Help Me Decide

Ready for new floors? Here's a quick quiz to help you find the best floor for you:

What room will you be replacing?

a. Living room

b. Bedroom

c. Kitchen

d. Bathroom

What is most important to you?
a. Timeless look that won't go out of style
b. Floor that is comfortable, soft, warm
c. Easy to take care of
d. Durable, lasts a very long time

How many kids and pets (combined total) live in your home?
a. 0
b. 1 -2

c. 3 - 5
d. 6 or more

Is moisture a concern?
a. Floor will not be exposed to water
b. Would only get wet if I had a flood
c. Sometimes the floor will get wet
d. Water gets on the floor every day

What is your budget?
a. $$$
b. $
c. $$

d. $$$$

DIY or professionally installed?

a. Professional. I'm making an investment, I want the job done right
b. Need a professional, don't have the right tools
c. My floor is uneven, I don't know how to correct the problem, I need a pro
d. A professional crew that does this everyday can do it much quicker than I could

Now tally up your answers. If you got more of this letter:

a. Hardwood floors are a great choice for you. Beautiful, timeless, but require more care than other floors.
b. Carpet is for you. Budget friendly and cozy.
c. Luxury vinyl or laminate is what you should look at. Scratch resistant, water resistant, great wood looks and tile looks to choose from.
d. Ceramic/porcelain tile is what you need. Durable and waterproof, the best choice for a bathroom.

Now that you know where to start, come in and meet with an Enhance Design Consultant to find the perfect floor for your home. Relax, we're here to help!

Design Tip

Black and white combinations are everywhere:  black chairs and sofas with white throw pillows, black and white mosaic tile combinations, black and white marble.  By adding white you are keeping the room from feeling too dark.

How Much Does It Cost?

We just installed Pergo Extreme luxury vinyl tile in a large Roswell kitchen, laundry room hall and bath.  A little over 400 square ft was $4000. This price includes removing the existing vinyl, moving appliances, new shoemold and trim, and removing and reseating the toilet.  The new floor really updated the areas!

I Was Floored By Enhance

Laura in Atlanta writes:

"The crew from Enhance was excellent. They installed hardwood floors throughout our house, new carpeting in the bedrooms, and the new kitchen floor. They did a phenomenal job. I got estimates from like five different companies, but Enhance impressed me as the most professional. I give them A+."

Thanks, Laura.  We really enjoyed working with you!  Let us know when you are ready to get started on the bathroom renovation.

Win A Roomba

Were you floored by Enhance? If so, you can win a Roomba!  

If you are like most of our clients, you did a lot of research before deciding who you were going to purchase from. You probably looked online for reviews of the products you were considering and the stores where you were shopping. We always need more reviews, so to encourage our clients to post a review, we are holding a monthly raffle. We will be giving away a vacuum cleaner-- your choice of either a Roomba robotic or a Bissell upright, both valued over $300!

Please write a review on either Houzz, Google, Yelp, Facebook, or Better Business Bureau. Send us an email once it's posted telling us where you wrote it, and we will enter you in the monthly drawing!

Thank you in advance!

2020 Are You In or Out?

What's Trending in the Coming Year? 

Are you planning some interior updates this year?  Here's what's trending, so that you can make smart purchases.  

Look for blues and golds, natural woods, marble accessories, a sprinkle of glitz in a chandelier.  Seek out up-cycled, recycled vintage,  & antique furniture and decor and give it a second chance in your home.  

We at Enhance use Houzz almost daily as a design idea resource. After interviewing designers, surveying homeowners and reviewing thousands of photos, the editorial staff at  Houzz has compiled its list of what will be hot in home design. Here are some of the top trends Houzz predicts will be popular in 2020:

Wood Details with Painted Cabinets

More than 40% of homeowners chose white cabinets when renovating their kitchens, according to Houzz research. Many designers are using wood accents on islands, floating shelves and pullouts to break up the all-white expanse. 

Separate Spaces

Before you knock out that wall and spend thousands on adding a support beam, guess what. Open floor plans are on the way out. Per Realtor.com:  "We know, it sounds like blasphemy. For years we haven't wavered from the idea of being able to see everybody in the kitchen while in the living room or even the dining room. But some of us have begun to tire of all the openness---and we're craving a little more privacy. That's especially true for millennials---who will be the single largest demographic of home buyers in 2020 and are eager to put back up some walls. The biggest revolt with millennials will be the desire for well-defined spaces for living, working, eating, and cooking."

