IN: LAYERING OLD AND NEW
“Our clients are over the ‘one-stop-shop’ design resources and are taking the design of their homes to the next level by getting comfortable with mixing and matching old and new and even purchasing locally made souvenirs while on their travels to help tell the story of who they are.” — Lauren Buxbaum Gordon of Nate Berkus Associates
Prefinished Solid Wood Flooring
This flooring consists of factory-finished planks and is available in a variety of wood species. It can survive more scuffs than unfinished hardwood, and adds warmth and character design-wise. As a whole, this category doesn’t do well when it comes to dent resistance. Many earned Poor ratings in CR's tests.
Engineered Wood Flooring
Made from several layers of plywood bound together by adhesives and topped with a layer of solid wood, this floor type simulates the look and feel of hardwood, with one important advantage: The plywood substrate makes each plank less susceptible to seasonal shrinking and swelling than solid wood. That additional stability minimizes gaps between boards that can appear in dry conditions. (There's no runner-up in this category because none of the other products tested well enough for CR to recommend.)
Donghia Joins The Kravet Family
Founded by designer Angelo Donghia in 1968, Donghia grew to include nine showrooms that included the company’s own furniture and textile designs, as well as other brands. Since 2005, Donghia has been owned by a group of companies led by Italian textile maker Rubelli. For Kravet, a fifth-generation family-owned business founded in 1918 (amid the world’s last major pandemic), the chance to acquire another iconic brand was too attractive to pass up, even during what has been an uneven few months for furniture and design companies.
2020 Fall Interior Design Trends
Home staging during the holidays
10 Staging Tips for Holiday Decor
1. Dress up the doorstep with a wreath and planter. ...
2. Highlight the fireplace mantel with holiday décor to get this amenity
to take center stage in the room. ...
3. Make a flower box more festive. ...
4. Offer up some holiday treats to visitors. ...
5. Put up a tree but have it blend into the style of the home. ...
6. Consider day and night appeal.
7. Stage the table for a holiday feast
8. Use garland to highlight a feature
9. Add in some poinsettias
10. Draw from greenery
Home staging is the curated furnishing and prepping an uninhabited home that is for sale on the real estate market. Proponents say that staging a home can increase a home's selling price and the likelihood that it will sell quickly as it helps prospective buyers better imagine how they can use the livable space.
Vinyl Flooring
Usually made of flexible PVC, vinyl flooring comes in squares or planks that can made into floating flooring or glued into place, or sheets that need to be glued down (by a pro). Vinyl flooring comes in hundreds of looks—wood, stone, and woven, to name just a few.
Laminate Flooring
A less expensive option than engineered planks, laminate flooring simulates wood with a photographic image of wood sealed on top of dense fiberboard. Laminate comes in a variety of wood patterns, including oak, maple, and pine. It’s usually easy to install because most products allow you to float the material over another flooring surface. That makes it an ideal choice for quick upgrades.
Best Flooring From Consumer Reports' Tests
Top-performing picks in solid wood, engineered wood, porcelain tile
Porcelain Tile Flooring
A type of ceramic tile, porcelain tile can look like marble, stone, hardwood, or handmade tile. It easily resists foot traffic, scratches, and stains, but porcelain can dent, crack, or chip if hit by a heavy object. Be warned if you’re considering porcelain tile for your kitchen. It’s hard on your feet when you’re doing a lot of cooking, though you could consider using a cushioned mat to provide a bit of relief.