You Give And You Will Get

Maybe You Didn't Think About These Items

As you pick up things for our food drive, here are some items that you may not have considered.  Per a recent survey on Reddit.com of food bank volunteers, these items are really appreciated by recipients:

1. Spices

Think about it. People who rely on the food bank eat a lot of canned food, rice, oatmeal, white bread, etc. They love spices. Seasoned salt, cayenne pepper, chili powder, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, oregano, basil and so on.

2. Feminine Products

Can you imagine being worried about affording these? Pads, tampons, panty liners, etc. Recommended: Buy in bulk at Costco for donating.

3. Chocolate

People don't need it, but think about being in their shoes and how nice it would be to be given a chocolate bar or brownie mix along with your essentials.

4. Toiletries

Grocery stores are great about donating surplus or unsold food, but they have no reason to donate toilet paper, tooth paste, soap, deodorant, shampoo, etc. Food stamps often don't cover these.

5. Canned meats and jerky

This isn't true of all food banks, but some struggle to give users enough protein.

6. Crackers and tortillas

They don't spoil and everybody likes them.

7. Baby toiletries

Diapers, baby wipes, baby formula, baby shampoo, baby soap, baby food, bottles, etc.

8. Soup packets

Hearty soup is a complete meal.

9. Socks.

From a former homeless person: "Socks mean the world to you. They keep you warm, make you feel like you have something new, and just comfort you."

10. Canned fruit other than pineapple.

Food banks get a lot of pineapple donated. Their clients love it when other kinds of fruit are available.

 

Fun with the Family

Bundle up after dinner and head outside to roast some marshmallows, drink cocoa and make s'mores in your fire pit or fire bowl.  Most of us have one---and rarely use it.  This weekend gather your family up after dinner and have some fun around the fire pit rather than just watch the TV.  Let conversations develop that would not otherwise or pick a book (a ghost story?) that would be fun to read while keeping warm and watching the flames.

Farmhouse Sinks In or Out?

Farm style sinks, also called apron front sinks, have been around since the late 1800's---early 1900's. And they are currently very trendy.  If you are remodeling your kitchen and are considering a farmhouse sink, you may be

wondering if they will go out of style.  The consensus is no, they just need to be used in the right atmosphere/design palette.  If your design aesthetic is traditional, inspired by Joanna Gaines, retro, or cottagey, the farmhouse sink will fit in just fine. If your design is very modern or contemporary, it will not feel right.  And if your cooktop area is your 'focal point', then your sink doesn't need to be.  

Farmhouse sinks are charming, homey, durable, elegant, functional and nostalgic. Those are just a few of the reasons they're so popular.  The farmhouse sink originated in a time when there was no running water. The idea behind the sink was that it was a place to hold large amounts of water, which was fetched by hand from nearby wells, lakes and rivers. 

 

If you're thinking about choosing a farmhouse-style sink for your kitchen, here's what else you should know:

~~The traditional farmhouse sink is generally a lot deeper than modern stainless steel undermount or top-mount sinks. The design enables the user to stand directly in front of the basin, with no cabinets or countertop in between. This feature made the farmhouse sink more comfortable to use at a time in the past when women would spend a large part of their day there - preparing food and washing dishes, clothes and even babies.  Though you could still wash a baby in today's farmhouse sinks, you'd probably find them more useful for washing large pots, big baking sheets and oven trays, and even barbecue grills - items you would generally struggle to wash in a typical sink. And if one large bowl isn't enough, you can find several double-bowl options too.

~~Installation: farmhouse sinks were originally designed to sit slightly to the front of the surrounding cabinets, so that any water flowing down the front of the sink would run to the floor instead of landing on and damaging the cabinets. This is how farmhouse sinks still are typically installed in a kitchen. They also are usually installed just under the level of the countertop so the counter can slightly overhang the sides of the sink, making it easy to wipe water from the counter straight into the sink.

