blogger.com Stylish Spaces Blog: 2016

Monday 29 February 2016

The Power of Porcelain

The decision to remodel your home can be an exciting one. There are many options to weigh out before the project begins, and the more research you do, the easier it will be to find a style that you love. One aspect of the project that you are going to want to think about is the materials that will be used. In order to be truly satisfied with the finished project, you want to choose materials that will look amazing and not cost you a small fortune. Porcelain, for example, is a material that has been used in homes for decades, though mainly limited to the fixtures found in bathrooms and kitchens. Nowadays, porcelain can be used in a number of new and exciting ways in almost any room of your home. It can be beneficial to consider the many advantages that a material like porcelain can bring to your remodeling project.

One of the biggest advantages that porcelain has over other materials is how durable it is. You can use porcelain tile for the flooring in any room of your house, no matter how much traffic the room sees, and it will not experience the same level of wear and tear that other materials do. This means you will be able to get more years from your flooring, and not have to worry about replacing tile after just a few short years of use. On top of durability, porcelain tile can be customized in a number of exciting ways.

Porcelain is able to be manipulated and designed to mimic a wide range of flooring finishes. You can get all of the beauty of a hardwood floor without any of the cost when you opt for porcelain for your flooring solutions. Not only can this help you to save a little bit of money, but it actually expands how many choices you have when going through a remodeling project. A great way to see just how many styles can be captured by porcelain is by doing a quick image search on the internet. You’ll discover the limitless possibilities that await you when you decide to use this material in your home.

While it can be nice to know that porcelain is built to last and will come in many different styles, it is only the tip of the iceberg. Porcelain is also a material that does not require much maintenance. Stains are easily repelled by porcelain, so there is no need to worry that a spilt drink will soak up into the floors of your home. Cleaning the floor is a simple task made even easier by the power of porcelain.

When you are working with a team of experts on a home remodeling project, it helps to know what you want from the job. Explore your options with materials and see how porcelain can make a huge difference in how your remodel turns out. For more information on ceramic tile installation in Waco, visit this website.

Consider All Your Options

Redoing the interior of your home comes with a great deal of decisions. It can be beneficial to take time to think about the materials you want used for your remodel. There are many exciting design options available out there. 


The Hottest Flooring Trends of 2016

When you want to remodel your home, but are unclear of the exact style you want to achieve, it can complicate the whole process. To remedy this, it is a good idea to explore some of the current flooring trends that are popping up around the country. Here are some of the hottest flooring trends of 2016.

Porcelain

What could be better than a material that is durable, affordable and available in a wide range of styles? Porcelain is all this and more. You can expect many years from this option, as well as a huge selection of finishes that can mimic everything from marble to hardwood.

Reclaimed Wood

Repurposing materials for the home has become a popular option in recent years. Reclaimed wood has a unique charm to it, and can make a great addition to almost any room in your home.

Cork

Though it might not have immediately come to mind, cork is actually a fantastic material to play around with for remodeling projects. Cork comes in many different colors and recent advancements with the material means that it is built to last.

When you take the time to think about the materials used in your home remodeling project, you will have no trouble finding a style you love. Click here to learn more about finding the bamboo floor installation in Waco.


Interior Designers: Incorporating Micromosaic Tiles

As an interior designer, there’s no better feeling than the excitement that comes with designing a new space. Clients trust you to create a space that’s unique to them that follows both form and function… read more

Save Money With Sound Panels

Installing custom sound panels is often a beneficial way to block out excess noise in your workspace. They may help your business save money as well. Fabric wall panels are an investment that can lead to a safer, more productive work environment.

Prevent Accidents

If you have workers in a loud environment, you may want to consider installing fabric wall panels. Noise often makes effective communication difficult, which may lead to accidents that might have been prevented. Excess noise also has the potential to damage hearing. Both of these may be prevented by installing wall panels that absorb excess noise, allowing easier communication.

Increase Productivity

When your employees work in an environment with many distractions, they are less productive. Noise is one thing that can cause your staff to become distracted. By installing sound panels, you will remove many disturbances so that they may focus on their work, allowing your company to be more profitable in the long term.  

Reduce Complaints

Additionally, sound panels may keep you on good terms with your neighbors. They often keep noise from bleeding out, so that the companies working around you have no reason to complain of too much noise.

