What's In Right Now

Here we are deep into 2019 already! We are all hoping that this year will be a kinder, gentler year than 2018. That seems to be the general trend-- calming environments, more natural settings, more ecologically focused choices in decorating and housekeeping, everything is less fussy. We are living greener, both literally and figuratively, using more natural and sustainable woods and fabrics. The colors that will be popular this year also reflect those trends.

Pantone has released two color palettes we will be seeing a lot of in 2019:

The first palette 'Cravings' is inspired by food and is all rich reds, flamingo orange and rich purples, held down at the neutrals end by rich warm browns.

'Classico', as the name implies, is a collection of fundamental and everlasting colors that includes rich teal, grey flannel, rich gold and apricot.

Meanwhile, Night Watch has already been named paint color of the year by a popular US-based paint company. It's a deep, jade-like green that has strong references to nature, which feeds into some of the broader trends around calmness, tech-free spaces and nature.

Houseplants are definitely part of this new calmness. Besides bringing a natural feel to a space, they clear the air, and add a vibrancy, an "aliveness" to an area. With the environment suffering major crisis after major crisis, we're always happy to see new takes on production and décor that are easy on the eye while leaving little to no impact on the planet and its resources.

From leftover materials like marble being recomposed in smart ways to energy-saving appliances, to live plant walls, whatever you bring into your home from now on (if you haven't been doing so already) needs to follow suit and take less and give back to the planet as much as it can.

Karastan is introducing a whole new group of wool carpets this spring.  No other product we sell is as eco-friendly, as self sustaining as wool. Naturally VOC free, soft and stain resistant. We hope to introduce these to you within the next couple of months, and we have plenty of "tried and true" styles available now.

Overall, lines are getting cleaner, more spare. Marie Kondo is telling us to part with anything that doesn't spark joy, and furniture is simpler, easier to live with. We are paring down, and becoming less attached to "things." Look to Nature for guidance this year: symmetry, colors, seasonality.

And now that you have the big picture for 2019, let's talk about some specifics of making your home look its best. Here are a few do's and don'ts:

DO remember to make your foyer special. It is not just a place to shed your jacket, put down the mail, and pet the dog! Your foyer is where you greet guests. It's the first place besides the yard where people will find out something about you, your likes, your personality. It's like an introduction. It doesn't tell everything about you, but gives a glimpse into who you are. Make it tantalizing.  It should make them want to know more about you!

DON'T forget the fifth wall in every room-- the ceiling! Why go with plain old white? Folks are painting the ceiling, wallpapering the ceiling, adding artistic treatments to the ceiling, and faux beams.  Add some personality and character in an unexpected place!

Next: Tidy Up! Doing your "Marie Kondo" ing doesn't mean that you have to get rid of everything-- it means that you get rid of all that excess around the house that just tends to accumulate, and you keep it just because, well, it's always been there.  You will find that you don't miss it, and will actually feel a weight off when it is gone. Perhaps it is something that someone else could be using and enjoying?

But for the things that do make you happy, keep them and put them where you will see them frequently. DO keep your collections together, not scattered around. And do be reasonable about the number of things. You cannot and will not enjoy things that you have to spend days or even hours dusting, or worrying about the grandchildren breaking.

And lastly, DO come in to the store and see what's new! We have gorgeous new LVP from Mohawk SolidTech, and also some beautiful new porcelain tile from Happy Floors.  We'd love for you to see these beautiful new products!

How Much Does It Cost?

We do a lot of staircases in patterned carpet runners, sometimes bound on the sides, sometimes installed "wall-to-wall", depending on how the staircase is constructed.  A decorative runner is an easy way to make a style statement in your foyer. And these carpets are as practical as they are beautiful-they wear extremely well, and the patterns and colors are perfect for hiding dirt and spills.  This Stanton carpet was installed on the staircase of a Powder Springs home recently for a little over $1300. Looks great, doesn't it?

Were You FLOORED By Enhance?

If so, we need a favor. 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 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!

