Monday, March 25, 2013

What's New At Enhance



We are excited about all the new styles and products that have just arrived. If you have not been in lately, please stop by. We have so much to show you!

 One of our most popular new carpets is the WearDated Embrace line from Mohawk. This is a super soft nylon carpet that is as durable as it is comfortable and beautiful. Our best sellers are the pindot and the textured styles. We also love the new print "Essentials" carpets from Stanton. These carpets are great for custom area rugs, as well as staircase runner and wall-to-wall installations.

We just got in the new American Scrapes hickory hardwoods from Bruce. These floors are distressed and "soft scraped." The soft scraping makes them a great choice for our clients that do not like the strong undulating scraping of some of the first generation hand scraped styles. The American Scrapes are totally made in the USA, plus a portion of all sales are being donated to Homes For Our Troops, a national organization that builds homes for injured returning warriors. Choose from stain colors like Amber Grain, Cajun Spice or Grand Canyon Sunset. One is sure to be perfect for your décor.

We are in love with the newest Armstrong laminate styles! Favorites include the Coastal Living Patina and Rustics Premium styles. Many of us want a hardwood floor, but know that with our kids and pets and busy lives that wood may not be a smart choice. These new laminates are so realistic that they will fool a flooring expert.

If tile is your style, you'll want to see the brand new Mohawk porcelain and ceramic styles. Bogerra is a beautiful travertine-look porcelain tile, rectified, that is available in both matte and high gloss finishes. If you love the look of travertine but worry about the sealing and maintenance, be sure you consider Bogerra. Southbourne is another porcelain tile filled with movement and is offered in four sizes, including the popular 12" x 24" and 24" x 24" formats. Colors include Oyster Cove, Coral Reef, Pelican Bay, and Copper Shore.

And we have totally updated our rug selections. We have brand new styles including some of the best looking outdoor rugs that we have ever seen. These outdoor styles look so good you may not want to put them outside, but you can. And we are still having our area rug Buy One Get One free promotion, so now is a great time to quickly update your home with new rugs----two for the price of one!

It's Like Free Money
Do you know about Enhance Decorating Dollars? This is a great program where we reward you for referring your friends, family, and neighbors to us, and you get a certificate for 5% of their total purchase. Just this month Meg used $221 in Decorating Dollars on her carpet purchase (this was like getting an additional 10% off our already great prices) and another client received almost $300 off on new hardwood floors for their living room because she had Decorating Dollars. Christine came in Friday and got a $150 area rug for free because she had $149.29 in Decorating Dollars.

It could not be any easier to get in on this---no coupons to clip, no loyalty cards to sign up for, just refer Enhance Floors to people you know that are in the midst of home improvement projects! And there is no limit to how many Decorating Dollars you can receive. Keep referring us until YOUR next purchase is free!

Join The Conversation
Did you know Enhance Floors was on Facebook? We are currently running a very popular series called "How Much Does It Cost." We are also posting pictures of the floors we are installing that day. Please check out our page and like us and join in on the conversation!

I Was Floored By Enhance
Connie in Marietta, one of our favorite repeat customers, told us that our Installers were great and everyone was wonderful to work with. Carie, a first time client in Kennesaw, says that her carpet and vinyl installation was "professional and fast" and that she will refer us and use us again. Kristina in Marietta loves her new hardwood floors and can't wait to call us with her next project. Thank you, everyone, for helping to spread the word about Enhance Floors & More. Remember, we want you to be our customer for a lifetime, not just one time, so we work very hard to make sure you are totally thrilled with your experience.

Friday, March 8, 2013

What's New In Decorating


Spring is coming---a time of renewal and rebirth. And the change in season has many of us thinking about making changes in our homes. Before you go shopping, here's a quick list of some of the most popular decorating trends for 2013:

~~Stripes and chevrons. Pillows, fabrics, even for painting---these subtle geometrics work in almost every space
~~This year's "it" colors are Emerald Green and Monaco Blue. Try them out first in small throw rugs, vases and pillows, and small pieces of furniture like an ottoman
~~Flowers and floral patterns as long as the design is not heavy or overbearing
~~A fun update is to add a specialty area like a small bar or wine or coffee station to a corner of a room
~~Eye catching light fixtures---pendant lights or unique chandeliers
~~Grass cloth wallpaper adds coziness and texture to a bare wall almost instantly, while the natural fibers provide a home with that perfectly imperfect look
~~Black and white is a timeless color combination, and always works with a bold new hue for a needed punch of color
~~Down to earth motifs featuring bamboo, shells, stained glass and stone-framed elements. Unfinished wood tables and surfaces made of stone show off natural grains and help bring the rustic look of the outdoors into the modern home
~~Metals such as gold and brass (not too shiny) are stealing the spotlight from silver. Look for aged patinas and names like antiqued and oil rubbed. Designers love how these metallics ooze warmth and pair well with almost any color
~~Some bigger and more involved projects include adding French doors to the bedroom or patio and exposed architectural elements like exposed wooden beams
~~If you want to get ahead of a trend, think art deco. From the popularity of the television show Boardwalk Empire to the newest version of The Great Gatsby hitting the big screen this summer, it's clear that the 1920's are making a comeback. Expect a resurgence of Roaring 20's art deco in homes, influencing everything from walls to furniture

What's New At Enhance
New products are arriving almost daily! In just the past few days we have added some fun new Shaw area rugs, new SmartStrand carpet styles, and new hardwood flooring options, including some new distressed exotic woods and an engineered wood floor with a super thick top ply. And we love our new Stanton print carpet collection. There are some great patterns for a men's den, your media room, or the family room. Durable and different, in contemporary and traditional looks, there is something for every décor in these new patterns. Come by today and let our Design Consultants make your dream home a reality!

