We are welcoming the upcoming new year by sharing 2015 colour trends forecasts from our favourite colour experts. This is part two of a three part series featuring colour trends from Pantone, Shaw Floors and Benjamin Moore.

River Thames Taupe

For this colour trend, we look to the Shaw Floors 2015 Colour Forecast. As the world’s largest carpet manufacturer, Shaw Floors is at the forefront of of all home decor and colour trends. River Thames Taupe is our favourite of the four colours Shaw predicts will be big for 2015. We love the versatility of this neutral that blends the once trendy beige tones with today’s popular grey shades. We gathered pictures of a few interiors that show off the endless possibilities of River Thames Taupe.

Style Me Pretty: Laura Hollingsworth Home Tour by Cheryl M

Greige and taupe shades are a refreshing change from the ubiquitous plain white cabinets. These neutral hues make the kitchen feel warmer and more elegant.

Houzz: Cardea Building Co

Using taupe on the walls in this master bedroom channels the vibe of a peaceful retreat.

Shaw Floors Luxury Vinyl Tile Newport Beach colour Pier

Neutrals like taupe are popular colour choices for flooring and there are an abundance of taupe options available. This click together 12×24 luxury vinyl tile option would look great in any room in your house.

Shaw Carpet Bling / Shaw Carpet Timeless Charm Loop

Taupe is a classic colour option for any style of carpet. Try a textured multi-tonal frieze as an area rug in the living room or a cushy loop carpet for a neutral wall-to-wall carpet in bedrooms.

Shaw Floors has even more taupe hued inspiration for you on their River Thames Taupe Pinboard.

Follow Shaw Floors’s board “River Thames Taupe” – Shaw Color Forecast 2015 on Pinterest.

View other posts in the 2015 Colour Trends Series

Part one: Pantone’s 2015 Colour of the Year Marsala
Part three: Benjamin Moore’s Colour of 2015 Guilford Green

To say goodbye to 2014 and welcome in the new year, we are sharing a few 2015 colour trends forecasts from our favourite colour experts. Whether you’re planning a whole home renovation or just looking for a few new accent throw pillows, these colour choices can help inspire your design choices this year. This is part one of a three part series with 2015 colour trends forecasts from Pantone, Benjamin Moore and Shaw Floors.

Pantone colour of the year: Marsala

The Pantone Colour Institute chooses their colour of the year based on a thorough examination of fashion trends, art, film, cars and general culture around the world. The selections over the past few years tended to be bold and best suited for accent colours in interiors (see 2014’s Radiant Orchid and 2013’s Emerald). While we may see Marsala popping up as a trendy colour for clothing and nail polish in 2015, we are less likely to see entire walls painted in this colour or an increased popularity in this hue of broadloom carpet.

Pantone describes the 2015 colour of the year Marsala as a “naturally robust and earthy wine red.”  This reddish-brown hue has an elegant and satisfying warmth that could work well in the colour palette of many interiors. We gathered a few examples of trendsetting homes where Marsala-like hues are already full-force.

Houzz: Ike Kilgerman Barkley Architecture

The Marsala paint colour used on the walls of this book-lined living room adds a touch of warmth. The contrasting white woodwork creates a clean look and keeps Marsala from looking too earthy.

 
Domaine Home

Marsala hues in this artwork create a dramatic and colourful focal point in this dining room.

Apartment Therapy: LA House Tour

Marsala looks best when used with textures like this shaggy rug. Try using the colour of the year for other textures like linens or leather.

For another dose Marsala inspiration, visit our Marsala Colour Trend pinboard.

View other posts in the 2015 Colour Trends Series

Part two: Shaw Floors River Thames Taupe
Part three: Benjamin Moore Guilford Green

Noise is often a contentious issue in multi-unit residences, as any condo dweller can attest to. When owners want to install hardwood or laminate flooring, strata bylaws often require the use of an underlay with acoustic properties to reduce to the sound transmission to the unit below. Here are a few commonly asked questions about the acoustic underlay required.

Which underlay should I buy to use in my building?
Each strata has different rules about the flooring and underlay allowed in their building. Some may require council approval of the materials before installation. Check with your strata before purchasing your flooring. If your strata requires approval before installation, your flooring provider can provide you with product specifications and documented test results to give to your strata council.

