Tag: Engineered Hardwood Floors

Introducing the L’artiste Collection

 

L’artiste is inspired by some of history’s most prestigious French artists. With genuine European oak featuring elegant brushed detail, each handcrafted ultra-wide and extra-long plank is a work of art in its own right.

Featuring 10 different colors with 8 5/8” plank widths, the L’artiste is the perfect canvas for your interior design dreams.

 

Take a look at a few of the beautiful colors in this stunning selection of European oak.

 

Delacroix

 

 

Widely recognized as the leader of the French Romantic school of painting, Eugene Delacroix produced over 9,000 works of art in his lifetime. His influential work both shaped the work of Impressionists and gave inspiration to the Symbolist movement. Delacroix’s utilization of expressive brushstrokes and his careful study of color astounds even today. His works center around bold themes, many of which were inspired by the works of Shakespeare, Goethe, and Byron.

 

 

The European oak Delacroix, inspired by this great artist, is likewise as bold and daring as the painter himself. Deep cocoa-brown 8 5/8” wide wire-brushed planks of genuine European oak are an apposite way to pay tribute to such a significant artist.

 

Renoir

 

A well-known and celebrated artist of the Impressionist movement, Pierre-Auguste Renoir reveled in the beauty he painted. A lover of all things beautiful, his work is full of sparkling color and the brilliant playing of light. A man of great passion, Renoir’s paintings are characterized by a richness of emotion and a sincerely warm response to the world around him and all the people who call it home.

 

 

The wire-brushed European oak Renoir mirrors this intrinsic warmth and love of beauty. With a balanced and neutral color, this 8 5/8” wide plank floor will infuse into your home the same life and richness of feeling of Renoir’s most beloved works of art.

 

Morisot

 

Berthe Morisot, a French Impressionist painter, focused her painting on a variety of different subjects. From pristine landscapes to portraits and domestic scenes. Her paintings were the work of careful, diligent study. Each delicate brushstroke in its precise and purposeful place. From her watercolors, charcoal drawings, oil paintings, and more, each stroke of her brush or dash of her pencil was a focused act of inspiration.

 

 

Her diligence and stunning technique is exhibited it the luminous quality of the European oak Morisot floor. Beautiful wood grain patterns are coupled with a reactive stain, lightly bringing out the natural splendor of genuine European oak. The charming knots and mineral streaks on each 8 5/8” wide plank are creations of nature as lovely and as purposeful as Morisot’s many works of art.

 

Rousseau

 

Posthumously celebrated as a self-taught genius, Henri Rousseau was a master of his craft. His paintings explore vivid color and the wildness of nature. Dense jungle scenes and wild animals of the rainforest were a few of his favorite subjects though he never actually left France. Inspired by what he saw illustrated in books, Rousseau dared to imagine the beauty worlds away from him and brought it to life before his eyes on canvas.

 

 

This same daring exposition is featured in our floor by the same name. The European oak Rousseau captures this prolific painter’s imagination and boldness in his art. Each 8 5/8” wire-brushed plank is accented with saw marks, giving this unique and dark floor a reclaimed aesthetic.

 

View the whole collection here

 

Color Corner: European Oak Strauss

Welcome back to the blog! As you may have noticed, we have over 100 different colors and styles of hardwood floor to choose from. While we are proud to offer so many varied kinds of flooring, we know that this can make decisions difficult when it comes down to narrowing which one floor is right for YOU.

We hope this color spotlight series will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision about which floor is right for your home! With that, let’s begin!

The Strauss was a welcomed addition to our Composer collection in 2015. With its neutral brown stain and 10.25-inch wide planks, it’s no wonder the Strauss is as popular as it is!

Strength & Durability

The Strauss boasts 10.25-inch wide planks made up of a strong, 8-ply engineered core and a beautiful 4mm wear layer of pure, genuine European oak wood. The top layer is sawn-face, meaning that you get to see the beautiful, natural grain patterns typical of European oak without the distortion caused by rotary peel methods. The surface is wire-brushed to highlight its deep textured grain and then hand-ground to create a timeworn look. The Strauss, given its strength of construction, matches with its durability. Kids and pets? No problem – the Strauss can stand up to high levels of foot-traffic and its beautiful texture masks scratching.

