Wood floors in the bathroom were once avoided because of the worry about the wood staining and warping with moisture.  However, with today’s hardwoods, engineered wood, and laminate floors, wood floors can work in the bathroom. In fact, they can make beautiful bathroom floors.

If you do choose to put wood floors, hardwood or engineered, in your bathroom, definitely talk with us first.  You’ll want to make sure that the wood you choose can withstand the humidity and moisture in a bathroom.  For this reason, laminate flooring might be a good choice to consider as well.  Laminate flooring has come a long way in the past few years. There is a wide selection of colors and wood grains that can imitate most woods.

Whatever flooring you do choose, a few accessories can warm up the floors and the bathroom.  One or two bathmats, or a larger cotton rug that can be washed, can be placed over the floor to absorb water from the tub or shower. A rug by the sink is another good idea.  Getting in the habit of wiping up splashes of water is a good idea for wood floors.

If you want to add heat under your wood floors, be sure to discuss this when choosing your flooring. The heating elements will need to be installed first.  This might also affect what flooring will work in the bathroom.

Wood flooring adds warmth to a bathroom that stone or tile doesn’t.  With some thought and added care, wood floors can work in the bathroom just as well as these traditional choices.

Whether you have toddlers who are just crawling around or teenagers having friends over, finding kid friendly (and kid tough) flooring is a must.  Carpet is a great choice, but there are other options out there besides traditional wall-to-wall carpet.  If you do choose wall-to-wall, make sure you are getting something that is not only soft underfoot but also durable and most importantly, stain resistant.

Wool carpeting is naturally stain resistant and durable. Wool carpet, like in this kid’s room, has a great texture but is also soft on feet. Cotton area rugs have the bonus of being washable (if they are not too big) in the machine or spot cleaned.  Carpets with patterns are also a good choice.  There are many pattern choices these days, ranging from modern to traditional and antique patterns.  These can be found in both area rugs and wall-to-wall.

If you have wall-to-wall carpet that you want to protect from little feet or messy teenagers, placing an area rug over the high traffic area or middle of the room is a smart, and stylish, addition to the floor.

Hardwood is durable, but can be slippery or tough on little ones. A natural wool or cotton area rug is a good way to make hardwood, or any hard surface flooring, more kid friendly.

Carpet squares make a smart choice for kid friendly floors. If a stain should occur, simply swap out the tile for a new one.  Cork is also a soft and natural flooring choice.

Beyond the welcome mat at the front door, the foyer or entry hall is the first room in your house guests will see.  For most of us, the foyer is not a huge space and that can make it more difficult to decorate.  The small space needs to be welcoming, functional and stylish.  One way to add style and a welcoming feel to this greeting area is pattern on the floor.

Putting pattern on the floor, while keeping the rest of the space simple and neutral, creates balance. Letting the patterned floor set the colors for the foyer’s color palette will create a unified and stylish looking space to greet your guests.  Installing a pattern floor, like this black and white harlequin pattern, is something best left to professionals. The intricate pattern with a border of smaller diamonds and then a black border feels almost like an area rug, another great choice to add pattern to a foyer.

Area rugs or runners are an easy way to add pattern to the foyer or hall floor.  Stripes running the length of the runner will expand the feeling of the space; horizontal stripes will help widen the space.  Florals, traditional Persian patterns, geometrics—all work as pattern for a foyer floor.

You could also do an inlaid wood floor, a painted floor or a brightly patterned Moroccan tile floor in the foyer. Whatever you choose, make sure it is durable to withstand heavy foot traffic.

I have several dogs – should I really install hardwood floors?

And the answer is: it depends.

How large are your dogs? Do they run through the house at full speed, drop toys and roughhouse?

Are you ok with seeing a few dents and scratches on your floors? Keep in mind that some floors can be re-sanded or screened before they need to be replaced. Some people are ok with the natural process of floors getting scratched and dented – after all it looks rustic and distressed.

