Carpet

Colors are very much in demand with decorators this year. Shaw Carpets has reworked their carpet line with bright bold colors suitable for any room. In addition to color, look for texture – sculpted carpets in contemporary patterns and shaggy shags with multi color threads. WOW!

Retro colors are making a big come back for those of you who prefer dark warm floors. Look for carpets in delicious colors like chocolate and kiwi.

Look for low profile flat weaves or cable knits that give light airy feeling to any room. The colors home decorators prefer tend to be off-white, wheat, ecru, dusty grays and pastels.

Cork Flooring

Cork floors are taking the flooring market by storm; discover why Europeans have been using cork as a floor covering for years and why North Americans are falling in love with this environmentally friendly flooring alternative. Anti-microbial and cushiony soft, cork is an ideal choice for homeowners who want to keep their homes free of allergens and also enjoy a tranquil existence by diminishing noise. Cork floors are made from the harvested bark of the cork oak tree which is grown in the forests of the Mediterranean. Because the tree is not cut down to make the flooring, and the bark is a renewable resource, it is desirable flooring for environmentally aware consumers.

Hardwood flooring has been around for centuries and yet, it never goes out of style.

Now, more than ever, homeowners are returning to the timeless beauty of real hardwood floors.

For 2012 hardwood flooring trends include wider planks with deeper richer colors. Hardwood floors have a comforting, solid sound that most laminates can’t equal, and they can be refinished over and over again, creating a floor that can last for decades. Hardwood floors add elegance and beauty to any decorating style and the latest trend in wood floors is hand-scraped hardwood flooring. This old world appearance is in demand with homeowners looking for a rustic finish. The timeless classics include – Oak, Cherry, Pine, Maple Hickory, Pecan, Beech, Birch, and Walnut.

No matter which floor covering you choose, it should be serviceable for your lifestyle, and if you are building a new house or renovating an older one, your choices in floorings are endless.

Flooring sets the tone of the room – the look and feel of a room – but beyond appearance, the ultimate decision on which flooring material will be installed should be based on how a room is used.

For example, a room in which there is heavy foot traffic needs a hard wearing floor whereas a bedroom floor needs to be soft and cozy on the feet.

Ethical Floor Coverings – Now more than ever, it’s easy for the average homeowner to make environmentally friendly choices when it comes to home flooring products.

Laminate Flooring – Originally from Europe, laminate floors have taken over the floor covering market with the practical benefits of being durable, hard wearing, and beautiful. Laminates are replicating stone, and granite for endless decorating possibilities.

Hardwood Floors – Today’s hardwood floors are adding old world elegance with a new twist, moving more toward distressed planks, wider widths, and the introduction of exotic woods.

Linoleum – The original environmentally friendly floor covering, linoleum is available in a wide selection of colors and patterns, suitable for any decorating solution.

Carpet – The most practical home flooring, carpet brings color and warmth into every room. Endless patterns, colors and textures still make carpet the number one selling floor covering today.

Cork Flooring – Comfortable to walk on, incredibly warm underfoot, and discover the beauty of cork flooring and what it can do for your home.

Bamboo Floors – An environmentally friendly hardwood, bamboo is fast becoming one of the most popular flooring trends.

Floor Tile – A decorators dream come true, ceramic floor tiles offer timeless beauty and durability. Travertine tile is also another flooring option becoming more and more popular this year.

Area Rugs – These versatile splashes of color ground a room, giving it personality and function. This year, luxurious shag rugs are a big hit with decorators.

Vinyl Flooring – Offering the look of stone, ceramic tiles and hardwood – sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles are a natural solution for today’s homeowner looking for quality and design.

I love what a stair runner can add to a home. Few things offer more “bang for the buck” then a custom stair runner flowing elegantly down steps. Stair runners can vary widely in style, color and look, but if given some thought any style and color will add a custom finished addition that will give your home a one of a kind feel. Some of our most popular styles are sisal and natural fiber looks.

Striations really look great with the vertical lines of a staircase

I am seeing a lot of color and pattern used on stair runners currently. Installation is really critical so that the runner has a custom finish. What you don’t want is to see some installer  shooting the runner onto the steps with staples. This will not last and will look good for very long.

Take a look at the “before and afters” below. This was installed for a client about a month ago and they have loved it. As a matter of fact, 3 of their friends have ordered a runner similar for their own homes.

