Flooring Options for the Contemporary Home
Selecting flooring for the home is a huge investment that will raise the living quality and value of your home. Whether you’re renovating or building a new home, you’ll need decide what type of flooring will work best. If some type of wood flooring is the way you want to go you must consider whether it will be hardwood, engineered or laminate. Each has its pros and cons, many of which determine the end cost.
This can be an overwhelming as there are numerous good choices now available in the marketplace. Consider the area where the new floor is to be installed and the type of wear it will be subject to. Will there be heavy foot traffic? Is the area near moisture? Is sound dampening a concern? How durable is the product? And, is it easy to clean and maintain?
Laminate flooring, or rather laminate-core, is a product typically made of High Density Fiber (HDF). The top layer is a photographic layer that appears identical to the product it replicates, be it wood, vinyl, tile, etc. It is installed with a tongue and groove glue less locking system which allows it to be installed and uninstalled several times if desired. Laminate flooring is the least expensive and is quickly gaining popularity because of this. Cleaning is also quite easy. Something to consider is that most laminates cannot be refinished. This means that once the finish is worn, the product must be replaced. It is also not recommended for areas where moisture is present. Also, some laminated products have formaldehyde and other VOC chemicals.
Engineered flooring is a made up of a core of hardwood, plywood or HDF and a thin top layer of hardwood veneer. This top layer of veneer is glued to the top surface of the core and is available in almost any hardwood species. The advantage is that is has the natural characteristics of a wood species opposed to a photographed one. Engineered hardwood provides greater stability especially where moisture or heat may be a problem for solid wooden flooring. This type of flooring is a great alternative for any homeowner looking to get nice looking floors without the high prices associated with real hardwood flooring.
Solid hardwood is the solid natural wood species throughout the entire piece of flooring. It usually has a tongue and groove installation as well. It has good sanding and refinishing capability and is available in several grades, widths and thicknesses. Most new hardwood flooring is pre-finished and has UV-cured polyurethane layers which helps protect the finish since it is susceptible to damage from water, heavy traffic or heavy objects being dropped on it. Hardwood flooring is typically more expensive and has some limitations as to where it can be installed due to moisture issues.
Because the flooring is made from solid wood, there will be color variations between boards as each piece may be from a different tree. Many people consider this part of the appeal of hardwood flooring. Maple is a common choice because is very resistant to wearing and if maintained properly it can stay in mint condition for several years. It also has a uniform texture and a natural feel that adds brightness to any room. Oak flooring is probably considered just as popular since it offers traditional elegance and when properly installed, it may actually outlast you. There are numerous other species available with varying looks and durability (and cost) including birch, ash, beech and even cork or bamboo. The list goes on.
Living Room Design Ideas
Interior Design – introduction
Since an early age I’ve been obsessed with interior design. Whether it be turning my country cottage into the perfect home, or observing modern trends in lighting and design. Some people find it hard to meet new people who share their passion for interior design, I know my friends aren’t all as enthusiastic as I am! There are a number of websites and magazines that will help but i thought I’d write a quick guide of my top tips for creating a successful indoor space
Why anyone can be an interior designer
Many people get flustered and think that interior design can only be executed well by a professional, I say that’s complete rubbish! And professional interior designers wont thank me for saying so! If you can see and you appreciate beautiful interiors then you are more than well equipped to turn your house into a special welcoming home that can be entirely personal to you. After all, no one knows better than you what kind of environment you’ll enjoy living in than you!
My Top Tips
Lets take the main room of the house – the living room.
1. A fireplace is in my opinion an absolute must. It never goes out of fashion and creates a beautiful focal point of any room.
2. Fairy Lights. Lighting is often too overlooked. And though most people agree, they seldom take action to back up their acknowledgement. Fairy lights give a warm cosy spray of light which enhance any living space beautifully be it traditional or contemporary.
3. Warm coloured throws and fabrics. Try and include some patterned throws, like red and cream tartan for a warm sumptuous look. Or taupe and cream for a more sophisticated touch. Fabrics are an essential factor in making a l living room feel warm and inviting.
4. Candles. Candles of differing shapes and sizes, scented or otherwise make for excellent mood lighting, particularly in an entertaining space such as the living room. Never overlook how important these little fellas can be!
5. Glazed coffee table, A coffee table is an integral part of any living room design. And my suggestion is to use a wooded one with glass panels to reflect light. Glass incorporated into furniture where possible refracts and reflects light around the room and adds to a lovely atmosphere especially when a fire or candles are lit.
6. Finally try to use a large mirror, preferably above the fireplace, and try to compliment the other materials used in the room, like wood or a gilded finish, or maybe stone.
Make Your Home Feel Good With Elegant Blankets, Pillows and Throws
Home decor is a never ending process. By altering, replacing or adding one or two things you tend to bring change in the interior home decoration. Moods swing with the season and you wanna see different home furnishing things at your home this season. You have changed your cutlery, furniture, wall paints etc and thinking of what to do next. You can now work on bed and bedding furnishings that include blankets, pillows, throws, bed covers, cushion covers, quilt covers, bed spreads & mattress covers. Now all the things cannot be changed at one time as we have to keep everything in budget, so let us check what can be done with blankets, pillows and throws to decorate your bedroom.
Elegant Blankets
Blankets are very useful and a way to welcome the winters. Beautiful blankets have all sorts of designs & patterns on them. Like you can get many floral designs, expressions of butterfly, cat & animals with other decorative blankets. Kid’s room blankets are made in bright colors having figures of teddy bear, Barbie, flowers, cars etc. So from very elegant blankets to funky you can choose the one according to your room decor requirement.
Beautiful blankets can be made from cotton, wool, nylon, acrylic and polyester. While choosing the blanket it is important to consider the fabric, its style and softness and weight. Based on all these there are the following types of blankets:
Conventional Blanket Polyurethane Blanket Thermal Blanket Electric Blanket
Roberto Cavalli, Oscar de la Renta, Kate Spade, Lilly Pulitzer are some of the brand names that sell very decorative and elegant blankets. To make these blankets mostly Egyptian cotton is used. Thomas Lee blankets have Pima Cotton and cost somewhere around 0-0. If money is not the constraint for you then go for the higher range of elegant blankets to adore and have a royal sleep.
Decorative Pillows
Another way with which you can change your interior room decor is the use of decorative pillows. But make sure that decorative pillows also solve the purpose of providing support to your neck, spine and head. Decorative pillows have wide range of embroidered, printed, stripped, fringed and decorated pillows with laces and ribbons. Hand embroidery and painting is the most common to see in the range of elegant pillows that can be done on polyester or cotton. Silk decorative pillows with embroidery are getting very hot. This also contain the designer range of pillows. These days picking multi color pillows is in as it really enhance the overall appeal of the room. Colors also bring life to the room. You can also buy different sizes and shapes of the decorative pillows to metamorphosed your space.
Beautiful Throws
Throws are just like blankets that are used on the bed but smaller than the blankets. Beautiful throws are available in all range of colors, fabrics and patterns. Chenille, hemp, cotton, wool & fleece are most commonly used to make throws that are mostly used for afternoon nap. The throws that are made from cotton are really very soft, washable and comfortable. Acrylic throws are just like woolen throws but much easier to maintain. Fleece throws are very light in weight.
These days you can also personalize these elegant throws, blankets & pillows with your picture, family picture or image of any other memorable event of your life. You will also find all sorts of colors and range of patterns in throw that will surly match your interior decoration.
So by bringing these beautiful, elegant and decorative textile furnishing product you can bring the desired changes in your bedroom.