(ARA) - Creativity is one of the most important
elements in interior design. But when it comes to the process of designing a
room, over the past 40 years the industry has been anything but creative.
Until recently the steadfast rule was to choose furniture, accessories and
paint first. Then almost as an afterthought, choose flooring.
According to Chris Sy of Carlisle Wide Plank Floors, nowadays, decorators have
changed their tune. They recognize that flooring can be the centerpiece of the
room and the first step in the design process. Many of the best designers and
architects are choosing wood flooring over other options. Not only is wood
more pleasant to walk on than laminate, tile or even carpet, it is
hypoallergenic which makes it a great choice for people sensitive to dust.
It’s easy to clean and durable. If well cared for, a wood floor can last for
hundreds of years or more. |
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“Carpet, laminate and linoleum are short term floor
coverings,” says Sy. “But when you put down a wooden floor, it’s an investment
that is meant to last.”
Sy points to the colonial era homes in New England as an example. Many of these
homes still have their original wood floors that were laid down more than 100
years ago. “What makes those floors so unique is the grain, knots and
imperfections of the wood that give it character. Plus, the boards are so wide
and long that you can achieve a more natural look without all the seams and butt
joints typical of strip flooring,” says Sy.
 Whether
you want your home to have an old world feel like you’d find in New England or
would prefer something more modern, here’s a good guideline to follow for
choosing Carlisle wood floor to put in:
1) Grain
If you want the grain to stand out as a decorative element, you’ll want to
select a wood that has prominent grain in it, like hickory, oak or ash flooring.
Cherry, maple and eastern white pine are considered mellow flooring because
their grains are less prominent.
2) Grade
If you want a more refined, clean look, you’ll want to use a select grade wood
that has less character. To create a rustic look indicative of the floors from
150 to 200 years ago, you’ll want to go with a country grade wood that is rich
in character.
3) Width of the Boards
Single width boards create a more formal and refined look. If you choose random
width boards, you’ll get a hand-crafted, comfortable feeling in the room. The
wider the plank, the more unique the room will look. Wider boards, by their very
nature, have a lot more character. Character depicts the life the tree has lived
and often people will want to feature the knots, mineral stains and worm holes
to create focal points in the room.
 4)
Color
Most wood floors installed today retain their natural color, but stains do exist
that can make them mimic more expensive materials. For example, to make an oak
floor look more like walnut, you can stain it with Carlisle’s Sturbridge Brown
or Vermont Coffee Bean. The stain selection is so vast that you can create just
the color you want for your room. Plus custom stain colors can be created to
perfectly match your furniture.
5) Antique
Increasingly popular for its “window to the past” and its environmentally
friendly properties, is the use of antique wood. Builders, designers, and
homeowners alike are often requesting wood that has been recycled and certified
for its unique attributes and character. Carlisle’s entire line of antique wood
is FSC certified 100 percent Post-Consumer Reclaimed Wood.
6) Finish
The best solution for finishing Carlisle floors is tung oil. It is renowned for
its wear and maintenance properties. Through its use and the fine level to which
Carlisle mills their floors, sanding the floor is not necessary.
Following these guidelines, your wood floors can become
the foundation of your room design and create a unique look that matches your
lifestyle. For more information about Carlisle floors, log on to
www.wideplankflooring.com or call (800) 595-9663.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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