We talk quite a bit about terrazzo flooring in both commercial and residential applications, but have become aware of a growing trend to install terrazzo floors into a high-end home. There are certain areas of the country that see this trend more than others, as well as a host of other potential factors at play; in any case, today we’ll look at the appeal of terrazzo in luxury homes.
In most areas of the country, luxury homes act as the trendsetters for what will come to follow in residences across the country, so a growing trend to include terrazzo flooring as an alternative to the more common home flooring types could point to an increase in residential terrazzo across the board. So, today, we’ll look at what is causing this growing buzz around one of the world’s oldest flooring types:
If you’ve watched any home buying or selling shows in the last five years, then you’ve heard the phrase “open concept” – a lot. Among homebuyers today, there is a growing desire to open up living spaces, break down walls, and connect the kitchen to other entertaining areas. This trend is present in high-end living and everyday households alike, with large, open kitchens and easily-accessed party space guiding most home purchases. This trend doesn’t look to fading at all as the years go by, but is actually gaining momentum as the new norm for housing developments across the country.
This open concept living only benefits terrazzo flooring, as wide open spaces serve to show off one of the greatest assets of this flooring type: One large,continuous surface. Whereas a tile or wood floor will compose many, many smaller planks or tiles to make a larger flooring design, terrazzo floors give homeowners a single smooth surface to build their open concept living upon. While this effect would matter very little with the presence of walls, the lack of them makes terrazzo shine in all-new ways. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, however, as the most common usage for terrazzo flooring is currently in large, open commercial flooring applications, such as within a hotel or office building’s lobby.
The next thing we see leading toward a surge in the number of luxury homes opting for a terrazzo flooring is the fact that they can place a little (or a lot) of shine on the floor. This may not sound like much, but when you couple a shimmering floor with a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows, French doors leading to a gorgeous patio view, and a wide, open space to entertain guests upon, then that shine suddenly becomes a breathtaking design feature. Since most luxury homes will have plenty of windows that let in copious natural light for guests to enjoy, these floors end up becoming a major part of the room’s design, and also serve the practical purpose of illuminating the tall ceilings commonly found in these homes. Now, when you couple a shine with a design lying beneath that is perfectly coordinated to the room’s furniture and decor, it becomes an absolute showstopper.
While not all the home’s we’ve seen with terrazzo flooring take advantage of its artistic design abilities, most at least utilize the colors and patterns naturally created by terrazzo epoxy and aggregates to match their overall decor or home design. By coordinating furniture, cabinetry, and decorations with the flooring’s coloration, then topping it with a few tasteful rugs in the lounging areas, homeowners can make a strong, cohesive design without using numerous aggregate colors or tapping into the design potential of terrazzo at all.
However, there are those that do try their hand at designing their floors. To these folks, their flooring becomes a canvas to express their design tastes, showcase elements of their home, and create something that guests have never seen before. Best of all, designs don’t need to be all-encompassing, meaning that they can sequester design and color elements to only the areas they wish to have them. Many homes, for instance, use terrazzo to create a nearly seamless flooring that extends from their kitchen out onto their patio or terrace, then incorporate a design out there that matches the decor found indoors. With terrazzo flooring, the possibilities are truly endless.
At Klein and Company Inc., we pride ourselves on being one of the nation’s most robust and experienced terrazzo supply teams. We offer numerous terrazzo aggregates, grinding equipment, bonding agents, and more – all of which has been tested, approved, and implemented by our own local terrazzo flooring installation team. When you need materials to install or maintain your terrazzo flooring, be sure to come to us!
Check out our selection of terrazzo flooring supplies today!