The Return of the Dining Room

Why shouldn't dining room decor feel as special as the occasions it hosts? Designers are elevating the dining experience with personality---color, pattern and lighting.  

Bathroom Seating

To bring a more relaxing, spa-like experience to the bathroom, designers are incorporating built-in benches or movable stools so there's a seat that's not the toilet for removing slippers or browsing the internet.

Soft Colors in Kitchens

The white-hot, all-white kitchen of recent years is being softened with light grays and blues. Also look for two-tone kitchens:  black base cabinets and with white uppers is common.

Cheerful Laundry Rooms

Bright colors and lively patterns help relieve the drudgery of this household chore.

Even Bolder Powder Rooms

Building on the recent trend for high-impact powder rooms, designers are wrapping the whole space in a splashy wallpaper or other eye-catching materials.

Off-Trend Will Be On Trend

Tired of seeing the same styles over and over again? So is everyone else. Interior designer Delta Wright says overall anything "uber-unique" will shine in the upcoming decade. 

"[We will see] highly crafted, unusual materials meticulously featured in furnishings and architecture.  People are designing their homes to reflect their personalities and creating spaces that tell their story. What makes you truly happy is more important than what you see in magazines or on social media."

Countryside Chic

While the typical farmhouse look is becoming as tired as an EAT sign, this style will lean towards a more sophisticated, European-inspired look, according to Rebecca Breslin of Wayfair Professional.  "A fresh take on British farmhouse without being stuffy or dusty [will be popular in for 2020]. Pulling from classic prints and materials while adding whimsy. This trend is all about mixing patterns, antique with new decor as well as paying homage to the countryside with botanicals and muted primary tones," she says.

Colors Will Become The New Neutrals

Neutrals will be replaced by warm colors, saturated hues and jewel tones.  Tiles, cabinetry, and walls all serve as opportunities for more color. Put color in unexpected places as well-- ceilings, inside bookshelves, and rooms that are typically "under decorated"-- mudrooms, laundry rooms, and basement rooms. 

Natural Luxury

Look for natural materials with a luxurious spin like marble finishes in bathrooms and kitchens.  In accessories, marble accents such as vases, bowls and candle holders are trending. Linen will also be big, but in beautiful jewel tones, with finished edges that feel more polished than the raw edge boho take we've been seeing.

Timeless Looks That Can Evolve

In recent years, there has been an emphasis on developing a personal style. So, whether it's a renovation or simply purchasing furniture that they really love, consumers are thinking more long-term than they have in the past. "This is also in line with being more aware of the ecological implications of purchases," says one designer.

Come into Enhance and let us help you evolve your home's looks for a new decade!

How Much Does It Cost?

Lighter, more natural colored floors are everywhere.  Wood, laminate, luxury vinyl plank---whatever the type of floor that works best for you, look at the lighter color choices, not the darkest. A client in Atlanta just pulled up the carpet in his living room, den, dining room, foyer and hall, 678 square feet, and installed a new wide plank engineered oak in the color Natural White Oak, for $5800. The downstairs feels so much bigger now!

I Was FLOORED By Enhance

Tanja in Marietta writes:  "Fully enjoyed working with Don, Elisabeth and their team at Enhance Floors. Very professional and knowledgeable. They were so patient with us as we decided on which flooring would work best for our family. Once that was decided their patience was really tested as we muddled over which color we should choose! Our stairs proved to be more than expected due to the shape they were in, but the Enhance team made themselves available and went out of their way to ensure the job was done correctly. Appreciate so much their friendliness. Will definitely go to them for window treatments next!" 

Thank you, Tanja.  We look forward to seeing you in the store soon!

