From the Floors Up

Fading Trends of 2019

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Interior design is always changing. Trends come and go. With today being highly influenced by social media and trends being easier to access, the design world is evolving quicker than ever. It is essential to make sure the investments you put into your home are timeless. Investing in trendy colors, styles, or furniture can quickly make your home outdated. Here are three trends that become popular fast and may fade away as we approach the year 2020:

Terrazzo

Terrazzo is a composite material with chips and flakes of marble, granite, and glass. These components make terrazzo extremely durable while giving it a very interesting look. It is a flooring option that is water-resistant and stain-resistant after it has been sealed. While this style became popular in the last couple of years, it is slowly fading out of popularity.

Black and White Primary Neutrals

Neutral colors will always be needed in households. They ground the design without making it too influenced by colors. Throughout time, primary neutral colors have been established. A few years back, beige and tan were put into every home looking to be sold. Recently, over the last decade, black and white have made their way into the market in everything from flooring, paint, countertops, and appliances. While these neutrals are great for creating a hard contrast, the craze is slowly fading out of popularity. Neutral beiges and tans are becoming popular again, while also muted color tones are now accepted as a common substitute for a neutral color choice.

Minimalism

When entering a model home over the last couple of years, minimalism was traditionally the style of choice. It was considered to help make the room feel more open and allow potential buyers to feel themselves moving into the space. The minimalist movement also affected many homes as homeowners loved the clean look in their atmosphere with little clutter. However, this prevented the privilege to express your individuality in your design. Maximalism is slowly becoming more common as minimalism begins to dwindle away in interior design preferences.

Trends come and go. Keep your eyes open for what is trending and what is going out of style. You do not always want to invest in something that is trending. Remember to stick to the classics when it comes to investments.

Tips for Choosing Modern Style Lighting

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Have you done a recent renovation, or are you simply jazzing up a room and want to try Modern design? We completely understand and realize just how popular and how pleasing it is to bring something from history back to life! We recommend introducing a little Modern lighting into the room and starting here.

First, we must not get confused about the difference between Modern style and Contemporary style. Actually, they are quite different, and we are going to help you understand and determine just what you need to purchase for modern style lighting.

History

Modern style evolved from the movement in the 1920s to the 1950s. Modern style differs from Contemporary because it follows a defined style, straight lines, geometric shapes, clean and minimal furnishings, and accessories. We have listed below some tips and tricks for making that special Modern lighting purchase.

Room Size

Start by looking at the room and think about the size of the room with any cabinets, countertops, islands, built-ins, or bookcases that may be present. This will help you determine the number of fixtures you must purchase. If you have a countertop or kitchen island and it is six feet long, and the fixtures are twenty-four inches, think about purchasing three light fixtures.

Ceiling Height

If you have ten plus feet of ceiling, you must think about the height because you will need more intense lighting to cover the area and to be able to see properly. Many Modern rooms install recessed lighting. Recessed lighting is unnoticeable and very minimal, which is perfect for Modern style. You can also choose flush-mounted lighting or flush-mounted wall sconces, which are minimal and do not compete with the overall design style of the room.

Types of Lighting

Most Modern style lighting will consist of LED lighting. It has become the standard for energy savings and only uses a fraction of the electricity that an incandescent or halogen low wattage bulb uses. The LED lighting gives off much less heat and is less costly to run overtime. You will pay more for the initial bulb, but they will last for years!

Style

If we follow the Modern design style, our lighting is going to be sleek with a lot of stainless steel and glass, which possibly has some wood to match the overall Modern style. Again, we want to make sure the lighting is white, cream, or clear to fall in line with the minimalist look.

What are your thoughts on Modern design? We would love to hear from you below in the comment section.

Wabi-Sabi Interior Design

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The Japanese term Wabi-Sabi means to find beauty, even in imperfection. Sometimes in Japanese culture, when pottery would break, they would repair the broken pieces with a lacquer. This lacquer had gold and silver powdered into it. It made the cracks that once were broken, more prevalent, and easier to notice. However, they were even more beautiful because they had been fixed with gold. This style of finding beauty in imperfection was carried into interior design. Embracing the home with all the imperfections and taking pride in them rather than hiding them.

Minimalist Approach

Wabi-Sabi takes pride in a clutter-free atmosphere. To make imperfection shine, you do not want to draw away from them. From a crack on the wall to unfinished ceiling architecture, there are hundreds of ways homes can have imperfections. Your goal is to embrace and enhance them. Be strategic of what furniture you bring into your home. Light color schemes can help enrich the atmosphere without taking from it.

