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Flooring Forecasts for 2012

admin — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:54:58 +0000

Carpet

Colors are very much in demand with decorators this year. Shaw Carpets has reworked their carpet line with bright bold colors suitable for any room. In addition to color, look for texture – sculpted carpets in contemporary patterns and shaggy shags with multi color threads. WOW!

Retro colors are making a big come back for those of you who prefer dark warm floors. Look for carpets in delicious colors like chocolate and kiwi.

Look for low profile flat weaves or cable knits that give light airy feeling to any room. The colors home decorators prefer tend to be off-white, wheat, ecru, dusty grays and pastels.

Cork Flooring

Cork floors are taking the flooring market by storm; discover why Europeans have been using cork as a floor covering for years and why North Americans are falling in love with this environmentally friendly flooring alternative. Anti-microbial and cushiony soft, cork is an ideal choice for homeowners who want to keep their homes free of allergens and also enjoy a tranquil existence by diminishing noise. Cork floors are made from the harvested bark of the cork oak tree which is grown in the forests of the Mediterranean. Because the tree is not cut down to make the flooring, and the bark is a renewable resource, it is desirable flooring for environmentally aware consumers.

Hardwood flooring has been around for centuries and yet, it never goes out of style.

Now, more than ever, homeowners are returning to the timeless beauty of real hardwood floors.

For 2012 hardwood flooring trends include wider planks with deeper richer colors. Hardwood floors have a comforting, solid sound that most laminates can’t equal, and they can be refinished over and over again, creating a floor that can last for decades. Hardwood floors add elegance and beauty to any decorating style and the latest trend in wood floors is hand-scraped hardwood flooring. This old world appearance is in demand with homeowners looking for a rustic finish. The timeless classics include – Oak, Cherry, Pine, Maple Hickory, Pecan, Beech, Birch, and Walnut.

No matter which floor covering you choose, it should be serviceable for your lifestyle, and if you are building a new house or renovating an older one, your choices in floorings are endless.

Flooring sets the tone of the room – the look and feel of a room – but beyond appearance, the ultimate decision on which flooring material will be installed should be based on how a room is used.

For example, a room in which there is heavy foot traffic needs a hard wearing floor whereas a bedroom floor needs to be soft and cozy on the feet.

Ethical Floor Coverings – Now more than ever, it’s easy for the average homeowner to make environmentally friendly choices when it comes to home flooring products.

Laminate Flooring – Originally from Europe, laminate floors have taken over the floor covering market with the practical benefits of being durable, hard wearing, and beautiful. Laminates are replicating stone, and granite for endless decorating possibilities.

Hardwood Floors – Today’s hardwood floors are adding old world elegance with a new twist, moving more toward distressed planks, wider widths, and the introduction of exotic woods.

Linoleum – The original environmentally friendly floor covering, linoleum is available in a wide selection of colors and patterns, suitable for any decorating solution.

Carpet – The most practical home flooring, carpet brings color and warmth into every room. Endless patterns, colors and textures still make carpet the number one selling floor covering today.

Cork Flooring – Comfortable to walk on, incredibly warm underfoot, and discover the beauty of cork flooring and what it can do for your home.

Bamboo Floors – An environmentally friendly hardwood, bamboo is fast becoming one of the most popular flooring trends.

Floor Tile – A decorators dream come true, ceramic floor tiles offer timeless beauty and durability. Travertine tile is also another flooring option becoming more and more popular this year.

Area Rugs – These versatile splashes of color ground a room, giving it personality and function. This year, luxurious shag rugs are a big hit with decorators.

Vinyl Flooring – Offering the look of stone, ceramic tiles and hardwood – sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles are a natural solution for today’s homeowner looking for quality and design.

