Floor Talk!

 Glass Tile - one of the hottest trends in tile for artistic and creative expression. It’s design capabilities are endless and can bring unique personalization to your tile project. If you are not familiar with the types, sizes and applications, read on.

Glass Tile can be sold by the piece, sheet or square foot. Be careful when pricing to know if the price is by the piece or by the square foot. Finishes are typically either gloss or matte and are sometimes etched. Because there are so many handmade products, there are endless options of sizes, shapes and designs. (more…)

Question:

Does Brazilian Cherry get darker with age? If I have a dark cherry floor and need to refinish a large area, should I stain the newly refinished area the original color and let it darken over time to blend with the existing floor

Response:

Brazilian Cherry definitely gets darker with age. In my experience, it is not good to try to “match” the portion of the floor that has already aged because it will age, too. (and it rarely works out where it is a good match – it usually looks like you tried to match it and you missed by a shade) Eventually, the new stained floor will be darker than the original and the original can never “catch up” because it doesn’t have stain on it. It does take time, but if there is no stain on the original floor, it is best to wait for the natural aging process to take place. The only consideration I would make for staining to match is if the new area gets NO sunlight and you have an extremely experienced refinisher.

Have you had a similar experience? Tell us your story!

FAQ’s about Brazilian Cherry

• Brazilian Cherry is the most popular hardwood flooring import from Brazil
• Known in South America as Jatoba
• It’s known for it’s hardness and durability
• Opened grained like oak flooring
• Harder than oak flooring
• It’s a great choice for homes and commercial applications
• Sold in solid form as well as engineered
• Sold in multiple widths including 3″ and 5″
• Ranges in color are expected and are considered part of the beauty of the product
• Features dark brown and black stripes with an orange or redish body
• Brazilian cherry floors that are FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified are available

Interested in remodeling your home, but don’t know what you want? Are there too many choices to choose from? Are you nervous about the commitment of changing your floors? If so, Good Housekeeping and the WFCA have just the thing for you.

Look for the May Issue of Good Housekeeping to enter for a chance to virtually design a room in YOUR home. There are a lot of free virtual room designers out there, like the one on the WFCA website. These room designers have pre-chosen room scenes that may or may not look like your home. However, by going to the WFCA home page and entering the Good Housekeeping giveaway, you can take a picture of a room in your home, upload it and then try on different floorings in your home without ever leaving your computer! Imagine getting to see what different new floors look like in your home without leaving your home or committing to one type of floor and wondering what another type would have looked like.

If you are one of the first 200 people to enter the sweepstakes, you can try this virtual remodel FREE. If you are not one of the first 200 people to register, then the cost is only $25. So, get online and visit the Good Housekeeping Website or the WFCA website and enter today!

Let us know if you upload a photo of your home and have an experience to share!

Remember the days when your choices for flooring were carpet, wood, vinyl and tile? Then came along bamboo and cork and that was really branching out? Recently, I did a post on floors made from peach pits. Now, I am happy to have discovered tiles made from coconuts!

These tiles are from a company called Ekobe in Brazil. Ekobe translates into “life” in the TUPI GUARANI language. They pride themselves on respect for life and the environment while being a sustainable environmental solution for design and architectural products. Their mission is: Without destroying the environment, and based on 100% natural materials, to sustainable environmental pavements and surface materials, with a high degree of quality and design, allowing new creative experiences (my favorite part!) in projects that aim for originality, beauty, durability and comfort.

The tiles are designed for interior use only and can be applied on:

• walls
• floors (low to medium traffic)
• furniture
• accessories like photo frames and mirrors

In humid environments, a waterproofing sealer needs to be used. This should not be used in areas that have direct contact with water.
They can be applied to:

• glass
• metal
• plastic
• wood
• cement
• ceramic

It can be purchased exclusively in the United States from:

Nemo Tile

48 E. 21st Street

Manhattan

Here are some examples of the range of color offered in these tiles:

(212) 505-0009 or info@nemotile.com

Question: What height should my coffee table be? (from Ashely in Charlotte, NC)

Answer:

• the standard height for coffee tables is from 16 to 18 inches, but try to limit the height to 21 inches.

