You’ve heard the term “think outside the box”.  I prefer to call it reframed thinking, and some of the best reframed thinkers I know are my fellow-members in Color Marketing Group International.  We have to identify key marketing trends even before they become reality, so we can interpret future influences and their impact on color.  Here are just a few of the insights color professionals shared with me in Portland, Oregon:

DOING MORE WITH LESS –
We’ve all had to become thrifty through this Great Recession and have learned to do more with less, which means recycling products, repurposing old products, and replacing things less frequently.  That has required a huge dose of creativity, and the challenge extends to manufacturers of new products as well.  The number of new products coming into the market with high recycled content is amazing.  I’m referring to carpet and tile especially.  Keeping used carpet out of landfills has a huge impact on our environment, and reinventing old carpet (breaking it down into its raw molecular state and rebuilding it into new carpet, or other new-life goods) is not only possible, but will become the norm in the future.  The goal is to use fewer new raw materials (especially oil in the case of creating nylon) AND to keep thousands of tons of disposed product out of landfills. 

HARVESTING POWER FROM PERSONAL MOVEMENT –
Imagine sidewalks that could harvest the energy created by pedestrians.  Or pairs of shoes that collect energy that could be used to charge a cell phone or laptop.  Sounds wild, but it’s highly possible.  These same ideas can impact manufacturing processes on a much larger scale, cutting down on the resources required to produce products.  On a consumer level, this could even translate to floors that are warmed by the very action of a family walking across them.  Again, think outside of the box. 

AUTHENTICITY IN DESIGN –
Less is more, and we are de-cluttering our lives and our homes.  What we will invest in is well-made products that have a timeless quality to them.  No fads, just authenticity, based on inherent quality and solid design.  This especially pertains to floor coverings.  Hardwood floors are meant to last a lifetime.  Consumers see this as an investment that is worthy of their hard-earned dollars, and manufacturers are responding to that demand.  Soft surfaces (broadloom carpet and area rugs) are also rising to the occasion through better technology, and color palettes with longevity.  Marrying aesthetics to superior performance is the goal which has been met, and will most likely be surpassed in the future.

You might be thinking this blog is bordering on science fiction, but just think of the amazing advances you’ve already witnessed in your lifetime.  The next five years should be quite interesting, and I feel confident in saying that the floor covering industry is definitely gearing up creatively to deliver the goods.

For more information on flooring visit the World Floor Covering Association’s Consumer Carpet & Flooring Guide.

Now you’re talking!  I mean that literally.  We are getting some great questions and comments on FaceBook from you, our readers–and everybody at FloorTalk loves that.  It lets us know that you are really out there, reading, thinking, and understanding how important floor coverings are to your design.  We’ve had a request to address soft-handed carpets and the pros and cons of these styles.  All of the major fiber producers have a version of a soft-to-the-touch yarn system that equates to comfort and luxury underfoot.

Shaw Industries’ Anso (Type 6) nylon, is one of the best on the market.  The Anso Caress brand was a pioneer in this area.  Introduced in 1999, it has a proven track record that “soft” can also interpret to durable.  There is a mistaken conception that the softness of a carpet has something to do with a finishing rinse on the yarns.  That is not the case.  The denier (thickness) of each fiber that makes up the yarn is ultra fine. Shaw then adds a tight twist to each yarn bundle and tufts it into carpet.  The twist builds in the performance while the fine-denier yarn system provides the soft hand.  Ultimately this combination provides the best of both worlds for the consumer. The Anso Caress brand offers a 5-year limited texture retention warranty, 10 years for soil and stain resistance, and 10 years for abrasive wear resistance.  The texture retention warranty addresses the overall appearance of the carpet, which gives this product a lot of credibilility.

Another brand leader from Shaw Industries is their EverTouch. Here’s what Shaw has to say about EverTouch:

 It’s exactly what carpet was meant to be – wonderfully soft and exceptionally durable. EverTouch carpets are crafted with fine-denier filaments.   The smaller denier, which is a weight-per-unit-length measurement, produces the supple touch, while advanced yarn engineering accounts for the superior durability.  In contrast to their softness, EverTouch carpets are tough enough for any room in the home. As with all Shaw carpets, each style is rigorously tested and given an appearance-retention performance rating. Test results confirm that EverTouch styles perform as well or better than comparable products made from traditional nylon fiber systems.

In early 2006, Mohawk Industries and DuPont filed a joint petition for the FTC to establish a new generic fiber subclass name under the “polyester” classification.  That is significant because it means their Triexta fiber has performance qualities above and beyond regular polyester carpet fibers.  Triexta is the “ingredient” used in Mohawk’s SmartStrand and SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona carpets.  Not only is this fiber type totally renewable, the soft-handed comfort is exceptional.  Mohawk has good reason to be proud of their patented Triexta.

Anticipating growing consumer preference toward an even softer carpet experience, in January of this year Beaulieu Carpet Mill created its softest Bliss collection ever—–Bliss by Beaulieu “SoftSense”.  The line offers 48 solid colors and another 14 berber colorations.  Beaulieu loaded-up their new SoftSense collection with an impressive array of standard features. For the first time in Beaulieu’s history, the company offered a Lifetime Stain – No Exclusions Warranty. Additionally, 3M Scotchgard Protector is also standard on every SoftSense carpet. These soft-oriented carpets are made from 100% nylon and multi-colors are solution dyed polyester. 

