Posts Tagged ‘hardwood’
20 Great Transitions in Flooring
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
Flooring transitions can be tricky in lofts and open plan homes! Where to start and stop each kind of flooring may not have a simple solution when there aren’t clear divisions between living areas. Here are 20 photos of great ideas on ways to transition from one type of flooring to the next in bathrooms, kitchens, entryways and living rooms or great rooms.
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Tags: Bathroom, concrete, entryway, Flooring, flooring transition, floors, great room, hardwood, Kitchen, Living Room, stone tile, tile
Posted in Bathroom, Design Tips, Dining Room, Flooring, Interior Design, Kitchen, Living Room, Lofts, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Flooring Blurs the Line Between Inside and Outside
Saturday, August 20th, 2011
If you want to blur the line between inside and outside, check out how your choice of flooring can create a seamless flow from indoor space to outdoors. Whether your flooring is concrete, hardwood, stone or tile, there is a way to extend your perception of space by creating a floor that appears not to stop at your doorway or threshold.
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Tags: balcony, concrete, deck, decking, door track, Flooring, floors, hardwood, indoors, nana wall, opening wall, outdoors, patio, pivot door, polished concrete, sliders, sliding doors, stone, stone tile, tile, zero threshold
Posted in Cool Ideas, Design Tips, Flooring, Interior Design, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Choosing Wood Flooring: Sustainable Options Underfoot
Friday, August 28th, 2009
Portland Interior Designer, Pangaea, shares tips on choosing sustainable wood flooring for your home.
Whether you love the rich reds of mahogany and cherry, the pale brightness of maple, hickory and birch, or the deep and dark loveliness of walnut, there is a wood floor for you!
photos courtesy of US Floors
Yesterday I attended the monthly meeting of the Interior Design Society, Portland chapter. We were hosted by Tualatin’s Treadline Construction, specializing in hardwood flooring. I’d like to share just a few tips on choosing hardwood flooring and some very nice sustainable options.
1. The color, grain, size of planks, and character of wood can set the tone for the look of your home just as effectively as your furnishings. So, choose a look that will work with the style of your home’s architecture and furnishings. Wide planks of reclaimed wood with the patina of years of use fit beautifully in a casual style, traditional home. In a contemporary space, I love the look of narrow strips of palest birch or maple, or the deepest color of “ebonized” ash. Rich mahogany or cherry seem to evoke a feel of rich elegance.
photos courtesy of Stone River Hardwoods
2. Select wood not only by it’s color and grain, but by the area and use for which it is intended. All trees are not created equal. Some are much harder than others. If you have a high traffic area, children or pets, you’ll be better off with a wood which has a higher rating for “hardness”. They will all scratch & scuff with enough abuse … high heels and dog’s claws are no friends of wood … but the harder the wood, the better it will hold up. Brazilian Cherry is one of the hardest woods which is readily available in flooring. The experts at Treadline have a chart that compares all the types of wood and can give great advice on the most suitable wood for your application.
3. Wood is generally considered to be a “green” option because it is renewable. To be sustainable though, be sure the wood you are buying is certified as being sustainably harvested. There are a number of certifications out there, but at the moment, the only one that will get you LEED points (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification. Other sustainable practices include harvesting dead or dying trees, sunken logs, or using reclaimed or recycled wood from old buildings.
A couple of particularly notable options in sustainable wood flooring are:
Cork: Cork flooring is made by taking bark from trees without killing the tree. The bark grows back and can be harvested repeatedly … a little bit like shearing a sheep for wool. Aside from being a wonderful sustainable option, cork is beautiful and is extra cushiony under your feet. It comes in quite an array of colors and with a range of looks from very fine grains to large inlaid pieces which are very striking.
photos courtesy of US Floors
Bamboo: If it has been awhile since you looked at Bamboo flooring, check it out again. There are several new looks on the market including very narrow strips which look quite contemporary and also an end-cut mosaic pattern of tiny rectangles. Bamboo is rapidly renewable, but some manufacturers use formaldehyde in the process, so look for bamboo flooring that is formaldehyde free.
photos courtesy of Allwood Imports
Wood is a beautiful flooring option that feels great under your feet and adds value to your home. With proper care it will last a very long time. For help with choosing flooring or anything else for your home, please contact me at 503.816.4394, or email me at design@pangaea-id.com. You can see my portfolio online at http://www.pangaea-id.com
Tags: bamboo, cork, Design Tips, Flooring, hardwood, Interior Design, sustainable flooring, treadline construction
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