Aesthetic & Style

Textured to perfection, the Strauss awes with a full range of color variation including sapwood and mineral streaks. In addition to this, the Strauss’ bold grain patterns give the floor a reclaimed look. Whether you want to offset your modern, clean interior design with a rustic floor or embrace shabby chic, the Strauss may just be right for your home design!

So, what do you think? Is the Strauss’ reclaimed aesthetic the right look for your design?

View the Strauss on our website HERE.

Let’s Talk About Color: Gray Hardwood

Welcome back to our blog! As we end our series on color, we will be discussing the ever-so-popular gray hardwood! You may have seen a rise in gray hardwood floors in recent years and this is due to significant trending of this coveted aesthetic. Gray hardwood is very modern and easily compliments other modern home finishes such as nickel and stainless steel.

But is gray hardwood flooring right for you?

Savanna Elephant

 

Is gray hardwood floor just a fad?

With any significant trend in the interior design industry, it bears questioning if the popular materials of the time are future classics or simply passing fads. After all, hardwood flooring is a significant investment and it is important to know that your choice will stand the test of time.

 

Royal Court, Kingdom Series Chamberlain

 

The great thing about gray hardwood is that, passing trend or not, it is a neutral color choice that compliments an array of design styles. While gray hardwood floors tend to pair best with cool, modern designs, you can also bring warmth to any space with accent colors and natural wood decor.

 

Villa Caprisi Valentina

Which shade of gray – light or dark?

When it comes to selecting a shade or tone of gray hardwood flooring, there are many available options. A light gray floor and a dark gray floor will have many of the same pros and cons that we have discussed with previous posts in this series on light and dark hardwood.

Dark hardwood is leading modern trends and it is easy to see why. The contrast that dark wood and light furniture and décor is truly beautiful. While it is amazing on a larger scale, darker toned hardwood may not be the best option for a smaller space as it may make it appear even smaller than it actually is. Additionally, darker gray floors will show more dirt and pet hair than their lighter counterpart. Conversely, with a lighter gray floor, it can open up smaller spaces and create an illusion of the room being larger and works better to hide dirt and pet hair.

 

Royal Court, Kingdom Series Duke

 

So, what do you think about gray hardwood floor? Browse our entire selection of gray floors here!

No one hardwood floor is right for everyone and we are happy to be the provider of quality floors in numerous colors and styles.  We hope that this series on color has shed some light on which floor might be the right choice for you!

 

Let’s Talk About Color: Light Hardwood

Styles are constantly evolving and it is good to keep that in mind when it comes to selecting your floor. Your flooring choice will cover one of the largest surface areas in your home so it is important to select a floor you know will both compliment your design aesthetic and stand the test of time. As it is often the most dominant design look, the color floor you select sets the tone for the space so it is important to ask yourself, “What do I want the design of my home to say?”. Hardwood flooring is an investment and when it comes to color selection, there is no “one size fits all”. What works in one home and in one design plan, may not fit your unique space. But never fear! We have many colors and tones to choose from and you will find the perfect floor for you here at Urban Floor! For today and for the sake of time, we will narrow our discussion to light hardwood and the many benefits of its elegant look.

Chene Lambrusco

“Your flooring choice will cover one of the largest surface areas in your home so it is important to select a floor you know will both compliment your design aesthetic and stand the test of time.”

Hand-scraped Maple Natural

Light hardwood floors have a very distinct advantage when it comes to cleaning and care over darker floors. With their lighter color, they are especially easy to keep clean as they mask dents, scratches, and scuff marks. They also tend to show less dirt and less pet hair (for those with furry family members) than darker stained hardwood. Natural expansion, however, may be more prominent with a lighter hardwood as it shows the shadows of the expansion gaps more. This natural expansion and contraction, however, can be minimized with proper environmental controls and keeping your home between 60ºF to 80ºF, and humidity levels between 30%-50%.

Exotic Maple Natural

Selecting a light hardwood floor will brighten your space as the light, fresh color opens up the space, making smaller spaces appear larger. Lighter floors tend to accentuate the amount of natural light that comes into the room and give your home a airy, bright feel. If you are a fan of contrast but don’t want a smaller room in your home to perhaps appear smaller with a dark hardwood, go with a lighter floor and bring in contrast with paint, furniture, and other decor.