The technologies that brought soft-handed carpets to the marketplace are among the best of this decade.  We like to “live” on our floors–playing with the kids, watching TV, enjoying video games—it’s all more fun on plush, silky-soft carpet.  Marrying technology to performance has moved “soft” to the top of our shopping list as carpet consumers.  Performance, durability, and comfort–now we can have it all.

For more information on flooring visit the World Floor Covering Association’s Consumer Carpet & Flooring Guide.

A few weeks back, I posted a blog about new directions in wood products.  Well, this blog dovetails with that subject beautifully.  I’ve always been fascinated by reclaimed wood products, where they came from, their history, and their future.  Companies that take the time to search out, harvest, and rejuvenate reclaimed woods should be commended.  What an excellent example of reusing resources and promoting sustainability.  Authentic Pine Floors in Locust Grove, Georgia is definitely one of those companies.

Started in 1984, Authentic Pine Floors can cater to the customer looking for a custom-finished solid wood floor that fits an “Olde World” profile, or the customer searching out unique pre-finished wood stains.  They describe their product as “recycled, antique in origin, hand-rubbed with oil; and custom stained”.  Now that certainly stirs the imagination.  Sources for their solid hardwoods are concentrated throughout the Southeast part of our country. Beautiful heart pine, aged wide-plank oak, and wide-plank walnut each tell a story of their own.  From old bridges to small town churches, their woods have a rich history. The Southeast, it turns out, is a treasure trove of aged woods waiting to be assigned a second life.  The antique heart pine collection was reclaimed from massive beams of distilleries and warehouses built in the19th century.

Prefinished, site finished, and engineered wood floors are all part of the offerings from Authentic Pine Floors.  That’s where Old Dirty Goat comes in.  Yes, it is one of the custom finishes used on the reclaimed heart pine.  The claim to fame of Old Dirty Goat lies in the light to dark tonality it gives the hardwood floor.  Its got character and sass, and so much intensity, the principals of this company said that “no other name would do…”  Love it—both the name and the look.  Weathered gray wash on solid pine is another finish I want to draw to your attention.  Warm gray tones are hot, hot, hot, and here’s a floor that will underscore that trend beautifully.  Heart pine is harder than the pine we are familiar with, so no worries about these floors living up to the use of an active family.

I spoke with the local distributor for Authentic Pine Floors here in Southern California, and I was amazed at the affordability per square foot of these floors.  That’s pretty astounding given the uniqueness of the product.  I encourage you to go online yourself at www.authenticpinefloors.com to investigate further and find a distributor in your part of the country. Plus, I know you want to get a look at Old Dirty Goat—admit it. And I do want to mention that you can install any of these floors unfinished too.  I cannot tell you how huge the trend of using wood floors in their natural state will upsurge over the next few years. It will become HUGE as we turn towards that which is real and as close to natural as possible.  Design is now all about authenticity (you’ve heard that a time or two from me) and back to basics. 

FloorTalk has an important job to do, and one that I take very seriously.  That job is to steer you towards unique design products. But also to provide you with a working knowledge of design trends that are here to stay. Those two elements in combination will help you create a timeless design, impervious to fads that come and go.  Hopefully I’ve accomplished both of those goals in this blog, and you have my promise I will continue to do just that.  Stay tuned…

For more information on flooring visit the World Floor Covering Association’s Consumer Carpet & Flooring Guide.

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.

Dunes, waves, drifting sand—these were the inspiration for an unusual new product from Modular Arts, Inc.  Designers and architects have long searched for a product that incorporates green design, organic forms, and fire safety all into one, and this is it.  These interlocking tiles are made of high grade industrial gypsum.  Each tile is 16” x 16” with a 1” maximum carved relief.  That’s what I like the best about these tiles.  The sculpted look adds dimension and character to any wall application.  They come in pure white but can be painted any color you choose.  My recommendation, after seeing the pristine beauty of the tiles, is to leave them white.  If you are installing them on a large wall, use down-lighting with colored gel filters to give them a subtle (and changeable) wash of color.  Now how’s that for creative?

These new small-scale tiles are designed for residential applications and more intimate spaces.  Modular Arts, Inc. is known for their large-scale panels made from a similar material.  They are highly specified in the world of commercial design, and you’ve probably seen their product in many hotels and restaurants.  Simply stunning, but the size of the panels was prohibitive for residential use—until now.

Consider how unique these tiles would be as a high-definition kitchen backsplash.  The rock tiles are interlocking which makes installation even easier.  Great rooms, home theatres, and especially master bathrooms can be dressed in style with these elegant tiles.  If you are considering something like this for new construction, both the panels and tiles need to be installed over drywall.  Although they are a good fire barrier, these products are not intended to substitute for the code requirements of drywall, and they are suitable for interior use only.  The wave-like designs are smooth and ceramic-like to the touch.  Since they are constructed of all natural materials, they are totally Green products with no VOC emissions. 

Several carpet manufacturers have introduced patterned carpets similar to these designs.  What a great option to be able to repeat a design form in your wall treatment or backsplash!  Continuity and repetition are two of the key elements for a successful design.  ModularArts has a wealth of information on their website modularArts.com, and under the “Interlocking Rock Panels” tab, you will see an inspiring gallery of their installations.  Remember, although these products were born in the commercial sector of design, the new tile introductions make them a viable cross-over for residential.  Yes, this will take a little ingenuity on your part to research the right product and learn more about proper installation.  But this can take your interiors to a whole new level, and the results can be magnificent.