Have Fun Learning About Home Improvements

Make Improvements, Not Excuses Last week we told you a little about our Fall In Love Again Home Improvement Workshop.  It is Tuesday, February 12, with seminars starting at 3:00 and finishing up at 7:00. Someone at every seminar will win a great prize (you?!!), and we will have yummy food and drinks for you to enjoy. Call today and reserve your seat for one of these workshops: 4:15 Together Forever With New Window Treatments Anne King w/ Hunter Douglas Is it time to upgrade your window treatments?  Get rid of those broken and yellowed plastic blinds or the heavy dust-covered draperies?  The right window covering is as practical as it is beautiful. Insulation, privacy, security, better sleep, motorization, updated designs and colors, all are problems that can be solved with new window treatments.  Come learn all about Hunter Douglas shades, blinds, honeycombs, shutters and find the perfect new window treatments for your home. 4:30 Love Being Different? Find Your Own Style April Larson w/ Fabrica Fine Carpet and Wood Flooring You never want what everybody else has.  You are bored with "builder beige" carpet and narrow strip oak wood floors.  You know what you like and love to show off your personal style. But how do you find flooring that's not the same old same old?  Take a look at Fabrica carpets and hardwoods. Beautiful wall-to-wall carpets in patterns and plushes, custom area rugs designed by you, and hardwood floors that are breathtakingly different.  See these beautiful products and learn how to make a beautiful flooring statement in your home. 5:00 Wall Tiles That Make Your Heart Sing Chris Schmidt w/ Daltile Beautiful backsplashes.  Stunning showers. A gorgeous accent wall in the powder room.  These are great places to feature your tile style. How do you decide from the thousands of choices of wall tiles? Size, color, pattern, texture.  So much to consider. Our tile expert Chris Schmidt with Daltile will guide you thru the selection process at this inspiring seminar. You will also learn more about stain resistant grouts and why this may be the most important upgrade you make in your tile purchase. 5:15 Perfect Prescription - Carpet and Allergies Mike Adamczyk w/ Mohawk If you or a family member have allergies, you have probably been told that you shouldn't have carpet.  That's not necessarily true.  Come learn about products that are designed with those with allergies in mind, like Air.o by Mohawk (no VOCs, latex free) and Dupont Sorona which is made in part with plant-based materials.  Mike Adamczyk with Mohawk Flooring will introduce you to carpets that may just be the prescription that allergy sufferers need. 5:30 All You Need Is Love And An Accent Wall Kevin Parker w/  Vercade Wall Fashion Wall fashions are more than wallpaper and shiplap.  Learn about Vercade Wall Fashions and see how easy it is to install in your home while watching Kevin Parker install a wall in our Design Center.  That's right---you can watch it being installed. Vercade is waterproof, stable, light and easy to install, does not need to be painted, easy to clean, beautiful, affordable, and very DIY friendly.  See these gorgeous wood and tile looks and the wide variety of combos and installation patterns to choose from. You'll leave feeling totally prepared to tackle this easy project. 6:15 Home Sweet Home Valerie Kratina w/ Coldwell Banker We will all sell our home someday.  And of course, we want to make as much profit as possible when we sell.  Wouldn't it be great to have a crystal ball to know what we need to do to make top dollar at the closing table?  Here's your chance: hear from top Realtor Valerie Kratina, Coldwell Banker Marietta/West Cobb. She will answer your questions about home improvement updates that are absolute musts, and what you should probably avoid doing, market trends, how to choose an agent, home staging, everything you need to know before you put your home on the market. 6:30 Flooring That Will Stand The Test Of Time Justin Cook w/ Versini, Tarkett, Somerset Disposability was considered a plus in the past, use it and toss it, but we know better now.  And we certainly don't want disposable floors. When investing in products for our home, we want products that will stand the test of time.  Wood floor stain colors that aren't trendy, luxury vinyl that is durable and resistant to wear and tear, finishes that are scratch and impact resistant.   Justin Cook will show you a variety of products that are beautiful, easy to design around, and that won't go out of style like avant garde fashions! Learn more about these timeless Versini Hardwood Floors, Tarkett Vinyl, and Somerset Hardwood Floors at this informative seminar. Everybody Else Is Doing It A recently commissioned survey from Maytag discovered the most popular home improvement projects for 2019.  Which ones are on your "to do" list? ~~Decorating. Sixty-nine percent of homeowners report that they plan to decorate their home. New furniture, floors, painting-so many interior design updates to consider!   ~~Cleaning and Decluttering. Sixty-two percent of those surveyed said they plan to declutter, and clean long-forgotten nooks and crannies of their home. ~~Upgrading Countertops. Countertops can be a tell-tale sign of a dated house. Participants of the Maytag survey prioritized upgrading their countertops to something more on-trend.   ~~Updating Kitchen Cabinetry.  Cabinet design and details are critical in making upgrades to a kitchen.  Changes can be as major as a total gut and redesign or cosmetic improvements like painting, installing new hardware or adding a floating shelf or two.  ~~ Preparing a Guest Room.  When many of us had guests over the holidays, we found that our guest room was not as functional as we thought it was. Popular updates include purchasing new bedding, adding a television, and decluttering. ~~ Upgrading Light Fixtures.  Consider can lights, under cabinet lights, new ceiling chandeliers, pendant lights, even new finishes to replace the tarnished brass that came with your home.     ~~ Upgrading the Laundry Room. According to the Maytag survey, 44 percent of millennials and 41 percent of homeowners with kids plan to remodel their laundry room (compared to 29 percent of all homeowners.) New washers and dryers handle big loads better, are quieter, and often take up less space.   ~~ Upgrading Kitchen Appliances.  Fingerprint resistant stainless steel is still the finish of choice.

