FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

By Annette Callari, ASID; CMG

Finally, it’s Spring! It was a long, color-sparse winter no matter what part of the country you live in. Having spent my first twenty years living in upstate New York, I know a thing or two about harsh winters. If you lived in a single story house, it was quite possible that it could snow long enough and hard enough to cover everything but the roof. The first snowfall was always magical and pristine. But as the months wore on, the ever present blanket of white became monotonous. White, to this day, is not one of my favorite colors. But I have the antidote to the winter blahs, and it’s COLOR! Let’s talk about the hot colors for Spring and Summer. They are in full bloom and bursting with fresh appeal.

RIO-STAT – This color walks the line between red and orange, but in a comfortable, toned-down way. Think of sun-baked terracotta pots and you’ll have the visual of this warm red. Fabric companies are pairing it with charcoal and Oldensage for interesting contrasts.

RASPLENDENT – Hot pink is going to carry us through the summer in fashion and interiors. Even electronics have borrowed the color for everything from laptops to digital cameras. We are recession-weary and craving colors that speak of fun and optimism.

X-HALE – Borrowed from authentic 1957 Chevy colors, this true blue-green is retro, fresh and energetic. Consumers are finally seeing some encouraging signs of an economic turn-around, and with that comes a deep breath and a long, comforting exhale.

LIMONCELLO – Yellow is turning up in the most unusual items: wall coverings, fabrics and upholstery, porcelain tile, and even broadloom carpet. The Europeans are calling it “double line yellow” which everyone can relate to universally. It’s vibrant and in some ways retro, which is exactly why it appeals to so many people.

 BON NOIR, STRATUS, BAR HARBOR – Pure matte black is back (Bon Noir). Of course it is, because it’s the perfect counterpart to Limoncello and Rasplendent. Add to that Stratus which is a true neutral gray and Bar Harbor which is a blue-gray, and the neutrals are complete.

OLDENSAGE – Gray, green, and brown combine to produce this complex taupe-y color with strong undertones of green. This color has a timeless quality to it and floor covering manufacturers love it. Carpet, wood floors, luxury vinyl tile, ceramic—all materials wear it well.

GOTHAM – Purple has gone deeper and richer with brown undertones, and although this color will reach its height of popularity more towards the end of 2011, it is appearing in the Spring/Summer palette for home interiors.

I love where the direction of color is leading us. Put the winter doldrums behind you, because there is a burst of exciting hues leading the way for the rest of the year. Now that you know the color leaders, be on the watch for them in home interior goods, and especially how well they integrate with new floor coverings.

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

By Annette M. Callari, ASID; CMG 

In my last Designer’s Corner post  I promised to let you in on a colorful new discovery in floor coverings.  My earlier Building Blocks blog talked about line, form and shape taking center stage as you create your designs. Of course you can do this with furnishings, wall treatments, or accessories, but I’ve also found a way for you to define those elements with floor coverings.

Enter Modularity Tiles, a division of Signature Flooring, home based in NYC.  They’ve honed in on the artistic importance of form and shape and have taken it to staggering new levels.   Want to build your design around floor art?  Think of children’s play rooms or bedrooms, a baby’s nursery, or a high-contemporary kitchen, office or home theater as the perfect application for Modularity Tiles.  Any one of these rooms could carry off a focal point floor that also happens to be hypoallergenic, slip-resistant, and easily cleaned.  Factor in the ability to change out a damaged tile easily, and you have all the ingredients for a floor with flair and longevity.

Geometric and color driven, Modularity Tiles are 1ft x 1ft vinyl tiles with interchangeable die-cut shapes that you can mix and match, using a palette of 17 colors. Thousands of patterns can be created using just three basic shapes and the designated color palette.  Depending on the colors you choose, you can accomplish high-contrast drama or quiet definition.  Having that choice is what makes this line versatile and pure fun. 

The manufacturer advertises the product as suitable for semi-permanent, permanent or even temporary use. The tiles are easily laid using adhesive strips, and also offer easy removal.  According to their Marketing Department:

“Modularity Tiles can be used by homeowners, apartment dwellers, architects and designers and are suitable for permanent, semi-permanent or temporary use. DIY’ers will delight in its simplicity and price tag. Pros will applaud the creative freedom and statement-making possibilities. Our innovative new vinyl flooring tiles will change the way you think about vinyl flooring forever. We aren’t the last-resort flooring option of the past, but the one-of-a-kind creative flooring (and wallcovering) solution of the future.”

Their website, www.modularitytiles.com has a wealth of information, including a “ModulizeIt” on-screen design tool.  It can help you create your design and calculate quantities.  What I like about this discovery is that it offers something unusual, and they’ve still found a way to keep it simple.  Of course, you don’t have to install it yourself, the website can direct you to professional installation firms that will do it for you.  If you’d rather talk to a design consultant personally, they have a toll free number as well (866-471-1022). 

As an interior designer (and a consumer) I’m attracted to products that are playful and fun to live with.  I’m also highly attuned to cost-efficient products that suit tight budgets while satisfying cutting edge design.  I think Modularity Tiles offer the key to both of those criteria, in a colorful, brilliant new way.

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