~~Fixtures:  farmhouse sinks add a feeling of nostalgia to a kitchen and bring a sense of rustic character that enhances country and traditional style kitchens. Complete the look by pairing your white porcelain farmhouse sink with a beautiful traditional-style tap, many of which are available with matching white porcelain handles. Typical farmhouse sinks do not have a hole for the faucet, so the tap needs to be positioned in the counter or in the wall behind.

~~Materials:  white farmhouse sinks are most commonly made of fireclay or porcelain.   Fireclay sinks are made of clay, which is heated to an extremely high temperature that makes the sink hard and durable. It also gives the sink it's beautiful high shine. The durability of fireclay means that it is resistant to scratches and chips and is easy to clean.

 

Porcelain sinks are a ceramic material, again heated to high temperatures, although not quite as high as fireclay. They look similar to fireclay sinks but are less expensive. Porcelain sinks are not quite as durable as fireclay and are more prone to chipping and discoloration.

Farmhouse sinks are available in stainless steel, which has a more contemporary feeling.  Farmhouse sinks are also available in copper. The copper can sometimes have a hammered finish and a colored patina applied when the sink is manufactured. Over time, natural copper develops a beautiful patina as it reacts with the different substances that come in contact with it.

Some other considerations:

~~Seal. The measurements of fireclay and porcelain farmhouse  sinks can vary slightly, and the surfaces can be a bit uneven. These are natural characteristics of these materials and shouldn't be considered flaws. This means, however, that when the sink is fitted under a perfectly even countertop, there can be slight gaps where water can escape. After it is installed, ensure that your farmhouse sink is correctly sealed around the edges. Designing the countertop so it overhangs the edges of the sink sufficiently will help water flow straight into the sink bowl and keep it away from the edges.

~~Design. Though designing a farmhouse sink into a new kitchen layout is easy, it can prove more difficult if not impossible to incorporate one into your existing kitchen cabinet. The size and nature of farmhouse sinks mean they require custom cabinets to be designed to suit them, as well as a different countertop design. If you are not planning to replace your cabinet sink base, you will probably not be able to retrofit your existing cabinet to adapt to the farmhouse sink.

~~Surface. Pristine white porcelain sinks look stunning; however, they are a bit unforgiving in that they show every bit of dirt and grime. Having said that, they are easy to keep clean. And the hard surface of fireclay or porcelain farmhouse sinks can be noisy when you're washing dishes in them and is far less forgiving than stainless steel when breakable items are dropped in them, so take extra care when washing your wine glasses. 

~~Size. If you are concerned about wasting water, look for a farmhouse sink that has a smaller capacity. The depth of the traditional farmhouse sink is great for washing big items, but it means to fill it you'll need a lot more water than for a typical sink.

On A More Somber Note

Fall is here along with the earlier arrival of darkness.  You are probably already lighting candles in the evenings for ambience, and as cooler weather arrives you will be using your fireplace more and more.  There are several fire threats you need to watch out for, from squirrel activity in the attic (they love to chew wires), to leaky gas lines from your outdoor kitchen and lanterns, or a blocked chimney.  These fire safety tips can prevent a fire from happening in the first place and will keep you and your family safe should the worst-case scenario become a reality.

Inspect and Correct. Have your electrical systems, gas lines and chimney inspected by professionals. This can ensure any red flags are corrected before they even get close to starting a fire.  Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening, to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out, unwanted material from going in, and help prevent the possibility of burns to occupants.

Install Smoke Alarms. Make sure you have a smoke alarm installed on every level of your house. There should also be one in each bedroom and/or outside sleeping areas. Test them every month and automatically replace the batteries every year.

Decorate with care.  Use care when decorating your home this holiday season. Nearly half of holiday decoration fires happen because decorations are placed too close to a heat source, while two out of every five home decoration fires are started by candles.  The top three days for home candle fires are Christmas, New Year's Day and Christmas Eve.