The Unexpected Floor Covering

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:49:57 +0000

The Unexpected Floor Covering

Submitted by Annette Callari, A.S.I.D.; CMG

Most of you have toured professionally designed model homes in your area. Designers turning out those models all seem to have something in common: they have been successful in integrating an element of surprise. What makes a room or a home memorable is the application of materials in a way you might never have thought of. Some of my most seasoned design associates cruise Home Depot in search of novel materials to adapt to home environments. Crazy? Maybe. But when you see the finished product, it appears more ingenious than crazy. The fact that they get requests to replicate what’s been done in the models is testament to the fact that this brand of “craziness” seems to have broad appeal.

If you are among an elite set of homeowners who definitely want something extremely unique for your floor coverings, read on–this article is for you. Before I tell you what this flooring material is, let me outline some of its features:

This resource is renewable and sustainable
No matter how much foot traffic it endures, or how long furniture stands on it, it retains its shape and elasticity
It’s a natural fire inhibitor
It insulates against heat and cold and maintains a warm floor temperature in your home
It has excellent acoustic properties, as it absorbs ambient sound
It is naturally anti-static
It has an inherent cushioning nature
Its properties prevent the cultivation of mold and resist dust mites and insects
This material is resistant to moisture penetration
It is an excellent choice of flooring for rooms used by children or the elderly

Have you been able to guess what flooring material this is? I will give you one more factoid: it became popular in the United States when renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright chose CORK flooring for many of his home designs. I kept you in suspense long enough, so there you have the answer.

Today’s cork floors offer selection, performance, and beauty and can be manufactured as tiles, planks, or even sheets in various thicknesses. The cork goes through a baking process that increases its durability, and is then sealed with polyurethane or wax. One very impressive fact to note is that there is practically no waste–from the harvesting of the raw material–to the finished floor, making it highly desirable as a “green” product. The bark is taken from a cork oak tree and harvested without any negative environmental impact. In fact, the bark actually re-grows and can be harvested again in nine to twelve years! So how do you account for different colorations if this is an all-natural product? It’s the amount of time the cork is baked (in specially designed ovens) that contributes to its light, medium, or dark coloration. The manufacturing process prior to baking is not so different from the manufacture of cork wine-stoppers.

Cork floors are, more or less, synonymous with comfort and gentleness underfoot. This might be your material of choice if you have toddlers and small children at home who seem to be always prone to falls. Homes for the elderly often incorporate cork as the flooring of choice for its unique level of comfort and warmth. If you stand for long periods of time, cork underfoot helps relieve back stress and leg fatigue. But, as adaptive to residential use as this material is, cork has been utilized in commercial settings for quite some time. Conference rooms, libraries, churches, and banks are just a sample of its unique applications. Dating back to the turn of the century, two famous installations included the First Congressional Church in Chicago and the old Toronto Stock Exchange.

Knowing the facts about cork flooring isn’t quite enough. Understandably, your next question will be, “how do I care for a cork floor?” Here are some of the recommendations, according to one of North America’s finest manufacturers of cork flooring, TORLYS Inc., a Canadian company known internationally for its European styling and design-driven collections:

Wipe away spills at once
Damp mop the floor occasionally
Vacuum and sweep regularly to clean dirt and grit that can cause abrasion to the floor
Place breathable mats and rugs at entrances to prevent dirt and debris from being tracked in
Use a mat in front of the kitchen stove and sink to prevent wear due to excessive use
Use felt pads under furniture legs to prevent scuffs
If the finish is appearing dull, have your floors recoated to protect the cork
As with any floor covering material, use window coverings to prevent excessive exposure to direct sunlight

What NOT to DO:

Don’t wet mop a cork floor. Avoid excessive moisture
Don’t use mats with rubber backings. (They trap moisture and affect the finish of the floor)
Don’t walk on cork floors with stiletto heels
Don’t drag heavy furniture across a cork floor. Better to lift and place to protect the floor

There you have a quick and easy “manual” on how to care for cork floors: fairly easy maintenance with a good measure of common sense. Given all the wonderful attributes you’ve just learned about this product, the most impressive of all still lies in the fact that it is one of the most environmentally responsible floor coverings available. That extends from the harvesting of the material to the lifespan of the product and its recyclability! One additional benefit to choosing a cork floor: yours will be one of a kind. Each batch of cork is unique and patterns encompass a wide range, from classic looks to burled designs. Pictured with this article is TORLYS pattern, “Florence”, which is a 4-sided micro bevel tile with TORLYS’ Uniclic® system. Visit TORLYS, Inc. on line for more information.

