The design of a home’s front entrance carries the responsibility of making that critical “first impression”. This space must welcome guests, offer enough space to easily remove coats and boots and it sets the design tone for the rest of the house.
When you walk through your front door how does the entrance make you feel? Is it warm, welcoming and functional or do you have to wade through mountains of shoes, clutter and this weeks recycling just to find a spot to remove your coat?
Take some time and design your front hall just like you would any other room in the house.
Be practical
choose an easy care front door mat
select a floor that’s beautiful but stands up to rain and snow like luxury vinyl tile
and always provide a hall bench and table that cleverly conceals everyday clutter or provides a spot to perch
Be creative
carefully select a warm welcoming paint colour
hang a large scale mirror to expand the space
add the perfect light fixture that is both flattering and functional
Dark flooring is dramatic and breathtaking, but when paired with unflattering furniture and accents, a dark floor can make a room feel claustrophobic and heavy. Follow these tips to open up your room and bring out the beauty of your dark flooring.
Furniture for a Dark Floor
Finding the right furniture to go with your dark floor may seem daunting, but in reality, you have many options. If you’re purchasing new pieces, wooden furniture that is a few shades lighter than your floor is ideal. This will give your space a warm feeling. To make your room seem seamless, match the legs of your furniture to the colour of your floor.
You can also mix and match. Consider selecting a dark wooden table and lighter chairs. The table will blend in with the floor, but the chairs will pop and stand out. You can also achieve the “blended in” look with wrought-iron furniture.
Looking for more inspiration? Mother Nature has it in abundance. Adding palm trees and green accents to your space will make your dark flooring feel exotic. Finish off the look with bamboo chairs, tables, and other furniture.
Your existing furniture can work with dark flooring as well—with a few small touches. If your couches, tables, and chairs are dark and disappear against your floor, a simple, light coloured rug will fix the problem and bring a touch of elegance to your room.
Walls
The design rule is: dark floor, light walls. White or off-white paint will open up your room and give your dark floor a lift. Lighter hues will also have the same effect. Light blue or lavender complement dark flooring perfectly. You should also consider the trim in your room. Painting trims and baseboards a vibrant white will define the area of your space and bring attention to your floor.
If your furniture is white, paint your walls a bold colour, such as Lucky Green by Sherwin-Williams. Add splashes of the paint colour via pillows, rugs and other accents to break up the white.
Another option for your walls is wainscoting. Light wood, tile, cultured marble or stone paneling will contrast with your dark flooring and give your space an elegant glow.
Other Materials and Accents
Leather, hide, velvet and even steel accents will complement a dark floor and give an area a soft, muddy or masculine feel. Think pillows, throws, rugs, and vases. For window treatments, keep them light and translucent—you want as much natural light in a room with a dark floor to make it feel spacious. In the kitchen, white cabinetry and countertops will make the room feel airy.
Rugs—either light or patterned—will break up the darkness of your floor and protect it as well. Remember, dark floors will show more dirt, dust and wear. When selecting your flooring, choose a company that offers superior quality flooring with above-grade finishes, like TORLYS.
This week we’re launching three new collections at the 2017 Surfaces flooring trade show in Las Vegas! The latest from our Innovation Lab is SuperSolid 6 Hardwood.
Unique for an engineered hardwood, TORLYS SuperSolid Hardwood is all hardwood containing no softwood filler or fiber. The construction is a patented innovation called E-Lock, a cross-joined, compression-locked structure that uses the same species of hardwood for its bottom, core and wear layers. We finish this spectacular floor with the highest quality KLUMPP top coat for remarkable durability and performance.
The SuperSolid 6 is the third collection in the line-up and features beautifully styled planks in 6” widths by random lengths. The SuperSolid 7 and 5 collections have also been updated to include new colors and textures.
SuperSolid 6 is spectacular, sustainable, and superior. Get a first look at our Innovation Lab at The International Surface Event, Booth #6033 and keep an eye out for it to launch with our dealers later in 2017.
This week we’re launching three new collections at the 2017 Surfaces flooring trade show in Las Vegas! The latest from our Innovation Lab is our most technologically advanced EverWood.
The EverWood and EverTile luxury vinyl collections have been a huge success since their introduction in 2015. In order to keep up, we’re introducing the EverWood Designer collection – the most innovative luxury vinyl floor yet!
EverWood Designer features the latest in styling along with the best warranty in the business, (including a pet proof warranty), and also has Microban antimicrobial product protection in its WPC core and CorkPlus attached underlay to inhibit the growth of mold and mildew. These floors feature ultra-tight Uniclic joints and amazingly realistic wood grains in extra long – 72” x 7” wide planks.
