Floor covering

[aubriee]

I am thinking about replacing my carpet and would like to have the same stuff throughout the house. I currently have off white ceramic tile for my entry and in front of my fireplace, off white linoleum in the kithen and bathrooms, and tan carpet everywhere else. I have two inside dogs (one large one that blows his undercoat every year and sheds alot for awhile and then a small one that seldom sheds). Due to the dogs I was thinking about a hard flooring through out. My elderly mom lives with me though, so I can't have anything slick. I wouldn't want her to fall. My countertops are a dark speckled gray and I have black appliances. Even with my current carpet I have a large area rug under my table (with matching runners in the kitchen), a large Morrocan rug in my living room, another large area rug in my computer room, and runners in front of each bed and the bathrooms that I would like to keep. I also need something reasonably priced. Any suggestions?

One of my sons has large white ceramic tile throughout most of his house with snow white carpet only in the bedrooms. It's pretty, but very cold and sterile looking. My other son has very dark hardwood floors. Again pretty, but too dark (and gloomy?). Most of my friends have carpet. I just can't seem to find anything that I really want, but want a change from my current carpet.

 

[ready123go]

I don't know what your price point is. Having said that, here are some suggestions:

Have you looked at cork flooring? Cork is an insulator, so not too cold, like tile can be and comes in a variety of colors and shades. There are also some very nice 'synthetic' hardwoods. There is also bamboo. You can even install electric heating under a cork or hardwood floor, for an even, gentle heat in chilly weather.

If you go with carpet, might I suggest a Berber in Olefin. Low pile, traditionally installed over a dense padding, so not too cushiony (easier for older folks to navigate). The Olefin makes it easy to care for, stain resistant (I got blood out of mine once), wears like iron, comes in a multitude of colors and shades.

As far as color, I would suggest a medium to light grayish taupe. Keeps things light and airy, while hiding a multitude of sins. Marries browns/tans with blacks/grays.

Good luck!
ready

 

[Pigeon]

I wouldn't do cork with dogs. I know too many people who've had issues with cork not wearing well.

I'd probably go with hardwood. It doesn't have to be dark and gloomy. Look at the Lumber Liquidator's website to get some ideas of the range in stains you can get.

I think flooring choices are the worst.

Honestly though, if I were worried about my elderly mother falling, the first thing I'd do is get rid of all those area rugs. Tripping on one broke my FIL's back, eventually killing him, and the docs said they see elderly people and area rugs as a very bad mix.

 

[ready123go]

I wouldn't do cork with dogs. I know too many people who've had issues with cork not wearing well.

I'd probably go with hardwood. It doesn't have to be dark and gloomy. Look at the Lumber Liquidator's website to get some ideas of the range in stains you can get.

I think flooring choices are the worst.

Honestly though, if I were worried about my elderly mother falling, the first thing I'd do is get rid of all those area rugs. Tripping on one broke my FIL's back, eventually killing him, and the docs said they see elderly people and area rugs as a very bad mix.

I haven't heard about the wear factor of cork - that's too bad. I know it's been used in Europe for a long time.

I guess the same could be said about hardwood - the dogs' nails used to scratch ours something awful, but other people never seemed to have an issue.

I agree about choices - ugh!

FWIW - my first thought about the area rugs was the same.

 

[ready123go]

I forgot to mention one of the drawbacks of Berber - since it's a looped carpet, it can snag.

 

[pampam]

Slightly off topic, but we too are installing new ceramic tile on our bathroom floor and walls. I wasn't too sure if it would look good, since the tiles are dark, so I spent $40 for a gallon of paint the same colour as the tile and painted wherever the tile was going to go to give me some idea if it would work in a small room with a dark vanity. It looks great, so we have just ordered the tile, and it will be installed in 3 weeks. The tile is dark brown with a variation of brown colours that will hide hair and dust so I don't have to continually sweep up. The tile is very shiny, but they are treating the tiles on the floor with something to make them antislip.

 

[Aliceacc]

We redid our kitchen/dining room last fall.

We got porcelain tile that really looks like wood-- to the point that guests have knelt down to feel it, sure we were kidding them.

It's wonderful!!! It doesn't show dirt, is incredibly easy to maintain, and has enough texture that I suspect we'll be OK with wet feet moving from the pool to the bathroom. (IF It ever stops raining, that is!!)

As per the salesman's instructions, we had them install it with very fine grain grout, so you don't even see the grout. I'm so very happy with it!!

An area rug in the cold weather, and you would be good to go!

 

[Carina]

FWIW - Thread is about 6m old and was bumped by a spammer

 

[tvguy]

FWIW - Thread is about 6m old and was bumped by a spammer

But still timely.