Floor Fetish (109)Interior Designer Sheila Bridges shows you how to design homes from the ground up with a look at current directions in flooring. From the ultimate in parquetry floors to designer rug creations, here's what's hot underfoot.
Design from the Ground Up
- Light colored rugs make a room look more spacious. Deeper colors lend coziness to a room.
- Seal slate floors with a stone sealer. Clean weekly with a damp mop and use a wax polish occasionally.
Contact Information
Courtney Sloan & Cheryl Riley
Alternative Design
646-230-7222 x230
www.alternativedesign.com
Resources
Carpet and Rug Institute
www.carpet-rug.room
Cleaning and stain removal tips
Do It Yourself Network, www.diynet.com
Woods and Wools
- Photosensitive woods like cherry are prone to fading in direct sunlight.
- Parquet floors were popular during the early 1900s, used mostly in dining rooms, drawing rooms and libraries.
- Marquetry is a type of parquet flooring that uses curved as well as straight cuts in the design.
- Natural fibers like sisal and seagrass are highly absorbent and prone to water damage. Clean with a vacuum.
- Sisal is woven from the fibers of the Agave plant, a type of succulent native to arid regions such as Arizona and Mexico.
- Sisal is naturally sound-absorbing, anti-static and difficult to ignite.
- Paper rugs are coated in a wax emulsion making them water and stain resistant.
- Look for wool carpets made with a jute backing. They have a superior tuft bind and will wear better.
Resources
Sisal Rugs Direct
www.sisalrugs.com
Designer's Notebook
- Wide plank floors have a relaxed look for a more casual style.
- American oak is the popular choice for wood floors.
- American cherry is a dark wood that gives a more formal look.
- Inlaid floors are a sophisticated variation of wood floors.
- Paint a design onto a wood floor for a fresh look.
- Give wood floors the right sheen with satin polyurethane.
Contact Information
Janos P. Spitzer Flooring Company
212-627-1818
www.janosspitzerflorring.com
Resources
Wood Floors Online
www.woodfloorsonline.com
Rugs that Rock
- Wool carpeting is naturally durable and will not matt or crush like nylon carpet.
- Area rugs of 4 x 6 and 6 x 9 feet work well under a coffee table, while an 8 x 11 or larger can cover a room.
- Don't be boxed in by the idea of a rectangular rug. Circular and octagonal rugs add flair to a room.
Resources
Carpet Guru's Carpet College
www.carpetguru.com
About.com Interior Decorating
www.interiordec.about.com
Furnishing Forward: A Practical Guide to Furnishing for a Lifetime
by Sheila Bridges
Sheila's Fab Finds: Bringing It Home
- Linoleum Tiles
$3.45-$4.75 sq. ft.
Armstrong
888-ARMSTRONG
www.armstrong.com
- Todd Oldham Tiles
$20-$25 sq. ft.
Artisan Workshop
212-260-6700
- Carpet Sweeper
$19.99
Bed Bath and Beyond
800-GO BEYOND
www.bedbathbeyond.com
- Aluminum Vacuum Cleaner
$1008.00
Miele, Inc.
800.883-4537
www.miele.com
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