MY FLOORING WORKBOOK
Creative flooring follows trends — just like fashion. Today’s flooring allows you to express your personality while meeting
your needs for practicality. According to Frank Chiera, Vice President of Marketing and Advertising at Flooring America,
these are the hottest flooring trends.
Text J. Lynn Fraser
ULTRA SOFT CARPETING Very soft, durable, and easy
to maintain. It comes in hundreds of colours so it can match
any room’s décor. It is great for high traffic rooms such as a
family or game room. The variety of colours offered by ultra
soft carpeting makes it easy to pair with a combination of
other flooring choices.
HAND-SCRAPED HARDWOOD/SAWN FACE
HARDWOOD Hand-scraped hardwood has the beauty of
wood aged and handled over hundreds of years. Sawn face
hardwood looks like it has just been milled. Its loveliness is
accentuated with oil rubbed into its surface giving it a deep
lustre. These woods offer the beauty of old wood with the
strength of new wood. They are an elegant choice for a
kitchen or bathroom designed for fashion forward country
style. These wood choices are following a trend in furniture
toward hand-scraped, traditional, oil rubbed woods.
LUXURY VINYL TILE/LUXURY VINYL PLANK If you
want the look of hardwood or tile, without the maintenance,
these products are a great alternative. They have “exploded”
in popularity in the past few years according to Chiera. They
resist scuffing, damage, and wear and tear that family life
brings. And, they are affordable! You can have a high fashion
look, without the high cost. Best of all, they are easy-toclean and water resistant making them a good fit for your
bathroom or kitchen. Tiles are a great design choice. They
can add just the right touch for a contemporary design or
provide a subtle accent for a traditional look.
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HARD TILE Is groutable ceramic and porcelain tile that
can be laid in long strips. It gives you the look of hardwood
without the work. Its durability makes it a sound choice for
hallways, kitchens, and foyers.