Hardwood Flooring In Your Kitchen? Definitely.
Homeowners with tile or laminate flooring in their kitchen can often be scared to make a switch
to hardwood flooring. After all, there is a lot that happens in a kitchen that can cause damage to
any type of flooring. And given the cost and high quality of hardwood, many do not want to risk
losing their investment over a few dropped eggshells. This article should put your concerns to rest.
Below, we will go over some benefits of making the switch to hardwood!
Style
Hardwood is increasingly popular in kitchens around the country. Almost all new kitchen
designs featured on social media, blog posts, and house makeover shows feature hardwood
flooring in the kitchen. Modern design style pushes seamless transitions from room to room, and
with most modern housing having hardwood throughout the home it makes perfect sense to why
modern designers go for that look. At the end of the day, you simply will not get that timeless
look and feel in artificial flooring.
Durability
One of the biggest concerns people have is the potential for water damage. It is no shock that tile
is the more water resistant flooring option for your kitchen, but hardwood is not too far behind. If
your hardwood has been properly installed and coated, any spill that is cleaned up quickly will
be no problem. Only spills that have been left sitting for an abnormally long period of time can
damage the wood. Make sure to check out our blog post about maintaining your hardwood floors
for some tips and tricks. In addition, a hardwood’s durability depends on the species of wood.
Make sure to bring this up with our experts when selecting your hardwood!
Versatility
Hardwood can match any design you have in your home currently. Whether it be contemporary.
modern, or even a traditional farmhouse kitchen remodel, there will be a style of hardwood that
fits the spirit of the room.
Contact Us
Ready to get going? Even if you are having a hard time envisioning that switch to hardwood
flooring, you contact us today at (202)-872-9860 for a FREE consultation! With over 40 years of
experience, work done for clients such as the White House, Four Seasons, and Café Milano, you
can trust that our specialists are some of the best in the industry. No job is too big or too small!
Spring Cleaning Your Floors
It’s that time of year again! Even if you have been doing regular upkeep of your floors over those winter months, a good deep clean will keep your floors in tip-top shape. Save yourself time and money by following a weekly cleaning regimen! This article will give you some tips on how to freshen up your hardwood, carpet, and tile.
Hardwood
A weekly sweeping or vacuuming of your hardwood floors should be enough to keep it nice. Make sure you are getting to any excess dirt or spillage immediately to prevent long term damage. For your spring cleaning, we would recommend breaking out a mop and some hardwood flooring cleaner. This can be an arduous task for those of you with hardwood in most rooms of your house or apartment, but it will be well worth it. Steps like these can go a long way in delaying an expensive replacement or refinishing that comes with age.
Carpet
The same weekly vacuuming rule applies to your carpet floors, as well as an even bigger emphasis on immediately getting to dirt and stains. Many people forget to upkeep their carpets and end up paying hundreds of dollars for steam cleaning or thousands for replacement before its necessary. Plan on steam cleaning your carpet about once a year to make it last. You can get away with waiting longer, but also remember that renting a steamer or buying your own can be a cheaper alternative.
Tile
Tile may be one of the easier types of flooring to clean, but it is still just as important to keep it clean. Mold and mildew are big threats to your tile floors, particularly in damp places in your home like a bathroom or mud room. A weekly mopping of this space prevents build up and keeps tile from losing its coloring. Avoid using steam mops or detergent/soap as these can damage the flooring.
Beyond Repair?
No matter how much time you put into keeping your flooring pristine, there comes a time to get a replacement or call in the professionals. At Classic Floor Designs, our team has over 40 years of experience in the Washington DC area. If you think its time to replace or refinish your flooring, give us a call at (202) 872-9860 for a FREE consultation!
How to Choose the Best Area Rug
While we often overlook rugs in our everyday spaces, they play a huge role in the look and feel of the room. And it’s no easy decision to pick one out, especially if you already have your furniture in place. Size, texture, color, pattern, and shape are not the only things to keep in mind during your search. Here are some tips on picking out that perfect rug.
Functionality
How will this rug be used? Rugs have a different purpose depending on the room, whether it be a living room, bedroom, den, office, etcetera. You might want to go for more glamour in a highly visible room such as your living room, while a bedroom might be a place for a comfier rug. And never forget about color! That white rug is the perfect fit until a flimsy glass of wine or toddler gets to it.
Proportions
Attempting to fit a rug to an entire room can dwarf the space. Instead, try and fit the rug to a more confined space like the seating area in a living room. This allows the rug to “anchor” the room. A good example of this is a round rug. Placing the seating area around the edges of the rug can create an aesthetically pleasing, while also practical, style. As far as a rule of thumb? Most follow Lohnes’ rule: choose a rug that is two feet shorter than the smallest wall in the room.
