CARPETS, BAMBOO FLOORS
A carpet is any loom-woven, felted textile or grass floor covering.
The term was also used for table and wall coverings, as carpets were not commonly used in European interiors until the 18th century.
The global carpet market for domestic and industrial end use is dominated by three manufacturing processes:
Woven: The carpet is produced on a loom similar to woven cloth and is a cut pile. Normally many coloured yarns are used and this process is capable of producing intricate patterns from pre-determined designs. These carpets have the highest value in the market.
Tufted: The carpet is produced on a tufting machine using a single coloured or sometimes non coloured yarn. If non coloured yarn is used, the carpet will be dyed or printed with a design as a separate process. Tufted carpets can be either cut pile, loop pile or a combination of both. Tufting machines produce many more meters of carpet per hour than weaving does and normally are at the low to medium end of the market. Modern tufting technology now enables the production of mainly basic geometric patterns.
Needlefelt: These carpets are more technologically advanced. Needlefelts are produced by electrostatic attraction of individual synthetic fibres forming a unique carpet with extremely high durability. These carpets are normally found in the contract market such as hotels etc. where there is a lot of traffic.
Care and use of carpets
Carpets help to reduce noise levels and minimise heat loss through the floor. They are also more comfortable to lie on or to sit on than a hard wooden floor.
Carpets are easier to maintain than bare floors. Notice airports always use carpet for their interior space. They should be vacuumed regularly to prevent the accumulation of dust. Carpeting can also be dry-cleaned or steam-cleaned to clean up stains or odours. Dry cleaning methods are often insufficient to properly clean a carpet. Truckmount hot water extraction, with a reputable technician, produces excellent results. Carpet manufacturers have made carpet cleaning easier over the years by adding stain protection during the manufacturing process. Popular types of protection include Stainmaster, Teflon, Stain Guard, etc. These can be re-applied after cleaning to help slow resoiling.
Bamboo flooring
Bamboo floors are manufactured from the bamboo plant. The majority of today’s bamboo flooring products originates in China and other portions of Asia. The species of bamboo used for flooring is commonly known as ‘Moso’.
Despite being technically a grass, bamboo is highly durable and hardy. The two major colours are natural (similar to beech) and carbonised (similar to oak), with the latter being softer in the way they achieve the colour through pressure steaming.
Another unique point is its eco-friendliness, as bamboo is a highly renewable material.
Tile flooring
All types of tiles are being used throughout the home as a flooring option today, from inexpensive glazed ceramic to tumbled natural stone. Noted Design Show host Sherry Ruggieri shares how to incorporate the many different kinds of tile into your decor by following these design basics:
Right tile for the application: Choose durable ceramic or porcelain tile for high traffic areas, like the kitchen and foyer. Natural stone tile works best in a kitchen backsplash or as a chair rail border.
Plan your pattern: Create an interesting tile pattern by mixing different sizes, colours and textures. Take samples and rearrange them to determine which pattern works best.
Use tile with style: Tiles can be used in all types of design styles, from rustic to contemporary. Use them on walls, floors, countertops, backsplashes and tabletops and create artwork with mosaics and relief tiles. Inject personality into a basic white tile floor with a broken tile border or liven up an ordinary mirror with an intricate mosaic pattern.
Designers’ secret: When working in a small space, install a larger tile to make it seem larger. Not only will it open up the room, it’s also less grout to clean!
Lighting interiors: Different types of lighting can create a particular mood in a room. Lighting just isn't mood though, functionality must also factor into the equation.
