Australian_House_&_Garden_2017_02

SHOPPING HG

AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN| 185

big as 600x1200mm, perfect for large,

open-plan living areas.” Timber flooring

has also had the supersized treatment,

says Leon Travis, national sales and

distribution manager at Boral Timber.

“Wide boards continue to be popular for

the casual feel they bring to a space, while

narrower boards feel more formal and can

help make a long, slim space appear wider.”

But it’s the intriguing new textures that

add interest and life to the latest timber

and timber-look releases, says Kendall

Waller, national product and technical

manager for Quick-Step. “Keep an eye out

for extra-matt, heavily brushed textures

and subtle, hand-scraped finishes.”

While solid timber has lost none of its

appeal, and is not likely to, it’s engineered

timber that is making waves right now.

It’s easy to see why: these boards are more

affordable, come pre-finished in a variety

of lengths and grains, and are quick and

easy to install. They also allow you to

create on-trend patterned layouts, such

as herringbone and chevron, with minimal

fuss. Simpler still, Royal Oak Floors is

coming out with Chevron Panel flooring,

in engineered oak, which is laid down in

sheets rather than individual boards.

For those who love the look of wood but

want the ease and durability of tiles, the

latest timber-look porcelain styles are sure

to appeal. “Digital imaging has reached

new levels of sophistication. Today’s

porcelain tiles appear almost identical to

timber and natural stone,” says Blaschka.

In fact, porcelain offers endless looks,

says Tina Di Lorenzo, marketing and

product manager at Di Lorenzo Tiles, who

recently returned from the Cersaie tile

trade show in Italy. “We were seeing

touches of gold and silver in porcelain tiles,

marble- and concrete-inspired designs,

bold geometric patterns, and gorgeous

linen and fabric-textured styles.”

The one-palette approach, where the

same style of tile is carried from your

floors to your walls and even outside, is

also gaining momentum. To help you

achieve the look, companies such as

Choices Flooring now offer the same tile

in different formats and finishes. “The

varying sizes allow you to have a consistent

design throughout your home that can be

adapted to suit each space,” says Emma

Bolger, brand communications manager

at Choices Flooring. “For example, you

might choose a 600x600mm format tile

for an open-plan living area, and then a

scaled-down version in 300x300mm or

300x600mm for a small bathroom.”

If you’re looking for a fabulous floor but

are on a budget, consider luxury vinyl

(made from flexible PVC), laminate

(melamine-topped panels) or thermoplastic

polymer. The latest offerings mimic the

look and feel of natural material such as

stone, slate and exotic timbers, for

a fraction of the price. Some of these

products, such as Quick-Step’s Livyn range

and Tarkett’s iQ One, are also very low in

volatile organic compounds (VOCs), so

indoor air quality is not compromised.

A relative newcomer to the market,

wood-polymer composite (WPC) is another

smart, cost-effective option. Designs such

as Flooring Xtra’s AquaSmart combine

WPC with the benefits of luxury vinyl to

create a supremely hardwearing flooring

that can be used in any room, including

the bathroom.

Whichever flooring you choose, if you’re

looking to lay a floor that gets noticed, be

bold with your choices, says Tudball. “Don’t

be afraid to use colour and pattern. Nor

should you feel you need to stop at the

floor – take it up the walls! And don’t be

afraid to use more than one hard-flooring

type in a project. It can be a great means

of delineating your living zones.” >

CONCRETE FACTS

According to Basil Kouts,

flooring specialist at Urban

Concrete Floors, a concrete

floor has plenty to offer besides

contemporary good looks.

“It’s durable, cost-effective and

great for allergy sufferers,” he

says. “It won’t dent or scuff, and

it can feel warmer underfoot

than tiles.” It’s easy to maintain

too, as recent innovations in

concrete finishing mean no

sealant is required. Choose

from polished concrete or a

decorative overlay that gives

you the same look but can be

applied straight over existing

timber floors. The most

important thing with concrete

flooring, says Kouts, is to have it

installed by an expert. “We

constantly hear from customers

who have attempted to do it

themselves, and it can be a lot

more challenging to fix up

someone’s mistake.” Prices start

from about $65/m2, depending

on finish and area size, at

Urban Concrete Floors; http://www.

urbanconcretefloors.com.au.

SET IN STONE

For many homeowners, it’s hard

to go past the beauty and

character of natural stone

as a flooring material.

“Hardwearing and resilient

enough for high-traffic areas,

yet softer than concrete, stone

flooring can bring a natural,

rustic or even glamorous feel to

a home,” says Jen Stumbles,

co-owner of Eco Outdoor. “It’s

naturally cool underfoot and

can be layered with underfloor

heating or rugs for the cooler

months.” Honed bluestone,

travertine and limestone (all

from $89/m2at Eco Outdoor)

all look fabulous indoors, she

says, while terracotta tiles (from

$178/m2) make for a wonderful

indoor-outdoor transition.

http://www.ecooutdoor.com.au.

“MATCHING TIMBER FLOORING AND DECKING CREATES

A SEAMLESS TRANSITION AND UNIFIES INDOOR AND

OUTDOOR SPACES.”LEON TRAVIS, BORAL TIMBER