Create a Family Corner January 2, 2012
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Carpet, Design and Decorating , add a comment
When space is limited, look for opportunities to make your rooms work for the entire family. This corner of the living room is small, but has features that everyone can enjoy.
The bookshelves provide both book space and hidden storage underneath, while the images placed right in front of the books create a sense that this is both shelving and a wall.
For the children, the corner to the left, also partly in front of the shelves, provides a place for the large brick-shaped blocks that most children love to use to build forts and castles. Their light weight makes it easy to build and knock down imagined places.
The extra-soft carpeting makes the floor a great place to gather and draw or just play with the family dog. The parents were smart enough to choose a carpet that has a tone close to the dog’s fur, hiding any hair shed between vacuuming. The family’s choice of carpeting also helped to create this special space.
The love seat provides a spot for the parents to interact and enjoy their children even if they don’t feel like getting on the floor and it also provides a cozy place for reading or relaxing after the children are in bed. This one corner offers fun and comfort to every member of the family.
When you’re decorating your home, be sure to think beyond looks to functionality. If you create spaces like this one, your home will become the comfortable, livable space you dream of having.
Reading Cubby November 14, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Carpet, Carpet Cushion, Design and Decorating, Hints and Tips , add a comment
If you have children that love to read, they might find a cozy spot on their own to settle down with their books.
For this fellow, the soft carpeting and perfectly-sized space provides all he needs to get comfy with his books. For other children who are not natural readers, it pays to create an area that encourages reading and other quiet play.
If you would like to designate a place in your home for your children to read, you don’t need a lot of space or money to make it happen.
Start by choosing a quiet and out-of-the-way place to fix up. This may be a corner of a bedroom, a basement room, the space under the stairs, or even the back of a large walk-in closet. Find a place as free of distractions as possible.
Make sure the selected spot has sufficient lighting. This may be just an overhead light fixture or a floor lamp. For a chair, a table lamp may work. Look for lighting that is positioned to shine on the pages without glaring.
Comfort is the final requirement. For some children this may mean a corner like this boy found. Others may want pillows or cushions to create a little nest. A comfy chair and maybe an ottoman could be another preference. Consult with your child to determine the right choice.
It’s nice to have a shelf or table to hold current books. With a good place to read, you may find your child spends more time on this enriching activity.
Caring for your Carpet October 31, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Care and Maintenance, Carpet , add a commentYou’ve just installed beautiful, thick new carpeting in your home. You’ve sworn the kids will never eat on it, you’ve sworn off red wine because we all know the odds of spilling 
that and everyone is expected to take their shoes off at the front door. While you can keep up on some of these rules and regulations sooner or later you are going to let your guard down. You’ll open that bottle of Malbec, the kids will get crumbs everywhere and your Aunt Lala will track in mud.
Keeping that “brand new” carpet feeling is not impossible. You just need to know how to maintain your carpet as you live your life. Naturally, one of the best things you can do for your new carpet is to make sure you have a quality vacuum cleaner on hand. More importantly, use it as often as possible.
There have been significant improvements to vacuum cleaners in the past few years, making them easier to use, and better at doing their job. They’ve gotten lighter in weight, stronger in suction, and loaded with convenience features. There are even unattended robotic vacuums that can do the work while you’re sleeping!
Thorough vacuuming removes loose dirt and dust from the fibers. Over time these particles dull your carpet’s appearance; frequent vacuuming maintains the beauty of your
floor covering and extends its life.
Remember that high traffic areas will need more vacuuming. You can’t expect your carpeted hallway to stay clean when the kids, Fido and everyone else troops through it several times a day. Use a machine with a good beater bar and maximum suction. Use the cleaner’s attachments, they’re not just there for decoration. They are designed to make cleaning along walls and up and down the stairs as easy as possible.
If your vacuum uses bags, be sure to change them frequently for maximum cleaning efficiency. Some newer model vacuums have been designed without bags, making the chore of vacuuming even simpler, and more time saving.
