Tag: interior design

Urbanfloor Partners: construction2style

Welcome back to the blog! We have a special treat for you today – one of our favorite teams of interior designers/builders/amazing individuals, construction2style, are sharing some of their design wisdom and experience working with our floors! 

 

We are construction2style, a team of four based in Minneapolis, MN that was started by husband and wife, Jamie and Morgan, back in 2012. Our company started as a DIY blog and has since evolved into a full service design + build interior residential and small media company. For over five years, we have been tearing houses apart and creating new happy spaces, not only for our clients, but within our own homes. We document everything on our blog from tutorials on the construction side, to how to build a website, to how we built and continue to build our brand.

 

construction2style team photo

 

A few years ago, we got connected to Urbanfloor and we’ve absolutely loved getting to work with this company and the kind humans who run it. Their products are top-notch, their customer service is amazing, and they have so many options from engineered wood to SPC.

Over a year ago, we remodeled our kitchen that really kicked off our firm partnership with Urbanfloor. They were open to any feedback and had any extra items we forgot and needed to us within days! When Jamie and Topher were installing the floor, they said it was a really easy process as well and we documented a full tutorial here.

 

Kitchen featuring Urbanfloor Chêne Lambrusco, Engineered Hardwood Flooring,

 

After having dark floors in our prior home, we knew that we wanted to go lighter. With crazy kids and all. With the help of the team from Urbanfloor, we chose the Lambrusco, European oak.

The planks are 7.5” wide with a wire-brush texture and have a light, creamy wood hue. This flooring was the perfect combination of lightness we wanted, plus texture and deeper tones that makes our home feel cozy and warm.

 

Kitchen featuring Urbanfloor Chêne Lambrusco, Engineered Hardwood Flooring,

 

We knew we wanted to continue the same flooring into the dining room and music room off the kitchen to keep the look consistent throughout. In our dining room, these light floors are a great base for the white trim and gray walls.

With this flooring in our home for the past year, it has performed really well, even with two toddlers, Minnesota winters, lots of traffic in and out. We  love it so much that now we’re continuing it into our living room. And did I mention our kids ride their bike in our home nonstop? And not one visible scratch.

 

Family in kitchen featuring Urbanfloor Chêne Lambrusco, Engineered Hardwood Flooring,

Dining room featuring Urbanfloor Chêne Lambrusco, Engineered Hardwood Flooring,

Living room featuring Urbanfloor Chêne Lambrusco, Engineered Hardwood Flooring,

 

With our client projects, we have been seeing a shift to lighter wood tones. Whether in cabinetry, floating shelves, or wood flooring, white oak has been a major player in the remodeling world. In this main level remodel, our clients loved our Lambrusco floors so much that they wanted them in their own home.

Engineered flooring is a great alternative to solid wood flooring for the lower price point and durability. With Urbanfloor, they carry a lifetime structural warranty and 35 year finish warranty, which gives our clients peace of mind and makes these floors a material we highly recommend for our remodeling projects.

 

Living room featuring Urbanfloor Chêne Lambrusco, Engineered Hardwood Flooring,

Kitchen featuring Urbanfloor Chêne Lambrusco, Engineered Hardwood Flooring,

 

Another trend we’re seeing in the remodeling world is the want for waterproof and scratch-proof flooring. A majority of our clients have pets and young kids, so having durable floors is a big priority for them. We also live in Minnesota where it snows for half of the year, so the waterproof aspect saves the floors for years to come.

In this kitchen remodel, we installed Urbanfloor’s Cascade SPC flooring and since this flooring is non-porous, it makes cleaning and maintenance easy. When clients are wanting a floor that can continue throughout their home, we always recommend SPC. It not only is easy to clean, but it looks amazing too!

 

Kitchen featuring Urbanfloor Cascade SPC Flooring

Kitchen featuring Urbanfloor Cascade SPC Flooring

That’s just a few of our favorite projects that we’ve recently done using Urbanfloor and we can’t wait to keep incorporating more and more!

-construction2style

 

Love what you see? Click here to see more of construction2style’s work!