• use a higher table if you entertain a lot so guests don’t have to bend over so far to set their beverages down

• the height of the other upholstered pieces in the room should determine the height of the table. One guideline is that a coffee table should be about the same height or one or two inches lower than the seat height of the sofa.

• the length of a coffee table should be about two-thirds the length of the sofa (not including arms).

• the width should be determined by how much room you have between the soft upholstered pieces and the table in your seating arrangement - leave at least 16 inches around each side of the table.

Always measure what you fall in love with before buying or use craft paper to lay out the size on the floor. It will keep you from buying something too large or too small!

TODAY IS EARTH DAY!

Earth Day is a time to celebrate the gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Earth Day is a time to unite around new actions. Earth Day and every day is a time to act to protect our planet.

The first Earth Day was in 1970. It is celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere in the spring and celebrated in the fall in the Southern Hemisphere. The United Nations celebrates an Earth Day each year on the March equinox, a tradition which was founded by peace activist John McConnell in 1969. A second Earth Day, which was founded by US politician Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in the late 1960s, is celebrated in many countries each year, today on April 22.

The photo represents the unofficial Earth Day flag from John McConnell.


Progress that has been made since 1970:

• The air is cleaner
• The annual loss of wetlands has been reversed
• More and more industrial sites are being restored and redeveloped
• The backlog on the National Parks Service maintenance is being reduced

HOW YOU CAN DO YOUR PART AT HOME (tips provided by our government)
Save energy

• Use the Energy Star program to find energy efficient products for your home. The right choices can save families about 30% ($400 a year) while reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases. Whether you are looking to replace old appliances, remodel, or buy a new house, ENERGY STAR can help. ENERGY STAR is the government backed symbol for energy efficiency. The ENERGY STAR label makes it easy to know which products to buy without sacrificing features, style or comfort that today’s consumers expect.

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Question: Can I get a laminate wood in the kitchen or will urine from my senior pet absorb into the seams? Also, if put at entrances, will the laminate scratch?

Answer: Although laminate flooring has a tough finish coating, it is still primarily made up of wood so it may absorb pet urine which can ruin the floor. If you do choose laminate, your best bet is to clean up any spills or urine immediately, preventing penetration into the floor. You need to be very careful, though about the places where you might miss accidents.

For the scratching problem, laminate is scratch “resistant”, but is not scratch “proof”. Most laminate products are abrasion resistant, impact resistant, stain resistant and even resistant to cigarette burns. If you choose laminate, you may want to choose a product like Quick-Step’s or Pergo’s distressed products to hide any scratches. Also, most laminate companies have touch up kits for scratches. If the scratch or damage is really bad, a professional installer may be able to replace individual boards. (be sure to save leftover material)

You can see some examples of Quick Step or Pergo here. If you have questions, feel free to ask us and help others with answers to your same questions!

Every day, I look forward to receiving the email from Colour Lovers, Color + Design Community for Creative Inspiration announcing a new post. Today, they decided to write about our world, hardwood. In this post, they display, describe and indentify the most colorful domestic and exotic hardwoods. For the full post, click here. Be prepared to be surprised at the amazing range of colors.

Wool carpet and area rugs are the most luxurious, long lasting carpets you can buy. Like clothing, the symbol of wool carries associations with luxury, style, warmth and quality. It has many superior properties that most people aren’t aware of. Wool carpet is not just carpet, it is good for you, good for your home and good for the environment.

Examples of these traits are:

• It is the most durable carpet you can buy. The structure of wool is shaped like scales or roofing shingles. This composition allows dirt to sit closer to the surface so it can be removed more easily simply by vacuuming.

• It is crush proof so no amount of foot traffic or the weight of furniture will compromise the structure of the product.