If you would like to find ways to help your business save money, consider installing fabric wall panels to control sound. For more information about custom sound control panels in La Mesa, visit this website.


Holly Dennis, ASID, Appointed to the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design

For interior designers based in or doing business in Florida, Dennis’ appointment means that a measured and informed perspective will be brought to the board for addressing the issues affecting our profession… read more

Fix Sound Issues With Custom Sound Panels

Often in business, you find yourself meeting with large groups of people, and sometimes have to yell to be heard. Your business matters shouldn’t be hampered by sound issues, though. Custom sound control panels are one way that your business can control the excess sound in a room without limiting your business affairs. Here are three benefits of installing them in your office building.

Quieter Rooms

If your business regularly hosts many people, you may like the quiet that sound panels offer. Hard surfaces and high ceilings sometimes cause your guests’ conversation to echo around a room, making it sound like you’re hosting more people then you really are. However, sound panels absorb some of this sound, bringing down the overall volume in a room.

Increased Privacy

When you hold meetings in rooms with echoes, conversations often increase in volume. To keep conversations private, consider installing sound panels on the walls. This gets rid of the echo but also keeps sound from traveling out of the room, making sure that private conversations remain private.

Aesthetic Variety

Custom sound panels are available in many different types. Your company may choose from wall, ceiling and even floor panels to absorb sound. Panels may be matched to a room’s existing décor, and come in finishes such as fabric or timber for a sleek look.

To fix your office building’s sound problems, consider installing sound control panels. For more information about custom sound control panels in La Mesa, visit this website.


What to Expect When Getting New Countertops in Your Home

New countertops can change the entire atmosphere and experience of a kitchen. By knowing what to expect from a countertop installation, you can help ensure the process goes smoothly, allowing you to use your new counters as soon as possible.

Taking Out the Old Countertop

If you're replacing an existing countertop, the old countersmay need to be removed and the underlying cabinetry restored prior to the installation.

Safety Issues

Stone and concrete countertop slabs can be very heavy, so to prevent accidents, small children and pets should be kept from the site of the installation. The dust spread into the air during demolition and installation can also be an irritant, so people with allergies or lung conditions should stay out of the way.

Leveling the Counter

To make an even surface, the cabinetry beneath the countertop must be secured in place and level. Older cabinets may need extra work to be leveled. Minor variations in the flat plane can be corrected with small wooden shims placed under the countertop.

Setting the Seams

Once the underlying surface is leveled and the new countertop placed on top, epoxy is used to cement the pieces at their seams. Razor blades and acetone are used to clean up any excess sealant.

Though it's a complicated process, experienced workers can generally install standard countertops in a single day. See this page for more about countertop installation in La Mesa.


Accordion Doors

Modern homes and business spaces are using accordion doors now more than ever. You can use them to section off larger spaces or to close off utility rooms, closets and more. They are space-saving and affordable options for your home.


Sunday 28 February 2016

Increase Your Office Space with an Accordion Door

With rising realty prices, office space is at a premium. Pleated accordion doors that fold out when needed are an affordable way to maximize the use of your floor space.

Sized to Fit Any Room

Rather than swinging on hinges in the manner of conventional doors, accordion doors are made of vertically folded pleats that move on rollers in tracks, and collapse together like the bellows of an accordion. This efficient design allows them to be fitted to openings of any width, dividing spaces on a temporary basis without requiring new walls.

Modular Office Space

By partitioning areas with accordion doors, it's easy to create different sizes of spaces for different purposes. For example, a single conference room can be split into separate offices, while still allowing the full space to be utilized for meetings or presentations when needed.

Sound and Temperature Protection

Acoustic accordion doors can block noise between areas, serving as a low-cost method of sound control and increasing the usefulness of rooms for multimedia displays or discussion sessions. Insulated doors can also make perimeter seals, reducing heat loss between spaces and improving energy costs.

If you're squeezed for space in your office, accordion doors may be the solution.Follow this link for more information about accordion door installation in San Diego.


4 Office Design Trends for 2016

With a new year comes new ideas for design and planning inbusiness settings. Bring your office into 2016 with these innovative design concepts.

Multipurpose Places

Modular workspaces that can be rearranged to accommodate different workers and different types of work are on the rise. General lounge spaces that can also be used for media presentations, adjustable-height tables for standing meetings, and convertible workstations and cabinetry all encourage team collaborations.