Nice stairs, but nothing memorable

ho hum

almost cold, but nice

See the difference?

Skins may not be your thing, but this looks so custom and great

Safe and warms it up

The homeowners love it and so do their friends

Another important attribute that a runner offers is increased safety. Whether for pets, kids or elderly there is no question that the stairs are more safe.

Would you like a stair runner in your home? Did you like the Animal Print runner? Let me know.

Serenity with a soft, soothing palette

  Dream of cities you’d like to visit (or loved ones who live there) by hanging clocks dedicated to their time zones.

 Bring out the richness of a hardwood floor with earthy tones―blues, greens, browns.

Larger throw pillows on your couch gives a cleaner design.

 Transform a corner of the couch into a reading nook with proper lighting.

 Pair busy accessories with a simple sofa.

  Tie together dissimilar patterns with a like element, such as color.

Color on Walls

Introduce color on the walls to make a room warm and lively.

Select Furniture that Completes your Look

Streamline the look of a room.

Pops of Color

Add pop to a neutral room by adding a few smart hits of color.

Select a Mirror that Works with the Room

Make a room appear brighter and larger by positioning a mirror to reflect light and a view.

Throw Pillows

Invest a couch with a modern, informal sensibility by tossing on odd number of throw pillows. For something more traditional, do an even number.

 Embrace robust colors.

 (Green has actually been shown to create a sense of calm and comfort.)

Create a modern décor

Use bright colors and fuss-free pieces.

Hang a Collection

Hang an eclectic collection of silver trays to serve as eye-catching ornaments.

Mix Materials and Textures

Give a living room depth by mixing materials and textures.

Embrace a Wild Print

Mix in a bold accent―like a zebra print―to add some contrast to a low-key sofa.

Trick a Small Space into Feeling Bigger

Use transparent tables in small spaces to give them an uncluttered feel.

Group Similar Objects Together

Group objects by theme―here, different typographical elements―to create a point of interest on a mantel or shelf.

Shop with Style and Function in Mind

Choose a living-room lamp that’s lovely to look at, whether it’s on or off.

Stair runners can be such an amazing design feature in a home. Of all of the projects we work on few add as much impact for as little money as stairs. Not only are runners a beautiful addition to the home they can greatly increase safety and deaden noise. Typically runners take less than one day to install and when using the correct materials, they should last and look good for 7-10 years. Wool is the best option for high traffic steps. Stair runners will not break the bank either. A typical designer inspired runner will cost about $1500.00 turn key!! Check out the pictures below and let me know what you think.

After install of this runner, the house sold!! The owner credits the runner for the sale

Simply Beautiful!!

I love this- Can you say creative?

I love for the runner to appear as it is flowing down the stairs

Borders work great on wider steps

Very designer Inspired.

Sisal trimmed in Leather

Sisal look awesome flowing down stairs

Custom Landing

I want this room

I hope this gives you a good idea for what to do with your stairs, and please let me know if you need help because this is one of my favorite things to do in flooring.

Now that Spring has arrived it is so nice to spend time outdoors relaxing and enjoying the fresh air. A new focus in interior design over the past several years has been outdoor living rooms. I must say that having a family/entertaining area outdoors complete with kitchen and eating area is a wonderful addition to a home. The key to creating this space is adding the comfortable qualities from inside the home, to the outside living area that can withstand the environment. For example, window treatments, throws and pillows can really soften the feeland enhance the idea that this is just an extension of the indoors. Area Rugs are a great addition to this space as well. Not only will you soften the decking or patio floor, you will create a warm inviting area that will seem like a second family room.

A very inviting area that feels like the den instead of the porch.

Even in an Urban setting the use of outdoor living spaces is on the rise. So much fun and very relaxing.

A rug frames the space so perfectly.

I love the use of color in this photo-- A great custom feel-- of course these are UV stable and waterproof.

Just like a dining room!!

Great Job!! I love that the rug sets the tone for this entire design-- great with the pillows!!

Many people wonder what Seagrass flooring is. Seagrass is a natural plant that grows in many coastal regions around the world. Seagrass beds are highly diverse and productive ecosystems, and can harbor hundreds of associated species from all phyla, for example juvenile and adult fish and many kinds of algeas and single cell organisms.

Beautiful in the Sea!! Bring nature into your home!!