Color Corner: European Oak Chardonnay

Happy Summer! The weather is heating up and so are the hot design trends of 2019. One of our favorite designs of the year so far, this Boston home epitomizes the minimalist and sustainable aesthetic that is not only so popular in design trends today but timeless in enduring style.

The home you’re about to see has all the charm of a simple, modern space with bold accents and deep contrast that make this design POP! The European oak Chardonnay from our Chene collection is the perfect neutral flooring choice in this stunning design!

Even from the street, this modern Boston duplex has the charm to spare! Does anyone else love a bold colored door as much as we do?

Step inside to see a beautiful, open-concept living space as the living room flows into the eating area and kitchen. Natural light streams through bright windows to illuminate the gorgeous plank variations of the Chardonnay.

Contrasted with the bright and airy atmosphere the windows bring, bold accent furniture and a floor to ceiling fireplace take center stage in this living room.

Stainless steel appliances and contrasting wood tones give this kitchen an inviting warmth and a cool, modern twist.

A beautifully simple black and white bedroom off the main level is the perfect place to relax.

The second bedroom on the main level has a hint of lavender that softens the room with a welcoming and warm ambiance.

A sleek modern bath adorns the main level. A glass shower and tile floor give this bathroom a contemporary feel.

The staircase that leads up to the top level of this home is a feat of modern architecture. Strong, angular lines are juxtaposed with the warmth of the natural wood tones of the Chardonnay.

Another airy bedroom and bath await at the top of the landing. Bright windows, white accents, and a skylight help to uplift this fresh aesthetic.

Of the two bedrooms on the top level, however, the master suite is certainly the most impressive.

Vaulted ceilings, skylights, and bright whites make this design a true breath of fresh air.

Massive floor-to-ceiling closets and built-in storage are just a few of the incredible features of this master suite, for example.

The master bath does not disappoint. With unique lighted mirrors and a large tub, it’s the perfect bathroom to settle and relax away from the business of city life.

We hope you enjoyed this tour of this Boston home!

View the Chene Chardonnay here.

 

Color Corner: European Oak Morisot

We are back to highlight another stunning hardwood floor! This time, we’re shining the spotlight on a beautiful almond-toned selection from the L’artiste collection, inspired by history’s most prestigious French artists – the 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. 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.

 

 

AESTHETIC & STYLE

The same stunning technique and attention to detail Berthe Morisot used in her painting is exhibited it the luminous quality of the European oak Morisot floor. Beautiful wood grain patterns are coupled with a state-of-the-art reactive stain, lightly bringing out the natural splendor of genuine European oak by creating color from within the wood.

Learn more about reactive stains. 

 

 

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. Each genuine European oak plank of the L’artiste Morisot is elegantly wirebrushed to highlight its natural grain and completed with a pristine UV-oil matte finish – harmonizing old-world style and contemporary design.

 

 

A delicate micro-beveled edge accents each plank, accentuating the inherent natural character of the wood, and ensuring a smooth transition from board to board. Stunning character marks adorn each European oak plank, from filled knots to mineral splits, adding a time-worn, storied feel to any room.

 

 

STRENGTH & DURABILITY

The Morisot’s strong 8 5/8″ wide planks are able to withstand heavy foot traffic. Its intricately wirebrushed texture make this floor a great option for families with children and pets. The L’artiste Morisot is backed with Urbanfloor’s lifetime structural and 50-year finish warranty (see warranty information here for more details). As a result, you can choose the Morisot with confidence that its beauty will be around for years to come.

 

 

SAFETY STANDARDS

We ensure cleaner air for your family. In accordance with our company’s values, all our engineered wood flooring is proudly FloorScore certified and the European oak Morisot is no exception. FloorScore certification is a voluntary, independent certification program that tests and certifies that hard surface flooring and the materials that they are made with are in compliance with stringent indoor quality emissions.

You can read more about FloorScore certification here.

 

 

What do you think? Is the L’artiste Morisot perfect for your interior design vision?

VIEW THE MORISOT HERE

New in the Savanna Collection

We are happy to announce three new additions to our popular Savanna collection of European oak floors! The Savanna is one of the most environmentally friendly hardwood flooring products available. The Savanna is constructed using a High Density Fiberboard (HDF) core that is made up of 100% recycled forest products! Not only is its HDF core an environmentally friendly option, it is extremely dense and stable, making it resistant to dents and scratches!