Fall In Love Again, Home Improvement Version

Have you heard about our next event: Fall In Love Again Home Improvement Workshop? Come and learn more about a variety of topics including flooring, kitchen and bathroom design, window treatments and countertops. Enjoy free food and drinks, great prizes, and have fun while learning more about updating your home.

Tuesday February 12th

3 til 7 pm

Enhance Floors & More Design Center

1847 Roswell Road -- Marietta, 30062

Here's the schedule for some of the workshops.  Please give us a call at 770-565-3808 to sign up for the seminar(s) you plan to attend.

3:00 "Wood" You Be My Valentine?
Hardwood floors are a great update for your home and also add value when it's time to sell. But how do you select the right one? Solid or engineered, wide plank or traditional 2 1/4", oak or hickory, light or dark---so many to choose from! Sandra Lupo our experienced wood flooring representative will tell you everything you need to know about new hardwood flooring for your home.

3:30 Let's Get Cooking In The Kitchen

Kitchen updates can be minor (paint your cabinets, new floors, new countertop and backsplash) or major.  If you want to change the cabinet footprint and improve the functionality of your kitchen, a total gut is the way to go.  And for the best outcome you should work with a kitchen designer. Learn all about the process and see the latest kitchen design trends at our workshop with Lindsay Hollis with Founders Kitchen & Bath.

3:45 Is Carpet Your True Love?

Carpet is a tried and true flooring choice---soft, warm, comfy, durable, affordable.  And so much easier to take care of than in years past. Not everybody wants hard floors everywhere, especially in the bedrooms.  Kyle Marshall with Karastan will show you the newest styles and colors and tell you everything you need to know to select the perfect carpet for your home.

4:00 Tile My Everlasting Love

Tile is the most durable and longest lasting floor covering. Tile is waterproof and easy to clean. And there are lots of choices: wood looks and stone looks. Ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone. What is the difference?  What is the best? What sizes and colors will stand the test of time? Meet with tile expert Sarah Chappell with Interceramic and learn more about this everlasting floor.

5:45 Roses Are Red Violets Are Blue 

Waterproof Floors Is This Really True?

Learn about waterproof laminate and luxury vinyl flooring from Holly Dysart with Mohawk Industries.  Holly will tell you everything you need to know about flooring choices that can handle your family and pets and hectic life!

6:00 Kiss Your Old Ugly Countertop Goodbye!

You want to upgrade your kitchen with new countertops, but how to decide on one? You've heard granite is out, marble is hard to take care of, and what exactly is quartz? Leigh Walfred with LG Viatera USA will teach you everything you need to know about new countertops.

Watch our Facebook page for more seminars and workshops still to be announced.  Enjoy food, drinks, maybe win a great prize, while you meet with industry experts in a fun relaxed atmosphere.