My strata requires an underlay with a certain STC and IIC rating. What does this mean?
These are sound-control ratings often used in building codes and strata guidelines. The higher the rating, the better the underlay is at sound reduction. Sound Transmission Class (STC) ratings measure transmission of airborne sounds such as neighbours talking or playing music. Impact Isolation Class (IIC) measures impact sounds transferred from the floor to the unit below. Impact sounds are foot steps, objects falling on the floor etc. Manufacturers have their products tested in a lab according to ASTM International standards to determine the STC and IIC ratings.

Does an acoustic underlay reduce all noises for my neighbours below?
No. An acoustic underlay with good IIC and STC ratings will reduce noise transfer but will not eliminate all noise. The effectiveness of the underlay depends on your lifestyle and the construction of the building. If your lifestyle is noisier, your neighbours will be more likely to hear you. Active kids, walking in heavy shoes or high heels and dropping things may create noise that cannot be entirely quieted by any acoustic underlay.

The settings of the underlay lab tests may be different from the construction of the subfloor and ceiling of your building. Most underlay is tested on concrete slabs. IIC and STC ratings increase when the concrete slab thickness increases or when a drop or suspended ceiling is present in the unit below. Ask your flooring provider for testing results that specify the subfloor and ceiling assembly used during lab testing.

The ratings will be decreased for buildings with wood frames and plywood substrates since these materials are bad at preventing sound transference. If you do not have a concrete subfloor or acoustic concrete topping between floors, it’s highly recommended to look into additional sound barrier options. Your downstairs neighbours will thank you.

Is there anything else I can do reduce noise?

Adding a few area rugs to your decor will help reduce noise in areas where the rugs have been placed.

Can I do a nail down installation with acoustic underlay underneath?

No. The sound travels through the nails and negates the effectiveness of the underlay.

Is there a specific underlay you recommend?

We recommend using Shaw Silent Step Ultra. The 72 dB IIC and STC ratings satisfy most strata council requirements about flooring and acoustic underlay. Full testing data from a reputable third party lab is available upon request.

For more information we recommend reading:
Hardwood Floors – The Magazine of the National Wood Flooring Association. “The Lowdown on Wood Flooring Underlayments”
Master Floor Covering Standards Institute. “Noise Problems and Acoustical Barriers”

December marks the beginning of a holiday season calendar filled with work parties, drinks with friends and quality time with family. We have picked two wines to be your go-to’s during the busy holiday season. Our criteria for picking great holiday wines was that they had to be:

a) BC VQA wines to support our local businesses

b) Worthy of serving to friends and family over the holidays

c) Budget friendly to be a last minute gift for the party host

d) Delicious, of course.

Here are the two wines that checked our boxes. Our team tasted them last week during lunch at our annual sales planning meeting.

Grey Monk 2012 Latitude 50 Red

The name Latitude 50 is a nod to Grey Monk’s location in the Okanagan, where latitude 50 and Lake Okanagan meet. Grey Monk keeps us guessing which grapes were used in this stunning blend since the composition is not listed on the bottle or online. From our tasting, we think it’s a blend of gamay and pinot noir grapes. The medium-bodied Latitude 50 is a great table wine, the kind that goes well with a variety of different foods or even none at all. It beckons you with floral, spicy aromas and just a touch of herbal notes. The nose reflects the flavours of raspberry, pepper, spice and a light black cherry finish. This would be especially delicious with a holiday party pot roast or late-night pizza to celebrate the end of holiday gift shopping.

Backyard Vineyards 2013 Nosey Neighbour White

The name Backyard Vineyards is apt since they are located  in Vancouver’s metaphorical backyard at 30 Ave at 232 Street in Langley. The Nosey Neighbour blend is a best seller at the local wine store we purchased it at. From the first taste, it is clear why this wine sells so well. This blend of pinot gris, riseling and gewurztraminer is a pleasant and easy drinking crowd pleaser with just a hint of complexity. Bright citrus and herb aromas greets you before hitting the palette with a fruity blend of stone fruits, pineapple and mango. A refreshing and clean acidity follows you from first taste to the finish. This wine is not available at BC Liquor Stores but you can purchase it direct from the winery or at your local independent wine store. View the full list of stores that carry Backyard Vineyards.

Some carpet base has yet to be installed. The remaining carpet base will arrive on Monday December 8th and we will likely install on December 9th. Once the carpet base has been installed, the job will be 100% complete.