Holiday cooking.  Did you know that Thanksgiving is the leading day for cooking fires? In fact, there are three times as many fires on Thanksgiving Day as any other typical day of the year.  If you are frying, grilling, or broiling food, stay in the kitchen. Turn off the stove if you have to leave the kitchen, even if only for a short time.  Keep flammable objects-pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, and paper or plastic bags-away from the stovetop. Wear close-fitting clothing that won't drape over or touch burners while you are cooking.

Turn off the power.  Winter is a time when electric heating blankets and space heaters are popular.  Make sure these items are turned off while not in use, and especially while you are out of the home.   If you use an electric heater, be sure not to overload the circuit.

Have a fire escape plan. Use the Home Fire Escape Plan from the Red Cross (click here) to create an escape plan for your family. Go over it thoroughly and we recommend practicing just in case.

There should be two escape route options, an agreed upon outdoor meeting place and the drill should be no longer than two minutes from start to finish.

10 Ways Symmetry Can Rescue Your Room

Human faces, snowflakes, violins, the Eiffel Tower - so much of our world is symmetrical, it's no wonder the eye is drawn to things with a mirror-image quality, including interiors. No matter your decor style, embracing symmetry can help your space look its best. Whether you're bringing grandeur to a small space or doing more with your art collection, here are 10 reasons to work symmetry into your rooms.

1. 
   Symmetry can make your dining room feel fancier. Formal symmetry (where two sides of a room are close to mirror images of each other) dresses up a space. In the dining room, try hanging framed artworks on either side of a large mirror for a classic, elegant look. Or place matching lamps, sculptures or vases at either end of a buffet table - the more objects repeated on each side of the room, the more formal the space will feel.  
2. Symmetry makes mixing up the dining set easier. Mixing and matching dining chairs is simple when you stick with a symmetrical arrangement - a pair of slipcovered armchairs at the ends and wood chairs along the sides, for instance. Even though the chairs at the heads of table are completely different from the others, the look feels well balanced.
3. Symmetry can deliver a big statement on a small budget. If you want to make an impact without spending big, choose budget finds arranged symmetrically. Bold black stripes painted on the wall (a project you can do yourself) set the tone for a chic black and white scheme. A simply framed, blown-up black and white poster centered above a settee and flanked by matching end tables and lamps completes the picture in mirror-image style.
4. 
   Symmetry can do wonders for your art collection. If you have a piece of art you love, but it's too small to stand on its own, try surrounding it with smaller, identically framed art.  What could have been a canvas swallowed up by too much wall is instead a focal point. Other sure bets in arranging include an evenly spaced grid or a vertical column of art in matching frames.
5. Symmetry help balance strong architectural features. If your room has a large or an especially striking architectural feature (like a fireplace or bay window), using it as the center of a symmetrical arrangement is a good way to bring balance to the room.
6. Symmetry can turn a doorway into a passage with presence. Passing through a plain doorway becomes an event when a pair of sculptures on pedestals stands guard.  If pedestals aren't your thing, the same effect can be had with a pair of large plants, or with matching art pieces.
7. Symmetry can make a small space feel important. Sneaking in symmetry where you can is a great way to bring a bit of grandeur to a compact space. A set of floor-sweeping drapes and a pair of artworks can do wonders to make a small space more elegant.  
8. Symmetry can help downplay a tech feature. Surrounding the TV with pairs of identical items - chairs, topiaries and graphic curtains - helps the eye travel around the space, instead of instantly settling on the "big, black box."
9. Symmetry provides an anchor for eclectic collections. Keep vintage treasures and eclectic art looking good by starting with a base furniture arrangement with some symmetry. Even if you don't have identical items, you can still approximate the look by using what you have. Two sofas facing each other look balanced (even if they are not the same), matching lamps help nonmatching tables fit in, and identical shades on windows help tie everything together.
10. 
    Symmetry pulls together a living room like nobody's business. If your living room seems to be missing something, have a look around and see how many pairs of identical items you can count. If everything is a one-off, the feeling of the room may be a bit scattered. Try adding a pair of matching table lamps, a set of matching pillows on the sofa or a pair of armchairs upholstered in the same fabric. Of course, having pairs is not enough - be sure to position your matching items across from each other to create symmetry that pleases the eye.