Design Tip

Remodeling activity isn't slowing down anytime soon. The steady increase in remodeling activity will continue through 2021, experts predict.  Why? With home prices increasing, new construction is harder to find in some areas of the country, and because many homeowners are aging in place, staying put and remodeling. "With the existing house stock averaging 38 years old, much of the inventory is in need of updating," noted Mark Boud, senior vice president and chief economist at Hanley Wood/Metrostudy.  Don't feel alone if your home needs an update or two!

How Much Does It Cost?

According to a recent survey of 2,000 adults, consumers are planning on spending nearly $7,000 on average to fix up their homes over the next few months.

I Was Floored by Enhance

Alice in Canton writes "Enhance was great. They had a consultant that was available for me to ask basic design questions and stuff. That was helpful. I was able to ask her a lot of questions and that kind of opened up discussion for potential other projects. Their customer service was good. They did hardwood floors for me.  I would rate them as an A."

Thank for taking the time to write a review, Alice.  Maybe you can come to our event next week and get more of your home improvement questions answered.  We hope to see you!

It's Your Money- Use It!

Shoppers are "getting real" - so we are officially declaring 2019 the year of Being Real, which includes using all-natural products, focusing on sustainability, buying "Made in the USA" and being realistic when it comes to decorating and living. The world isn't perfect (and you don't have to pretend that it is), but you can also do something to make your world more perfect. Whether you want to install all new hardwood floors, or remodel that dated Master Bathroom, we can help you. But for many, the larger question is how to pay for it.

 

If paying cash is not an option for you, you need to look for ways to finance your project.  There are essentially three ways to finance a remodeling project, a cash- out refinance, an equity line, or a renovation loan.  The first two options can work well if you have a lot of equity in your home today. Renovation loans work well in all situations because the amount you can borrow is based on how much your home will be worth after you make the improvements.

 

Let's take a look at the cash out refinance and equity line options together because they work very similarly.  When you apply for one of these loans the bank will order an appraisal to determine your home's current value.  The bank will then lend you up to 80% of that value for the cash out refinance and typically 90% for the equity line.  From that amount you simply subtract your current mortgage balance to determine the amount you net for your project.

 

The primary difference between a cash-out refinance loan and other home equity loan options is that a cash-out refinance loan converts one mortgage into a separate larger one. With a traditional home equity loan, you take on a second mortgage at a fixed or variable rate with up to 30 years for repayment.

 

Again, these options work well if you have a lot of equity in your home.  But what if your current loan balance is at or above 80% of your current value?  What if you need more than $10,000 to $20,000 for your project? This is where the renovation loan saunters in to save the day.

The renovation loan was designed with you and your project in mind.  It has two huge advantages that make it an extremely useful financing tool.  The first is that the bank bases the amount they will lend you on the after improved value of the home, so you get credit for the upgrades and additions.  The second advantage is that if you meet credit requirements, the bank will lend you up to 95% of the after improved value if needed.  By the way, this product can also be used to purchase a fixer upper and finance the improvements into the same loan.

Todd Sheppard, Fidelity Bank

 Construction and Renovation Lending Specialist

According to HousingWire, as of September 2018, the amount of home equity accessible to America's 44 million homeowners has surpassed $6 trillion in untapped equity, the highest level in history. 

Sean Patrick Trombetti, Reliant Mortgage Solutions

So the economy is improving, the money is there to be had, and we are here to help you get started!

 

Design Tip for 2019

Ready to go green? Our desire to connect with nature has brought an array of delicious green hues to the forefront of design. "Earthy, rich greens are absolutely on the rise in homes across the country,"  Erika Woelfel, Vice President of Color and Creative Services at The Behr Paint Company tells us.

"People are looking to create an oasis at home where they can escape the stress of the world and technology, and green creates that cocooning effect," she says. Green engages the senses and symbolizes life, growth, and renewal thanks to its association with nature. For those who aren't afraid of color, Woelfel says green is a great choice because it is generally gender-neutral and universally-loved.

How Much Does It Cost?

Did you know we can make you an area rug from any carpet in the store? We recently installed carpet on the stairs and upstairs hall, and created four custom-sized rugs, 2 large and 2 small, for a customer, for a total under $3000. Choosing to make custom rugs from Broadloom carpet gives you thousands of choices, between the carpet patterns, plushes, and textures, and all their colors. If you have wonderful hard surface floors that need a rug, consider a custom made rug from Broadloom.