A Popular Week
Spring break is the week of April 8 in many of our local school systems. This is a popular week for our clients to get projects done, for some because they will be at home, and for others because they will be gone. If refinishing your hardwood floors or a big staircase makeover is on your "to do" list, this is a great time to have this type of work performed because you can go away and not have to worry about keeping the kids off the still wet polyurethane. If you need your installation that week, please get your project finalized soon, because we always book up quickly during school break weeks


It's Getting Better!

Many, many real estate experts are saying that the recovery in real estate has begun, particularly in North Atlanta. In many areas there is only a three month supply of homes on the market, which constitutes a seller's market. And the spring buying season is almost upon us!

If you are thinking about putting your house on the market, here are some tips to get your home sold quickly and for top dollar.

Make sure your home is in move-in condition. Buyers in today's market are picky and do not want a project house. Your house needs to be in excellent condition, remodeled and already updated. The top finished projects buyers want to see are, as always, kitchen and bath makeovers. Buyers today want to move right in and settle down---not spend six months and a lot of money on contractors.

And if you do not have the budget to make big changes, find a less expensive way to get the same effect. Old laminate countertops can be painted. A colorful new rug can cover worn wood floors. Give your floor and wall tile a facelift with grout stain (an easy do-it-yourself project) to cover up dingy old grout. Appliance paint can give new life to an old refrigerator or dishwasher. If you can't replace your carpeting, have it professionally cleaned and deodorized. Consider replacing your old glass shower doors with a stylish fabric shower curtain.

More Inexpensive Updates:
~~Add a tile backsplash in the kitchen for a burst of new style.
~~Paint. This is a quick and inexpensive way to refresh a room
~~Replace your hardware---drawer pulls, electrical switch plates, door knobs, faucets. Switch from brass (so 80's!) to nickel or antique bronze.
~~Replace a dated bathroom mirror with an inexpensive framed one, or build your own frame with strips of molding and rosettes.
~~Clear out the clutter. This costs you nothing and makes your rooms seem larger.
~~Don't ignore your yard and the value of the first impression. Put in fresh mulch or pinestraw, trim the bushes, and have a blooming plant by your front door.
~~Clean, clean, clean! If the house is spotlessly clean, prospective buyers assume it has been well cared for.

Make your house bright and cheerful.
Bring the outdoors in with lots of light and windows. Remove old blinds and window treatments and replace with inexpensive sheer curtains. Update an older home with new ceiling lights and under-cabinet lighting.


Meet Christi Trombetti
We are excited to introduce a new feature to our newsletter---a column written by our friend and local Realtor, Christi Trombetti. Christi has been a professional Realtor since 2002, selling homes full time since 2007, and works from the East Cobb office of Atlanta Communities Real Estate Brokerage. She will share with us her thoughts and updates on what is going on in real estate. We will all eventually sell our current home; her tips will help you make smart decisions about what is probably your largest investment, your home.




Where Are All The Good Deals?
By Christi Trombetti

I have been asked that question several times in the past few months. First time buyers, investors, and move up buyers alike are wondering what happened to "all the good deals". As for sale inventory is shrinking, the housing market is becoming more balanced and homes are selling faster and for more money than even a year ago. It appears that the "bottom" has passed. Unfortunately for deal seekers, it's hard to recognize that until we are again on the upswing.

Local statistics show that the foreclosure numbers in Cobb County are down 33.4% this year. I wonder if it's because fewer homeowners are in distress or if the banks are waiting longer to foreclose. I believe that banks are working with homeowners on short sales where possible.

In addition, many homeowners who would consider a move are still underwater on their mortgages and have decided to continue to wait, especially now that the market is showing improvement signs. Whatever the reasons, right now, there are not enough homes to meet the needs of many buyers across all price ranges.

As always, homes that are in the best condition and have been updated over time to today's cosmetic standards will sell the fastest (as long as the price is correct). We will see if the Spring brings enough inventory to meet the buyer needs. All real estate is local, so if you have questions about a specific area, it's best to call me or another full-time Realtor that you trust.



Our Clients Are Telling Us
Bruce in Marietta is very satisfied with his new carpet. "The carpet is great, the Installers were wonderful, everybody was very helpful. I love the carpet and am looking forward to many years of enjoying the carpet." Allen in Roswell says his new wood floors are "perfect in every way" and the Installers are great! And Bob and Mary in Marietta love their new carpet. Thank you, everyone, and keep spreading the word about your great experience with Enhance Floors & More.