Hardwood Floors June/July 2018

last couple of years have been driven by the acceptance of simulated materials into the commercial market. For example, a hotel brand will specifically request a luxury vinyl for the guest rooms and porcelain for the public spaces, that is in part to the advancement of these products looking so realistic. Gray and warm earthy color palettes are still on trend; mixing them up with hints of metallic is very much on point now. Matte in wood flooring and gloss on dimensional glass mosaics feel fresh, and the direction ASI is going in new product launches. In the commercial arena, the challenge is always to protect the design intent and be sensitive to the budget while recommending the right product for the application, so it’s never just one

According to consumer reports, there is a need for more choice, variety, and higher quality materials.

part: price, performance, or design. “A product has to look good, performwell, and be competitively priced. Materials need to support the designer for narrative storytelling in a place. Even the workplace has been influenced by hospitality design, and specialty products are being specified to have engaging spaces for employees to collaborate in,” said Jackson. Final thoughts on finishes, the best indication of a healthy marketplace for

consumers is to see and hear that there’s a need for more choice, more variety, and higher quality materials. It has already been an exciting year. Hold on tight and let’s see what the end of the year looks like. Let’s plan on being strong and beautiful to the finish. Emily Morrow Finkell is an interior designer and CEO of EF Floors & Design, LLC in Dalton, Georgia, a provider of hardwood floors and home furnishings, and NWFA design contributor. She can be reached at kikermorrow@gmail.com.

Since we have introduced Stauf

WFR-930 in the US market, it has truly changed the landscape of adhering engineered flooring. This patented product spreads easily, and cleans wet or dry without etching the finish of the floor. It also meets all the standards for IAQ, even in the state of California. WFR-930 is an alcohol based adhesive that eliminates hollow spots, and its simplicity is unmatched. We have heard from installers over and over again, and the consensus is always the same: “Don’t EVER stop making this adhesive”. WFR-930 stands in a class all its own. We aren’t going anywhere and neither is the floor you just laid! Stick with what works.

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