Have You Looked At The Calendar?

Halloween Costume Ideas for Kids

If you need some ideas for your children, here's a quick list of this year's popular Halloween costumes:

    --Disney princess           

    --Spiderman

    --Batman character   

    --witch

    --pirate   

    --animal (cat, dog, monkey)       

    --princess

    --action/superhero   

    --Star Wars character

    --Marvel superhero

Thanksgiving Countdown

If you are hosting the family Thanksgiving Dinner, now is the time to get organized.  The big day is 6 weeks from tomorrow. Of course, the more you can do ahead of time, the more pleasant and less stressed the day will be.

A few things to do now:

~~walk thru your house with a critical eye. What home improvement projects do you need to begin on right away? Painting, new flooring, quick kitchen updates like granite countertops and a new backsplash, outdoor projects and yard work?  What can you do yourself and what do you need     professional help with?

~~if out-of-town family will be spending the holiday with you, sleep in your guest bedroom one night.  Is the mattress comfortable?  What is missing that you need to add to the room: an alarm clock, table lamp, nightlight, small television?

~~schedule an appointment to have your carpets and upholstery cleaned, and schedule maid service for that week.  The calendars of service providers fill up very quickly this time of year!

~~watch for sales and coupons of nonperishable items and stock up now.  Canned cranberry sauce, frozen vegetables, cake mixes---why pay more later?

Fast 5 Design Tips

~~Tiles laid on the diagonal will visually enlarge a room - making a small space look bigger. Also, closely matching the grout color to the tiles will expand the look of the room.

~~Use the rule of 3 as you decorate:  3 candles, 3 pictures, 3 pillows.  Two can be too formal, and four can be too many.

~~Need a quick room update?  Buy a new rug and cover as much of your current floor covering as possible. Worn, stained carpet or beat-up hardwood floors disappear under your beautiful new rug.

~~Every room needs a focal point, which is the one thing the eye is immediately drawn toward (it also drives the design ofthe room). Examples of decorative focal points are a fireplace, a four-poster bed, or an interesting piece of furniture.

~~Dark-stained or ebony hardwood floors are popular, but know that they show dirt, pet hair, and "dust bunnies" faster than medium- or light-stained floors.

Ask The Expert

I am thinking about new wood floors for my home.  There are so many to choose from.  Where do I start?

You are smart to be considering an investment in new hardwood floors for your home.  Wood flooring enhances the décor of any room, and provides timeless beauty that will increase in value throughout the years. In fact, in a national survey of real estate agents, 90 percent said that houses with wood flooring sell faster and for higher prices than houses without wood floors.

Your Enhance Floors Design Consultant will need certain information in order to know what type of products you should consider.  Typical questions we will ask you include:

~~Are there existing hardwood floors in your home that you want to match?

~~If so, what do you know about these floors?  Is the wood something your builder installed or were the floors added later?  

Do you have any information on your current floors?

~~What is the subfloor in the rooms you want the hardwoods for?  Wooden subfloor (plywood) or cement slab? Is there a basement or crawl space underneath the rooms?

With this information your Design Consultant can begin making product recommendations.  First, we will determine if you need site finished or prefinished hardwoods.  If your subfloor is wooden, and your existing hardwoods were installed by your builder, you probably have site finished floors.  If you are not matching existing hardwoods, you may want to consider a prefinished floor. 

What does this mean?  Site-finished hardwoods are installed raw (unfinished) and then sanded, stained, and coated with polyurethane in your home. 

You are able to select the stain color and the gloss level of the floor.  Prefinished hardwood floors are fully manufactured and finished in the factory.  A prefinished floor offers a quicker and more convenient installation.  Manufacturers of prefinished floors include companies like Bruce, Armstrong, Mohawk, and Somerset. Both types of wood flooring (site-finished and prefinished) are available in solid and engineered wood.