• It is naturally resilient. Its natural elasticity helps it bounce back like with a spring like quality.

• The surface of a wool fiber is covered by a thin protective membrane which gives wool its ability to shed water preventing it from absorbing into the fiber. Since most stains are water based wools natural protection gives you an advantage over other carpets. The natural water repelling characteristics also allow the carpet to retain moisture making it resist static electricity.

• The high moisture content of wool also makes it fire retardant. Wool fibers do not support combustion so it is difficult to ignite and is self-extinguishable. This is great peace of mind for homes with smokers or frequent use of candles.

• The moisture of wool also makes it a natural humidifier.

• Wool carpet that is well maintained absorbs dirt, airborne dust particles, fumes and noise. It even makes the indoor environment more hygienic.

A brand to look at for quality assurance is Wools of New Zealand. Carpets wearing this brand have undergone over 20 stringent tests for fiber content, appearance retention, color-fastness and appropriate environmental performance. New Zealand Wool is known also to be the whitest, cleanest wool in the world. The importance of wool being whiter is that is has the ability to accept dye better giving you endless choices for color range and pattern diversity. Because of wool’s chemical structure, it locks in color for superior color fastness.

Environmentally Friendly

Another reason to use New Zealand Wool is that it is one of the purest, most ecological fibers in the world meeting the highest quality and environmental standards. The wool is biodegradable as well as a renewable resource. Only environmentally responsible production methods are used. New Zealand wool is scoured using the most energy and water-efficient system in the world. Steps are taken to ensure that the land will nurture this natural fiber for generations to come.

Another environmental step taken is that no internationally banned pesticides are used on New Zealand sheep farms. Since 1993, pesticide methods have changed making New Zealand’s sheep industry one the worlds greenest animal production systems. Wool is energy efficient because it uses between 1/3 and 1/6 the energy required to product polypropylene or nylon fibers. Because wool is such a good insulator, it helps save on heating costs!

A common myth is that wool carpets can cause moth infestations in the home. Because wool is a natural product, it does provide an attraction to moths. Don’t worry, the carpet is all treated with a safe moth resistant agent!


Installation tips

When purchasing wool products it is best to choose a high quality carpet cushion because of the expected longevity of the carpet. A good quality pad will feel better underfoot. That in combination with the luxurious feel of wool under your feet will leave you with a feeling of satisfaction! Because of the quality and the expense of wool carpet, it is best to choose a highly qualified installer that has experience installing wool carpet. It is safe to use radiant heating with wool carpeting, with an experienced installer.

Maintenance

Wool maintenance might be easier than you think. With wool’s unique and complex fiber structure it releases soil up to 25% more readily than synthetic carpet. Not only that, its scaly outer structure holds soil high on the pile, right where the vacuum can lift it out quickly and easily.

To maintain wool carpet or area rugs:

• Clean on a regular basis rather than only when the carpet is soiled. This actually extends the life of the product.

• Spills should be treated quickly by blotting liquids with white paper towels or cloths.

• Apply a small amount of recommended spot removal treatment to the cloth or paper towel and not directly to the spot. Do not over saturate the carpet.

• Always work inwards from the edge of the spot to prevent the stain from spreading.

• Do not rub the spot because this can spread the spot or distort the carpet pile.

• Finally, blot the area with a clean towel and get it as dry as you can.

• Don’t use stain protectors with silicone because they can actually attract soil.

• If a candle or cigarette is dropped or embers from the fireplace fall onto a wool carpet, the char marks are easily removed by brushing them away. The appearance of the carpet will not be effected.

• Always pre-test cleaning solutions in an inconspicuous area.

• Wool rugs should be cleaned by professionals to protect your investment.

Different types of stains have different methods of treatment. It is important to treat each stain with the proper cleaning agent. For more specific information on how to treat individual stains, click here.

If your budget doesn’t permit 100% wool, wool blends are an option for a beautiful, soft and durable look. Wool is a solid investment that has a higher upfront cost, but in a lifetime, can save you the time, money and headaches of moving furniture and replacing a synthetic carpet!

