What’s Dated and on the Decline for Hardwood in 2016 Reds – Reds and cherries seem to be very polarizing and only a minority of the population tends to like these (maybe 10-20%). Browns are much more stylish and much easier to coordinate. Shiny and Semi gloss finishes – Again very dated, and not very […]
Continue reading →Site Finished Solid Hardwood Here in Connecticut, there is a strong preference for solid and site finished hardwood. Most homes here have hardwood already, so this is the look customers are accustomed to, especially mid to higher end customers. Pre-finished hardwood looks more fake here, due to the micro-beveled edges, which often show the underlying […]
Continue reading →Hardwood in kitchens (and everywhere on main floor) Hardwood continues grow in popularity for kitchen floors, especially as open concept floor plans are on the rise. Hardwood has surpassed tile as the preferred surface, especially here in the Malden and Hartford County area. Everywhere you look, you’ll find hardwood being showcased in kitchens – home magazines, houzz.com […]
Continue reading →Shift Towards White Oak (rather than red oak) Oak accounts for approximately 80% of hardwood flooring in the US. While red oak comprises the majority of this wood (as red oak is more abundant than white oak), more and more consumers are preferring the smoother graining and more contemporary look of white oak. The linear […]
Continue reading →American Grown and Made While there had already been an underlying trend to buy hardwood grown in the USA both to support our own economy and the trends towards darker colored woods (which works better with wood grown in the US), this trend intensified after the 60 Minutes Investigation of Lumber Liquidators. Since that episode […]
Continue reading →Simple, Sustainable and Natural looking First, I’m seeing a trend towards simplicity and keeping the same flooring throughout the home in virtually all areas – same wood, same color ….including kitchens and entryways (see below for more info on hardwood in kitchens). Second, I’m noticing the preference toward simpler layouts. So, the wood is the […]
Continue reading →Modern Vintage and Cottage Chic This is a trend where old world meets new. It’s hardwood that looks vintage (wider planks, more matte finishes or wire brushed finishes) but in more contemporary colors and cooler tones (vs. the warmer/redder tones you see in reclaimed or older wood). These floors tend to be flat with square […]
Continue reading →Wider planks Wider planks make your space look larger and more modern. Generally, most new hardwood installations are 3 1/4″ planks and wider. Generally, 3 1/4″ to 6 inch planks, especially when they are site finished (so they are smooth and there are no bevels) look more contemporary (especially compared to the more traditional 2 […]
Continue reading →Wire-brushed Hardwood What does wire-brushed wood look like? Wire-brushed is a weathered and authentic look to your hardwood floors that’s created by using wire bristles to open and enhance the wood grain. It’s an etched look that gives subtle texture while still maintaining a smooth surface. It’s used for a cottage chic (or shabby chic) […]
Continue reading →Matte and Satin finishes Shiny and semi gloss are out; satin and matte finishes in. Satin (with a bit of sheen) is the most popular, but now matte is starting to gain more appeal. Some of this is driven by the increased popularity of water borne poly as well as oiled floors and wire brushed […]
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