Hello and welcome to Art From Nature.
Here we believe that a beautiful and healthy home should make you feel good on the inside… My name is Priscilla, and I’m inviting you to join us in this new adventure. Since I started working at Lauzon Flooring, I had the chance to meet so many great people; to work with an amazing team and to come across so many nice finds that I decided to share them with you through this blog. Follow along with me as this blog evolves into what I hope will be an interesting and inspiring journey.

Trends are inspired by the things that surround us and the way we want to feel. Remember that feeling you had during your last vacation when you were reading a book, lying on the beach, skiing on the highest mountains or discovering new countries? Well, I just got back from vacation – as you can see from our Instagram feed – and it’s got me fantasizing about having a beach house. But what are the key ingredients for the perfect vacation home? I did my homework and I’m sharing my findings with you, so you can enjoy your vacation instead of always cleaning, unpacking, packing and wondering if you haven’t forgotten something.

1. Choose a theme

Beach house, ski chalet, lakefront cottage, hunting and fishing camp, cabin in the woods Florida condo… The nice thing with vacation homes is that there are plenty of different kinds, and you can work around a theme without being “cliché.” To do so, I suggest you look around. Take your inspiration from where your vacation home is located!

2. Shop local

Now that your vacation home theme is established, I would encourage you to shop local. This way you can discover all those beautiful places and nice people you probably wouldn’t have found otherwise. This will be especially easy if you’ve chosen a theme related to where your vacation home is located. Plus shopping local is always a must, especially on vacation!

3. Use healthy and durable materials

Construction materials, hardwood floors, fabrics, furniture—make sure you choose high quality, stain-resistant materials that are made to last. For your health don’t forget to use zero or low VOC materials like our beautiful White Oak Quarter Sawn hardwood flooring, as well as anti-microbial fabrics. And for Mother’s Nature health, don’t forget to use biodegradable cleaning products!

4. Make it feel like home

Bringing souvenirs, pictures and other things that are familiar to you will help you feel more at home. Old vacation souvenirs are the best for your cottage! You can even start a tradition!

5. Double the pleasure

Bring extra blankets, towels, toothbrushes, clothes, and that old hairdryer you’ve been holding on to so you won’t have to pack all your belongings every weekend, plus it’s good for the environment to reuse. Don’t forget the kitchen, if you are like me and you like to cook! Visit Costco and separate your purchases in two. Plant herbs in your vacation home garden, they require little maintenance, some repel insects and your dishes will be even better.

6. Bring the outdoors in

Your vacation home is the perfect place to let Mother Nature in. The fun thing about a cottage is that you can take more risks when decorating and integrate some very interesting pieces. Think outside the box.

7. Get organized

You bought your vacation home to relax and to have fun, so make sure you have plenty of room for storage so you don’t have to stress with extra blankets, guests’ luggage, wet bathing suits or wet snow suits.

8. Make room for guests

Vacations are meant to be shared with family and friends. That’s where great memories come from! So buy a sofa bed, airbeds and extra blankets and stock up on extra chairs for the table and the outdoor fireplace. Nowadays you can find multifunctional furniture everywhere. Select durable and easily washable fabrics so you won’t have to worry about keeping things clean.

9. Plan activities

Now that your guests are here, I’m sure you want to take advantage of the beautiful location you have chosen. So make sure you’re equipped for indoor and outdoor activities. For summer, think volleyball, kayak, boat, outdoor fireplace, fishing rods, and barbecue. And for winter, plan on snowshoes, cross-country or downhill skis, snowboards, sleds and indoor fireplace. Always have a few games like Monopoly, Cranium, Trivial Pursuit or Battleship on hand for rainy days.

10. Plan your project

Decorating your vacation home is like traveling. It can take you wherever you want to go. But the key to success is and will always be planning.

For those of you ready to invest time and money to create the perfect “chez soi,” take your time to chose the perfect materials. But more importantly, make sure you inject some fun into the process!

FOR MORE INSPIRATION, BE SURE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW BLOG, AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR Pinterest Vacation Home board!

“Millennials consider themselves civic-minded and active participants in today’s world, and that it’s up to them to assume the responsibility of making a lasting, positive impact on the future. Millennials have surpassed simply wanting help in supporting causes and are starting to demand that others, especially companies, do their part.”

Great choices for a great future 

As a Millennial, I couldn’t agree more with this observation from Christie Barakat in SocialTimes. I buy Dove because of their Self-Esteem Project; I drop by Tim Hortons on camp days; my closet sports an Audvik winter coat and I’m looking at buying a Petit Coulou for my niece-to-be, because they are both from my home province of Quebec, where Lauzon Flooring is based; I buy Kashi because of their work with the Non-GMO Project and their financial support for Evergreen program (ok, and I love their products, too); and I prefer local, non-GMO and ethically sourced products for all sorts of good reasons. The fact that a brand donates part of their profits to a cause, sponsors a cause-related event, makes an effort to use ethically sourced or eco-responsible materials, or works hard to reduce their ecological footprint influences my purchasing decisions—because I strongly believe that every little thing counts.

In the same article, Barakat says that 56% of Millennials will refuse to work for a company that is not socially or environmentally responsible. Well, I’m proud to say they wouldn’t have any problems with my company. The proof? At Lauzon Flooring, we control our products from forest to floor in an eco-responsible way, we partner in social causes and we make sure we provide healthy floorings. I’ll write more about our interesting story in future posts, so be sure to check back in!

The perfect house for a young family – All for a good cause 

With all of this talk about social responsibility, I am really excited to tell you about our partnership with Ma Maison Rouge Canal Vie, the new TV show that premiered August 24 on Canal Vie.

For those of you who don’t know the show, let me describe it to you. It’s being produced in partnership with Bonneville Homes. Over the seven episodes, the best interior designers at Canal Vie and Rouge fm will decorate the house, the goal being to create the perfect home for a young Quebec family. Once the house is finished, it will offered as the grand prize in the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Loterie du Coeur, which funds life-saving research.

Given the fact that someone dies from heart disease or stroke every seven minutes in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2011), we were really excited when Canal Vie approached us to partner in this new adventure. We had the perfect floor in mind for the project.

As part of the Millennial generation, young families today care about their health and wellbeing. Their first home is really important and they want the best for their kids. That’s why Canal Vie designers thought that our new Pure Genius air-purifying smart floor was a perfect fit for their house. The chosen floor for the project is one of our trendy new Natural hardwood floors with character. So when you watch the show, take a closer look at the floor, it’s Natural Hickory from our Émira series! This gorgeous product not only purifies indoor air, its anti-microbial finish helps remove bad odours and reduce asthma and allergies, too.

