29 Jan Farmhouse style and Florida flooring

Thanks in no small measure to the popularity of HGTV’s hit series Fixer Upper, farmhouse style is all the rage.

“Comfy, cozy, and full of charm, classic farmhouse style is more popular than ever,” The Spruce, an online resource for anyone looking for DIY inspiration, reports. “In many ways it’s a response to the minimalist trend that was popular in the 1990’s and early 2000’s – people are now looking to embrace tradition and surround themselves with things that make them feel good.”

“Classic farmhouse evokes feelings of warmth and comfort. It’s traditional without being fussy, classic without being like a museum, and comfortable in a way that makes you want to put your feet up and stay awhile,” The Spruce explains. “Classic farmhouse is all about mixing

comfortable furniture with salvaged materials like reclaimed wood. Antiques are right at home in classic farmhouse interiors, but none that are too delicate to touch. Everything is tactile and tangible. Most of all, classic farmhouse is cozy without being cluttered.”

What kind of flooring should you be looking at if you want to embrace the farmhouse-style trend?

The Flooring Girl answers that very question in a post on Fabulous Farmhouse Style Hardwood Floors.  If you think farmhouse chic will be the guiding design style for your flooring in Boca Raton and northward into Palm Beach or your flooring in Pompano Beach and other Broward County communities, she says you may want to consider the following options: 

• Wide Planks

As The Flooring Girl points out, “Wide planks give the home an authentic old world look.” She recommends that you look for planks that are at least 5 inches wide. “If you can [go] wider (e.g. 6 to 7″), that’s even better.” Wide planks, she adds, will make your room look larger.

Using a skilled flooring professional like Kuhn Flooring Company of Palm Beach will help you avoid the common mistakes Flooring Girl says both DIYers and general contractors make when installing these distinctive planks. Our scope of work includes design and installation of a variety of flooring products while highlighting quality control, operational efficiency, and superior customer service. Our professional installers and experienced craftsmen will provide complete satisfaction.

• Muted and lighter shades:  natural, white washed, gray

“For a modern farmhouse look,” Flooring Girl says, “you want to go natural (i.e. no stain), white wash or some sort of gray mix.  These lighter and muted color mixes tend to work best for this style.  Also, they make your space look lighter and more airy, as well as larger.” Bonus – they are more forgiving when it comes to dirt and scratches.

She also says, “You want to avoid yellows, oranges, reds in both the woods and stain colors.   Not only are these colors dated, but they are much harder to decorate with, and of course they are inconsistent with a farmhouse look which favors more natural looking and muted colors and tones.”

• Matte and natural looking finishes

“It just looks more natural and certainly fits in with this style.”

Graining and imperfections in the wood are a good thing, too.  As are certain types of wood. “Domestic species such as oak (especially white oak), maple and hickory are the most popular as they have more character and also work better with white washes and gray (especially white oak and maple).”

At Kuhn Flooring, a full-service flooring company with a gallery of flooring in Coral Springs and in Lighthouse Point, you will find a wide selection of hardwood engineered flooring as well as porcelain tiles and luxury vinyl planks that look like hardwood.  From exotic species to native favorites, we offer residential and commercial flooring solutions featuring variable widths and hand-scraped finishes.

HGTV reminds us to keep the big picture in mind when selecting flooring.  “Now that people are adding more texture and visual intrigue to the walls, it’s even more important to keep the floors in the main living areas simpler for better balance.  Hence, the more neutral colors and reduced texture on the floors.”

Farmhouse style can include options beyond hardwood engineered flooring. “For smaller rooms, such as bathrooms or powder rooms, again inspired by Joanna Gaines, black and white tiles and mosaics are making a comeback,” HGTV says.  “These are nostalgic and bring back memories of decades and centuries past.  These bold graphic designs capture your eye as the pattern unfolds in front of your eyes.”