Question: I am looking for a floral pattern linoleum and can not find it – any ideas?
Answer: I understand why you had a hard time narrowing in on a linoleum with a floral pattern. Current styles are moving in a different direction, but there are several options in sheet vinyl that might suit your needs. The designs include florals, in a subtle, updated look. You should log on to www.armstrong.com/flooring/products/sheet vinyl. When you arrive at that page, you will find a box for an advanced search. Type in “floral” and you should see eight selections to choose from. I found Floral Medallion, Floral Blossom, and Floral Diamond to be very attractive. Good luck and thanks for turning to Floor Talk for help.
Annette
Submitted by Annette M. Callari, A.S.I.D.; CMG
October 14, 2009 marked the date for the American Society of Interior Designers annual tradeshow here in Southern California. Attending that show as a professional designer is always reenergizing–discovering innovative products that can (and do) stop you in your tracks! The show is open only to ASID designers and student chapter members, but I can certainly share some of the highlights with you.
When you think of quartz countertop materials, you most likely envision something quietly elegant, with the Silestone®, Cambria®, Caesarstone® or Zodiaq® name on it. All of these are well-known brands that create surfaces from quartz aggregates and polyester binders. They are beautiful, functional, and timeless. Did you know that natural quartz happens to be one of the hardest, most abundant minerals found in nature? Only diamonds, sapphires, and topaz are harder! This accounts for quartz products being highly scratch resistant, but still, be sure to use cutting boards when slicing on quartz surfaces. Another strongpoint of quartz counters would be the consistency of color. Manufacturers offer a well-rounded palette of colors that showcase the light-reflective brilliance of natural quartz. And–these surfaces are non-porous and resist staining, so no sealing is required.
So what can I possibly tell you that would be news in the world of quartz? I can tell you that one manufacturer featured at this tradeshow—Compac® Quartz USA— has teamed up with a world-renowned artist, Karim Rashid, to create a signature line of quartz countertop products that are—without exaggeration– a work of art. Karim Rashid is well known for his creative product designs, as well as his designs in fashion, furniture and contributions to the world of art. He has designed for Shiseido, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Carolina Herrera, and now Compac! So, what sets his collection apart? COLOR! Expect the unexpected. Rashid’s brilliant contemporary color line features a stunning fuscia red, a glitterati silver (sparkling with shards of quartz); two refreshing water-toned blues; Lila–a deep violet; Musaka–a port wine color; Absolute Blanc—a creamy neutral, and (hold on to your hats) flamingo pink and lime green! Not exactly what you would expect for countertop choices, and all the more reason designers were captivated. Strong, bold, breathtaking and unexpected–all of those adjectives readily apply to this artisan-inspired collection. If your personality matches that description, here’s the countertop for you. Find out more about these focal point quartz products at compacmqusa.com Click on Quartz Compac/Color Palette/Karim to view the color line.
(Note of interest—most of these new colors are reflective of the 2010 home interiors color trends forecast published at wfca.org “Designer’s Corner” 8/18/09. Be sure to check it out.)
By Annette M. Callari, ASID; CMG
Every now and then something comes along in the world of floor coverings that really stirs up some hefty design waves. I think Armstrong Floors has done just that with the introduction of their Barrel Creek hardwood floor collection. It’s so gratifying to discover something unique and full of personality, and Barrel Creek fits the bill on both those counts.
Picture rolling hills covered with ripe, manicured vineyards. You could be in Napa Valley or even the south of France. Of course you visualize wineries stocked with miles of seasoned oak wine barrels, right? Well, interior designers seem to be having an on-going love affair with a charming, vintage design style that embraces all the accoutrements of winemaking. Everything from vine-covered upholstery fabrics to furniture pieces fabricated right from wine barrels! Now Armstrong Floors has taken that inspired styling a step further. Imagine solid strips of premium rift and quartered oak (the very same material coopers use to make fine wine barrels) now crafted into beautiful hardwood floors. According to Armstrong’s marketing announcements, “…these floors have been painstakingly reconstructed to reflect every detail of original barrel floors, complete with Vintner’s marks burned into random strips, and authentic cooperage stamps.” I would say that these floors do tell a story, and in your home have the power to become a focal point and an amazing underscore to authentic vintage design.
