FloorTalk – for all the latest flooring fashions

 You might not think of carpet cushion as an option in your home that can help the environment. Thankfully, Carpenter has done all of the work for you continuously making technological advancements to safeguard your home and the environment. The EnviroStep collection of carpet cushion options reflect the commitment from Carpenter to  develop the most technologically advanced environment-conscious products for your home and your budget. They are taking steps today to ensure a greener tomorrow.

Each product in the EnviroStep collection are not only recyclable, but incorporate natural organic materials reducing the reliance on non-renewable petroleum based products. All of the bonded products are ozone friendly (no CFC’s) and exceed CRI’s  Green Label air quality standards.

This collection contains standard carpet cushion, better, best, premium, Stainmaster and Odor Eaters. These environmentally friendly products are all backed by Carpenter’s “Life of the Carpet Warranty”. For more information, visit Carpenter’s website.

Below are some different tile applications for fireplaces. These are just a few of the options that can be used for tile or stone on fireplaces. The design options are limitless! There are many, many tile and stone choices as well as many types of fireplaces.

Tile or stone can be installed from floor to ceiling and on the hearth. This adds height to the room and the fireplace. In this application, the fireplace becomes a focal point of the room. 

Mosaic tiles can be installed in corner fireplace applications. Tiles that are the same color throughout or are made of natural stone do not have to have bullnose trim pieces. This tile is not installed all the way to the floor; instead, it stops at the base board so that the tile of the trim on the floor is not interrupted.

Tile can be installed from the floor to the hearth and from the hearth to just above the fireplace box itself. Optional surfaces can be installed above the tile for a finished look without using the same material from floor to ceiling. This fireplace also becomes the focal point of the room.

Tile or stone can be installed on just the face of the fireplace with or without a mantle. This tile does not wrap around the sides of the fireplace. It is just used on the face of the fireplace. If using a natural stone or a tile that is the same color throughout, a bullnose trim piece is not needed at the top or on the sides. If a tile is used with a different color body that the face, a cap or bullnose trim piece will need to be used.

These are floors that will truly floor you. These floors were part of a home in a parade of homes in Colorado. There were many beautiful wood floors and many beautiful tile floors, but this combination of tiles and wood took the prize!

Notice that the wood floors are laid on the diagonal instead of horizontally or vertically. This keeps all of the combined surfaces in the home from being too linear. The tiles inset in the wood floor are made of beautiful, long lasting slate. These floors are a focal point for the entry to the home as well as the entire downstairs.

This designer did an excellent job of combining products, using an installation pattern that serves as a focal point without being overwhelming.

Also note, the wood columns throughout the downstairs compliment the hardwood floors and the stone at the base of the columns compliment the slate in the insets.

If you are going to attempt to duplicate this floor pattern, this is one for the pro’s. You would not want to attempt this installation yourself because the two surfaces are different thicknesses. Getting these floors to be flush is not a do-it-yourself project!

This week ends the shower design series. This week we have seen beautiful showers and baths and noted design elements about each. Of course, we saved the most unique for last.

Things to note about this shower:

• The designer of this shower took a “regular tile” and turned it on the diagonal. Not only did they turn the tile on the diagonal, but added a glass mosaic on the diagonal as well! What a fantastic design!
• The shower floor tile coordinates with the wall tile.
• The bathroom floor tile is the same as the wall tile in the shower. The floor tile is best to be simple and restful so that the pattern in the shower stands out as the focal point in the room.
• The edges are finished with a trim piece called bullnose to give a professional clean, finished look.
• The shower door allows the pattern to be seen an enjoyed through all of the glass.
• The tile in the shower runs all the way to the ceiling. This allows more of the pattern to be shown and the walls of the shower to appear higher.
• The corner shelf is not white. Instead, it coordinates with the wall tile and blends with the tile. This makes the corner shelf be less visible so that the pattern is the focal point.
• The shower head falls in the middle of one of the rows of decorative glass. In this case, it was more important to keep the pattern rather than to arrange the pattern around the placement of the plumbing fixture.

 Today, we have another fabulous shower design with several items to note:

• The decorative band is composed of several parts. The tile in the center is laid on the diagonal with a listello (liner bar) installed above and below the row of diagonal tile to give the whole decorative band a more substantial and more finished look.
• The design of the decorative band is not installed directly in the center so it doesn’t break the design where it chops up the wall. Instead, it raises your eye to give more height.
• Often the tile stops short of the ceiling, but the tile in this area goes all the way to the ceiling making the wall look taller. The sheet rock above the wall is also more protected from moisture with this type of installation.
• The field tile is laid straight which is a cost saver versus installing all of the tile on the diagonal.
• The edges of the tile are finished off with a trim piece called bullnose which gives a nice, clean, finished look.
• The soap dish is made of a stone or resin material so that it blends in with the field tile rather than white which would stand out against the tile.
• It is very important in an installation like this to caulk the area where the tile meets the tub. If that area were grouted, it would eventually crack and become a moisture problem for this area. Caulk is available in a color that matches or coordinates with most grout colors.

This week is all about showers and baths! There are so many choices for tile designs in showers – some simple and complicated. This is an example of a simple yet stunning installation.

 Things to note about this shower:

• The shower has a very attractive overall design with a very simple installation.The tile is set straight with a simple decorative eye level band.
• A more simple tile design can be effective if there are multiple plumbing fixtures that could interfere with a more complicated tile design.
• The main tile or field tile used could be a very inexpensive tile leaving more room in the budget for the tile in the decorative band. The tile used in this decorative band is significantly more expensive than the field tile, but only a small amount is used.
• The tiles used in this installation are of different thicknesses. This can require professional installation and can cost more than a simple straight laid installation.
• Note the soap dish holder and how well it coordinates with the tile in the decorative band.
• Also note that the soap dish coordinates with the shower fixtures, but the finishes do not match.
• The shower door lets you enjoy the tile pattern rather than being hidden behind a shower curtain.