America's Floor Source

A blog designed to show you why we’re “A STEP UP!” Visit our website to find out more information.

Furnishings Fulfill Room’s Potential

Hardwood flooring room

Hello everyone!  Check out today’s guest post from Shannon at Creating Your Space.

From the luscious wood flooring to the wood trim and large windows, this room is inviting and filled with potential. Let’s take a look at some decorating decisions that can bring it to success.

An area rug would be a good start – defining the conversation space and setting up clear traffic lines for the room and the space that surrounds it. The rug could be dark as a contrast to the light shades already in place, or in soft blues and greens to bring the outside colors inside.

The row of wood furniture feels cramped in its current arrangement. Distributing it around the room, using it to define the space along with the rug, would make better use of its potential. It would also be better not to block that pretty window and frame with the television and other pieces.

Although the room is light, an ivory sofa would allow the eye to move directly to the windows without distraction. A couple of comfy chairs and ottoman framing the rug would also fit with the complete look. Add a coffee table – maybe circular to counteract all the rectangles – and a few side tables and the room is done.

This room is open and airy by nature. With the right decorating choices the furnishings can carry on and enhance that feeling.

If you’re looking for an area rug to spice up a space in your home, America’s Floor Source can help you create a custom rug. Just come in and pick out the carpet you want to use for the piece, and we’ll take care of the rest. Give us a call at 877-237-2317 or send us a message through our contact us form.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

No Comments by  /  January 5, 2012  /  Posted in: Area Rugs, Decorating and Design Tips, Hardwood / Laminate
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Using Tile on Bathroom Walls

Bathroom Tile Ideas from America's Floor SourceHello friends! Check out today’s guest blog post from Shannon of Creating Your Space.

Tile is one of the best surfaces for a bathroom. Waterproof, durable and stylish, tile is the “go-to” for shower surrounds and bathroom floors.  We love it used on the wall too.  There was a time when bathroom designs featured tile on the wall like wainscoting, coming up only about four feet.  This seems a little outdated but tile on the wall is a practical and stylish option still today. Now we are seeing tile extended from floor to ceiling, creating a unified wall look.  Extending the tile all the way up the wall helps make a typically small bathroom feel bigger.

This bathroom is a gorgeous example of using tile on the walls to unify the space. Carrying the same tile as the shower stall throughout the room opens up the space.  The light colored, natural stone tiles have a great color variation so the walls don’t feel completely uniform.

The same tiles that are used on the walls could also be used on the floor.  However, this isn’t a hard and fast rule. Using a different tile or a different flooring option works too.  The dark floor in this bathroom is a nice break from the lighter colors.  It also helps to ground the space.  Dark tile, marble, stone would all work with the natural stone tiles in this bathroom.

Classic choices for tile for the bathroom wall include white subway tiles or white marble.  Both of these materials feel timeless.  Classic tile patterns include running bond and straight bond. Vertically arranging tiles can make the ceiling feel higher.

Visit the America’s Floor Source website to learn more about the various styles of ceramic and porcelain tile or to check out our  tile catalog. If you’d like to purchase new tile for your bathroom, send us a message via our contact us form or give us a call at 877-237-2317.

No Comments by  /  December 22, 2011  /  Posted in: Ceramic/Porcelain, Kitchen and Bath

Flooring Facts from America’s Floor Source

Carpet - Flooring Facts - America's Floor SourceWell this post should’ve made it out yesterday, but due to some technical difficulties on this end, it got stuck. I’m sorry that it’s a day late, but it’s still just as awesome. Trust me.

Happy Friday everyone! Today is your lucky day, literally (yes I’m probably the hundredth person to tell you this but whatever). So in honor of today’s lucky date (for those of you who don’t own a calendar it’s 11-11-11), I figured I’d share 11 interesting flooring facts with you.

1)      Linoleum and vinyl floors are NOT the same thing. Vinyl floors are synthetic and made from petroleum-based chemicals. Linoleum floors are all natural and made from raw ingredients found in nature like linseed oil, wood flour, cork dust, limestone, and tree resins. Linoleum is also more durable and usually costs more than vinyl flooring. Make sure you don’t use the terms interchangeably. That’s like calling a llama an alpaca.

