Ask the Experts: Hard Surfaces 101

Choosing between hard and soft flooring is a crucial decision when designing a home's interior, especially for households with children or pets. This guide offers insights into both options, focusing on trends, benefits, and maintenance, drawing on expertise from Anthony Carter, National Product Manager at Carpet Court, and Samantha Shaw, Brand Communications Manager at Choices Flooring. For soft flooring, current trends highlight a return to color and texture. While neutral tones remain a safe choice, vibrant colors like blush pinks and rich indigos, alongside natural timbers, earthy greens, and organic surfaces, are gaining popularity. Texture is also a significant trend, with wool carpets featuring dual tonality and chunky loop piles adding visual interest and comfort, particularly in minimalist settings. Technological advancements have led to synthetic fibers that offer superior resistance to spills and fading, increased durability, and allergy-friendly properties, making them suitable for family and pet-friendly homes. There is also a rising demand for eco-friendly options, such as Triexta carpets made from renewably sourced corn sugar, which have a lower environmental footprint. Maintaining soft flooring involves regular vacuuming, ideally weekly and more often in high-traffic areas, to prevent dirt and grit from embedding in the pile. Using a quality vacuum cleaner with microfilter systems is recommended for removing fine particles and allergens. Professional cleaning every 12 to 18 months is also advised. Prompt action on spills and stains is crucial; they should be scraped or blotted immediately, working from the outside in to prevent spreading. Cold water is recommended for initial treatment, avoiding harsh household cleaning products or rubbing, which can damage fibers. Placing mats at entrances helps trap dirt and moisture, further preserving the carpet's condition. The benefits of soft flooring include enhanced comfort and luxury, improved safety by cushioning falls (beneficial for homes with young children), and diverse styling options through endless colors, patterns, and piles. Contrary to common belief, properly maintained carpet can be more hygienic for allergy sufferers by trapping dust particles, preventing their circulation. Carpets also provide insulation, acting as a sound barrier and helping to maintain warmer room temperatures. In hard flooring, popular trends emphasize robust and stylish options with water resistance. The Abode Collection, featuring timber designs, is noted for its resistance to scuffs, scratches, and stains, and its 100% waterproof nature. Layering rugs on hard floors is a popular way to introduce color, pattern, and texture. Timber flooring, including engineered oak with its natural grains and the classic chevron pattern, remains a timeless choice. To maintain hard flooring, regular sweeping and vacuuming are essential to remove dirt that could cause scratches. For timber, laminate, and vinyl floors, abrasive cleaners, steel wool, scouring powder, and steam mops should be avoided. The benefits of hard flooring include durability, ease of cleaning, hard-wearing properties, low maintenance, allergy-friendliness, and a high-quality aesthetic. #Flooring #HomeDecor #InteriorDesign #SoftFlooring #HardFlooring #CarpetTrends #HomeRenovation #FlooringMaintenance #EcoFriendlyFlooring

Kitchen surfaces are evolving beyond their traditional roles, becoming central to expressing personal style and enhancing functionality. Designers are increasingly using surface materials in innovative ways, extending backsplashes from countertops to ceilings, creating waterfall edges on islands, and even wrapping vent hoods in these materials. This trend reflects the changing nature of kitchens, which are now multifunctional hubs for entertaining, working, crafting, and family gatherings, necessitating more expansive and versatile surface areas. Philip Eeles, president and CEO for Laminam North America, notes that larger kitchen islands with significant overhangs are becoming prioritized to accommodate additional seating and activities. Visually, there is a growing preference for warm tones and durable materials that offer longevity and timeless appeal. Gerri Chmiel, senior design manager at Formica Corporation, highlights a rise in modern minimalism characterized by warm whites, subtle patterns, and low-maintenance products. Ignacio Paniagua, executive director of Kitchen & Bath North America at Cosentino, emphasizes the strong demand for durable, long-lasting, and easy-to-clean materials that can withstand daily wear and tear in these highly utilized spaces. Manufacturers surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News identify natural elements, texture, color, unique patterns, and a cohesive