The Savanna is designed to last not only the wear and tear of daily life, but also the changing trends of interior design. Take a look at these three new timeless additions to the collection!

 

Lion

The European oak Lion has all the natural beauty and strength of its namesake. Each 7 1/2″ wide plank boasts stunning, natural warm tones and beautiful wire-brushed texture that brings out the inherent grain of genuine wide-plank European oak.

 

Galago

The European oak Galago comes in a perfectly balanced shade nestled between warm tan and gray. With such an elegant and versatile tone, the Galago’s 7 1/2″ wide planks are well suited for an array of design styles.

 

Sable

The European oak Sable’s rich, warm tones and stylish color create a depth of color that will inspire awe in anyone who beholds it. Each 7 1/2″ plank is carefully brushed to bring out the natural texture and feel of genuine European oak.

 

Like what you see? View the rest of the Savanna collection and request a sample by clicking 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.

Color Corner: European Oak Lambrusco

Welcome to the blog! To continue our spotlight series, we are going to talk about the striking European oak Lambrusco from our Chene collection. Embodying the rich, exotic essence of the French wine, the Lambrusco offers light, creamy hues and a chic and distinguished sense of style. With its matte finish and extra-long planks, the Lambrusco certainly makes a statement wherever it is installed.

Strength & Durability

The Lambrusco’s strong 7.5” wide planks are able to withstand heavy foot traffic and its wire brushed texture make this floor a good choice for families with kids and pets. Pair this durability with Urbanfloor’s lifetime structural and 35-year finish warranty (see warranty information HERE for more details), it is easy to see why the Lambrusco is one of our most popular color choices.

Aesthetic & Style

The Lambrusco’s unique wire brushed aesthetic provides the perfect canvas for your design plan. Like the photo featured above, the Lambrusco is paired with an elegant and creamy-white tones which give the overall space an airy feel.

With its versatility, the Lambrusco is not limited to this sort of design, it also pairs well with a modern, cooler design featuring contemporary metallic accents and clean, bold angles. For fans of contrast in their designs, you will find that the Lambrusco pairs well with dark accents as illustrated in the bedroom below. The mix of textures and angles in this room make for a bold but understated design.

So, what do you think? Is the Lambrusco right for your home? If you have it installed in your house, we would love to see photos! Leave us a comment on our Facebook post and join the conversation!
View the Lambrusco 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!

 

New Year, New Hardwood Floors!

 

2016 was one for the books and we’re more than ready for a few new beginnings! 2017 will be just that for Urban Floor, since we have big plans for the new year and one of those plans is the launch of our new Savanna Collection. We’ve been tirelessly working on preparations for this new collection to be debuted at The International Surface Event in Vegas mid January while at the same time working on ANOTHER collaborative collection that will also be debuting at Surfaces, however that’s for another time. Another blog. Needless to say, we’ve been busy around here and we will continue to be busy for the rest of the year! That’s just the mentality and work ethic we need to execute these plans the be the best hardwood flooring company in town!

 

savanna-logo-tree

If you follow us at all on any of our social media platforms, you’ve seen that we have been teasing the launch of this new collection recently. But we haven’t really talked too much about it. For instance, the Savanna Collection has an HDF (High Density Fiberboard) core that we will be bragging about at Surfaces. What that means without getting too technical is that the engineered aspect of our the Savanna is composed of a stronger material usually found in engineered hardwood flooring. The technology used to engineer an HDF core is state of the art, and actually quite cost effective. Therefore, we are able to offer a better, stronger, more luxurious hardwood floor at a lower cost to you! Because Urban Floor’s middle name is innovation, products like this are no where else on the market and this is how we are going to revolutionize the hardwood flooring industry as a whole. The Savanna comes in 7 beautifully stylish colors ranging from a light grey, all the way to a dark, almost black. Rich colors you would hardly ever see at this economically affordable price point! We’re really excited for this collection to hit the market and more excited for it to hit your home floors! Keep an eye out for the Savanna, it’s going to change what you know about engineered hardwood floors.

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