Clean Up This Spring

Ring a ding a ding time! The birds are chirping, grass is growing, trees are beginning to bud, it's finally spring! It's time to store away those winter shoes, the same winter shoes that have been walking all over your beautiful floors all season long through the long, dirty, cold, and unforgiving months of winter. Winter not only pummels the outdoors, but mud and dirt are tracked all over your home, leaving a mess on your floors. With spring comes everyone's favorite spring time activity, spring cleaning.

Here are some spring cleaning tips to get your floors back in tip-top shape. Break out the dust rag, broom, mop, and vacuum for the annual deep-clean. We know it can be overwhelming to face all the dust and clutter that has accumulated over the cooped-up winter months--simple maintenance care can help make this spring cleaning easier.

 

Help your floors keep their beautiful looks with these spring cleaning tips for carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, and tile!

  

Freshen Up Your Carpet

Regular maintenance throughout the year can help make spring cleaning a breeze, but it's ok if you didn't. We've got you covered. First, choose a good quality vacuum and keep your vacuum's filter clean-it can help make all the difference when tending to your carpet. If spot cleaning is needed, try to remove the stain by using water before moving on to harder cleaning solutions-remember to blot rather than rub the stain.

No matter what type of carpet you have, prompt attention to spots and spills is vital.

 

Here are a couple tips for cleaning your carpet:

~~Vacuum at least once a week and more often in heavy traffic areas, paying special attention to areas where people sit and move their feet.

~~Be prepared with the proper tools to clean up accidents quickly and that you know the right way to spot clean. Otherwise, you may cause more harm than good to your carpet.

~~Place mats at the entrances of your home's carpet areas - this can help absorb moisture and help prevent soiling.

~~Have your carpet cleaned regularly. Spring is a great time to plan for a professional cleaning. We recommend a hot water extraction method or "steam cleaning." The manufacturer warranty that comes with your carpet requires that it be cleaned by a certified professional. Most carpet manufacturers stipulate a specific schedule for this in order to keep your warranty valid.

Keep Hardwoods Beautiful

Typically, sweeping and vacuuming can be enough to refresh your hardwood floors. However, when it comes to spills and stains, you may need to use an only slightly damp mop.

 

Here are some other helpful cleaning tips to keep your hardwood floors looking great for longer:

~~Wipe up wet spills and tracked-in dirt should be wiped away immediately.

~~Sweep, dust, or vacuum using a hard floor attachment at least once a week. If you use a vacuum cleaner, be sure to either use the hard surface attachment or turn off the beater bar.

~~Use a cleaner made for hardwood flooring, such as Bona, to help clean more stubborn soil.

~~Add protective pads to furniture legs.

~~Don't use buffing machines as they can damage hardwood floors.

~~Never use a steam mop on wood floors. The high temperature of the steam will damage the wood.

~~Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for optimal cleaning tips.

~~For sticky substances, harden the spot with an ice cube and lightly rub with a dull plastic scraper. Do not apply too much pressure as this could damage or scrape the floor's finish.

 

Long Lasting Laminate

Laminate pairs the beauty of natural wood with easier maintenance. However, it requires proper regular maintenance not only during spring cleaning, but throughout the year as well.

 

When cleaning for spring, keep these simple tips in mind:

~~Only use soap-free cleaners.

~~Remove loose dirt with a dust mop or a gentle vacuum without a beater bar.

~~Wipe up any spills immediately.

~~Use a quality laminate floor cleaner.

~~Do not use excessive water, as it could cause buckling or separation.

~~Never wax, polish, or use buffing machines.

~~Don't use steam mops. The high temperatures can cause damage to laminate.

~~Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

You can get years of beautiful performance from your laminate floor with a little preparation and understanding of proper cleaning methods.

 

Durable Tile

Ceramic and Porcelain are beautiful, durable and easy to clean, but daily maintenance is needed to keep your floors looking great.

 

When beginning your spring cleaning, here are some simple instructions to help you care for your tile floor:

~~Always sweep or vacuum first to get up loose dirt and grit, then:

~~Clean with a damp mop to avoid buildup of mold, mildew, and grime.

~~Dry tile thoroughly with a clean towel or cloth.

~~Never use detergent or soap-they can dull the tile's surface.

~~Place mats at doorways to help trap soil and other substances.

~~Avoid steam mops. High temperatures can cause damage to grout.

~~Read the manufacturer's instructions before cleaning.

Versatile Vinyl

Vinyl is an up and comer in the flooring world. The product known as LVP, or Luxury Vinyl Plank, is great looking and most are waterproof. It is laid in planks like wood, or occasionally in tiles like porcelain or ceramic.

 

Pointers for keeping it clean are similar to other hard surfaces: 

~~Sweep or vacuum frequently to get rid of grit, the worst enemy of all finishes.

~~Use a barely damp mop, with a cleaner made for vinyl.

~~Vinyl will scratch, so use protective pads on furniture legs.

~~Steam mops are not recommended for vinyl floors.

~~Check manufacturers recommendations before using wax or other finishing products on vinyl.

Whether you have carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl or tile flooring, it is important to understand how to properly care for your floors.

There are some universal "rules" no matter which floor works best for you. Use doormats outside every exterior door. Keep the grit and dirt swept or vacuumed up.  Heed the manufacturer's instructions regarding regular professional cleaning. For porcelain and tile, use an upgraded grout to prevent mold, mildew, and stains (We STRONGLY recommend Pro Fusion Grout with our tile installations), and the best tip off all- no shoes inside the house!

 

What are you waiting for? Get started with YOUR Spring Cleaning!

Design Tip

Painting your cabinets is a way to totally change the look of your kitchen without breaking the bank. White is the color most often chosen, but also look at shades of blue, green, and black.  Using two different colors for your cabinets is also worth considering, either lighter upper and darker bottom cabinets, or your island a different color than the wall cabinets.

How Much Does It Cost?

Every kitchen is different, but most cabinets can be professionally painted for $3500 to $4500.  Antiquing and glazes add to the cost. If your cabinets are in good shape and the footprint works for you, painting is a great option to update your look.

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!