FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

In case you missed the posts on each category of trends from Surfaces – here’s a recap!

Overall

This year there was a significant presence of design and high style with the new introductions. I was concerned with the state of the economy that the product offerings would be safer and more subtle choices. This was definitely not the case!

The color theme seemed to be along the warmer, darker and richer shades. This applies to every category of flooring, more than likely because more and more homes are using mixed types of flooring and they all need to coordinate!

Hardwood

In the up and coming months there are going to be hardwood  styles that are going to change the direction of hardwood floors.  Floors at the show showed higher sheen levels with some that you could almost see your reflection in. These finishes will give rooms and design schemes a totally new look and feel.

The majority of the hardwood colors shown were darker and richer shades. Color shades seen resembled coffee  colors, rich furniture colors and warm spices.

Wider boards are still popular although many narrower boards are still being shown.

There were styles of hardwood shown that were clean, crisp and elegant as well raw, rustic and anything but refined. There seemed to be more options for different design styles than ever before.

Tile

It seemed like almost everyone had tiles that were linear in shape. Shapes ranged from 1×6 to 18×24 and every size in between. Installation examples were shown of these linear tiles used as a stand alone product as well as accents to standard shaped tiles. Some installation patterns used these linear tiles to create stripe effects.

There were introductions of tiles with higher sheen levels than the past couple of years. Mirrored finishes, crystal tiles and polished metals were prevalent. These higher sheens were shown in mosaics and even large format floor tiles. Some of the mosaics were mixed with high polished tiles and unpolished tiles. Finishes like rust and bronze verde took the stage for the patinas.

There will always be beige/neutral tiles out there because there is a place for them, but this year there were many offerings of gorgeous tiles with high ranges of color. The color shades were rich and warm. The shades were mixed between the field tiles and the listellos and decorative tiles so neutral tiles could be used with bolder accents and vice-versa.

Tile sizes ranged from micro mosaics 5/8″×5/8″ to 24″×24″. The interesting thing was to see the mixes of the different sizes. Larger format tiles were mixed with micro and mini sized tiles where in the past we have seen more standard size tiles mixed with smaller sizes that were closer in size to the standard size tiles.

Like hardwood styles, there was something offered for everyone. From rustic natural stone to high polished crystal tiles no design group was left out this year. Look for tiles that are irregularly shaped and formed, bright colors to bold colors to dull, rich and muted colors – something for every style. With the variation in sizes, shapes and colors more design options are possible. Emser tile also reported that the chiseled edge tiles are regaining popularity and are offered at excellent price points and mosaic tiles ares still popular.

Carpet

The carpet shown at Surfaces 2009 this year was a different showing than last year. This year there were not just an abundance of carpet styles and colors, but choices seemed to be quality choices rather than just quantity.

The primary colors that were used for displays were neutrals, but the colors that were shown were wonderful. Oranges, greens, blues, grays and earthy shades of brown took center stage. The oranges and blues were muted and rich. The greens were light and lively. The browns were earthy, coffee insprired and looked like great candidates for hiding traffic! Along those same lines, there were some beautiful heathered products that have more range of color than I think we are all used to seeing in once piece of carpet.

Like other products shown there were patterns that were outstanding. Look for linear patterns, grid patterns and texture on texture patterns. Look for patterns that are not just floral, but floral with a textured background. I think you will be excited about the upcoming releases!

Area Rugs

Talk about texture! Area rugs this year are all about texture. Not just texture, like thick yarns, but texture like felt discs and sculpted carpets. From conservative to comtemporary to outrageous, Surfaces had it all.

The area rug selections compliment the trends in hardwood and other hard surfaces so well it will make you want to remodel just to get a piece of these trends. Your feet are sure in for a treat when walking on all of the textures and soft yarns.

Shapes

This year hardwood was not only in planks and strips, but in puzzle pieces. This shaped wood had my imagination running wild with possibilities! Architectural wood blocks from Beckwith Interiors are available in various wood species, finishes, and depths.  (For more information on applications and specifications please contact their Design Studio at www.beckwithinteriors.com)

Other interesting  shapes  of hardwood were 1″x1″ mosaics and 3″x6″ subway shapes. These could be very exciting in a residential application!

Sheen

In the up and coming months there are going to be hardwood  styles that are going to change the direction of hardwood floors.  Floors at the show showed higher sheen levels with some that you could almost see your reflection in. These finishes will give rooms and design schemes a totally new look and feel.

Shades

The majority of the hardwood colors shown were darker and richer shades. Color shades seen resembled coffee  colors, rich furniture colors and warm spices.

Anderson hardwoods has a new collection featuring a new technology called PermaColor .  It captures all of the  allure of exotic floors without the environmental baggage.  Anderson has discovered the key to real beauty – accelerating the aging process which adjusts the natural hue and shade of the wood allowing the grain to show through. This creates an opalescent three dimensional effect. Depending on how light strikes the wood, variances in shade and color create an illusion of depth  that is both stunning and intriguing. Thanks to this unique color process, the planks magnificent color runs throughout the entire wear layer resulting in everlasting beauty that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.

