Embrace the Sixth Wall: Making Floors Matter in Modern Homes
the esd journal
There are many givens when designing a home: the walls will need a new coat of paint, wallpaper, or updated art; the windows might need to be replaced with more efficient options; the foundational color palette must be chosen. To everyone, with or without design experience, these are foundational aspects of designing a space. But it is an interior designer’s job to take into consideration every part of the room—not just furniture and window treatments and art, but also the ceiling (known as the fifth wall) and the floor (or, the sixth wall). This sixth surface can be easy or difficult to finish, but one thing is for sure: it must be embraced because it matters.
Embracing the Sixth Wall
In our experience, the sixth wall is often gorgeous wood floors. Sometimes they are hidden beneath carpeting or years of neglect, but they’re there and begging to see the light of day again. In this case, we really embrace them because they still have so much character and charm to offer. They stand as an architectural aspect of older New York City townhomes and exhibit some of the city’s most historically awe-inspiring craftsmanship.
PC: Mike Van Tassell
When we find them, we try to preserve them as part of the home’s original integrity. But when we don’t, or when there isn’t anything left to rescue and restore, or when the design of the room simply calls for something different, we choose a route that makes sense as a living part of the rest of the design.
Embracing the sixth wall often means finding patterned carpeting, introducing an area rug, or installing tile. Whichever direction we choose, it becomes an integral part of the completed project, pulling all the other elements together.
Making Floors Matter in Modern Homes
When you enter a room, your attention is pulled in many directions; art, color, texture, atmosphere, and lighting all vie for your sweeping eye. A well-designed room guides you through the various aspects and details, letting a focal point anchor the space and everything else fall in behind it. But the floor is probably the first true tactile contact you’ll have with the room, making it incredibly important.
PC: Richard Powers
PC: Joshua McHugh
When Wood Floors Make a Space
The romance of wood floors comes from the color, wood grain, pattern, and size and age of the boards. In 200-year-old brownstones, wood floors are often the most preservable bit of history. While in new homes, wood floors are a perfect way to bring warmth into the color palette and ensure an authentic feel. They can easily be protected by area rugs and enhanced by introducing wood into other areas like furniture, frames, and art.
More Than Just Carpeting
Wall-to-wall carpeting isn’t particularly inspiring. But that can also depend on the type of carpeting. Plush, patterned carpets act as wallpaper for your floors, introducing dynamics, geometry, art, color, and more. We’ve used them to be that connective tissue between other materials in the room and as visual interest in more minimalist spaces.
When Tile is Essential
In bathrooms and kitchens, floor options can feel limited. While wood floors are acceptable, and even common, tile usually dominates these areas. From flagstones to decorative options, tile is incredibly versatile, easy to clean, and durable. But beyond its practical nature, tile can be exquisitely beautiful, instantly adding elegance and sometimes a little sparkle, to any style room.
Enhance Your Modern Home with Captivating Floors
Your flooring does not need to be the star of your home. However, when properly embraced and intentionally designed, it can be a captivating element that completes the aesthetic and builds atmosphere. Whether you’re choosing carpeting, refinishing wood floors, or considering tile, know that careful consideration of this final wall can enhance your experience of your modern home.
Top Photo Credits:
Interior Designer: Elain Santos
Architects: @mowerymarsharchitects
Contractor: @mex_construction
Photographer: 📷 @haris.kenjar