Layering
If you haven’t built up your room yet, it’s a great idea to start with a rug. Pick a rich color like burgundy or indigo to start, then build from there. It becomes more of a challenge to place a rug in a space currently without one, but that’s a perfect excuse to call in the experts. In fact, we offer a free in-store design consultation. So if designing a room isn’t one of your strong suits, you have nothing to fear, and it may turn out to be much easier than you think.
Feel
It is very important to come in to see and feel a rug in person before buying. You will never know if you love a rug until you see it in person, can feel the texture for yourself, and envision it in your home. The area rugs we offer include flat weave, hand-knotted Tibetan, skin rugs, needlepoint, and oriental. Each is unique, and we can guarantee you’ll find one that works great with your space. And you want to make the right choice the first time by going to a quality rug dealer. After all, this is something you will have to see and interact with on a daily basis.
Contact Us
Our showroom is conveniently located in Washington D.C. Call us at (202) 872-9860 to set up your FREE in-store designer consultation today!
How Long Do Hardwood Floors Last?
Hardwood floors is the most popular style of flooring for homeowners in the United States. The timeless look and feel add value and spirit to any home. However, the question of longevity always comes to mind before any hardwood installation. This article will provide insight on just that, while also exploring how to keep your new hardwood floor in top shape as time goes by.
Proper care = Longer life
With proper care and upkeep, hardwood floors can last a lifetime. Even if you do not take the best care of your floor, hardwood still blows carpet out of the water if you are looking for longevity. While carpet has to be completely replaced every ten or so years, hardwood only requires a refinishing or recoating after extensive and visible wear and tear. This could mean over a decade before you need to worry. To gauge how well you are taking care of your hardwood flooring, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I routinely clean my hardwood floors with the proper supplies?
- Do I immediately clean up any spills?
- Do you prevent your pets from scratching at or wearing down your floor?
- Is your furniture properly padded to prevent indentations?
If you answered yes to these then you are in good shape! After installation, it is critical for the homeowner to take good care of the floor and treat it like the valuable asset it is.
When should I refinish?
Refinishing does not have to be a necessity. Many homeowners never refinish their hardwood, choosing to live with the sight of wear and tear. Depending on how much stress you put on your floor, it may be cheaper to go with a recoating than a full refinish. A recoating gives your hardwood that original “pop” it had when it was first installed. To keep that same new look, plan on a recoat every five or so years. Refinishing is recommended after over ten years. At that point floors with heavy traffic may begin to lose color or warp. If you still are not sure, you can always call Classic Floor Designs for a consultation.
Experienced Installers
Deciding who installs your floor is just as important as deciding the style and finish. If your hardwood is laid improperly, you could encounter premature wear and tear or even damage that could need professional repair. Classic Floor Designs has done work for the Oval Office of the White House, The Four Seasons Hotel, and the Masonic Temple in Baltimore. Rest assured that no matter how big or small the job is, we bring industry leading service and professionalism.
Get your vision started today! Let our 40 years of experience in the DC metropolitan area go to work for you. Call us at (202) 872-9860 for a FREE consultation on your homes future flooring. Whether it be hardwood, carpet, or tile, a professional at Classic Floor Designs will be there with you every step of the way.
2019 Hardwood Flooring Trends
When it comes to creating the vibe that you want, your flooring lays the foundation. Do you want to come home to a fresh, clean contemporary look? Are you a fan of the natural, rustic ambiance that infuses a space with the friendly warmth of a farmhouse? Would you rather create the kind of relaxed, coastal atmosphere that makes a beachcomber feel right at home? Hardwood is an ideal choice for any of these themes. In fact, hardwood flooring makes a great base for virtually any design scheme thanks to the multitude of design options that it offers. With so many possibilities, how will you use this material to transform your home? Exploring 2019’s hardwood flooring trends can help you figure that out.
A Triumph of Texture
Smooth wooden floors offer a classic, polished elegance, but the charming individuality of imperfection means that texture will continue to be a strong flooring trend in 2019. If you’re interested in installing a new hardwood floor, you’ll definitely want to consider popular floor textures. For example, hand-scraped hardwood flooring comes with long, ingrained scrapes that play up the natural color and texture of the material. The marks vary widely from plank to plank. This lack of uniformity makes it seem as if each piece was carefully handcrafted. The result is a delightful sense of uniqueness. Another option is distressed hardwood flooring, which has a somewhat historic feel. With imperfections like knots, scrapes, burns, wormholes, and various signs of wear and tear welcome, this flooring has a sense of hard-earned age that brings both character and a feel of enduring beauty to a space. Finally, wire-brushed hardwood flooring features thin scratches that offer hints of exposed wood. The subtlety and consistency of the marks produce a smoother, more understated texture that enlivens the flooring and hides dirt well.
