This rustic room works for many reasons. The farmhouse table has a hand-turned bowl as a centerpiece. The shelves and the fireplace have a hand-crafted look. From the accessories to the layout of the space, the room recalls an era where people made most of what they had and hunted or grew what they ate.

If you want a more rustic look for your home, the best place to start is with wide-plank wood floors. More and more, the look of wide planks has an appeal today. If you have a long narrow room such as this one, choosing wide planks helps the space feel more balanced. It also has that handcrafted feel that works so well with a more rustic style. Whether you choose a classic such as pine or oak, or a more unusual but still traditional look such as hickory or ash, think about selecting a wide plank option.

Another feature that helps today’s wood floors look like yesterday’s is choosing hand-scraped wood. This provides a texture and personality to the floor. You have a rich selection of options once you choose wood, so don’t hesitate to think outside the crate.

Visit our showroom to see samples of our wood floors. Whether you choose a rustic look like this or a more contemporary style, your floor will look wonderful for years and with proper care should last for the life of your house.

The advantage to an open architecture living area is the way everyone can be connected. The cook in the kitchen can also hold a conversation with the children at the dining table or watch a movie running on the family room television.

The disadvantage comes after dinner, particularly when entertaining. The dirty dishes and remains of cooking efforts sit there for everyone to see. This kitchen shows one effective solution – the two-level countertop.

The higher level hides the worst of any mess while still keeping the room open and flexible. It also provides a place for accessories or functional items such as today’s mail without subtracting critical counter space.

Although this upper counter is relatively narrow, a wider space allows for adding bar-height chairs or stools and creating an additional seating or eating area. By adding this quick and easy place to grab breakfast or after-school snacks, this option contributes to the versatility of the kitchen.

Thanks to choices in granite as well as man-made solid-surface countertops, the two-level countertop can be attractive as well as functional. A countertop that fits well with your great room’s style and color choices will be a positive design addition to your space.

Do you have a fireplace that you would like to dress up or update for your home? Even more than style, be sure to consider safety when planning a fireplace surround.

Both stone and tile work well for a fireplace hearth. In this photo, notice how the tone of the tile picks up the neutrals in the sofa. The best part of using tile with your fireplace is the variety of choices in color, texture and style. This fireplace has a porcelain tile surround and hearth combined with a white wood threshold, surround and mantel. The tones complement the warm wood floor, and the tile hearth protects the floor from stray sparks.

The black screen and vents add richness to the look while providing further protection from fire. If you don’t care for brass, often those decorative bars are magnetic, making them extremely easy to remove.

Be sure to remember other basic fire safety tips. Keep your fire small and controlled rather than blazing. Use only the amount of paper you need to get the fire started. Choose fire-starter kindling or pine cones and never use outdoor accelerants such as lighter fluid to start a fireplace fire. Finally, make sure the fire is completely out before leaving the room.

With a well-planned hearth and attention to fire safety, you can have a lovely warm fire in your fireplace every night and never have to worry about protecting your floors.

We hope you had a wonderful Valentine’s Day on Monday!  Just in case the chocolate box got a little out of hand, we thought we would share a few helpful tips about getting chocolate out of carpet!

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.  Carpet & Rug Institute – 1-800-882-8846

When coming up with a new design scheme, coordinating prints and patterns can be difficult. There are some guidelines you can loosely follow in order to achieve a pleasing look. Fabrics and materials should have “Interest”, “Structure” and “Support”. Color coordinating will further enhance your scheme.

All fabrics can be placed into one or more of the following categories:

Large Print- A dominant Print, used to add interest.

Small Print- A supporting print to the dominant one.

Geometric Pattern- Used to provide structure or interest

Stripe- Can be dominant or supporting depending on size, used to add interest or structure.

Solid- A supporting fabric or material

Use colors in different combinations on the fabrics in order to coordinate the color scheme.  An example of this is the large print or pattern made up of all or most chosen colors of the scheme. The structure fabric has two complimentary colors (purple and yellow) and the supporting fabric has one of the colors of the scheme of a neutral color.

