FEATURE/Hardwood Floors Complete the Kitchen for AvidCooks.

Feature/Lifestyle Editors

FEATURE...

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PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--June 22, 2000

What makes a hardwood floor a great choice for the kitchen? Just ask noted kitchen designer Deborah Krasner.

"It's a floor that has some give in it, that's not tiring underfoot," she says. "It doesn't shatter everything that drops on it. It's good for sound insulation, and it can be very beautiful."

Krasner, author of "Kitchens for Cooks" and a regular guest on Public Radio's "The Splendid Table" show, says wood floors are also wonderful because they can be painted or stained for a completely different look.

"What I like about a wood floor as opposed to any other floor is if you want to change it you just have to sand it," she says. "With other floors, you have to make a huge investment and essentially replace the entire floor covering."

Because standing water can damage a wood floor, Krasner has a few hints for the area around the sink, where spills and drips most commonly occur. A floor cloth or washable rug can protect the wood. A small "apron" of ceramic tile, vinyl or linoleum can also be installed as a sort of permanent "rug" in front of the sink.

"That can be a real decorative opportunity," she says. "You can make a mosaic if you want to."

Most of Krasner's clients, homeowners across the country, choose wood floors. "I think they're extremely practical for people who like novelty and change as well as people who want the same look forever," she says.

For more information on hardwood floors contact the Hardwood Information Center. The toll-free number is 800-373-WOOD, and the website is http://www.hardwood.org.