Which Metal Is Your Favorite?

Metal finishes are important design considerations in your home.  Look around:  metal is used in faucets, lighting, accessories, furniture, staircase balusters, appliances, sinks, and shower heads; there is probably something metal in every room of your home!   Brass, copper, chrome, nickel, gold-plated, oil-rubbed metals, wrought iron, matte or shiny finish, a smooth satin sheen or  texture----these are among your choices, available in all price ranges.  It is also important to blend your finishes with the rest of the elements in the room.  You can mix finishes within a room but be careful doing this.  Make sure the overall design flows and is harmonious.    Choose an oil-rubbed finish if your home is more of the rustic style.  If you are more into the sleek, modern look, go with chrome.  Your choices include:

CHROME

Chrome is a very popular choice for hardware finish.  It offers a sleek, clean look with a lot of shine.  When it comes to shine, no other finish can offer the brilliance that chrome does.  Chrome's versatility is what makes it one of the most popular finishes.  It looks good with most styles and it is easy to clean and maintain.  Chrome is also inexpensive and very easy to find.  On the downside, chrome shows water spots and finger prints because of its high shine. 

  

POLISHED BRASS

Polished brass is a long-time favorite.  A polished brass faucet can give a bathroom or kitchen a vintage look.  Brass is coming back into style and looks great in modern, traditional and eclectic settings.  Some of the advantages of brass are it is a very durable finish, it's easy to clean and easy to find.  One disadvantage is that it is more expensive than chrome or brushed nickel.

  

SATIN BRASS 

A nice twist on polished brass, the brushed-gold look has a lot of class. It's bold without being too showy. Don't be surprised if you see a lot more of this color in the future.  Satin brass is very durable and offers a nice accent color without the polished look.  It is also a matte finish, so it doesn't show finger prints or water spots easily.  On the disadvantages side, it is expensive and hard to find.  It could also be difficult to match other accessories to satin brass.  Satin brass looks best in modern and contemporary styles.

OIL RUBBED BRONZE

A great aesthetic alternative to standard chrome and brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze gives the room a more traditional look and feel.
Working on a budget? if you don't want to purchase all the matching accessories and you have other brass items in your bathroom, such as an old light switch plate or cabinet knobs, you can always use a brass darkening solution to make all the hardware match.  It can be more expensive than other finishes, but it is very durable and won't show fingerprints or water marks.  Oil rubbed bronze works best in a Tuscan or traditional setting.

  

COPPER

Copper is unmistakable and bold. It gives the room a rich feeling, especially when mixed with a subtler material, such as marble on a countertop.  Copper has natural antibacterial properties. It's fairly easy to find and also has the ability to "heal" itself. Over a short period of time, a scratch in copper will become darker and eventually blend with the patina.  A shiny copper finish might require a little more maintenance than brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze and chrome, but if you let it age naturally, copper will develop a beautiful patina. It's harder to match accessories and other fixtures to copper, and it's not as durable as other finishes.  It works best in farmhouse and Tuscan styles.

  

SATIN BRONZE

Satin bronze has a nice, smooth finish that's in between copper and oil-rubbed bronze. Having a subtler color gives this finish more flexibility for different room styles and settings.  Durable and easy to clean and maintain, this is a great alternative to copper and a lighter option than oil-rubbed bronze. Water spots and fingerprints won't show.  On the down side, it can be hard to find and hard to match other fixtures to it.  Satin bronze looks best in traditional as well as eclectic styles.

  

POLISHED NICKEL

If you like a smooth, shiny finish but are tired of chrome, try polished nickel. It's darker than chrome, and with different levels of lighting, it can appear to change in color.  Some advantages are it is a durable, easy to clean finish and a great alternative to brushed nickel.  It is harder to find and more expensive than chrome, but like chrome, it works well in pretty much any style.

