QUESTION #1: We live in an older home and want to re-do the flooring in 1/2 of the house. In our foyer, living room, and dining room, we have very dark wood paneling on the walls and ceiling. Our cabinets in our bathrooms and kitchen are oak. I don't want anything too light because of heavy foot traffic. We prefer to stay away from a wood pattern due to the wood paneling o n the ceiling and floors. What is your best recommendation for our home? Please help!
-- Active Household

Dear Active household,

It's best to go with Porcelain, Laminate, or Adura Luxury Tile for your foyer and Kitchen areas; porcelain for your bathroom; and for the living room and dining room areas, laminate or Adura.

Mannington's Garda in the Porcelain category is a popular, strong, and versatile pattern that's rich in color options and design. This pattern has a comparable look in Adura, Sicilian Stone, which makes it a very nice choice -- the same great look and consistency through the house, but with different product. Sicilian Stone is also groutable, which helps it look even more like real tile.

In Laminate tile, there's Palermo Stone, an eye-catching multi-hued large-scale design. Like Sicilian Stone, it is visually identical to "Garda" porcelain tile. It also has elements of real slate, and captures the 'blooming effect' of mineral deposits left on slate over time. All floors are easy to care for and will breathe life into the decor of any room.

QUESTION #2: I have a 20 year old home, the kitchen and dining room are one big room - but the kitchen is vinyl, and the dining room has carpet. I'd like to update the area with something durable and easy to care for on a budget. What would you
suggest?
-- Budget Conscious

Dear Budget Conscious Consumer,

How about trying Adura Luxury Vinyl Plank or Laminate plank, both offer great hardwood looks that are incredibly realistic. One of the many patterns in Luxury Vinyl Plank is Jatoba, it's a wonderful wood pattern that offers sophisticated warmth with an inviting exotic appeal. This wood pattern is versatile enough to be used in an urban loft or in a traditional to modern setting. In the colors natural or roasted pepper, you can’t go wrong.

Another look that you're sure to love is Louisville Hickory. Louisville Hickory is a laminate plank that is unbelievably realistic. It combines the look and feel of natural wood with the performance of laminate. It’s available in four rich colors that will give your home a superb style.

The great thing about laminate and Adura is they offer the fantastic visual realism of a real wood plank and a ceramic tile, but with the cost and maintenance benefits of alternative surfaces.

QUESTION #3: My husband and I are a couple of empty nesters. We've lived in a 50 and older community for the last couple of years. When we bought our home, the vinyl in the foyer was all right, but now it doesn't seem to fit our décor and taste. I find it to be dull and uninviting. Could you please recommend a hardwood floor that is trendy and elegant?
-- Empty Nester

Dear Empty Nester,

Here are a couple recommendations that you'll love. The Inverness collection, which is part of Mannington's hand crafted line, is deep and rich in color with a warm antique look. In any of the patterns from this collection, which range from the distinctive whitewashed finish of Stonehenge Walnut to the deep, rustic scraping of Scottish Amberwood, your home will get a complete mix of the artisan look along with a fashion forward style.

Another recommendation is to consider some of the patterns under Atlantis Prestige. The name says it all; this collection not only features some of the newest looks in hardwood, but encompasses a unique styling and design that unlocks the mysterious beauty contained in the five exotic species its available in. To name a couple -- Amendoim is characterized by subtle graining and color variation; and Santos Mahogany, currently available in its natural color, takes in the richness of the underlying golden hues that are special to the species. There's no doubt that either of these collections will instantly give your foyer new life. Imagine your new inviting entrance.

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