There are three color offerings in this collection: Vintner Cellar, Aged Oak, and Winemaker Harvest. Each of these colorways features a blend of high-contrast, 2-1/4” oak boards to create an authentic look. Then the manufacturer applies a deep color wash to enhance the grain and give the wood an aged appearance. This technique gives birth to a perfect harmony of color and texture and, in essence, produces a three-dimensional look. Finally, a high-quality urethane finish is applied to protect the floor and make it functional as well as beautiful. (Armstrong provides a 25-Year Residential Warranty for these solid hardwood floors.) The end result is a hardwood floor that speaks volumes!
So if your design aspirations include capturing the whimsy of wine country, make it a point to research the Barrel Creek Collection by Armstrong. Whether you are creating a wine cellar of your own, or a vintage kitchen or family room design, these floors are versatile and unforgettable. You will find yourself seeking out the Vintner’s markings and enjoying the sense of history Barrel Creek floors seem to inspire. Armstrong deserves kudos for their creativity and “next generation” thinking. When you blend history with new-age performance, you are bound to come up with a product that exceeds expectations, and that is exactly what they have done.
Submitted by Annette Callari, ASID; CMG
Porcelanosa USA is a well-known name when it comes to innovative tile design and sleek, contemporary cabinetry for kitchens and baths. The European flavor is pervasive, building artistic focus around line, shape and form in every one of their high-design collections. Gama Decor (www.gama-decor.com) provides the inspiration for these Uber-contemporary
K & B collections, and touring their website is like visiting a fine art museum.
Now, here’s a surprise for you: Porcelanosa Group is taking interiors one step further by offering “Living Colours” by Wood Tec Porcelain/Hardwoods (www.discoverwoodtec.com). This is a remarkable collection of engineered hardwood floors that captures the essence of true European styling. Extra-wide planks in rich wood veneers are being offered as a floating floor system! Although it is a “place and click” floor, this is not a do-it-yourself project. These planks, averaging 7 feet in length with widths up to 7 inches, are designed for rooms of grand proportions, and are best laid by a professional. Slightly beveled edges create a magnificent profile for floors and for walls. And, this luxury collection of hardwoods offers two choices of finishes. Approved for commercial use (floors can be glued down for commercial), high traffic applications would require a durable UV-urethane finish. That finish comes with a 25 year Wear Warranty. Residentially, you can have your choice of the urethane finish OR a hand-rubbed carnuba wax finish. The hand rubbed finish produces an opulent glow that definitely speaks “luxury”. “Living Colours” is the real deal–manufactured in Europe– nine of the fifteen wood lines are stocked by Porcelanosa here in the United States. These woods are all formaldehyde free, and a powerful selling feature is that they are FSC Certified. The Forest Stewardship Council oversees this program to be sure that for every tree harvested in the manufacturing process, three are planted in its place.
Viewing “Living Colours” hardwoods in person was a real treat for the 300 designers who were invited to a private showing in Anaheim, CA. The floors exuded class and charm on a grand scale, and the Porcelanosa kitchens and baths designed to showcase these woods made an elegant statement. I am always interested in how well floors function in real life, and another huge buyer benefit is that place-and-click flooring systems allow for damaged planks to be easily replaced over time, if the need should arise. Even if the damage occurs in the middle of a room, the affected board(s) can be routed out and replaced.
I have probably given you just enough information to whet your design appetite, and if that’s the case, then good, I’ve done my job! You will want to see these floors for yourself, no doubt. If you are enamored of fine things steeped in European quality, these beautiful floors will definitely suit your tastes. A little bit of Spain awaits you at your local Porcelanosa location. Go forth and explore.
Question: I read all of the articles regarding cleaning of ceramic floors and saw not to use ammonia or harsh detergents but what should I use? And how do I make them shine?
