All About Carpet Fibers May 25, 2010
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Carpet, Product Education , add a comment
20 years may have come and gone, but carpet fiber options remain essentially the same! Nylon and polyester have continued to remain solid choices as they’ve evolved to higher performance, quality and appearance levels. But wool retains its position as the fiber of choice for a unique, luxurious look and feel. In upcoming entries, each of the fibers will star in it’s own post.
Nylon products have continued to lead the residential market. Today’s nylon carpets are attractive, stain resistant, and high-performing at reasonable prices. Installed over a quality cushion and with basic maintenance, nylon carpet will perform well for 10 – 20 years.
Polyester has made a significant comeback after having once been known for poor performance. Polyester carpets now account for up to one-fourth of residential carpet sales. Polyester’s draw is price. Just be sure to ask for yarn with multiple plies and multiple twists.
Wool, with a rich history of distinctive beauty and charm, is still the fiber of choice for those who dream of “the best!”Nylon may “ugly out” as it ages, but wool – because it wears so gracefully, keeps looking good year after year. With only basic maintenance, wool carpets will perform wonderfully for 20 years or more. It’s not hard to find beautiful 30-year-old wool carpets – despite a threadbare spot or two at high traffic or pivot locations!
Understanding Color: Color Blending from Room to Room May 20, 2010
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Design and Decorating, Uncategorized , 1 comment so far
Understanding Color: Color Blending from Room to Room
One of the challenges faced with a great room design is determining how to separate the spaces while still keeping the room cohesive. Color provides one of your best tools for accomplishing that goal. Planning your color palette ahead of time will keep you from taking the safe but rather dull one-color approach, but also protect you from too much color.
For the three spaces, choose three colors that work well together. You may already have color that will be part of the room through furniture, your flooring, rugs, paint or curtains. If not, start working with the colors you like best. One good source for ideas is your local upholstery fabric store. Take your time and discover fabrics in patterns that appeal to your color sense. Ask for sample swatches of those fabrics you like the best, and then bring them back to your space to see how they work with your flooring and other room elements.
Once you define your colors, assign one to each part of the great room: kitchen, dining and living areas. Think of which space could use brightening, and which space would benefit from the richest color in your arsenal. Make those colors the focal points of each room, using furniture and accessories, maybe even by painting an accent wall. Be sure to pull all three colors into each space in some way, to keep them interconnected.
Once you’re finished, stand back and look at the room from different perspectives. Does each space stand out, while still connecting to the rest of the room? Does the color flow well from space to space? You may need to move accessories around a to get the look you want, but it’s worth the effort to create a comfortable and inviting great room that works for you and your family.
Steps to Selecting the Right Area Rug – Part 2 May 11, 2010
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Steps to Selecting the Right Area Rug
Part Two: Shopping for the Right Rug
Are you ready to shop for a new rug? Taking the time now to determine the size, type and colors of your new rug will make the shopping process both easier and more fun (see Steps to Selecting the Right Area Rug Part One).
Where do you plan to shop? The best guarantee of getting a good rug is to start with a reputable flooring store, like us! The rug industry has a broad mix of quality, price and reliability. Unless you are a rug expert, the only way you can ensure a good rug at a fair price is through a retail outlet that you can trust.
Plan to take your time. We will help you look and decide, but there are many choices of area rugs to choose from! The more you can tell us about what size you need, your style, your budget, the more we can help you. Be sure to take a look at your final couple of selections near a window under natural light. The lighting significantly affects the colors of a rug. Also look at any hanging rugs you plan to buy on the floor first. They look very different when laid horizontally.
To get some ideas of what we have to choose from, please take a stroll through our area rug catalog.
Steps to Selecting the Right Area Rug May 7, 2010
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Area Rugs , 1 comment so far
Part One: Before You Start Shopping
If you’ve never shopped for an area rug before, the process can seem more than a little confusing. The good news is that with a little planning, you can start your shopping with a plan to make the whole process easier. Although there are many decisions involved, the following three factors will help you narrow your search right from the beginning.
What will you be demanding from your rug? If it is going to live in a high-traffic area, look at sturdy material choices such as nylon or wool. One of the interesting new options to consider is indoor-outdoor rugs. These tough materials stand up to a lot of use and can be hosed down outside when they need cleaning.
What size rug do you need? Measure your space to determine the best size, and how much larger or smaller you can go. Many stores will have the same rug in a number of sizes, so often size restrictions won’t limit your choices. Be sure to compensate for dining chairs by adding at least two feet of rug over and above the size of the table for each side with a chair. Otherwise, people may find themselves dropping off the edge when they pull a chair out to sit. For other living spaces, think of a rug as a frame connecting the elements in a room. If you have trouble visualizing the final look, you may want to use towels or tape to define the rug’s location and decide the best size for your space.
What look do you want in a rug? Will the rug make a strong statement – adding a design element to the room? Or are you looking for something to brighten a dark area or anchor a space that is a bit too light? What color will best mesh with the other furniture and accessories? Is there a color you want to see more of that the rug can pull into a space? Maybe your goal is a neutral that will pull disparate pieces together.
Once you determine these issues, make sure you go to the store prepared. Have your actual measurements with you – sizes in a showroom can be deceiving. Bring samples of any colors you may want to pull into the space by bringing along a throw pillow or paint chip. By doing your homework before you shop, your chances of finding that perfect rug are substantially improved.
