(NewsUSA) - More than ever, homeowners are
appreciating the added value - aesthetic and monetary - that hardwood floors bring to a
home.
"They also offer what can be an overwhelming variety of possibilities and
choices," says Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center, www.hardwoodinfo.com. "Here's a look at five top
flooring trends that will help if you can't see the wood for the trees."
Made in America
"There's a growing demand for American-produced hardwoods," says
Michael Martin, President and CEO of the National Wood Flooring Association.
"It's part of the general trend toward locally-sourced materials of all
kinds in the U.S."
Consumer concerns about sustainability, quality, safety, and environmental factors
are more easily addressed when a hardwood is domestically grown and milled. Plus, the U.S. offers
an unrivaled range of readily available species suitable for flooring.
Stains and Finishes
Gray is a classic "neutral" that's never truly out of fashion. It's
currently one of the most popular colors, ranging from pale smoke to deep charcoal, showing up on
hardwood flooring.
"Whether light or dark, gray stains bring out any wood's natural grain and
texture," says New York interior designer Laura Bohn. "Grays are versatile and timeless -
quiet and soothing colors that recede into the background without losing personality or becoming
faceless. They work in any style décor, yet always look
modern."
Species
For several years, the trend was toward characterful woods
like hickory, but recently, white oak has moved to the front. Along with abundance, durability, and
reasonable cost, white oak offers aesthetic advantages.
"It can be stained light, dark, or somewhere in between," says interior
designer Emily Morrow Finkell, CEO of Emily Morrow Home. "Many of the popular gray-brown
shades look especially sophisticated applied to white oak. Consumers see and love it in magazines
and websites, making it a perfect 'attainable home upgrade.'"
The Wider, The Better
"It's all about wide, wider, widest!" says NWFA's Michael Martin.
"Planks of up to 7 inches in width are considered normal now. Traditional strip flooring still
remains popular, but wide-plank is the market leader."
As Melissa Morgan of M Interiors in San Antonio says, "Wider floorboards
can make a space look larger and more modern. The floor can be treated like a canvas: ebonized for
a sleek, dark look; light-stained for an urban vibe; distressed for a rustic affect - the
possibilities are endless."
Popular Patterns
"One way to set your home interior apart is by tapping into the trend for
herringbone-and- chevron-pattern hardwood floors, which show up increasingly in decorating
magazines," says Morrow Finkell. But as Michael Martin points out, "Since installing
herringbone floors is a time-and labor-intensive process, they're more common in high-end projects
than in the average middle-class home." Still, if you can afford to splurge, these floors are
a gorgeous addition to any room.
Visit www.hardwoodinfo.com for more about
residential design trends and other applications and products using American
hardwoods.