Tis the Season

Don't you just LOVE this time of year? Everyone has the holiday spirit, packages are under the tree, something yummy is in the kitchen, and it's a great time of year to re-connect with family and friends you don't get to see as often as you'd like. Guess who else loves this time of year? People who want to take what's yours! Burglars, con men, porch pirates! Not to make you feel paranoid, but they are out there, watching and waiting.  Waiting for you to give them the opportunity to take what belongs to you. Your belongings, your gifts, your feelings of security and seasonal joy. So, don't make it easy for them! There are many small actions you can take to thwart those would-be thieves. Firstly, home security is much more affordable and less challenging to install than it used to be. There are systems that can be easily installed and synced with your smart phone. They can include cameras in multiple locations, telephone alerts, and can even feature motion triggered lighting. One caution that is prevalent in anything you read is to never, ever, post on social media about your activities, especially going out of town! We have seen one report that stated that in 2019, four out of five burglars used social networks to know when people weren't going to be home! It's practically an invitation- "Hey, we're going to a Christmas party, we'll be gone until late, come on over and help yourselves!" So, save your posts until the next day and announce what fun you had. And when you are away from home, have a friend or neighbor come in at least once a day. Ask them to pick up newspapers, gather the mail, turn lights on and off, even move the car if you are leaving one in the driveway. And speaking of the car, do you have a garage door opener in the car? If so, be sure you lock the garage door while you are gone. Yes, almost all of them are lockable. And if you routinely leave a spare key outside, think of a new place to leave it. Not under the same rock, under the mat, or over the sill. And while you are out there choosing a new hiding place, check the outdoor light fixtures at the driveway,walkway, and over the front door. Is everything in good working order? Don't leave the ladder up after you have put up the Christmas lights--secure it down somewhere so as not to give someone easy access to your upstairs windows. Be sure your gifts are not visible from windows. They look pretty from the outside as well as the inside! Have packages sent to you at work instead of home.  And candles. Yes, they are beautiful, for all the winter holidays- Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, but please be careful! Never leave them burning when you are not at home, or after you have gone to bed for the evening. Also be careful not to have anything too near to the flame! Don't let carelessness ruin your holiday. We here at Enhance hope you have a wonderful December and all it brings. We are busy busy busy making the holidays beautiful for customers, but come in and talk to us about making your January fabulous! You Are Invited to stop by and enjoy a cup of coffee or soft drink and a cookie or two with us!  Take a break from the holiday hustle and bustle and come relax and recharge. We will be posting on Facebook and Instagram what's on our "menu" that day.  We look forward to chatting and catching up with you in the Design Center this holiday season. Design Tip Swap out your everyday dishes for a festive assortment of dishware, so even a late-night snack brings out the holiday cheer. I Was Floored By Enhance Jim in Marietta writes: "Enhance is the best. They are not the cheapest, they are not the most expensive, and the quality of the work is top-notch. You will not be disappointed." Thank you, Jim.  We know you are loving your new luxury vinyl plank floors.  It's so easy to take care of, isn't it?   How Much Does It Cost? We installed a gorgeous LVP for Jim, Przym by Armstrong, in his family room, kitchen, hall, foyer, and bathroom.  Yes, you can put this floor in a bathroom---it's waterproof! Almost 800 square feet for $6800 fully installed. And he loves it!

Thinking About Painting?