aesthetic as key trends. Warm color palettes are gaining significant traction, moving away from cooler whites and grays. Breanna Burton, West Coast sales manager for Xtone, notes a shift towards warmer and earth tones. Gwen Petter, director of Product Design at Wilsonart, points out that warm whites act as versatile canvases, while Chmiel adds that neutrals are transitioning from gray to modern beige hues with warmer veining. Andreas Manero, group marketing director for Neolith, observes a shift from white to bone, crème, and warm beige colors, though acknowledging regional variations in color preferences. Mark Woodman, Corian Design aesthetics consultant for DuPont, reinforces the continued popularity of warm colors like off-white and sand, and warm-influenced grays, as they effectively integrate within designed spaces. Designers and homeowners are also making bolder choices with dramatic colors and textures. Eeles highlights a move from classic white kitchens to designs incorporating dramatic colors and patterned stones, along with textured materials for a tactile experience. Woodman observes a trend towards darker countertop colors like deep gray, brown, black, or charcoal to create a more dramatic aesthetic and complement wood-stained cabinets. Lauren Cherkas, president and chief sales officer at Artistic Tile, expresses enthusiasm for clients embracing vibrant colors such as greens, purples, browns, and pinks. Burton points out that jewel tones, particularly emerald green, are becoming popular in countertops, alongside natural stones with prominent, expressive veining. Woodman adds that omni-directional veins offer an energetic and natural alternative to traditional looks. Functionality and durability remain critical considerations for countertops. Engineered quartz continues to be a top choice due to its luxurious appearance, durability, resistance to scratches, stains, and heat, and ease of maintenance, as noted by Petter. Beyond quartz, a variety of other materials are in demand for both countertops and backsplashes. Woodman observes a resurgence in solid surface materials, driven by new aesthetics, classic durability, reparability for sustainability, and hygienic benefits due to the absence of grout lines. Chmiel mentions that cost-effective options like solid surface and laminate are gaining popularity as homeowners seek to balance budget with aesthetics. Eeles highlights porcelain slabs as a rapidly growing category due to their durability, aesthetic versatility, ease of maintenance, indoor/outdoor applicability, and sustainability. Paniagua notes the rise of textured surfaces, especially fluted designs, which add depth and dimension. Manero emphasizes the growing importance of tactile textures in kitchen and bath spaces, with sintered stone emerging as a reference material for its design and functionality. Safety is also a growing concern, with a shift towards low-silica surfaces, exemplified by Cosentino’s Le Chic Bohème by SilestoneXM collection, which contains less than 10 percent crystalline silica. Nature-inspired aesthetics, incorporating natural materials and earth-toned palettes, are highly desired. Chmiel points to biophilic influences, with homeowners bringing nature indoors through textural finishes and organic color palettes, including classic stone patterns reimagined with moody black, brown, and dark gray tones. Woodman describes the emergence of soft, unassuming environmental looks with small particles and veins, evoking a sense of calm. He also notes that classic blue and green hues, softened and toned, are advancing as transitional colors. Advances in material treatment, such as Antolini’s AzerocarePlus, are making natural stones like onyx, marbles, and soft quartzites more suitable for kitchen use by protecting them from stains and corrosion, according to Alberto Antolini, CEO of Antolini. Natural quartz and crystal are also being increasingly used for their durability, stain and scratch resistance, and translucent qualities that allow for backlighting effects. The kitchen's role as a multifunctional hub necessitates maximizing surface space. Cherkas stresses the importance of ample surfaces for cooking, entertaining, and daily activities. Chmiel observes increased interest in butler’s pantries for additional prep space and clutter concealment, especially in homes with ample square footage. However, in smaller new builds, designers are optimizing limited counter space with multifunctional peninsula and island countertops. Burton notes that kitchen surface area is often a commodity in metropolitan areas, requiring creative layouts. Woodman mentions a trend towards slightly smaller, more human-scaled islands that integrate better into the overall space without sacrificing functionality. Beyond countertops, surface materials are