Next, we will determine if you need solid or engineered wood.

Solid wood is exactly as it sounds: a solid piece of wood.  Solid wood is usually ¾" thick. Engineered wood is thinner and is

made in plies (layers) with the actual species of wood on the top layer.  The bottom layers utilize other species of wood for stability.  Engineered wood was developed for glue down installation, but some can be nailed and floated. Engineered floors can be ¼", 3/8" (most common), ½", or even 3/4" thick.  If the area being installed has a plywood subfloor, either type may be used.   Solid wood floors can only be installed on a cement slab if special and expensive installation techniques are followed.

If you are adding to existing hardwoods, prefinished or site finished, you will also need to determine what you have: thickness (normally 3/8" or ¾"), width (2 ¼" and 3" are the most common widths for older floors), and species.  Most wood floors are oak, but there are numerous choices, including maple, birch, bamboo, and hickory.

If you do not have an existing hardwood floor to match, you get to select exactly what you want!  And the possibilities are endless.  Wood floors come in a variety of colors that will fit any décor. Today's wood floors come in more than 50 species, both domestic and exotic, spanning the spectrum of color options, finishes, and price ranges. No matter what the look you want to achieve, there are a variety of species to meet your needs.  Visit our Design Center to look at large product samples and installed wood floors and spend some time on the internet looking at pictures of flooring (Pinterest and Houzz are great sites for this) to help you find the wood floor of your dreams.

You may be wondering if prefinished floors are real hardwood floors and if engineered floors are real hardwood floors.  Yes, both are composed of 100% hardwood.  All ¾" solid prefinished wood floors can be sanded numerous times.  Most engineered wood floors can be sanded at least once, except veneers.  

Some other things to consider:

~~Some floors show wear and damage more readily.  Generally, the lower gloss, the less wear and scratches will show. Medium stain colors and wood with a lot of grain will also show less damage.  Very light and very dark floors show scratches and wear quickly, and floors such as maple that have very little grain again show imperfections more readily.  Distressed hardwoods may be the most practical option for active families and homes with pets.

~~If you are having site finished floors installed, there will be certain days and times that you cannot walk on the floors at all.  For this reason, many families choose to have the work done while they are on vacation.

~~Cost.  Hardwood floors cost at least twice as much as carpet, on average around $8.00 to $9.00 per square foot fully installed.  Of course, the average homeowner replaces their carpet every nine years, while hardwoods last decades and decades.

 

~~The home improvement shows may lead you to believe that installing hardwood floors is an easy do-it-yourself project. Unless you have excellent carpentry skills, you will probably find that this is not the case! The quality of your installation is crucial because of the permanency of hardwood flooring.  Be aware that there is no easy way to fix a bad installation.

Hardwood floors offer warmth, beauty, and value and are one of the most important design elements in your home. You are now prepared with all of the basic information you need to begin shopping for a beautiful new wood floor for your home.  

How Much Does Will It Cost?

To help you budget, here is information on recent installations of all three types of hardwood floors:

New site finished with refinishing: new wood for kitchen and dining room $4900 (420 square feet) and refinish the existing wood family room and hall (415 square feet) $1900.

Prefinished engineered wood in family room and master bedroom (650 square feet) $5000.

Prefinished solid wood in kitchen with breakfast area and halls (350 square feet) $3500

It's Finally Fall Y'all!

With a tease of cool weather a couple of weeks ago, we rushed out and bought marshmallows to roast over a cozy Autumn firepit, but a few days later, we were sweltering again---no cocoa or hayrides just yet, thanks very much! But it seems that Fall is truly around the corner now, here at the beginning of October, so let's do some seasonal prep.

It'll be getting dark earlier and earlier, so make sure all those outside lights have working bulbs, and go ahead and clean the cobwebs out too. The birdies have raised all their babies, and they've all flown away, so feel free to knock down any birds nests you find as well.