Those in the industry will see the latest in EverWood at our Innovation Lab at The International Surface Event, Booth #6033 and will learn more about the creativity and ingenuity that goes into developing new technologies and flooring systems.
This week we’re launching three new collections at the 2017 Surfaces flooring trade show in Las Vegas! The latest from our Innovation Lab is our new CorkWood product!
Imagine if you combined the beauty of wood, the durability of laminate, and the comfort of cork. CorkWood is a specially engineered floor design to do just that!
Here are just some of its features:
CorkWood is engineered for comfort, taking advantage of the comfort of cork.
The top layer is made of hi-definition digitally printed compressed cork in beautiful hardwood looks.
It has a durable HDF smart core and is backed by CorkPlus attached underlay with antimicrobial product protection that inhibits the growth of mold and mildew.
This floor has the equivalent of an AC4 rating (a rating commonly used in laminate finishes), and is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified, meeting strict environmental standards.
CorkWood Designer comes in long and wide planks measuring 68-3/4” long x 7-1/2” wide.
CorkWood Elite comes in planks measuring 45-13/16” long x 7-1/2” wide.
CorkWood has been created to provide all the best-liked benefits of other floors in one superior, all-inclusive floor – combining the authenticity and beauty of natural wood with the durability and comfort of an innovative hardwearing and eco-friendly floor.
Those in the industry will learn more about CorkWood at our Innovation Lab at The International Surface Event, Booth #6033. We look forward to releasing this innovative product later in 2017.
The weather is cooling down, and the elves are coming out of hiding. You know what that means! The holiday season has finally arrived, so it’s time to get ready for your festive gatherings. Here are our tips for making your home merry and bright.
Creating a Winter Wonderland
Christmas is upon us and we all face the challenge of trying to make the colour red fit into our existing décor. But there is no rule that says holiday decorating must include the commercial colour scheme of red, white and green.
Look to nature for inspiration and layer your home with shades of creamy white. Make sure to include lots of textured surfaces like fur, natural evergreens, knitted wool, and flannel. Add lots of twinkling lights and the result is warm, festive and cozy – the perfect setting for a holiday celebration!
Keeping it Simple
Avoid the stress of the season by keeping things simple. Look to the past for charming Christmas decorating ideas that the family will enjoy and that saves you time and money.
Stringing popcorn is fun and easy. Make sure the popcorn is a few days old if it’s stale it is less likely to break as you string it up! A round tip needle and heavy thread is all you need to create this charming addition to your tree.
Twist of Lime
Update your Christmas décor by substituting the traditional red with a spirited lime green. Combine it with crisp white, sparkling silver and a touch of deep evergreen for contrast and the result is stunning.
Modern Holiday Expressions
Traditional holly berries and knitted stockings may not work in a modern home but you can still make a holiday statement by applying a key principle of modern design. Keep the theme focused and dramatic.
This spectacular charcoal grey and white hearth makes the perfect setting for a show of icy trees and sparkling lights. It may not work in your traditional home but in a contemporary room its spectacular!
Unlikely Places
Make a unique holiday statement by adding trim to unlikely places. Fresh pine bows, pinecones, and candles in recycled mason jars make this décor easy and affordable. If your bench and staircase are located outside the cold weather will keep greenery fresh without water and lit candles will last forever!
How are you decorating for the holidays? Share your photos over on our Facebook page!
Over the last decade, kitchen design has taken a page out of the commercial design book. Sleek, clean and functional has become the basis for modern kitchen design. The challenge for the homeowner is keeping the space clean and sparkling like the day the designer handed off the project! Plus, the minimal look of linear lines and metal surfaces left the space cold and uninviting.
The new direction for modern kitchen design still leans toward commercial but with an industrial flavour. The materials are more textured mixing organic (wood, stone, glass) and heavy metal. The result is warm, contemporary and totally unique.
Here are TORLYS flooring picks to create your own industrial modern kitchen:
Area rugs serve many purposes. They can be used to make a design statement in your home, to section off different spaces, or to protect floors from any wear and tear, or to make floors less cold in the winter. But choosing a rug is comes with some major responsibility because if you choose the wrong one, you could distract. To make sure your rug as a complementary piece to your home’s décor and not a distraction, it’s important to consider a number of factors.
A rug can be a piece of artwork for your floor, or it can be a distraction. It can open up your room or drag it down. To find the right rug for your space, consider its size, material, and placement before you buy, and follow these tips.
Location is key
When choosing your rug, the most important question is where are you putting your rug? You need to know the answer before you can go any further. Once you know where the rug will live, you’ll be able to make choices about the three key design factors listed below.