being creatively extended to other areas. Full-height backsplashes and wrapped ventilation hoods are becoming popular. Paniagua states that extending surface materials from countertops to upper cabinets or ceilings creates a seamless and dramatic look. Petter highlights the trend of using countertop materials as full-slab backsplashes for a sleek and luxurious touch. Daniel Sanchez, CEO of Neolith America, notes a shift from small tiles to large-format sintered stone for backsplashes, reducing joints and creating a cleaner aesthetic. Burton mentions the luxe waterfall edge installation, where marble veining flows continuously from the backsplash through the countertop. While matching surfaces are popular, there's also a move towards personalization and texture on backsplashes and range hoods. Antolini explains that using the same natural stone with a different texture for backsplashes enhances visual and tactile experience while maintaining natural beauty. He emphasizes the versatility of natural stone elements in various kitchen applications beyond countertops. Eeles points out that full-size slabs are increasingly used for backsplashes and range hoods, either matching the countertop for continuity or using different colors for contrast. Cherkas encourages bold patterns and colors in backsplashes, viewing them as a flexible canvas for creativity. Chmiel concludes that homeowners are prioritizing personal style over resale value, leading to unique and personalized backsplash designs incorporating unexpected materials or DIY elements. #KitchenDesign #SurfaceMaterials #CountertopTrends #BacksplashDesign #WarmTones #NaturalElements #MaterialDurability #KitchenFunctionality #InteriorDesign #SustainableMaterials

For over a quarter-century, FLOOR360 has distinguished itself as a leading provider of custom flooring solutions, serving more than 12,000 customers. The company holds the record for installing the highest number of floors in new homes across Wisconsin compared to any other flooring firm. Their extensive product catalog includes over 750 lines, encompassing a wide array of options such as carpeting, carpet tile, luxury vinyl plank, ceramic, porcelain, terra cotta, and zellige tiles, as well as marble, stone, hardwood, and laminate. This vast selection ensures that clients have access to diverse materials to suit various aesthetic preferences and functional requirements. FLOOR360's operational philosophy centers on guiding customers through the often-overwhelming process of selecting flooring. Kelly Kuehn, the Milwaukee manager for FLOOR360, notes that many homeowners find themselves daunted by the sheer volume of choices and are unsure where to begin. To address this, FLOOR360 has developed a comprehensive customer service process that starts with an in-depth inquiry into the homeowner's design style, preferred color palette, lifestyle considerations, and the intended function of the room. This initial phase is crucial for understanding the client's vision and practical needs. Following this discovery phase, clients engage in a one-on-one consultation with a professional interior designer. This personalized approach is designed to be results-oriented, enjoyable, and effective in alleviating the stress associated with making significant design decisions. The expertise of the designers ensures that clients receive tailored recommendations that align with their specific project goals and personal tastes. A notable recent project undertaken by FLOOR360 involved the historic Madcap Lounge. For this establishment, the team installed custom area rugs and stair runners. A key aspect of this project was the involvement of their in-house carpet fabrication specialist, who custom-cut the carpeting and meticulously added intricate border details. Subsequently, a team of skilled craftsmen handled the installation, successfully transforming the space. Kuehn highlights that the tropical carpeting in the Madcap Lounge stands out as a unique and memorable feature for visitors. She also emphasizes that the same level of craftsmanship and skill can be applied to create distinctive custom carpet features for individual homes. Looking ahead, FLOOR360 is in a phase of expansion, aiming to broaden its offerings beyond flooring to provide comprehensive whole-home solutions. The company is currently integrating cabinetry, countertops, and window coverings into its services for apartment buildings. There are plans to soon extend these new offerings to the residential market in Milwaukee, indicating a strategic move towards becoming a more all-encompassing interior design and renovation resource for homeowners. #DesignerFlooring #CustomFlooring #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #FlooringSolutions #MilwaukeeHomes #LuxuryVinyl #HardwoodFlooring #TileInstallation