Infloormation

Can you picture stepping into this inviting spa to relax your muscles after a day of walking through Naples? Maybe it will be time for a massage, or just a nice seafood dinner alfresco off the bay later.

If this is a good dream for you, think about recreating this mood in your bathroom at home. Although you probably can’t spare the room for this large a soaking tub, and it’s difficult to get those stone pillars in the U.S., you can duplicate the mood.

To start, take a look at stone in your bath. Tumbled stone tile will give you the same old-world look. Consider tumbled travertine for a light neutral with a lot of personality. Travertine comes in a wide variety of sizes, allowing you to design just the look you want.

To capture the soft light that enwraps this room, think about glass block or sheer curtains. You want something that will allow the light to brighten the stone without any glare. Either choice would soften sunlight to a cool, inviting brightness.

The pure white and inviting luxury of the chaise lounge might not work in your bathroom, but a black or wood bench with a plain white cushion would create a similar effect. Place it in a good position to stop and take a break either before or after your bath.

You can’t really expect to have a spa filled with water reflecting this clear blue all day every day. How about bringing this gentle color in with towels and accessories? A vase or a small bowl of sea glass in various tones of blue will pull this soothing tone into your space.

Most of us will never live in Naples, or even visit there, but you can bring the cool invitation of Italy to your home with a stone bathroom that recreates this inviting environment.

Are you ready to upgrade to wood floors but aren’t sure where to start? One important decision is to determine whether solid or engineered wood floors are best for you.

In certain circumstances, engineered wood floors are really the only good option. If you have a concrete subfloor, solid wood is more likely to buckle or warp. Engineered wood is designed to hold up under the changes in temperature and humidity that occur with concrete.

Another important consideration is whether you want to add radiant heat when you move to wood. It’s an energy efficient option and particularly comfortable in cold weather. Once again, engineered floors are the right choice to handle the temperature shifts as radiant heat needs change from season to season.

Another issue to consider is installation. Solid wood floors require more installation time at the home because they are positioned and only then sanded and stained. Engineered wood is already stained and finished, so the only requirement is the actual installation on your floor. This makes engineered wood both faster and cleaner to install.

Choosing engineered floors today really doesn’t limit your options. You can select from a large number of types of wood, wood tones and finishes. As you can see from this photo, engineered wood is also available in wide plank styles.

When it’s time to step up to wood, take a good look at your options. You may find that engineered wood floors are the right choice for you and for your home.