Design schemes will be successful if prints and patterns meet the requirements of interest, structure & support.  Also, use color to further coordinate the look. Have fun mixing and coordinating; the possibilities are endless!

Question: I want to redo some of our home’s flooring but I’m nervous about going to a showroom. It’s been so long since I’ve shopped for anything like this. What can I expect in terms of help from the showroom? Is there anything I can do before visiting the store to be more prepared?

Answer: You’re in luck. Our sales team can help you throughout the process. They are trained to help you make the right decisions for your home, your taste and your budget. Remember, we want to create a happy customer, not just make a sale. If it’s been a while since you’ve looked at flooring, take advantage of our website to get an idea of what’s available now. From carpet to tile and laminate, the choices are broader and more exciting. You can browse through our product catalog by category and take advantage of the tools we offer to help you define your needs and goals. Make a list of the rooms you want to redo along with any ideas discovered on our website, and then come visit us. You’ll have a fun time discovering all the fresh options you have to update your home.

One of the most important decisions you’ll face when decorating your little one’s nursery is what to type of flooring to install. With toxins and airborne pathogens emitted from some materials, you’ll want to take special care in your selection. Appropriate flooring options are available and can be easily located with a little research. However, there are many things to consider and harmful things to steer clear of in the nursery.

Wood and Laminate

• Toxic sealants—use a water-based sealant or natural wax.
• Chemical emitting stains—buy nontoxic pre-stained wood from the factory.
• Toxic emitting glues—install floating interlocking flooring instead of gluing down.
• Use of formaldehyde in manufacturing process—buy organic laminates.
• Slick high-gloss surface—choose a matte or low gloss finish to reduce chance of slips and falls.

Cork and Bamboo

• PVC or vinyl backing—opt for a natural jute backing available on tiles and sheets.
• Use of formaldehyde in manufacturing process—confirm none has been used.

Natural Linoleum

• Odor of linseed oil—can be uncomfortable for baby’s sensitive nose and respiratory system.
• Toxic emissions—choose from other flooring above if fear even low toxic emissions.

Vinyl

• Not recommended for nurseries due to high emissions of toxic chemicals.

Carpet and Area Rugs

• Synthetic materials—choose organically grown materials such as wool, cotton, jute or sisal.
• Toxic synthetic dyes—opt for all natural vegetable dyes.
• Adhesives—pick natural backings from rubber or jute.
• Treatments and stain protectors—choose alternative natural carpeting.
• Synthetic foams, synthetic rubber, latex and plastic—buy felt pads in untreated wool.
• Dust Mites—find products which do not harbor them.
• Glues—nail down carpeting or use water-based adhesives.

Being aware of these dangers gives you a good foundation for choosing the safest flooring for your baby’s health and well being.

Bigger is not always better, as in small spaces that can be turned into beautiful bedrooms. Even a tiny room can become a comfortable inviting place for sleeping and relaxing. This room is obviously less than optimal size, but it shows how such a space can be arranged and decorated to achieve a vintage look with just a touch of glamour.

First, a backdrop has been created to showcase the furnishings and accessories. The floors here are aged and distressed, but new wood flooring, carpet or even tile or treated concrete would work. The accent wall is painted in a reflective finish, visually enlarging the room. Though difficult to see in the photo, one wall seems to be hung with gauzy curtains and that element would add needed softness.

Furniture placement is key to a successful small room design. Here the bed is placed on a slight angle which gives depth. The wrought iron headboard is tall but does not take up visual space because of its open curvy design. The bedding is the focal point here. By building up layers of pure white underneath, the sumptuous gold color and texture of the pillows and comforter are given more importance in the design.

The simple elegant chest is perfectly positioned on the back wall and remains low key with simple accessories and lamp. A small table or nightstand beside the bed would be a welcome addition to the room. Perhaps a glittering chandelier would add a stunning finishing touch for this tiny gem of a space. Chateau Interiors can assist you in creative ways to utilize and design your small space.