TORLYS Forecasts 2005 Canadian Floor Trends

Mississauga, Ontario, December 27--Based on an informal survey of TORLYS dealers and product forecasting, TORLYS predicts Canadians who want to upgrade the quality of their homes will gravitate toward exotic floors, such as cork, or traditional flooring, such as engineered hardwood, for two reasons: the floors do not gap (which detracts from the home’s visual appeal, quality and marketability) and the original lustre can be restored without the mess and heartache of sanding. While hardwood, laminates and cork are popular flooring choices overall, feedback from TORLYS dealers also identifies color and material preferences vary according to the area where homeowners live. West Coast: ·Tropical, rich wood floors with colours reflective of Jatoba and Merbau woods are popular with Vancouver residents who crave a touch of the exotic in their urban coastal homes. Alberta and Northern Ontario: ·Harvest Oak, a golden brown, is the floor color of choice for these residents, where homeowners embrace simple, clean country designs. Southern Ontario: ·Classic traditional interiors still build home equity therefore they remain popular for Southern Ontario residents. The resulting hardwood choices have rich color and texture, such as Oak Sierras (red tone) or Oak Chestnut (rich brown). Urban Chic: ·Urban Ontario and Alberta homeowners will continue to embrace cork flooring for its visual texture and environmental benefits (no trees are cut to produce cork floors – cork is harvested from the bark of the Cork Oak Tree grown in Spain and Portugal). Casual Comfort:: ·Cork is becoming more popular in Atlantic Canada for its family friendly traits (durability; comfort on feet; quiet). TORLYS expects rich earth tones (Western Saddle and Southern Comfort) and light "Naturals" to be the most popular color selection for cork floors in 2005. To integrate flooring into the overall décor of a home, Cheryl Grant has three recommendations: 1.A homeowner should first identify his/her interior style and then select the flooring. Traditional interiors (elegant and formal), modern interiors (clean and functional) and casual interiors (warm and easy going) each function differently … depending on the needs of the homeowner, and the role the room plays in the home. 2.If afraid of color on the walls, homeowners have the opportunity to make a bold statement with the floors. Dark, exotic floors balance well with neutral, light walls. 3.Conversely, homeowners who love a house full of color should select floors that are light or natural in color. This balance helps the room’s design elements sing and prevents walls and floors from competing for visual attention. Additional Interior Trends For The New Year According to Canadian interior trends expert Cheryl Grant, the use of dramatic color is the most significant interior trend for 2005. She expects color to infuse bedrooms, bathrooms and playrooms, and recommends wood and Laminate flooring selections remain neutral, or within lighter tones. "Flooring should complement the room’s look, not dominate it," says Grant. "Canadians today are not just buying floor coverings — they are taking the time to create beautiful rooms. A room with too many dominant elements will not endure interior trends and create a warm, welcoming environment." With Canadians citing flooring and paint as one of the most popular home improvement projects in the next two years, Grant offers this advice on selecting floor color and texture to help create the right décor for 2005 — and beyond. Color ·Bold, vibrant colors evident in today’s apparel fashion are shifting into Canadian homes. Popular colors include shades of orange, pink, acid green and crimson red. ·To balance color, homeowners should select neutral, light-toned flooring, as opposed to darker woods more appropriate with soft wall color.

Related Topics:Fuse, Coverings, Fuse Alliance

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