Okay, giving it to you straight here kids with another set of quick thoughts from The Design Coach.

Here goes! Your floor is…well…is way more than a floor. In my world, it’s the Alpha & Omega of the design. If not treated with the reverence it deserves…it will sabotage any interior, large or small. Last week I had the opportunity to have Todd Krause, from Lake Geneva’s very own Timeless Flooring, at the radio studio to chat all things hardwood. Below are some take-aways from our visit.

1.)    Think of your hardwood flooring as the visual glue that pulls the entire home together, setting the stage for your overall design vision. Hands down…the feel of the room starts and ends with the floor. If the floor has a dated look…so will the overall design. And remember, if your design vision fights with the floor, the floor will win.

2.)    To maximize your budget, get artistic with your installation while using more cost effective wood species. Visualization is the key here, even a quick hand sketch can give your professional installer the creative direction needed to make even a simple wood species like oak, pine or maple look and feel more elegant.

3.)    Think beyond brown. Investigate the use of die stains to create sophisticated, layered finishes that add a level of design interest a simple penetrating stain just cannot achieve.

4.)    Don’t fear the refinishing process. Go for it! Yes, there’s dust. Get over it. The dust will dissipate…I promise…but great design lasts forever. Plus, today’s dustless floor refinishing systems can help you minimize the mess.

5.)    When looking to hire a wood flooring professional, experience matters. It’s easy to bail to the cheapest professional…after all…it’s just wood right? WRONG. This is a design element with so many opportunities, but just as many pitfalls. Look for experience with many different applications and designs…and get referrals and photos.

For more information on Timeless Flooring, visit www.timelessflooring.com.  To hear The Design Coach Radio Program featuring this topic…click below.