Dabbieri Blog

Choosing Flooring for That Lake House Lifestyle

It's that time of year again where spring will soon give way to summer. As we begin anticipating the hot summer days, we also plan our escapes —perhaps a relaxing weekend away at the lake house. This, of course, means that it's time to open up the summer home and prepare it for the upcoming season. What better way to hit the reset button than with a floor refresh? We've compiled a list of acceptable lake-house floors that are perfect for the lake lifestyle and can even protect against muddy dogs running around and small kids tracking in sand and lake water.

Long-Lasting Trendy Tile

Flex Fawn Ceramic by Emser Tile

Tile is one of the strongest and most durable flooring solutions on the market. Available in ceramic, porcelain, stone, there's an endless array of stunning tile designs that are sure to suit your home's aesthetic. Those who want to create a natural, luxurious look opt for a natural stone in travertine, marble, granite, or slate. With its natural strength, stone can endure tough household wear and looks great in high-traffic places like the entryway or bathroom. 

Gorgeous Wood-Look Tile

Mokuzai II Shiro Matte/Satin Porcelain by Emser Tile

Are you looking for a wood-look floor but wanting the strength and wear-resistance of tile? Then install a wood-look tile. Indistinguishable from natural hardwood, wood-look tile has the durability to withstand dirty shoes and wet towels. It can mimic various wood species from sleek mahogany to European oak and holds up great to water. Wood-look tile can even be broken up with ceramic tile, like shown here in the foyer, to add texture and create a unique space.

Elegant Luxury Vinyl

Mount Rose Clay by Dabbieri H2O LVT

As dependable as ever, luxury vinyl floors are an excellent choice for the lake house. With their scratch, stain, and wear-resistant features, you can install these waterproof floors in any room of your summer home. Luxury vinyl can imitate natural hardwood or ceramic tile but is typically on the less expensive side. Our line of Dabbieri H2O luxury vinyl boasts stunning visuals from aged wood to sleek stone. With a thick wear layer that protects against water and can weather the demands of everyday living, these luxury vinyl floors make a perfect companion for any design theme from traditional to modern.

Natural Waterproof Hardwood

Constellation Herringbone by Dabbieri x Emily Morrow Hardwood 

If you're set on an authentic hardwood floor, have no fear, as engineered waterproof floors are now available. For instance, our Dabbieri x Emily Morrow Hardwood Collection houses many hardwood styles and is made of genuine North American white oak. Consider bleached and blanched floors, which involve a chemical process to get rid of the wood's colors to stay with a lake-house aesthetic. This gives a softer white-washed look without losing the trend of natural wood beauty.

How have you spruced up your lake home with water-resistant floors? 

Floors for Pets

Every pet owner knows just how difficult it is to keep their floors clean, especially if your cat sheds or your dog runs in with muddy paws. These days, it’s essential to have a floor that’s not only durable enough to withstand your daily household messes but also looks great. We have the inside scoop on the best performance floors for pets —and the best part? They’re stylish and practical, blending seamlessly into your existing home design themes.  

Stain-Resistant Luxury Vinyl

Luxury vinyl floors are the perfect choice for homeowners looking to create a natural look throughout their home but needing that extra layer of protection. With upgrades in floor engineering, luxury vinyl floors are more durable than ever before, and their scratch, stain, and water resistance make them the ideal option for pets. Providing a significant level of traction for pets, luxury vinyl floors are not too slippery and can reduce the risk level of your pet slipping and sustaining an injury. Since luxury vinyl mimics the look and feel of natural hardwood or stone down to the grain variation and texturing, you’ll never even notice the difference between natural hardwood and luxury vinyl.

Full-Proof Laminate

Laminate flooring is another pet-owner favorite known for its incredible stain resistance and scratch resistance from dog and cat nails. Laminate flooring can have a fresh, modern feel as it now comes in many styles and designs, from grain details that are characteristic of natural wood to stunning stone tile patterns. Look for laminate with an embossed or textured finish, as smooth glossed laminate can be too slippery for pet paws.