We are a flooring store, yet we answer questions about paint every day. Paint is such an integral part of your décor, that some decision about paint is almost always involved when we are discussing flooring with customers. We have paint color samples in the store, and use them constantly with clients, as paint and floors go hand in hand.  Statistics tell us that in the US, 120 million gallons of paint are sold each year.  Seems like at least a million are sold right here in East Cobb! Frequently, the customer is giving the room a total update, and changing the paint is only a part of their plan. Sometimes we help customers who have bought a home and are "making it their own", changing many things. And there are customers who are only updating the flooring. In all of these instances, the paint is a subject of discussion, whether it is the color or the type, whether it is starting from zero, or making it work with existing factors.  What colors are we discussing with customers? Nothing new or shocking- gray is THE color. Or we should say the colors. Gray is a color with a thousand faces. Silver gray, blue gray, green gray, light gray, dark gray, beige gray, it's safe to say that gray is a perfect neutral paint color. Gray is particularly versatile because of its wide range of undertones. A warm gray or greige (a combination of gray and beige) paint color mostly resembles a beige and can be used almost interchangeably. Cool grays can appear more modern and fresh, with soft blue and green undertones. The beautiful secret about gray as a neutral is that you can go much darker than you may feel comfortable going with a bolder color such as blue or even beige. Gray somehow manages to stay crisp, even in the darker shades. The key is finding the right gray for your space and sampling colors thoroughly. Gray is now the most popular color for paint...in fact, it has surpassed white!  If you look at Sherwin William's Top 50 paint shades, the #1 shade is a gray! In fact, among the top 50 paint shades, 20 of them are gray.  And, if you look at paint color fan decks, you'll see there are tons of grays. But, how do you know the right gray to use? For our painting customers, we have found that 80% prefer cool tones, while only 20% prefer warm tones.  Warmer tones are made with oranges, yellows and reds. They remind us of heat and the sun. They tend to make rooms cozier and more intimate.  They tend to make spaces look smaller.  Cooler tones include blues, grays, greens, light purples (or mixtures of that include these undertones).  They are more soothing and calming. They remind us of the sky and water. Cooler tones tend to recede and hence make spaces look larger. Gray is both chic and neutral.  So, it's super easy to decorate with.  It goes with almost everything. It's the new neutral.  Years ago, it was beige, but beige has become a bit boring.  Most homeowners, especially those that focus on style, opt for the trendier and more stylish gray. This collage shows just 5 of the variations of gray, and how they compare. Next to each other it is easier to see the various undertones. Sherwin-Williams Amazing Gray SW 7044 is a warmer gray void of any harsh yellow undertones. It has a lot of depth and works well with warm whites to create a modern, monochromatic palette. Try it in a kitchen with white cabinets and a few accents with some pops of color. Behr's Irish Mist has an airy quality, making it the perfect paint for a darker bedroom or bathroom without a lot of natural light. There is a slight warmth to this pale gray that makes it much more versatile than a traditional beige neutral. Pairing it with crisp white trim will help lighten the color even more. Agreeable Gray (SW 7019) is such a versatile and neutral color that it can be used as a wall color in virtually every room, including bright and low light rooms.  Whether it's your living room, dining room, kitchen, family room or bedroom, it blends and complements almost all colors, making decorating a breeze. It works in bathrooms, laundry rooms, offices, and well, just about everywhere. What's Next? For 2020 paint colors and trends, so far, things are leaning blue.  Blue paint colors account for two of the first five paint colors of the year already announced.  Other trending colors are soft peachy pinks and shades of green.  Colors to look for all refer to nature and comfort with names like "First Light" "Light Drizzle" and "Dragonfly". The non-blue colors are softer, more muted shades---not quite pastels, but with the same relaxed appearance as some chalk paint colors. Overall, though, all the "colors of the year" announced so far are about building a calmer, more soothing environment in your home, which indicates that creating a comfortable home that energizes and replenishes could be a major theme in the year to come. When making decorating decisions, just keep in mind the things that are easily changeable versus the things that are more semi-permanent. While it may be an annoyance, the things that are more temporary are paint, hardware, light fixtures, area rugs, and window treatments. The things that are more fixed are a bit more work (and money) to change out, for example flooring, backsplashes, cabinetry, and countertops.   So paint away for a quick refresh to your room that doesn't break your budget! What Do I Do First? One question we are asked by many customers: Do I paint first, or do my floors first? USUALLY the answer is paint first. If you are painting the ceiling, that is ALWAYS first. Consider if the baseboards are being replaced or not, because that will affect your painting if there is a possibility of a height change. Carpet can scuff the baseboards during installation, so we usually advise paint first, but keep a small amount of touch up paint handy. If you are ready for new floors now and painting is a down the road project, no worries.   A reputable painter will not have any problems protecting and not damaging your brand new floors. Also, by doing the painting last, you don't have to worry about touch-up painting, painting your primed shoemold, etc. Design Tip Create your own oversized paint swatches by painting two coats of the color(s) you are considering on a large piece of poster board.  When dry, use double-stick tape to adhere to the wall. Move the poster board around the room(s) as needed, and be sure you are using the sheen you are considering.  Look at the color under various lighting conditions, daytime, at night, cloudy day, etc. If one color does not look absolutely perfect in every room, go with the color that looks best in the room or at the time of day that is most important to you visually. I Was Floored By Enhance Amy in Woodstock writes: "Enhance Floors & More did a really good job. They're very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. We had our living room carpet replaced by one of the Big Box stores not that long ago. It was not worn out, but we were having issues with it and needed to replace it again. When the owner came out to measure for the new carpet, he explained to us why it was doing that and what we should choose differently so moving forward we wouldn't have any more problems. He helped us choose the right carpet for what we needed. I appreciated him sharing that knowledge with us. The installers were very professional, polite and nice. In addition to the living room they replaced all of the carpet upstairs. It took 2 days to complete the work. They moved all of the furniture and were careful to put it back in the correct place, even asking before they left if everything was where it should be." Thank you, Amy.  We are always here to help and share the knowledge we have gained from 34 years of selling and installing new floor coverings.  We know this carpet will perform much better for you than the previous carpet did.