The TV show starts today at 19h00, it will be rebroadcast Tuesday at 11h00, Thursday at 20h00, Saturday at 20h00, Sunday at 13h00 and next monday at 18h00. The flooring will be chosen during the first episode.

I hope you’ll enjoy watching the show and discovering new products and tips to make your life easier and healthier. A ticket for the Loterie du Coeur gives you the chance to win this beautiful, exclusive house, but also supports the Foundation’s work and helps save lives.

So don’t forget to buy your lottery tickets to help make the campaign a success!

DISCOVER SOME OTHER great causes we have at heart!
AS WELL AS MORE Ma Maison Rouge Canal Vie pictures!

A special thank you to the lovely Lea Mazzei who so kindly accepted to be our model for the day!

September 23: The long Labor Day weekend has come and gone, the leaves are turning color, I’m thinking about retiring my sandals, and about my costume for Halloween (a holiday I still enjoy way too much). Fall is officially here! I know some of you have a grim view of this season, which is why indoor plants are the perfect remedy for adding life to your home as Mother Nature slowly prepares for winter. And for those of you lucky enough to live somewhere warm, NASA says that improving your indoor air quality with plants is also a must.

Did you know that in the late 1980s NASA partnered with Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) to conduct the NASA Clean Air Study? The purpose of the study was to find ways to clean indoor air in space stations. They found that a number of houseplants filter out common volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Lucky for us, these plants do not require zero gravity to work their magic on indoor air, which is 5 to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air.

Indoor air quality is important, given that we typically spend 90% of our time indoors. Some plants are better air purifiers than others, but on average, NASA suggests having 1 plant per 100 square feet of living space. In addition to purifying your indoor air, plants will add life and color to your décor.

The bad chemicals

Our indoor air can contain many chemicals. But for the purpose of this post, we will concentrate on the five evaluated by NASA.

Formaldehyde 

Formaldehyde is one of the best known and most toxic indoor air contaminants, due to its unfortunate abundance in common consumer products. Studies have shown that people exposed to low levels of formaldehyde over long periods are more likely to experience asthma-related respiratory symptoms. In higher amounts formaldehyde is known to cause cancer of the nasal cavity.

Trichloroethylene

Trichloroethylene or TCE, is a common indoor air pollutant released by paints, dry cleaning, adhesives, pesticides, and the ink in copy machines, faxes, and printers. Short-term exposure to TCE irritates the nose and throat and depresses the central nervous system. Higher concentrations can cause numbness and facial pain, reduced eyesight, unconsciousness, irregular heartbeat, and even death.

Benzene and Xylene

Benzene and Xylene are found in the vapor of products like gasoline, oils, paints, glues, inks, plastics, and rubber, where they are used as solvents. These indoor air pollutants are also used to make detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals, foams, and dyes. They are skin and eye irritants and are known carcinogens linked to human leukemia.

Ammonia

Ammonia is found in window cleaners, floor waxes, smelling salts, and fertilizers. Common symptoms associated with short-term exposure include eye irritation, coughing, and sore throat.

Top 11 air-filtering houseplants

In its study, NASA created a chart of 28+ air-filtering plants, but I’ve selected the best ones for you based on their purification power.

1. Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis)

Who hasn’t used aloe gel to heal cuts and burns? I love it because when I close my eyes, the smell reminds me of my childhood. Aloe was my grandmother’s favorite plant. Plus it’s easy to grow, sun-loving, and helps clean formaldehyde and benzene from the air.

2. Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Not only is it almost impossible to kill and beautiful, with lots of rich foliage and tiny white flowers, the spider plant also battles formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene. Its leaves grow quickly and help absorb harmful substances like mold and other allergens, so it is the perfect plant for people with common dust allergies.

3. Gerber daisy (Gerbera sp.)

I just love the bright colors of this flowering plant that’s fantastic at removing benzene, xylene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, which you may bring home with your dry cleaning.

4. Devil’s ivy (Scindapsus aures)

No matter what I do—or forget to do—devil’s ivy, also known as golden pothos, is unkillable. Which is good for me, because NASA ranks this plant among its top 3 for removing formaldehyde. It can also help remove benzene and xylene.

5. Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’)

Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, this plant filters out formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and nitrogen oxides.

6. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum sp.)

Peace lily is a beautiful plant that removes formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. It also combats toluene and xylene. Plus it helps reduce the level of mold spores that grow in the home. In bathrooms, peace lily can help keep shower tiles and curtains free from mildew and absorb harmful vapors from alcohol and acetone.

7. Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum sp.)

The colorful flowers of a mum can do a lot more than brighten your home—they are also very effective at removing benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and ammonia. This plant loves bright light, and to encourage buds to open, you’ll need to place it near an open window with direct sunlight.

8. English ivy (Hedera helix)

English ivy is perfect for people with pets in the home, as it can reduce the amount of airborne fecal matter (just keep it out of reach of animals, as it is toxic if ingested). This plant also absorbs formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene. Plus studies show that keeping an English ivy on your desk will help you focus because it also absorbs trace amounts of benzene.

9. Cornstalk dracaena (Dracaena fragrans)

Dracaena fragrans grows well as a houseplant in nearly any location. It only requires minimal care to produce lush, deep green foliage, plus it helps remove thrichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and benzene from the air.

10. Red-edged dracaena (Dracaena marginata)

This red-edged dracaena brings a nice pop of color. It is best for removing xylene, trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde and can grow to reach your ceiling!

11. Broadleaf lady palm (Rhapis excelsa)

Broadleaf lady palm is a popular and elegant indoor plant. It helps battle formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia.

I love cooking with my own fresh herbs, growing roses and blueberries (just visit my parents’ house and you’ll see why), and having beautiful indoor plants and flowers. The only thing is that my outdoor plants usually live longer than my houseplants. So if you’re like me, start with devil’s ivy and spider plants for greenery, and one of our Pure Genius air-purifying smart floors, like our beautiful brown Hickory Tunga hardwood flooring, for pure indoor air. These hardwood floors require no watering, only sun and light, and will improve your indoor air while beautifying your décor!

FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT INDOOR AIR QUALITY, ASTHMA, AND ALLERGIES ON OUR Allergies & Pure Genius Pinterest board!