Answer: From the question you posed, it seems you already know what NOT to do in caring for a ceramic tile floor (no harsh abrasives, no ammonia-based products), but here is what you SHOULD do to clean and maintain your floor. First of all, sweep the floor frequently to loosen and remove dirt particles. You can vacuum the floor, but only use a vacuum without a beater bar (which could dull and scratch the tile). Use walk-off mats at entry points to collect tracked-in dirt. Regularly damp-mop the floor with a product specifically created for ceramic tile (example: Armstrong’s Once’n’Done® Floor Cleaner for ceramic floors.) You can visit www.armstrong.com for more information. Feel free to spot clean spills with a sponge and mild soap. Rinse well with clear water and wipe dry.
As to your question about adding shine to your floor, if your ceramic tile is glazed, it
already has a sheen to it that will not dull as long as proper maintenance is followed. Glazed tile
should NEVER be waxed. The purpose of the glaze is to give you a maintenance-free floor.
What you can do to keep the tile looking new is to mop with a solution of a small amount of
vinegar in warm water. That will cut through any greasy film or build-up (especially in kitchen
areas) and bring your tile back to its original shine. Be sure to do a clear water rinse to complete
the maintenance.
And thanks for a great question.
Annette Callari, A.S.I.D.; CMG
Submitted by Annette M. Callari, A.S.I.D.; CMG
No doubt you have heard the old adage “less is more” many times. Never has it been more relevant to good design than now. Have you ever been in a home where every surface was covered with accessories–every wall, every table, virtually, every horizontal and vertical surface available? Anyone who decorates like this may think they are showing their treasures off to their best advantage, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Collections become clutter, and the assault on your visual senses leaves people feeling claustrophobic and restless. Not to mention that you lose the beauty of the interior architecture altogether.
Just recently, I attended a wedding at a multi-million-dollar estate. The gentleman who owned the home was a world traveler and had the collections to prove it. A collection of silver and crystal bells, a priceless collection of Faberge eggs, unusual letter openers, fine china from Ireland, hundreds of leather bound books, and the list goes on. The home looked like a furniture store with curio cabinets lining every wall. His collection of fine paintings ran the gamut from eye-level to the twenty-foot-high beamed ceilings. His mammoth antique desk in the library was unusable because it was the showcase for his hundred-piece pipe collection. I think you get the picture. The bride barely made it down the sweeping staircase without her veil snagging some priceless artifact.
The lesson imbedded in this story is that this home had become a museum! Each collection in its own right was valuable, but the impact was lost in the overall clutter they created. Displaying several well-placed items (and rotating them with others in a collection) is a much better approach and underscores good design. Look around your home. If the building blocks of good design are indistinguishable among the “things”, it’s time to start streamlining your accessories. Over-peppering your interiors with bric-a-brac is unsettling and will rob a room of negative space (it’s the undecorated areas that calm your senses and offer visual relief). Make sure that your interiors showcase line, form, shape and space first and foremost. The rest, in moderation, is just icing on the cake. Here are two images that drive the point home:
Uncluttered image: Line, shape and form emerge with fewer accessories, and the fireplace becomes the main attraction.
Cluttered image: Overdose of accessories takes away from the focal point of the room, which is the fireplace.
IS IT REAL OR ISN’T IT? NEW “STONE” COLLECTION LAUNCHED
Submitted by Annette M. Callari, A.S.I.D.; CMG
Everyone knows Dal Tile is a leader in tile and stone products for the floors. Now they have introduced an incredible new collection of manufactured stone products for your walls!!! This is being introduced as we speak, so products will be market-ready very shortly.
Each collection replicates natural rock, stone or bricks with amazing accuracy. The advantage to exploring these new products is that they are lightweight versions of the real thing, come in at a cost savings while giving you the look of real stone. Each stone is manufactured of Portland cement, lightweight aggregates, and mineral oxides for coloration. The molds are cast from natural stone to get the most realistic man-made stone products possible. The thickness of each stone ranges between 0.75 to 1.65” thick. With the recommended installation mortar, finished thickness will be 1.25” to 2.65” depending on the style.
