From the Floors Up

American Southwest: A How-To Decorate Guide

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A theme in decorating is more than just a plan to keep the colors from clashing.  A theme makes a statement about the area we live in, our hobbies or even our background. A theme can also be a look and feel that speaks to you, but has little to do with where you live or where you are from.  Decorating around a theme is often the best way to create a room that is impressive as well. No more wondering if a new item will be just the right color.  Extra consideration is not needed wondering if that accessory will fit in with your decorating scheme.  Instead, you can quickly and confidently say ‘yay or nay.’ Either it works with the theme or it doesn’t!

We have picked one theme – American Southwest – and created guidelines to make this theme easy and fun.  Don’t’ worry about following the list to the letter.  Just choose the items that speak to you.  Use the other items as inspiration! When going about it this way the overall project seems less daunting. Just pick what you like and work it into your plan!

In this post we are going to discuss the earthy beauty of American Southwest art and design. This very unique aesthetic produces an effect that is both welcoming and exciting.

  • Colors:
    • Warm-toned neutrals, used abundantly
    • Forest green
    • Sienna red
    • Brown
    • Turquoise
    • Slate blue
  • Accessories
    • Wall-hung rugs in bright patterns
    • Kachina dolls
    • Dream catchers
    • Baskets made of natural materials
  • Materials
    • Turquoise
    • Silver
    • Wood should also be prevalent and appear close to its natural state rather than highly processed
  • Lighting
    • Floor lamps with beaded or faux leather shades
    • Dimmer switch on any overhead lighting
    • Candles
  • Furniture
    • Soft, worn leather couches and chairs, ideally large and very comfortable
    • Lots of wood, appearing close to its natural state
    • Angular lines, exposed fasteners, nails, etc
  • Walls
    • Stucco
    • Textured faux finishes
  • Floors
    • Native American area rugs in bold colors, statement piece
    • Aged hardwood
    • LVP or laminate that looks like aged wood

Is there anything that you would add to this list? Do you have a Southwest inspired home? We’d love to hear your ideas in the comment section!

Five Things You Need to Consider When Remodeling Your Kitchen

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Of course it would be great to be able to spend as much as you want on your kitchen renovation project, however the reality is that you are probably working within a budget. When you’re working within a budget, you’ll have to make some compromises along the way. Therefore, it’s important to renovate smartly. When making such tough decisions be aware of what matters most to you. Here are some key tradeoffs you should consider making when it comes down to the “nitty gritty”.

How You’ll Be Using the Kitchen
First off, before renovating your kitchen you should be clear on how you want to use your new kitchen. For example, some people remodel their kitchen so that they can have more space to cook and entertain their guests. Others redesign their kitchens to be more efficient. Set aside goals that you are not willing to budge on will help you make the right decisions as your budget starts to decrease.

If you cook or entertain often, think about surfaces like floors and countertops that will be easy to maintain and keep clean.

Realistic Needs
When remodeling your kitchen you should think about how many people your kitchen will serve on a daily basis. If you have a small kitchen but entertain on occasions, a kitchen with double range ovens and a 48 inch wide refrigerator may not be suitable. Many experts recommend designing with your maximum capacity needs.

Think About Cost vs. Value
As you’ve probably already discovered everything from the cabinetry, flooring, sinks and appliances costs a decent amount of money. There will come a point when you will have to consider when its worth spending the money on a specific thing. So should you splurge on it or spend the dollars elsewhere?

Here are some questions you should ask yourself:
– Will making an investment in this product improve my daily life?
– Does the element increase the overall aesthetic of my home and increase its value?

Good luck and have fun! We hope some of these tips helped you with your new kitchen remodel!

How To Choose Flooring For A Kid’s Room

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Flooring choices today seem nearly endless. There are products made of nearly every conceivable material in both hard and soft surfaces. Homeowners installing new flooring in a room of their home have a lot of choices to consider. These choices become even more important when the flooring is going into an area predominately used by kids.

Kids’ Flooring Considerations

While style or sustainability may be factors that you look for in the flooring used through the rest of the house, there are several other considerations that need to come to the forefront of the decision for kids’ room flooring.

What How the Room Is Used

A room that is used for crafts and playtime will need a very different floor than a room used mostly for sleeping or reading. Consider how the kids will use the flooring when making your choice. Will the kids be down on the floor playing? Will the children be doing activities such as painting and drawing? up above it?

Clean Up

Whether you are looking for flooing in a playroom or a bedroom, most parents are aware that kids’ floors tend to get messy. Spilled paint from a craft project or an overturned cup can quickly create a stain that requires some attention. That’s why choosing either a product that is stain resistant like luxury vinyl or a product that can be easily cleaned like stain-resistant carpeting make better choices than something that could absorb the stains. When possible, eliminating things like grout joints and other places that stains can settle is also a wise move in helping to keep the flooring looking great over time.