Any way you look at it, cork is making a name for itself, and that would be over and above what it has always done to top your favorite wine.

Part 3 – Easy…inexpensive…decoration tips anyone can do!

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:50:18 +0000

Serenity with a soft, soothing palette

Dream of cities you’d like to visit (or loved ones who live there) by hanging clocks dedicated to their time zones.

Bring out the richness of a hardwood floor with earthy tones―blues, greens, browns.

Larger throw pillows on your couch gives a cleaner design.

Transform a corner of the couch into a reading nook with proper lighting.

Pair busy accessories with a simple sofa.

Tie together dissimilar patterns with a like element, such as color.

Part 2 – Easy…inexpensive…decoration tips anyone can do!

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:38:02 +0000

Color on Walls

Introduce color on the walls to make a room warm and lively.

Select Furniture that Completes your Look

Streamline the look of a room.

Pops of Color

Add pop to a neutral room by adding a few smart hits of color.

Select a Mirror that Works with the Room

Make a room appear brighter and larger by positioning a mirror to reflect light and a view.

Throw Pillows

Invest a couch with a modern, informal sensibility by tossing on odd number of throw pillows. For something more traditional, do an even number.

Embrace robust colors.

(Green has actually been shown to create a sense of calm and comfort.)

Create a modern décor

Use bright colors and fuss-free pieces.

Part 1 – Easy…inexpensive…decoration tips anyone can do!

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:54 +0000

Hang a Collection

Hang an eclectic collection of silver trays to serve as eye-catching ornaments.

Mix Materials and Textures

Give a living room depth by mixing materials and textures.

Embrace a Wild Print

Mix in a bold accent―like a zebra print―to add some contrast to a low-key sofa.

Trick a Small Space into Feeling Bigger

Use transparent tables in small spaces to give them an uncluttered feel.

Group Similar Objects Together

Group objects by theme―here, different typographical elements―to create a point of interest on a mantel or shelf.

Shop with Style and Function in Mind

Choose a living-room lamp that’s lovely to look at, whether it’s on or off.

Custom Register Vents for Wood and Tile Floors

Andrew Denny — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:27:30 +0000

Your floors are one of the most important components to a beautiful home.

Show off your beautiful floor even more!!

Selecting the right register vents can make yours floors and home even more gorgeous. You can have custom made flush-mounted register wood vents like the ones here to match this heart pine floor. They cost anywhere from $25-50 depending on the size and wood species, but add much more in value.

Beautiful addition and very custom, but not custom priced

Our experience is that you can buy standard sizes online, but often they require a bit of fitting. Make sure you have this discussion with your installer before he starts your wood floors so he knows it is part of the project up front.

Standard builder-grade vents only run $5-10, but do little to upgrade the look of your home.

Standard, not so nice??

You can do the same for tile floors. Popular today is oil-rob bronze for kitchen and bathroom hardware. Check out these oil-rubbed bronze vents on tile floors.

Adds a lot for a little

These vents usually run $15-25 each. Like their wood cousins, it is important that your tile installer knows this will be part of the deal.

If you are a DIY person wanting to upgrade your vents on an existing floor, make sure you take good measurements and be ready to make slight adjustments to get the perfect fit.

Need more information? Call the Textures team at 615-228-2922 or send an email to andrew@texturesflooring.com.

Seagrass for flooring, great choice!!