I Was Floored by Enhance

Jim in Marietta says "They are 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."

Thanks, Jim! We're glad you are happy!

2019 Ready or Not It's Here

Are You Ready for 2019?

Seems like 2018 passed in the blink of an eye. Did you know that forty five percent of Americans make New Year's resolutions? The top resolutions are: to lose weight, get organized, to spend less and save more, to stay fit and healthy, and to quit smoking. While nearly half of all Americans make resolutions, 25 percent of them give up on their resolutions by the second week of January. Maybe your resolution is to finally update your home. We sincerely hope you keep that one!

 

What's going to be trending in 2019? New wood floors, both engineered and solid, in wide plank matte finishes. Laminate floors are on the rebound, and look beautiful as well as being super durable.  There are even waterproof laminates. New colorful graphic tile designs are gaining popularity. And vinyl! WOW! It is the fastest growing flooring choice we have, and the designs are better and better! Wood looks and tile looks, there is something for everyone. 

Of course, there are many other tweaks besides the floors to give your home that will help update it and make it, well, homier. A fresh paint job will do a lot to improve the looks of an outdated home. Grey has had a good run, but people are trending more to warm tans and taupes these days. Brushed nickel and polished chrome continue to be the leaders in plumbing fixture finishes. Did you know that we offer our customers access to shop at our local plumbing house for new fixtures, where they can guide you on the best choices for your style.

Don't forget, we do full bathroom remodels. There are so many gorgeous tiles and deco pieces to choose from! We make your new bathroom more beautiful, and more functional. Lots of our customers are doing away with the bathtub in the Master Bath and opting for a larger shower. Realtors advise this is fine, as long as there is still one bathtub in the house.

We love doing full kitchen remodels too! Cabinets, counter tops, floors, the works! But, if you just want to tweak things a little, we can do that as well. A new backsplash will really change the look of your kitchen. In older kitchens that still have cabinets in good shape, a new backsplash and a paint job can make a world of difference.

We can also install a new countertop. Corian reigned in the 80's, granite has been the go-to since the 90's, but both have now given first place to Quartz. Quartz countertops are composed of ground quartz stone, pigments and resin. These popular marble & granite like countertops are usually semi-gloss and do not require polishing. Some care is needed to ensure they maintain their luster. However, they are harder to damage than other countertops, like laminate and Corian. In order to care for quartz countertops, use non-abrasive cleaners, and avoid heavy pressure and quick changes in temperature. The colors and designs are just beautiful! Come in and see!

We already know that the New Year will bring us many new wonderful products. We are always excited to see what is new, and we love learning about new products and new decorating ideas to bring to you. Plan to join us in 2019 at one of our events. They are always fun and informative, and there are always great prizes that you could win!

Taking Care of Your Wood Floors

Many of us have hardwood floors in our homes. And many of us aren't giving them the proper care. Did you know there are vacuum cleaners made specifically to use on wood floors- with either soft brushes, or beater bars that can be turned off. Never, ever, NEVER use a steam mop on your wood floors! Water and wood floors do not mix! When you do clean the floors, use a cleaning product made for wood floors, and use as little as possible. We recommend Bona products, and sell them here in the store. You should also use floor protectors on the feet of all your furniture. Flexi Felt is a wonderful product that we carry and highly recommend.

Design Tip

If you have wood floors that aren't in good shape, we can sand and restain them for you. Or if you have been wishing to change the color, now's the time! If you need some time to decide on your next step with the floor or need to wait til summer vacation to get the work done, consider covering the worn-out wood floors with a rug. We have beautiful area rugs here in the store, and many more that we can order or custom make for you. Come in with some measurements and let us help you choose the rug that suits your needs the best.

 

How Much Does It Cost?

We just installed new solid oak hardwoods in an "active adult" home. The area was 500 square feet and consisted of the master bedroom, closet, living room, and dining room. The cost was $4200, which included new shoemold and removal of the existing carpet. It really updated the home and made it feel bigger and more open. 

