Check Out What Is In Store And On The Floor (NAPSA)—This year, homeowners looking for ways to change their living spaces are taking inspiration from the great outdoors. price points and in styles to appeal to every taste, from modern to vintage. Whether soft or hard surface, Mother Nature is definitely influencing the look of flooring today. Contrasting Textures Are On Trend One of the latest styles growing in popularity is termed “rustic elegance.” The look consists of both raw and refined materials displayed together. Organic elements including hardwood and stone receive added dimension and beauty when juxtaposed with highly trendy porcelain tiles made to look like stratified rock and burnished, smooth metal. Another look growing in popularity is rus- tic, industrial concrete, commonly associated with outdoor spaces, paired with smooth alabaster marble, glass and other glossy materials. Colors Are Quiet Patterns, Dramatic In all its many shades, gray has become the new beige. Combined with the weathered looks are hues that range from desert to ocean. These calming colors bring warmth and characterto interiors. Meanwhile, eye-catching, oversized geometrics and classic patterns larger in scale than normal are popular in carpeting, rugs and tiles. What It All Means For Your Floors Here’s how the latest looks are translated in each flooring category: *New technology and digital imaging deliver high-quality laminates that put their natural cousins, including hardwood and marble, to the test. Laminate today is highly durable, offers photo-real imaging and enhanced sound absorption, is easy to maintain and,best of all, very affordable! * Porcelain tile today can also look like fabric, metal, even con- crete. Long-lasting and affordable tile is always in style. Intricate geometric patterns and mosaics found throughout history are now on tiles in dozens of shapes that Photo Credit: White Oak Solstice Carpet Carpets today offer beautiful natural looks typically only associated with hard surfaces like stone in luxuriously soft and durablefibers. comein all sizes. Even the warmth and natural texture of wood can be convincingly re-created in tile for kitchens and bathrooms. elf it’s stone you seek, here’s something that could rock your world. Stone may be an old building material butit’s getting a new look with unique shapes, etched surfaces, and pairings with other material—both natural and manmade, including glass, hardwood and burnished metal. *Hardwood floors remain popular amidst changing trends. According to the National Association of Realtors, 54 percent of homebuyers would pay more for houses with hardwood floors. Rugged and warm browns from ebony to leather to honey golden are all in, but for different reasons. Dark floors make a bold statement and help highlight a room’s other features; lighter ones are easier to maintain. Under- stated, weathered gray and muted metallic shades offer a great base and mask imperfections and dirt so they’re good for high-traffic areas. Flax, blond and whitewash add light and modernity. Plankssalvaged from old beams and antique flooring, or logs re- claimed from rivers and lakes, are in high demandand short supply, so costs can be high. For a similar effect, at a lower price, you can try handscraped or machine-distressed woods. If a patterned wood floor pleases you, good news: Mosaics and parquet designs are back in fashion and are available at most Versatile vinyl is more durable, more affordable and easier to maintain than any other flooring. Yet with today’s advanced photographic and embossing technology, vinyl can be madeto look like anything from reclaimed boat wood planksto stone slate tiles. Vinyl is naturally water resistant, making maintenance as easy as a quick mopping, and unyielding against scratches, stains, dents and scuffs. Vinyl is also easy to install, even over existing flooring. Sustainable and eco-friendly cork and rubber offer classic looks, comfort underfoot, acoustic qualities and inherent antimicrobial protection. *Legend has it that Cleopatra presented herself to Julius Caesar rolled in a rug. Today, top clothing designers are basing the latest fashions on fabrics and motifs usually found on the floor. One reason may be the beautiful colors, patterns and textures that rugs and carpets can come in. In addition to the classic looks, distressed and striated patterns are popping up in almost every collection. These patterns are very forgiving whenit comes to dirt and blemishes. And the distressed looks—well, they’re already distressed, so you don’t have to worry about added wear from your family. The influence from nature is also seen in carpets. From actual natural materials such as wool and sisal to nature-inspired patterns— including animal prints, insect wings and layered rock looks—if you're a nature lover, you'll likely fall for today’s soft floors. Some of today’s carpets and rugs even boast permanent, builtin stain resistance that never washes or wears off and manmadefibers that offer the look of wool with the durability and price of nylon. Learn More The World Floor Covering Association has more information on all these trends. Visit www.WFCA.org.