So where exactly could you apply these amazing stone looks? Both interior and exterior applications are approved (residential and commercial), but remember, they are built for vertical installations. Because they are lightweight and considered “veneer” manufactured stone, they are not appropriate for floors. Sealing is recommended, of course, to prevent staining, especially in exterior applications where rust or dirt could penetrate the surface. Dal Tile is backing these products with a 75-year warranty (with recommended installation procedures, proper care & maintenance). That definitely tells you they have performance and confide
nce built right in.
Let’s talk about the aesthetics, which truly is the main attraction here. The authenticity of these products exceeds expectations. Ridged Field Stone, Grecian Limestone, Velvet River Rock, Sculpted Leger Stone—these are just a few of the collections available, and each one has the “wow” factor. (Visit www.DalTilemanufacturedstone.com for a gallery of all the collections and more information.)
It is likely that you will not be able to tell the manufactured version of these stone products from the real thing, and that is a major accomplishment from a design standpoint. But before you get too excited about every possible design scenario running through your mind, there are just a few non-recommended applications:
- No submerged water applications (pools, spas)
- No direct exposure to flames, coals or ashes
- No applications in contact with chemicals
Given those few parameters, the door is still wide open for you to get creative and put these stunning new products to use in a myriad of ways. So have fun, explore your options, and get creative!
Question:
What type of flooring do you recommend for a beach house to prevent scratching from sand and warping from dampness?
Answer:
You posed a very good question. Beach houses are unique in their flooring requirements. You have multiple conditions to consider: sand being tracked in, excessive moisture in the air, and possible ground moisture from below. The fact that you’ve ruled out stone or ceramic is interesting, because either one of those choices would actually have been a great solution. Before you rule out porcelain or ceramic all together, did you know that new tile designs include leather-simulated looks, and even some wood parquet looks? Unglazed tiles offer slip resistance as well. Care and maintenance of a porcelain floor for a beach home would be minimal, and that would be a huge plus.
But here are some other options to consider: Historically speaking, real hardwood floors have not been ideal for beach climates because the moisture in the air can cause excessive expansion of the wood. Expansion and contraction of hardwood floors can result in warping and splitting–never a good thing. However Shaw Industries has a line of hardwood floors called “Epic” that have been engineered to overcome extreme climate conditions. It is a tightly milled product line that has a 5-ply, cross-core construction. This gives the product excellent stability. It’s important to note that only oak is used in the core (for its exceptional hardness), as the core is compressed under extreme heat to produce the stability you are looking for. That process should eliminate entirely the problem of expansion and contraction. If you are environmentally conscious, an added benefit is that Epic hardwoods take half as many freshly cut tress to produce. Look for a wood within this line that has an aluminum oxide top coating to guard against scratching, and always place walk-off mats at each entrance to the house to capture as much dirt and sand as possible. Choosing a lighter toned wood with a low sheen will do well against sun-fade.
One more alternative: laminate floors give the look of real hardwood, but are much more family-friendly. If you like the look of wood for your home, this may be the solution for you. You need to be sure that you choose a laminate that has a moisture resistant core (your local flooring retailer can help guide you) so that it is dimensionally stable. Laminate needs to be installed as a floating floor, with a moisture barrier material beneath, to protect it from ground moisture seeping up. With minimal care, laminate floors will look good for many years to come AND they have superior stain and fade resistance. I hope this helps.
Annette Callari, ASID; CMG
Submitted by Annette M. Callari, A.S.I.D.; CMG
Daltile is the largest manufacturer and distributor of ceramic tile and natural stone in the United States, and they have a reputation of product development that is always on the cutting edge of good design. With the announcement of a new line, the Athena Mosaic tile collection, Daltile is sweetening things up a bit. Trends in design continue to gravitate towards contemporary, urban looks that incorporate generous splashes of color. Athena is a clean, sophisticated, glazed porcelain mosaic that features a rainbow of 33 satin-finish colors. The mesh-mounted ½” x ½” mosaics have slightly cushioned edges for that űber-modern look. Applications are limitless—brought to life through your imagination. Create linear works of art for your walls, or colorful borders for your floor. You can even take Athena outdoors to add flavor to your backyard hardscape.
