Solid Ground – A Guide to Selecting Flooring

Whether you plan on installing new flooring in one room or throughout your entire home, there are thousands of options available to help you make a statement. A vast variety of materials, colors, textures and patterns can combine to compliment every room in your home. Follow my simple suggestions to help you narrow your focus and find the perfect floor for your home.

Decide on Decor
Decide what look and feel you want for the specific rooms. Flooring is often referred to as the fifth wall in home decorating and is a key design element in setting the ambiance of a room. I call this the “WOW” factor. You can make a statement in a room with a patterned carpet. Textured floors add visual interest. Vary the width on plank flooring or set wood on a diagonal for effect. Darker of flooring can add depth and drama to a room while a neutral carpet can be a great backdrop for bold furnishings.

Lifestyle Logistics
Do you have an active home with children and pets? Do you like to entertain? Will the area have to weather heavy foot traffic? These aspects will influence the products you select from as some flooring types are more durable than others. Remember, flooring should enhance your home, but needs to be chosen for its practicality too.

Location Location
Always factor in room conditions so that your flooring is best serving its purpose. Will this be a wet area? Is it above or below grade? Are the temperatures cool or warm? Is sound an issue? Is your comfort more important? Remember your goal for that particular room and choose the right floor for the job.

How About Health
Take into consideration allergies and other health issues when selecting your floors. Anyone with serious allergies should steer away from certain types of carpet, which
could retain dust, mites and dander. There are good hypo-allergenic alternatives such as tile, wood, cork, bamboo, and some vinyl products for a better fit.

Best for Budget
What is your budget for this flooring project? Set a limit of what you are comfortable spending and then price out options. Although some products may cost more, if they wear better over time and last longer, they are a better value in the long run.

Go Green
There are many options for eco-friendly flooring such as bamboo, cork, wools, polyester and vinyl. Remember, let’s save the Earth one floor at a time.

Trending
Cork is becoming a main-stream material for flooring. It has moisture-resistant qualities, a soft, cushioning effect, is low-maintenance, can offer some insulation and absorbs sound as well.

Carlos Martinez is a Residential & Commercial Flooring Specialist with Family Flooring America. Visit Booth # 147 or www.wefloor.com for more information.

Transformation Exhilaration

There’s a certain rush that comes with witnessing a home renovation. Hanging a building permit can be nerve-wracking. How will your lives be disrupted? How long will the project take to complete?

The demolition can even seem a little scary. Will your home ever look the same again? But as a project starts to take shape, and the contractors begin to work their magic, the excitement undoubtedly unfolds and the transformation exhilaration begins.

The Old House New House Home Show is a wonderful forum to investigate options and discover ways to unlock some transformation potential in your home. Perhaps you have an unfinished basement that could become a gaming center, gathering space, in-law quarters, dance or yoga studio. Maybe you are considering a kitchen or bath renovation or an addition. A fresh coat of paint, maybe with chalkboard or magnetic options, can add new dimensions to a children’s play room. New window treatments can dress up a room visually and also add practical insulating benefits. Adding a mud room, lockers or a hobby room can help to keep things organized with everyday living.

Assimilating technology into everyday living is another exciting frontier that
can bring transformation exhilaration. Custom entertainment centers help dress up the electronics in our homes. Lightweight, ultra-thin flat panel screens and motorized lifts for screen storage are becoming more mainstream along with automated controls for lighting, window treatments and home security. Integrating computers and mobile devices with wireless technology will surely impact the ways we all enjoy home living.

As a Producer of The Old House New House Home Show, I enjoy interacting
with so many qualified craftsmen, creative designers, skilled contractors and remodeling specialists who can help to update, renovate and makeover living spaces.

Seeing new products and services to simplify or streamline the flow and functionality of our home is always inspiring. Tips from the trades offered in workshops and presentations have always helped me learn the language of projects and make well-informed decisions. Maybe I’m a habitual home remodeler... always exploring ways to improve howalways seeing the potential for transformation. I guess I have the right job then.

Laura McNamara is a Producer of The Old House New House Home Show, and transforming her West Suburban fixer-upper, one exhilarating project at a time.

St. Charles IL, Home Improvement Show - September 29-30

Join us on September 29-30, 2012 as the Old House New House Home Show Returns to Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL. We are the largest, most innovative and longest-running home show in the Chicago area. This bi-annual event features 300 award-winning contractors, creative craftsmen and distinguished experts. Spectacular displays, cutting-edge workshops, appealing attractions and state-of-the-art products focus on home improvement, home life and enjoyment. This unique forum brings together hundreds of professionals and thousands of project-driven homeowners.

Kennedy Productions has presented consumer shows of distinction since 1977. It is well-established, consistently attractive and selective, making it the finest, most highly-anticipated home show in the area. Events are characterized with an astute attention to detail, professional management and extraordinary client service. The Old House New House Home Show is well-established, consistently attractive and selective