Let Your Floor Provide A Warm Tone May 1, 2011
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This is a simple room, but don’t dismiss it quickly. Choices made in this room make the space work particularly well.
The room itself is well proportioned with enough architectural detail to create interest even with no furniture. The fireplace surround coordinates with the crown molding. The appealing French doors serve as the focal point of the room with the side and top windows combining with the window frame and molding to draw the eye.
The floor is also a strong player in this space. The medium hickory adds the only warm tone in the room, and its lively grain and rough edges highlighted by the dark brown glaze give it a strong personality. The boards provide color and carry the eye through the room to the focal point in the back.
It would be easy to choose furnishings to hide this room’s beauty, but instead the simple modern choices in white and black allow the room to show off its assets. There’s one more piece of magic that makes this room work, the chandelier. Clearly vintage, the delicate lines and unique glass globes make it a strong almost sculptural element in the space.
Even if your home is newer, many of these architectural features are available to you. Take a look at today’s wood floors to find choices that reproduce the character of yesterday’s options. Molding and door and window frames are also available in rich traditional styles. For a chandelier that stands out from the average, take a look at stores that sell vintage light fixtures to find a remarkable selection. Even contemporary lighting choices may provide you with a look that mirrors your desire for an unusual piece.
Don’t be afraid to add personality to your home, or to combine old with new to create the look that makes you happy.
Diagonal adds Drama March 21, 2011
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This room combines classic elements with a sense of exotic drama. You can tell that this hotel lobby is not based in the United States.
By combining old and new, simple and patterned, and light and dark, this room both invites and intrigues any visitor.
To start with, the straightforward light maple wood floor catches the attention with its diagonal installation. The diagonal line breaks up the rest of the décor, which simply runs down the length of the room. A diagonal also makes the space appear larger and encourages visitors to move off the main path and spend time in one of the seating areas to the side.
Old comes from the columns running down the center of the lobby. Original to the building, the rough white stain keeps the traditional style in focus. The antique oriental rugs in various patterns bring the strongest punch of color and pattern. With the bare walls, these rugs serve as the art in the room.
The simple dark rattan chairs and white cushions bring a contemporary element into the space. The layout is also modern. By keeping the approach and lines simple, this room uses every contrasting element without becoming overwhelming.
Would a diagonal approach to your floors add to the drama and sense of style? Are you willing to take a chance by creating a room of contrasts such as this one? This daring room makes the decisions work.
Sustainable Hardwoods December 18, 2010
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Do you think about the environmental impact of your purchasing decisions? Many people today have modified their approach to buying a product by exploring the company’s approach to sustainability.
As consumers pay more attention, suppliers do too. One good example of this is a research project started recently by PE International, a consulting firm specializing in environmental consulting. They are investigating the environmental impact of American hardwoods, from the initial extraction to the final delivery at wood import firms. This analysis will eventually help you make more informed decisions when you purchase wood floors and furniture.
Choosing a hardwood floor involves many choices: style, budget, wood tone, type of wood, manufacturer and installer. Today, many consumers also want to know about a product’s carbon footprint. As a result, many suppliers and distributors are working hard to get that information for you. When you make important purchasing decisions, it’s worth your time to ask about any environmental information available.
Wood Floors Are The Best For Resale December 3, 2010
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Have you ever watched an episode of “House Hunter” on Home and Garden TV? If you have, you know that wood floors are the most requested home design feature.
Although you may currently have no plans to sell your home, it’s a good idea to consider resale when renovating your home. Would wood floors be a good investment for you? Consider the following factors.
Neighborhood: If you live in an upscale neighborhood with homes that feature higher-end finishes, choosing wood will make your home more competitive in the market. In an area of starter homes, how about wood in the living/dining area only, or choosing a less expensive wood such as oak? Laminate floors with a look similar to wood at a much lower price are another option to consider.
Home style: A traditional style is well suited to wood. Modern homes have more flooring flexibility, but will also stand out with wood.
Personal preference: You have to choose flooring based on your personal preference first. Many people love wood, but if you don’t, select the flooring that suits you best. However, if you are attracted to wood floors, you can be sure that your choice will make selling your home easier when the time comes.
Wood Floor Styles: Casual September 7, 2010
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Wood floors have as many personalities as there are types of trees. If your style is laid-back, have you considered the benefits of casual wood flooring?
Take the time to explore the options in our showroom. To start, let’s consider several elements that lead to a more casual feel in a wood floor.
- Look for lighter tones. These bring to mind a coastal or country feel. Maple and pine work well, as do some of the newer bamboos.
- Find a floor with some variety of tone. This will allow you to use different materials and shades in your furnishings while still linking your décor to your floor.
