ALL ABOUT FLOORS

continued from page 23

WOOD

Until the middle of the 1950s, just
about every house was constructed with
hardwood floors. Then as synthetic ad-
vances made carpet much more afford-
able, builders began to use wall- to- wall
carpeting instead of hardwood flooring.
Today, hardwood floors are again riding
a crest of popularity.
New hardwood floors can now be
stained and finished from the factory be-
fore they are laid, which saves the cus-
tomer a lot of aggravation and mess. The
floor is easier to lay and pre-stained
doesn't affect the cost.
Colors and styles come in a wide va-
riety. There are basic woods — walnut,
pecan, oak, cherry — and bleached and
pickled colors. Light woods are in vogue,
like pine or ash. More exotic darker
woods like mahogany, Brazilian cherry
and red oak are also on the market. Red
oak can be bleached to produce a mauve.
color.
Other creative types of hardwood
floors are also catching the eyes of de-

signers and homeowners in the area.
Herringbone patterned hardwood floors
and parquet floors are popular. Some
designers have used two or more differ-
ently stained woods on these patterns
to produce a multi-colored floor. For a
European look, there are patterned
floors that are exact copies from
grandiose castles and the Louvre.
There is even a floor that looks like
wood but is artificial. The product is
vinyl and has been popular in kitchens
because it doesn't scratch as easily as
hardwood floor.
Wood floors can also incorporate oth-
er types of material. Interior designers
are using marble and wood or wood
floors with painted borders. Another in-
teresting mix is carpet set into the wood.

TILE

For most people the brings back mem-
ories of those old high school locker room
showers, with bacteria devouring the
floor. Well, no more. Tile today has gone
for the big time. It's taken a turn for Hol-
lywood. It's glamorous.
In fact, long an understudy to other
floorings, tile is now a star. People ac-

tually choose to refinish floors, wall, ceil-
ings, even entire rooms in tile.
Most tile costs between one and ten
dollars a square foot. Quarry tile, made
out of stone, is more expensive than ce-
ramic tile. Vinyl tile is usually cheaper
than ceramic tile. Specialty tiles can
cost as much as $30 each.
Consumers have discovered tile be-
cause of its convenience and beauty. Nat-
ural tile is very durable and easy to
clean. Tile requires very little care.
Most tile can be cleaned by simply wip-
ing it down with a damp cloth.
Ceramic tile is popular for its dura-
bility. Tile lasts. Changes in the ad-
hesive strength of grout and in the
treatment of tile have made the product
more durable. Tile lasts at least ten to
fifteen years.
But convenience and durability do not
rule out creativity. Tiles these days
comes in all shapes, colors and sizes.
People believe that the only tile is the
old 4 by 4 tile. That's just not the case.
Tile comes in more flavors than Baskin
Robbins' ice cream.
The trend today is large tiles. While

continued on page 68

The Best Seats In The House.

Our leather collection is available on white, black & chrome frames, counterstools or barstools. From contemporary to
traditional and everything in between, we have what suits you. Stools of oak in white-washed or rich wood tones, stools in
painted colors, stools in rattan, stools in brass, stools upholstered and some not. Your search will end here.

Call or visit our showroom today at 828 North Main Street, Downtown Rochester (313) 652-1080.

STYLE • FALL 1992 • 59