| E D U C A T I O N | 14 THE RIVER MAGAZINE | Spring 2019 Carpet The all time cosy favourite, carpet can run though to the stairs, the living room and all round the house however, you need to be especially careful picking your colour and design as carpet is harder to maintain than most other choices. KITCHEN & UTILITY ROOMS The potential for leaks and spills is the greatest in these home spaces so, again, hard flooring would be best choice. Wood This is a popular choice but look for a range that has factory applied multi coats of protective oil, use a cleaner that contains oil to maintain the wood and use appropriate rugs to protect under sinks and dishwashers. Marmoleum A natural and hard wearing choice. Amtico Perfect for kitchens, luxury Amtico vinyl tiles are manufactured by a design-led British company. These extremely authentic looking tiles are available in hundreds of designs and styles and are perfect for underfloor heating. Lordship Flooring can provide visuals of your room using different designs to help you make the best choice. Vinyl The least expensive option. Vinyls are the least complicated to fit. Available in plain sheets or even in woven vinyls to emulate natural flooring, vinyls are a good choice. Concreate A relatively new product is Concreate, laid as tiles, giving an architectural feel to space. It is also good to run through to the kitchen and any open plan areas. Remember: - Solid coloured smooth floors such as rubber will show up every crumb. Some people like to see where the mess is this... others would prefer a little leeway. - Adding a Sisal rug will soften the room and make it feel cosy. LIVING ROOM Carpet Choosing carpet will give your room an immediate cosy, soft and warm feel and style-wise patterned carpet is currently making a strong come-back. It’s a good idea to make the carpet the anchor to your colour and style scheme as well as complementing other soft furnishings. Carpet is also great for sound insulation. Wood Giving a neutral base to work with, there is a huge choice of woods in terms of finish, width and design; chevrons and parquet give a timeless and natural foundation to a room. It’s really practical, easy to clean and maintain and can be dressed with rugs to cosy up. Naturals Sisal and Seagrass are often used in interior design shoots as they give a natural canvas much in the same way as wood, but with a softer look. Floorboards Natural floorboards give a relaxed and easy look to a room and will fall into any scheme. Floorboards are easily renovated and can be sanded, oiled or stained to give the floor fresh life. There is no such thing as a dust-free sander but the best machines will offer 98% and also the best finish. BEDROOM Think about what you’d prefer to step into in the morning. Nothing feels more sumptuous underfoot than a soft carpet. Bedrooms are also where you don’t have to be so practical so you can go for a longer pile, a silkier finish or a natural carpet. You can be a little more daring as the bedroom is usually mostly covered with furniture and more lightly used. Carpet Any carpet will be suitable for bedroom use and it’s a good place to introduce texture or colour or pattern. Have a look at silkier carpets with a viscose or bamboo content that will give a luxurious feel underfoot. Wood Easy to clean and will fit into any scheme. You can always add rugs for texture. LORDSHIP FLOORING East Dulwich 129-131 Lordship Lane SE22 8HU t: 020 8693 8728 e: dulwich@lordshipflooring.com Blackheath Village Brigade Street SE3 0TW t: 020 8852 8109 e: blackheath@lordshipflooring.com w: lordshipflooring.com Luxx sheer Narwhal Luxury Faux carpet by Alternative Flooring Coir Herringbone natural bordered rug by Alternative Flooring Deco black and white tiles by Amtico