Sizes

Wider boards are still popular although many narrower boards are still being shown. Once company called Du Chateau has a product line with boards that are 12″ x 12′. That’s right – TWELEVE FEET LONG! All different size boards were shown, but the displays mostly featured wider boards.

Style

There were styles of hardwood shown that were clean, crisp and elegant as well raw, rustic and anything but refined. There seemed to be more options for different design styles than ever before.

The company Du Chateau has a collection of antique hard waxed oiled floors that are designed to reflect the styles found in Europe centuries ago. The Chateau Collection recreates the same time worn look that showcases the character and longevity of a hardwood floor with natural changing grain patterns exemplifying true vintage artistic design. The ordinary free forming elements of natural wood are what give Chateau Collection floors its unique character and exceptional beauty.

Q & A with the technical department at the National Wood Flooring Association:

Q: What species of hardwood are most likely to fade?

A: Brazilian cherry and American Cherry

Q:How much do these species change color?

A: They can darken up to 3-4 times their original color.

Q:How long will the floors discolor?

A: The floors will continue to discolor or age with time, but the majority of the aging happens within 3-6 months. The process slows down and that point, but still continues.

Q: If the floors change color in the first 3-6 months, is it best to wait to put area rugs down?

A: If at all possible, it is best to wait 3-6 months before putting area rugs down.

Q: What causes floors to fade?

A: Too much UV light can bleach the wood.

Q: Are there products that can be applied to the floor that have sunblock in them?

A: No, nothing can be topically applied to the floor. The finishes already have UV light retarders in them.

Q: What can help the fading of hardwood floors?

A: Low E glass windows and some types of window treatments can help protect the floors.

Q: What finish has the least effective retarder?

A: Oil Modified Polyurethane

Q: Is the discoloration considered a flaw?

A: No, some people call this an aged look or a patina and realize that it is a natural characteristic of wood.

Q: What can you do if you already have area rugs down and have discoloration?

A: You can move the rugs a couple of inces every month so that there is no stark color change or visible line.

There are many different size widths of hardwood planks to choose from. How do you know which one is right for you?

First, let’s look at the different sizes available. Most hardwoods are available in 2 1/4″, 3″, 5″, 7″ and sometimes widths even wider. Boards are classified into two different groups. Plank and Strip. Strip refers to boards that are narrower than 3″. Plank refers to boards that are 3″ or greater.

Board width can change the look of a room as well as set the tone for the design style or scheme. For example, narrow boards like 2 1/4″ are usually found in older homes and more traditional homes. They are found in older homes predominantly because this was the only width available. In some really old homes you will find extremely wide widths. However, in some contemporary settings, you will find strips of natural maple and other species that are uniform in color and grain.

Board widths of 3″ are found in many types of homes including traditional and transitional. This look does not commit you to any one design style or type and therefore is a good choice when you have an eclectic look or one that does not fit into any one design category.

Wider boards are now being seen in all types of homes because of their ability to expand the look and size of a room. Wide boards such as 5″ and 7″ are helpful in creating a rustic or country look. This is why you will see a lot of wider width planks that are distressed.

An exception to choosing one particular width of flooring is to mix widths creating a random width installation pattern. This is often used when the boards being used have come from reclaimed sources.

A great tool to help determine what width hardwood is right for a room is the Virtual Room Designer found on the WFCA website.

Coconut wood flooring is not a wood, it comes from the palm family. It is one of the fastest growing species on the planet. It reaches maturity in 5-6 years making it a truly sustainable resource. The coconut palm tree is grown in hot areas. It likes frost free areas and grows in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific region. The trees grows near seas in these areas so the roots can find moisture. In the US, it is found only in Hawaii, the southern tip of Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Palms produce nuts for up to 80 years, then non producing palms are removed and replaced. Once the old palms that have completed their coconut bearing years have been removed, those trees are used for flooring.

As the rainforest continues to be tapped for timber needs, coconut palms have been overlooked and under utilized resource.

Like bamboo, it is either a natural tan color or a darker carbonized honey color. Also like bamboo, it is offered in vertical or horizontal configurations. It is also offered in strand configurations. The vertical grain version accentuates the linear look while the horizontal format reveals more of the true character of bamboo. Strand coconut has the most homogeneous look.

To maintain coconut flooring, it is a simple as maintaining typical hardwood floors. Mats should be used to prevent dirt from entering the room and scratching the floors. Spills and standing water should be wiped up immediately. Oil soaps should be avoided. Furniture should be carried and not dragged across the floor. Chair protectors should be used under the furniture.

One company – coconutwoodfloorings.com uses material from plantation grown coconut palms which are abundant throughout much of the world. Coconut wood floorings can vary greatly in color and density. They use only hard, dark palm for their look and durable surface. The wood produced is all solid wood rather than engineered wood.  Their goal is that through their work, palmwood will one day be recognized as a valuable building resource and help reduce rain forest harvesting.