It is almost the start of a new year. What home makeover jobs are on your TO DO LIST? Could one of those be in the kitchen? Here are 5 trends we are seeing take shape for 2023.
Trend 1: Color
Color is coming back. It may be on the walls or on the cabinets, but we are seeing color again. The greys are going away. White will always be around, but what we are seeing is boldness of color with our living spaces. Color always adds joy and hope. It brightens our spirits and attitudes and all of us could use a little more JOY!
Trend 2: Counters
Calm down the counter tops- marbling and granite looks are moving to something calmer. The room still has color and life, but it is not the countertop that has to make the statement alone.
Trend 3: Open Space
The wide open space is still huge for the New Year. We want space. We want space to gather. That does not mean that you have to have a great room, with no walls. Please, design your new home with walls! Eating has become a huge part of entertaining, so make sure there is room to have company and family time.
Trend 4: Open Back Splashes
I am not sure how long this trend will stay around due to keeping the look clean, but it is a fresh open design. Having an open backspace creates more room. We have seen the open shelfing come and go. That look of no doors on the cabinets or floating shelfs is now leaving the design boards, but having an open counter space is taking form for new homes in 2023.
Trend 5: New Flooring
We are seeing more and more LVT and LVP in the kitchen. It does not have to be large grain wood planks depending on your home look, but we are seeing these durable, cleanable and livable flooring surface stick around in 2023. Here is some more info on flooring that will help you make choices. For design help, call or come see us and we will help put the correct look together for your space.
Where do you start? What do you put down? Do you love the look of Tile, but hate how cold it is? Is there wood within the home already? What do you do to match? Let us help you with some ideas on flooring for the home and the kitchen remodel.
New Flooring can make all the difference. Maybe you want carpet. Maybe you want Hardwood or Tile. There are a lot of new options that you may not even know about. Talk with Kathy from Tri City Furniture to learn the latest about flooring and what you want for your space. There is a lot you should know before you install. Let's talk right now more about LVT and what may be known as a floating or a click floor. So, first explain what LVT is!
LVT stands for Luxury Tile which is a solid vinyl, flexible flooring that comes from the commercial world of flooring. It is made in a couple thicknesses but what is really important to understand is the thickness of the wear-layer and what the wear-layer is made from. It is usually laid piece by piece, independent from each other, so that a single piece could be replaced easily if it was damaged. Our LVT or LVP- which is a plank vs square shape normally comes in a 20 mil wear layer. I have seen in many big box stores a wear layer of 3mil. Which will damage very easily.
All of us have heard of laminate flooring, so what is different with it compared to LVT?
Laminate flooring was made for home use, and was designed as a click system so that it could be installed by a homeowner. The pieces click together similar to a puzzle piece. The flooring into lock. Some would say that this is a better "moisture barrier", but that is only true if the when you are comparing it to low quality LVT. The high quality LVT have great Laying it is pretty easy but you need to use a saw to fit around doors and between moisture barrier technology within the loose lay planking. Laminate flooring would need a saw to cut pieces that align with doorways and walls.....where as LVT can be cut with a utility knife.
What about the wear layers between these two products, how do they differ and what is their durability?
Laminate flooring is not much different than the laminate that has been put on counter tops for many years. As you might know, you can scratch laminate, and there is no fix to those scratches. Because it was laid with the click system and not glued, you could replace the piece by unclicking pieces till you get to the damaged piece, but that is not real easy, because it is typically out in the middle of the room and not close to the wall! Wear layers are usually urethane and can easily show scratching. So if you don't want to redo the flooring. If you don't want to go back and fix it. It is like everything else in this world- buy better the first time. You get what you pay for. Buy a better quality LVT or LVP ( yes, there is tile looks, or wood looks, or designs as well- a look for every space). My builder always says, "One and Done!"- Don't spend the rest of your days repairing a low quality product. Your time is important. If you have to do it again or repair it yearly, it did not save you anything!
LVT on the other hand usually has a ceramic bead infused wear layer, which is very hard and very difficult to damage. LVT comes with different wear layer thicknesses so depending on where it is to be installed and how it will be used, thicker wear layers can be used. These wear layers range from 20 mil to 40 mil thick... think of pieces of paper as being a mil...so 20 pieces of paper to 40 pieces....the thicker it is, the better the durability.
Residential flooring wear layers may be 3 mil, 4 mil or 6 mil....much different than commercial. Pay the difference for the commercial. You will have less issues down the way that will save you money in repairs or replacing the flooring. Installation of the two styles...... know that laminate is a click, but what about the LVT?
Yes laminate was designed to go over most smooth floors and it would float- meaning not glued down. There are floating LVT ‘s also, but most of them are designed to be glue down. Because the LVT was for commercial, gluing these tiles allow for lots of foot traffic which is expected in a commercial building. The great part is that it is easy to take up one piece if ever damaged as it is not hooked to other tiles around it. The special glue is used to reactivate when it is heated. So, picking up a tile and replacing it is very simple. LVT is still pretty easy to install, but you usually do need glue. A professional has the tools to do it correctly and efficiently.