Which Floor covering should I consider for my lifestyle?

Flooring is one of the biggest decisions a homeowner makes. Some love the softness of carpet.  Some love the look of wood.  It is a big decision and one to be thought out properly.

Some people adore hardwood’s natural beauty. It’s easy to clean and can look new for decades if cared for properly.

The floors you choose really create the atmosphere in your home and gives it an identity.

When it comes down to it, always consider your lifestyle. Do you have children? Do you have pets? Is your lifestyle crazy and hectic? Understanding all of the options before making your decision is paramount. Budget is also a factor.

I hope the following will help you make the right choice for your home.  I am always available and only a phone call away (905 808 2460) to give you any advice or recommendations.

What type of room are you considering flooring for?

What is your taste?

What will look good in your home and suit your decor?

From traditional elegant classics to relaxed casual country to modern contemporary.

Every category of flooring today offers an incredible range of styles, colours, textures and patterns. Underlay is equally as important.  It controls imperfections in the sub-floor, it also helps deaden sound when walking on the floor (since it is not attached to the sub-floor), and softens the feel when walking on the floor.  Underlay for laminate and floating wood floors are different than the underlay for carpet. A thicker padding is used for carpet.  It amazes me when I step onto a carpeted area how noticeable the underlay is.  The carpet may look incredible but when poor grade underlay is used is can cause an area to feel hard and uninviting. Please consider a great grade underlay with any new flooring.  It really does make all the difference.

If you live in a multi-story building, house, apartment or condo.  Good flooring is very important.  The more muffled the sound, the better. Sound is transmitted when hard objects, like hard-soled shoes, furniture, dropped objects, or even dog claws impact a hard surface, like tile or stone. Without anything to absorb it, sound waves can spread.

So many flooring options are low maintenance, easy to clean and durable.  Some examples of these are laminate, ceramic, vinyl or carpet. Areas like Entryways, kitchens, bathrooms and hallways have a lot of traffic that passes through. Ceramic is often a great option for these areas.

For areas like bathrooms or kitchens where water spills may happen, the best solutions are ceramic or porcelain tile. Popular kitchen choices today also include hardwood, laminate, ceramic and cork. For areas of the home where cozy warmth and good acoustics are important, like family rooms, bedrooms and home theatres, carpet is still the best solution.

Depending on your space and taste, consider the vast array of rich colours of Laminate and Hardwood and accessorising with the addition of an area rug.

 

Hardwood

Solid hardwood is milled from solid lumber and works well in almost any room, not recommended in locations like bathrooms or basements due to the potential for damage from ground moisture.

This type of flooring can be sanded and refinished numerous times to maintain its natural beauty.  Wood floors can last more than 25 years and their beauty often increases with age. If you’re looking for easy-to-maintain flooring that adds charm to your home. Hardwood flooring is a great way to enhance a space and also adds value to your home. Solid hardwood does shrink and expand depending on the humidity in your home. In the winter when it’s drier, hardwood floors will shrink. When there’s more moisture in the air, like in the spring or summer, hardwood expands. Hardwood has many different styles and colours that will satisfy all of your flooring needs.

Cork

In England, I grew up with cork floors.  They were warm, great for soundproofing and felt spongy underfoot. Cork flooring comes in a wide variety of styles offering a range of design possibilities.  The majority of cork used for flooring, actually comes from the bark of the cork oak tree, Cork is a design option that offers high-end durability. Cork a great option for comfort and sturdiness. The versatile material allows so many choices from different stains in many shades and it can also be painted. It can be matched with any decor you choose. If you are looking for an environmentally friendly option, cork is the perfect choice.

Cork floors do not absorb dust and are resistant to bacteria and fungus. They do not cause allergies nor pose a risk to asthma sufferers. Cork repels insects, resists rotting, and also fire.

This type of flooring is most commonly used in kitchens, but can also be used for other types of spaces. Cork is comfortable, quiet and comes in a multitude of colours.

Cork must be initially sealed with polyurethane and re-sealed every few years in order to protect the integrity of the material by keeping dirt and moisture at bay. Since cork has a thin outer layer, moisture and excessive dirt can damage the flooring. Heavy pieces of furniture if dragged along a cork floor can tear it. It can also cause punctures or divots. Use coasters to prevent this.
 