2)      Some carpets are made from recycled plastic. P.E.T., short for polyethylene terephthalate, is a type of polyester carpet made from ground up soda and water bottles. The bottles go through a complicated process that involves them being chopped into tiny pieces of plastic that are eventually melted down and converted into carpet fibers. PET carpet is more durable than your typical polyester fiber and also has a higher melting point (a definite plus for you flame-throwers out there).

3)      Bamboo is stronger than most hardwoods. In fact, some species of bamboo have Janka hardness ratings that are higher than maple and nearly double that of red oak. In Japan, bamboo is known for its incredible strength which is why its used as industrial scaffolding. If you’re into martial arts, don’t use bamboo for your board breaking demonstration. Things could get really awkward.

4)      Porcelain tiles have a very low water absorption rate making them “frost-resistant” or “frost-proof”. These tiles are great for applications where temperatures may drop below freezing like outdoors or in freezers.

5)      Hardwood floors naturally shrink and expand due to changes in moisture and temperature levels. When its cold and humidity levels are low, wood floors contract, creating small gaps between the boards. When temperatures and humidity levels are higher, the floors expand which can cause them to buckle. To prevent this, try to keep the humidity levels in your home low and try to keep the temperature constant.

6)      Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) floors come in both tiles AND planks. This means you can create realistic stone AND wood looks with a durable and affordable flooring alternative.

7)      Cork is one of the most sound-absorbent floor coverings around, especially at a thickness of 6mm or higher. Its open cell structure is composed of 200 million cork cells per cubic inch and each contains dead air space. These tiny cells inhibit the transmission of sound and help muffle the strike of a high heel or a dropped object. Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous home, Falling Waters, contains cork floors, cork walls, and even some cork tiles in several bathroom showers. I assume the place is pretty quiet.

8)      Granite floors are the hardest floors on the planet, since granite is second in hardness to diamond. These floors are tough cookies, and they are extremely durable, low maintenance, and will virtually last forever.

9)      Laminate floors are actually a heavier version of plastic countertops. Thank goodness they don’t look like them and instead come in some really fabulous wood looks. The world’s first laminate floor made its appearance in Sweden in 1984.

10)  Carpet can actually improve the indoor air quality of your home. By trapping the dust, pollen, pet and insect dander that’s floating around your home, it keeps them out of the air preventing them from causing trouble for allergy sufferers.

11)  America’s Floor Source provides quality flooring products and installation services to customers in Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Louisville. That’s a fact. If you’d like to purchase new flooring for your home, give us a call today at 877-237-2317 or send us a message through our contact us form.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend folks! :)

-Kristan

No Comments by  /  November 12, 2011  /  Posted in: Carpet, Cork Flooring, Green Flooring, Hardwood / Laminate, Linoleum, Luxury Vinyl Tile, Uncategorized, Vinyl

Terrazzo by Masland – Kristan’s Carpet of the Week

TGIF everyone! Fall came rather quickly this year didn’t it? Just a couple of weeks ago I was on the patio sipping margs with pals, and now I’m always wearing a scarf or a pair of galoshes (yes I wear galoshes…no judging). I must say that even though I’m certainly not a fan of cold weather, I do LOVE seeing the change of season and those pretty yellow, red, and orange leaves in the trees (and all over the sidewalk and lawn, yes whip out the rakes).

Anyway, those of you who love Mother Nature’s fall colors as much as I do should totally fall (I know too clever) for this week’s featured carpet “Terrazzo” by Masland. This nylon piece is super stylish and features bold stripes that can really spice up a dull room. My favorite color is Mosaic (pictured below) because its beautiful pumpkin, chocolate, and beige pattern just screams “Autumn”. If you don’t want to use a style like this to carpet an entire room, you could also use it to create a custom area rug. Masland creates beautiful custom area rugs in various shapes and sizes.

Terrazzo by Masland - America's Floor SourceSo besides being a great looking carpet, this is also a very durable piece. It’s made from Luxurell nylon fibers that are exceptionally durable and super soft. It is also a Stainmaster carpet, meaning it contains stain and soil blocking technology that stops soil and spills from sticking to its fibers.

