Washington, DC, Sept. 8--Two major producers of commercial carpet tile--the modular, industrial-strength floor covering of choice for corporate and commercial settings--recently arrived at the same conclusion at about the same time: If durable carpet by the square is such a great idea for offices, airports and schools, then why not kids' rooms, basements and family rooms? Tweak the product a bit, jazz up the color and texture, and tap into the $13.2 billion residential carpeting and rug market, according to the Washington Post.
"It was a no-brainer," said Dane Owen, national sales and marketing developer for Milliken Rugs, which rolled out the first of its two residential offerings last fall at Home Depot stores on the east coast before taking it nationwide. "People with children and pets loved the idea that they could simply take out a square and replace it."
Carpet tile has been around before, first hitting the home market in the 60s. But with coarse texture, drab colors and visible seams, the product quickly became stereotyped as hopelessly low-end.
So today's manufacturers tiptoe around calling the product carpet tile. Milliken describes its Legato and higher-end follow-up Tesserae as carpet "systems." And Interface Inc., the world's largest maker of commercial carpet and carpet tiles, has coined a name for its new product: FLOR, which it advertises as a "practical alternative to carpet or tile." The InterfaceFLOR line was launched at the high-style International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York this spring.
"This is a different generation product that can do new things," said Greg Colando, CEO of InterfaceFLOR. "We wanted to create a new image and set ourselves apart from a bad name."
The modular pieces can be arranged and rearranged like puzzle pieces, replaced if necessary and picked up and moved whenever you do. Colors can be mixed and matched to create borders or patterns of checkerboards, crosses, diamonds or stripes.
Looks aren't the only improvement. Both Milliken and Interface products come with a built-in rubbery pad that clings to the floor without need of glue and can be pulled up without leaving a mark. A slightly tacky "traction backing" allows the Milliken versions to stay put, while InterfaceFLOR relies on small, sticky dots.
All can be put down directly over concrete--good for basements and garages prone to dampness, as well as for hipster urban lofts and condos. And all are stain resistant and have a moisture-resistant layer with antimicrobial agents to ward off mold.
Elizabeth Piersol, director of design development for Apartment Zero in Washington, one of a handful of stores across the country that carry FLOR, recently installed modular runners and area rugs with graphic squares on the concrete floor of a downtown condo. "We just ripped away the faux Berber, cleaned, stained and sealed the floor and put it down," she said.
During a recent episode of "Trading Spaces Family" on TLC, design celeb Vern Yip installed Legato in a living room, assisted by a 12-year-old identified only as Little Joe. Composed of wavy 22"x23" panels that interlock, the off-white nylon Legato carpeting looked virtually seamless when it was done, and a great improvement over the worn bright teal it replaced.
"Carpet tiles are a great option if you want the warmth of a wall-to-wall look and don't want to pay an installer," said Yip. In this case, the do-it-yourself tiles were considerably less expensive than refinishing the damaged hardwood floor.
Milliken's Legato and Tesserae, aiming to compete with plush wall-to-wall carpet, have a dense, nylon "frieze" (pronounced "frisay") construction with a tightly twisted yarn that resembles a mini-shag; both are backed with a substantial residential padding that feels cushy underfoot.
InterfaceFLOR is more low-profile and contemporary, with a flatter feel and a variety of textures--from tight weave and felt-like to wiry.
"We made it look more residential, but we're not trying to look like broadloom," said Colando. "Architects and designers get it."