- Look for personality in your floor. The newer hand-scraped floors fit this profile. Also, floors with stronger grain and even a few small knots add to the relaxed feel. The flooring seems handmade rather than manufactured, adding a bit of a rustic feel to your space.
Wood floors provide such variety that there is one to fit your specific taste and style. Ask one of our salespeople for help in finding just the right one for you. If you want to start browsing in the comfort of your own home, check out our online hardwood catalog, here.
Hardwood Maintenance Video March 25, 2010
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Featured Product: Castle and Cottage Oak Auburn by Kahrs February 6, 2010
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The Castle & Cottage Collection by Kahrs was inspired by the color and interiors of southern Europe. The collection consists of pale to dark floors that have been gently brushed for added emotional effect and produced in unique design colors. Today’s feature is Oak Auburn. This product is so versatile, it could be used in most every design style ranging from eclectic to rustic. Of course, the image doesn’t nearly do justice to the texture and character of the wood so you might just have to stop by to see a sample.
Some features of the product:
- Wire brushed finish
- Distressed finish
- One strip design
- White Oak species
- Silk Matte finish
- Some knots present
This product is available in 6 stunning colors ranging from light shades to dark. Color available include: Carbonne, Cassis, Cognac, Espresso and Tarcot. You can see them all in our product catalog.
What Kahrs says about their company:
We have always worked with wood, and this is something that has developed into a 150-year love story. Today we are the world’s oldest wood floor manufacturer that is still in business.
As the world shrinks, and the wheel turns ever faster, roots become even more important. Our strong belief in craftsmanship that has distinguished us right from the start is deeply rooted.
This means that the high quality we stand for is represented in every single piece of wood that passes through our hands.
We hope you find this product as stunning as we do. It’s amazing to imagine the process of turning a tree into these beautiful floors.
Hardwood Flooring Maintenance – Reader Question January 19, 2010
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Reader Question:
“I just moved into my new home with my family and before I start cleaning my new hardwood floors I wanted to see if you could clear up a debate between my mother and me. My mother tells me to clean my hardwood floors with Windex like she does (and has for 40 years) because that will help keep the shine longer. My floors are the newer type where they came already finished right out of the box. I plan to mop them with soap and water like the rest of my floors. Can you tell us which one of us is right? ”
Ashley from Yuma, AZ
Answer:
Ashley,
We are so happy that you asked us this question before you took matters into your own hands! Your mother maybe giving you advice based on the type of hardwood floors she has in her home. Hardwood floors have changed significantly in recent years and with those changes have come more advanced cleaning methods. First, here’s the answer followed by an explanation! You, especially should only clean your hardwood floors with a manufacturer approved cleaner.
Here are just a few of the reasons why:
- Using the wrong type of cleaner can void your warranty
- Cleaning with multiple products can leave a permanent film on your floors
- Your floors have a special protective coating that was carefully applied in the factory. Some chemicals can damage that finish making your floors more susceptible to damage.
- Mopping hardwood floors with soap and water can cause your wood to expand and contract and cause a variety of other unsightly issues (take a stack of paper and soak it with water – that will give you an idea of what water and wood do when they meet!)
Hardwood floors, especially pre-finished hardwood floors are designed to be very little maintenance for you. You should only have to use a liquid to clean your floors when you have a spill or stain. Using a terry cloth head mop with a small amount of cleaner should do the trick. You will also want to be sure that you keep dirt and sand off of your hardwood floors on a regular basis by having walk off mats at every door.
Hope this helps!
Your friends at Big Bob’s
Design Perspective: Dining Room November 23, 2009
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Here at Big Bob’s, we truly believe that a picture is worth a thousand words which is why we have a gallery of floors on our site for your browsing pleasure. In that gallery of floors, we show a variety of different room scenes with different flooring options and different design styles. Many of our readers have commented that they would like some insight into what makes these room scenes so appealing.
- The wider width plank hardwood used in this room was an excellent choice for the size of the room. The wider the plank, the larger the room appears.
- The graining of the hardwood helps add character, dimension and depth to the floor.
- The furniture compliments the stain of the wood, but doesn’t match exactly. Remember, it’s best to blend or coordinate, not match.
- The warm rich color of the walls creates a warm and elegant, yet comfortable feeling.
- The ceiling accent color adds to the warm feeling of the room and provides an accent color for decorative items such as artwork, florals, window treatments and a future area rug.
- The round table creates a comfortable walkway or path that will be excellent for the flow of entertaining.
- The metal in the light fixture ties in well with the metal pickets on the stairs in the adjacent room.
- The addition of an area rug would only further warm up the room. An area rug that blended the color of the walls with the ceiling color as an accent would look fantastic in this room. A darker background rug would give the room a more formal feel where an area rug with a light background would give the room a more casual feel.
What do you like about this room? What features appeal to you? What changes or additions would you make to fit your style?