What are your alternate options and your budget? Carpet traps animal dander, odors and urine spots can be difficult to clean well. Laminate floors can also be dented and dinged and can bubble if liquids (accidents) are not cleaned up right away.

Do your animals shed? If you have light colored animals hair will show up quickly on a dark wood floor and vice versa.

Hardwood flooring and animals can get along. Here are some tips for helping to maintain your hardwood flooring should you decide to go that route.

Trim your pet’s nails frequently!

Place area rugs in high traffic areas and at the entrance and exit of your home. This will help reduce the wear and tear on your floors as your pets zoom in and out of the door. Just be sure that they are made for hardwood floors.

Put mats down under water bowls to prevent spills and splashes on floors. After all, some dogs slobber.  With these tips, your hardwood floors will stay in great shape!

Where do children play? Where do infants crawl and toddlers learn to walk? Is your flooring soft enough – clean enough – for your little ones?

Children, grandchildren, the children of friends, nieces and nephews all love spending time on the floor. Make sure yours is ready.

Soft and smooth, inviting and plush, buy your carpeting or rugs with your hands as much as with your eyes. Touch, rub, run your fingers over the surface. Do you want little faces against that tweed, a little stomach moving along that carpet as it prepares for the giant leap to crawling?

Babies love lots of space and curling up in a corner. Babies want to walk as soon as they can. They’ll move from your hands to another’s and back to yours again. Did you choose a carpet cushion that will make their inevitable falls gentler, easier on their tiny behinds?

Little bare feet or wearing footie pajamas, running, laughing and sitting down on the floor to play, relax or read a book together like these two. Is your floor ready for them? Soft colors, room to play, and a carpet or rug that invites the children in your life to be comfortable, knowing that there’s always a place for them: a cookie, a favorite book, the squishy stuffed rabbit on the lowest bookshelf, and the oh-so-soft carpet for them to snuggle on and enjoy.

In long-ago times pots were used to store seeds, wine, medicines, and whatever people needed to keep contained. Most of these pots were hardened in a fire and remained unglazed. The terra cotta colors seen here in these pots and tiles are actually the tones of the original clay pulled from the earth.

Today’s tile choices are so much more varied – in design, size, color and use. Glazes allow us to create almost any color and design. Sophisticated manufacturing methods keep tiles very similar in size and easy to install. However, there is a real value to going back to the original feel of pottery when creating a special space.

This outdoor patio takes full advantage of the patina of old-style clay in its design. The unglazed tile floor demonstrates a wide variety of color and tone. The tiles themselves are uneven and imperfect squares. Natural toned grout has a wider application, allowing the variations in size and shape the leeway to fit the space.

Two different types of tile pots decorate the space. The classic red clay pots hold rosemary in the corner and a red hibiscus on the right. These pots have everything needed to keep plants going – holes for drainage and plenty of space for supporting soil. This is a good way to bring living plants onto a patio, softening the area.

Further toward the front on the right, the older pots play a purely decorative role. Unglazed and with a patina that looks to have come from age, they bring this outdoor space into another time. The old wood frame and simple pots can handle the weather, but they also serve as a rustic element – setting a tone and moving the space beyond standard manufactured choices.

How about mixing old and new? Let some pieces that bring back the memory of how pottery started join the newest tile options in your own home.

Are you drawn to wood floors with the rich colors and variation shown here? It may seem complex to decorate a room with this floor, but this dining room takes full advantage of the color and feel of this floor.

When you choose a floor like this, it will always take a front-and center position in your home. Your best design decision is to let it shine, and use your furniture and accessories to accent its strong and inviting personality.

Choosing black for the primary furniture finish allows it to pop against the lighter flooring. Red cushions pull the red shades from the wood. Together, the black and red feels as though the two colors are actually a breakdown of the wood tones from the floor. When you add rich colors to rich colors, everything plays off everything else, creating an inviting expressive combination.

