Not just a floor, a fashion statement

Gone are the days of simply selecting carpet color. Now home buyers have a wealth of flooring choices to best suit their style and lifestyle.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the flooring industry’s biggest growth has been in laminated surfaces that resemble wood or marble, with new technology giving buyers value options that resemble more expensive flooring. Stone, slate and ceramic and porcelain tiles are popular choices for not just the “wet” areas of a home, but throughout. Homeowners can select from a range of colors, textures and even sizes, as yesterday’s 12x12 standard has given way to 20x20 tiles and even larger — or smaller when used as decorative accents.

And carpet still has its place in the home, although manufacturers are introducing new choices at a record pace to compete. Mohawk, one of the nation’s largest floor-covering manufacturers, introduced 15 wall-to-wall designs in one year, compared with just the two to three new patterns annually introduced eight years ago.

Both builders in Southern Trails offer design centers where buyers can work with experienced decorators to pinpoint durable and stylish flooring, as well as other design choices. For more information, visit www.ashtonwoods.com or www.newmarkhomes.com.