Darker colours “LOC” and loaded

According to experts in the hardwood flooring industry, this year's hardwood floors will feature the most extensive array of choices of colours, stains and styles than ever before and will be much easier to install thanks to a new “LOC” installation system.

According to designer Nancy Soccio of Dolce Design in Montreal, “manufacturers now offer so many colours, species, finishes, strip widths, and grades that the possibilities for personalizing your floor are almost endless.”

In fact, for the past several years Mercier Wood Flooring, one of North America's leading hardwood flooring manufacturers, has offered its customers the widest variety of choices in the country allowing them to design their floor the way they want, thanks to their exclusive Design+ program.

In this program clients can select from a vast choice of colours, species, finishes, strip widths, and grades to, in effect, customize their flooring choice. The Design+ program features the following species: Red Oak, Hard Maple, Yellow Birch, White Oak, and White Ash in different stains and finishes.

There are also established trends in wood flooring fashion that will continue to gain momentum across the country, according to Soccio, and these are the movements towards darker colours and rare exotic species.

“Consumers are looking for wood flooring options that are out of the ordinary to create different looks,” explained Michel Collin, Marketing Director of Mercier Wood Flooring.

To answer this need Mercier has launched a new line of exotic products for this year: Asuncion, La Paz, Lima, and Sao Paulo. “People who are looking for a new and rare look will be pleased to discover this collection,” Collin said. “This exclusive product line blends stylish shades with the natural hardness of exotic woods.”

For the dark wood floor enthusiasts, Collin said Mercier has developed beautiful new rich stains for 2010: Stone Brown and Portobello to go along with Harvest the new stain of choice for lighter options.

But the latest innovation that has designers, builders and homeowners excited is the new Mercier “LOC” product category. It's an engineered floor that does not require glue or mechanical fasteners to install using a locking system optimized for low cost of production and superior installation characteristics.

“This product addition presents customers with a user-friendly installation product for multi-story developments, basements, and is an ideal choice for the do-it-yourself market,” explained Collin. It is available in 3 ¼” in Red Oak and Hard Maple More information on the latest trends in wood flooring is available at www.mercierflooring.com.

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Instead of making major renovations, transform your home by simply rejuvenating and modernizing. Hilary Farr, designer and host of W Network's Love It or List It, offers six simple tips for upgrading your living space without breaking the budget.

Give a favourite old couch a new look. Add some throw pillows in all sorts of colours and textures. Why not give your old chairs a new look too? Reupholster them in a rich-looking new fabric.

You'd be amazed by how great a space can look once it's cleared of knick-knacks, paperwork and random items. Why not plan a thorough spring-cleaning and, while you're at it, be ruthless and toss or give away what's no longer needed. Organize what's left by investing in storage such as decorative baskets and boxes. This will help you show off those special pieces such as coffee tables, bookshelves and cabinets. Then rearrange books, picture frames and vases where they can now be seen and enjoyed.

Fresh paint on the walls can instantly open up and appear to enlarge a room while also creating a dramatic or even subtle change in décor. Be adventurous, but choose colours that will enhance your furniture and floors or carpets. For that finishing touch, paint your old furniture and picture frames a bold new colour that complements the room.

Baseboards frame the entire space of your home, so keep them looking fresh and bright by vacuuming and cleaning. Keep walls looking their best with Vim Cream, which is specially formulated to remove scuff marks, dirt and stains.

Plastic blinds and paper shades can do the job but won't make the most of your windows or décor. Use options which will not only do the job but also look gorgeous. Choose roman blinds in a beautiful fabric, wooden plantation shutters or luxurious looking curtains. Any of these affordable options gives long-term value—whether you plan to stay or sell.

If your home is older, try lifting a small piece of carpeting. You might find gorgeous hardwood floors beneath. It will be worth the work to remove any carpet adhesives to be ready to finally sand and finish. Rejuvenate and add a shine to existing hardwood, laminate or linoleum flooring by using Vim Oxy-Gel all-purpose cleaner, which leaves a fresh scent.

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