From the Floors Up

Backsplash Trends That You Will Love

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With a new year, new trends are on the horizon. Some traditional styles still have continued to thrive, but new backsplash trends are emerging. If you are looking to add a backsplash in your home, it is key to know the latest styles and trends! Let’s explore some of the new trends on the market to help you decide which styles you may want in your own home. Let’s get started!

Subway Tiles

Subway tiles had their day, but also at one time became outdated. They are back and here to stay. The simplicity of the pattern makes them timeless and classic. Look for updated subway tiles that have texture, crackle or dimension to get the best this shape has to offer!

Bold Patterns

Geometrical shapes and bold patterns are also back and HOT! You can see this with encaustic tiles and other bold-patterned tile patterns. These geometrical patterns can become the focal point of any room. Be sure to choose a pattern in which you can complement other areas of your design.

Solid Slab

Solid slab backsplashes are another largely trending aesthetic look. These backsplashes eliminate any grout line or separation and are installed as one large piece. This style can create a very sleek and cleaned line look in your home.

Color!

Colored tiles are back on the rise. Earthy jewel tones, pastels and color trends from the past like greens, tans, beiges and Santorini blues are making a strong comeback. If colored tiles are too much of a commitment for you, don’t worry. Crisp and clean tiles are also trending.

Marble

If you are looking to add some character to the room, consider marble. The Baroque tile trend is bringing back dramatic looks with heavy veining. Marble has a ton of character throughout the intricate veining patterns in each piece. Each marble tile will offer its own aesthetic and unique look to the room. This style can quickly spruce up a dull area and make a stunning backsplash.

To the Ceiling

Backsplashes are also beginning to lose their limitations on height. Traditionally, backsplashes were just high enough for splashes or spills. However, we are now seeing homeowners backsplash the whole wall – all the way up to the ceiling. If you use this look, keep in mind the size of your tiles if you are looking to do this in hard-to-install areas. If you really want to be in the design know and trending – ask your local flooring retailer about murals made from tile. You’ll be the envy of the whole neighborhood!

Trends are significant to keep in touch within the interior design industry. Are you surprised by any of these backsplash trends?

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Displaying Children’s Artwork

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If you’re like most families, you probably have a large stack of artwork that your children have created. Many people choose to display children’s artwork on their refrigerators however, this can get cluttered and messy fast. There are several other ways that you can incorporate your kids’ artwork right into the rest of your home’s décor, creating a much neater and more stylish way to show it off.

Feature Wall

Find an area in your home that could use some artwork. Rather than pinning or sticking your kid’s artwork directly on the wall which can damage the paint, create a feature wall that will look great on its own or filled with your favorite pieces of your kid’s artwork. Use luxury vinyl planks to create your feature wall. It’s easy to measure, cut and install on the walls. You can do it yourself or hire a professional flooring store to install it for you. You can place the artwork directly on the wall and change it out often. If your home is more modern, you can create this feature wall with tile or natural stone.

Next, let’s look at different ways to display the art on this feature wall.

Picture Wire

Picture hanging wire is usually strung across the back of a heavy piece of artwork to enable you to hang it on the wall. This doesn’t mean, however, that this is the only thing you can use it for. By inserting two eyelet screws into your walls, you can string the wire between them. Now just invest in some mini-clothespins or other clips and you can hang your children’s artwork on the wall anywhere in your home. There’s no tape or additional nail holes, and you can swap things out easily once the line gets full.

Temporary Frames

Purchase several unfinished photo frames. Now have some fun painting them in a variety of different colors. Hang them in a nice grouping on the wall and swap out your kid’s artwork in the frames. This helps show off their current art work and adds to your décor at the same time.

Posters

If your kids are particularly prolific, and you hate to take anything down, try scanning everything that they create into your computer. Now head to a photo printing site and arrange all of their artwork together into a large poster collage. Print the poster and have it framed; now you can show off hundreds of pieces of art work all at once. You can make several of these posters to hang around the house, and they all make excellent pieces of abstract and interesting art. Because you can’t quite tell what they are at first glance, they make great additions to gallery walls and other areas. Once you see them for what they are, they also become excellent conversation pieces as you discuss the many different elements within.