Authentic Engineered Hardwood

Le Havre Collection by Dabbieri Hardwood in Maple Cardamom

For those homeowners set on having authentic hardwood floors, we’re here to tell you that this look can be achieved with practical engineered planks. Our line of Louis A. Dabbieri hardwood products offers the highest-quality protection from water, scratches, and stains. With textures such as hand-scraping and herringbone designs, the Dabbieri hardwood brand offers exotic new woods species in an incredible range of natural colors and graining patterns. Some suitable, durable hardwood species that perform well with pets include cherry, maple, oak, hickory, mahogany, and elm.

Naturally Resilient Cork Floors

Cork is a warm and comfy flooring solution. It performs exceptionally well in resisting scratches and other forms of damage from pets. Since cork produces very little noise and is a softer surface to walk on, it makes for a comfortable flooring alternative to hardwood floors. While cork is moisture-resistant to fluids like pet urine, it is recommended that you clean up quickly to prevent further damage. Many of our International Design Guild consultants carry cork floors in their showroom, ranging in design styles and aesthetics. 

Show us how you’ve incorporated pet-proof flooring into your home design!

Infusing Color with Area Rugs

As we emerge from a winter of trending neutrals and muted tones, spring is the perfect time to refresh your home with bright colors. There are a number of simple ways to infuse color throughout your home without having to do a complete overhaul on home renovation. For instance, throw pillows, art pieces, plants and decor items are just a few ways to bring bright hues indoors. But perhaps one of the most affordable and fun approaches to incorporate color is through the addition of area rugs. Rugs are an easy way to liven up a space with texture and this season, there are a number of gorgeous —and colorful —throw rugs that are trending.

Art-Inspired Prints

Celestial Multicolor by Nourison

Are you looking for a new living room rug to complement your exiting art decor? In a nod to contemporary artistry, this Celestial collection from Nourison brings color to any room through abstract strokes of blue, grey, ivory, yellow and pink. These colors hint at the bright world that’s springing to life outdoors, giving us a glimpse into the beauty of the natural world. The blend of tones creates a cool and calming effect through a watercolor-insired print that can lend a eclectic vibe to any space. 

Timelessly Traditional Palettes

Calinda Marlowe Steel Blue-Ivory by Couristan

Create a timeless appeal by adding a vintage-inspired rug to your room, whether an heirloom Persian rug or a hand-knotted Oriental. Insert a modern twist with a hint of blue. In a time of trending blue tones, area rugs infused with blue have become a must-have. With this area rug from Couristan, you can achieve a lasting global look through traditional motifs and classic blue hues. The Calinda Marlowe in steel blue ivory has a balanced textured appearance with a lustrous high-low weave. In a soft palette of metallic tones, this traditional blue rug creates a beautiful focal point with its distinctive hues and intriguing patterns.

Patchwork Patterns

Epiphany Eloi Dim Gray by Karastan

Sometimes bringing in color through a bit of dimension is achievable with a simple geometric pattern. The Epiphany Eloi Dim Gray rug from Karastan resembles a patchwork quilt with its timelessly elegant style and earthy tones. Using an abstract design in your rug choice gives your room an elevated appeal through playful textures that are guaranteed focal points. This modern rug uses a distressed color palette to highlight a contemporary geometric pattern in cool gray and ties together the neutral colors of the living room.

Boho-Chic Designs

Odessa in Ivory Multicolor by Nourison

Create a boho-chic vibe with an area rug featuring natural colors and relaxed patterns. This space-dyed patina in an ivory mutli-color is from Nourison’s Odessa Collection and creates a harmonious balance through yellow, gold and muted blue hues. Its distinctive pattern gives any room a vintage touch. Hand-knotted in New Zealand, this wool rug is versatile and can complement many design themes, including bohemian through its diverse mix of natural elements and textures.

To find area rugs in the styles above, contact your local Dabbieri showroom.