I Was FLOORED By Enhance 

Tracy in Roswell writes "They did a terrific job. The guys that installed the carpet did the seams perfectly. They cleaned up after themselves. It was a large room, and you couldn't even tell where the seams were. They did a good job and cleaned up after themselves well. I couldn't say enough about them. I'd give them an A."

Thank you, Tracy. Enjoy your new soft carpet, we know your boys are enjoying playing games and laying on it!

Happy Holidays

This time of year brings festivities and family fun. It is a time for reminiscing and looking forward. We wish you wonderful memories during this joyous season.

Here are a few of our favorite holiday ideas and tips:

 ~~Read holiday books before bed each night. The Polar Express, Santa Mouse, How the Grinch Stole Christmas,  and Twas The Night Before Christmas are all excellent tales to boost your family's holiday spirit.

 

~~Set up a Christmas Eve hot cocoa bar.

 

~~Check out holiday lights in your area. Get in the car, play holiday music, and find brightly lit houses.

 

~~Have your child start an 'I Am Thankful' list. Have him add one thing he is thankful for each day. You can turn this into a decoration by having him write it on a paper Christmas tree or snowflake that you then hang across the fireplace or some other area.

 

~~Deliver cookies and treats to your local fire station, police department, and even the staff at your local hospital. After all, they'll be working through the holiday.

 

 ~~Yummmm, we all love the smells of the holidays.  Keep a simmer pot going with cloves, nutmeg, and other spices to give your home a fragrant holiday smell.

 

~~Set aside a single place to collect receipts throughout the season for returning or exchanging items. Update your budget list as you make purchases so you do not overspend.

 

~~Use lots of candles. Nothing makes a room feel warmer and more inviting than candlelight.  Plus, if unexpected company arrives, it is not as easy to see the dust in a dimly lit room!

 

~~Have pets?  Give your pet his own quiet space to retreat to--complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their crate or in a separate room away from the hubbub.

Holiday Hours

We will be closed Monday December 24 and Tuesday December 25.

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day.  Don't clean it up too quickly.               

 Andy Rooney

Welcoming Winter

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Well here is that cooler weather we have been hoping for! It is chilly interspersed with days that are downright frigid! These are the days that it feels so good to light a fire, bake some cookies, and have a cup of hot tea, just get cozy. The winter months here in Georgia are thankfully not too awful, but they do make you want to snuggle up, read a good book, and watch the weather from inside! In the warmer months we are all about making our homes look and feel cooler- we pare down, use more whites in our accessories, and keep the iced tea handy. But now that December is upon us, let's spend a bit of time visually warming up our homes, especially the kitchen, the heart of the home.

First, add a few plants.  You have probably already brought your potted plants in, so make sure the pots are clean and attractive (and bug-free) and group them in the corner, near a window, or on the countertops if you have some to

spare. Or go plant shopping.  Herbs work beautifully in these groupings. Be careful to keep any plants that may be dangerous to animals safely out of their reach--some common ones to avoid are Dieffenbachia, Kalanchoe, and Cyclamen. Also, as the holidays approach, keep those beautiful Amaryllis and Poinsettias away from animals.  Plants lower our stress, improve our concentration, and clean our air, as well as making our environments prettier!

To keep those plants (and you) healthier and happier, be sure you are letting in plenty of natural light. We all know that a 

lack of sunshine can result in a real syndrome for humans--the less sunlight we see in the winter months, the more likely we are to develop Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In researching this, I learned that the lack of sunshine and Vitamin D can result in the increased risk of heart disease, prostate and breast cancer, and even dementia! So, open up those blinds and drapes, and let the sun shine in! You may also want to look into new window treatments from Hunter Douglas ---many styles are dual purpose:  very sheer when open, dark and insulating when closed. More light during the daytime will make you and your plants healthier, and your home will look much more welcoming, cheerful, and happy.

While you are opening those blinds, be sure the view is beautiful. If it isn't, get out there now and change it-- move those trashcans, plant some pansies, trim those overgrown bushes, now before the weather forbids that kind of outdoor activity.