How To Remove BBQ Sauce From Carpet July 6, 2011
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We hope you enjoyed your holiday weekend with your family and friends! We especially hope that you found some time to grill up some wonderful and delicious barbeque! Just in case some of this barbeque ended up on your carpet, we thought we’d share a few tips on how to properly remove it. We hope this information helps you!
Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.
Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (fluorescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.
Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.
Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.
Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.
Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846.
Flooring Favorites from Shaw Flooring June 8, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Area Rugs, Carpet, Hardwood / Laminate, Natural Stone, Tile , 1 comment so far
Shaw Flooring collections offer a huge range of materials and colors– makes our job of choosing a favorite very difficult. With products in carpet, area rugs, tile and stone, hardwood and laminates, Shaw flooring has a product for any room in your home. Durability, style, and environmentally friendly products mean Shaw’s collections are not only great looking but will last for years and have a smaller impact on the environment.
Carpet
There are nine carpet collections, including the Kathy Ireland, Tuftex, Inside/Out, Anso Nylon collections. We love the California inspired, natural colors of the Tuftex collection.
Area Rugs
With over 40 collections, including rugs by Kathy Ireland, Angela Adams, Phillip Crowe, and Tommy Bahama Home, Shaw’s area rugs offer a huge selection of styles and colors to choose from. If we had to chose, we’d say Angela Adams’ modern rugs are our favorites.
Tile & Stone
Shaw Tile and Stone collections include ceramic tiles, porcelain tiles and natural stone. Our favorites are the Lunar, Martrix and Brustone collections because they use up to 40% post-industrial recycled content.
Hardwood
The hardwood flooring collection from Shaw has ten types of wood, in both engineered and solid, with a range of stains to choose from. The Epic™ collection uses less harvested wood than other flooring options and comes with EnviroCore™, an inner layer made from recycled wood fibers.
Laminate
Laminate flooring has come a long way. Shaw’s laminate features OptiCore™, which is an environmentally friendly laminate coreboard that’s strong and moisture resistant. The
Shaw’s Luminiere™ collection is a realistic alternative to wood floors.
Visit Big Bob’s website to choose your Shaw flooring today.
How To Remove Easter Egg Dye From Carpet April 20, 2011
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Easter is only a few days away! We hope you and your family have a wonderful day planned. Have you died your Easter eggs yet? Just in case a little dye gets into your carpet, we’d like to share some cleaning tips with you. Happy Easter!
Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (fluorescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.
Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.
Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.
Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846.
How To Remove Chocolate From Carpet February 17, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Care and Maintenance, Carpet , 1 comment so far
We hope you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day this year! We thought we’d share a few tips on how to get chocolate out of carpet, just in case you or your sweetheart dropped some. We hope you find this helpful!
Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.
Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (fluorescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.
Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.
Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.
Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.
Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. Carpet & Rug Institute – 1-800-882-8846
Give Your Walls A Voice January 16, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Carpet, Design and Decorating , add a comment
Do you often wish your home were more personalized to your taste? There are several different ways to make your mark on your home.
Frame family photos and place them on accent tables. Family photos look great in groupings on a hallway or stairway wall.
Monogramming is another way to personalize your home and furnishings. You can easily have your family initials embroidered on hand towels, bedding, dinner napkins and any other linen items.
Wallpaper is another way to add personality to your rooms. For example: Do you like cooking really spicy, flavorful dishes? There are wallpapers available that have great colored peppers in bright reds, greens and yellows. That would be a great patterned wallpaper for your kitchen; which looks great and inspires you while preparing tasty meals. Maybe you have an office that you don’t enjoy working in. There are really great Zen looking wallpapers that look like safari grasses or bamboo stalks. Creating a sense of peace will make you more comfortable in the space and will allow you to think clearly, or simply drift off in a day dream while reading a page turning book. Soft carpet is another way to make each room more personal and warming; choosing a color and texture of your personal favorite will make each room more about you!
If the idea of wall-to-wall paper puts you off, hang paper on one accent wall. Accent walls create the same effect as it would if all walls were covered. The ways to personalize your home are limitless. Be proud to make your house your home!