  

BRUSHED NICKEL

The soft metallic look of brushed nickel has stood the test of time.  This is one of the most durable finishes; it has a tendency to keep its finish longer than oil-rubbed bronze and chrome. It doesn't show wear, fingerprints or water spots. It's easy to clean, easy to find and easy to match with accessories and other fixtures. It's relatively inexpensive. Brushed nickel tends to be pricier than chrome but does not cost as much as oil-rubbed bronze.  One of the only disadvantages is that it does not coordinate well with stainless steel due to the sheen differences.  Brushed nickel will work with almost any style.

  

MATTE BLACK/WROUGHT IRON 

Black faucets are becoming increasingly more popular in bathrooms and kitchens, because of their ability to match other items, such as cabinets, vanities and accent pieces. If you want to make a classy statement matte black may be the perfect finish for you.  It is easy to clean and does not show dirt, fingerprints or water spots. It can be hard to find and is expensive compared with more popular finishes, such as chrome and brushed nickel.  Matte black tends to work with eclectic styles.

  

WHITE

Looking for a clean, brilliant finish? Go with a white as a contrasting statement piece or something that blends beautifully in an all-white kitchen or bathroom. The white finish comes from durable plastic or porcelain.  It is easy to clean and does not show water spots or fingerprints.  Porcelain fixtures are more fragile than metal, which makes them more prone to chipping. Porcelain can be expensive, too.  White works well with farmhouse and modern decors. 

It's Like Free Floors!

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 the total purchase.  Just this month a client used $859 in Decorating Dollars on her $1500 carpet purchase and another repeat customer pretty much got tile for her small bathroom for free because she had 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 making home improvements!  And there is no limit to how many Decorating Dollars you can receive.  We deeply appreciate the referrals; this is our thank you for spreading the word about your experience with Enhance Floors & More. 

Look At The New Arrivals

What's New At Enhance?

 It is that time of year that almost every day we receive new styles and products.   We love getting in the new samples and seeing what the current looks and trends are.  We thought we would share some of our favorites with you.   

Carpet

The trend in carpet is going more and more toward unusual, striking patterns.  And we definitely have some cool ones to choose from!  Some of our favorites are the new patterned carpets by Tuftex, the most recent being a style called Ovation.  Ovation, a mosaic tile pattern, was inspired by high-end, woven carpets that utilize multiple colors to achieve an elegant deign.  This mixture of color and pattern creates design versatility when decorating a room. Exceptionally innovative in both design and construction, Ovation is made of 100 percent Anso solution dyed yarn, making it very stain resistant.  Incredibly soft and luxurious, this style is available in twenty-four beautiful colors.  It is both pretty and practical!

Tile

One of the trends that stands out is the high gloss marble look.  A lot of people are drawn to the beauty and finish of natural marble, and now there are more options in ceramic and porcelain that give you the same marble look without the high cost and maintenance of natural stone.

Mohawk makes a gorgeous marble look porcelain tile called Apremont.  This tile is very versatile, comes in many size options, and 4 striking colors.  It also gives you the option of a high gloss as well as a matte finish.  You can install it on the wall or the floor!

Another beautiful high gloss tile is Interceramic's Vesubio.  The rich colors oft his ceramic tile are striking. Vesubio also has very unique decorative accent pieces. This is also a floor and wall tile.

   

Daltile has some new natural stone looks in ceramic and porcelain as well.  One favorite of ours is Exquisite.  The graceful intertwining of travertine cross-cut and vein-cut visuals and textures result in Exquisite's unique interpretation of natural stone. Exquisite's large-format floor and wall sizes and coordinating mosaic can be used to turn any space into a room filled with luxurious splendor.

A new marble look from Daltile is called Marble Falls.  The classic elegance of Marble Falls glazed ceramic tile rivals the exquisite details found in nature. Crisp graphics and wide pattern variation with delicate veining will draw the eye again and again. A glossy floor, wall and mosaic are offered in a neutral color palette in a variety of sizes.

