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DESIGN DIARY Exotic hardwoods: Life after oak |
(NC)—The trend today is toward exotic wood floors that make a statement about your distinctive lifestyle and taste. These stunning, durable floors feature some of the most beautiful and treasured hardwoods in the world. Available in a wide variety of grains, sizes and colours, they add wonderful character to a room.
The best news about exotic hardwoods is that they are finally affordable, thanks to engineered hardwood from companies such as TORLYS (www.torlys.com). Their hardwood flooring is constructed of only a layer of one of these expensive woods over a super-hard core.
From a decorating perspective, there is no visible difference between solid hardwood and engineered hardwood flooring. Engineered floors have the same lifespan plus they will not buckle, warp or gap. If you are thinking about installing hardwood flooring, keep in mind that there is life beyond oak and maple.
Here is a mini "exotic hardwood" shopping guide featuring the latest and greatest.
Jatota (pronounced "Ja-to-bá")
• From South America
• Brown to red-brown with straight grains, beautiful texture
• Beautifully elegant, works well in traditional interiors
Makoré (pronounced "Ma-ko-ray")
• From West and Central Africa
• Pinkish-red to red-brown with straight elegant grain
• Great alternative to mahogany
Rosewood (also known as Pallisandro Santos)
• From South America
• Dark to mid-brown with dramatic grain, strong lines with visual texture
• Excellent as a neutral foundation in casual and traditional interiors
Teak (also known as Tectona Grandi)
• From South and Southeast Asia
• Golden and rich reddish-brown with straight, clear grain
• Teak is making a HOT comeback – great choice for relaxed, modern interiors
Wenge (pronounced "Wen-gay")
• From West and Central Africa
• Dark rich-brown with fine black veins and fairly straight tight grain
• Rich dramatic colour makes this a great choice for modern décor
Zebrano (also known as Zebrawood)
• From West and Central Africa
• Dramatic brown-black lines over a soft-ochre base with wavy grain
• Another HOT new floor – very distinctive
Credit: www.newscanada.com |
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