Infloormation

When you begin dreaming about a new home, or upgrading your existing abode it’s so easy to visualize what the finished project will look like. You know exactly what color scheme you like, the light fixtures you want and the perfect area rug to finish up a room. What may seem perfect in your mind, however, may not be what is best for your lifestyle. Sure, it would be great to have a monochromatic white room or vibrant walls, but have you considered what your kids may do to a white carpet? Or, how much fun it’s going to be to repaint the entire house if you want to sell it quickly?

That’s why we offer the How I Live quiz on our website. The quiz consists of a few easily answered questions. With just a click of a button you will receive a ton of decorating advice based on your answers. The quiz covers all aspects of your life. Do you have kids, pets or elderly parents living with you? What are your color scheme preferences? Do you entertain? Will you be selling your home anytime soon? Are you buying new furniture or using what you already have? Do you want a formal or a casual atmosphere?

Advice even includes tips on getting your home ready for resale, products that are low maintenance, tips for entertaining and how to decorate with warm and cool colors. We think this quiz is a no brainer before you start a decorating project.

Simply click here to begin. Now you can plan for that perfect room which will also be perfect for your lifestyle.

For centuries western design has been influenced by the art and culture of China. As China continues to take a bigger role on the world stage, all eyes are turning east to the country sometimes called the “sleeping dragon”.  Both historical and contemporary China is influencing home décor here. Historical Chinese designs, materials and patterns can be found throughout home decorating and décor these days. Chinese manufactured goods are also everywhere throughout the home from building materials to decorative objects.

Everything from carpeting to mattresses is made in China.  Like fashion, it is difficult to find products that are made elsewhere in the world. Products labeled “Made in the USA” can still be found if you look for them. Quality furniture, flooring and home accessories are still being made in the US.

Chinese design inspiration ranges from designs and patterns to materials being used. Porcelain was first invented in China hundreds of years before Europeans were able to master the process. Blue and white patterned porcelain was imported from China to Europe, where it was incredibly popular. Blue and white place settings and serving pieces continue to be popular today.

Dragons, lotus flowers, abstract clouds and insect patterns can be found on items inspired by Chinese designs. Chrysanthemums and peonies are other floral patterns inspired by classic Chinese art and patterns. Bold reds and accents of gold or black are typical of Chinese color palettes. White is a funerary color in China so it is used sparingly in interiors and in fashion.

Creating a play and creative space for your kids in your home is important for both the kids and you. Having a space to play and be creative helps little minds grow and keeps your kids occupied. If you have a designated playroom, you are ahead of the game. If you have to carve out a play area in the family room or kids’ bedrooms, you face a little more of a challenge.

Having a play and creative zone that is not in the kids’ rooms can contain the clutter and chaos that comes with crafts and toys.  Depending on the size of your family room or living room, you may be able to set aside part of the room as the play zone.  The key to designing and creating a play zone is storage. Storage, storage and more storage will keep the toys and craft supplies from taking over your room.

If you have little crawlers and toddlers, you’ll want to have a soft surface underfoot for falls and tumbles. This can be colorful rubber mats, carpet squares, or even a few layers of area rugs.  Creating a safe place to play is important.  Poufs are great for the play area since they are easily portable and can be used as seating.

For crafting, a floor cover to protect your carpet or hardwood from glue and paint is a must. This can be a simple drop cloth, tarp or plastic sheet.  You’ll want something that is easy to fold up and wash after the crafts are over.

A quick way to enhance your kitchen décor is to pay attention to your window treatments. Yes, we all worry about our countertop design options but we rarely remember that window treatments in a room are like icing on the cake. They complete the “look” of a room. Think of it as accessorizing.

Minimal is in – heavy drapes are out. Instead of going for lots of fabric, think about just doing blinds or simple shades.

Allow the natural light in. Pleated shades offer privacy but still let in the light.

If you decide to go with a fabric, make sure the color you pick is trendy. Terra cotta shades are hot right now.

Add texture – don’t be afraid to use shades made of rattan or bamboo.

Curves! There are so many straight lines in a kitchen. Add a window treatment with soft curves to break up the monotony.

One of the best things about staying in a posh hotel is the bathroom. The beautiful plush towels, the fancy tolieteries and the design that many of us would like to accomplish in our own homes. Hotels may have high end designers but here are some tips to help you make your own bathroom feel as though you were staying at the Ritz.

Use different sizes of the same colored tile go create a sense of infinite space.

Keep the floor and wall tiles the same.

Play with trim colors.

Continue with the same tile floor over the shower curb and into the shower pan to visually expand the bathroom floor.

Consider using three different color tiles to create a tonal variation. By combining different tiles in similar colors, you further emphasize the size of the space while creating a sense of visual texture.

Think about installing ceramic tiles vertically in order to emphasize the geometry of the space and give the illusion of height.

Our store is full of designers to help you make your own bathroom as beautiful as your favorite hotel. Please visit us so we can help you find the perfect tiles for your project.

Each of us has a style of our own. Whether you love black, white and sparkle, cool tones and unfussiness or warm and rustic it is imperative to understand your personal style before you begin a decorating project at home. Here a few rooms to help you determine which style you are.

If you choose this room you like urban chic. You hate clutter, or at least you want your countertops to look bare and clean. View other urban chic rooms here to get more decorating ideas.

If you choose this room you love stately elegance. Your style is orderly, conservative and formal. View other stately elegant rooms here.

