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Month: March 2017

Our Advice For Styling Pale Floors in Your Home

Posted on by torlys

From the lightest whites to the warmest caramels, TORLYS has a wide selection of light hardwood and laminate flooring that will open up any space and make your home feel brighter and lighter. While darker floors tend to be bold and dramatic, pale floors are contemporary, airy and artistic. Here are a few light-coloured flooring decorating tips to help you achieve the look and feel you want:

Pale Floors & Dramatic Walls

If you love the colour of your floor, consider painting your walls at least two shades darker or lighter. Doing this will make sure your walls don’t match your floors exactly but complement its colour instead. Did you know that the same paint colour will look different depending on the room? A room with a southern exposure will make a wall look brighter and lighter. A room with a northern exposure has walls that look darker and duller.

The great thing about light wooden floors is that you can use darker, dramatic paints for walls without causing the room to look small or enclosed. Don’t go too dark and keep your furniture light in colour. You can also create a seaside look with light blue paint and wooden furniture.

Wood This Work?

When selecting an accent colour for your pale floors, follow the feel of your floor. If your flooring has cool hues to it, select accents that are cooler. Blues, bright greens, purples and gray-greens are all considered cold colors. You can also bring in white furniture with blue undertones to create a very cool feeling and looking area.

Pale floors with warmer hues work well with warm colours such as soft white. These colours include golds, yellows, oranges, and reds. You can also make green a warmer colour by adding yellow to it. If you don’t match the feel of your floor and your accent colours, your light hardwood could actually make your walls look dull. To find out the true hue of your floor, put a clean white sheet of paper on it. Pure white will make the undertones of your floor pop.

Wood on Wood

If your existing accents and furniture are a different hue or grain of wood than the light hardwood floor you want, never fear, you can make it work. Wood with different finishes can go together, you should just follow these general guidelines.

Before you select your new hardwood floor, look at the wood in your home. What species is it? You should pick a floor that is in the same wood family to create a cohesive look. Light wood has a more modern feel than darker wood such as cherry. Keep the mood of the wood consistent and your room will come together.

When it comes to matching grain, here’s the rule: do or don’t! You should either include multiple grains of wood in your space or stick to one. Avoid having one area of the room with different grains of wood and the rest of the area featuring only one.

If you are combining wood finishes and grains, bring them together with one bold, distinctive accent colour. Splash this hue on walls and include it in accent pieces around the room to bring the space together!

If you’d like to bring pale floors into your home, visit your local TORLYS dealer to see what we have to offer. You can also browse our collections online and order samples to test TORLYS floors in your home.

TORLYS Design Notes: Jumpstart Spring

Posted on by torlys

Enough with WINTER! The calendar says March, the clocks have moved ahead and retail stores are brimming with Easter goodies! We should be enjoying the freshness of SPRING not shovelling snow and hibernating indoors!

We may not be able to rush Mother nature outdoors, but we can push things ahead indoors. Here are a few inspirational ideas for rushing the season.

Indoor Gardening

Tulips and daffodils, like most spring bulbs, will bloom just as beautiful inside as they do outside! Force bulbs by planting them loosely in rocks and soil, provide sunshine, water and within a few weeks your indoor garden will be thriving. When long stem flowers become unruly, place them in a taller bucket to keep them under control.

Change Over Accessories

Store away dark or neutral accessories and replace them with your favourite spring colour. Keep it to one colour to maximize punch and focus on small inexpensive pieces like pillows and ceramics. Add a few flowers, sit back and enjoy an early burst of Spring.

Take a Risk!

Neutral walls come alive when you mix time, energy and a gallon or two of brightly coloured paint. Select a bright tone hidden within your décor (upholstery, wall art or drapery) and apply it to the walls. You will be amazed at the impact and how it energizes the room all year round. If the risk is too great for a main room, choose a bedroom, powder room or sunroom.

Natural Trend Inspires Spring

Wood tones are trending lighter and brighter. Flooring and cabinetry are moving away from dark espresso stains and showcasing natural wood grain. The resulting interiors are fresh and naturally inspire a feeling of Spring. If renovations are on your horizon explore natural or whitewashed wood, laminate, vinyl tile or cork.

What changes are you making in your home for spring? Share your photos over on our Facebook page!

Greenery: Colour of the Year 2017

Posted on by torlys

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Pantone has introduced its 2017 Color of the Year: Greenery. And guess what? We love it. But how do you work a new colour into your home’s décor?

What is PANTONE Colour of the Year?