Natural Themes

Wood paneling, floral-patterned fabrics and botanical life in the form of green living walls are increasingly in style in contemporary offices. Bringing the outdoors inside is part of a larger trend to make places of work feel more cozy and homelike.

Technological Integration

With the multitude of power and data cords required by modern technology, office furniture is improving to meet the demand. Cabinets with integrated ports and better places to organize and conceal wires make for cleaner-looking workspaces.

Color Organization

More than just sticky notes and file tabs, modern offices are introducing pops of color around the workspace. Psychological studies indicate that the right colors can boost peoples' moods, improving creativity and productivity.

Keep your business up-to-date with these latest trends to encourage efficiency and a positive atmosphere in the workplace. See this link for more design ideas for office cabinets in El Cajon.


Friday 19 February 2016

Ways Tuscan Shutters Can Save You Money



Everyone is looking for a way to save money each month while reducing their footprint. One way to keep more of your money in your pocket is by lowering your home’s heating and cooling costs. Tuscan shutters are an easy way to make your home more energy efficient while making your home look great. You can even match them to your existing décor with different paint and stain options as well as hinge finishes.

Tuscan shutters can help you save money by blocking the hot sun throughout the day. In the summer this will help your interior stay cooler without cranking up the air conditioning. They give the rooms in your house extra insulation from the outside air, even if you have older windows. This is helpful, especially in the winter when cold air can seep through window seals. During all seasons Tuscan shutters can help guard your home against the outside elements and keep your house comfortable no matter the temperature.

When you open your Tuscan shutters and let more ambient light into your home, you can also reduce your energy bills. When you let natural light in through your windows you won’t have to turn on additional lights during the day. You can read or relax with ease while using less electricity.

Tuscan shutters can also save you money by protecting your possessions from the sun’s harmful UV rays. This will help prevent rugs and carpets from fading, can protect your paint jobs from discoloration and keep other works of art or decorative items from getting damaged by the sun. By not needing new paint or flooring as often you can keep more of your money each year that you own your home.

Buying higher quality, custom shutters will also save you money in the long run. When you choose Tuscan shutters, you’re selecting a product that is durable and reliable. Lower quality shutters may break or need replaced more often. If you purchase the right shutter for your needs and style to begin with, you won’t have to update them every couple of years.

When you are looking to update your home’s window treatments, consider adding or replacing your shutters. The right shutter company will be able to tell you all the benefits of Tuscan shutters including more ways they can save you money and lower your monthly energy bills. Be sure to ask them any questions you have on longevity and the quality of materials. Visit this website for more information on Tuscan shutters in Holly Springs.

Choosing Flooring Products for Education Settings

In an education environment, it comes down to designing spaces that fit the exact use of the space. A kindergarten classroom isn’t going to feature the same design trends as a college dorm room, nor will a principal’s office reflect the same ideas as a high school auditorium... read more

Why Cellular Shades Help Keep You Warm in the Winter

You may be familiar with cellular (or honeycomb) shades, and know that they are thought to be superior at keeping out light. Did you also know that they are designed specifically to be energy efficient both in the summer heat and in the winter chill? Cellular shades diffuse UV rays and bathe the room in soft, ambient light, instead of allowing harsh summer sun directly in. This may disappoint your sunbeam-seeking feline friend, but it also means your house isn’t heating up to send your air conditioning into overtime. So how does the same technology also retain heat to keep you warm in the winter?

Varieties of Shades

Honeycomb shades typically come in three varieties:
-          Single-cell
-          Double-cell
-          Triple-cell

How the Cells Work

Each row of cells provides a separate layer of insulation.As each cell traps air, the blinds becomes super efficient at insulating against the difference in heat between the indoors and outdoors. The more cells you have, the lower your utility bills will be each month. Since ach pleat in the blind is the side of a cell, larger pleatsmean a more efficient product.

Experienced professionals are ready to further discuss with you how cellular shades can help keep you warm in the winter. Click here to learn more about Cellular shades in Wilmington.


Rest Easy with New Fabric Blinds

Sometimes it’s nice to close the blinds and sleep in. The warmth and color of fabric blinds make for a stress-free environment for those mornings you need to keep the sun out of your eyes for a few more hours. 