Chene Riesling

While darker hardwood seems to be leading modern trends, there is nothing like selecting a classic, warm and natural wood tone to compliment the aesthetic of your home for a truly timeless style. What do you think? Is light hardwood flooring the right choice for you? Tell us in the comments below!

 

Out Goes Summer, In Comes Fall

about-romagna

Summer is officially over and we’ve had our fun in the sun. Beach trips, camping, barbecues, all that jazz. It all went by like a blink of an eye and Summer never seems to last long enough nowadays. Back in grade school, summer vacation seemed to last forever and the days never seemed to end. Now it seems like the years are becoming shorter and shorter but maybe that’s just growing up.
Hello Autumn

 

With the end of September Autumn comes into play (or Fall, whichever you prefer) and the weather begins to cool down, school is back in session, and colors change from bright greens to warm oranges. I wholeheartedly believe that the commencement of Fall is the kickoff of our Holiday season, so I have an inclination to become incredibly festive no later than October first. Is that a bit premature? I like to think not. So we’re going to talk about small interior design touches for your entry way to set the mood utilizing the color of your hardwood floor as a staple to create a big impact on your Autumn aesthetic.

 

I like to welcome the seasonal change and embrace the vibe right off the bat by hanging a beautiful wreath and a themed welcome mat outside the front door. As soon as someone approaches the home, they are well aware that this fall inspo isn’t to be taken lightly. These are serious matters and this isn’t a game. Nothing says Autumn celebration décor like foliage and of course welcome mats are always fun. So we’re creating a story before the door is even opened.

 

Now, once you walk in the home, the entry way smells of cinnamon apple cider with the help of a seasonal inspired candle or two. This is where we get a little scientific with our interior design, we want a full sensory experience of fall in the home. If it was at all possible, I’d have small gusts of chilly wind brush the faces of company when entering, followed by the heat of a fireplace, warming and comforting my visitors. That may a bit extreme, but that fantasy-land experience would never be forgotten. I digress.

 

Finally, we can talk about décor. Sure, you can add a pumpkin here or there like everyone else if you want to go the obvious and expected route, however we’re attempting to conceptualize with a higher taste design mindset to capture the aesthetic of Autumn, while at the same time elevating the style component throughout. A printed throw rug or a runner over a color wood floor like our Bach from the Composer collection could be an ideal element to add. The rug wouldn’t necessarily have to be burnt orange in color, you could have a deep forest green, or even a dark shade of purple to contrast the actual “Autumn colors” people associate the season with. Of course if you have a wood floor like our Grant from the Presidential collection, you’d want to stray from darker colors and go with a tan rug or soft light hue of red. You could build around the hardwood/rug combo with a vase filled with a bundle of sticks and a few more pops of color, perhaps a teal or lime green picture frame for a bit more contrast and there you have it. A small base and introduction of Fall themed interior design for your entry way that can continue onto the rest of your home. Even if you aren’t one to redecorate often, these little additions can go a long way in bringing a festive atmosphere to your home. Happy Autumn, friends!

Mood Board

Announcing Urban Floor’s Newest Products of Hardwood Floors!

urban floor new products 2016

We’re already 3 months in to 2016 (almost 4!), but we aren’t slowing down here at Urban Floor! We’re excited to announce the newest addition that we have added to our wonderful collection of solid and engineered hardwood floors. For now, we’ll refer to it as our “2016 collection”, because the new floors have all been added to other existing collections based on certain flooring characteristics.

Our 2016 Collection Features New Products

This 2016 collection features of a mix-up of various types of hardwood floors from our existing collections.

Birch Denali – featured in our Mountain Country collection, this new floor doesn’t involve any machines. Completely hand scraped for a modern and stylish design.

Birch Bronco – also featured in our Mountain Country collection, this engineered hardwood floor is stained with a neutral, light brown that’s great for adding warmth to any interior space.

Birch Betula – featured in our Urban Lifestyle Smooth Series, this 5-inch wide plank floor contains 7 layers of strong matte finish. It is one our most attractive products.

Birch Mulberry – featured in our Urban Lifestyle Smooth Series, this matte finish engineered hardwood floors comes with one of the most unique stains we’ve ever created.