This year, as the weeks went by I watched my little sister’s belly get bigger and bigger, and now that she is in her 33rd week, finishing the new nursery has become a really hot topic. Parents (and auntie) want the best for the new family member. Designing the perfect healthy nursery for your little baby-to-be can be fun, but it can also be challenging. You have to be able to juggle design, functionality, safety and health.

Here’s the best way to create an  auntie-approved safe and healthy nursery for the little princess!

Choosing health and safety first

Children are particularly susceptible to the effects of air quality on their health. And here I am not only talking about second-hand smoke – which is already well known to be associated with an increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – but also VOCs.

VOCs are chemical compounds left over from the manufacturing process of many common household items. For more information, read my last blog post about the top 11 best air-filtering houseplants. In this post you will discover the 5 chemicals evaluated by NASA in their study to improve indoor air quality with indoor plants, because we know that indoor air is 5 to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air.

Considering that children exposed to strong VOC emissions run a 4 times greater risk of suffering from asthma than other children, it is clear that to protect their health, it is essential to reduce their exposure to these chemicals by making wise choices for the healthy nursery. Because many of the pollutants and chemicals that could harm your baby are present in the textiles, crib, mattress, toys and furniture you may choose if you are not careful…

Babies also depend on you for making the right choices to ensure their safety. As any experienced mother will tell you, baby-proofing is essential, especially in the nursery, where your little one will spend more than a few hours of unsupervised time.

That’s why when setting up your safe and healthy nursery it’s important to be sure every item you choose is as safe and healthy as it is beautiful.

Choosing a safe and healthy crib and furniture

Babies and toddlers spend 10–14 hours a day sleeping and playing in their crib, so obviously it should be the safest and healthiest space possible.

To avoid exposing your baby to dangerous contaminants, you need to make sure your furniture, and particularly the crib, are made of hardwood that is either finished or painted with a water-based non-toxic paint or stain containing no VOCs. Plus they should be lead and phthalate free. Certified sustainable hardwood is also a must for Mother Nature.

Even though you should avoid medium-density fiberboard, plywood, particleboard, and laminated wood because of the carcinogenic formaldehyde most contain, you might inherit some or you even have already purchased your crib and furniture.

If so, you have 2 options to minimize the impacts in your healthy nursery:

1- If you are unsure about the wood or finishes, you can place it outside or in a well-ventilated garage for at least a month before you use it. This will allow some chemicals to off-gas before you bring it into your nursery.

2- If you know there is particleboard in the equation, you can seal it completely using a specially designed sealant paint to prevent any chemicals from escaping into the air.

While you may love the idea of using the family crib or adding a vintage touch, chances are it doesn’t meet modern safety standard, especially if it was made before 1990, when the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standards were updated. Cribs made before 1990 may be structurally weak or have loose part and lead paint. Also, always look for a crib with the JPMA certification. The JPMA Certification seal signifies the highest level of established product testing and ensures adherence to ASTM standards, federal and state laws, as well as some retail requirements. Each product is  sample tested at an independent laboratory to guarantee it meets the highest safety standards.

But the crib isn’t the only thing to look for in a safe and healthy nursery. Your changing table should have adequate safety straps and rails, and be strong and secure. You also need to make sure your rocking chair and any other furniture are safe, stable, and not easy for your baby to climb on.

Choosing a healthy mattress

Traditional crib mattresses are made from plastics, which leach BPA and phthalates and are treated with flame-retardant chemicals known as PBDEs. All of these chemicals can be absorbed through your baby’s skin, ingested, or inhaled, harming developing hormone and nervous systems. Some are potential carcinogens.

To avoid putting your baby to sleep in a bed full of chemicals and VOCs, chose vinyl-free wool and cotton mattresses. Look for healthy mattress interiors made of untreated wood, metal, and nontoxic adhesives. Make sure it also meets the internationally recognized Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS), which is your guarantee that it’s free of toxins and made from fiber and fabrics certified by Europe’s National Organic Program.

Want a list of 9 of the top options to create a healthy nursery? I recommend taking a look at TreeHugger’s selection.

In your quest for a healthy nursery I also recommend looking at Baby Joy mattress selection. I found this really nice Toronto-based, family-run business while searching for the best auntie-approved mattresses. It’s a Canadian online store offering organic, natural, non-toxic, chemical-free, and eco-friendly baby products (Every word in that sentence is music to my ears).

Choosing healthy bedding

Studies have shown that finding the right sheets, pads, and toppers for your baby healthy nursery is just as important as finding the right mattress, because together they can significantly reduce the chance that your baby will develop asthma, eczema, and allergies.

Look for safe organic and chemical-free baby bed sheets, pads, and toppers that are made from 100% organic cotton. The best choice of fabric for a mattress pad is tightly woven organic cotton. Hemp is also a good choice as it’s a durable fiber from a plant that grows well without chemicals; silk can also be added to make hemp fiber softer.

Choosing the right window coverings

Childproofing your windows and installing safe and healthy window coverings is a definite must. No cutting corners allowed here!

Make sure your curtains are properly installed and sufficiently fixed to the wall stud or secured with the appropriate dry wall anchors, so they don’t fall on your child. You should never ever use tension rods. They are the perfect recipe for injuring your child’s head.

Never place your crib, rocking chair, changing table, or playpen within reach of your curtains. Plus you must ALWAYS keep cords permanently out of children’s reach.

As with bedding, you should look for 100% organic cotton or hemps fiber for all the same reasons we discussed above, plus they hold up well in sunlight.

Some of you may not often think about washing your bedroom curtains. But let’s face it, they tend to collect dust and dust mites, which can cause allergies and other respiratory problems, so please, for the sake of all the good choices you’ve made so far in your healthy nursery, wash them often.

You can also choose solid wood plantation shades with a nontoxic finish. They are easier to clean and tend to collect less dust than curtains. But “easier to clean” does not mean they’ll clean themselves, so remember to wipe them down as well.

Choosing the right lighting

Being the daughter of an electrician, I know that lighting can make all the difference in a décor. For a safe nursery be sure to cover all electrical outlets and tuck away cords. You should also be wary of potential chocking hazards. I would also recommend avoiding floor lamps and table lamps – or any other heavy decorative items, for that matter – on tablecloths which can easily be pulled over.

Choosing a no-clutter nursery

Stuffed animals, toys, and dolls are fun, but they collect dust. A nursery low in clutter has fewer places for dust mites and other allergens to hide, plus it’s safer for your little one.