Three Key Factors for Your Rug Choice:
Size
Material
Style and Colour
Size Matters
Once you know where you’ll be putting your rug, you can identify how big the room is and how big you need your rug to be. Just because a rug physically fits in a room doesn’t mean it actually fits in a room. Why? Because there are different rug sizes for different rug purposes, and wall-to-wall rugs aren’t popular anymore for a reason.
Rugs are most popular in living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and as runners in hallways or kitchens. There are also outdoor rugs that are great for decks, especially if you love spending time outdoors.
Rugs for Different Rooms
Living Rooms
In living rooms, rugs are generally placed in the middle of the seating area with a minimum of a 1’ border around the walls. Try to have the front legs of your furniture touching the rug to make it feel a part of the space.
Dining Rooms
For your dining room, you need a rug that is bigger than your dining room table by about 2’ on each side, so that your dining room chairs are half on, half off of the carpet, creating comfortable seating. But if your carpet is thin, you can try to find one that allows for your dining table and the front two feet of your chairs to rest.
Bedrooms
The main reason for bedroom area rugs is to avoid getting a rude awakening from the cold surface of your floors in the morning. A plush, warm carpet is the perfect landing for your just waking up feet. This is why you want your carpet to reach at least the front two-thirds of your bed and the back feet with an extra 3’ around. This creates a beautiful, grand space versus having two runners on each side of your bed.
Entrances
Entrances generally require a runner or a small mat. These rugs are just there as a landing or walkway to protect flooring.
Outdoor Areas
As for outdoor areas, rugs can be put just outside of the doorway or used to cover the entire deck to create an outdoor entertainment area. Depending on your outdoor setup and the general weather in your neighbourhood, choose an appropriate rug size according to previous rules.
To help you find visualize the size of your rug in your space, use masking tape to create an outline of your “rug”. Unless you’re considering a custom rug, use standard rug sizes. In large living spaces, 6×9, 8×10 and 9×12 are the most popular rug sizes, while 5×8 and 6×9 fit great under beds.
Standard rug sizes:
3×5
4×6
5×8
6×9
8×10
9×12
10×14
12×15
Remember, the point of an area rug is for it to cover the area peoples’ feet touch most frequently. Having a border around the walls is a great way to show off your flooring, and if you don’t want a rug to cover an entire seating area, you want the rug wherever the foot traffic is highest — either resting or walking.
Photo from Dillard-Jones Builders, LLC via Houzz
Material Gains
The durability of your carpet against any wear and tear, sun exposure, pets, and spills and stains all depends on its material. By choosing the right material, you’re choosing a carpet that is functional, feels good underfoot, and is cost-efficient.
Popular Rug Materials:
Silk and viscose
Silk is beautiful and soft underfoot, but expensive. Viscose provides a similar look and feel for a much more affordable price.
Wool
Wool’s natural material is warm and cosy underfoot, plus it’s durable. Although it can be pricey, it might be worth the extra spending.
Cotton
Cotton rugs are generally low-cost, but can stain and wear easily, but can be thrown into the washing machine to look like new again.
Jute and sisal
Jute and sisal rugs can be a little rough to the touch but are extremely hard-wearing. Look for a jute and sisal rug mixed with wool for added softness.
Nylon
Nylon rugs are a soft, durable option and come in a number of different styles and patterns.
Polyester
Polyester rugs are a great option indoors and outdoors because of their sturdy, shed-resistant and water-resistant material.
Grand Luxury
If you’re looking to splurge on a high-end rug and durability is not your main concern, exotic Persian rugs made out of silk, or thick, wool rugs are perfect for you. Costing thousands of dollars, Persian rugs are the ultimate luxury. They feel amazing underfoot, but any spill will have you feeling sick to your stomach. Not being very durable against wear and tear and spills and stains, its best to keep these rugs in rarely used rooms that only see foot-traffic during special occasions.
Other high-end rugs like wool and silk rugs are not as expensive as Persian rugs but are still considered a carpet splurge. Although on the pricier side, wool rugs are a popular choice for high-traffic areas because their natural, durable fibres resist stains and deterioration.
Stylish Durability
For everyday rooms like a casual living room, durability is key, especially if you have kids or pets. Take what goes on in the space you’re rug shopping for into consideration. Is there any constant movement of chairs being pushed in and out? Does food get dropped on the ground frequently? Do dirt and mud get dragged in from taking the dogs out for a walk? Although everyday rooms like living and dining rooms need durable rugs, areas like entryways and kitchens usually need to be more hardwearing due to wear and tear from shoes, dirt, and food.
