Underfoot Wonders: Exploring Unique Floor Materials
Walls are the most obvious surface to focus on in home decor. Lately I have blogged about ceilings as the 5th wall. Floors should not be neglected or ignored. When an area rug is not the right choice, consider a few unique floors that we have installed.
Brick herringbone
This seems like it might be complicated, but we only made it look that way. This is porcelain tile that really looks like old brick. “Cantina” comes in three aged color choices!
Concrete Pattern
There are many ceramic imitations of painted concrete tiles available on the market. We wanted something you would not find in any online marketplace, so we imported this pattern from the South of France. The colors are unique and stunning.
Embossed Leather
Yes it is actually leather. It is in the entry of our studio and takes a beating with every UPS and Fed Ex delivery! I wish it would show more wear and tear because the aged look would work well with the wall covering. It is surprisingly resilient. This product is from Ecodomo and is somewhat local, coming from Gaithersburg, Maryland.
Gold Euro Oak
This flooring has a long story…it starts in London, goes to Siberia and then to Charlottesville, Virginia. Ask me about it sometime! It is European oak that’s wire brushed and stained dark brown with gold leaf pressed into the grain. Yes, that’s a mouthful, but the end result is a glam and gorgeous floor. I can’t thank Heart Pine enough for this one!
Vintage Linoleum
Our client had emerald green linoleum throughout the basement. According to an article in Forbes: “Linoleum flooring is made of a mix of renewable natural materials. While the actual composition will vary by manufacturer, it primarily contains a mixture of linseed oil, jute, cork powder, tree resin and wood flours.” This linoleum is made of renewable materials and is considered to be very “green.” We decided to work with it.
Nike Grind
“Repurposed, Reused, Reclaimed” is a portfolio category on our website. This Nike Grind is a new one for us—recycled Nike sneakers for a gym floor! We picked 3 colors and installed it as radiating stripes on this home gym floor.
Versailles Slate
We updated a kitchen in Church Hill that was part of an extension of a porch. To keep the authenticity of the space we used natural slate on the floor in a “Versailles” pattern.