For a healthy nursery, make sure you limit bedroom accessories to just those pieces you truly love. While it may be tempting to use the area under the crib for storage, don’t! This is a prime hiding zone for dust mites, along with irritating dust bunnies and general grime. Choose smart wardrobe system and chests of drawers.

Choosing the right paint

Nowadays, many people know that conventional paint contains benzene, formaldehyde, mercury, solvents, and many other VOCs. Choosing an eco-friendly, nontoxic, VOC-free interior paint is also a must. As someone who worked at a paint company in my former life, I can tell you how important it is to make sure the colorant used to tint your paint is also VOC-free.

You can also consider natural paint, which is made from food-safe plant and mineral ingredients, or milk paint, which is made from milk protein, pigment, lime clay, and water.

Even if you’re using VOC-free paint, you need to make sure the room is well ventilated. Delegate painting to somebody else when you are pregnant, and keep children out of recently painted rooms. Wait at least 72 hours or until the smell is gone. For babies you will need to wait a few weeks.

Choosing the right flooring

Small children spend much of their time on the floor playing and learning to walk, so flooring is an important piece of your healthy nursery to think about.

Removing wall-to-wall carpet is the healthiest thing you can do in your home, because they off-gas chemicals and harbor toxins and pollutants. So putting in VOC-free hardwood floors to replace your carpets is one of the smartest choices you can make in your entire home – not just the nursery. Because usually you’ll want your child to move, play, and live everywhere around the house!

For an optimal indoor air quality in your healthy nursery, consider a Lauzon Pure Genius air-purifying smart floor like our relaxing Red Oak Absolut hardwood flooring or even our sustainable and unique Organik Charm hardwood floor made of Hard Maple. A Pure Genius floor not only destroys VOCs, it helps reduce asthma and allergies by purifying indoor air by up to 85% and its anti-microbial finish decomposes up to 99.6% of bacteria, viruses, and molds. Which is reassuring when you see what your baby puts in his mouth…

Our unique Pure Genius is a built-in feature of all Lauzon’s Designer and Ambiance Collection flooring series (except Homestead and Urban Loft series), as well as all square edges and Herringbone floorings.  It is also offered as an option on the rest of the Ambiance Collection hardwood floors.

You can’t eliminate every source of contaminant or danger from your safe and healthy nursery, but you can go a long way towards lessening their presence and impact with these simple guidelines. I hope they will help you and your baby sleep better – so the little Princess will be full of energy to play outside with auntie!

CLICK here TO FIND OUR OUR TOP DESIGN TIPS FOR CREATING A BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY NURSERY IN 9 MONTHS? COME BACK IN 2 WEEKS FOR MY NEXT ARTICLE!

IN THE MEAN TIME, YOU CAN TAKE A LOOK AT OUR Pinterest AND Houzz NURSERY SELECTION.

A special thank you to the lovely Marie-Ève Pelletier who so kindly accepted we take pictures of Arielle’s beautiful nursery!

As you learned in my last blog post – about creating the healthiest, safest nursery possible – in about 5 weeks I will become the happiest auntie of the most lovable Princess! In my quest for the healthiest and safest nursery possible, I also discovered many décor best practices to help you create your perfect nursery in 9 months. Actually 9 months is not quite exact, because the recommended finish date is week 36 – or week 33 if you’re expecting twins or triplets!

First Trimester

Plan your nursery

In the first trimester, think about your needs, evaluate the available space in your house for your perfect nursery, set a budget, and gather ideas.

Second Trimester

Time for major renovation?

If you’re planning to do a major renovation in your perfect nursery (e.g., replacing flooring with our relaxing Red Oak Absolut hardwood flooring, repairing walls, or rewiring), you’ll want to get started right away, around month four.

Choose your style and bedding

Go online. Visit Houzz and Pinterest, where you’ll discover a world of options for your perfect nursery! From girly or boyish to unisex, original themes and styles – the possibilities are limitless.

Once you pretty much know where you want to go with this, head to the store to pick up your bedding. As discussed in my previous post, be sure to choose bedding that’s safe organic and chemical free. Once you have found the perfect bedding for your perfect nursery, the rest of the design will come easily!

Choose your paint color

After you select the bedding, you can then choose the paint color and wall decorations. Don’t make the mistake of doing it the other way around! You see it’s really easier this way! There are endless paint colors available, so you’ll always be able to find shades that work with your fabrics.

Encourage your baby’s development

Unlike hearing, which is fully mature by the end of baby’s first month outside the womb, it takes 6 to 8 months for your baby’s vision to develop to where he or she can see the world almost as well as you do.

To foster your baby’s development and interest in primary colors, pastels, and contrasts, choose some eye-catching tones for your perfect nursery. Soft blues, greens, whites, and pinks for walls, colorful wall and ceiling decorations near the crib and changing table, and primary-colored mobiles are a great place to start.

Choose your window coverings

The right bedding, paint colors, wall decorations, and window coverings will create your perfect décor. But think about installing blackout curtains to block out sunlight for daytime naps. This will help your baby sleep longer and more comfortably. 

Choose your crib and furniture

By month 5 you should be ready to order your new furniture, because sometimes it can take as long as 14 weeks to arrive. There are many factors to consider when buying furniture. Baby’s small crib may look lovely now, but have you left enough room to exchange it for a toddler-sized bed later? Be practical and leave room for your baby to grow. Think long-term, but make sure safety and health are your top priorities. A crib that converts into a toddler bed and furniture that ages well are particularly good choices for new parents!

Identify a focal point

It can be the crib, a large window, or an alcove. Having a focal point will balance the esthetic of your perfect nursery.

Think about lighting

I know that lighting can make all the difference in a décor. Dimmers are always a must to avoid harsh lighting. Nightlights are also great for comfort and safety, plus they can be so adorable! Don’t be scared to invest in lighting and think long term.

Third Trimester

Focus on the small stuff

By month eight, baby is almost here and soon you won’t feel like decorating, bending, reaching, etc. Have somebody move in the furniture and hang window treatments and wall decorations.

Take this time to wash and put away all those adorable new baby clothes, arrange shower gifts in your perfect nursery, stock necessities (diapers, wipes, lotions, and so on), put those plastic outlet protectors over all unused electrical outlets and take a deep breath. You are now ready for baby!

Relax

Now it’s time to relax and read a book in the cozy rocking chair you picked out and appreciate the peace and quiet of the perfect nursery you’ve created for your newborn. It may be the last chance you get for a long, long time…

Remember, whatever design decisions you make, they should be based on your personal preferences and needs. I hope you find my tips helpful as you begin this wonderful journey!

