Wood floor design trends from wide planks to sustainable alternatives
Seaglass at Bonita Bay model residence
photo: seaglassatbonitabay.com
By Marion J. Lougheed | RISMEDIA, Friday, August 12, 2016— (TNS)
Wood flooring is a classic look for any home, but there are trends to consider when installing a new floor or refinishing an existing one:
1. Wide floor boards
If you have smaller rooms, consider the trend toward wider planks, which create the illusion of more space. While wide boards can work in any room, the look is especially nice for cozier rooms.
2. Earth-friendly wood
Sustainable products continue to be popular, including bamboo and cork. Bear in mind that these flooring materials aren’t as tough as hardwood, and will need different maintenance and care. They may however, give your rooms a fresh, natural appeal.
The popularity of exotic woods has contributed to global deforestation. An alternative is to have floors made of wood reclaimed from old buildings or other sources. In the case of oak and some other hardwoods, reclaimed wood may make a better floor, since wood in older buildings often came from heartwood.
3. Color choice
Darker tones, such as deep cherry and mahogany, remain popular, and help create a sense of opulence and grandeur associated with classic comfort. Lighter colors contribute to a more casual, natural look. Ask your flooring professional to show you the latest options in wood floor color.
4. Handscraped hardwood
At one time, wood floorboards routinely bore the marks of having been scraped by tools to create as smooth a finish as possible. Today, handscraped and distressed floors are becoming popular, and there are a variety of ways to achieve the look, which can add cost.
5. Prefinished flooring
Some wood flooring now comes precoated with a clear finish of tiny metal crystals that create a solid, protective layer. Such prefinishing allows floors to be quickly ready for foot traffic after installation.
Marion J. Lougheed is a reporter at Angie’s List.
Luxury Wall Panels Take Home Decor to a Whole New Level
By Paige Tepping – RISMEDIA, Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Looking to revamp your living space? Before you head out to your favorite home décor store and risk the possibility of loading your cart up with the same items your neighbor just purchased, imagine putting your own spin on the process, creating a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
That’s the thinking behind Vänt, a new startup that’s encouraging homeowners to bring their design concepts to life—with their own two hands. Whether it’s in the bedroom, the living room or even the home office, Vänt is seriously shaking up the way we decorate.
Dubbed ‘the hottest new way to design,’ Vänt wall panels are sure to make a splash among decorators who fall anywhere along the novice to expert spectrum.
With various colors (charcoal grey, ocean blue, neutral, red melon, suede grape, green mustard), finishes (pearl, leatherette, micro suede, metallic) and layouts (twin, full/queen, king, accent wall) to choose from, the sky is truly the limit.
And thanks to the company’s patent-pending SimpleMount™ system, incorporating wall panels into your home is a snap.
Intrigued? Check out the following pictures for some serious inspiration.
This post was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. Check the blog daily for top real estate tips and trends.
Photo: benjaminmoore.com
Planning to paint your home’s interior? What should you plan for interior painting cost?
“You’d be hard pressed to find a homeowner who hasn’t painted some portion of his or her house. And while many homeowners are quick to tackle the project themselves, hiring a painting pro is the best option to ensure professional, cost-effective results. Here’s an explanation of why you should you hire a pro, as well as what you might expect to pay for one.”
Hiring a Pro
“While interior painting is definitely DIY-able, you might want to consider hiring a pro to tackle the project for you. For one, a pro will be able to complete the job much faster than you’d be able to — saving you from having to spend your weekends painting. Second, hiring a pro ensures that the job will be done to your exacting standards. Last but not least, while you may have to spend money hiring a pro, you won’t have to pay for all of the supplies you’d need for the job. This makes the project more affordable than you might think.”
Read the full article on HomeAdvisor.com
Color psychology may be an important factor when you market your home.
From seeing red to feeling blue, color plays a big role in our emotions. Some colors make us feel happy or relaxed, while others can make us feel anxious. When you’re selling your home, the colors you choose can play on potential buyers’ memories and emotions, changing the way they see your home.
Use color psychology to market your home, and the next color you might see is green.
Read complete article on realtor.com
Photo: This Old House
By TJ Monahan | RISMEDIA, Thursday, December 11, 2014
So your bathroom is boring, right? If it’s not in the cards right now to remodel, does something still need to be changed? You can’t live another day brushing your teeth at the same old sink, looking at the yellow walls (that were a cute idea for about 10 minutes), or showering with that shower head that only works half of the time. So what do you do? Here are a few ideas that range from totally DIY to “maybe you should get a little help from a pro.” And they can all be done in one weekend or less. Sweet.
Paint your Vanity
With some sand paper, a little elbow grease, and a can of paint, you can turn that old oak vanity into thing of beauty. See some examples here.
Gray vanities are really popular these days, so perhaps you’d like to jump on that trend, or maybe something bolder like a bright pop of whatever-looks-good-with-your-floor-tile. Once the sanding and prep on the original vanity finish is done, you can repaint your vanity whenever you want, so don’t stress too much about getting the perfect color your first time.
And while you’re at it, swap out the hardware, too.
In about a day, your vanity will look brand new, and maybe more importantly…completely different.
Replace your Plumbing Fixtures
Swapping out your sink faucet and your shower head are relatively easy. All you need to do is make sure you buy a faucet that will fit the holes already cut in your countertop (faucets are sold as a single hole, 4”, and 8” spread). Also, buy yourself a roll of plumbers tape to make sure the threading on the parts is sealed.
If you’re only replacing one or the other, try to keep the finish consistent (i.e., buy a new polished chrome faucet if the shower head you already have is polished chrome).
Oh, and remember to turn off the water supply to the faucet before taking it all apart…
Paint your Walls
The easiest update of all. The only recommendation here is to use semi-gloss paint. It holds up to the moisture of a bathroom better than flat paint, but without the super shininess of glossy. Goldilocks would approve.
Replace your Tub Surround
Depending on your level of DIY handiness, this one might require some help. Ceramic tile can be relatively inexpensive, as is grout, and if you have the tools and a little know-how, this is a pretty straight-forward update. However, if the thought of a tile saw makes you cringe, this one might be better left to a home repair expert (and if you decide to go that route, check out our big bro over at www.schedulefred.com).
Before installing your new tile, consider adding an extra layer of protection by installing a water-proof membrane on top of your wall board. We like to use a product called Kerdi.
So there you have it…three really easy, and one maybe-easy DIY ways to update your bathroom without breaking the bank.
Good luck and have fun.
TJ Monahan is the General Manager of ibby.com, a design build firm based in Bethesda, MD that makes it easier than ever to remodel your bathroom through the use of the free software on their website.
photo: Realtor.com
The TV show Mad Men has done a lot for the resurgence of mid-century modern style. Enjoy a photo tour of five estate homes from the 50s and 60s. Most of them have their original decor still in pristine condition. From Palm Springs, California to Chappaqua, New York the Scandinavian-style furnishings, wood paneling, and brightly colored fabrics could make you want to call your decorator. Read more and view the photos on realtor.com…
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