Purchase Your New Carpet with the Cherry on Top November 10, 2010
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Carpet , add a comment
By Ernie J. Nogales, CTC. (our installation manager)
How does one compare a carpet flooring purchase to a hot fudge sundae? The answer is simple – expectation and communication. The last time I went to my local Cold Stone Creamery, I walked in already knowing what I was there for; however, I needed to narrow down my selections to make the perfect sundae. I asked the young lady behind the counter, who was eager to help, a few questions about various toppings and combinations of the same. Through communication geared toward my already known expectations we built the perfect sundae together.
Here are some helpful hints to build your perfect carpet flooring remodel sundae:
The Cone
The first thing you want to determine is the style of carpet you want for your home. There are many different types of carpet styles to choose from such as plush, berber, frieze, cut loop or loop piled carpet to mention a few. Now do you want this cone with the chocolate and nuts around the rim? If so, a risk taker such as yourself might want to choose a patterned carpet with a repetitive design woven into the fibers.
The Ice Cream
Color selection is vital to display your sense of style. What’s your favorite flavor? This is where your choice of colors or even multiple colors comes into play. Choose just the right color for your certain area that would complement your decor and more importantly satisfy your taste buds.
With or Without Nuts?
Texture is important when selecting a new carpet. The textures range greatly from a tightly woven plush to a thick long haired shag that you could just melt into……the varieties abound!
Chocolate or Strawberry on Top?
Padding selection is essential for the life expectancy of your new carpet. Make sure to consult with a professional flooring consultant to choose the right padding for your project.
Whip Cream
Warranties are invaluable when it comes to the selection of the perfect carpet. What type of longevity do you want to receive out of this new flooring? There are many aspects to consider when choosing the right warranty for your new flooring purchase. Consulting with your friendly professional flooring consultant will make this choice much easier.
Cherry on Top
A great flooring experience is always topped off with a smooth, efficient and professional installation. Make sure that the flooring store you choose uses their own employees to install rather than farming it out to the lowest bidder. Well groomed, uniformed installation technicians who have been trained to walk you through your jobsite and communicate the scope of work prior to the installation is just as important than the final walk through that should be performed after the installation is completed, and vacuumed.
There is nothing better than sitting down in your living room while you gaze over your newly installed carpet and thinking, “That was a great experience!” Now that you know the basics, the sinful pleasure of creating your own “perfect sundae” is at your fingertips. And what’s even better is that there are no calories!!!
Happy Shopping!
Protecting Carpeting and Furniture from Pets October 15, 2010
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Care and Maintenance, Carpet , 1 comment so far
We’ve all met the animal lovers who have turned their homes over to their pets. Furniture is ruined, carpeting damaged, and pet hair is everywhere. And sometimes even the best home fragrances can’t hide the pet odors.
Having one or more pets doesn’t preclude having a lovely home. With just a few steps added to your housekeeping chores, a home can have one or more animals and still be inviting to people.
To start, keep your animals clean. Dogs need regular baths, and litter boxes need frequent changing. Immediately clean up any accidents, and use vinegar or a commercial pet scent remover to clear up anything that may attract your animal to use that spot as a bathroom again. For your best protection, adopt an older dog or cat that already knows how to behave.
If your pet is a shedder, brush them every day. With an animal that resists brushing, work into it with only a few strokes and lots of treats and praise. It will soon become the highlight of your animal’s day.
Provide scratching opportunities for cats, and toys for both cats and dogs. Cats need to scratch to keep their claws under control, and will soon prefer their own scratching area if you train them to use it. A little catnip can get them started in the right direction. Dog toys keep them amused and away from your property. Have a location with a basket or box that allows them to reach their own toys, and train them to understand what is yours and what is theirs.
Vacuuming regularly helps keep pet hair and dirt under control. It’s also generally good for your carpet – keeping it more like new. Vacuum at least once a week, more if your animal sheds a lot.
Cover your animal’s favorite furniture with large towels or sheets. With regular laundering, you can keep your furniture clean and protected. The covers are easy to remove when you have guests.
There’s no reason why you can’t have both the pets you love and a home to love. These ideas will help you make that possible.
