Households with children see a lot of action!

If you have children take into consideration where they spend their time and the kinds of activities they like to do.

Look for quality products that are durable and easy to maintain.

Carpets

Select a carpet that:

• Has stain and soil resistance
• Tightly twisted yarns
• Density of a min. of 35 - 40 oz.

Consider these styles:

• Low profile/cut and uncut
• Frieze
• Textured
• Looped berbers
• Cut pile berbers

Hardwood

• Add warmth and beauty to any room
• Add an area rug for a soft place for kids to play
• Consider a hardwood floor that has:
  • A beveled edge to catch dirt and dust.
  • More naturally occurring grain such as Oak, Pecan, Cherry, Hickory etc. that will minimize the appearance of dirt and scratches.
  • A satin or semi-gloss finish to help reduce the appearance of scratches or dents.
  • Distressed or hand scraped hardwood floors will also help minimize the appearance of everyday wear and tear.

Ceramic Tile

Natural Stone

Natural stone floors are very elegant and classic.

Marble, Limestone, Granite and Slate create beautiful floors, countertops, and surrounds.

They are made in nature and no two pieces are ever the same.

Sheet Vinyl

Solid surface and engineered stone

Solid surface and engineered stone are popular. The key to their popularity is due mostly to their ease of maintenance and durability. Color and style offerings are constantly being revamped to meet the needs of consumers. There are many products that fall into this category. Here are just a few to look for:

• DuPont Corian
• Cambria - Quartz
• Silestone - Quartz
• DuPont Zodiaq - Quartz

Ceramic Tile

Other Options for the kitchen

Desk/Homework station

• Add a desk or computer station where kids can do homework or play on the computer.
• Make sure to have a solid surface or engineered stone countertop to make writing easier.

Kitchen snack center

• Designate a small area that doesn’t interrupt kitchen traffic that has a microwave, small under-counter refrigerator or a Sub-Zero refrigerator drawer for your kid’s snacks.

If your dog spends some time indoors, then select a hard surface flooring product such as ceramic tile, laminate or a top quality sheet vinyl

Hardwood floors are also an option, but be aware long nails will scratch your floor.

It is also a good idea to have a hard surface flooring area in front of exterior doors in case of wet or muddy paws.

Main level laundry rooms are great rooms for your dog’s water and food.

You may want to have special bins or storage space for food, toys, shampoo, brushes etc.

The laundry room, if large enough, can also serve as a grooming area equipped with a utility sink for bathing smaller dogs.

Also, consider the color of your dog’s hair. If your dog has light hair i.e. yellow lab, choose lighter colored carpet, fabrics and upholstery to minimize the hair’s appearance.

For carpet, select a product that has stain and soil protection in case of doggie accidents.

Select a carpet that does not have loops. Although looped or berber carpets wear well, they can snag easily if your cat has claws.

Be sure that the carpet you select has stain and soil protection.

Textured, Frieze, and Cut Pile berbers are some of the carpet styles that will help minimize footprints or in this case paw prints.

Consider the color and length of your cat's hair when selecting colors for your flooring, upholstery, and fabrics.

For example, a deep navy blue carpet in the living room would not be a wise choice for the household with a white longhaired cat.

Mudrooms, laundry rooms, basements or a spare bathroom are all good options for the kitty litter box.

Be sure that whatever room you choose has hard surface flooring for easy cleanups.

Flooring to consider, ceramic tile, sheet vinyl, or laminate.

Pets can be a wonderful addition to any home.

Having a designated space for you pet is important.

Remember, that hard surface products like ceramic tile, sheet vinyl, laminate are best for areas where your pet may enter the house, sleep or eat.

These surfaces allow for quick and easy cleanups!

Keep in mind any extended family members that live with you when doing a remodel or add-on. Consider what room this person occupies and what bathroom they use.

If this family member is older, are there certain products that would make their life a little easier and more comfortable?

Natural stone

Always makes a statement.

Mix marble, granite and limestone in a design in the foyer; use granite on kitchen countertops, fireplace surrounds.

Marble is always at home in a master bathroom on floors, counters and surrounds.

Carpet

The following carpet styles will compliment the casual environment:

• Frieze ("Free-zay")
• Cut pile berber
• Looped berber
• Textured
• Patterned or cut and uncut
• Natural products like sea grass, sisal and coir are good choices as area rugs or wall to wall. Although these particular products can be rough under bare feet, they have a unique and natural look.

More often than not, homes today boast a combination of formal and casual environments to meet the diverse lifestyles of the occupants.