That’s what my father would tell me before helping me back on my bike or sending me off to study for a test or practice for a dance show. And ultimately, whenever I successfully completed my task, he’d say, “See, I was right, and I’m proud of you.” Those words were more precious than gold to me.

I recently had to face the biggest challenge of my life so far, without my father to cheer me on with his words of wisdom—because this time, the challenge was dealing with his death. Unfortunately, my father’s struggle against cancer came to an end on April 10, 2015. He was 59.

Cancer, that insidious disease that creeps into our cells without us knowing, will so
on affect half of all Canadians if we don’t take action to stop it. In his song “Quand c’est,” Belgian singer Stromae likens the disease to a terrifying crab. Some people manage to beat it, but others, like my father, are not as fortunate. And the scars left by his passing are deep and numerous.

This disease—which indiscriminately strikes fathers, mothers, children, siblings, grandparents, cousins, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and even strangers you meet in line at the store—sparked something in me this year. I wanted to do something, because to do nothing was to admit defeat.

Some people are lucky enough to have their cancer detected early enough to be treated. So there is still hope that research may one day lead to a cure that wipes out this devastating disease. What I’m asking for today is that we all come together and help advance medical research so that more and more people will survive this disease.

My father may no longer be here to spur me on, but I never cease to be amazed by the generosity and support of all those involved in this project, as well as the dedication and courage of the volunteers at the Canadian Cancer Society—people like Martha Moore, who received the Medal of Courage, the Canadian Cancer Society’s highest distinction, at the Gala des Grands Chefs in the Outaouais region in October. She received the medal in recognition for her outstanding courage in her struggle against cancer and her immeasurable contribution as a volunteer in the fight against the disease.

Prep

It all started with a desire to do something. I talked about it to my coworker Mélanie, who threw her hat in the ring, no questions asked as usual. There were now two of us, with an idea, and a cause we both believed in. We don’t work in marketing for nothing, so the next step was to come up with a plan and get it approved.

In my blog post entitled The Perfect House for a Young Family, I had the chance to talk about Lauzon’s social engagement. If you read it, you won’t be surprised to learn that it was easy to get the company’s support for the project. Lauzon already participates in the Relay for Life, and its recent head shave campaign in May raised $5,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

With the company on board, my idea would now become a reality.

Setup

“What could we use to tie in with our fundraising campaign?” A work of art, of course! So we contacted Linda Laflamme, who immediately agreed to donate a unique canvas that she would paint especially for the occasion. A painting depicting the courage and hope of those battling cancer, as well as the setbacks they must overcome and the natural ebb and flow of their morale, like the ocean tides caressing the beach. Atlantis.

“We’re also going to need a visual for the campaign.” But not just any visual. Something beautiful, warm, and inviting; something unique that goes hand in hand with the painting, the cause, and Lauzon. So we approached our 3D image supplier Kub Studio to talk about our project, and they jumped at the chance to donate the perfect visual for our campaign!

“A visual means posters!” Once again, we reached out to one of our contacts. The first company we called, MC Graphique, agreed straightaway to print all the materials we needed for our Canadian fundraiser—no matter what we needed!

“We live in a media-driven world, so we’re obviously gonna need a video!” We had the considerable good fortune to be put in contact with an agency we’d never heard of before, La Shoppe. They agreed to create a unique video worthy of the biggest fundraising campaigns. La Shoppe found seven people touched by our cause who kindly agreed to appear in front of the camera. Another agency, Ice VFX Studio, volunteered to handle postproduction. The fruit of this collaborative effort exceeded all our expectations!

“Now we have to spread the word!” We turned to our digital content specialists at DAC Group and our public relations specialists at Gail Bergman PR. Once again, both were happy to help us!

Some would say we were lucky, but the sad reality is that cancer has personally affected each of the people we approached.

Launch

The launch is a critical part of every campaign. And we were fortunate to be able to kick ours off at the 11th Gala des grands chefs de l’Outaouais, on October 24. As a sponsor of the event, Lauzon Flooring put the painting donated by Linda Laflamme up for the silent auction. The painting alone brought in $5,700, and the event raised almost $180,000 in all! We all had a wonderful time thanks to the hard work of the many volunteers from the region where Lauzon Flooring is based. It just goes to show that we can accomplish a lot when we work together.

We presented the campaign at our annual sales and marketing meeting last week, and it goes without saying that all those present were touched by the cause and determined to make the campaign a success.

We’ll be talking up the initiative throughout the company in the coming weeks, and I am confident the response will be outstanding. Because the Lauzon commitment is also shared by all the wonderful employees who help shape the company day after day.

Campaign

I stumbled upon this saying one day: “You must be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Well, I encourage you to be this change. I ask you to join Lauzon Flooring, and all of our remarkable suppliers who helped make this initiative possible, and give generously to our fundraiser in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Let us work together to support research in the fight against cancer.

JOIN US AND MAKE A DONATION by clicking here.

Every donation of $10 or more is eligible for a tax credit.

Conclusion

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to this campaign. Without you, all this would not have been possible.

It is a privilege for us to tell you that with all your participation, we were able to donate all together a total of $12,000 for cancer research.

Thank you all!

Tired of playing hide and seek with your keys, cellphone, and yoga mat? Maybe your number one resolution for the New Year should be decluttering your home. Don’t know where to start? Here’s our selection of tips and tricks to help you put your new resolution into action.

1. Start with the low-hanging fruit

There’s no need to make things hard for yourself by tackling the toughest tasks first. Start by cleaning that one counter, shelf, or drawer that’s a magnet for stuff with no other place to go. Beginning with an easy success in your decluttering process provides motivation for the long haul.

2. Keep your tidy spaces organized

Once you’ve successfully cleaned out that messy drawer, think about using dividers or other accessories to help you organize it better. This is a great way to make sure everything has a place and that the mess isn’t back by Valentine’s Day! Use this type of solution for every space you declutter.

3. Put everything in its place

Always remember to put your things back where they belong once you’ve finished using them. I know it’s difficult sometimes, but you’ll see it’s worth it!

4. Stop clutter at the source

Let’s face it—decluttering is a waste of time if you simply replace the old stuff with new. You’ll need to slow the flow of stuff entering your home. Before you buy something, ask yourself: DO I REALLY need this? Will I REALLY use it?