If you’d like to order Terrazzo for your home, call America’s Floor Source at 877-237-2317 or send us a message through our contact us form. You should also browse our carpet catalog and see if you find some other styles that strike your fancy.

Stay warm folks and have a great weekend.

-Kristan

 

No Comments by  /  October 21, 2011  /  Posted in: Carpet

Flooring Favorites from Mohawk Flooring

America's Floor Source's Favorites from Mohawk Mohawk offers quality, tradition and innovation in its flooring collections. Choosing our favorites was difficult with thousands of products to choose from. Here are some of our top picks for each of the collections.

Carpet

Whether you are looking for a smooth Saxony, an intricate pattern or a trendy shag, Mohawk offers thousands of carpet options in various colors, styles and textures. One of our favorite products from Mohawk is the EverStrand carpeting, woven from fibers made from plastic beverage bottles. This soft yarn is dyed into hundreds of colors and amazing patterns.

Hardwood

Mohawk’s hardwood floors are as durable as they are beautiful. Three surface finishes, including CrystalShield™, the exclusive Aluminum Oxide Ceramica or Natural Oil finish, mean there is a finish to suit your style and needs. Our favorite is the Strand Woven Bamboo in either Halea or Kahala styles.

Ceramic Tile

Mohawk offers four tile collections: Classic, Rustic, Slate and Artistic Statements. We like the innovative and contemporary feeling of the metal tile in the artistic collections.

Laminate

From rich woods, including oaks, hickories, walnuts, and more exotic teaks and rosewoods, Mohawk’s laminate collection spans the spectrum of wood floor replicas.  Not to be outdone, the stone and ceramic laminate collection has tiles with beveled edges that have the look of stone.  We love the mix and match layout of the stone laminate tiles.

If you’d like to purchase Mohawk flooring for your home, contact America’s Floor Source at 877-237-2317 or through our contact us form. For those of you who live in Columbus, Cincinnati, Dayton, Indianapolis, or Louisville, you should stop by one of our showroom locations and browse our large inventory of quality carpet, hardwood, laminate, ceramic & porcelain, vinyl, stone, cork, bamboo, and rubber sports floors. And we do backsplashes and custom area rugs too. Or if you’d prefer to shop from home, we can bring our showroom to your living room with the Mobile Floor Source. Schedule an appointment today to experience the comfort, convenience, and confidence of shopping with the Mobile Floor Source .

Have a great weekend! :)

No Comments by  /  September 30, 2011  /  Posted in: Carpet, Ceramic/Porcelain, Hardwood / Laminate
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Cork Flooring: Green & Gorgeous

Stick a cork in it. Or is it fork? I’m not sure where I was going with that, but let’s move on.

When you hear the word” cork”, you immediately think of wine stoppers, right? Then,  your mind wanders to a funky pair of platform heels with cork bottoms. And then after that…you probably think about cork floors you’ve seen in an old bank or in some historic building. Well I’d like to change that. From now on, when you hear “cork”, the FIRST thing I want you to imagine are fabulous, fun, and functional cork floors.

Cork is a great flooring option for several reasons:

1) It’s sound absorbent – Cork is nice and quiet. Unlike laminate or wood, cork absorbs impact sounds like the clatter of something falling or footsteps.  So for all of you with aspiring tapdancers living in your house, this is the floor for you. Kidding.

2) It’s fire retardant. – Yeah…

3) It’s resistant to mold, mildew, and insects  – Cork bark developed these natural defenses to ensure its survival in the wild. Luckily these defenses also come in handy for us humans, specifically those of us with allergies, because they make cork hypoallergenic.

4) It’s a great insulator – Cork stays warm year-round. So when it’s freezing outside, and you feel like your feet might stick to your unbearably cold tile floors, your cork floors will feel fantastic underfoot.

5) It’s “green” – Cork is only harvested when the bark naturally begins to split, which occurs every seven to fifteen years. The tree then regenerates its bark about every 10 years. No harm is done to the tree or the surrounding environment during harvesting. In addition, lots of cork floors are also created using the waste product from cork wine stoppers. This environmentally floor is something “tree huggers” can feel very good about.

6) It offers numerous styling options – Check out the pictures below. It may be hard to believe, but those are all different types of cork floors.

