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FLOORING
Choosing the
right flooring
Whatever your lifestyle, whether you live alone or there are dozens of
people trooping in and out of your house, there is a flooring type to suit
all. The first thing to decide on in any conversion or renovation of your
home is the floor – or floors. The area to be covered is invariably large
and immediately noticeable, so a well-chosen floor will literally ‘root’
the rest of the scheme. The thing to remember is to choose something
that looks good but that also fits with the primary purpose of your room
and what you are going to use it for.
Stone/marble
Best for a farmhouse feel
Stone floors are natural, beautiful, and
always stylish. The naturally cool, hard
surface is ideal for warm climates and
does not harbour dust or allergens. Before
choosing a specific type of stone, arm
yourself with knowledge to find the best fit.
Mostly used in kitchens, bathrooms and
hallways, it is now becoming increasingly
common for stone to be used in a bedroom
or even a sitting room. There is also a
growing trend to have the same stone
laid throughout the ground floor which
goes through to a terrace area to create a
wonderful flow and sense of space both
indoors and out.
Stone floors can be made from marble,
limestone, travertine, sandstone, granite and
flagstone. Marble, which is the most fragile
and expensive, does come in a range of
interesting and stunning colours from pure
white and grey to rust and rosy reds, greens,
a tawny or rosy yellow and various shades
of black. It scratches and stains easily but
because it looks so beautiful, for some,
this does outweigh those negatives. Other
stones are more hard-wearing and though
expensive initially, should last a lifetime.
Vinyl
Best for spills and splashes
Vinyl tiles add interest to a large space and
liven up plain cabinetry — ideal for stamping
personality on your home.
In rooms where water and food are likely to
end up on the floor, such as bathrooms and
kitchens, vinyl flooring is a popular choice.
Naturally water-repellent, there are a huge
range of styles and patterns that can be
cut to fit even the most awkwardly shaped
room. Vinyl is one of the most affordable
choices when it comes to hard flooring. It
can be both decorative and softer underfoot
than any of the stone or fired-clay floor
choices. Vinyl is a particularly good choice
for kitchens, halls, children’s rooms and even
some living rooms.
Made from polyvinyl chloride, vinyl is
available in two main varieties: a more
expensive, longer-lasting, one, and the
cheaper style, which is a mixture of fillers
and pigments with a thermoplastic binder
that can either be cushioned or flat. Both
varieties come in increasingly realistic copies
of natural materials. Since it is available in
sheet or tile form, the block colours can be
made into various checkerboard and inlaid
designs. It’s often mixed with cork for tough
but soft kitchen and children’s room floors.