I am Floored!

There is a new trend in design right now that is directing our attention down.  It used to be all about the walls, now the focus is on floors.  The overactive left side of my brain is in creative over drive with the endless possibilities that can happen right under our feet! 

It's not just about new types of flooring products, although that is a part of it, it's more about taking what you have and having fun with it.  Specifically when it comes to patterns.  What makes this so great is that it's totally economical, so if you have a wood floor which has lost it's luster and is looking a bit tired these days..turn that frown upside down and do this:

nymag.com

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Nordicrooms.net



DesignspongeOnline.com

So Fun!  I just love all these and think the style looks better the more rough the floor is to begin with!  With a painted pattern or design, you will just need to re-seal the floor with a wood floor top coat to protect it.  If the painted portions wear a little over time, no worries, it adds instant character.  Don't you just love stress free floors?!  Can't go wrong here, unless of course you a more conservative type person who dosn't want anything bold ..in which case you will not be as impressed with these next ideas as I am :) 

If you don't have any wood flooring in your home, but you do have tragic looking carpet that needs to be replaced, but the budget dosn't allow it for the next year or ten, then consider tearing it up anyway!  No, i'm not telling you to throw all caution (and carpet) to the wind and spend money you shouldn't, but you should rip it out along with the pad and reveal either the concrete that's underneath, or pour concrete over the exposed sub floor.  Concrete is cheap and better yet it's chic!  I know this sounds like crazy talk, I mean concrete is so not the luxe look you dreamt about as a little girl imagining her future home.  However, I was at a super high end home reveal (which was for sale for as little as 3mil. ..chump chang ;) ..kidding), a couple years back and saw that a large majority of this 7,000 square foot home was stained concrete!  It wasn't a super contemporary or industrial-chic home, it was actually an amazing, very warm, mountain home.  There was a scattering of very thick wooly rugs scattered about in seating areas, I love the contrast of them against the concrete floor.  Anyway, this is to say that it's a fab way to go which happens to the super inexpensive.  I'm so on that bandwagon!  Here are some fave floors of mine of the concrete variety:

A wood floor can also be made to look a little more like concrete (the gray/white link pattern above is on a wood floor).  These are all very super durable, achieved with very specific and strong paints, primers, and protectants.  Cleanability is easier than ever before also.  But in my case the pattern would hide the dirt for longer, so I wouldn't have to clean it as much, first thing for me about being easy, second think is that it dosn't require any special process or products.  You can even use the all purpose cleaner sold at the dollar store!

You don't have to be a daring decorator to go with this cheap and chic look. There are plenty of muted and conservative pattern options and finishes out there that you can go with instead of the rainbow bright striped floor i've shown above (although.. think how cute would that be for a playroom)!  If pattern isn't meant for you or your place, then a solid color with a high gloss/laquered look or one with more of a matte finish, my be the fit for you. 

If the process makes you nervous that you might forget a step, not do it right, or even if it's just that you don't want to break a nail (we totally understand), then La Dolce Villa can do it for you!  Flooring is a fave of ours and has been something we've worked at for a while now in perfecting the process of and finding the most suitable products to do so.  Of course a great staff helps to get the job done and as the design professional, I would love to talk about the colors, patterns, and finish options to fit your taste and home aesthtic.  Give us a call/text/e-mail/or facebook note!