Hardwood


15
May 12

5 Best Laminate Flooring Trends Of 2012

Every home remodeling starts begins with a first step. I am big fan of laminate flooring and today I would like to introduce you to the Best Laminate Flooring Trends of 2012! From traditional to rustic, laminate floor satisfies the taste for flooring as unique as you are. So get ready for an adventure as I show you the hottest, most popular flooring trends for this year. And I hope that by browsing through featured floor collections, you will be inspired to take the first step in your home remodeling journey.

Recently, many hot trends in the flooring market have arisen;

Trend #1: The French Bleed Floors

This style is incredibly popular right now. A very rustic, classy trend, where each board has darkened edges to provide a contrast to the floors natural color, and highlight each plank. The French Bleed floors have a very elegant and sophisticated look. Usually offered in narrow 5″ wide planks with micro-beveled edges for ultra natural look of the hardwood floor.

Some floors with the French Bleed finish I suggest are three colors in the Belmont collection available currently at Bestlaminate for $1.39 per square foot in:

  • Antique Bronze
  • Burgundy
  • Saddle

If you have contemplated updating the flooring in your home, a French Bleed floor maybe exactly what you are looking for offering style, affordability, and durability. And, as always with laminate floor-a light sweep, damp mop, or an occasional light vacuum; and your French Bleed floors will be good to go.

Trend #2: Dark Floors with Handscraped Finish

The Handscraped finish is perfectly imperfect! Literally, the floor is replicating hand sculpted hardwood, and many broad and shallow grooves are created to give it a more natural, deep and rich texture. Each plank is different, and when installed, the floor looks very earthy and natural. The hand scraped finish is popular, but when it is applied on dark colored floors, it is the best of both worlds. The darkness of floor creates a luxurious look, and the hand scraped finish adds a rustic touch. Handscraped decors are considered as a “premium floor” and in most cases comes with premium heavy-durability, 12mm (1/2″)thickness and ultra natural 4-sided beveled edges.

Here are just few stunning Dark Handscraped finished floors I really like:

  • Quick-Step Arte in Versailles Dark -in stunning wood inlay design
  • Kronoswiss in Noce Rubio
  • Quick-Step Sculptique in Black Cherry
  • Mannington Restoration Historic Oak in Charcoal

Trend #3: Piano High Gloss Finish

The Piano high gloss finish is ultra chic and fabulous. The name doesn’t lie, the Piano High Gloss Finish literally has the high gloss and glowing finish of a grand piano. Recently, it has become one of the hottest trends in the flooring world. Piano finished floors have the clearest detail, and look so realistic and rich that they could be mistaken for hardwood. Piano High Gloss Finish floors can add that much needed ’spark’ to any space. In most cases this floor style comes in narrow 5″ wide plank with micro beveled edges to highlight natural wood look.

Here are popular piano high gloss finished collections:

  • Armstrong Grand Illusions – selection 12 stunning decors
  • Bruce Park Avenue – available in 6 chic colors
  • Diamond Living Collection- featuring great decors and commercial AC4 durability

Trend #4: Earthy Toned Floors

In this crazy fast-paced world we are living in, sometimes we forget about nature. It is evident that home owners around the world have noticed because floors in earthy, natural tones have become popular everywhere. Soft, natural looking colors are a perfect fit for any space, and will provide a calm and serene look.

Some earthy toned laminates worth looking into are:

  • Mannington Restoration Collection – I love all the seven colors from this collection!
  • Quick-Step Modello in Smoky Rustic Oak
  • Kronopol in Applewood
  • Alloc Original in Antique Oak
  • Inhaus Urban Loft in California Rosewood

Trend #5: Coastal / White Washed Tones

Don’t we all want to go on vacation? Now? Consumers world wide have been recently bringing that ‘vacation-feel’ into their home with coastal white washed floors. This new trend creates a rustic ‘beachy’ feel, and makes any space feel like a paradise. The white washed finish allows some wood grain and texture to show through, but remains mostly white to give a room a very fresh and clean feel.