Vinyl

Vinyl flooring is durable, stable and generally moisture-resistant. It is easy to care for with a broom and damp mop and has special backing to prevent mildew growth and water damage. It lasts for a relatively long time – at least five years – and resists UV fading, stains and dents. Vinyl is also soft and quiet underfoot, easy to repair and affordable. To match any decor imaginable, it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, some even look like wood or stone.

Despite its many benefits, vinyl also has a downside. It is resistant to the most damage, and seems to cut and scratch fairly easily. It can also show fairly extensive wear after a few years in high-traffic areas, making it less long-term than many other flooring types. Additionally, sheet vinyl requires professional installation, increasing the cost factor. For many people, vinyl looring is also considered less visually pleasing than more expensive options.

 

Laminate

Laminate flooring is made by compressing layers of fiberboard together and placing a photographic image of wood grain, stone, or tile pattern over the fiberboard. After the image is added to the surface, a protective coating is added to help prevent damage and add a finish to the flooring.  The picture attached shows how each layer is made up.

Laminate floors have high resistance to moisture and are often used for kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Laminate is cheaper than hardwood and can be installed very easily.

It is particularly suitable for use over concrete floors. Always use underlay under your laminate floor for soundproofing. Some laminates have underlay built into the bottom layer, if not, look for a good one.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered hardwood flooring combines a thin-but-tough real hardwood surface with underlying multiple layers of plywood or fireboard. Its laminated layers make it remarkably strong and more resistant to moisture. As a result, it can be used in below, on, or above grade locations, basements. Engineered hardwood performs just like solid hardwood when it comes to scratching and denting. Laminate flooring has an extremely tough wear layer of melamine finish which gives it added durability with regards to denting and scratching. Its extra tough durability is ideal for families with active lifestyles including those families with children and pets. Engineered hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished for a longer life span. Engineered hardwood is expensive to manufacture due to its complexity of integrated layers of hardwood and plywood. Laminate flooring is more economical to produce and therefore less expensive to purchase.

 

Carpet

What makes carpet a good choice for floor covering if you have pets?

Wall-to-wall carpeting is more comfortable for pets; after all, many pets spend lots of time lying around on the floor. Carpet is also a nonslip surface that can be safer for animals, whose footpads tend to slide on tile and hardwood. Carpet will maintain its beauty and durability for many years.  Carpet is a safe option.  Ideal for the elderly and very young. Carpet also absorbs noise rather than reflecting it back into the room. Those who want to save money carpet does retain warmth longer, conserving energy and reducing heating bills.

Bamboo

Bamboo flooring is one of the best ways to get a combination of beauty and durability. It is most known for its strength and stability, making it a great choice for flooring that lasts for many years. Although bamboo is actually a type of grass, it can be harder than oak, giving you a long lasting material. I personally have this in my home and absolutely love it.  Maintenance free.  It has a lot of the same benefits of hardwood plus a few more. It has less risk of damage due to expansion or contraction. It is also particularly resistant to insects and mildew growth. Bamboo is one the most recent materials to be used in flooring, but it is also one of the most environmentally friendly.  It has a wide variety of styles and colours.

 

Ceramic and Porcelain tile

Ceramic and porcelain tile flooring are known for their beauty and function. Ceramic and porcelain can with stand quite a bit of punishment. They are also highly moisture resistant, being safe for damp areas such as basements, or bathrooms. Like hardwood floors, they can also add value to your home. Buyers appreciate the beauty, durability and easy maintenance of tile.

This type of flooring possesses the following characteristics: stain resistant, scratch resistant, fire resistant, will not fade from sun light, slip resistant and easy to clean.  Very practical in a wide range of colour and design options. Being very versatile enables great creativity that will give your home the beauty you desire.

I hope this information has been helpful to you.

Testimonial

I want to compliment you, Julie of Jms Home staging & Design on the excellent job done on my new apartment.  I truly enjoyed feeling part of the creative process and was impressed with how you are able to bring out the individual style and personality that I was not aware I had.  Your creative expertise and patience helped to make my new home a warm, well-appointed and functional place to live.  Moving to a new area can be very difficult, but having a home I love and feel connected too has made all the difference.  Thank you again for sharing your talent.

Victoria R.