Pantone is the number one colour system used by the home, automobile and apparel industry worldwide. Every year the Pantone institute features colour choices that are symbolic of what is taking place in our global culture and that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude.

Pantone Color of the Year 2017

After years of Pantone doing its Color of the Year, “Greenery” has been selected as the Colour of the Year for 2017. It is a refreshing and revitalizing shade, symbolic of new beginnings. The colour is a fresh and zesty shade of yellow-green, evoking the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew.

Here’s a quick timeline of past colours that made the cut:Pantone Colour of the Year 2010-2017

“Greenery” has been selected as the Colour of the Year for 2017, it is a refreshing and revitalizing shade, symbolic of new beginnings.

This fresh and zesty shade of yellow-green evokes the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew. “Greenery” is nature’s neutral. The more submerged people are in modern life, the greater their innate craving to immerse themselves in the physical beauty and inherent unity of the natural world. This shift is reflected in daily lives through urban planning, architecture, lifestyle, and design choices globally. A constant on the periphery, “Greenery” is now being pulled to the forefront – it is an omnipresent colour around the world.

Though “Greenery” may be a bold green, it is easily softened when combined with light wood tones; fresh, crisp white; touches of silver; and transparent glass. It is a colour that will bring spring into your home before the snow melts and stay fresh and relaxing all year. The kitchen, bath, and laundry room are perfect spaces to showcase “Greenery”; not to mention outdoor living spaces like the patio or porch.

How to Add New Colours to Your Décor

Try adding the Pantone Color of the Year to in your kitchen, bath, and laundry room. These spaces are perfect for showcasing “Greenery”. And don’t forget your outdoor living spaces like the patio or porch!

If you’re looking to make small changes in your kitchen and bathroom, add “Greenery” through small accents like hand towels or even a coloured bar of soap. For your living room, add some bright blankets, pillows and even some candles to bring new colours into space. The good thing about “Greenery” is that there are many natural elements you can add around your home like beautiful, leafy plants, or cute succulents, or even a bowl of Granny Smith apples.

And of course, for a more dramatic, permanent change, consider painting an accent wall or your cupboards in your laundry room. This will add a lot of colour and freshen things up.

The Perfect Floors for “Greenery”

It’s not likely many of us will select “Greenery” as a flooring colour. However, the newest trend in today’s wood tones is the perfect pairing for “Greenery”. Whether its hardwood, laminate, cork or vinyl tile, the direction is back to natural tones. Natural or lightly stained wood shows grain and character to its best advantage. The overall effect is fresh, spirited and organically beautiful.

Styling Grey Floors

Posted on by torlys

Grey hardwood or laminate flooring is versatile. Its clear, glassy appearance enhances natural light, opening spaces to make rooms feel airy. While a grey floor looks delicate, scratches and stains seem to blend right in. Grey floors are timeless and your decorating options are endless. Warm and cozy. High-tech and contemporary. Traditional and elegant. Read more to find out how to create your ideal space.

5 Shades of Grey Floors

The key to styling your grey floors is understanding the shade of grey your floors are because grey flooring isn’t just “grey flooring”. Every grey hue has undertones that give it a personality of its own. A personality that needs to be considered when deciding on décor pieces. There are five main shades of grey floors:

  • Yellow
  • Brown/Beige
  • Red
  • Blue
  • Green

Yellow, brown and beige tones will give a grey floor a soft, comforting feel. Grey hardwood or laminate with a blue or green tint will make a space feel cool and contemporary. The darkness of your floor can also change its personality. Light grey floors will create an airy and open space; darker shades will make a room look more intimate and modern.

Styling Grey Floors

Now that you know more about choosing the right shade of grey floors, let’s take a look at decorating them because no matter what shade or hue you choose, you need to follow these guidelines to create the perfect feel for you and your space:

Dark Floors

Pops of red add a bold statement to an otherwise neutral room and look good with dark grey floors. Other bold colours like black and white can add some drama and a modern vibe to your space. However, if your floors have a dark brown hue, black acts as a neutral because it blends in with the hue of the floors more. Other neutral colours also look great with brown-grey floors.

Light Floors

Although dark colours bring things in to create a warmer space, using colours with warm undertones can create an airy yet cozy space. Consider adding cream, beige and other warm colours to maintain a neutral, airy look. Creams also soften a red-grey floor, toning down any obvious undertones. Add silver furniture and décor for a high-tech, masculine feel.

