Valentina Expressions

What do you think of the hardwood floor that looks like a chopping block? Do you like to see short wood planks in light and dark coloration laid-out in the chopping block fashion? I don’t. There is nothing elegant about it. The look of a kitchen should stay on the kitchen counter.
A few days ago, I was looking at an Italian fashion magazine, but I could not help noticing more the hardwood floor than the clothing. Yes, the clothing were attractive, but the floor they were casually thrown on was sexy, warm, inviting, onto which the fashion clothing seemed even more interesting in their casual lack of concern. The picture to me spoke about the hardwood floor, as if the wearer had trusted the beautiful hardwood floor to take a gentle care of her precious jewelry and the fancy garment.

Italian floors have been the most remarkable floors in history. Italian people like to trample on beauty because what is under their feet is as important as what they wear on their feet. Floors in Italian homes can be very decorated, or have an understated elegance, both ways will affect and determine the ambiance of a home. It is a common practice to blend and mix various wood species to create attractive pattern designs, which at times do not follow any direction and at times will take the eye in a state of ecstatic admiration.

Hardwood floor focus on the emotion it evokes and the dreams that surrounds the wood itself. Designed hardwood floors are for sitting on, for rolling while playing and to allow us to be enveloped by its natural warmth. Cushions, crackling fireplace, a glass of wine, scented candles, a good company with an elegant music and I have just created a relaxed glamour right on the hardwood floor.

Another common practice is to design a floor with marble or tiles inserted in the hardwood as accents, but the classic and long-lived solution remains the mixture of intricate designs of stones communicating beautifully with each other, both in contemporary and classic forms. Mosaics made of various stones and wood inlays are not only for churches and museums, but they are vastly appreciated in most homes in Italy.

Travertine and tumble marble cover the floor of my house in Italy. Although these are kind of warm stones, in super hot days this type of stones can provide an instant pleasurable refreshment and I love to roll on the floor. As a kid I loved to go down the stone stairs not with my feet walking down, but with my butt sitting and feeling the steps one by one until I reached the floor. I was a little rascal and…. still I am in so many ways.

The floor setters in Italy are artists of their own kind. Being exposed for centuries to beautiful floors they are a delight to work with, they are original and knowledgeable and they are the best people to ask for suggestions when clients have no idea of how to compose a floor. As a designer, I like to guide them around my design concept when I compose certain hard surfaces, but their expertise is of a superior quality that not much guidance is needed once the designs is laid out on paper.

(Floor left: Romeo Cuomo)

To create a composition of marble with various stones to me is a divertissement.
Any area of a home can do without area rugs and be defined with a stone design instead, as in photo. It will save on rug cleaning expenses and the room will be more hygienically breathable. Stones only need water and mild soap and they will be dressed again.

Find this beautiful hand painted tiles flooring shown here at Officina Ceramica in Italy: http://www.officinaceramica.com

Whether you are thinking of hardwood floor, or stone floor and whether it will be installed in a home on the Amalfi Coast, Côte d’Azur, California, or any urban flat in the world, I will suggest to employ any material intelligently, create the beauty even under your feet. Beauty and luxury have a vital role to play in the most intimate and important moment of a person’s life.
Originally designed hard surfaces will endure the test of time, will add value to your home and above all will continue your dream and legacy, as we still dream today when visiting historic homes and buildings around the world.

If you are ready to step onto dreamy flooring and if you ready to invest into long-term beauty, I am here to help you. Should anything like this strike your fancy, I would like to be the designer to provide you with these special solutions ready and available to me. Ciao,
Valentina

http://www.valentinadesigns.com

Copyright © 2010 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola has been in business as a designer since 1990. She has helped a variegated group of fun people realizing their dreams with homes, offices, interiors and exteriors. She is a designer well-known to bring originality to people’s homes. As an Italian designer and true to her origins, she provides only the best workmanship and design solutions. Check out her books on
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