 

 

What is Your Design Style? Do You Know?

There are several different design styles.  As a stager/designer, working closely with the homeowner gives me so many amazing benefits.  Not only am I enlisted to help de-clutter a space ready for the market.  I often get asked to help with an existing space.  Confusion sometimes occurs when a client feels overwhelmed by a living space.  Living with those same 4 walls day after day and not really knowing how to move forward with that space.  So many factors need addressing.  What will the space be used for?  How much time will be spent in there?  Working closely with the homeowner to achieve their vision.  Being able to ask the right questions is paramount.  Taking the time and being patient.  To the homeowner this can be very overwhelming.  Design should be fun and incredibly rewarding.  Be inspired by places that you’ve been to, styles that you’ve seen in either magazines or on t.v. and then try them out in your home with confidence.

 

Minimalistic Style

This term can mean different things to different people.

In the Minimalist Design Style, simplicity of style in artwork, by using the fewest and barest essentials or elements to maximum effect.  Less is definitely more with this style. Furniture must have streamline shapes and upholstered with neutral colored leather. Shiny surfaces and straight lines look amazing in this interior. Details should be made of stainless steel or chrome.  This is a great style for those home owners that love tidy, clean spaces free from unnecessary decorations and frills. Minimalism is especially popular among businessmen and creative people who value the combination of simplicity, sophistication, beauty and being very practical.  Colour scheme is very neutral.  It gives the owner a great sense of peace, quiet, harmony and beauty.  This style can also be relatively inexpensive and very easy to maintain. 

 

Contemporary Style

This design style focuses on neutral colours, such as creams, whites, browns, blacks and taupe. Bold colours, such as red or yellow can be used for the accessories, also combine fabrics such as silk, velvet, linen or wool. Smooth, clean, geometric shapes are essential for contemporary style furniture pieces. Upholstered furniture often wears black, white, or other neutral tones in textured natural fibers. Furniture pieces should be simple and uncluttered, without curves or decoration. Sofas, chairs, and ottomans have exposed legs.

Simplicity combined with texture and clean lines help to define contemporary style decorating. Interiors showcase space rather than things. By focusing on the colour, space and shape, the end result evokes a sleek and fresh feel.  In a contemporary style interior, don’t use ruffles, excessive carved details, fringe, or floral prints. Floors should be bare and smooth in wood, tile, or vinyl. Carpet can be used for sound control or warmth, choose commercial grades. Add color and texture with plain or geometric-patterned area rugs. 

 

Eclectic Style

This term is often used in spaces of mismatched pieces.  However, a successful eclectic design scheme is not a random assortment of mismatched home furnishings and decor. It is a deliberate and planned design scheme that is unified by furnishings that relate to each other through color, shape, texture, finish or scale. A mixture of different decorating styles. It can also be a blend of different cultures and time periods.

 

Art Deco Style

In its prime throughout the 1920’s and 30’s, in Europe, particularly Paris. Art Deco opted for sleeker, streamlined shapes and geometric patterns.  More zigzags and sunbursts shapes.  Paying close attention to the more modern materials like chrome, stainless steel and inlaid wood. Natural materials were used more sparingly, with Zebra skins and fern leaves as popular choices.  Today, Art Deco style goes by a new name, it is sometimes known as retro modern, sometimes as vintage modern or some variation of the two.  The most popular of Art Deco colours are bolder pastel shades. Great examples are: Mint green, banana yellow, salmon pink, turquoise blue, lilac.

 

Art Nouveau Style

Popular design ranging from 1880 to before World War I.  Art Nouveau adopted geometric shapes such as arcs and semi-circles, which were very elaborate. Instead of sharp lines and right angles, the style features gentle arches, elongated curves and fluid-looking edges that flow together. This look can present challenges, especially when dealing with flat tables and chair legs. Art Nouveau design in furniture overcomes the straight lines with chair and table legs that bow gracefully instead of standing stick-straight. Bookcases and cabinets are designed to feature tree-like limbs that appear supple and asymmetrical, rather than being rigid.

Colours were elegant and subtle, mustard, sage, olive, brown and gold, teamed with lilac, violet and purples, peacock blue, salmon and robin’s egg blue for the ultimate in elegance. Wallpapers included much of the highly stylized nature symbols, particularly flowers, feathers, birds and dragonflies. Fabric also featured much of the same designs.

