Luxury Housing Trends & Home Improvement Ideas

It’s hard to beat the beauty of hardwood floors (just look at some of the handsome options we’ve featured: teak, antique french oak, exotic rosewood, and numerous handscraped hardwood floors ), and you needn’t limit yourself to boards. Parquet flooring comes as wood tiles and the variety of patterns means you can find something perfect for your home.

Today, let’s take a look at a few parquet options from Ardeco Interior‘s Bohemia collection (they have a lot of cool wood products, so definitely check out their site). Their flooring is made from Moravian and French oak. The boards and panels are “mechanically matured after which the tannic acid present in oak is activated in a natural way.” That treatment gives their floors a handsome, unique appearance. The 2 cm thick tiles can be made to standard sizes indicated or can be cut to suit your requirements.

Here are some examples to peep at:

Patterned tile on your floors or walls can make a glamorous impact on your home. Artistic Tile has some classic motifs in their Chateau collection, which can bring a whole new level of class to your home.

The Danse Blanc is a stone mosaic with a curvy marbled pattern of black and white. The pattern is simple and yet remarkable. The designs in this collection are created using waterjet technology, so the intricate patterns are smoother and ribbon like.

Also in this collection, there is a Damask Blanc, Fleur Blanc and Esprit Blanc. You can get your tile made to order, and there are endless numbers of natural stones and colorways that you can select. If you do decide to go with tile walls, you might want to consider carpeted flooring so the room doesn’t look so cold and unwelcoming.

If you love the idea of hardwood flooring, but find boards a little ho hum (and even parquet isn’t unique enough for you), then you might be a candidate for Enigma wood floors.

Offered by Beckwith Interiors, the Enigma line features various styles of “puzzle pieces” that combine to create a unique flooring option.

The “Jigsaw” floor looks most like interlocking puzzle pieces and could be fun in a children’s room. Other styles, such as Hive, Pisces, and Sextant fit together in a more sophisticated pattern, and might work in a living area.

All the patterns are available in different finishes, such as Polished Amber and Black Onyx. Stick to one or mix and match. Either way, you’ll know you’ve got hardwood floors that are different from everybody else’s on your block (maybe in your town!).

Known for its durability, teak hardwood flooring is a practical and attractive choice. Some of its benefits are water resistance (teak is frequently used for outdoor furniture and maritime applications), insect resistance, natural oils that prevent cracking, and structural stability that prevents warping or shrinking.

The pictures below are from Toucan Teak, a company that specializes in this species, providing sustainably harvested boards in a variety of styles and sizes.

The “wide plank honey” boards offer a unique way to display this handsome hardwood. Strips, planks, and parquet options are also available.

All of their teak is FSC certified, and the solid tongue-and-groove boards should last a long time in your home.

Do you want to make a statement with your flooring? Well, you can customize your floors and create unique patterns of your own. Armstrong has a large selection of wood, stone and metal flooring that you can have fun mixing and matching.

The Natural Creations Mystix collection can give you a contemporary feel, because you can have a couple different materials in one area. Although wood floors are classic, why not mix them with limestone for a more interesting design?

Since all of the wood, stone and metal flooring options are within the Earth tones, they are easy to mix together. You don’t even have to be very creative, but adding another element to the floor can enhance the room’s presence. However, if you like taking risks and experimenting with color, try the Chroma Stone Citron (green) or Chroma Stone Luna (blue) for a punch of color. There are even bamboo options.

Moroccan tile is visually appealing with all of the rich and complimentary colors and patterns going on in each individual tile. Just imagine how turquoise, midnight blue, orange and yellow could enhance your home by making it more inviting and attractive.

Colorful tiles on a staircase can make a statement, especially if it’s near an entryway. Wrought irons railings can bring the rustic feel to life. Or you can outline your doorway in Moroccan tile, which would be a different take than the traditional wooden door frames.

Wherever you choose to put the tile make sure that it’s in an appropriate place that needs color and attention. Plus, tile on the stairs can keep them cool and give your home a summery atmosphere if you live near the beach. Wrought iron wall sconces can dress up the doorway and tie in the wrought iron railings if you choose this route.

Cracks in your cement driveway are unsightly, and you might even have cracks in your garage floor too. To prevent the crack from expanding and from weeds from growing out of it, it’s beneficial to repair it as soon as possible.

Start by sweeping out dirt and debris from the small cracks with a whisk broom. Then use concrete repair caulk to temporarily fill in the small cracks. For larger problems or edges, use a chisel to remove debris. Then customize a form board to fill in the area. Masking tape can be used to protect adjacent surfaces. Next, apply a bonding adhesive to the form board. The last step is filling the area with vinyl-reinforced patching compound. This will need to be done in layers, and each layer needs at least 30 minutes to dry.

After years of wear and tear, it’s natural for the cement to get cracks. However, you don’t have to let these imperfections affect your home’s curb appeal.

Cork floors are similar to wood floors in that they are usually sealed with a varnish. The varnish protects them from dirt and debris that can clog the cork’s pores. However, over time, the varnish will wear away and will need to be reapplied. Below are some other ways to maintain your cork floors so they last longer.

Some ways to prevent the varnish on cork floors from wearing include putting mats in high traffic areas and adding casters or cups under furniture legs. The manufacturer might have more specific ways or products to protect the varnish.

When cleaning your cork floor, you should use a canister vacuum and a floor brush. Standard upright vacuums or ones with beater bars can damage your floor. Also, use a damp cotton string mop or synthetic sponge to wash the floor, but be sure not to soak the cork. Check with the manufacturer to see if they suggest certain cleaners.

What do you want to feel like or see when you walk through your front door? Maybe impressive wall sconces or detailed wood flooring are on the top of your list. Eclectic pieces and designs can make your foyer look as though it had a total makeover.

Adding an inlay to your existing wood floors can dramatically transform your floors and even brighten them. Renaissance Floor In-Lays has a variety of designs to choose from such as medallions (large and square), borders, panels, parquets, octagons and corners. If you don’t want to invest money on an inlay, enhance a piece of furniture such as a settee with Inlay Product World, Inc.’s Ready Marq (self adhesive overlays).

Decorative wall sconces can bring the look together. The Victorian Tiffany Gothic Fleur-De-Lis wall sconce shown below has warm, rich tones and an intricate design that no one’s eyes can miss.

Faux painting on the walls can softly bring the color palette of the foyer together.

When you have to replace the wood flooring or carpet in large rooms, it can be a costly endeavor. But before making the commitment to buy new materials, check out your reclaimed flooring options for better deals.

Pioneer Millworks carries reclaimed wood flooring that is manufactured in the U.S.A. They have a large selection of species, grades and widths, and the flooring is 100% reclaimed or FSC certified. Although the wood in reclaimed floors is sometimes less than perfect, it gives the floor character. If you have already replaced your wood flooring and have extra wood from the project, contact Pioneer Millworks to see if they will buy it from you.

Maybe carpet is more your style, so use your creative freedom to work with recycled carpet tiles, which you can get from FLOR. These tiles can give a room more personality and color. Plus, if a few tiles become worn, you can replace and return them to the company.