Few species were originally considered to feed directly on seagrass leaves (partly because of their low nutritional content), but scientific reviews and improved working methods have shown that seagrass herbivory is a highly important link in the food chain, with hundreds of species feeding on seagrasses worldwide, including crabs, turtles and manatees.

Great looking

Typically, Seagrass used in flooring is from Southeast Asia. After drying, seagrass can be woven into beautiful rugs and other floor covering. Also, seagrass absorbs colors very poorly so it can be resistant to staining. That said, I know first hand that it is not “bullet-proof”.

Comes in great patterns

Traditional and more durable than Sisal

This is the natural color of the rug, a slight green tint

Seagrass is light green and brown in color and has a wicker type feel. It is not the most comfortable floor covering, but for areas where shoes are worn it is great. Neutrality is a great to describe the look. Over time the material will become more brown and mellow.

Great places for Seagrass would be in an office, under a table, living room and kitchen. It can be installed wall to wall for a great alternative to carpet or hardwood flooring. Rugs can be made to any size and be bound in different colors. You can have a border as wide as 5 inches and in a variety of fabrics, from Chenille to canvas.

My bedroom at my vacation home, not really

Cool entry, a real pro has to do the install though, not Hack and his pal Slash.

Caring for seagrass is easy. Just vacuum regularly or sweep with a stiff broom, If a stain happens scrub the material with a stiff brush and a bit of water. This may not remove the spot, but will help. Spills, which are still moist, are the easiest to remove. Remove the spills promptly by scrapping up solids and blotting liquids. Follow by dabbing with a damp cloth of water (add white vinegar to the cloth to cut grease). Dry with a cloth or hair blow dryer.

Carpet makes a great area rug. Textures has a rug workroom where we can custom make a rug to fit any size. Recently, we attended Surfaces, a trade show in Las Vegas that features new styles for the upcoming year. Some of these styles would be beautiful for an area rug or really any area in the home. Pricing is typically around $10 per square foot, so an 8×10 would be about $800.00.

Wool. Makes me think of Charleston

Whimsical Sisal

Braided indoor or outdoor-- you can pressure wash these if you want

Great area rug, or Man Cave look

Love this, beautiful and timeless. 3 Great colors!!

So pretty and relaxing

Some great new shags, they are alive and well

These were some of the hundreds of new styles I saw. Such great design and all reasonably priced. I cant wait to share some of these samples with you!!

Sisal flooring is one of the most popular and great looking options available. Sisal is a design dream, offering great color and sophistication, while being neutral and subtle. What is sisal? Sisal (Agave sisalana) is an agave that yields a stiff fibre traditionally used in making  twine, rope and also dartboards. The term may refer either to the plant or the fibre, depending on context. The plant’s origin is uncertain; while traditionally it was deemed to be a native of  Yucatan, there are no records of botanical collections from there. In the 19th century, sisal cultivation spread to Florida  the Carribean islands and Brazil, as well as to other countries in Africa.   Today Brazil is the major world producer of sisal.

Raw Material, even pretty then!!

Traditionally used for rope and twine, sisal has many uses, including paper, cloth, wall coverings and carpets.

Great Fibreworks Sisal

Sisal is a golden color but is available in many colors when died. Whats great about sisal is that it is soft on bare feet and is very resilient. Sisal comes in hundreds of colors and patterns, mostly with boucles that vary in size. Sisal also has amazing natural striations that is often imitated by other synthetic fibres.

Soft (enough) on the feet

Keep in mind that sisal rugs are not designed to be used wet areas, such as bathrooms. Since sisal is an organic material, it can develop water stains. However, in the rest of your home it actually helps to regulate mild changes in humidity by absorbing excess moisture in the air and releasing it during drier days.

A Designers dream

I love metallic tones

To maintain the beauty of your sisal rug, vacuuming daily or at least weekly is essential. Although the rug may look as though it is clean, there may be fine dirt particles in the weave. If left, the particles can lodge between the fibers causing excessive wear as the rug is walked on -acting much like sand paper. Your vacuum should have strong suction and a brush attachment, or a beater brush on an upright.

Textures Best seller!

Remove any liquid spills immediately by blotting or pat drying with a clean cotton cloth (or acceptable substitute). Do not rub the spill area as this can force the liquid further into the fiber. scrape dry spills with a blunt blade -such as a teaspoon or dull side of a butter knife. Work from the edge of the spill toward the center to contain the spill.