The Timeless Appeal of Natural Hardwood Floors
Natural hardwood flooring has enjoyed unprecedented popularity for centuries in home construction. This popularity is well-deserved, as few materials combine beauty, refinement, and a natural feel with strength, quality, and durability. The natural character of this type of floor covering adds a certain shine, chic, and aesthetics to your home. Additionally, it's believed that walking barefoot on hardwood floors is beneficial, as natural wood possesses various healing properties. The "relationship" with natural materials positively affects human health: the aroma of the wood, its structure, and appearance can fill our bodies with positive energy and neutralize negative energy.
The Luxurious History of Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood flooring is considered one of the most expensive materials for floor covering. This is due to the environmental and natural nature of the wood used, as well as the high costs of its production. Quality natural hardwood flooring, installed expertly using the best possible coatings, can serve a home and its inhabitants for many decades! With hardwood from various types of trees, you can create adept and beautiful designs that highlight the exclusivity of the interior and the tastes of its owner.
Since ancient times, hardwood flooring has been a symbol of luxury, respectability, and good taste. The floors of the world's most famous palaces and museums are covered with hardwood. The variety of patterns and colors is astonishing. France is known as a master in this art, transforming this work into an art form! The Russians have also embraced this art, equipping their empire with the best and most modern technologies used in Paris. This is why wood and parquet are used in the construction and decoration of their palaces, such as the famous Hermitage in Saint Petersburg.
Modern Hardwood Flooring Design Trends
In the design of modern hardwood flooring, new ideas have emerged. For instance, in recent years, the "rustic" style has gained enormous popularity! The warm golden colors of pine and cherry wood emphasize a clear and sought-after natural aesthetic.
An interesting type of hardwood flooring today is cork flooring. Made from the bark of oak or cork trees, it offers notable advantages. The floor's texture is aesthetically pleasing, and it also provides a pleasant sound, excellent thermal insulation, durability, reliability, and easy maintenance.
The World's Most Expensive Hardwood Floors
The most expensive hardwood flooring in the world includes Karelian cherry and ironwood flooring. Karelian cherry wood, partly grown in Russian Karelia and neighboring Finland, has unique characteristics. It has thickened areas on the trunk, giving the wood a distinctive texture. Since the early 19th century, Karelian cherry floors have adorned noble houses in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, making it a Russian-style invention.
Ironwood, on the other hand, has been used for even longer. An example is the medieval Persian mosaics, where masters used ironwood strips laid in significant rooms. Ironwood grows in Iran and parts of Azerbaijan. Its pinkish color led to ironwood flooring being termed "glamorous." It's featured in the homes of many American pop stars. A square meter of "glamorous" ironwood flooring can cost up to $1500.
Hardwood Flooring Care and Maintenance
Do not install hardwood flooring in overly dry or, conversely, humid rooms. In dry conditions, hardwood can crack and splinter under everyday use. In humid conditions, the flooring can "rise" as the wood rapidly expands. When caring for hardwood floors, remember not to install them in excessively moist areas, like bathrooms! Choose cleaning products carefully, as chemical additives in some detergents can damage the wood. To keep hardwood in excellent condition for years, use special maintenance products available at some hardware stores. Remember, it's better to pay more for a quality cleaner than for new flooring!