Ways Woven Wood Shades Give You a Tropical Look

The type of shades you have hung over your windows can really impact the type of vibe your home gives out. Certain shades may work better in different environments, but any homeowner who is interested in creating a tropical aesthetic should definitely look into getting woven wood shades.

The Materials

As the name suggests, woven wood shades are made out of various woods, grasses and reeds. This offers an earthier vibe and blends in well with any kind of foliage you may have around your property. They work extremely well if you have palm trees or other tropical plants adorning your yard.

The Perfect Amount of Light

Due to how woven wood shades are operated and are able to be closed or opened, you can allow as much sunlight as you want into a room. Sitting in your living room reading a book can feel like its own little tropical paradise while the light is hitting you through beautiful wooden shades.

There are a variety of shades to choose from, so if you browse through a few, you are bound to find one you fall in love with. Whether you live in the tropics or not, many people can benefit from the addition of these high-quality shades.Visit this website if you would like to get woven wood shades in Southport.



Thursday 18 February 2016

Things You Should Pair in Your Room With Your New Roman Shades

The addition of new Roman shades can make any room in a home truly stand out. You may just be interested in installing new shades, or you might want to redecorate the entire room. There are a few considerations to bear in mind when you are getting new items for your newly affixed room.

Matching Furniture

If you already have a bunch of furniture you like, then it would be a good idea to get Roman shades that already match your décor. However, if a room is bare and you have installed Roman shades first, then you may want to think about getting furniture that matches the aesthetic you have.

For instance, if you install Roman shades that come in a single color or come in fairly basic patterns, then you would want furniture that also has fairly simple designs. However, Roman shades can also feature intricate patterns and designs. These shades will be a bit busier, so you should think about getting décor that blends in seamlessly.

Hire Professionals to Install Your New Roman Shades

Roman shades are a beautiful, unique addition, and in order to get the most out of them, you need to ensure they are installed correctly. Anyone looking to get Roman shades in Cary should check out this website first.


Retailer David Koehler Discusses His Flooring Business

After more than 15 years of managing Koehler Flooring in Green Bay, Wis., David Koehler describes his greatest managerial challenge with strong conviction… read more

Fabric Trends for the New Year

Are you looking for a more polished solution to your sliding glass door cover than clanky plastic blinds that always seem to get stuck or break? Unfortunately, the dull cream-colored window coverings that we all recognize from dorm rooms and cookie cutter apartment buildings do not add anything to your home.

A Playful Alternative to Plastic

Fabric blinds come in a multitude of styles and colors that can enhance any decorative tone. Ranging from neutral accents to bold statement pieces in myriad designs, fabric blinds are available in all the current trends. Larger spaces, such as sliding glass doors, are a perfect opportunity to display more sleek and subtle tastes that bring a room together. Monotones also provide consistent UV protection for expansive surface areas.

A Bolder Choice for Windows

To play around with more modern trends and fashions, look to windows, with a smaller total area that can better integrate eye-catching patterns and motifs. Kitchen and living rooms windows are a perfect place to show off your eye for interior design, and experiment with a new palette.

It’s easy to find a professional who can show you the countless options available to you. Take advantage of a free in-home consultation and learn more about this year’s new design trends. Click on this link to find out more about fabric blinds in Raleigh


Why You Should Purchase Exterior Shutters

Exterior shutters conjure up images of classic, elegant homes – Victorian mansions and stately Southern plantation houses come to mind. These window fixings have been used for generations to keep out weather, light and unwanted wandering eyes, and to this day serve a sought-after decorative purpose. For a splash of color or simply anaesthetic enhancement, external shutterscan add sleek lines and a sense of completion to an otherwise empty façade.

Reclaiming Space From Mother Nature

In addition to providing cosmetic appeal to the side of your house, exterior shutters can also be used for other outdoor living spaces. Do you have a large porch or balcony, but are deterred from using it in the summer heat? Fixed outdoor shutters can be installed surrounding a porch to provide shade from the sun and shelter from high winds, providing a place for you to relax and enjoy the view.

Ventilation and Privacy

For beach houses, they provide the perfect enclosure for outdoor showers, when you want the seclusion to wash off the salt and sand, and the airflow to keep cool.

Much more goes into installing the proper shutters than you might imagine. Consult with professionals who are knowledgeable in the types of shutters that go with specific windows, and who know what it takes for them to last in your climate. Visit this website for information on exterior fixed shutters in Southport.