Flooring & Rugs
I’m always looking for beautiful rugs. I believe that if you put the right rug in the right space, it can change the whole design and feeling of a space. It’s a challenge, believe me. British textile designer, Helen Yardley, has been designing and producing beautifully crafted rugs, carpets and wall hangings in Britain for over 25 years. Her attraction to rug design is based on her observation that rugs are in effect, drawings on the floor. Unlike most drawings, these are ones that you use for a wide variety of functions and that are both seen and felt. Known for her sophisticated, painterly approach, bold use of colour and dynamic graphic expression, Yardley produces innovative, abstract designs for floor coverings. Yardley’s “drawings for floors” will certainly enhance a wide range of interior spaces.
Posted by Michelle Lesser at 15 October, 2012
Many homeowners place authenticity as their top criterion when looking for hardwood flooring. Apparently, just the aesthetic appearance and style is not enough. Of course, it is still important that we look at quality, durability and value to complete the list but we do want more substance in our flooring. Hardwood is something that we all value because it reveals our style, taste and what’s important for us. If this is something that concerns you the most, you could check out Ambience Wooden Flooring for wider range of choices and I’m sure you’ll get instant gratification from doing so.
What are your choices when it comes to hardwood flooring? The following are some ideas –
Handscrape Hardwood Flooring
Handscrape marks are ones that are left behind when hardwood is being worked upon by hand. It is common in flooring that is reclaimed from historic or old architectures. These marks tell its own kind of story especially about craftsmanship but they are now replicated by flooring manufacturers. So, generally they are not the original marks made to hardwood at all. However, the look and feel of this replicated hardwood remains similar to the original ones.
Wide-Width Wood Planks
The standard width of wood planks today are of 2-3 inches wide but if you’ve seen architectures that were around in 1800s they are wider about 5-8 inches or perhaps more depending on the type of wood used. There are available wood planks today that are wider than the standard width to give the same authenticity and leisurely look on the flooring. Manufacturers made sure that homeowners could still gain access to the thicker and wider wood planks, which were common in the earlier days.
Distressed Wood Flooring
As with the handscrape hardwood flooring, distressed wood flooring is the replica of what it has been as a trend in the year 1970s. The use of distressed wood flooring emerged again in the early 1990s when reclaimed flooring from old commercial buildings and warehouses were hot in the industry. The flooring used in the architectures built in 1800s and early 1990s were authentically marked by years of wear and tear, which made them look and feel unique and antique. These were made available today when skilled craftsmen have replicated the distinguishing features only available then.
Exotic Hardwood Floors
If we’re talking about authenticity as one of the primary criteria, exotic hardwood floors are understandable in terms of appeal. This is where the art of nature usually presents itself. We often marvel how trees grow in elegance but still retain its elegant function as flooring. If you have specific taste, there is always a look that will suit you best. A lot of manufacturers have found the ways to create similar exotic hardwoods that will appeal to your taste just the same. This way you can enjoy the look and feel of exotic hardwood floors without endangering wood species across the globe.
Harder Finishes
According to NY Times, hardwood flooring is often the part of the home that receives most traffic and admiration which will inevitably take the brunt of the wear and tear and refinishing is just one of the options. Today, manufacturers have taken steps to make harder finishes in their hardwood flooring so that you can admire the looks of wood that’s been finished for toughness so it can withstand the wear and tear over time.
Whatever choice you decide to take, you will find that authenticity will always top your list when making a decision – the rest of the factors will follow such as price, durability and the likes.
Posted by JackieAzuela at 9 October, 2012
This innovative design for a rug by Gan Rugs takes the idea of smooth, randomly placed stones on a beach and puts it in wool. The Championes rug has irregular edges, coming in rectangular and round, and a wonderful organic aesthetic. Through a handmade process, this rug will make your floor come alive. Plus, the round wool protrusions would feel great on your feet! (via)
Posted by Michelle Lesser at 20 August, 2012
London-based designer Pia Wustenberg is the creatives behind this coolest rug ever, The GardenRug.
GardenRug is a kit that finds new ground for nature within the home, bringing a piece of greenery into your home.
Posted by Keren Fathi-Poor at 16 August, 2012
And more from Lago the Slide Carpet. The concept of the Slide Carpet is founded on the idea of a rectangle cut in two by a diagonal that generates two rectangular trapezoids which can be combined in myriad ways to generate a real multiplicity of configurations.
Posted by Michelle Lesser at 2 May, 2012
Located in Barcelona, Spain, lacasadecotó creates bright and beautiful, freestyle hand-knit and hand-crocheted rugs, floor cushions, and stool covers. All items are handmade crochet cotton and are ideal for kids who love to sit on the floor. Perfect for a kids room. (via)
Posted by Michelle Lesser at 13 April, 2012
A fun and functional proposal by Juan Pablo Naranjo & Jean-Christophe Orthlie from Studio Nocc.
“For an architect or an interior designer, to choose a TARKETT flooring is like choosing a fabric when you’re a stylist. That idea of treating floor as a tissue led us to imagine patterns which, once they are put together, come to life. So we have designed pieces of furniture consisting of pre-cut pieces of flooring which form two seats and a lamp, laying next to their mark”.
Posted by Michelle Lesser at 31 January, 2012
