The latest trend in flooring is to capture the warmth, charm and timelessness of a bygone era with wire-brushed oak hardwood floors, according to home design experts.

As the heart and soul of the decor, these floors are used to convey a sense of comfort and well-being associated with a cozy home atmosphere.

Just imagine a cabin in the mountains, a ski lodge or an old farmhouse in the country with wide-planked, unfinished floors, and you get the feelings these floors help to emulate in a home.

In wire-brushed flooring, the soft portion of the wood is removed to expose the grain and bring enhanced definition to each plank. Beautiful knots and dramatic oak character marks further emphasize depth and texture of wire brushed flooring.

To keep up with the demand for wire-brushed floors, manufacturers such as Mercier Wood Flooring, one of North America's leading hardwood flooring manufacturers, has developed an innovative wire-brushed collection featuring varying stain colours in matte finishes that respect the natural beauty of red oak and its rustic look.

Featured in Mercier's Heritage collection, the wire brushed Red Oak line features colours such as "Graphite" and the new "Macchiato." Each stain brings its own distinct personality. With its almost-black brown that perfectly highlights the wood's character and texture, Macchiato plays the authenticity and warmth card, explained Michel Collin, the company's marketing director. "Whether it is combined with a sober style, a bold design, brightly-coloured objects, or a monochrome environment, this chameleon colour is bound to turn heads."

Graphite, is a very dark brown stain that looks almost black. "A deep colour which makes any room looks naturally elegant," he added. "Graphite gives warmth and atmosphere to your home with style and originality." Graphite offers versatility to your decor as Collin explains it can be used in a chic contemporary decor or in a more traditional setting. These new colours are available in solid, engineered and LOC versions in varying widths.

More information on the latest trends in wood flooring is available at www. mercierwoodflooring.com.