Quick tips for styling grey floors:

  • Pink and purple accents soften red-grey floors while creating a romantic, sensual feel.
  • Use golds and brown to warm up blue-grey floors.
  • Pops of blue add an elegant, stylish look. You can do this with pillows, throws, paint and curtains.
  • Green is a great go-to colour for a relaxing, rustic room. Leafy plants and bamboo furniture can keep your space natural but not boring.

Now that you know more on styling grey floors, its time to find the perfect shade for you. At TORLYS, we have a variety of grey floors available in different sizes and materials. Here are some of our favourites:

Cork Flooring is What You’ve Been Looking For

Posted on by torlys

From bottles to baseball to aerospace, cork is used in a variety of industries in many different and unique ways. The secret to cork’s versatility is its structure. Cork is highly durable, impermeable and flexible, making it ideal for so many applications, including cork flooring.

Why Choose Cork Flooring?

There are four main reasons why you should consider cork as your next flooring choice: comfort, acoustics, visual appeal and environmental impact.

Comfort

Cork is naturally soft. Its sponge-like consistency absorbs impact. It’s no surprise that cork is a key material in footwear and furniture as it cushions your body. A TORLYS cork floor is no different. Composed of millions of tiny cellular air pockets, cork flooring is extraordinary comfortable—something to think about the next time you step onto unforgiving hardwood or tile with an aching back and feet. Cork is also a natural insulator, which means rooms with cork flooring are naturally warm, helping to reduce heat loss in rooms.

Acoustics

Many recording studios use compressed cork for soundproofing purposes. That’s because cork’s cellular structure naturally absorbs and dampens sound. With a TORLYS cork floor, a stampeding herd of 10-year-olds sounds more like a group of gentle gazelles.

Cork flooring is quiet and comfortable underfoot.

Cork flooring is quiet and comfortable underfoot.

Visual Appeal

TORLYS cork flooring is as striking as it is unique. And its beauty is more than skin deep. Cork flooring is surprisingly durable. In fact, the US Library of Congress installed cork flooring when it was built in the 1890s. The original floor is still there! TORLYS cork flooring is 50% more durable than ever before thanks to TORLYS new, innovative Smart Finish.

TORLYS Designer cork collection includes on-trend colours, thicker planks, and extra-long planks measuring almost 6 feet long. Your company will remember a TORLYS cork floor!

While grey continues to be popular, 2017 also brings a growing return to natural finishes. Cork comes in natural shades like Florence Elite Cork in Burl Natural or a soft brown like Florence Designer Cork in Townline Dark Rum. We’re seeing a continued desire for wider and longer planks across all flooring types, and the extra-long planks in cork allows for a more unified look with less joint lines. This allows the natural aesthetic of cork to shine.

If the visuals of cork are not your style, keep an eye out for our new CorkWood product launching May 2017. The beauty of wood, the comfort of cork, and the durability of laminate all in one product! Corkwood offers the appearance of wood, in shades of grey, tan, and other neutrals. It works well for those who like the feel of cork underfoot, appreciate its environmental benefits, but are looking for a more traditional wood visual.

Can you believe that this is cork flooring? Corkwood offers the beauty of wood, the durability of laminate, and the quiet comfort of cork. Launching in Spring 2017.

Environmental Impact

Cork is a 100% renewable, recyclable and natural resource. Cork trees are never cut down; instead their bark is harvested carefully and under strict environmental regulation. TORLYS is the first to offer an entire cork collection that is FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified. A cork tree’s bark regenerates naturally and one tree can live up to 300 years.

TORLYS cork flooring also has a positive impact on your environment. Cork is a natural hypoallergenic material and TORLYS floors meet one of the strictest indoor air quality standards in the world (California section 01350). For those who suffer from allergies and asthma, cork can be an option to make breathing easier.

Where Can Cork Floors Go?

Thanks to innovations in flooring, cork can go virtually anywhere in your home. TORLYS cork floors are created like no other—they are water and gap resistant, meaning you can put cork in your kitchen or bathroom without worry.

Cork flooring can go anywhere, including basements, offices, kitchens, and bathrooms. Photos (left to right) from Within Licensed Interior Design Inc., University of Toronto, and TORLYS.

Keeping Cork Beautiful

Cleaning and maintaining a cork floor is easier than you think. For routine cleaning, use a non-treated dust mop or vacuum. If you spill liquid on your cork floor, wipe it up quickly with a cloth or sponge. All TORLYS cork flooring comes with cleaning kits and maintenance products. Just follow the instructions!

To become even more inspired, see TORLYS stunning cork collection now!

 

TORLYS