The importance of choosing an appropriate floor
Having taken all practical and aesthetic considerations into account, you will also need to address the complex question of what messages your selected flooring material will convey. Is it appropriate for the type of building and the part of your home where you will use it? Does it fit the physical and cultural context of your home and your own lifestyle? If so, the floor will feel natural and “right” for you, your family and friends. If not, the flooring may always feel uncomfortable, no matter how wonderful the material itself is.
Today Italian marble in America or French terracotta in England can be used as easily as stone from the nearby quarry; But while this plethora of available materials offers you a great opportunity, it also represents a potential pitfall. Showrooms and flooring catalogs can be dangerously seductive with their variety of materials and colors from around the world. When considering a material, it’s best to start by looking closely at examples of the best interiors of their time to see how the flooring materials work with the architecture and all aspects of the environment. Floors that stand the test of time, whether modern or antique, are chosen to be appropriate for all aspects of their context. As tempting as it may be to try something exotic or unusual, you need to think about its suitability for the setting. For a country house, flagstones in the kitchen and honest boards from local sources in the bedrooms will be much more appropriate than foreign marble or exotic hardwoods. Conversely, however, an apartment in a sophisticated city block reached by a sleek elevator can house more unusual materials, while rustic, natural flooring will feel too rough and out of place.
Quirky, surprising and inappropriate flooring can be exciting and fun to liven up hallways or bathrooms, but in living rooms they are unlikely to be long-term satisfying and comfortable. No matter how fanciful your imagination or extensive your backgrounds, there is no merit in bold, powerful and exquisitely intricate floors on their own. A simple floor will not only provide a calm environment, it will also allow you the flexibility to change the other elements of the room, which you are likely to disturb more often than the floor.
Using local materials with a comfortable sense of authenticity does not necessarily mean that you should aim for Slavic historical correctness. Since your floor will be interpreted as part of the building’s fabric, it should take its cue from its architectural style. It is not necessary to copy it, but there must be a sensible interaction between the floor and the architecture of the building, as well as all the elements of the space in which the floor is placed.