Hard-wearing rugs not only last longer and resist wear and tear, they also protect the floors underneath them. Choose the material of your rug according to cost, feel, and durability, while keeping the rug’s construction in mind.
Rug Construction:
Tufted/Hooked
Made by looping yarn through the rug’s backing, tufted rugs are durable but can shed more than other rugs. Hooked rugs are similar to tufted rugs except their loops are not sheared, giving them a thicker pile.
Flat-weave
Flat-weave rugs are made by weaving horizontal yarn through vertical yarn and don’t have a backing, making them reversible. They are low-pile and great in high-traffic areas.
Shag
Shag rugs are high-pile and super warm and cosy, making them great for bedrooms and living rooms. They are not ideal in high-traffic areas because their thick pile holds on to dirt, mud and food.
Hand-knotted
The most labour-intensive rug-making technique, resulting in durable and expensive rugs.
Weather Resistant
The first thing that comes to mind when weather resistance is brought up is water. But, rugs also need to be sun resistant because UV rays can cause fading very quickly.If your rug is near an entrance, make sure it is stain and tear resistant. Mud, dirt, leaves and water can cause hard-to-remove stains and also start unweaving your rug. Water can also create a slippery situation, so remember to choose a non-slip rug or to get a non-slip mat for underneath it.
If your rug is in an area with a lot of windows, choose a rug that will keep its colour. Natural light can change the colour of rugs made out of natural materials, especially cotton. If you do go ahead with a cotton rug in an area with a lot of natural light, choose a light colour or a colour that will look good even a few shades lighter.
Synthetic and polypropylene rugs are UV and water resistant, and they’re easy to spot clean. Plus, they feel good on your feet and don’t break the bank. Another good alternative is nylon, its higher quality and sold in bulk making it affordable.
Photo from Benjamin Moore via Houzz
Style/Colour
Size and material aside, the style and colour of your rug is what everybody, especially you, will see. Of course, for high-traffic areas, we recommend choosing a dark carpet with a pattern to hide any stains or wear and tear. But practical advice aside here’s a quick list of our design tips.
3 Tips for Choosing the Right Rug for You
Coordinate the colour of your rug to match the same tone as your furniture, floors and paint.
If your space is already very decorated and extravagant, consider a neutral, one colour rug or a rug with a subtle pattern.
In a minimalistic space, an area rug can be the biggest piece of furniture so spice things up by thinking of your rug as a piece of art.
Last but not least, do your research because the wrong decision, depending on the rug’s size and location, will affect your daily comfort. We recommend reading reviews on your rug, asking salespeople about its performance, and walking around on the rug before making your purchase.
Remember, you want your rug to suit your space. Make sure its the right size for your the room, the right material for the room’s activities, and the right design to suit the rest of the decor. Find our TORLYS floors online to keep our styles close by when shopping for a rug or visit a dealer to see them in person.
Not all lofts are created equal. Some are eccentric and modern, while some are industrial and edgy.
Industrial Lofts
Industrial lofts, with their large-scale architecture and vintage feel, present the perfect setting for traditional decor. The contrast between exposed brick and brushed iron fixtures and classic leather sofas is very trendy.
Colour Schemes
If the colour scheme of your loft is neutral, some ideal finishes include leather, polished wood, cut glass, and warm metals. The result is a rich and handsome aesthetic that will age with your home! That means that you don’t need to go out and purchase all new furniture when you move into a trendy loft.
Vintage and Antiques
To elevate the space and add sophistication to your warehouse space, add reclaimed industrial lighting and charming antiques. You can find plenty of accessories at antique shops. From vintage art to rugs and everything in between, an antique shop should be your go-to for an eclectic loft.
Complete Renovation
If you want to completely redo your new loft, consider changing the floor. TORLYS smart hardwood floors are durable and beautiful, making them the perfect floors for an industrial loft. We also offer EverWood floors, an attractive line of luxury vinyl floors. If you have pets or kids running around, EverWood floors are a great choice.
Visit your local TORLYS dealer to see our beautiful floors in person. Or order samples of your favourites through our website!
Whether you live in a loft, by a lake or in the suburbs, there’s an easy formula to create cottage charm.
It helps when the room’s architecture is truly imperfectly vintage. But, as very few live in a historic home, there are specific design steps you can take. A space will emulate a cottage feel when wood finishes are a mix of natural and painted. It also helps when colours are softly aged and the furnishings are “imperfectly” matched. It’s best to select organic materials like cotton, wool, stone, and wicker.
Keep the design focus on comfort and shop flea markets for vintage accents. Do this and your home will be like living at the cottage in no time!
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