To achieve this look consider:

• A different carpet that is formal in style such as a Saxony or velvet for the living room and dining room.
• A different carpet that is casual in style such as a berber or a hard working freeze for the family room or other active areas.
• Making a lasting first impression with your foyer by dressing it up with gorgeous natural stone or inviting hardwood. Extend your flooring down the hall or into the adjoining rooms to visually open up your floor plan.
• A mixture of products for the kitchen countertops. For instance, a granite slab, solid surface or engineered stone on the island with a complimentary tile on the main countertops. The backsplash is another area that can be dressed up or down with stone, ceramic tile and accent decos.
• Kitchen cabinetry can be formal in rich Cherry or casual in a shaker door style in maple or hickory. Distressed finishes also add casual character. Try a different cabinet style or color for the island to mix formal with casual.
• Create a formal master bath with a double sided fireplace, cabinetry such as Cherry or maple, jetted tub, double head shower and marble surrounds and/or flooring. Include special decos, listellos or other patterns on the shower walls, behind the tub and on the vanity backsplash.
• Kid’s bathrooms can be more casual with ceramic tile floors. Use a solid surface or engineered stone on the counters for easy maintenance. Color and pattern can be introduced through fun backsplash decos.

If you like to entertain frequently, consider hard surfaces for high traffic areas.

For example, select a large ceramic tile or natural stone for a foyer and extend the tile down the hall and into the kitchen and nook.

The tile will visually expand the spaces and stand up to heavy foot traffic.

Carpet

Select a different carpet for the living room and dining room that is more formal.

For example, to compliment the taupe frieze carpet in the family room, choose a low profile, cut and uncut (patterned) carpet in a complimentary color.

• Hardwood: Consider the rich and warm look of a hardwood floor for your office. Enhance the feel by adding a beautiful area rug.
• Carpet: Select a carpet that is different in style and color, but that complements the carpet that runs throughout the rest of your home. Choose a carpet that is low profile to withstand traffic and chair castors.
• Select natural stone or ceramic tile in larger sizes for your floor and add warmth with an area rug.
• Plastic mats can be added under chairs to protect floors.
• Inset an area of hardwood, tile, stone or laminate in your carpet for your desk and chair.
• Consider custom built-in cabinetry to increase storage for office or computer equipment, files, binders etc.
• Coffee/wet bar: – for the countertop select ceramic tile with a decorative deco on the backsplash, luxurious natural stone that will make a statement or solid surface or engineered stone products for their beauty and ease of maintenance. Add a sink and under-counter refrigerator.
• Natural light: take advantage of any natural light from windows but be sure to position your desk so that there will not be a glare on your computer screen. Have more than enough artificial and natural light sources to create a functional and inviting environment.
• Don’t forget the windows! Select window coverings that allow you to control the amount of light exposure and that will complement your office decor.

• Home gyms are a great addition to any household. Keeping in shape is important and that much easier when the equipment is just down the hall. For a home gym consider:
  • Low profile or commercial carpeting, hardwood or laminate floors.
  • Built in cabinetry to house a sound system or TV.
  • A small snack bar - ceramic tile, solid surface or engineered stone work well for snack bar countertops.
  • Under counter refrigerator with bottled water and juice

Take inventory of your existing furniture and determine which pieces will stay in the remodeled room or rooms.

Or, if you are adding on to your home, will you rearrange existing furniture? buy completely new pieces for the new rooms?

Or a combination of existing furniture and new pieces?

Then draw a scaled floor plan of each room on a piece of graph paper.

Draw in where your furniture will be placed.

Now decide if new furniture is needed, what those pieces are and where they most likely will go.

By going through this process you will have a better idea of how the rooms will be used, the lighting requirements for the rooms and color scheme options.

Using the right products

Cleaning with the appropriate products is the most important step in your home’s maintenance, regardless of who is doing the cleaning. Make sure that each person involved in the maintenance of your home, knows which products to use on all of your surfaces.

Make cleaning easier:

• In rooms such as the kitchen and bathrooms, organize plastic boxes filled with all of the supplies necessary to clean that particular room. This will help reduce the chance of cleaning with the wrong product. This will also make touch up cleaning easier because the products are stored right there in the room.
• By having duplicate brooms, vacuums, mops, and dusters for two-story homes or larger ranch homes
• By installing a central vacuum
• By carrying a large plastic trash bag from room to room to empty waste baskets
• By cleaning in stages. Pick the rooms that get a lot of use such as the family room, kitchen and a bathroom. Do a quick wipe down or dusting of the surfaces and vacuum or sweep the floor. The next time you have a couple of free minutes, clean another room.
• Make sure that all cleaning products are safely stored and are not accessible to small children.

Different products have different maintenance requirements and now is a good time to think about how often you or someone else will clean.

By determining how much time you want to devote to the maintenance of your remodeled spaces as well as your entire home, you will be able to select products that will compliment your lifestyle and needs.

The following products are typically easier to maintain:

Remember one word: NEUTRAL.

If you think that it is likely that you will sell your home in less than 5 years, select your interior finishes wisely.

Remember, when your house is on the market and potential buyers are touring your home, they must be able to visualize themselves and their belongings in your home.

A neutral environment provides that opportunity.

Now is your chance to decorate your home with the products and colors that you like.

Be creative!

The possibilities are endless and we can help you with new ideas that will personalize your home while meeting your lifestyle, design and budget needs.