 

Country Style

This design is all about comfort, very casual and cosy. The emphasis is on natural materials and charm, handcrafted features. A lot of wooden furniture and closets, decorated with things used on the countryside. Very often not modern things! Some of the older heavy wooden tables and chairs. Inspiration definitely comes from the surrounding landscape.  Colour palette can vary widely and will be centered on greens, reds, blues, beige and white to name a few.

 

Classic Style

The idea behind a classically designed room is to create a sense of perfect symmetry. If a classic interior design were to be sliced down the middle, one side of a room would perfectly reflect the other side of a room. Everything from the lighting to the way that pictures are placed inside of a classic room should be immaculate.

Classical design does not include any modern elements or current influences. Instead, classic interior design is steeped in tradition. In order to distinguish classical design from other types of design, it is important to understand the idea behind a focal point.

Classically designed rooms often contain large focal points. A large fireplace, grand table, or impressive staircase are good examples of focal points that are often used. Once a designer has chosen the focus of a room, all other items within the room are placed in order to enhance the look of the chosen focal point. 

  

Modern Style

Clean lines, accessory-free space, and neutrals with primary colors.  The essence of modern interior design includes basic shapes, Geometric-patterned or plain area rugs provide accent colours and accentuate the bold look of modern interiors. Modern design is a great choice for apartment dwellers because it increases space and creates the illusion of a larger room.  Young, busy professionals particularly love this decorating style since the space is easily kept clean without knick knacks or ornate decorative furniture to dust.  Spur of the moment entertaining is simple and quick. Materials like metal, chrome and glass – and furnishings without decorative parts.

Shaker Style

Shaker furniture and interior design style is widely admired for its simplicity, quality, and functionality. The shaker style originated in my home country, England, in the late 1700s.  The Shakers believed in common ownership of property and communal living.  They used a lot of natural materials such as Cherry wood, pine, walnut, hickory and maple.    The Shaker design is stylish–subtle curves and straight angles blend in a design that is both solid and graceful. Graceful enough to blend in with high-end home decor and humble enough to blend with mix-and-match furnishings, the Shaker style is versatile.

Simple shapes such as ladder back chairs with woven-tape seats. Examples shown. Colours were rich and dark. Ruby red, forest green or blue, with heavy damask patterns were prominent. The color palette consisted of Peacock greens and blues, magentas, violets and raw pink. Fabrics were highly patterned. Velvet and damask were of choice for the winter, switching to cotton and chintz for the cooler summer months. Wallpaper became mass-produced and was embraced by the masses. Paper went from the skirting board to the dado line and was pattered in flock, damask or water silk.

Interior spaces have large pieces but also very light and compact for portability and easy storage. Tables had drop leaves and legs that unscrewed. Chairs, racks and cupboards were built to be hung on pegs.

Today Shaker furniture is recognized for its simplicity, honesty, grace, utility and sturdiness. 

I have attached a great link of a Grand Designs Television show which I watched recently.  It really shows how the Shaker style can be implemented in any space, in this example it is used in a summer house.  Very interesting to me because the designer is working with a couple on two very different projects.   It really enforces how hard it can be to truly know what the home owner’s true vision is.  There are so many choices in any design project and of course budget has a big bearing as well. Enjoy the link.

Shaker Style Design Home

 

 

Gothic Style

When I think about the Gothic Style, my immediate thought is churches, gargoyles, arches and everything dark.  Gothic design style flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520. Wrought iron and hardwood furniture is a special feature of Gothic style designing. The bed heads and chair backs need to have the typical pointed arch design found in the Gothic style. Wrought iron furniture includes decorative items such as chandelier and sconces used for candles. The style began in churches and then found its way into homes. Predominately the style is pointed arches, stained glass, coats of arms, mythical beasts and the tree of life.  Heavy fabrics, and heavy woods are some other characteristics of the Gothic style accompanied with intricate detailing.  Some people think Black and Red are the only colours that can be used in a Gothic Design.  Actually there are lots of colours like rich, blues, purples, violets, reds, and greens.  It all depends on personal taste.

To give an even clearer example I have attached the following link to a Grand Designs episode showing Gothic Style at its best. Enjoy.

Gothic Home Design