If you choose this room you love Rustic Reflections. Based in the arts and crafts movement, sophisticated Southwestern influences and mountain living, this style demonstrates true craftsmanship, simple design and the loving, organic combination of home, hearth and nature.  View other Rustic rooms here.

If you choose this room you love Seaside Simplicity. Seaside Simplicity is a light, easy-going lifestyle, think Tommy Bahama. View other Seaside Simplicity rooms here.

If you choose this room you love Italian Impressions. You crave objects aged and worn, rooms of heavy woods and wrought iron. View other Italian Impressions rooms here.

At Pierce Flooring we can help you design any room in your house in your own personal style. Our design center will help you get started.

You’ve finally anted up and it’s time to make that cement basement a cozy inviting place for the kids and the adults to play. You’re envisioning a big screen TV, a pool table and space for all those toys.  You know your color scheme and your budget but you have no idea what type of carpet you should install. Realistically, you know you need something durable and easy to clean as you know that the kids and adults will be snacking and drinking down there. We’ve got you covered.

The bottom line is this: choosing the ideal carpet style is all about knowing the right combination of aesthetics, performance and budget that meets the needs of your lifestyle – emphasis on you.

So check out the following and let us help you learn all about the carpet styles that will be right at home in your home.

You have several options. You can either choose to install a less expensive carpet with the idea that your will replace it every few years. What a pain. Or you can choose a carpet with the Stain master advantage. They last 50% longer and stay 30% cleaner than other carpets. Watch this video of durability and spill repellency.

You can look at carpet colors, pad options and calculate how much carpet you will need.  You can decide what style of carpet will look best in your basement. Do you want frieze, loop, cable or Saxony? You can even use our room visualizer that you can get an idea without spending a dime about what your room will look like when it is finished.

Visit our showroom or contact us for more information. We are happy to help you pick the best carpet option so that you can get your rec room project underway.

Laundry is part of life, and most homes have a simple laundry room with limited space. Have you taken a look to make the most of your laundry room options? This small room works well because it’s well thought out for functionality.

First it’s light and appealing in a simple way. The window adds so much appeal both because of the view and the abundance of natural light. As a room that you walk into and out of constantly, the window reduces your need to turn a light off and on all the time.

The floor is so smart. The small tile mirrors bathroom tile and is neutral enough to provide for almost any color approach in the room. Tile can also handle the potential water issues if your washing machine floods. The second smart decision is the drain in the floor. This will protect the rest of your home’s floors from any machine mishaps.

The simple decision to hang a rod over the machines provides a place for finished ironing or hanging dry any clothes that can’t take the dryer’s heat. A second circular hanging clothes rack over the ironing board handles smaller items. One option offered in this room comes from the window – opening it on nice days can add fresh air when drying clothes.

If you have the room, take advantage of your utility space to add both additional functionality and some design touches to make the room more than just for laundry. If the space is small, look for opportunities to create additional storage for clothes drying and folding. With a little effort, you can make this weekly task both easier and more enjoyable.

If you find your closet a source of frustration rather than pleasure, it’s time to make some changes. Just a few afternoons and a minimal outlay of cash can turn this closet into something worth hanging clothes in instead of a disaster.

This person tried to organize the closet, but shortly thereafter the attempt just added to the clutter. Having a closet that works is not about having enough storage solutions as much as it is about creating and sticking with a plan. Let’s see what can be done.

First, remove all the clothes and accessories from your closet. Drape them on your bed or chairs. If you find items that don’t belong in a bedroom closet such as holiday decorations, immediately find storage for them somewhere else if at all possible.

Sort your clothes into piles for giving and throwing away. If something is debatable, put it in another pile. What’s left is what will go back in that closet.

Now look at the empty closet itself. What can you do to add storage? Take a look at this woman’s closet. The space under her clothes is wasted. Shelves for shoes, drawers, open bins or other storage solutions could make that space useful.

Once your closet is ready to receive clothes again, don’t just hang things up and walk away. Instead, create a plan for organizing your wardrobe to suit your needs. Work clothes could occupy one area and exercise clothes may fit in one or two drawers. Out of season or formal wear may fit in another closet or in an area that is harder to reach.

When you’re done you will reap the benefits of your efforts for years to come. Just remember to stick to your plan and your closet can be a source of comfort and pleasure rather than frustration, just like it is for this man. Doesn’t he look content?

When you choose new flooring, furniture, paint, home accessories or any other design element for your home, the sheer number of choices can sometimes feel scary.

One trick that can help you find the right option for you is to wait and see which choice haunts you when you walk away.

You may have already made a choice subconsciously, but all the options in front of you make the decision confusing. By walking away and looking at something else, the right selection may just stay in your mind.

By stepping back and letting yourself recover from the confusion of choices you face, it’s much easier to select the one option that you want for your home.

Here are the steps to take to see if you find yourself haunted by the right choice.

• If you’ve narrowed down your search, review each option briefly before walking away.
• Spend some time looking at unrelated options. You may even want to go home and postpone the decision until tomorrow.
• As you think about and do other things, see if one choice seems to stay in your mind. This may mean that you visualize it, or that you find yourself worried that you choice may not be available when you get back.

The value to this approach is that you only have those things you love, that you can’t bear to leave behind, in your home. And as you look at your home and realize that you picked out just the right pumpkin, or home design element, you will not be haunted by the ghosts of bad decisions past.