Floor Samples

Interior designers offer their input on what to put under foot

By HOME & DESIGN

Odegard's Fiesole“Floors are the largest areas of an interior, and thoughtful materials and patterns that lead your sight through space become hallmarks of great interiors,” says interior designer Skip Sroka. But what makes a thoughtful material? We decided to open up that question to several area designers, who took the time to share with us a few of their top picks in flooring. Whether plush wool carpet, durable “green” materials or something a little bit dramatic, we’ve gathered together their recommendations. And even added a few of our own, personal picks. Enjoy!

CLEAN PATROL
“My favorite type of carpet right now is the Stainmaster carpets that contain Tactesse fiber (www.stainmaster.com). It makes a nylon carpet extremely durable and has a uniquely soft touch like a natural fiber carpet would give. They also offer many interesting patterns.”— Jessica Barwick, Allied Member ASID, Barwick Interiors

Aged beauty
“Fine rugs now include design that is fresh and still respectful of the classic designs. Designers like Thomas O’Brien for Safavieh, and Stephanie Odegard keep an eye to the Oushak and Tibetan styles and take them up a notch—such Odegard’s Fiesole design (www.odegardinc.com). It makes a great statement on the floor yet still carries a patina of time like an older rug.”—Brad Weesner, Brad Weesner Design

PRETTY PATTERN
“I love the textured and durable patterned carpet choices of Masland (www.maslandcarpets.com), especially the Tangier. It can be used in commercial applications, yet is great for the home as well.”— Juliana Cunningham, Juliana’s Home Interiors

Eco-Friendly Flooring

Put a Cork on it
“Green flooring such as bamboo and cork are wonderful alternatives to reduce impact noise with a cushioned feel underfoot. When creating environments that are fresh and up-to-the-minute, our firm chooses cork flooring from Natural CORK (www.naturalcork.com). I like the Moreno color, which looks like burled wood with deep browns and hints of red.”—Brad Weesner, Brad Weesner Design

EDITOR’s Pick
Chilewich’s Plynyl Tile combines unique woven fabric with a state-of-the-art vinyl backing. Bi-colored yarns are woven in a durable basketweave pattern, and the backing provides cushioning and stability—and is made up of 15 percent post-industrial recycled content. Chilewich is working to increase this percentage and hopes to also include post-consumer content in an effort to make the product more environmentally friendly. Visit www.chilewich.com for more information.

Edgy Alternative
Looking for something with a bit more funk? A stand-out choice for designer

Callie Duritsa of Duritsa Interiors is Coren steel flooring from Tau Ceramics (left). Carried locally by Mid-Atlantic Tile Distributors in Frederick, Maryland, this steel product not only has great style but ages for a constantly changing, industrial look. The highly malleable material is available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including large squares, smaller tiles, and mosaic patterns. Call Mid-Atlantic at (877) 628-TILE, or visit www.tauceramic.net.

WOOD OUTLOOK
“The new wide plank hand-scraped flooring is very exciting but can be cost prohibitive. The real wood-engineered, machine scraped-alternatives at ProSource (www.prosourcefloors.com) are a great solution.” —Juliana Cunningham, Juliana’s Home Interiors Editor’s picks for bathroom drama

Graphic Design
Geometric motifs and organic forms infuse Angela Adams’ new line of concrete floor tiles for Ann Sacks. Straight and curved lines result in an artistic and unusual flooring pattern. Use matching grout to create a subtle, soothing look, or contrasting colors to add energy and drama. Call (202) 339-0840, or visit www.annsacks.com.

Classical Moves
The artisans at Maestro Mosaics by Granite & Marble Resource, Inc., handcraft intricate patterns in a range of 25 colors. The Zeta China pattern, a funky graphic design, comes in five colorways, including dramatic black and white, as well as more subtle blendings of Honey Onyx or White and Gold Travertine. The patterns in the collection take inspiration from classic Roman, Greek, and Mesopotamian designs. Available in polished tumbled and antique stones, the mosaics are mesh-mounted and easy to install. Visit www.maestromosaics.com.

Looking for guidance on the various types of flooring that might suit your design needs? A variety of associations offer consumer information on flooring types to help you better make your decisions:

National Wood Flooring Association www.woodfloors.org
American Hardwood Information Center www.hardwoodinfo.com
Carpet and Rug Institutewww.carpet-rug.com
Marble Institute of America/Natural Stone Councilwww.usenaturalstone.com

Stainmaster Tactesse