Pattern Play
In terms of layout, innovative and even unconventional patterns will be among 2019’s hottest hardwood flooring trends. Planks that are longer and wider than their traditionally sized counterparts are sure to find favor with homeowners who want to make a room seem larger and more open. For those who want a slightly more daring look, mixed width hardwood floors weave together planks of varying widths. This pop of unpredictability draws the eye and treats it to a visually appealing surprise. A similar result can be achieved by mixing planks with light and dark tones. Do you prefer a more structured look? There are plenty of fun patterns to play with. Installing a hardwood floor diagonally gives the traditional layout a bold, modern edge. Alternately, chevron floors and herringbone floors bring planks together in a strict, angular pattern that is anything but boring.
Hardwood Floor Hues
What will 2019’s trends bring for hardwood flooring’s hues? Natural neutrals will be on-point. Already popular since it inevitably plays well with other colors and works beautifully in almost any design style, gray is expected to remain a go-to neutral in the new year. While smooth, silvery tones of gray are on the rise, rich, velvety charcoals are another great choice for new floors. Shades of off-white are also a popular pick. Hardwoods that are colored to match the textured warmth of French limestone or the natural glimmer of sea salt can bring an intriguing sense of depth that delights the eye. Of course, brown is a natural pick when it comes to wood. Rich, matte chocolate browns are a timeless choice that never goes out of style, but softer blondes are becoming increasingly popular among people who want a light, airy look underfoot.
Responsibility as a Selling Point
Increasingly, today’s consumers aren’t just worried about the appearance, durability or price tag of their new hardwood floor. They’re also concerned about its origin and its impact on the world around them. Responsibility is a major selling point in 2019. Environmentally responsible flooring options will be in-demand. In response, retailers and manufacturers are offering a variety of eco-friendly options, including recycled and reclaimed hardwood flooring. Sustainable materials like bamboo and cork provide an even wider range of possibilities for consumers who take pride in maximizing their style while minimizing the environmental impact of their choices. Social responsibility is another issue for many homeowners. For some, this means opting for homegrown products that are made in America, even if those products come at a higher cost. For others, this means buying from companies with corporate policies that they can appreciate and respect.
At Classic Floor Designs, we know flooring. We’ve been providing top-notch flooring products and services to homes and businesses in and around the Washington, D.C. area for more than 40 years. We’re always pleased to put our expertise to work for our clients. To learn more about flooring trends or explore our services, contact us today to arrange for a free design consultation.
Do Dark Hardwood Floors Make a Space Seem Smaller?
One of the most common fears of installing dark hardwood floors is that it may make spaces in your home seem smaller. While it is true that dark colors absorb light, it is possible to counteract this with your choice of décor. Our hardwood floor installation specialists are here to help you with planning your space, making sure your new hardwood flooring seamlessly meets your vision for any project. Here are a few things to consider while doing your own research on dark hardwood flooring:
Paint
Using a lighter shade of paint will open up your space to the eye and mitigate the impact of the dark flooring. Avoid using dark shades of paint unless you are planning on a lighter shade hardwood or other flooring material for your home. The one exception to this is a dark accent wall. Just a shade or two darker on one wall can trick the eye, making our brains think that wall is farther away. Gray paint is a very popular choice for this in home design today and has created great spaces paired with our selection of dark hardwood for past clients.
Lighting
Light fixtures and blinds are big players when it comes to the design and feel of your room. Natural lighting works beautifully with dark hardwood flooring by providing a perfect contrast. Go with shorter sheer blinds (or none at all) to bring light into the room. Pair this with a few fixtures or houseplants to bring that pop a room with darker floors often needs. Recessed lighting or pendant lights are also good when used in conjunction, or as alternatives, to natural lighting.
Rugs
A nice area rug with a lighter shade color scheme is a great way to give separation to the room. Make sure it does not cover the whole floor as its important to strike a balance between the floor, rug, and walls. Designer rugs have become favorite fixtures for modern home designers.
Furniture
Perhaps the biggest piece of the puzzle, furniture is the last step in completing your room. Glass is a fantastic accent for dark hardwood whether it be a coffee table, TV stand, or cabinet. It makes a big difference when compared to their wooden counterparts, and adds functionality with style.
Contact Us
Classic Floor Designs is proud to have worked on projects with clients such as The Four Seasons Hotel, the White House, The Erwin Gomez Salon & Spa, and the Baltimore Masonic Temple. We are confident in our ability to make your dream space come to life. Let us bring our 40+ years of experience right into your home today! Get started today and give us a call at (202) 872-9860 for a FREE consolation.