While homeowners and business owners alike love the classic look and value of hardwood flooring, the designminded souls can satisfy their craving for novelty and innovation by noting these top five trends.
Wider and Longer Wood Planks
Gone are the days of every homeowner having to choose from the same box of product. Today’s designers have multiple options when it comes to both the width and length of each plank. Traditionally, planks were cut from 2 1/4 inches up to 3 1/2 inches wide — but now they range in width from two inches all the way up to seven inches. And since wider planks can really open up a room and make it feel more spacious, these selections are enhancing living rooms and master bedrooms all across the nation.
Gray-Toned Woods
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve taken note of the design world’s obsession with the color gray. It has become an amazing “neutral” tone for walls and carpets in order to lighten up a room and create a sense of space. Now the color gray has become a top pick in the wood floor arena. There are various shades of gray to choose from, and the trend will likely continue in the near future.
Lime-Washed Woods
The opposite side of the gray colors and dark tones that are trending is the look of lime-washed wood. This trend was started in the high-end homes of Europe. The mixture of lime and water of a bygone era gives the wood a nostalgic coastal feel. The tone is salt waterbeaten and sun-bleached — perfect for brightening small, windowless, or otherwise dark rooms.
Wire-Brushed Woods
Wire-brushed wood is hardwood that has had the soft top layer of wood scraped off, exposing the harder wood and showing more of the natural grain. This may not seem like something that most people want, but the look can also help hide pet scratches and those that come from moving furniture. It has been seen to pop up more in coastal areas as the wire brush tends to leave a more sand-worn feel.
Reclaimed Wood
Environmentalists are flocking to this wood flooring trend. Reclaimed wood is wood used from other homes or projects, or even recycled wood, to create new flooring. The term reclaimed wood refers to all of the different varieties of wood being used to transform it into a new product. Recycled wood refers to wood that has been taken from farms, wood barrels and logs found along bodies of water and used as is.
Randy Hughes, founder of Hughes Floor Covering, has been in the flooring business for over 40 years. Their family-run showroom carries one of the best selections of ceramic and porcelain tile, carpet, hardwoods, vinyl and laminates in the Charlotte area. Visit them at 4312 Monroe Road, call them at 704-372-7486 or visit www.hughesfloorcovering.com.