Using ivory walls and white baseboards keep the rest of the room toward the background of the design. Red shows up on the curtains and accessories, but the choices are simple, allowing the flooring and furniture to take center stage.

You could reverse the woods and create an equally-dramatic room. Consider ebony-finished wood flooring and dining furniture in rosewood, cherry or another vivid wood. A rich area rug with lots of red could add that extra burst of color. On this floor, an area rug might work also, but adding another color such as a dull gold or ivory to coordinate with the walls may be the way to go.

When you’re decorating a room, start with the flooring you love and let your design flow from there. You will be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Have you ever dropped a pen on your carpet and panicked over an ink stain on your carpet? Don’t worry! We’ve got some simple instructions to help rescue you from ink stains on your carpet.

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 (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Nail Polish Remover - Two types of nail polish removers are available. One type contains acetone, a dry cleaning solvent. Use the same precautions as with other dry cleaning solutions. The second type contains amyl acetate, which is used in many paint, oil, and grease (POG) removers. Many POG removers leave residues that may cause rapid soiling. When using a POG remover, always rinse the area thoroughly with a dry solvent. (See Residue Precautions.)

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.

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 and Rug Institute – 1-800-882-8846

Preparing properly for the carpet cleaners is part one of the full carpet cleaning process. Now that we’re facing winter weather, part two is even more important – drying your carpeting. If you let your carpet dry slowly and naturally over a few days, you run the risk of mold in your home. It’s best to make sure your carpeting is dry within 24 hours.

The drying process is straightforward. The most important step is turning the fan on your heating system from auto to on (you will find this switch on your thermostat). You may also want to turn the heat up a few degrees to speed drying. It will help to turn on any other ventilation fans you have in your home, such as bathroom and oven vents, and possibly open a few windows if it’s warm enough.

Do you have any ceiling fans? They will dry the carpet quite quickly when turned on high. For corners and fan-free rooms, use portable fans, or rent a professional blower from your carpet cleaner. Move these around to ensure that every space has a chance to dry. Check for dampness by pressing the carpet hard with your hands.

Be sure to double-check any transitions from carpeting to hard flooring surfaces. Residual water can make those thresholds slippery. Dry them off and watch out when walking because the soles of your shoes can be damp. If you have pets, damp paws can be addressed by covering any pet-friendly furniture with towels until everything and everyone is dry.

This may sound complex, but with a few hours of effort, your carpeting will be dry and beautiful, ready for your holiday entertaining.

In traditional Japanese homes, floors are kept cleaner and more protected because family and guests never wear their shoes in the house. Instead, the entryway has a selection of traditional slippers, which guests change into upon arriving. Some people in the United States would like to follow this practice, but aren’t sure how to go about it. By following these suggestions, anyone can create a no shoes approach for family and friends.

Start with planning for the transition. Pick up a selection of machine-washable slippers in various sizes for both men and women for those people who don’t want to walk around in just socks. Set up a shelf to store the slippers by size, along with a basket or bin for holding the worn slippers for laundering. You may also want to pick up a shoe cubby to store your guest’s shoes without scuffing. Finally, look for a comfortable bench or chair to provide a place to make the change.

If possible, let your guests know about the change in visitor requirements when you invite them. This allows them to plan their footwear accordingly. Be sure to mention that while they are welcome to wear their socks or bring their own slippers, you have a good selection of in-house options for them.

Make sure that your family follows the same requirements. It may be difficult at the start, but soon everyone will be used to taking their shoes off at the door. Be sure no one in your family wears shoes at your parties – if your guests follow a requirement, you and your family should also.

Make sure to thank your guests when they leave for their tolerance of your request. Although the choice is reasonable, it is also uncommon and you want to acknowledge that.

Consider giving this approach a try. Once you instigate this change, you will find that your flooring needs to be cleaned much less often, and your home will stay cleaner in general.