insideKENT Magazine Issue 101 - September 2020 | Page 61

HOME+GARDEN
FAMILY-FRIENDLY FLOORING CONT.
Kitchens
Kitchens are the heart of almost every household.
It is the room where families come together to enjoy
each other over delicious food and drink provided
by the resident chef of the household, or on the odd,
lucky occasion the local takeaway! Homework is
often completed at the kitchen table, with mum and
dad almost as confused as the kids, and it is where
families catch up after a long day at work. In short
the kitchen is not just a room, it becomes the social
hub of a household, and as such it’s flooring needs
to be sustainable, able to contend with heavy foot
traffic, and survive the various spillages that come
with busy family life. So what are your options?
As David Snazel, buyer of hard flooring at
Carpetright (www.carpetright.co.uk) points out “When
it comes to choosing flooring for busy family spaces
there are three main things to consider: style and
design, durability and ease of cleaning… so it’s best
to opt for high quality, durable flooring that is low
maintenance and will stand the test of time. It is
likely there will be spills and splashes so choosing a
material that is easy to clean is essential, particularly
when entertaining.”
A great option for kitchens are Luxury Vinyl Tiles
or LVT. They look like real wood or stone flooring,
but have a whole host of benefits that the natural
products simply do not have. LVT is the perfect
solution to spillages as they are able to be wiped
clean in no time and, unlike natural wood floors, do
not carry the risk of staining, which is a win if you
are a red wine drinking house!
Yasmin from All Floors explained some of the benefits
of installing LVT, including that the flooring is child
and pet friendly thanks to its soft, springy nature,
while also being durable and versatile thanks to their
many patterns and designs, and has the added
benefit of insulating sound, perfect for midnight
snackers and their secret trips to the fridge. Yasmin
also pointed out that LVT are ‘Scratch, scuff, stain,
chip, crack, and dent resistant, are easy to install
and individual panels are easy to replace without
having to uproot your entire floor!’ Sarah Escott,
the design manager at Amtico echoed this support
of LVT, stating the product is both practical and
stylish, meaning you will never have to compromise
one for the other again. ‘Luxury vinyl tiles have stain
and water-resistant qualities, while also being
comfortable underfoot, are compatible with
underfloor heating and are easier to clean than
natural surfaces. This means you can still have stylish
flooring without the extra care that’s required for
wood and stone.’ Whilst David concludes that LVT
also ‘makes an incredibly practical and stylish choice
for dining rooms.’ The perfect flooring solution for
the heart of the household!
Carpetright
Mardi Gras 516 Evora Vinyl
£17.99 per sq m
Carpetright
Tegola Soft Oak Nature Laminate
£14.99 per sq m
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