Resiliency

Some kids like to play rough. Others like to wrestle, and some occasionally are known to drop things. When considering the flooring, take its resiliency into consideration as well. Carpet, luxury vinyl, linoleum, and cork can all be softer underfoot cushioning falls and making for a more comfortable play surface.

Color and Style

Kids’ rooms should be a reflection of their personalities and things they do there. Consider choosing flooring that can be laid in a variety of colors or patterns or that comes in bold colors that can complement the rest of the kids’ décor.

Choose Wisely

The flooring in your home should last for as long as the room you put it into does. Make a wise choice considering the flooring in a kid’s room to help ensure it outlasts their activities. 

Home Check-Up List

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With how much time people are spending at home, we thought now would be a good time for a home check-up list. Here are five things you should do every year to ensure you’re running a well-oiled machine.

One: Replace the batteries in the smoke detector

Ever heard of the old adage “better than safe than sorry”? Yes, every year you should be switching out the old batteries in your smoke detector for new ones. Modern smoke detectors feature hard-wired backup batteries that must also be replaced. However, it doesn’t stop there. After trading batteries you should ensure that all the smoke detectors throughout the house are in working order.

In addition to the smoke detectors, you should also check your carbon monoxide detectors. Every year thousands of deaths occur due to faulty carbon monoxide detectors. Make sure you change the batteries at least every six months to a year.

Two: Inspect the chimney

Before you fire up your fireplace during the cold winter months you must fire perform a thorough inspection of your chimney. Make sure the gas logs are positioned correctly, look for cracks in the glass door and make sure the burner holes aren’t clogged.

Even when the fireplace is not in use it should be inspected because the chimney has dangerous gases that can be carried to the stove and that shouldn’t be inhaled. Be sure to clean it periodically or make an appointment to have it serviced by a professional.

Three: Gutters

Gutters that become clogged with leaves and other debris restrict the water from flowing easily preventing them from doing their job! This preventative maintenance will save you time and headaches down the road. If you aren’t comfortable on a ladder, hiring someone to do this for you will be worth it in the long run.

Four: Doors and windows

Before winter hits, you should perform an inspection of all the doors and windows in your home. Check for weather stripping around the front and back door. Look for cracks in the windows and tears on the screen. Checking for signs of wear around the window frame is important for safety issues.

Five: Rotate Area Rugs

If you have area rugs that get any exposure from the sun, you’ll want to rotate them to ensure that your rugs receive the same amount of sun exposure on each side for even fading. This is normal and natural for any material that receives exposure to sunlight. If your rugs are on top of hardwood floors, you will want to rotate your furniture where possible so that your hardwood floors receive the same amount of sun exposure for evenness as well.

We hope you find these tips useful in maintaining a healthy home. Take care of yourself and your home!

Easy and Healthy Snacks When the Heat is On!

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Are you tired of the same snacks?  In this read, you will discover several refreshing snacks that only require two to three ingredients each. These snacks are perfect to make for one person or for a family.

The most refreshing treat is sliced tomatoes, with fresh mozzarella drizzled with balsamic vinegar. Add some fresh basil for an added kick of freshness. This dish is so easy it can be prepared in merely minutes. Choose this dish to help you cool off on a sweltering day!

Sweet and savory is a delightful combination. Take a fig and cut it in half. Add a small spoonful of goat cheese. Wrap the fig and cheese with a small slice of prosciutto and hold it all together by placing a toothpick through the bite sized snack. Or place figs in a bed of goat cheese or other soft cheese and top with toasted pine nuts.

For another sweet and savory combination, slice green apples and top with a white cheese, such as white cheddar, Gouda or brie. The savory cheese pairs wonderfully with the sweet freshness of the apple. Feel free to add some fresh turkey to this little snack, to transform it into a bite sized savory sandwich, sans the bread.

Make a simple summer salad with diced tomatoes, diced cucumbers and toss in Italian dressing. After tossing the mix, refrigerate for thirty minutes then serve. Feel free to add fresh chopped basil to the mix. This can be eaten with a spoon or spread on a crispy crostini.

Throw some fresh berries in a bowl. Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries work nicely together. Drizzle with honey and serve with plain yogurt. This is a healthy snack that taste like a treat. It taste even better if the honey is warmed up a bit. The coolness of the berries taste great with warm and sweet honey! Add some granola for texture!

Do you have some favorite healthy snacks to share? We’d love to hear your snack ideas!

From the Floors Up

From the Floors Up blog was created with the goal of providing a destination for consumers, designers and those interested in the flooring, design, and kitchen and bath industries. Here you’ll find, current, accurate and informative information that is always just a click away!

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