Color options include: Arctic White, Almond, Urban Putty, Elemental Tan, Crisp Linen, Cornsilk, Cypress, Ice Gray, Stone Gray, Spa, Baby Blue, Pepper White, Artisan Brown, Avocado, Black, Galaxy, Camel, Blue Jean, Pebble Tan, Flower Wood, Suede Gray, Navy, Cityline Kohl, Mustard, Gold Coast, Cherry Blossom, Ocean Blue, Aegean, Carnation Pink, Coral Reef, Orange Burst, Wild Lilac and Periwinkle.
In addition to a generous palette of solid colors, Athena boasts eight color blends that randomly mix as many as four complementary colors onto a 12” x 12” mesh-mounted sheet. These color mixes are an excellent way to create fresh harmonies that are pure fun to live with. Athena is suitable for floors, walls, backsplashes and countertops in both residential and commercial settings, as well as exterior walls in freezing and non-freezing climates. Athena mosaics may represent a candy-store range of colors, but the approved applications tell you this tile collection has strength and substance!
Visit Daltile Products for more information.
At Home With Commercial Carpet
Annette Callari, A.S.I.D.; CMG
Sharing creative ideas is a big part of what WFCA wants to bring to its readership. So I’d like to share a little designer secret with you–something I’ve done for quite some time with my residential clients–and something that can open a whole new world of carpets to you.
There are so many beautiful styles available residentially, mainly as a result of the sophisticated, highly computerized (multi-million dollar) machinery mills have invested in. The result of that product development has brought to market breathtaking and luxurious styles. But every now and then, I have clients who are looking for something very tailored, super-functional, and totally outside-the-box of traditional residential styling. These are my “Main Street Commercial” cross-over customers, and I know exactly what they are looking for.
This desire for low-profile, high style carpets is not just for architects’ or engineers’ homes anymore. Commercial styles are finding their way into YOUR homes more and more. Several reasons could be sighted for this phenomenon:
- Aesthetics are totally unique and offer sophisticated designs.
- Functionality is off the charts! Many of the carpets are solution dyed, which means the dye is actually in the fibers at the time of extrusion. This makes the carpet almost impervious to most stains (you could spill bleach and not affect it), and they are extremely fade-resistant.
- Many styles come in carpet tile format. Tiles are easily interchanged or replaced as needed, and the end result is a floor that looks newer longer.
- Low profile commercial carpets are children and pet friendly (but stay away from loop styles if your pet has claws). Your toddler likes to ride his Big Wheel in the house? No problem.
- As many of us are tending to our aging parents, if they are using walkers or wheelchairs, low-profile commercial style carpets will be a safer choice for your home.
- Color lines are not as extensive as residential carpets, but palettes offer very livable colors for the home. Loops, cut piles and amazing patterns are all part of
commercial libraries, and you just have to ASK your retailer to see his commercial styles. (They are sampled in architect folders, but larger samples can be ordered.) - If you are committed to sustainability and recycling, you especially will want to resea
rch commercial carpets. Most mills have a recycling program already in place. As an example, Shaw Industries has created a line of commercial carpets that are 100% recyclable (Eco-Solution Q), including the carpet backing! And I’m talking cradle-to-cradle recycling. Their Type 6 nylon can be broken down into the basic raw materials, and rebuilt into brand new carpet. The products have labels attached to the back with phone numbers of whom to call to pick the used carpet up when you are ready to replace it. Eco-Solution Q products are just one example of the commitment commercial (and residential) carpet manufacturers have made to the cause of recycling.
So there you have a look into the world of commercial carpet—it’s different and it’s fascinating–something new for you to consider as you are planning your future interior design. The styles are stunning and truly artistic, and if functionality is at the top of your list, this may be just the solution for you.