We Cork - Avant Garde, Olive Barcelona

We Cork - Avant Garde, Color: Olive Barcelona

Wicanders Cork Flooring - Reed Meridian Plank

Wicanders Cork Flooring - Reed Meridian Plank

APC Cork - Gem Collection: Lapis

APC Cork - Gem Collection: Lapis

Now that you’re convinced that cork is pretty sweet, you probably want to buy some for your home. To do so, visit the America’s Floor Source website and send us a note through our contact us form, or just give us a call at 877-237-2317. If you’d like to learn more about cork, check out our cork education section of our website.

Well that’s all for today folks. Enjoy the rest of your week. :)

-Kristan

2 Comments by  /  September 15, 2011  /  Posted in: Cork Flooring, Green Flooring
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Lake Jaguar by Stanton: Kristan’s Carpet of the Week

Lions and tigers and jaguars, oh my! Ok…technically “bears” are supposed to be the last animals listed in that little phrase. However, I don’t have a “bear-skin” carpet to show you this week, so bear with me (HAHA too clever).

Anyway, this week my favorite pick is called “Lake Jaguar”, a stylish carpet from Stanton Carpet, and it is the definition of a “sexy” floor covering. This style is a designer’s dream with its fun high-fashion look. I’m not saying you should cover your entire first floor in this stuff (your spouse may be appalled), but perhaps you could use it in a very trendy bedroom or turn it into an area rug. The color shown below is “Taupe Black”.

Stanton Carpet's Lake Jaguar in Taupe Black

What are its specs, you ask? Well, Lake Jaguar is a Royaltron™ polypropelene or olefin carpet. Olefin is known for its exceptional stain resistance and low cost. This particular carpet also has a few other perks. It’s anti-microbial and does not support the growth of mites or bacteria, making it great for homes with allergy sufferers or children. It’s also environmentally friendly; Color is “melted” into the carpet, eliminating the need for large quantities of water that are usually used during the traditional dyeing process. And for those of you who like to slide across your carpet with your socks on…it’s anti-static, so you don’t have to worry about zapping yourself. :)

Well, I think that’s about all you need to know about Lake Jaguar. If you’d like to order this posh piece for your home, call America’s Floor Source at 877-237-2317 or send us an inquiry via our contact us form. You should also take a second to browse our carpet catalog while you’re on the website, in case some other styles strike your fancy.

That’s all folks. Have a great weekend, and I’ll see you next week.

Kristan

No Comments by  /  September 9, 2011  /  Posted in: Carpet
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America’s Floor Source in Floor Covering Weekly

America's Floor Source stacked version of logoHappy Thursday everyone!

Last week, America’s Floor Source was lucky enough to be featured in an article in Floor Covering Weekly, one of the most popular print publications in the flooring industry.

So what makes us so newsworthy? Well if I told you that, you wouldn’t bother reading the article! Here’s the link.

America’s Floor Source Continues Expansion – Floor Covering Weekly

Go ahead. Check it out.

If you’d like to learn more about our company and its fascinating history, check out the about us section and press page on our website. And if you’re feeling extra curious, go ahead and send us an inquiry via our contact us form.

That’s all for today folks. Come back tomorrow for my carpet of the week. This one you don’t want to miss!

:) Kristan

No Comments by  /  September 8, 2011  /  Posted in: About Us
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Deco Design by Mohawk – Kristan’s Carpet of the Week

Happy Friday all you flooring fanatics! It’s that time again! No, I’m not talking about “back to school” or hurricane season. It’s time for “Kristan’s Carpet of the Week”!  Whoo! OK, you can come down from the chandelier now and read on. :)

Let’s play pretend. Your living room has looked exactly the same for five years. Neither the couch, the TV, nor the coffee table has moved an inch, and you’ve been staring at one stain in the carpet for what feels like forever. You want to make the space over, and you’re thinking an updated floor could spice things up a bit. Well boy do I have the carpet for you!

I’m very excited about today’s featured carpet style, “Deco Design” by Mohawk. This “loop cut loop” style has a very funky and fun criss-cross pattern that can really update a drab room. The color I like the most is “Walnut Stain” a rich brown that would look great in a living room with neutral walls.

