What’s
afoot in the flooring industry?
Sherry E. Dershimer, Sherry E. Dershimer Interior Designs, State
College
“Hardwood floors are on the top of the list,” explains
Dershimer. “Wood
is a plus when upgrading or moving into a more permanent home.”
Indeed, hardwood is a wonderful thing because of the variety of
natural woods in the area. But do remember that “wood is
a color,” says Dershimer. Oak, which is the most popular,
is grainy and has a yellowish, golden color and can be tinted and
stained. Maple, on the other hand, has a more clear, unfinished
look when it is not stained. Maple tends to have a rosy glow when
finished. Dershimer suggests having your contractor sample the
wood with color, and putting the boards up to the colors and furnishings
of the room before making a decision. Keep the furnishings in the
house in mind and collaborate with the color scheme. Woods have
many colors. “A little bit of tint goes a long way, less
is definitely more,” she adds. Most people choose wood floors
because they are serviceable, easy to clean, and are beautiful.
Tile flooring, especially ceramic and marble, is the most popular
in kitchens and bathrooms. Tile flooring is seamless, practical,
wear-resistant, and easy to clean. It is very durable and comes
in many different varieties. Dershimer suggests a carpet effect
by putting the larger tiles in the center of the room and smaller
tiles on the edges. “You must have the right depth available
in your space for tile flooring,” she says. “And remember
that one tile doesn’t represent the whole floor—make
sure you look at a number of tiles together before choosing the
right one.” Radiant floor heating systems, which are versatile
enough to install underneath almost any type of finished floor
and eliminate that cold tile feeling, are growing in popularity
as well.
Nancy Stewart, Creative Interiors, Lemont
Laminate flooring is made with a coating that looks like wood,
tile, or stone. “It is highly durable and is often at a lower
cost,” explains Nancy Stewart. “Laminates are becoming
a higher quality and it’s getting hard to tell the difference
between them and the real thing.”
Stewart says carpeting, especially area rugs, is still hot. “Printed
or oriental rugs make great accent pieces.”
Vaughn Shirk, ASID,Vaughn Shirk Interior Design, Boalsburg
“Laminate floors are improving in their realism but still
are no substitute for the real thing,” says Vaughn Shirk.
Laminate floors are, however, good applications for recreation
rooms, basements,
and moisture problem areas.
Carpeting is used mostly in bedrooms today and not as much in public
rooms of the house, says Shirk. Vinyl is not used as much these
days because of its lack of durability, but Shirk says, “a
very fine quality vinyl is equal to a good ceramic tile.”
When it comes to color, experts agree that that central Pennsylvania
usually equals conservative, neutral colors. In metropolitan areas,
stronger and more intense colors are more popular, and on the West
Coast, black and white tiles are spreading over the floors.
Before you make a final decision on the kind of flooring you use,
decide where it will be, what conditions and what kind of wear
it will take. Do your shopping, get advice from your contractor
or professional designer, and choose a floor that fits your budget
and lifestyle. ~Dyanna Stupar |
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