Some of my favorite coastal inspired decors:

  • Kronoswiss Noblesse in Oristano Oak- the whites floor is ever seen!
  • Kronopol in Oak NarvikPergo Accolade in Bleached Pine
  • Armstrong White Wash Walnut- warm and exotic
  • Inhaus Urban Loft in Whitewashed Oak- simply one-of-the-kind!

Now that you’re familiar with all the hot new 2012 flooring trends, picking the right floor might be easier. There is a floor for everyone! Now let your imagination run wild throughout the house-you will be

If you aren’t sure what you want, or if you would like to see something to compare to, then feel free to come by our office and see what we have to offer in laminate, or hardwood. We have all the best brands, styles, colors and more to fit any home and any budget! Call or stop by today!
3810 Clemmons rd, Clemmons, NC 27012
1-800-913-3873

14
May 12

Save Money With Simple Home Remodeling Tips – Part One

When the weather starts to warm up many people start thinking about home remodeling projects for the outside of their homes. Although it is always good to be thinking of ways to improve your home there are wonderful money saving tips or investment strategies you can use to keep the cost down or increase value on your next improvement project.

Before you start any project you should always plan out your goals. If you are considering the possibility of re-selling in the next five years or so then you should think about improvements that will bring the most value. There are a few key areas that we will discuss in this article that focus on rooms that give the most bang for the buck.

The Kitchen

The first room that you can save money on is in the kitchen area. There are many wonderful, and simple ideas you can incorporate to save yourself some big dollars. If you enjoy shopping at garage sales you can often find cute little items that go nicely on the walls to add charm. You may also find a sink or faucet that someone purchased and never used. Often times, if you find items that someone purchased and for whatever reason decided not to install you may be able to purchase it for pennies on the dollar.

The Bathroom

The second room that will give you the best return on your money, and thus save you over all is by working on improving your bathrooms. Again, you can find many wonderful items for your master bath or guest bathroom by planning ahead. One of the most attractive improvements today is the freestanding sink. This will add elegance and flow to the room. It gives the room a feel that there is actually more space than perhaps there really is.

Save By Shopping Online

You can save time and money by shopping on Craigslist for used or in some cases new items. Many people will advertise their used items after they have done a recent remodel. You could even post a listing specifying what types of items you are looking for. It is best to be specific or you may get lots of useless calls. Although you may find that most of the items listed are used they can still save you a lot of money in the long run and will usually be in pretty good working order.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Save-Money-With-Simple-Home-Remodeling-Tips—Part-One&id=7034227

By using these simple tips on your next home remodeling project, you can save time and money, which are two things most of us need more of! And when you’re contemplating what to do next, always keep us in mind. We can help you with all your home improvement and home remodeling needs!

3810 Clemmons rd, Clemmons, NC 27012

1-800-913-3873

http://www.crawfordhomeimprovements.net/


3
Apr 12

Signs That A Home Needs A Remodel

Remodeling a room in a house has many long-lasting benefits. It can increase the functionality of the room, raise the resale value of the house and provide an updated look. Professional custom remodeling contractors are available to help every homeowner walk through the steps of a remodel.

Kitchen
One of the most popular rooms to be remodeled in a house is the kitchen. Kitchens can become out of date and can lose their functionality as the family grows. A small kitchen may suit the needs of a new family, but as the number of kids increase and the children grow up, the kitchen can become too small. Kitchen remodeling contractors can help a homeowner find solutions to the overcrowding. Taking out a wall or moving cabinets are some of the solutions that can be utilized to increase space and function.

