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Wall-to-Wall Style
Focus on Flooring, the Fifth Wall
By Kelly Burgess
Using natural materials is another big trend in flooring that's changing the traditional look of the home. Both marble and porcelain in larger tile sizes that are laid close together offer a clean, natural look. This is a look that is especially popular in properties near the beach, where sand and constant humidity is a problem, and in the Southwest, where the Southwestern look is still very popular. Leslie Dungy, who lives in El Paso, Texas, has terra cotta-colored tile flooring installed throughout her small ranch home, including the bathroom and her son's room.
"My mother was shocked when I first suggested doing the entire house in tile, because she had never heard of not using carpet in the bedroom, but I wanted to carry the Southwestern theme throughout the house," says Dungy. "When Kurt was younger, I put one of those rugs down in his room that has towns and roads on it. Now that he's older I've replaced it with a large rug with a southwestern print so he can sprawl if he wants."
In spite of the growing popularity of tile and wood, vinyl sheet flooring is still the most popular option in rooms that are traditionally not carpeted, such as kitchens, dining rooms, bathrooms and foyers, and carpet is still the most popular option for the rest of the house. Vinyl is less expensive than wood or laminates, is available in a variety of colors, patterns and textures and is very easy to keep clean. As for carpet, Andy Mathis, general manager of Atlanta Carpet Services, says that, while price is one big factor in the enduring popularity of carpeting, the general feeling of warmth and insulation is probably what's most important to people – especially in areas of the country where the winters tend to be colder and longer.
"Carpet is definitely the answer from a standpoint of warmth, but there's no getting around the fact that it will have to be replaced eventually – sooner rather than later for people with kids and pets," says Mathis. He notes that, while neutral carpet will always be popular to decorate around, carpet comes in an ever widening variety of colors and designs. He's seen a particular peak in using colorful carpets in teenagers' rooms. There are also family-friendly carpets, such as Berbers and Frieze carpets, which are specially made to hold up to the heavy traffic that can wear carpet down quickly. These carpets are also easier to clean and don't show stains or vacuum marks the way traditional carpets can.
