FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

Everywhere you turn there is a reference to something green! This reality reflects a growing desire to live a healthy and productive life and to minimize environmental damage for our and our children’s benefit. The demand to “go green” is starting us on the path toward resolving many pressing concerns such as global warming, depletion of natural resources, pollution, and the disruption of natural habitats.

U.S. households account for about 1/5th of America’s total greenhouse gas emissions. The average U.S. household generates more than 80 tons of carbon dioxide every year — that’s 22.5 tons per person! The average household also creates 3.3 tons of landfill waste every year — an average of 4.5 pounds of trash, per person, per day!

Many organizations are making efforts to decrease the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels and to develop renewable energy sources. They are also seeking to minimize their environmental footprint by using products with longer life cycle and less impact on the environment.

We can all do our part by making smart purchases; so why not begin with flooring? Next we will get into more detail about green flooring and how you can be green! Stay tuned!

Question:

My husband and I are in disaccord about the flooring of our home. We both want a honed finish so there is no glare but we debate between marble, crema marfil, and travertine. I want a travertine that is very light with movement but similar tone, beige or cream. My husband likes the thickness of the marble, crema marfil, but it has carmel veining.

I would like a very clean look with straight edges and a timeless look. How do I order a travertine with the select quality and which country provides the best quality of stone. There is no guarantee in stone ordering it seems.

How thick should the floor be? They all want to sell us a 3/8 thick floor and say that is okay. We want to be able to polish, hone, buff in the future and have a floor that will last at least 30 to 40 years.

Please advise. Thank you.

Answer:

I understand your situation! In my opinion, crema marfil is meant to be polished and is a more formal look than travertine, although it comes in a honed finish now. Both will have a timeless look, but if you want a look that can go either way, I would choose travertine. It is more neutral even though it has more range.

As for the thickness, ½” or 5/8” thick is fine. It is most important to have a quality installer and proper maintenance. Turkey and Italy have some nice, quality travertines to select from.

Thanks for your question!

CB Whittemore is the Director, In-Store Innovation for Wear-Dated Carpet Fiber – Solutia, Inc. She has graciously shared some answer to some questions that may help demystify carpet fiber branding!

1. What is Wear-Dated?

Wear-Dated® is Solutia’s brand of nylon carpet fiber for the residential market. It is also our warranty to the consumer that carpet made with Wear-Dated carpet fiber will perform.

Solutia manufactures nylon 6,6 fiber and sells it into the commercial and residential markets. On the commercial side, Nylon 6,6 is the fiber most often specified by architects and designers because it is so durable. Imagine, then, the benefits on the residential side: Nylon 6,6 makes for beautiful yet durable carpet that any consumer would want in her home.

2. What benefit does Wear-Dated represent for the consumer?

Not all carpet made with our carpet fiber can carry the Wear-Dated carpet fiber brand. We test the carpet to ensure that its construction meets performance standards. If it meets those standards, then it can carry the Wear-Dated brand. We go to this effort because our brand is also our warranty to the consumer. Even though we make the fiber, we guarantee the carpet made from it.

3. What is the origin of Wear-Dated?

We first introduced the Wear-Dated brand into apparel in 1962. We then extended it to upholstery fabrics in 1975 and to carpet in 1980. In all of these categories, it can be difficult for a buyer to determine whether the end product will last or not. Wear-Dated offers peace-of-mind for all of the things you can’t see or easily evaluate. Our tagline for carpet is “You’ll Wear Out Before Wear-Dated does.” That’s how durable carpet made with our fiber is. (more…)

Question:I am getting my apartment painted and want to redecorate a little but don’t have a large amount of $$$$. My question is the area rug should you make sure it matches the furniture or the wall color?
Answer: The area rug needs to have a color in the rug that coordinates with the wall color. Matching is hardly ever necessary in decorating – it just needs to blend. The color in the area rug needs to be the same family of color, not necessarily the exact shade or a complimentary color like in the picture above.

This question arose from yesterdays post: 10 Quick ways to decorate and update your home

Is your home boring and tired? Are all of your walls and floors beige? There are many simple ideas that you can do to spruce up your home and make it feel almost new again.

1. Rearrange the furniture. Changing the way the furniture is laid out can make a room feel completely different.
2. Paint an accent wall. This is a fast, easy and inexpensive way to change the look of a room.
3. Add an area rug. If your floors and walls are all neutral and your furniture is wood and solid colors, an area rug can add color and life to a room.
4. Change a few key light fixtures. Updating light fixtures can add more light to a room as well as more stlye.
5. Change plumbing fixtures. Changing facuets to a more updated style and finish can make a bathroom, especially look more updated.
6. Declutter. Take a serious look around at what you really need versus what you have collected over the years!
7. Recover or slipcover worn upholstered pieces. If you have chairs or barstools that are worn or the fabric is last decades style, a slipcover is a fast and easy way to get a whole new look.
8. Add greenery. If your home doesn’t have greenery, adding it can make a room feel more complete. The greenery doesn’t have to be real if you don’t have a green thumb!
9. Change cabinet hardware. Changing cabinet hardware can change the whole look of a kitchen. Be careful to make sure the replacement hardware has the same type hole as the previous or that the new hardware will cover the old holes.
10. Add a backsplash. Adding a backsplash is not only a great idea from a functional standpoint, but it can make a room feel put together and stylish!

Trying any of these quick tips can help change the look of a room. Everyone doesn’t need all of these tips, but one might inspire you to get the look that you want. Happy Decorating!