Wood looks in tile are growing more and more popular.  Daltile offers a beautiful wood look ceramic for a great price point, called Emblem.  With classic wood grain visuals and a smooth surface, Emblem is the perfect choice for spaces that need the durability of tile without sacrificing the style and charm of a wood look.

Accent mosaics in all lines are becoming incredibly vivid and bold.  The trend of infusing your backsplash with color is a very popular look, as well as using unique glass pieces.  Urban metal looks are also in this year.  Here are a few of our favorites:

Laminate

Rustic, character, bold color and reclaimed looks are all growing in popularity in wood.  Laminate can offer the same look for a fraction of the cost.  Armstrong Architectural Remnants is a beautiful line of laminates that are inspired by reclaimed hardwood floors.  If you live in an active household, or are just looking to get the hardwood look for less, the Architectural Remnants series will deliver!

Wood

Wood is one of the most popular, ever-changing styles of flooring.  Wood floors offer a variety of looks with something for everybody.  Some of the current trends in wood flooring are grey shades and wider plank widths.  Clients are also moving toward a natural, rustic look, such as wood with character like knots, mineral streaks and varying grains.  Here are a few examples of different wood floors that offer a variety of rich colors and different plank sizes.

Somerset Wide Plank Engineered Wood offers a dramatic pairing of 6 inch wide planks with rich, natural colors.  This engineered wood comes packaged in random length planks to further enhance the natural look.  Natural imperfections are not considered undesirable in this style.

The Somerset Character Collection also offers the rustic, natural look.  Knots, color variations and other things normally considered defects are purposefully left in the wood.  This gives the wood a unique look, with no plank the same as another.  It comes in both solid and engineered construction

Please visit us soon and allow us to show you these exciting new products.  We are here to help you create beautiful rooms!

It's A Good Time To

Summer is here and school is out.  Now is the time that families go out of town for extended periods of time.  While you and your family are out having fun, it's a perfect time to get some of those home improvement projects you've been planning done.  One of the biggest challenges of doing certain flooring jobs is finding the time for people to be out of their homes.  For instance, if you are remodeling your bathroom, that bathroom is out of order for the duration of the work.  Kitchens are the same way.  Here are a few projects that you can have done while you are planning to be out of your home for a week or two.

Refinishing hardwood floors/new site finished wood floors

If you have wood flooring in your home, eventually it will need to be refinished.  You will do this, in effect, to get a brand new floor; you can even change the color of the wood for a fraction of the cost of new floors.  However, this type of work takes several days and there will be times that you cannot walk on the floors that are being refinished.  This is also true for new site finished hardwoods, the kind that are sanded in your home.  In many houses, if you cannot walk on the floors, you cannot get to your bedrooms, use your kitchen, etc.  Many, many clients have this work done while they are out of town.  We are already scheduling into July, so if this is a project on your "to do list" this summer, please be making arrangements now.

Staircase makeovers and refinishing

Staircase makeovers (complete replacements) are when we remove all of your existing treads, handrails, newels, and balusters and replace them with new.  When completing a new install we will have the stair parts sanded, stained and urethane coated prior to the installation which minimizes the time you are without your staircase.  The installation of a complete staircase makeover generally takes 1-2 days.

Refinishing an existing staircase and its parts can really disrupt the schedule in your home.  Stairs cannot be used for the duration of the project, and generally people don't have an extra set of stairs laying around.  When your bedrooms are upstairs, it can be very hard to live in the home without access to the stairs.  It is ideal for people to not be using their homes at all during a staircase refinishing, and keep in mind depending on what all we are refinishing, it can take 4-5 days to complete.

Bathroom remodeling

You might could say the bathroom is one of the most used rooms in a house, and if you only have one, giving it an overhaul will be an issue if you still plan on using it every day.  Bathroom remodels take a lot of time and planning.  You will not be able to use your bathroom for at least a week, more than likely longer.  If you're already planning on going out of town for a while, it is a perfect opportunity to completely redo your bathroom.  And just think, when you come home you'll have a brand new, beautiful bathroom!

