This is a great room that’s truly done right. The use of different levels for the ceiling and floor, the variety of flooring and other materials, and the strategically-placed half-walls allow for the best of a great room approach while still allowing each functional area to have its own personality and style.

Let’s start with the living room. The 24-inch stone tiles of this floor provide the perfect background for the area rug that defines the conversation area. The rest of the floors vary with the transition of each area with wood steps providing the thresholds.

Notice that the kitchen is dark and set at the back of the space and requires three steps up to reach. This allows a host or hostess to serve dinner and by dimming the lights, keep the kitchen in the background for the rest of the evening.

The walls show a consistency of design. There are columns in a warm brown throughout the space that help project corners without full walls. The couple of half walls and pillars provide additional clarification of each functional area without blocking the view. The result is a space that truly feels open without showing as a barnlike space.

The décor is lovely, but it’s the architecture that makes this space brilliant from a design standpoint. Color, texture, contrast and style combine to create a whole that invites and draws people in. For entertaining or living, this space brings everything home. Come visit one of our convenient showrooms and see what we can do for you to create a fresh, new look in your home!

When you plan flooring, it’s always fun to think beyond standard choices. One addition that adds style and excitement to your home is a medallion. Unlike flooring of many years ago, medallions today are pre-cut and easy to install. With the options available, you have something that looks hand created for an affordable price.

This medallion takes advantage of the variations in marble to create a multi-toned compass pattern showcasing ivory, gold and browns. The rich tones warm up the large limestone stones that make up the rest of the floor.

This would work well in an entryway or to add personality to a great room. In front of a stairway or fireplace it can add something special to a focal point. The circular shape can also provide much-needed curves for a space with too much of a squared-off feeling.

Considering wood flooring? Medallions are also available in wood inlay ready to place in the right location in your home. By using a variety of types and tones of wood, these medallions are beautiful and as dramatic as the stone options.

If you want to be a bit more adventurous with your décor, take advantage of the luscious variety of medallions available. For more information and to see your choices, visit our showroom.

What makes this outdoor space feel so magical? Of course, the view helps, but there’s more to this look than that.

First, take a look at how the lighting defines the space. The light above the dining table provides more than illumination. Its design creates a montage of reflections on the ceiling of the patio cover.

The flooring also defines the space, both in terms of outlining the room and setting a style. By using a variety of stone types in a rectangular pattern, it feels as if the room has a well-designed rug underfoot. Stone choices and styling elevate the space beyond the normal and add style.

The furniture, while able to handle the outdoor environment, doesn’t look much different than indoor furnishings. The exceptional variety of fabrics and cushioning materials that can handle the weather have opened up the possibilities for outdoor rooms, as this space shows.

Most homes don’t have the space or style for this type of patio cover, but there are so many ideas that anyone can borrow to add personality and splash to any outdoor entertaining area.

1. Use lighting to make specific outdoor locations feel special. By combining general lighting with one fixture that emphasizes the table area, lighting both illuminates the key areas and adds charm to the entire space.
2. Don’t be afraid to mix flooring to support your design plans. The intriguing stone mosaic in the center helps the main entertaining area pop. This is a low-maintenance way to add color and personality to an outdoor living space.
3. Explore furniture choices that make the outdoors as comfortable and inviting as the inside of your home. Today’s products allow you to do that.

This fun perspective on a kitchen highlights its thoughtful design. Although the space is relatively small, the high ceiling and limited upper cabinets make it feel open and inviting.

The room supports the active cook with a generous amount of counter space and high-end appliances. The vinyl floor is a simple choice, but suits the room well. The colors and style match the feel of the space and make clean up easy.

The countertops are butcher-block maple, which is gaining popularity among active cooks. The light tones work effectively with the light cabinets and flooring. When a kitchen is smaller, choosing coordinated tones with minimal contrast expands the appearance of the space.