Get your family and friends to help by sharing in activities with you for your birthday instead of giving you more stuff. It’s a great way to avoid overloading your home and spend quality time with your loved ones.

5. Get rid of all your duplicates

We all have two or three versions of different things we thought would be really useful. But keeping duplicates is a recipe for clutter. Keep the best one and take any extras to your cottage or donate them to a charity!

6. Follow the one-year rule

I know you keep telling yourself that you’ll use that tool someday or wear that shirt someday—maybe for Halloween. But if you haven’t touched it in a year, chances are that you’re not going to anytime soon. Get rid of all the things you haven’t used over the past year.

7. Use the reverse clothes-hanger trick

The reverse clothes-hanger trick is perfect to help you apply the one-year rule to your clothes. It’s quite simple: turn all the clothes hanging in your closet so that the hangers face back-to-front. For the next year, if you wear an item of clothing, return it to the closet with the hanger facing the correct way. If you try it on but decide not to wear it, make sure you put it back with the hanger turned backward—no cheating. Be prepared for a shock; you’ll find you own lots of clothes you have no use for.

8. Don’t keep things out of guilt

We all probably have things we keep because they were gifts or because we paid way too much money for them at the time and feel guilty about getting rid of them. But I’m telling you, your home should only contain the things you love or use.

9. Digitalize your souvenirs

It’s great to keep a few souvenirs around, but if you find that they’re taking over your home, I would encourage you to take photos of them and then get rid of them. That way you’ll keep them around forever, without the clutter!

10. Give back

While decluttering, don’t forget that stuff you’re getting rid doesn’t necessarily have to end up in the trash. If items are in good condition, pass them on to family, friends, or co-workers, or donate them to a charity!

Holiday season might be over, but giving back is important all year long. It makes others feel good, which makes you feel good, too.

No matter which trick you choose to help you get started in your decluttering process—whether it’s one of these or any one of countless others—the goal is to take your first step with energy and determination.

Last week I had the privilege of attending The International Surface Event 2016 in Las Vegas. Not only was it my first trip to Vegas (although I sadly didn’t get to see a lot of the city), but it also marked Lauzon’s return to The International Surface Event.

The mood at the show was upbeat and the first two days seemed busier than they have been in years. Official attendance figures haven’t been released, but the show had over 700 exhibitors once again.

Traffic at the Lauzon Flooring booth kept pace with the rest of the show—i.e., busy! We were also really pleased with the quality and quantity of people we had the chance to meet during TISE. We couldn’t have hoped for a better turnout.

The Lauzon Enchanted Forest

The booth we created especially for the event was a resounding success. The Enchanted Forest theme encapsulated our three core pillars—Forest, Quality, and Innovation.

“At a big event like TISE, you have to set yourself apart to draw attendees to your booth.” commented Nathalie Lambert our Marketing Director. Based on all the positive comments we received, our hard work paid off and our booth really stood out.

Putting the forest first

It was important to us as a company to give the forest top billing in our booth, since it’s one of the things we’re really proud of. I think our design captured this perfectly; a number of people told us how beautiful and unique our booth was. People were intrigued by the multidimensional trees we created and came inside the booth to see the flooring on display behind them.

The fact that we control the process from forest to floor makes Lauzon a truly unique and reliable hardwood flooring manufacturer. The fact that we offer a wide range of eco-friendly, zero-VOC, made-in-Canada hardwood floors that fit the current market trend toward conscious consumption shared by consumers, designers, architects, and builders definitely gives us a competitive edge.

On-trend product selection

Whether you were lulled by the forest, the trees, or the digital technology used in our booth, once you entered, you could explore the range of stylish yet exclusive looks and textures in our carefully curated product offering.

You could start by touching the four textures on our texture tree (right-hand side tree in the picture). First came Smooth, a silky texture with a classic allure that highlights the wood grain. From there you could move to the unique new Écho texture, which was unveiled for the first time at TISE. The Écho texture enhances and gives life to the natural grain of the wood, lending our floors a subtle depth. From Écho you could move to the meticulously crafted Hand Scraped texture and, last but not least, our delicate Wire Brushed texture, which gives wood a subtle warm scuffed look.

Then you could stroll through the booth to check out our unique light tone floorings (from left to right in the picture), from true white Bianco (Hard Maple), to shaded Camarillo (Beech) that sets light colors into play beautifully, to our Natural Hard Maple in Squared Edge that elevates wood floor joinery to new heights of uniformity and alignment. Last but not least in this section was Persia—a magnificent light hickory flooring infused with our air-purifying Pure Genius technology and unveiled for the first time at the event.

On the opposite side of the booth, you could continue to explore our most popular floors, ranging from natural to dark brown (right to left in the picture). Starting with a designer Coups de Coeur White Oak Quarter Sawn, which features fine, slightly more pronounced and curved lines and a flecked look, then you could move to true brown Tunga (Hickory) infused with our air-purifying Pure Genius technology. Then came Cerralvo, one of my personal favorite Lauzon products! A white oak floor with a unique torrefied look achieved with precise thermal processing techniques that create an exotic caramelized effect. Then you could move on to Country Side, a hand scraped black walnut with trendy time-worn planks, and finish up with new and exciting Épic, featuring our subtle new Écho texture and air-purifying Pure Genius technology.

One really nice feature of this side of the booth was the rotating trees that revealed our trendy gray floors (from left to right in the picture). You could start with Costa, another new flooring unveiled at the event, featuring our innovative Écho texture and Pure Genius technology. Then you could move to White Oak Greystone, a longer, 7.5″ wide trendy wire-brushed floor. After that you could take a look at Travertine (Hard Maple), featuring an exclusive look inspired by the natural linear motifs found in mineral stratification. Then came another wire-brushed hardwood floor with Sincero, one popular Pure Genius–infused floors. You could finish with the stunning Natura Chic Hard Maple flooring from our Organik series, infused with Pure Genius technology.

We chose to showcase our stunning Natura Charm as the main flooring in our booth. This was the perfect choice! According to our visitors, it was another highlight of our booth. The floors in our Organik series were inspired by and created according to designers’ needs and the latest trends, and they are very popular. Developed by Lauzon, they feature an organic look created through a unique, natural process that reveals the deeply beautiful grain, texture, and mineral streaks of Hard Maple as never before.

Pure Genius: Our air-purifying smart floor

Once you learned more about our green products and cutting-edge designs, it was time to discover the world’s latest hardwood floor innovation—our air-purifying smart floor called Pure Genius.