Bathroom
The bathroom is another popular room to get a makeover. New and better bathroom fixtures are coming on the market all of the time. The features of these new items can make a big difference in the bath experience. Additionally, a bathroom that was built as part of a spec home or first time home may not have all of the amenities that are desired by homeowner. Adding a new bathtub or tile to the bathroom is a good way to remodel the bathroom that will make it feel like a spa inside of the house. Professional contractors are familiar with the applicable codes and construction methods to ensure that the bathroom remodel is done correctly and quickly.

Living Room
The room used the most in the house is typically the living room or den. The family gathers in that room to enjoy each other’s company. The amount of use the living room receives can quickly wear out everything in the room such as the furniture or television. Also, as children grow they will start having more friends over to use the living room. The additional number of people in the room can make it feel crowded. When a homeowner finds themselves avoiding a particular part of the house due because it is unattractive and worn or if the room is becoming over-crowded with nowhere to sit, it may be time to remodel the living room.

Eventually, the homeowner will want to make changes to modernize and renovate the house. The best way to get professional results in the least amount of time is to hire a contractor to handle the home remodeling project.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Signs-That-a-Home-Needs-a-Remodel&id=6977249

Does any of these signs sound familiar? Do you think that your home could use a remodel? Even if it’s just one room of your home, it can make a huge difference in how you feel about your home as a whole and can improve your home’s resale value as well! When you think you are ready to make a much needed change, just give us a call, we can take care of everything!

3810 Clemmons rd Clemmons, NC 27012

1-800-913-3873

http://www.crawfordhomeimprovements.net/


5
Mar 12

Choosing Between Laminate & Hardwood Floors

Lots of people love the look of a wood floor. It has warmth about it that you just can’t get in any other way. But if you are considering this type of flooring you have to think about whether you want the real thing or something that looks like the real thing.

We’re talking about the difference between a real hardwood floor and one that has had wood effect laminate flooring installed. Each has its pros and cons and you need to think carefully about them before you consider which solution you are going to choose for your home.

Laminate flooring

There are broadly two kinds of laminate flooring you can buy today. The first type is cheap and looks like laminate flooring. It may have a wood effect design on each plank, but you can tell even with just a casual glance that you’re looking at laminate and not real wood. The second type is a more expensive laminate that is harder to tell apart from real wood. If you are going to opt for laminate flooring it is wise to get the most expensive and best quality one you can.

However it is popular in many homes and this has made it a popular purchase for many. It also has other advantages. You can drop things and spill things on it and it will stand up fairly well to shrugging them off. You shouldn’t soak it or delay in wiping up any spills though otherwise they could blow the boards, i.e. make the planks rise up at the edges.

Hardwood flooring

This is the real deal. If you want the look and feel of real wood you have to go for hardwood flooring. It looks sensational and while it requires a little more care than laminate flooring you can still get the most out of it if you take care of it on a regular basis. Normally this means sweeping it and buffing it every now and then. You may have to apply a protective coating every once in a while, but this is worth doing for the end result you’ll get.

Of course the main reason why many people opt for laminate over hardwood is the cost. If you want real wood you can expect to pay for it. However it exudes character and age in a way that laminate never will.

Which type will you go for?

Clearly you have to think about your budget before you do anything else. If you cannot afford hardwood you might decide to opt for a more expensive laminate flooring to get a better look. Conversely if you are doing up a property in order to sell it, laminate flooring would be the best one to choose.

Whatever you decide to go for you can see that each type of flooring has its pros and cons. Which one will do the trick for you, and give you the home you really want?

With hundreds of flooring options to choose from and all the improvements in designs, construction and installation systems, it can be overwhelming trying to select the right flooring for home decorating projects. Get a fresh start in 2012!

http://ezinearticles.com/?Choosing-Between-Laminate-and-Hardwood-Floors&id=6918862

So, now that you know more about each option you have, which would you prefer? Hardwood or laminate, we carry all the best styles, colors and brands at the best prices around! Call or come by today to find the perfect match for your home!

3810 Clemmons rd Clemmons, NC 27012

1-800-913-3873

http://www.crawfordhomeimprovements.net/