One simple floor design technique that can really add life and punch to your room, while remaining a classic layout is adding “dots”;. This can be simple or very detailed. Another name for this installation technique is called “clipped corners”;. This installation technique can be particularly effective when the style and design in the rest of the room is quiet, simple or without a lot of other patterns.

There are many different ways you can add these dots.

• Tiles laid on the diagonal with dots in the intersection of each tile.

• Tiles laid on the diagonal with dots in the intersection of every other alternating tile.

• Tiles laid out with dots with the addition of a border around the perimeter of the room.

• Field tile that is laid straight. In a clearly defined area, most likely the center of a room, laid out with a border that created an area rug. The center of this area rug can be laid on the diagonal with dots in each intersection or every other intersection.

There are many different tile sizes that can be used for dots as well as ways to achieve “dots”

• 1×1 tiles (works best with tiles at least4×4)

• 2×2 tiles (works best with tiles at least 6×6)

• 3×3 tiles (works best with tiles at least 6×6)

• 4×4 tiles (works best with tiles at least 12×12)

• 6×6 tiles (works best with tiles at least 12×12)

• Mosaics that can create custom sizes or standard sizes like 3×3, 4×4 or 6×6

• 12×12 natural stone pieces cut down into custom sizes or standard sizes like 3×3, 4×4 or 6×6

Areas in your home that “dots” can be used:

• Complete floors

• Accents in floors

• Showers

• Tub Surrounds

• Backsplashes

• Accent areas in backsplashes such as behind the stove or sink

• Wainscoting

Color combinations that are attractive uses for dots or clipped corners:

• Solid color field tile and same solid color accent dot

• Solid color field tile and different color accent dot

• Solid color field tile and patterned accent dot

• Field tile with natural stone accent dot

• Light colored field tile with contrasting dark accent dot such as black dot and a white floor or cream floor and dark brown dot

• Darker colored field tile with contrasting light accent dot such as a black floor with a white dot or a dark brown floor like emperador marble with a crema marfil or travertine dot. (shown below)

• Solid floor tiles with decorative accent tiles.

• Accents can be created from natural stone, glass mosaics, glass tiles, metal tiles, ceramic tile, decorative ceramic tile or porcelain tile.

Keep in mind that the installation cost is usually higher due to the amount of work it takes to cut each tile that receives dots. If the dots are created by cutting other tiles, this can increase the labor costs even more. The uniqueness that this pattern provides is well worth the additional labor costs.

For other installation patterns, Happy Floors has a great source on their website. You can enter the size tiles you are working with to ensure the size tile lays out properly with the dot you’ve selected.

A great visual resource for trying these designs out is on the WFCA website’s Virtual Room Designer. Here you can choose different tiles in different room applications.

Happy Designing! Get Creative!

Wear-Dated^® Debuts 2008 Color Folio Forecast

KENNESAW, Ga., — Wear-Dated^® carpet fiber has launched its 2008 color folio. Called A Field Guide to Color, it studies the unique and inspiring interplay between colors. “As we studied trends and selected colors for our 2008 forecast, we were drawn to the historical work of John J. Audubon,” said Ann Hurley, creative manager, color & product, Wear-Dated carpet fiber. “We were inspired by his paintings and discovered how relevant the beautiful color combinations of Audubon’s birds were for our forecast as well as the way in which we apply color to interior spaces today.”

The Wear-Dated Field Guide - 2008 Color Folio is a study of nature’s color palettes as illustrated by Audubon’s birds. The colors in the 2008 forecast are both conservative and complex: an influence of nature.

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History of Linoleum -

Invented by Fredrick Walton from England, he was responsible for forming the Linoleum Manufacturing Company. Although it was patented in 1860, it didn’t make it to the US until 1869. It was first manufactured in the US by the Joseph Wild Co later called the American Linoleum Company. That company later became the Congoleum Narin Company and finally called the Congoleum Corporation of America.