Kitchen remodeling

Kitchens are also a very highly used and important room.  Imagine not being able to cook for two or three weeks.  If you are a family with kids, that is a huge inconvenience.  Kitchen makeovers can be a long and lengthy project, so it works out better for everyone involved if the work is scheduled during a time where you will be out of your house for a little while.

Trends in Wallpaper

Wallpaper has a way of warming up a room and creating a rich, sophisticated look.  On the flipside, there are wallpapers that completely destroy a room's visual.  For instance, if you have not replaced the large, bold floral prints of the 80's,  it is time for an upgrade.  Most people today are moving towards a more subtle look with neutral tones.  Horizontal and vertical stripes in wallpapers can make a small room appear wider, and a low ceiling room appear more open. 

When picking out a wallpaper it's important to remember less is more.  You don't want the wallpaper to be the focal point of the room, rather choose a pattern that enhances the décor that you already have.  If guests are immediately faced with gigantic flowers on the walls, that's probably all they will notice about the room.  If you are set on a pattern of some sort, there are lots of options that won't overdo it, such as simple geometric shapes.  Another point to keep in mind:  if you are planning on selecting a new floor or fabrics, it's much easier to work with  solid toned wallpaper than wild patterns and prints.

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Sorry, but we cannot help you if you are stressed out at work, but if decorating your home has you feeling anxious, we can help.  Schedule an in-home design consultation with us and an experienced Enhance Floors & More design consultant will come to your home and help you put your new look together.  Prices start at $99 for this helpful service.  And remember, consultations in our showroom are always free.  Just bring in your fabric and paint swatches, kitchen drawer (really!), take some pictures of the room(s), and spend time with a showroom design consultant for complimentary decorating assistance.

Need Color Inspriation?

Is painting on your to do list this summer?   A recent study of Interior Designers reveal this year's "in" colors.  The most popular colors move away from the traditional neutral colors:  bright, bold colors are in this year.  Popular choices include

-Blues (light and dark, tropical, turquoise)

-Greens (teal, light, moss)

-Fire colors (reds, magenta, pink, yellow, coral)

-Dark purple

These colors work best as part of a whole room design.  Make use of accent walls, furniture, pillows and other accessories.  TIP:  If you plan on doing new flooring as well, make sure you select your new floor first.  Start where you have the fewer choices (flooring) then move on to where you have the most choices (paint).  We see clients all the time who have already painted and are having a very difficult time finding a flooring product that complements the paint they have chosen. 

Here are a few design ideas to get you started in putting it all together:

Seaside Harmony

The most tranquil of our four trend themes was inspired by the colors of the coastline: sea glass greens, warm white beach sand, and the peaches and soft blues of the ocean sky at sunset. The style is a fusion of streamlined modern and casual elements, softened with tarnished metals, waxed woods and cotton knits.  Use a cool aqua blue as the main color, accenting with dark blues and off whites to create a relaxed, inviting room.

Urban Alternative

Urban Alternative incorporates reclaimed woods, oxidized metal and contemporary furnishings for an updated industrial look. Inspired by the revival of home crafts and back-to-basic ingenuity, the colors are earthbound and weathered. Deep spice tones in burnt orange and dark olive, mixed with chalky browns of aged woods, and raw, unfiltered whites. The result is a palette that is both flexible and functional.

Grand Era

The popular period movies and television shows have revived interest in historic design from the late 19th and early 20th century. The result is a stately and opulent rendering, as traditional rooms and luscious jewel tones in ruby, topaz, sapphire and tourmaline make an appearance once again. These elegant rooms are fitting stages for romance and drama.

Natural Avocation

The curiosities of science drive this trend-from celestial events to geological wonders. Stars, planets, birds and insects give us glittering bright colors from the heavens, while shadowy jungle green and baked earth brown feel a little closer to home. The design style is a relaxed approach to traditional décor.  Make use of yellows, greens and bolder neutral tones to bring this theme together.