Category Archives: Hardwood and Laminate

Looking Through an Entryway

The view in this photo is inviting, but what makes it special is the archway that we get to look through. It serves as a frame for the street and creates a personal sense to what we see. Our homes have natural vistas also, and it’s a good idea to stop sometimes and take a [...]

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Laundry Room Smarts

Laundry rooms are growing in size and scope. Instead of a simple space holding a washer and dryer and maybe a tub, laundry rooms may have extra storage, pull down ironing boards and space for other uses such as paying household bills or sewing and crafts. This small but bright room is an ideal setting [...]

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Flooring Favorites: Armstrong Global Exotics

The Global Exotics hardwood collection from Armstrong is a gorgeous collection of exotic woods from around the world. Ranging from the soft, subtle grain of the Cumaru to the rosewood like Sapele African Mahogany, these wood have an elegant look. These premium hardwoods have impressive hardness and durability that will add to the value of [...]

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Bright Colors and Light Wood

If you love bright light colors, you may have been frustrated about finding flooring that can handle a variety of vivid shades. White carpeting would be beautiful, but demanding to maintain. Most tile has a cream or beige tone, and white tile in a living area might feel cold, no matter how much color you [...]

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Engineered Wood: Beautiful and Workable

If you haven’t looked at engineered wood for a while, you may be surprised at the variety of wood types and finishes. They are also just as lovely as solid wood floors once installed. Depending upon your needs, engineered wood may be the best choice, or even the only choice. For homes with concrete subfloors, [...]

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Go Rustic with Wide Planks

While this room is clearly part of an older house, you can do a number of things to get a similar feel in your own home. Choosing a wide plank wood floor provides a great starting point. This type of floor sets the tone for the space. It also works better in a long narrow [...]

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Three Things to Consider Before Choosing Modern Flooring

If you are mesmerized, or just plain confused, by all of the flooring choices available for modern homes, you might be ready to give up and just pick something out of frustration. Before you do, consider a few things that can narrow your choices down considerably. What is your lifestyle? If you have children or [...]

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The First Flooring

Author Bill Bryson is always interesting, and his newest book, At Home, takes us on a tour of our own homes, discussing the origins of many elements of our everyday lives that we simply take for granted. One area to take a special look at is flooring, since this is the month of Surfaces, an [...]

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Sustainable Hardwoods

If you are concerned about the environment, you are not alone. More and more people are making sustainable purchasing and lifestyle choices. Industries and companies are responding to that by providing more information on their commitment to environmental responsibility. A recently announced study demonstrates the interest in providing good information on home products. PE International, [...]

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Wood Floor Styles:Modern

If you are drawn to the sculptural look of modern design, you may want to consider starting with an ebony-toned wood floor. The unusually dark tones provide the perfect foundation to a totally contemporary room. This dark floor works well with both pure white and the rich colors that often reflect contemporary style. How about [...]

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