Pure Genius is a revolutionary technology that transforms your hardwood floor into an air purifier by using natural or artificial light. It can make your indoor air up to 85% cleaner and destroy up to 99.6% of bacteria and viruses while you’re drinking your morning coffee or evening glass of wine.

It’s the perfect hardwood floor for families, asthma sufferers, and anyone concerned about all the VOCs we bring into our homes every day.

You could even see a live demonstration of the purifying power of our exclusive Pure Genius technology in our booth. The blue VOC solution would disappear before your eyes within five minutes, proving the effectiveness of the technology.

This reaction is due to the fact that Pure Genius is a light-activated, air-purifying agent made of titanium dioxide, which is integrated into Lauzon’s Titanium floor finish. So the light-activated titanium dioxide molecules transform the blue VOC solution molecules into harmless H₂O and CO₂, making the blue solution disappear.

This test was a real draw to our booth and was really popular with visitors, helping them better understand the chemical reaction behind Pure Genius.

We produced this video for those of you who couldn’t attend the show:

Our digital attractions

At Lauzon, innovation is everywhere, in our floorings and in our use of digital technology—just take a look at the DecoZone section of our website, for instance.

To liven things up, share our experience on social media, and draw people to the booth, we decided to include a social wall, where you could see live pictures of the event tagged as #lauzonevent16 (on Twitter and Instagram), as well as pictures from the TISE Photo Booth.

Yes, we were the proud sponsor of the TISE Photo Booth, where attendees could goof around having their photo taken, get a picture strip like in the good old days, and share them on social media.

Getting together with great people

Having the opportunity to meet with great people we don’t get the chance to see often like people from magazines, associations and our biggest U.S. distributors was really important to us.

We got the chance to congratulate and thank the Elias Wilf team for their outstanding growth and support in 2015 as well as their 100^th anniversary.

We also got to meet the Galleher team and thank and congratulate them as well for their tremendous growth and support in 2015.

Our new U.S. Sales Director Dave Mumford was positive about the reaction to all our trendy flooring styles and textures. We were all thrilled with the overwhelming response to our new Écho texture and Pure Genius air-purifying technology, as well as the warm feedback from retailers, distributors, builders and designers.

To end this blog post, I would say that the teamwork behind this successful event was the perfect way to set the stage for a successful 2016.

I’ve been part of the Lauzon Flooring family for a bit more than two years now. I’m from a different part of Quebec, so I wasn’t familiar with the beautiful Outaouais countryside and had never heard the riveting story of the tenacious entrepreneur who worked so hard to promote his region.

Today I am honored to wrap up Lauzon Flooring’s 30th anniversary celebrations with an interview with our president and founder, David Lauzon.

A little over 30 years ago, David Lauzon was a man with a dream and vision that laid the groundwork for what has become one of North America’s leading manufacturers of premium hardwood flooring.

The start of a grand adventure

 Q: How did it all start?

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial bent. While working a student job in a local mill, I spotted a business opportunity in buying and reselling white pine logs. So in 1985 I founded David Lauzon Enterprises Ltd. with a small initial investment of $5,000.

Q: We know interpersonal relationships are important to you. Do you remember your first client?

It’s true I place a lot of importance on our relationships with our past, current, and future clients, but also with our suppliers and employees because they’re the ones we have to thank for our success.

I remember our first client very well—Théo Mineault from Masson-Anger (Gatineau today). They are still in business manufacturing and installing custom kitchen and bathroom cabinets in Outaouais.

Q: Why hardwood flooring?

It all started with an opportunity to meet a need. Early on, I recognized the potential of fine hardwood flooring in a burgeoning housing market. Before wood floors were even fashionable, I saw them as a renewable and sustainable resource that when properly harvested and used would contribute to a more balanced environment. From the start, I was convinced that the comfort, natural beauty, and resilience of wood would appeal to homeowners, builders, and designers, and my commitment to that idea has not wavered.

The Growth

Q: What were the milestones in the company’s development?

Since its foundation, Lauzon Flooring has gone through several major growth spurts to reach our current production capacity of over 2.5 million cubic meters a year. Strategic investments were made for a variety of reasons such as bringing in new technology, creating synergies, or adding value to existing products and services.

1987: Opened a value-added hardwood floor finishing plant in Papineauville.

1990: Developed exports to Asia and Europe. This strategy positioned the company among the leading Canadian hardwood flooring exporters and spurred rapid growth.

1992: Founded DV Hardwoods inc. The company’s mission was to supply the flooring plant by building a network of direct suppliers and to find markets for low-grade wood unsuitable for being made into flooring. Lauzon Flooring began to focus its operations on manufacturing and selling solid unfinished hardwood flooring.

1995: Founded Cubex (today Lauzon Recycled Wood Energy Inc.). The company’s mission was to recover unused wood waste generated during the plank manufacturing process and transform it into highly efficient, low-polluting densified wood pellets.

1997: Acquired the Makibois Inc. plant in Maniwaki and opened the finishing plant. This was the first step in pursuing a long-term strategic vision—vertical integration with the goal of building a sustainable supply chain. Makibois had the facilities we needed to immediately diversify Lauzon’s product offering by opening a finishing plant.

1999: Launched Polynium+ and opened an engineered flooring manufacturing plant in Maniwaki.

2000: Acquired a second hardwood sawmill in Déléage (Industries Franc Bois inc.).

2001: Acquired Parquets Dubeau Ltd. in Saint-Norbert. Founded in 1936, Dubeau Floors celebrates its 80^th anniversary this year.

2002: Launched the Polynium+ finish with Sunshield^TM anti-yellowing solar protection.

2003: Acquired the Thurso sawmill and Fraser Papers forest land. These acquisitions marked a critical step toward our long-term strategic vision by consolidating the vertical integration of our operations and raw materials supply chain.

2006: Began investing $50 million in the Thurso sawmill.

2008: Obtained FSC^® forest management certification.

2009: Launched the revolutionnary Titanium^® finish.

2012: Made a major investment in the Papineauville plant.

2012: Launched the new Lauzon Flooring brand identity by rolling out an innovative sales system bolstered by a unique high-end display called REV and the development of a direct sales network for the Greater Toronto, Western Canada, and Florida markets.

2013: Launched Pure Genius^®, the world’s first air purifying wood flooring, gaining Lauzon Flooring a unique position in this market.

2014: Set up the Expert engineered flooring production line at our Saint-Norbert plant and introduced the product, aimed primarily at building contractors.

