Medallions add pizzazz to entries

DEAR DESIGNER: My flooring is dated and I need a fresh look. I want to install wood flooring throughout my home but I don't know what I should do in my entry to get a wow factor. Will I need to use another type of flooring in my entry? -- Judy.

DEAR JUDY: Wood flooring has a wow factor by itself, but there is more you can do to add some pizzazz to your entry.

By selecting real wood and not an imitation, you are off to a good start. The beauty and functionality of wood flooring are timeless and exquisite. Whether you choose wood planks or a parquet style of wood, your floor will be a classy foundation to a brilliant design plan.

Although wood flooring can stand alone in the entry, there are wood and stone (marble, travertine and granite) medallions available to give your entry that extra emphasis you are after. Although the wood medallions are a stellar choice for your entry, a stone medallion is another viable option and can be installed with your wood floor. If your entry is too small to support a lovely medallion, a decorative wood border is yet another option that will give the area some style.

Wood and stone medallions are made up of many small cut pieces of wood or stone and look like complicated pieces of art. We are fortunate that manufacturers have made it easy for homeowners by predesigning various patterns for you to choose from. After you select a pattern that complements your design style, you will then select the colors of stone or wood to make your medallion a one-of-a-kind work of art. The many small pieces that make up the pattern will arrive glued to a paper lattice backing which is then cut into four or five large pieces, making it easy for the installers to do their jobs.

Your local flooring specialist can direct you to wonderful selections of floor medallions. If you want to get a jump on selecting your favorite pattern, one resource is online at www.oshkoshdesigns.com.

There are a few things to keep in mind when installing a medallion with your wood floor. It's important to let your installer know about the medallion ahead of time. He also will want all the information that you have about the medallion you have selected.

For example, sometimes the wood you select for the flooring is not the same thickness as the medallion. But, there are tricks to the trade to resolve this issue and allow a smooth installation. In one instance, we added a subfloor under the medallion to make it the same height as the wood planks.

Another thing to remember is that a semicustom medallion may take as long as eight weeks to receive. You may want to coordinate the flooring installation after you have received your masterpiece.

Many wood medallions come with matching borders. If your floor is large enough, you might want to consider a decorative border around the perimeter of a connecting room. I like to use decorative wood borders on small stairways. This border serves two purposes: It adds interest to the steps and at the same time helps you see where one step starts and the other ends, which can be a problem with dark-wood stairs.

Decorative wood borders are an impressive addition to your wood floor. Adding the border can be a unique way to repeat a portion of your medallion design in other areas of your home.

Medallions and borders also can be custom designed. If you are a creative person or you have a favorite tile that you would like to duplicate, share your design with your flooring specialist so you can make a wow factor all of your own.

Cindy Payne is a certified interior designer with more than 25 years of experience, as well as a licensed contractor. E-mail questions to her at deardesigner@projectdesigninteriors.com or send them to her at Project Design Interiors, 2620 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 189, Las Vegas, NV 89109. She can be reached online at www.projectdesigninteriors.com.