Embrace Imperfection

Imperfect hardwood floors, cracked concrete, or paint splashed on a brick wall can all be subtle imperfections. They can come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and natures. Identifying them and embracing them is vital. This does not work in every home, yet when you have a home with these characteristics, they should be recognized. Seeing these imperfections as a character is key to understanding the beauty of Wabi-Sabi.

Incorporate Imperfect Furniture

Add what makes you happy. Not all your furniture needs to match. This styling has room to express yourself. Add antiques or homemade furniture. If you love a picture, hang it up. The joy of Wabi-Sabi is having a calm and simple atmosphere. Your space does not need to be beautiful, but it should be recognized that you take pride in it. Adding plants and enhancing that cozy comfort is all part of creating the atmosphere. Add mismatched chairs, antique furniture, modern sofas, and rustic vases. The style is collected not solely through a uniform look but the pride you take in your space.

Wabi-Sabi means to embrace the authenticity of the area. Let it feel lived in yet not too chaotic. This Asian interior design style should flow and all details to shine; however, it is never perfect. Finding pride in your home is key to mastering this style. No two Wabi-Sabi spaces will look exactly alike!

Replacing Your Fireplace

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Every room deserves one element which can help contribute to the room’s overall feel. Fireplaces can easily be one of the most influential focal points in any room. A fireplace creates an elegant aesthetic to a room while creating an ambiance with the soothing comfort of crackling embers. However, some fireplaces are outdated and are in significant need of an update. These powerful architectural influences, if outdated, can really be a killjoy to your room’s interior design. If you are thinking about tackling this project, here are a couple of elements to consider:

Fireplace Remodels

Remodels can have a large assortment of tasks that are involved. Typically, hiring a contractor will be your best plan of attack for more advance remodels. Fireplace remodels will require some mortar work, refacing, and sometimes even ventilation work. You can also decide if you want to create a glass or mesh screen and a mantle if you wish. Before remodeling, discuss with your contractor if you would like to add any equipment for cooking or chimney replacement. Remember, completing this project early can help keep costs down later.

Refacing

Mortar repair is typically inexpensive. There are hundreds of options to consider when refacing the fireplace. You can choose from stucco, brick, tile, wood, and much more. You will want to check with your contractor that your facing will not create a fire hazard! Tile options are excellent, easy to clean, and can really enhance the look of any atmosphere.

Is It Worth It?

Fireplace remodels are great for helping increase resell value. It comes down to what you think is best for your home. Not all fireplaces will need to be remodeled. Some can simply be refaced, while others may be more advanced projects. Fireplaces are attention-grabbers and should be treated as such.

There are several options to consider. You can just repair or repaint your fireplace, or your fireplace may need to be refaced. You may need to consider a total renovation project, as well. Remember, if the project looks more significant than a DIY project, you should get a contractor involved. For more insight on home improvement ideas and tricks, make sure to subscribe!

Are You Thinking of Using Mosaic Tiles?

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Do you find yourself looking at your kitchen and bathrooms and realize they need special attention? If so, or your taste and style have changed, mosaic tiles are a great place to start jazzing up your dated home design!

If you have a plain ceramic tile backsplash and plain ceramic tile shower enclosure, they tend to become dull and lifeless over time. Mosaic tiles can transform your home’s surfaces into an artistic canvas that pops with style and boldness! There are so many options available, and mosaic tiles are the perfect choice to liven up your design style.

When shopping for mosaic tile, there are various materials to choose from, like porcelain, slate, and glass. We are going to concentrate on glass mosaic tiles due to their versatility and multiple advantages shown below:

Numerous Options are Available

Your local tile stores will have a large assortment of glass mosaic tiles. They are available in almost every color and various styles. Some will have a metallic look, and others will look like mirrors.

Visual Appeal

Glass mosaic tiles have a luminous, mirror-like look or a translucent, pearl look that creates a stylish, high-end design look. Do not overlook upgrading your current lighting to enhance them and play off the reflection of the new tiles.

Design Flexibility

Glass mosaic tiles do not have only to be used in kitchens and baths. These tiles can be used in conjunction with wood, metal, and stone elements in various applications. Many pieces of wall artwork or furniture pieces contain these fabulous jewels that push the piece over the top. They can do the same for your home.

Durable, Easy Maintenance & Environmentally Friendly

Glass mosaic tiles are strong and resistant to most chemicals. They are easy to clean and maintain because of their smooth, non-porous surface. They do not stain while dirt and grease can be wiped away quickly with a cloth. Plus, many glass mosaic tiles are eco-friendly and recycled tiles.

Drawbacks

Glass mosaic tiles are often more expensive than ceramic and slate tiles. Depending on the pattern, the maintenance is more – due to a detailed pattern when installing.

What are your thoughts on glass mosaic tiles? We would love to hear your thoughts below in the comment section.

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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