Andrew Denny — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:47:12 +0000

Many people wonder what Seagrass flooring is. Seagrass is a natural plant that grows in many coastal regions around the world. Seagrass beds are highly diverse and productive ecosystems, and can harbor hundreds of associated species from all phyla, for example juvenile and adult fish and many kinds of algeas and single cell organisms.

Beautiful in the Sea!! Bring nature into your home!!

Few species were originally considered to feed directly on seagrass leaves (partly because of their low nutritional content), but scientific reviews and improved working methods have shown that seagrass herbivory is a highly important link in the food chain, with hundreds of species feeding on seagrasses worldwide, including crabs, turtles and manatees.

Great looking

Typically, Seagrass used in flooring is from Southeast Asia. After drying, seagrass can be woven into beautiful rugs and other floor covering. Also, seagrass absorbs colors very poorly so it can be resistant to staining. That said, I know first hand that it is not “bullet-proof”.

Comes in great patterns

Traditional and more durable than Sisal

This is the natural color of the rug, a slight green tint

Seagrass is light green and brown in color and has a wicker type feel. It is not the most comfortable floor covering, but for areas where shoes are worn it is great. Neutrality is a great to describe the look. Over time the material will become more brown and mellow.

Great places for Seagrass would be in an office, under a table, living room and kitchen. It can be installed wall to wall for a great alternative to carpet or hardwood flooring. Rugs can be made to any size and be bound in different colors. You can have a border as wide as 5 inches and in a variety of fabrics, from Chenille to canvas.

My bedroom at my vacation home, not really

Cool entry, a real pro has to do the install though, not Hack and his pal Slash.

Caring for seagrass is easy. Just vacuum regularly or sweep with a stiff broom, If a stain happens scrub the material with a stiff brush and a bit of water. This may not remove the spot, but will help. Spills, which are still moist, are the easiest to remove. Remove the spills promptly by scrapping up solids and blotting liquids. Follow by dabbing with a damp cloth of water (add white vinegar to the cloth to cut grease). Dry with a cloth or hair blow dryer.

If You’re Looking For Flooring Ideas: Just look around!!!

admin — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:39:23 +0000

I was recently out shopping, and an idea hit me like a ton of bricks. If you’re looking to remodel your house and need design ideas, “just look around.”

Sound easy? Well it is!!!

Ladies, have you seen floors like this when you been out shopping for a new outfit?

A great place to start getting ideas for designing your home is basically all around you. Places like restaurants, upscale hotels, shops in a mall or the mall open areas are filled with design ideas. Think about it for a second.

Many hotel lobbies use beautiful tile or stone patterns in their lobbies. Similar looks are quite popular in many custom homes.

Sure they are businesses driven with a purpose of selling a product or service. But businesses have to have an element of design to attract possible clientele. They want their area to be welcoming and comfortable so customers will be interested in coming in. It’s not just the product that brings in the customer, it is also the atmosphere.

Look how this restaurant used the hardwood in its design element to make the area comfortable for the customer.

From a flooring perspective, a lot of businesses have invested in mosaic tile designs or exotic hardwoods to furnish their space and make it feel like a home, or a home away from home. Designer carpets also are prevalent in these areas.

A majority office carpet patterns are available in residential carpet and go great in home office spaces.

Now these may or may not be the products you were considering for your home. But the key is that you can build off of ideas that you see in your everyday life. Maybe you see a color you like or a pattern of carpet or tile you like.

Larger spaces can show how beautiful pattern carpets can be in bonus and media rooms.

So next time you’re out running errands, or just going out for dinner, take a moment and gather in the atmosphere around you. You just never know how something is going to strike you and give you the best idea for you.

Home Buyer Trends in Flooring

WFCA — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:30:58 +0000

Sometimes it’s helpful to look at the “bigger” picture, as we decide how to improve our homes and our lifestyle. Of course, I always gather research with an eye towards how trends will affect floor coverings, and this blog is no exception. So let me share with you the key emerging homebuyer trends—some of which will definitely impact floor coverings:

1. Consumers are more willing to pay for value, which results in better design

This trend is coming into its own as consumers are (warily) more confident in spending. They are drawn to higher quality goods in floor coverings, viewing it as an investment in the overall value of their home. And they are right!