Print and Save

Halloween will be over in a little over 24 hours, and Turkey Day approaches! The one day a year that ihas been all about the food from the beginning.  Yes, we are grateful, and yes, we are happy to be together, but part of learning about Thanksgiving in elementary school is "What did the Pilgrims eat?" Thank goodness we have other choices than they did back then, and grocery stores! It seems the entire month of November is a whirl of grocery shopping.  It is good to have a timeline for everything that needs to be accomplished before the entire family gathers, because there is so much to accomplish and chances are only one of you to do (most of) it.  If you are like most of us, the menu does not vary much year to year, because everyone has those traditional dishes that must be there. Deviation from those would surely cause grumbling at the least, and possibly a decision to celebrate at someone else's home next year (hmmmm, maybe not such a bad thing!) Consequently, you probably have the routine down pat, but it never hurts to have things organized and written down to keep yourself on course.  Once you have created the menu, you should build a custom timeline. Figure out what you're going to do when. What can be prepared in advance and refrigerated or frozen? What must be done the day of the holiday meal? Pay close attention to oven times and temperatures when making the timeline for the day of the meal. Many holiday recipes can be prepared up to a month in advance. We suggest starting your preparations as early as possible and breaking the work up into manageable chunks, so you're not overwhelmed when the house is filled with guests. A couple of tips from Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman, include: Start ahead, with a few things that can be made way ahead of time or frozen on Monday and Tuesday, then using Wednesday as a prep day for chopping, brining, peeling, prepping, so that Thursday can just be about assembling and finishing the cooking/baking process.  Place printed recipes for remaining dishes on island with corresponding non-perishable ingredients (cans, spices) sitting on top of each recipe. Saves time, especially when others are helping in the kitchen. We are going to give you a few others that don't make it on every other list, but we think these are really good ones: When you are deciding on the menu, consider your available cooking formats: Oven, stove, microwave, and grill or smoker. Plan so that you are not overcrowding any of them. If you don't have a warming drawer (or maybe even if you do) you may need some "out of the box" ways to keep things warm. How about the grill set on the lowest possible flame?  Gravy, potatoes, or other items can be kept warm in the crockpot. And how about your cooler? It insulates warm just as well as cold! Do you use a tablecloth and cloth napkins? Make sure they are clean and ready to use. Check the salt and pepper shakers. Make sure they are filled. De-clutter the kitchen counters. Most of us have at least one thing sitting there that got left there for no good reason, and doesn't belong there, but just ended up staying there. If the Air Fryer and the Instant Pot are out but will not be used for Thanksgiving, find them a temporary home. Decide on serving pieces- dishes and cutlery. Having a written menu will help you make sure you have both for everything you'll be serving.  Don't forget pitchers for whatever you'll be drinking!  Put a little post-it on each platter or bowl with the name of what will belong there. Inventory your plastic bags, foil, plastic wrap, as well as other leftover and take-home containers.  You may need to buy a stack of new plastic containers as these seem to disappear over the course of the year! And here's the last and possibly most important tip: Early November, go through and clean out your refrigerator and freezer. If you can't identify it, throw it out! If you saved it thinking it could be better next time with some "fixin' up," throw it out! If it has lost its' color or is freezer burned, throw it out! (Here is where you will recover some of those leftover containers, by the way) You will not miss it! And you'll make room for a host of new goodies! While we don't sell leftover containers here at Enhance, we do sell lots of things you may need before November 28. We have beautiful new backsplashes, area rugs in stock and rugs to be ordered, and Flexi Felt feet for your furniture. We can probably fit you in if you have a flooring project to be done- but hurry! And when you come in to see us, please remember that we have a Must Ministries barrel to collect for their Thanksgiving Food Bank. A donation of 5 items gets you an Enhance Goody bag. Please help us fill the barrel to the brim!   Design Tip Time changes this weekend, and it will be dark when most of us get home, and the temperatures are getting cooler.  Adding -- or relocating -- seating around a fireplace creates a cozy new space for fall fellowship. No fireplace? Pull a couple of sitting chairs in a corner, add candles for ambiance, and keep a stack of books close at hand. How Much Does It Cost? Look at this beautiful LVT (luxury vinyl tile) we just installed in the kitchen, breakfast area, and utility room of a Roswell home.  $3600 was the cost to get rid of the old, ugly, worn sheet vinyl floors and have brand new timeless marble-look floors installed. Gorgeous!  And yes, if you come in today, we can get your project completed by Thanksgiving! I Was Floored By Enhance Janet in Marietta writes: "I love my floors. The selection process was easy thanks to Sandy and Fran. The installation was quick, and the guys were very professional, honest, and clean."   Thank you, Janet.  You were great to work with.  Don't forget to tell your friends and neighbors about us---you'll earn Decorating Dollars just by spreading the word!