Warm, Lustrous, Elegant Hardwood

There’s nothing as elegant and inviting as a rich, warm, hardwood floor. But there are so many to choose from! It used to be that oak and maple were all you could get. Now, there are gorgeous exotics such as Tigerwood, Jatoba, Ipe, Cabreuva, Brazilian Cherry and more. Not only are these exotic woods beautiful, they are sometimes much harder than domestic woods.

Wood hardness is important if you have pets and an active family. The hardness of a specific wood is compared to other types of wood using the Janka Hardness Scale.

The Janka scale measures the force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in the wood being tested. It’s one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear.

Besides the Janka hardness rating, there are other factors that contribute to the durability of a wood floor. The type of cut used to mill the wood (for example, plainsawn, quartersawn, riftsawn), the density of the wood cell structure, and the finish used.

Handscraped and distressed woods are popular with those who like a textured, rustic and antiqued finish. Nicks and scratches will only add character instead of ruining the look of these floors. Also, they usually come with a matte, rather than glossy finish, which helps hide scratches better.

Planks that are 4” to 7”in width are popular. They work especially well in large spaces and in homes with a more casual décor. If your home is small with a lot of hallways, it’s best to stick to planks that are narrower than 4”. Also, if you have a more formal, more traditional home, narrower planks look best.

The newest trend in hardwood is towards a yellowing and/or greying of the palette, which is still rich in tone, but lighter than the espresso brown of a few years ago. Domestic woods are making a comeback, with Hickory being especially popular.

Engineered wood is generally more dimensionally stable than solid, so it will expand and contract less with changes in temperature and humidity. It can also be sanded 1 or 2 times, depending on the thickness of the top layer.

If you have a plywood subfloor, you can use either solid or engineered hardwood. If you’re on concrete and /or on radiant-heated floors you must use engineered.

Hardwood flooring is a great option for people with allergies, it’s environmentally friendly and it increases the value of your home. It’s also one of the most beautiful, timeless and elegant flooring choices on the market today.

I have some gorgeous hardwood samples in the showroom, that can be lent out to you, and I have excellent installers too! We carry hardwood flooring by Mohawk, Tarkett, Dansk and Armstrong.

I used engineered Brazilian Tuauri in my home. I love it!

Wool: Outstanding In Its Field

This is my pet lamb, out standing in its field....Sorry, I couldn't resist!

I love the luxurious soft feel and durability of wool carpet! Synthetic fibre manufacturers are always trying to come up with new and improved ways to simulate the look and feel of wool. This is because wool is still the crème de la crème of luxury in carpeting.

Wool carpet develops a rich patina over the years because of its lanolin content. Lanolin also acts as a natural repellant to dust mites and is a natural stain inhibitor. Liquid spills are repelled to the upper surface of the wool, which can then be easily blotted up.

Wool resists static and mildew. Static is reduced by wool’s natural ability to retain up to 30% of its weight in moisture. Wool has a naturally low PH, which makes it resistant to mildew, mold and fungi in almost any climate.

Wool is naturally flame retardant, is difficult to ignite and has a low flame-spread. Wool carpets do not melt and contribute less to smoke or toxic gas formation compared to other carpet fibres. That is one reason why airplanes, hotels and restaurants use wool as their carpeting of choice.
Wool fibre is made up of overlapping scales, arranged much like roof shingles, in an upward fashion. This helps keep the dirt particles on the surface, where they can be easily vacuumed.

Wool has natural fibre elasticity that can stretch up to 40% and bounce back again and again, making it extremely crush resistant in a high traffic area.
Wool carpet is perfect for people who are allergic to dust mites because dust mites seem to be allergic to wool and cannot survive in that environment!

Wool carpet used to be more expensive than synthetic. This is no longer always the case because the price of petrochemicals has been rising, bringing the price of nylon carpet closer to that of wool.
With more people thinking about allergies, green design and sustainability, wool carpeting might become the floorcovering of choice for many.

As an underlay for wool carpet my manufacturers recommend either a wool felt pad, or eco cushion rubber underpad.

If you're looking for wool carpet, I'll show you a great selection of options. We carry the beautiful Karastan wool line by Mohawk as well as Colin Campbell's luxurious Nature's Carpet . I'll also provide you with our very best installers, for a lifetime installation warranty!

Trendy or Traditional Tile and Stone

Tile and Stone Trends
Of the entire palette of materials available to me, tiles offer the most options for creativity. Now, more than ever, their diversity is huge. Not only do tiles come in a wide variety of textures and colours, they are available in more sizes than ever before.

The most popular format for 2013 is the rectangle. Kitchen splash tiles now come in a variety of elongated rectangular shapes. It used to be that the 3" x 6" subway tiles were all the rage. Now you see 4" x 12", 6" x 18" or even 2" x 18" sizing.

Floor tiles are often as large as 24” x 36”. The rectangular forms are usually used to create a horizontal, linear effect on walls, with accents and borders used vertically. On floors they are sometimes staggered for abrick-like effect, but a herringbone and chevron pattern can also look spectacular. For 2013, rectangular tiles are mostly being stacked rather than staggered, for an ultra-modern, grid-like effect.

Floor tile surfaces are smoother now with rectified edges, which allows for a much tighter grout joint.
Wall tiles are now trending to highly textured and 3 dimensional. I love the look of wavy, sculptural tiles on a fireplace or backsplash. They also look sensational on an entire feature wall or as a bed headboard.

Many ceramic and porcelain tiles mimic the look of slate, marble and limestone. The newest trend, though, is to simulate wood,leather, linen, fabric, wallpaper, alligator skin and even sisal carpet! Inroads in ink-jet technology have enhanced the aesthetics of tile by creating less repetition of graphics.

Glass tiles have also become increasingly popular. They usually come in a smaller mosaic format, whether round, rectangular or square, in a wide array of vibrant colours. They can be used as accents combined with larger tiles, or alone to create a spectacular shimmering effect.

Tiles with a brushed steel, nickel, bronze or copper surface are being used as borders and inserts, both for floors and walls. Some metallic tiles are now also available in a larger format for floors.
Accent tiles are now being seen in a mixture of materials - stone, glass, metal, all be combined in a single trim piece. It's like wall jewelry to dress up a field tile.

Aside from the vibrant colours of glass, most tiles are in neutral earth tones. Crème brulee, charcoal, warm white, concrete grey and walnut are especially popular.
Classic white and cream marble looks are also big, especially those withsubtle veining, such as Cararra and Calacatta.

Tiles are an inherently green product. They are made of natural substances and have the longest life cycle of any floor covering choice. When installed correctly a tile floor will last a lifetime.

If you’re looking to do a tile project, come see me at Surdel Carpets, Flooring and Design Centre. We have a huge selection of the latest looks. We carry tiles by Mohawk, Daltile, Tierra Sol,Centura, Euro, Julian, and more. I can help put it all together for you as well as coordinate the tile installation.