are now lawyers, architects and consultants that have made green buildings their entire business. The “Three Rs” can help anyone get started to understanding the environmental impact of their flooring selections:

Recyclability – The floor made with post-consumer or post-industrial recycled material. Ideally the materials can even be recycled again into additional products, such as certain carpet fibers.

Rapidly Renewable – Floors are considered “green” if they can be quickly replenished. Bamboo is cut and then grows back from the same stump; sometimes at four feet per day. Wool carpets obviously come from sheep. There are durable, attractively priced carpets made of corn fibers.

Regional – Is the material made or distributed close to home, defined as a 500 mile radius of your location? In the Tennessee area, that might be oak floors, certain tile products or carpet products out of Georgia.

That’s the “Three Rs”; basics to being green. Textures Flooring is a good source for more specific green product ideas.

Nashville Flooring Design Trends

Today’s Nashville homeowners are more stylish than ever. With hit TV shows providing inspiration and ideas, consumers are looking for not only functionality but style too. Flooring, the foundation of a space’s design theme, has never had a more critical role. Fashionable options include carpet, hardwood and stone.

In Nashville carpet is still the most popular floor covering sold. Not only does it provide warmth, softness and durability, carpet provides options. Today’s styles are fantastic, combining elements of natural earthy looks with designer lines and striations. Carpet mimicking sisals or sea grass offers a low profile look that can either be the highlight of a room or a subtle backdrop.

Hardwood flooring is an elegant and time-tested floor covering that is always popular. Wider planks and exotic wood species are today’s calling cards. Brown tones are also very popular; think walnut or saddle colors. Distressed floors mimic a classic-aged look providing a unique ambiance and additional warmth to any room.

Stone and tile are durable and timeless. It is hard to imagine a more beautiful floor than natural stone. People love the feeling of bringing nature into their homes and a stone floor accomplishes that. Earth tones are the obvious colors for this material, and size does matter. Stone is available in all sizes from a mosaic to large slabs. The space should dictate the size and pattern.