Birch Cedar – featured in our Urban Lifestyle Smooth Series, this engineered hardwood floor is a great choice for complimenting any room.

Santos Mahogany Natal – featured in our Urban Lifestyle Downtown Series collection, this flooring choice is one the hardest we offer and also happens to be one the most unique with it’s grain patterns and reddish tones.

Moscato – featured in our Chene collection, this floor utilizes European oak for durability and a light shade for a neutral look & feel that will compliment your décor very well.

Cabernet – featured in our Chene collection, this floor is packed with deeper tones for a bold statement to any room.

Valentina – featured in our Villa Caprisi collection, this light grey floor is expected to be very popular given the hardwood flooring trends of 2016.

Best Hardwood Floor Colors that Invoke Warmth

Winter season is still largely in effect, but we want to start shifting our focus over to warmer temperatures that will occur in the coming months – in California at least. When you think of warmth, there are really only three hardwood-flooring colors that coming to mind.

Top 3 Warm Hardwood Floor Colors

1. Red

red toned hardwood floors

Red is to be used with caution, because an intense shade of red will give off the wrong impression. Thankfully at Urban Floor, the hardwood flooring options we offer that feature red tones that do not feature a high intensity of red shade.

Red-toned Hardwood Floors by Urban Floor:
Maple Gunstock
Rochester
Rio
Steward
Santos Mahogany Natal

2. Orange

orange toned hardwood floors

Orange infuses very well with the natural colors of hardwood floor to invoke the feeling of warmth. Red is often thought of as the hottest color, but it’s actually orange that is technically the hottest color. Orange has a captivating ability to radiate energy and warmth to any space. Think of the sun, for example. Orange-toned hardwood floors work well for bedrooms.

Orange-toned Hardwood Floors by Urban Floor:
Empire
Birch Paprika
Maple Sunset

3. Yellow

yellow toned hardwood floors

If you’ve noticed, all 3 warm colors resemble the same colors you see in fire (minus the blue tip). Part of the reason we associate these colors to warmth are for that reason. It happens subconsciously, but it makes sense as to why you would feel these colors invoke warmth or make a room seem cozy.

Yellow-toned Hardwood Floor by Urban Floors:
Lazio
Taft Maple
Pierce Oak
Hickory Tumbleweed
Chardonnay
Roosevelt Hickory
Maple Natural

Featured Floor of the Month – Brazilian Cherry Rio!

summer hardwood flooring
Brazilian Cherry Rio by Urban Floor.

What are a few things you think of when you hear the word “Brazil”? Soccer? Beautiful beaches? Even though Brazil celebrates its summer when we (U.S.) celebrate our winter, we’re still enjoying our summer currently and the Brazilian Cherry Rio fits the vibe quite perfectly! That is why it is our featured floor of the month this August.

The Perfect Choice for Summertime

With reddish, brown undertones and slight hints of yellow and orange – we believe there’s no better engineered hardwood floor option that fits this well for summertime. In reality however, it’s not just summertime that this floor shines… It shines all year round.

Why? Because it’s made from top quality Brazilian Cherry wood (hence the name)!

A Little Background Information

Brazilian Cherry, also known as Jatoba, has a natural golden luster to it – allowing for a lot of color character when exposed to sunlight. It would make a great floor for beach houses that are exposed to sunlight quite often!

Brazilian Cherry trees can be found in southern Mexico, the West Indies, and throughout Central America including northern Brazil with trees reaching heights up to 130 feet tall. To put that into perspective imagine around twenty 5’5” (which happens to be around the average height for people in the U.S.) people stacked on top of each other. In other words, a really tall tree!

urban floor brazilian cherry

The Real Shine

We associate Brazil mainly with soccer, beaches, and beautiful women, but in the hardwood flooring world Brazilian wood is cream of the crop when it comes to hardness and density.

On the Janka scale (the source of measurement for testing hardness of floors), Brazilian Cherry ranks in very high with a rating of 2,820 – making it the hardest product that we offer @ Urban Floor.

What does this mean? This means don’t be afraid to party! While Brazilian Cherry is a tough wood, it can still be damaged like any other hardwood floor so don’t go too crazy!

We offer a convenient guide on cleaning & care for hardwood floors.

