FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

Submitted by Annette Callari, Allied ASID; CMG

You all count on me to discover what’s new and what’s stunning in the world of floor coverings.  I am always searching for just that.  And in the words of my once-upon-a-time two year old twins, “I found it!”  (This they would proclaim whenever they spotted the Golden Arches from their baby car seats.) 

Masland Carpet Mills is not a new name to you, but what I’m about to share with you is– and it adds a high-contemporary dimension to this respected mill.  Kennedy Frierson, the COO of The Dixie Group (Masland’s parent company) recently announced their new partnership with Brink & Campman, a custom axminster rug manufacturer based in Lichetenvoorde, Germany.  Brink & Campman evolved from a meager start back in 1897 in the Netherlands, to become a style and design leader world-wide. 

What I’m looking for, for my own clients, are products designed with a twist–creations that can elevate an area rug to a work of art.  That is exactly the way I would describe Masland’s Brink & Campman products.  Thick denier pure wool yarns; luxurious hand; high-style interpretations of organic designs; true, vivid colors–all are the hallmarks that set this line apart.  They are offering several production options for the discerning customer:  woven; handknotted; handwoven; and handtufted rugs.  In the woven category, I got a kick out of their no-nonsense earthy styles:  Haze, Rocks, Gravel and Fusion, just to name a few.  How’s that for piquing your interest?  How could those names possibly interpret to rugs?  Well they do, and quite well.  I have a favorite and that would be Rocks.  Color combinations that bring to mind bowls of rainbow-colored hard candies grab your attention.  Thick, soft-to-the-touch yarn bundles give the finished rug a playful, contemporary look.  The color combinations in each rug earn the style its name—because it ROCKS! 

In the hand-knotted category, you have to see Himali styles Aquarel and Shade.  These are both 100% pure new wool rugs available in three great sizes.  It’s going to be a struggle to decide whether to spot light one of these rugs hanging on a wall, or actually use it as a rug.  Warm-toned striations of color are as vivid and artistic as a hand-painted canvas.  Aquarel adds some subtle geometrics as well.  Great sizes for the standards, and custom sizes are also available.

Finally, accolades to the hand-knotted Kodari collection.  In particular, styles Bricks, Slate, Vegas, and Miami.  These are not for the faint of heart.  If you are a high-contrast individual and love color, you’ll be ordering one of these today.  Van Gogh would have wanted one of these on his floor.  Even a wordsmith cannot describe these and do them justice.  So I won’t even try.  But you can see for yourself on Brink & Campman’s website.  Then locate a Masland dealer in your area and you’re ready to go.

I had so much fun exploring this rug collection and writing about it for you. Never underestimate just how influential European design is in the world of timeless interiors.   If you’re looking to add some European-inspired ‘fine art’ to your home, I do believe Masland can now help you with that. 

Submitted by Steve Cooper

Many of us grew up believing that recycling meant that your first bicycle had been your sibling’s before it became yours. Thankfully, we’ve gotten a little more sophisticated. Recycling means something much more beneficial these days.

Take Crossville’s EcoCycle tiles, for instance. Whether these tiles are earthy ceramics or gleaming glass, each is made of recycled material. Colors are vivid and surfaces are slip resistant and easy to clean. Yet, each tile contains at least 40 percent recycled material and qualifies for LEED points, which assure that a material lessens the environmental impact of a new home.

The main benefit is seen in the design, of course. This is quite apparent in the stripes, diamonds, dots, ropes, crowns and other shapes of that create the unique look of a tile floor. If you can imagine a theme or pattern, you can bring it to life in the colors you choose. And those colors will sparkle.

In times past, keeping grout clean and stable often proved difficult, causing some homeowners to use another material. But manufacturers have addressed this shortcoming.

Today’s effective sealers come in penetrating and membrane forms. Those that penetrate are liquids, which soak into and fill microscope holes in grout. Membrane types form a hard film across the grout to keep out water and contaminants. Either will work, though membranes are usually preferred when a change of grout color is desired.

So today’s grout sealants make it possible to have your grout and clean it, too, giving contemporary tile undeniable appeal.