2. Green design is important with qualifiers: “what’s in it for me?”

Floor covering manufacturers have paid close attention to developing Green products. What’s in it for you—the consumer—is a smart product that took less energy and natural resources to produce, and products that are either cradle-to-cradle recyclable, or can be repurposed into different green floor-covering products after their life cycle.

3. Multi-family floor plans and meaningful square footage

This is a significant trend in both new and existing homes. Contemporary families have to consider space for “bounce back” kids (out of a job, or newly graduated from school) and aging parents. Family structures continue to change, and floor coverings can re-define spaces as required, contributing greatly to safety as we plan our homes to accommodate aging parents.

4. Consumers are looking for mass-customization

This trend has been entrenched for a couple of years now. What it means is that consumers are looking for products and services that give them a say in the design process. Whether it’s tennis shoes (where they get to choose colors, materials, and have their name embroidered on them) or a custom area rug, they want it personalized to their tastes. Manufacturers are flocking to get on board with this trend—at prices you can afford.

5. Conversion of formal living room/dining rooms to other uses

Comfortable family gathering places are high on our wish lists. Consumers are spending money to reallocate spaces. Large, combined living room/ dining rooms are being repurposed into one big great room. Kitchens are becoming larger and more high-end. Quality appliances are important as we are cooking at home more and entertaining more.

To underscore our new lifestyle, flooring materials for kitchens are beautiful and forgiving! Hardwood floors are now available with aluminum oxide protectant in the TOP COAT to give the best protection possible. Laminate floors capture the look of hardwoods, but are more family-oriented and moisture resistant.

6. Master Suites are being designed to simulate a luxury hotel suite

This is a huge development on the design front. Consumers are pouring design dollars into transforming their existing master bedroom and bath. Spa tubs, towel warming racks, heated coil under-layments to warm stone and ceramic floors, even under-counter refrigerators, are at the top of the list for master baths designs.

Moving into the master bedroom, we are seeing cozy seating areas and reading corners being implemented into space plans. Beds are dressed in oversized snowy white comforters with tons of cushy pillows. Carpets are thicker, softer, and more welcoming under foot. All in all, master suites are being redesigned to become upscale, private retreats anytime day or night.

In conclusion, the lines are drawn to connect new trends directly to concepts in flooring. I’m happy to say that floor covering manufacturers are very much in touch with these evolving trends. They’ve invested heavily in research and development to bring to market just the right products to bring about your own impressive design transformation.

This is a syndicated post, which originally appeared at FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions. View original post.

Bring Spring Colors Into Your Nashville Home

Andrew Denny — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:07:24 +0000

Such a beautiful time of the year

Don’t you just have a little pep in your step now that it is spring? I have noticed so many more smiles and cheerful faces as we have more sunshine and beautiful colors surrounding us.

It made me think, why are we not using these colors year round in our homes? As I thought about this, I thought of some of the beautiful Nashville homes that I’ve recently visited. The colors were “springy”, with soft greens and blues on the walls and ceilings, tile that mimicked water and lots of natural light.

I am a big believer that if you are happy in your home, you will be happy outside of your home. Look to nature for your inspiration. Make your space a beautiful Spring day and capture the essence being offered. Below are some great tips for bringing what’s outside, inside.

1. Open your windows and let the natural light bathe the inside of your home.

Yeah, I know. This is all any room would need.

2. Use natural materials such as sea-grass or bamboo flooring, mimicking natural elements

Great look to bring the outside in!!

3. Paint your ceiling a soft shade of blue, creating an indoor atmosphere

Bring this inside!!

4. Incorporate shades of green in accessories such as lamps and pillows.

You get the point

For more home flooring installation ideas, read our All About Flooring section.