Decorate the kitchen in a warm and cozy way. Some of the components I love to use are copper pots, old "tea towels" and throw rugs on the floor. Well-worn is even better! My favorite thing in the kitchen, though, is to have a lamp. Glowing in the night, or on a dismal day, it just automatically makes the kitchen warmer and more welcoming. If you can find an old one with some character, and fix it up with a fresh shade, so much the better. I have old fingertip linen towels that my great grandmother monogrammed. I kept them for years in a drawer, "saving" them, and then I thought, "they're not doing anybody any good in a drawer" and so I brought them to the kitchen, and I use them and I love them, and they remind me of my precious "Big Mama" who was all of 4 foot 10 inches! Have an old mixing bowl that belonged to an ancestor? Bring it out and fill it with fruit! Or even your great grandad's old boots? Stand them in the corner- I promise you will think of him every time you see them!

Another effect I love in the kitchen is to make the two chairs we use all the time different than the others. They are upholstered instead of plain wood, and they don't even match! But they are ours, and so comfy!

Wood components are good to use to warm up the look in a kitchen: an old cutting board, pretty salad bowls, or a jug full of wooden utensils can add to this. Lately, we have installed several wood or wood-look walls in kitchens and breakfast rooms. They do a lot to change the whole look of the room. We are carrying a new product especially designed to go on the walls, called Vercade. Come in and see it!

Of course, there is always paint, but painting for the seasons may be a little drastic! But you can try painting one accent wall a new fun color. Or if you have bookshelves in the kitchen, hang some removable wallpaper on the back walls as an accent!

Finally, nothing enhances a kitchen like the wonderful aroma

of something delicious in the oven or on the stove! Pies, cookies, a rich stew, are all inviting and comforting. You don't have to be a great cook to know this, or to make it happen- pick something up that is prepped, and take it from there. YUM!

Speaking of yummy, we had a Chili Cook Off here in the store recently, with 8 entrants! We had so much fun, and gave away some great raffle prizes! If you missed it, well, too bad, maybe next year. In the meantime, we are publishing the Award-Winning Recipe that won First Place in our contest:

Jere's Chili

1 ½ lb. ground chuck

3 (15 oz) cans of tomato sauce

1 (14.5 oz) can of diced tomatoes

1 package of McCormick's Chili Seasoning Mix (Hot)

1 (27 oz) can of Bush's Chili Beans

Salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder to taste

Brown hamburger, drain and add all ingredients. Simmer several hours in a crock pot or on the stove.

Enjoy!

Better Safe Than Sorry

I want to talk a little about keeping your home safe as well as cozy this winter. If you are travelling, follow all those tips you've been hearing for years: have someone pick up your mail and newspapers, leave your animals at home and have someone come in to feed and exercise them, leaving on assorted lamps and lights each time they visit. If there's a car in the driveway, ask them to move it from time to time. Be sure that motion activated lights outside are working properly. Notify your security company and your credit card company that you will be travelling.  And lastly, I know it's fun to post great pictures of your trip on social media, but DON'T. At least not until you have returned home. Travel knowing that you, your pets, and your home are safe.

Stay safe, warm, and cozy this winter. If you make chili, or follow any of our decorating ideas, we'd love to see and hear about it.  Post your pics on Facebook or Instagram and tag us so that we can admire your creativity!

How Much Does It Cost?

Shiplap---what is it and how did it become so popular? Simply put, shiplap is wide wood planks installed on the wall horizontally, slightly overlapped, and painted white.  Shiplap became all the rage thanks to HGTV's "Fixer Upper," a home design show hosted by Chip and Joanna Gaines. The Texas-based couple have used it in many of the homes they renovated, and the look caught on from there. Shiplap adds subtle texture to walls without going overboard, giving a clean-but-not-boring backdrop to a room. And this simplicity makes shiplap versatile and able to complement a number of styles:  coastal, shabby chic, farmhouse, modern, and industrial. We do install shiplap for our clients; the cost ranges from around $800 to $1200 per wall.

I Was FLOORED By Enhance

Elsa in Marietta shared this review:  "Had carpet installed by Enhance the week before Thanksgiving. We had almost the whole first floor done and they completed the job in one day. We also bought the carpet from Enhance and we love it plus carpet and installation was a great price. Hardworking crew, careful and respectful especially of our newly painted walls. Would recommend to anyone and will use them again."

Thank you Elsa---enjoy the holidays (and your new carpet!) with your family.  We sincerely appreciate your patronage.