Is it wood? Or is it something else?

Is it wood? Or is it something else? Wood flooring has been around for a very long time. But unfortunately, wood flooring was not always possible. Wood does not do well on concrete. It can also be very pricey. But today, there are so many wood-like products. You can have the look of wood, without the problem wood flooring can create.

Owen Carpet Company

Vinyl Flooring - Great for mud rooms, or any room that has a high traffic area. Easy to install. They have strips of adhesive that attaches to one another.

Procida Tiles

Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles - These tiles look so real, it's hard to tell the difference. They even have hand-scrap wood tiles. Great for kitchens and bathrooms.

Lumber Liquidators

Engineered Wood Floors - They are resistant to higher moisture levels. They can be glued down, and can be applied over concrete slabs.  There is a layer of real wood on the surface. Once installed, it's nearly impossible to differentiate between engineered and the "real thing". That's what makes them so popular. They are also less expensive then real wood flooring.

Home Depot

Laminate Floors - Relatively easy to install. They can be use over concrete slabs. Less expensive then wood, but they are made of recycled wood fiber, so if they get wet, they will expand. Laminate floors have come a long way since their introduction. The quality is much better. Nowadays they have a much more realistic "wood" look to them.

Armstrong 

Wood Flooring - Wood, nothing beats the real thing. Otherwise, why would they try so hard to replicate it? What is it they say, imitation is the best form of flattery. Wood must be very flattered indeed!!

With all the different types of "wood" flooring there is, it's easy to find the look of "wood" flooring, in the selection you like, and at the the price that you want to pay!!

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Wall paper is it making a comeback?

Is wallpaper making a comeback? Wall paper was very popular in the early 1900's but since then it has hit hard times. Just recently in the past, wallpaper was synonymous with chintz-loving grandma or high-end designers. But with the internet, homeowners are re-discovering wallpaper once again.Wallpaper can dress up a room or hide imperfections on walls. As a decorator, I love using wallpaper. And as a home stager, I have at times, recommend using paint-able wallpaper to hide the flaws on the walls. So what should you know before you go out and buy wallpaper?

• What are the cost? Retails brand can run from $25 to $250 a roll. Designers can cost up to $500 a roll.

• Should you hire a professional or do-it-yourself?  If your walls aren't plumb or the paper is high-end, you may want to consider hiring a professional. Professional charge anywhere from $30-60 a roll. Not counting the cost of the roll or the removal of old wallpaper.

Once the decision to wallpaper your room is made, the next decision is, what type of wallpaper should you use? Plain paper? Vinyl? Metallic? Non-woven? Embossed? Or Grasscloth?

Whats Ur Home Story

• Paper- Can be coated or non-coated. Non-coated makes stripping more difficult to remove.Usually coated with thin vinyl or acrylic film for better stain removal.

Chic Tip

• Vinyl- Durable sheets of rubbery plastic, laminated to paper or nonwoven backing. Stands up to scrubbing, scrapes and splashes.

Wall Murals Gallery

• Metallic-Metallized films and foils are laminated to either paper or nonwoven backing. Metallic can add sheen and piazza to any space but they tend to highlight flaws so be careful!

DIY Network

• Embossed-Raised patterns pressed into vinyl or paper. Great at hiding flaws in the walls. Some may even be paint-able!

Decorator Best

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  Grasscloth-This is wallpaper made of strips of real grass woven into sheets. Backed by either paper, fabric or nonwoven materials. It gives a natural element into any room. Delicate, best used in low traffic areas.

Amazon

• Non-woven- Easy to hang and strip. Made of synthetic and paper fibers glued and pressed together.

Which wallpaer can be used where?

• Kitchen- Vinyls stand up to the grease and moisture. Great for easy clean-ups.
• Bathrooms- Nonwovens and vinyls. An ideal room to use bold prints, since the room tends to be smaller it won't overwhelm the room.
• Entry Hall- Embossed vinyls, hides bumps and scuffs. And nonwoven, which are easy to remove should the wallpaper became damaged.
• Dining Room- You can use just about any wallpaper here. Use the wallpaper above a chair rail.
• Bedroom- Grasscloth is perfect for the bedroom since it is a low-traffic area. Plus it gives it a serene effect.

Now that you are armed with all this information, go out and explore the world of wallpaper and see what you can do to a room!!  And if you're not sure how to proceed, you can always hire a decorator!!

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Home Decor Rules of Placement

Ever wanted to know the guidelines to where things should go as for as home decor in your house? How high should I hang my wall art? How many inches away from the table should my chandelier be? Well this checklist should help resolve your dilemma.   

• The perfect viewing height for wall art is 60"center, from the floor.
• The perfect amount of space between wall art  and top of mantle is 7".
• The ideal height to hang your flat screen TV is eye level when you're in the viewing position. The ideal viewing distance is 1 1/2 times the size of your flat screen TV.
• A bench at the foot of the bed should be no less the 2" shorter then the mattress width.
• Keep a minimum of 15" between coffee tables and sofa
• Don't use end tables lower then 30". The lamps will be much better and the proportion is better.
• There should be a minimum of 36" of space around your dining table to allow better flow and use.
• Light switches should be 36" above the floor and 1 1/2" - 2" off the side. This way they are out of the way of wall art and door casing.
• The optimal height for a coffee table is 18" to 20".
• Typical scone height for a bathroom is 66" above the finish floor to the center of the fixture.
• A 36" rectangular table is ideal width. It allows for conversation to the left , right, and most importantly across.
• Typically an Island should be no more the 8' long by 5' wide. Anything bigger will make it harder to clean and look to huge.
• Keep you sofa at 6'6" to 7' long. Any smaller and they look dwarf, any larger and they look like an airport lounge.
• Lighting. Multiply length x width, then multiply 1.5 = amount of wattage needed.
• Kitchen lighting. Multiply length x width, then multiply 2.5 = amount of wattage needed.
• Chandelier for rooms. Add length plus width to get the width of the chandelier, ex 16'x20' room use 36" chandelier. 
• Chandelier over table should be 30" - 34" from table top. And half the width of the table. A 48" table, use 24" width chandelier.

When it's all said and done, rules are sometimes meant to be broken! So if you think it looks and works better a certain way, then by all means go for it!!

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At Abella Home Staging & Redesign, we believe any home can be beautifully transformed. We believe in delivering a custom-made look, but without the custom-made price tag!! Call us and let's get started today!!