{"id":41458,"date":"2023-05-09T10:23:37","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T14:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wideplankflooring.com\/?p=41458"},"modified":"2023-05-10T12:11:12","modified_gmt":"2023-05-10T16:11:12","slug":"rustic-flooring-options-that-stand-the-test-of-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wideplankflooring.com\/blog\/rustic-flooring-options-that-stand-the-test-of-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Rustic Flooring Options That Stand the Test of Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

This no-fuss aesthetic is sophisticated, approachable, and full of time-honored elegance.<\/em><\/p>\n

Key Features of Rustic Home Design<\/h2>\n

Rustic home design is filled with natural, aged d\u00e9cor. Walking through a rustic home should feel like taking a nostalgic step back in time, when fine craftsmanship and pragmatic versatility met in delightful harmony. Rustic home design is unpretentious, evoking a sense of comfort, coziness, and grounded living. It plucks the rugged features of log cabins, farmhouses, and ranches, and refines them for a naturally beautiful atmosphere.<\/p>\n

Wood plays a prominent feature in rustic home design\u2014through flooring, wood paneling, exposed ceiling beams, long farmhouse-style dining tables, raw-edge furniture, and more. You\u2019ll often see stones used for a juxtaposition of textures, along with raw materials, organic shapes, and silhouettes. Hardwood flooring<\/a> is the foundation of every room, and it can anchor the rustic design aesthetic and elevate the atmosphere to new levels.<\/p>\n

How to Highlight Rustic Design Through Flooring<\/h2>\n

There are many ways to create a rustic hardwood floor<\/a> that gives spaces a sense of Old-World charm. Here are some tips for creating period-style flooring.<\/p>\n

1. Choose wood with character.<\/h3>\n

Centuries ago, wood wasn\u2019t graded before installation. Instead, the entire timber was used, scuff marks and all\u2014part of a practical pursuit to not waste any viable materials. This created a natural, unaltered design scheme that told the story of the original timber and the environment from which it came.<\/p>\n

You can travel back to these days by selecting planks full of character marks, like knots, mineral streaks, and color variation. At Carlisle, our Original and Signature grades<\/a> are full of these rich features for a truly one-of-a-kind floor. Certain Carlisle Collection floors can be customized to select these grades, or you create your perfect rustic foundation by building a custom floor.<\/p>\n

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White Oak \u2502 Timeworn & Hand-Scraped Edge \u2502 ID# 11330<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

2. Consider plank dimensions.<\/h3>\n

In a custom wooden floor, every detail can hugely impact the look and feel of the overall space. For example, picking out the width and length of your wooden planks can determine whether a room feels formal and refined or cozier and more traditional.<\/p>\n

Historically, mixed plank sizes were installed because builders were trying to use all parts of the tree, saving costs and reducing waste. These days, mixing plank widths and lengths is a creative, impactful way to transform any wood and finish into the traditional style of your dreams\u2014all while other parts of the tree are re-processed for other purposes. Long planks look less manufactured, offering an authentically vintage feel, while mixing and matching random plank widths adds handcrafted appeal to the space.<\/p>\n

 
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\nMany rustic floors mix plank widths and this is more commonly known as random width floors.\u00a0 Random width floors are meant to recreate the original floors installed over 200 years ago when the settlers maximized the round log by cutting different width planks.\u00a0 Often these ranged from 13-20″ wide in Colonial homes and were crafted from Eastern White Pine trees which were grown in that area.\u00a0 Today, if you want an older looking floor choose random widths, but not a narrow width.\u00a0 The most common range is 6″ -10″ and the right variation will depend on your space. Of course, you can always bring in an expert to determine the ideal plank dimensions for your home.<\/p>\n

3. Add texture<\/h3>\n

Period homes often have solid wood flooring with distinctive details that reflect the antique tools originally used. Before machines milled floorboards, craftsmen would prepare the wood by drawing a plane across the edges to soften them.<\/p>\n

Modern craftsmen can replicate this technique, using the same tools and processes that artisans used 200 years ago to texture or distress wooden planks. Carlisle\u2019s hand-scraped planks<\/a> add a sense of age and authentic character that summons the look and feel of a centuries-old floor.<\/p>\n

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Hand Scraped Hickory \u2502 ID# 10941<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. Pick a lower-sheen finish.<\/h3>\n

Hark back to a simpler time, just through the finish of your custom wood floor. Floors were originally finished with wax\u2014or nothing at all\u2014so selecting a lower-sheen finish instantly makes your floors feel more time-worn and rustic.<\/p>\n

Sheen refers to the level of glossiness on the wood. Hardwood floors are typically sealed with polyurethane, wax, or penetrating oil to protect them from damage. The type of sealant used to protect the floor has a certain level of luster or sheen, ranging from high-gloss to matte.<\/p>\n