BROAD APPEAL
Wide floor planks are gaining traction for their clean look,
The floor, more than simply a surface upon which to walk — the “fifth wall,” as we see it — should contribute to your project's overall design, with a stylish and hard-wearing vibe that accentuates prevailing schematics.
The esthetic we aim for fuses “practical” and “beautiful” in equal measure. These considerations in mind, we were excited, recently, to discover more about the tailored lines of 10-inch wide floor planks, and by the atmosphere-enhancing possibilities of their application.
Keen to discover more, we reached out to Joe Cosentino, commercial business manager for Metropolitan Flooring (distributors of the Kentwood flooring division), a brand we've long admired. Joe introduced us to the marque's new Couture engineered collection, a dreamy product characterized by extra wide boards (measuring 10¼ inches by 86 inches long) as well as the Hometown East and Landmark North ranges (measuring 9½ inches by 86 inches).
Joe confirmed what we've observed: wide plank variants are an emerging trend for 2024.
“We carry many board sizes, but the broader ones speak to an appetite for spaces that look grand and indulgent. Many consumers also seek longer boards, and the increasing appetite for generous widths fits well with this ratio. Wider planks have been trending in Europe for some time, and — as is often the case — these interior `fashions' eventually make their way to North America.”
Appraising the collection, we witness choices that feel every bit as rustic as they do indulgent. Take a pinch of grand European palazzos and chateaux, and fuse that oeuvre with the feel of a traditional barn flooring to get the gist. The stylistic marriage serves a truly clean and considered esthetic, one that makes perfect sense for spaces such as open concept condos, city and urban homes, and — of course — cottages.
Joe explains: “Engineered wood is now specified, perhaps more than ever before, for kitchens. This is because many contemporary homes lean toward open concept layouts. Unifying finishes, rather than introducing `breaks' between areas, via the application of tile or other mediums, looks way more cohesive.”
Texture, too, is an important consideration, and the refined “brushing” technique employed by Kentwood gives their product roster softer and eminently higher end appeal.
We inquire about any ancillary benefits to employing broader boards, and Joe happily extrapolates: “Using wider, longer planks creates fewer lines at floor level, and this simplicity increases the overall sense of spaciousness. If your room is narrow, lay wide boards perpendicular to the long side of your room. This will make everything feel instantly larger.”
Stirring our imaginations further, he adds: “As a general rule, lay flooring parallel to the longest wall, and across floor joists, to help everything open up.” Every part of Joe's narrative, as we see it, is assembled to deliver practical counsel to help optimize your environment.
As seasoned home and cottage renovators (with eyes forever trained on practicality) we often lean toward engineered flooring as it's generally more stable, and less vulnerable to moisture ingress than solid wood.
But what, precisely, makes engineered flooring viable, in terms of its construction?
Joe explains: “Each board is made from several layers of wood substrates, with the most precious hardwood layer, also known as the wear layer, crowning the surface. It's at once rigid, solid and forgiving.”
The lower level substrates, he continues, are typically plywood, common softwood or fibreboard.
“It's that mix which optimizes stability, with the top section literally the most beautiful aspect. Bear in mind, too, that engineered flooring is also the perfect choice for Canadian environments that are subject to temperature and humidity fluctuations.”
Before signing off, we should explain that products created by some companies aren't compatible with rollout heating membranes, but that Kentwood's roster is designed to be suitable in this application.
For us, the foregoing practicalities are certainly paramount (particularly in cottage country) but, to truly go large in the style stakes, wide boards are the perfect solution.
Check out the range at kentwoodfloors.com