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How to Remove Gravy Stains from Carpet

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If little Tommy drops his Thanksgiving dinner plate on the carpet tomorrow, don’t worry. This year, we’re sharing some of our best stain removal techniques with you. We hope you find these tips useful.

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.

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.

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.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

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.

When in doubt, 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.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Designing Your Guest Bathroom

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There’s nothing that makes a guest feel more welcome than being able to use a stylish and comfortable bathroom. Often, the guest bathroom is neglected and cluttered because isn’t used as frequently as the other restrooms in the house. However, it’s time to take your guest bathroom from drab to fab by implementing crafty design schemes into your bathroom’s decor.

How can you make your guest bathroom more appealing to visitors? Below are some tips that are useful for decorating a guest bath.

It’s important to provide enough space for styling tools and toiletries. Leave the pedestal sink in the powder room. Be sure to install an outlet near the vanity so that your guests can have the option of utilizing a flat or curling iron.

Balanced or equal lighting should be used in the guest bathroom. Options for lighting placement include sconces placed on both sides of the vanity mirror, a small chandelier or attractive lights mounted over the mirror. Using framed mirrors instead of flat glass can really elevate the look and feel of the room.

Make use of shelves and baskets to add extra storage space. Decorative storage accessories can hold hand towels and soaps. If you travel, collect soaps, lotions and toiletries from hotels and display them in a basket for your guests to use.

Try Unique Designs

Since your guest bathroom won’t experience a lot of wear and tear because it’s not being used on a consistent basis, you can use materials that you might not ordinarily choose for a bathroom. Laminate or luxury vinyl that looks like a rich and exotic hardwood can give the room a warm and inviting feeling. Tile can also achieve this and provide durability for years to come. You can also purchase waterproof laminate flooring or waterproof vinyl flooring for extra durability. Or, go with something natural and durable like waterproof hardwood flooring!

Because your guest bathroom is typically a smaller space, this is your opportunity to incorporate materials that are a little more expensive like glass mosaics, metal tiles, natural stone accents. Using these materials will make your guest bath the topic of conversation! Don’t forget the sink splash. This is a great place to add a decorative tile to give the room a little more personality.

When decorating the guest bathroom, you can play with contrasting colors to create a stunning effect. So, if you always wanted a vessel sink or a bold pattern flooring, then now is the time to try it. You can push the limits and try unique decor with the guest bathroom. Have fun!

Creating Your Space

Mad for Mod: A How-To Decorate Guide with 1960s Inspiration

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Decorating around a theme is often the best way to create a room that brings you joy. It provides an easy way to ensure that the room is ‘pulled together’ by way of a common thread. It also helps with decisions such as color selection, accessorizing, and furnishings. Rather than wonder whether or not to buy that amazing couch you just found, you can quickly and confidently say ‘yay or nay.’ Either it works with the theme or it doesn’t!

To make it even easier we have outlined the basics below in short bulleted lists. We’ve found that when working theme it’s more effective to pick and choose possibilities a la carte. Otherwise you risk ‘overdoing it’ with the theme and end up with a room that might look it belongs in a theme park. Less is more. Lastly, 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 article on we are going to dish about the fabulous look of 1960’s inspired mod décor.  If you bold pops of pure color and geometric shapes, this is the theme for you!

  • Color Pallet Options:
    • Warm red
    • Dark yellow
    • Sky blue
    • Kelly or spearmint green
  • Lighting
    • Suspension lighting
    • Glass lamp with a swag chain
    • Pendant lights
  • Furniture
    • Upholstered couches and chairs
    • Skinny wooden legs
    • Bold or pop colors
    • Multifunctional, such as an end table designed to also hold magazines
    • Atomic inspired pieces, for example, radial sun clock made of metal, boomerang-shaped coffee table
  • The walls
    • Built-in cabinetry
    • Funky, loud wallpaper
    • Large  mosaic comprised of numerous small hexagonal mirrors
  • The floor
    • Shag rugs
    • Luxury vinyl plank with brightly colored, textured rugs
    • Colored tiles (Yes! They are making a comeback!)

Are you ready for a 1960’s comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Creating Your Space

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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