Stylish flooring can be environmentally friendly

In decorating, everything rests on the floor. Flooring sets the tone, takes most of the wear and tear, and costs the most to change.

Despite all the practical requirements it has to meet, flooring is still subject to the whims of fashion. (There was a time, remember, when shag carpet seemed like a good idea.)

New home builders keep their eye on what buyers want today, but home renovations are a good indicator of what's on the way out.

Carlos Soares at Divine Hardwood Flooring in Calgary (divinehardwood .com) sees a lot of carpet going to the landfill, with hardwood replacing it.

Tile is also losing ground, he says, while cork flooring is becoming the next big thing, especially in kitchens.

The fashion in hardwood colours is shifting. "In hardwood, a lot of people are staying away from red tones and going for the dark chocolate browns," he says.

Don't these dark colours show up dust and scratches? "It is a little higher maintenance," Soares concedes, "but clients are willing to take that because they want the look."

A fine Oriental rug on a hardwood floor is a rich, classic look, though Soares has his doubts: "Some people do it, but to me it's a shame. When you spend all that money on hardwood, you don't want to cover it up."

Some exotic woods like Brazilian cherry and Santos mahogany are still in demand, but he's seen a backlash: "There's been so much bad press on illegal harvesting in Asia and Brazil that people are really turned off."

People do take environmental factors into account when they choose floor materials, he finds.

Diedre Gilbert, a home imaging consultant at rearrange (rearrange.ca), has noticed the same trend. "We're becoming much more conscious of integrating ethical choices into our personal space. That's why we're seeing many more renewable resources and recycled products than ever before," she says.

Design is still very important, but durability and environmental responsibility are beginning to matter just as much, Gilbert says.

As a consequence, cork flooring is coming back, this time with the emphasis on renewability.

Cork literally grows on trees, chiefly in Portugal. It's the bark of a tree that continually grows new layers and sheds the old.

Despite its humble origins, cork sounds like a miracle material fresh from the laboratory: "Cork is more durable than hardwood. It doesn't scratch significantly, and the surface can be rejuvenated," Soares says.

"It has great impact resistance and it's warm on the feet. People are looking at it as an alternative to tile for kitchens, because it's a lot more comfortable to stand on."

Gilbert has cork floors at home and loves them. However, basic cork takes as much maintenance as hardwood. "When it comes to pets, kids and hard living, cork is more durable in the commercial product lines that have a PVC coating for extra protection. It's the kind being used in many restaurants and trendy shops," she says.

"Cork is high on style, colour options and versatility, so I'm seeing it everywhere from traditional kitchens to open concept condos," Gilbert adds.

Bamboo is a rising star in the flooring market because it has the durability of hardwood without the guilt of cutting down trees.

Bamboo is actually an outsized form of grass. A shoot grows to maturity in three years or so, and at that point harvesting it makes way for new shoots.

Because of its origins, bamboo is often associated with Asian design or Zen style, but that's not necessarily the case. "There are lovely products in bamboo that I would challenge many homeowners to identify by sight," Gilbert says. "If you want a renewable flooring product with the look of wood, don't overlook the simple beauty of bamboo."

The very latest look in flooring is hand-scraped wood, Soares reports. "The look is mostly coming out of California, and it's already really big in Seattle. It's starting to filter through Vancouver, and it will gradually make its way east."

The surface of the hardwood -- walnut and American cherry are popular -- is shaved rather than sanded, which preserves the wood's texture. Though it sounds labour-intensive, hand-scraped wood is actually a factory-finished product, ready to install.

For a more adventurous flooring solution, Gilbert suggests searching for wood that can be recycled and refinished. "From Canadian barnboards to imported wood from France, I am seeing it all in re-usable products," she says.

(prepared by Lin Connery/Calgary Herald)