Indoors this is a good time to clean all those baseboards. If yours are already clean (mine aren't) then do something more aesthetically pleasing, and consider changing out artwork, swapping out window treatments, or adorning the sofa with some seasonal cushions. Bring those delicious soft throws out and toss them across the sofa. You may have some collectibles or knick knacks that you can "retire" for a few months and replace with the ones you usually keep put away. Yes, you know you have some!

And just so you feel ultra-practical and productive, clean out a drawer---one per week should keep you busy! Who knows what you'll find? Maybe something great you forgot you have!

In decorating this Fall, we're seeing copper continue to be popular. Brass and other gold-tones are still gaining a greater market-share as well. Colors are rich and drenched, oranges and blues leading the pack. Deep orangey reds, and blues in the middle of the spectrum (not too light, not too dark), as well as lush charcoally greys. This applies to home décor as well as clothing. 

What else is in for clothing?

Big chunky boots are out. A neat trim pair of ankle boots is a big Yes.

Fur that is obviously fake, made in lots of fun colors, is trending.

Don't put those maxi skirts away. Do pair them with fitted tops and jackets.

More do's and don'ts

Do a thorough vacuum cleaning inside the house- even moving furniture. Get ALL that dust!

Don't wear shoes inside the house. They carry dirt and germs.

Do clean all your switch plates. Don't spray cleaner directly on them- use a cloth dampened with cleaner.

Do paint your front door. Don't close it while it's still wet.

If that carpet still looks sad and tired after a good vacuuming, come on in to the store. We are having a great promotion-- The Mohawk Anniversary Sale features sale prices plus offers you a choice: an instant rebate (up to an additional $500 off, on a sliding scale based on square footage purchased) or 36-month interest free financing. Not in the market for carpet?  No worries, hardwoods, laminates, ceramic, and luxury vinyl floors are also part of the big Mohawk Anniversary Sale!

We also have a new product in the store. An interesting new "hybrid" of laminate and vinyl. It is Armstrong PRYZM and it is beautiful! There are four layers to it: a commercial grade wear layer, then the visual layer, award winning for its textures and designs, in the middle is a dent proof and waterproof core, and on the bottom is a cork layer for comfort and sound absorption. Very durable and scratch resistant, plus able to handle any moisture that comes its way, PRYZM is a fabulous new line we are so excited about!

What images does Fall evoke for you? For us, it's more than images. It's smells, too. That sweet clean smell of Autumn, the cinnamon and clove smells of pumpkin pie, that spiciness of chrysanthemums, and the wonderful woodiness of bonfires. And sounds---leaves crunching underfoot, birds chirping, and children happily exiting the school bus. The touch of the cooler, almost chilly, air at night, those cozy soft sweaters, and the feel of the breeze flowing in the windows we can open now after a hot summer. And oh! the taste of those apples straight from the orchard! And the fried well, everything, at the weekend festival!  And the pies! And the warm comforting soups!

But the sights! The earthy colors, the inviting textures, the beautiful corn mazes, the piles of orange and pink and yellow and white and green pumpkins. Nothing says fall like a pumpkin patch.  The pumpkin patches are popping up all over the place---stop by and pick out a few or a dozen. They make wonderful Fall décor, and will last right through Thanksgiving.  Gather some acorns, some pinecones, and your fall decorating is as good as done.

Another quick and easy way to update your home is with a new rug or two.  We have a large selection of rugs in our Rug Shoppe, with prices starting at $99.  Maybe you need a new rug for your foyer, an outdoor rug for your patio or deck, or a custom sized rug for your living room.  Come in and see what we have.  And if you just can't get by the store, you can also shop for rugs on our website.  Here's the link to see the beautiful rugs we sell online---great prices and a large selection!

                      

Is your house ready for the holidays?  

Thanksgiving is only seven weeks away.  Now is the time to decide what has to be done before the holidays and begin getting the work scheduled.  Maybe new kitchen countertops and a backsplash, new carpet to update the bedrooms, hardwood floors for the family room for a warm and cozy feeling---meet with an Enhance Design Consultant and get your project started so that it can be completed before the guests arrive to visit or before the office party you volunteered to host at your home.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, we are feeling so especially thankful that we remain so unscathed here in the Atlanta area, as Mother Nature has been showing her bad temper in so many other parts of the globe. Our thoughts and prayers linger so often these days on the folks whose lives have been ripped apart.

