Do you know what today’s design trends are, or what influences them? While some aspects of design trends may be a complete mystery, other parts take their cues from cultural values and other influences. Old Worlde, Industrial, Mid-Century Modern, Farmhouse — all these trending styles have one thing in common: they can be perfectly complemented with premium custom-milled wide plank wood floors by J Gibson McIlvain. Some of the underlying home design trends that support the integral relationship of hardwood flooring include the growing (typical) home size and the accompanying movement toward open concept layouts.
Home Size on the Rise
Over the past several decades, the size of the average American home has continued to grow. From between 600 and 800 square feet in the early twentieth century to about 1000 square feet in 1950, the shift in home size during the first part of the century was only a hint at things to come: by 2000, the average home size was 2000 square feet! Accompanied by a decreasing household size, fewer and larger rooms would make perfect sense: enter the design trends ranging from master suites to entertainment kitchens and — perhaps most significantly — the open concept layout.
Larger homes and rooms lend toward wide-plank hardwood flooring for many reasons. One is that well-worn areas of carpet can’t be replaced, while replacing an entire large area of carpet becomes quite costly. Wide planks are also well-suited to larger areas, and the visual lines of the boards help break up a large area without actually disrupting the flow.
Open Concept Renovations
Not only did many new builds incorporate this open concept layout, but older homes began to be renovated to reflect the trend. Between the 1960s and 1980s, we saw huge shifts in home design, as it moved away from a traditional compartmentalized approach. As technology began to blur lines between work and leisure, business and pleasure, modern lifestyles and layouts continued to morph. No more dedicated “home office” space was needed with the advent of laptop computers and, later, tablets and wireless technology.
Formal entertaining also fell on hard times, in favor of more casual, buffet-style gatherings in which guests could hang out in the kitchen and meander throughout the home. Instead of particular décor schemes for each room, this new layout promoted the idea of design according to a unified whole, making wood floors the perfect fit. Particularly with the more casual lifestyles of many Americans and the desire for guests to make themselves at home, the resilient nature of wood flooring, along with its easy-to-clean benefits, make it the perfect choice for today’s homes.
One additional challenge that many Americans face is an increased amount of allergies. From pets to mold and mildew, the carpet of yesteryear only served to trap allergens. By contrast, hardwood flooring helps keep allergies at bay, offering a visually appealing choice that promotes health at the same time.
J. Gibson McIlvain Company
With its headquarters located just outside of Baltimore, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company (www.mcilvain.com) is one of the largest U.S. importers of exotic woods. As an active supporter of sustainable lumber practices, the J. Gibson McIlvain Company has provided fine lumber for notable projects throughout the world, including the White House and Capitol building. Contact a sales representative at J. Gibson McIlvain today by calling toll free (800) 638-9100.
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