Floor Talk!

Interested in remodeling your home, but don’t know what you want? Are there too many choices to choose from? Are you nervous about the commitment of changing your floors? If so, Good Housekeeping and the WFCA have just the thing for you.

Look for the May Issue of Good Housekeeping to enter for a chance to virtually design a room in YOUR home. There are a lot of free virtual room designers out there, like the one on the WFCA website. These room designers have pre-chosen room scenes that may or may not look like your home. However, by going to the WFCA home page and entering the Good Housekeeping giveaway, you can take a picture of a room in your home, upload it and then try on different floorings in your home without ever leaving your computer! Imagine getting to see what different new floors look like in your home without leaving your home or committing to one type of floor and wondering what another type would have looked like.

If you are one of the first 200 people to enter the sweepstakes, you can try this virtual remodel FREE. If you are not one of the first 200 people to register, then the cost is only $25. So, get online and visit the Good Housekeeping Website or the WFCA website and enter today!

Let us know if you upload a photo of your home and have an experience to share!

Remember the days when your choices for flooring were carpet, wood, vinyl and tile? Then came along bamboo and cork and that was really branching out? Recently, I did a post on floors made from peach pits. Now, I am happy to have discovered tiles made from coconuts!

These tiles are from a company called Ekobe in Brazil. Ekobe translates into “life” in the TUPI GUARANI language. They pride themselves on respect for life and the environment while being a sustainable environmental solution for design and architectural products. Their mission is: Without destroying the environment, and based on 100% natural materials, to sustainable environmental pavements and surface materials, with a high degree of quality and design, allowing new creative experiences (my favorite part!) in projects that aim for originality, beauty, durability and comfort.

The tiles are designed for interior use only and can be applied on:

• walls
• floors (low to medium traffic)
• furniture
• accessories like photo frames and mirrors

In humid environments, a waterproofing sealer needs to be used. This should not be used in areas that have direct contact with water.
They can be applied to:

• glass
• metal
• plastic
• wood
• cement
• ceramic

It can be purchased exclusively in the United States from:

Nemo Tile

48 E. 21st Street

Manhattan

Here are some examples of the range of color offered in these tiles:

(212) 505-0009 or info@nemotile.com

There are so many decorative tile choice available - how do you make sure you have something unique?Lore Haus Glass Tile has just the thing to set you apart. From frogs, fish, crystals, flowers, butterflies to Gothic faces these tiles are handblown to give you a look that will truly set you apart.

These are so different - You might be wondering “How can I use these tiles?”

Imagine a simple white tile shower with a set of these tiles scattered randomly. For a more exciting and bold look, use these tiles in combination with glass tiles or colored ceramic tiles. Another idea is that same shower of tiles (installed either straight, on the diagonal or with an offset joint) and a decorative band of these tiles installed at eye level.

If you choose a theme such as all animals or all in the same series that compliment each other, try blocks of 4 tiles strategically placed around the walls.

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ANN SACKS® EXPANDS EXCLUSIVE FLOOR AND WALL TILE OPTIONS
THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH CONCRETE ARTISAN ANDY FLEISHMAN
PORTLAND, Ore. (May 10 2005)

Ann Sacks, in collaboration with leading concrete artisan, Andy Fleishman, presented four completely unique floor and wall tiles at the 2005 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas.

Fleishman’s designs for Ann Sacks offer a visually striking alternative to complement the diverse Ann Sacks tile and stone collections. Fleishman, who started his career as a wood sculptor and cabinet maker in the 1970s, gravitated toward concrete as his primary medium. His designs for Ann Sacks include Diamond and Petal, two large-scale, geometric designs; and, Maximus and Tendril, two more intricate designs using floral themes. (more…)

Bamboo is a currently a very popular choice for flooring, but did you know it can be used for other things? One company, Bamboo Outfitters offers eco friendly items from clothing, to linens, to soap and bath products made of bamboo. Bamboo is useful in making these products because bamboo fiber is soft and strong and produces products that are durable, soft and breathable. Unlike other natural products, bamboo can be safely dyed in bright and bold colors.

Benefits of bamboo as clothing:

• It absorbs sweat quickly and evaporates quickly.
• Bamboo keeps you warmer in the winter and up to 2 degrees cooler in the summer
• Bamboo is antibacterial so it stays fresher and odor free longer.
• During the manufacturing process, no harsh chemicals are used so this product is ideal for people with allergies or sensitive skin
• Bamboo fiber is smooth and round so it does not irritate skin. It contains a naturally occurring antibacterial called bamboo-kun that resists the spread of bacteria on the skin without any adverse affects.
• Bamboo grows quickly and therefore has high water absorbency which aids in this process. This helps the fabric retain absorbency, in fact, 3-4 more than cotton. It keeps you drier because it wicks away moisture from the body, but doesn’t have the high prices that comes with sports attire with these same properties.
  
• Bamboo is antibacterial, anti fungal and anti static even after is has been washed.
• It’s better for the environment. For more information on bamboo, click here.
• No special care is required to maintain the clothing.

Not sure if bamboo fabric is for you or all that is advertised, Bamboo Outfitters will send you a sample!

Other products made from bamboo are found in the kitchen and bath. Some examples of products for the home made from bamboo are: cutting boards, soap, dish towels, bed linens, body washes, crib linens and bath towels.

Clothing for babies, kids, men and women:

Products for the home:

Do your part by choosing clothing and home accessories that are not only comfortable, better for your skin, anti bacterial, anti fungal and anti static but good for the world we live in!