There are a few touches of color – the yellow tube-shaped lights coming down from the ceiling and the whimsical pink toaster by the sink. The high design of the room shows in the exciting range hood echoing the lights and the curved snack area on the right.

Altogether this kitchen is as inviting as it is functional. Cooking in this space would be a pleasure.

Don’t let rainy weather spoil all of your camping plans. You can have almost as much fun with an indoor camping night.

Start by clearing space in the family room or any other larger room in your home. Tents that don’t require posts to set up can work on any flooring without doing any damage. You may want to add one or even several area rugs underneath it to cushion the floor for sleeping.

Cushions in a circle can mimic a campfire for ghost stories. You may want to lay down a blanket or towels for munchies to protect the floor and carpets. Hot dogs, hamburgers, beans and other camping food help keep the mood in place. Then clean-up is as easy as folding the towels together and taking them to the washing machine.

Ghost stories, camp songs from your childhood and other games can make the evening fun. No lights – just safe LED candles and flashlights. While your children are young enough to enjoy it, these events can help bring your family together, spark imaginations and creativity, and help them learn to make their own fun. If it works out well, how about making it an annual event?

Remember, you’re providing your children with the opportunity to build new family traditions and create memories that could last for the rest of their lives.

This graceful room benefits from a thoughtful design that includes interesting hardwood flooring, rich window trim and moldings that carry the wood theme throughout.

The furniture’s tones suit the space, but lining all the pieces up along the wall this way shortchanges the room’s potential.

What would you do to make this room show off its lines and beauty? How about breaking up the solid row of furniture for a start? The attempt to make them look built-in isn’t working. Also, the television and other accessories lining the top distracts from the view through the window.

You could put the television and its cabinet in the far corner, angled between the two windows. That would be a good start toward breaking up the crowd. The tall shelving unit could move across the room. This will connect the space without emphasizing too much matching.

A large area rug in dark tones would add an anchoring element to this lighter room as well as a strong piece of interest. Light upholstered furniture could provide seating. The art in the room is too high – it should be set at eye-level for everyone to enjoy.

With just a little effort and a few more pieces, this room can reach its graceful potential. What else could you do to rescue this room and turn it into something to be proud of when family and friends visit?

This simple room draws attention thanks to the effective use of one-of-a-kind pieces from all over the world. If you would like your home to have an international flair, this room provides some insights into reaching that goal.

To begin, it’s important to think beyond traditional souvenirs. The light fixture, for example, really sets an international mood. The unique iron work combines with the interesting wire and glass bead decorations to create a light you would not expect to find in the U.S.

The carved chair and the bench with an iron base also add to the international feel of the space. With the round mirror and other artwork and a number of the accessories, the room has the flavor of other countries built into it.

By choosing a simple color palette and clean lines, the homeowner set the stage for this collection of unusual pieces. The rich wood floor suits almost any international element, and the simple furniture in neutral colors provides a clean background. There are a few interesting touches such as the black molding and the wood door casing that warm up the space.

This room has room for more additions. The domestic fabrics on the sofa throw pillows could easily be replaced by textiles discovered on future travels. The two simple vases toward the back could be place-holders for future purchases.

If travel is part of your life, let your home reflect your interests by investing in international elements that draw your attention, and introducing them into your home and your life.

We hope you and your family enjoyed a wonderful holiday weekend! More importantly, we hope you enjoyed some wonderful food, especially barbeque! Just in case any ended up on the carpet, we’d like to share a few tips with you on how to properly clean it.

Solvent – A non-flammable spot removal solution, or dry cleaning type solvent, is preferred. Exercise caution when using a solvent. Never pour it directly onto the carpet or allow it to reach the backing, because it can damage the latex that holds the primary and secondary backings together. Acceptable solvents include Carbona®, Energine®, K2R®, Goof-Off®, etc.

Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (fluorescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.

Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.

Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.

Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.

Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question. CRI – 1-800-882-8846.