It began as a great choice for an affordable and long lasting product. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s the style was to use linoleum in the high traffic areas such as the hallway with surrounding carpeted areas. In the 20^th century it became more well known as a kitchen floor. It is a popular choice for kitchen floors because of its water resistance, ease of maintenance, softness on the joints and forgiveness on dropped glassware and dishes!

Frederick later found ways to use linoleum on the walls. Called Lincrusta, its heavy, crisply embossed rolls and panels found a place in many middle-class houses both as faux-plaster friezes, insert, and as highly decorative dadoes. Lincrusta is applied very similarly to wallpaper, but needs 2 coats of oil based paint to be properly sealed.

Growing popularity because of its green properties:

Linoleum is a very green product. It is made from natural and raw materials. The main ingredient is linseed oil which is a product of the flax plant. Other ingredients include: wood or cork powder, resins and ground limestone.

How Linoleum is made?

Mineral pigments provide the rich colors. The ingredients are mixed together, then rolled out between two cylinders (a process called “calendaring”) onto a jute backing. The linoleum is then cured in ovens for 14 to 21 days. Some manufacturers bond a high performance coating to the surface to improve the floor’s ability to resist stains and scratches, and to make cleaning easier. The resulting floor is then rolled on cores, ready for installation. Sheet linoleum is available in many thicknesses. 2.5 mm is suitable for residential use. It is sold in a two-meter (or 6′ 7″) width size.

How it’s sold:

Most linoleum is sold as a sheet product. Linoleum tile is available, but it is more prone to warping and curled edges.

Design Options:

The design options for linoleum are endless. That’s one of the advantages of the product. Most of the images above are all vintage patterns. Visit your local floor covering store to see the modern and up to date patterns now available from trusted manufacturers. Keep in mind, that your options are endless as long as your budget permits and your installer is qualified!

For more information on what you need to know about buying vinyl and resilient flooring click here for: product catalog, how it’s made, styles, before you buy, installation, care and glossary.

What exactly is the difference between vinyl, resilient flooring and linoleum?

There are HUGE differences:

Vinyl flooring is a synthetic product made of chlorinated petrochemicals and linoleum is made from raw and natural ingredients!

All vinyl floors are resilient but not all resilient floors are vinyl. However, the most common type of resilient flooring is vinyl. There are two types of vinyl flooring: sheet vinyl and vinyl composition tiles (VCT). (more…)

There are so many decorative tile choice available - how do you make sure you have something unique?Lore Haus Glass Tile has just the thing to set you apart. From frogs, fish, crystals, flowers, butterflies to Gothic faces these tiles are handblown to give you a look that will truly set you apart.

These are so different - You might be wondering “How can I use these tiles?”

Imagine a simple white tile shower with a set of these tiles scattered randomly. For a more exciting and bold look, use these tiles in combination with glass tiles or colored ceramic tiles. Another idea is that same shower of tiles (installed either straight, on the diagonal or with an offset joint) and a decorative band of these tiles installed at eye level.

If you choose a theme such as all animals or all in the same series that compliment each other, try blocks of 4 tiles strategically placed around the walls.

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ANN SACKS® EXPANDS EXCLUSIVE FLOOR AND WALL TILE OPTIONS
THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH CONCRETE ARTISAN ANDY FLEISHMAN
PORTLAND, Ore. (May 10 2005)

Ann Sacks, in collaboration with leading concrete artisan, Andy Fleishman, presented four completely unique floor and wall tiles at the 2005 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas.

Fleishman’s designs for Ann Sacks offer a visually striking alternative to complement the diverse Ann Sacks tile and stone collections. Fleishman, who started his career as a wood sculptor and cabinet maker in the 1970s, gravitated toward concrete as his primary medium. His designs for Ann Sacks include Diamond and Petal, two large-scale, geometric designs; and, Maximus and Tendril, two more intricate designs using floral themes. (more…)