Lauzon Today

Q: Where is Lauzon today?

Today Lauzon Flooring is a manufacturer of premium hardwood flooring with 500 employees at six plants across Quebec. We are still headquartered in Papineauville. We also have a business office in Laval, in the greater Montreal area, and have a sales and marketing team covering North America.

Q: What are Lauzon’s values?

We believe in being honest, upright, and exacting, and in creating an open-door policy where employees are respected and have a voice. We also strive to develop the leadership, competency, and commitment necessary to create a stimulating, creative, and visionary environment.

Q: What is Lauzon’s mission?

To be a world leader in the manufacturing and merchandising of value-added, superior quality hardwood flooring, while meeting the changing needs of our customers.

Q: Why is offering products made in Canada from forests in Canada important to you?

With globalization, you have to find a way to stand out by offering well-made products with that little something extra.

Keeping our production in Canada (Quebec) is a long-term guarantee, a way to ensure our economic success and staying power. It also helps us bolster the economic viability of the country and province.

“Made in Canada” is becoming more and more of a draw with consumers who are looking for quality products they can trust.

Q: What does innovation mean at Lauzon?

Since our inception, we have always strived for excellence, drawing on scientific and technological advances to offer hardwood flooring of unparalleled beauty, precision, and craftsmanship.

Our goal of durability and sustainability led to a number of innovations in finish and construction: Polynium+ and NextStep^® in 1999, Sunshield^TM in 2002, Titanium^® in 2009, the groundbreaking Pure Genius^® in 2013, and Expert engineered flooring in 2014.

But our drive for innovation doesn’t stop there, as evidenced by our DecoZone viewer tool, our ever-evolving website, and our presence on social media and in stores.

Q: What does sustainability mean at Lauzon?

Lauzon Flooring was the first vertically integrated company in the industry, which positions us on the cutting edge of responsible resource management. Our manufacturing process begins in Outaouais (Quebec), on two million acres of forest land managed by us, and continued in our sawmill and finishing plants.

Since our inception, we have put forests first by adopting best practices in forestry management. We are also very proud of our ISO 14001 certification.

The quality of our machining and finishing processes, which minimize losses, optimize resources, and reduce our environmental footprint, speaks volumes about our commitment to making an exceptional line of eco-friendly flooring.

When you choose a Lauzon floor you’re helping preserve natural resources for generations to come.

Q: What excites you most about your company?

The employees. A company’s success comes from the commitment of its employees, and we owe ours to a dedicated group of people.

What’s next?

Q: How do you see the future at Lauzon Flooring?

Lauzon is like a tree: it has roots. It’s strong, healthy, and growing. By pursuing our focus on innovation, we will develop quality hardwood floors and unique solutions to ensure Lauzon’s continued development and long-term viability.

Thirty years is a significant milestone and our “from forest to floor” vision of beautifully sustainable comfort will guide us through the next 30 years.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your continued trust as we start a new leg in our journey.

YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE PICTURES ABOUT OUR 30 YEARS STORY? TAKE A LOOK AT OUR Pinterest board!

As you may have read earlier on our blog, we have just returned from The International Surface Event with exciting news on all the latest trends in hardwood floorings. I’m sure many of you are eager to learn more!

How do trends get started?

Where do all these trends come from? Obviously trend are based on many things, but their number one inspiration is the world we live in every day. After all, isn’t the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of a trend, “a general direction in which something is developing or changing”? That says it all!

So what actually is transpiring in our daily lives? What is everywhere we go, uses up tons of our time, and is designed to make our lives easier? If you’re like me, you’re thinking “all those phones, tablets, and other electronic devices.” There’s no getting away from them—other than driving for hours into our forests where there are no networks.

You’ve probably guessed it: the trend for 2016 is decorative enhancements that transform our homes into havens of peace and tranquility.

More and more people are tired of being permanently connected and looking for opportunities to unplug. In fact, National Unplugging Day is this week! But one day isn’t enough. People are seeking to escape every day of the year, and this is driving hardwood flooring trends.

Latest trendsetting hardwood floors revealed

At The International Surface Event last January, we introduced a unique, eco-friendly hardwood flooring line called Atlantis, which replicates the breathtaking beauty of the seashore in color, tone and texture.

Our new Atlantis series features a matte finish combined with beautiful color variations and a subtle texture that feels like silky, smooth waves to the touch. Developed to meet consumer demand for a calming, back-to-basics getaway, the flooring’s unique texture, called Écho, shifts and changes as the lighting in the room undulates, mimicking the changing beauty of a windswept beach.

These new hardwood floors elevate your décor and wellbeing to a new level with our Pure Genius^® air-purifying smart technology, a first-of-its-kind innovation in hardwood flooring that makes homes healthier. When activated by natural or artificial light and by the movement of air, the flooring breaks down airborne toxins and significantly improves indoor air quality by up to 85 percent. 

Top 3 trends in hardwood flooring

Created according to the latest trends, our Atlantis series combines the three overriding trends in hardwood flooring for 2016 born from the growing desire to escape every day by returning to basics.

Texture

From subtle to more pronounced textures, the new trendy wood flooring has a touch of depth, as opposed to looking artificially smooth. Influenced by our three-dimensional technological world, sensory-rich textured flooring is infused with character. – featured hardwood floor is Épic, Atlantis Series, Beech, Écho texture 

Weathered look

Gone are the days of shiny, pristine hardwood flooring. The rustic, whitewashed look embedded with imperfections is all the rage, inspired by the movement to natural, organic living. Like worn-out jeans, today’s popular wood flooring is rich with history and character. Its flaws make it flawless. – featured hardwood  floor is Charm, Organik Series, Hard Maple 

Multi-tones

Previously trendy dark wood planks are being replaced by lighter natural and gray flooring with variation in tones. With a subtle pattern on each plank, multi-toned flooring adds charm and interest to any room. – featured hardwood floor is Camarillo, Hamptons Series, Beech

Because we care about your wellbeing

In the same spirit of wellbeing, Lauzon has launched a fundraising campaign in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. We invite you to participate by making a donation to support research in the fight against cancer.

JOIN US IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST CANCER AND MAKE A DONATION by clicking here.

Why wait for vacation time to unwind when you can recreate the look and feel of a magnificent sandy shore right in your own home? Have fun with your décor, be creative in creating your haven.

BE SURE TO FOLLOW OUR BLOG AND TAKE A LOOK AT OUR Atlantis Series Pinterest board FOR MORE INSPIRATION!