Hardwood Flooring in Restaurants

hardwood floor restaurantsTruth is, most upscale restaurants have ditched the carpet, curtains, and tablecloths. They have now moved towards hardwood floors, high ceilings, and linen-free tables. Is this the new standard? Not necessarily, it all depends on your restaurant. However, a majority of restaurants could seriously benefit from hardwood floors.

Hardwood flooring comes in many shapes and sizes. There are many modern elegant hardwood floors perfect for the restaurant scene.

Elements of an excellent restaurant hardwood floor:

  • Withstands heavy foot traffic (very important).
  • Matte finish to help prevent slips and falls.
  • Easy to maintain.

A subtle perk to hardwood floors in restaurants is the added noise volume. With hardwood floors, restaurants may experience more noise than with other selections – resulting in an environment that encourages patrons to interact more with each other.

Urban Floor’s Personal Restaurant Hardwood Floor Recommendation

Any engineered hardwood floor in our Composer Collection. Why?

Durability – all hardwood floors in our Composer Collection are wired brushed and sand blasted meaning all soft parts of the wood have been brushed away. The only part left is the hard part of the wood!

On top of this all floors in our Composer Collection come with a professional UV cured natural oil finish from Klumpp Coatings® or Osmo oils®. You will not have to worry about heavy foot traffic with either of these professional finishes.

Maintenance – All of our floors in our Composer Collection are easy to maintain.

With spot cleaning and spot re-oiling capabilities, restaurants will never have to suspend its operations for floor maintenance. A regular cleaning and periodic oiling is all that is needed to keep the floor looking brand new.

Slip and Fall Prevention – Floors in our Composer Collection are matte finish, meaning they are not glossy and prone to slip and fall accidents. This is perfect for any patrons who may dawn more formal wear including heels.

Selection Variety – Our Composer Collection also features various designs and colors to select from including light colored options, darker hued floors, filled and unfilled knots, natural splits, mineral streaks, and bowtie inlays. Simply put, there’s a floor that will meet any restaurant’s needs.

The Composer Collection offers both durability and superior craftsmanship resulting in engineered hardwood floors that are perfect for restaurants and will impress patrons.

Urban Floor’s Handpicked Personal Favorites!

Valentine’s Day may have come and go, but that shouldn’t stop the love from being spread. That is why Urban Floor went through every floor of every collection we offer and handpicked some of our personal favorites. Believe us, this task was NOT easy, as we don’t like playing favorites. However, if we absolutely had to choose 3 floors we love then here’s what we came up with.

Chianti – Featured in the Chéne Collection

oak hardwood floors

As we sifted through the collections, there was something about the Chianti floors that dazzled us. It stuck out. We’re guessing it’s because of its midnight dark color – something that demands your attention. But it could also be due to the fact that these floors contrast very, very well with the décor and furniture placed on top of it. Either way, it was the first one that got our attention – just look at it!

Honorable mentions on the eye-catching factor: Cello featured in the Driftwood Inspired Composer Orchestra Collection + Birch Coffee featured in the Welcome Home Collection.

Abruzzo – Featured in the Villa Caprisi Collection

white oak hardwood floor

We decided that WOW, we really love our Abruzzo hardwood floors. Something about it just sends us a powerful feeling of modern elegance. It’s the white oak that seals the deal – specifically the white over the oak (we do love oak ,though!). As humans, we’ve come to understand white is associated with purity or perfection. A few examples: a bride will wear white during her wedding or the clouds we see above us, or even The White House.

With that said, we do believe the Abruzzo floor to be a perfect choice!

Honorable mention: Grigio feature in our Chéne Collection – for the same reason, modern elegance.

Taft Maple – Featured in the Presidential Collection

solid hardwood floor

We may be all about engineered floors here at Urban Floor, but the truth is: we’re really just all about hardwood floors (maybe with the exception of laminate or vinyl, booo). But the Taft Maple is seriously a solid choice – no pun intended. It really gives off this wholesome, natural earthy feeling most likely because of its natural knots. The character of this floor resonates with us. If we really had to describe it, we’d say “down to Earth”.

Honorable mention: Hickory Natural featured in the Chiseled Edge series as part of our Urban Lifestyle Collection.