We here at Enhance are thankful for all our wonderful customers and friends. We are grateful for the part you play in our days, making our work a pleasure. We will be hosting a "Thankful" event on November 9^th. Stay tuned for details!

All Your Flooring Needs

When you read this, Irma will be a memory and hopefully nothing more. We all hunkered down and hoped for the best, but planned for the not-so-great. We are always so impressed and moved by how kind people can be to one another when facing a common adversity. There have been so many examples of this in the past couple of weeks, first during Harvey in Texas, and now during the Irma Florida evacuations; so many people offering help, accommodations, and prayers for our neighbors to the south. Thank you for anything and everything you have done to make evacuees feel more comfortable during their "Hurrication" here in the Atlanta area.

Time passes, life moves on, and business continues.  Looking forward to happier, less stressful days!!

An Instant Best Seller

We just received beautiful brand new Versini stylings. This line is both luxurious and surprisingly affordable.  Versini offers a wide variety of wood species, looks, and colors, many with practical low gloss/matte finishes. Versini has an Italian influence and Old-World feel, with lots of distressing and hand scraped looks. We are so proud to have this fine line in our Design Center!

Smart and Beautiful At The Same Time

Another new addition to the showroom is Mohawk's SmartStrand Silk Reserve. This is carpet that you can't wait to get home to! It is incredibly soft and luxurious feeling, but still one of our most practical carpets. Silk Reserve was designed and manufactured with permanent stain and soil protection that won't wash off or wear off. Of course, there is no real silk in this carpet- can you imagine how hard all those little caterpillars would have to work! The "silk" comes from the special manufacturing process used to make the fibers in this carpet sooooo soft and indulgent feeling. Smart!

Upstairs Downstairs

Another service that we are providing a LOT recently is staircase updates. We can completely remodel your stairs top to bottom, by replacing your treads and risers, or a change out of your balusters and handrails. And don't forget the newel posts! So many houses still have the builder grade, beat and banged up original super-traditional balusters, and our customers just don't feel that these represent their personalities or taste. We have dozens of baluster styles to choose from, including wrought iron, and can help you with decisions about finish, color, paint vs. stain, and more. Come on in and let us help you design your new staircase soon!

How Much Does It Cost?

Maybe your staircase just needs a mini-makeover and not a full replacement.  This week we are installing 12 stained and urethane -coated treads (the part that of the stair that you step on) with primed risers (the vertical part that is the back of the step) for a little over $2000.

Design Tip

As you shop for accessories to transition your home from summer to fall, consider adding velvet to your interior design. What could be more soothing than velvet? The fabric feels luxurious and welcoming for fall and winter, and when combined with rough natural textures (think reclaimed wood and woven baskets) and smooth metals and ceramics, it adds visual interest and tactile coziness to a room.  Look for velvet pillows and throws, or if you are furniture shopping, maybe a velvet upholstered chair.

We're Not Perfect

but if there is a problem we will take care of it!  Here's a recent review that was posted about Enhance Floors & More:

"I used Enhance Floors, and they were excellent. The owner of the company comes to your house to evaluate and to measure, and I was really impressed by that. I had a million questions, and he answered all of them. He was very friendly, very helpful, very patient, and nice. The people came and did the work, and they did a very good job. While it wasn't terrible, they had scraped some of my plantation blinds. I called up the company afterward to tell them that the blinds were scratched in two places, and the owner came back and evaluated it. He didn't fight me at all. He said, 'Sure, I see this. We'll get it fixed up.' He sent a painter out, and the painter was excellent. The painter came exactly when he said he would, and he always let me know when he was coming. He took his shoes off to go on the carpets and work. He did a super job fixing it up."