Mohawk's Deco Design Carpet - Available at America's Floor Source

This carpet is made of SmartStrand Triexta, a high performance fiber that’s known for its durability and stain resistance. You can feel secure that this carpet will hold up  well against everyday wear and spills. And for those of you who are environmentally conscious, you’d love to know that Mohawk’s SmartStrand is a “green” carpet. The DuPont Sorona polymer that is used to manufacture SmartStrand is made from corn syrup, a renewable resource.

If you’d like to purchase Deco Design for your home, call America’s Floor Source at 877-237-2317 or send us an inquiry via our contact us form. You should also browse our carpet catalog when you have a second and check out some of our other styles.

Have a wonderful weekend!

No Comments by  /  August 26, 2011  /  Posted in: Uncategorized

Designer Diaries – Oops I Did It Again

Happy Thursday folks!

Here’s our latest “Designer Diaries” entry from our in-house designer, Jill Dick. Enjoy!

So, I have been away from posting for a while – sorry about that!  Nothing like telling you a bit about myself and then disappearing!

Quick recap – my husband and I moved from a townhouse in the city to a house in the burbs just over a year ago.  As with most of our life, the adventure continues in our experiment as home owners.  Our big excitement (and expense) this year involved purchasing some new furniture for a couple of the new spaces we acquired with the house.  But even that turned out to be more of an experience than we thought to expect.

When we left our townhouse to move here, we gained around 900 square feet – so we had some spaces that echoed A LOT when we walked thru them!  Great for dancing during our parties – but it certainly didn’t feel like we were “put together”.  Our largest empty rooms included a “formal living room”, the “formal dining room” and our “finished” basement.  These spaces are all on the main floor of our home – all areas friends and folks occupy when we have company.  It was time to create some spaces we could live in.  Our top priority was a dining table we could comfortably seat at least eight people for dinner – with room to serve family style.

I took measurements and researched what was “recommended” as the correct size of furniture pieces – especially the dining room table and chairs.  Then I went shopping ~ solo.  (I don’t know how it works in your house, but in my house, I narrow down the search before bringing in my partner.  It’s easier on us all!)

I had narrowed the table options down to three – all in the same store.  (Bonus for hubby.)  But I was having trouble with the chairs.  (Two cats shedding on dining chairs is not appetizing at all!)  So, I started looking for something in leather.  At the end of the day, we had our butts in so many chairs we were seriously numb!  Time to pull in spare tooshies!!  Fortunately, my mother-in-law was happy to immediately drag my father-in-law right over to the store and act as comfort testers for us.  Chairs narrowed down, and then the buying frenzy began!  Chairs and tables were purchased – along with a sideboard, a sectional that could sleep five, and three end tables.  When we shop – it’s all or nothing!  (Who knows when I’ll get him out again??) We went home a bit dazed and definitely a bit exhausted!

Two months later, we have a dining table and chairs that fit into the formal dining room just fine – but make me claustrophobic.  Yup – while the table and chairs “technically” fit the formal dining room, I can’t take it!  This is one BIG table – and to me, it feels like it will outgrow the room just sitting there.  Forget having eight people sitting around conversing and eating dinner.

Nuts!

Well, after a deep breath, we decided that if things aren’t working for you around your home – break some “rules” and make a change!  We bought this house because we loved how the first floor would lend itself to how we like to entertain.  It was now time to take control of the space and make this house our own.

Off our kitchen/dinette space is a “hearth room” which we had been using as our family room.  It now houses our dining room table and sideboard, along with a bookcase for my cookbooks – we can comfortably seat 8-10 and I can breathe again!  The fireplace in this room will add a cozy touch during cold winter dinners that last long into the night.  The patio is just off the hearth room – convenient for gathering and relaxing before or after dinner when the weather allows.

The furniture that was originally living in this space has now filled our front living room – giving us a comfortable area to have conversation and appetizers before dinner with our friends.

The kitchen table just looked silly five feet away from our new table, so it has moved on.  The “dinette” space is soon to become our bar area ~ allowing for cocktails or wine to be served in a space that is not the kitchen (keeping people out of my way as I cook).

Our family room has now moved down to the finished basement space – where our new sectional is housed.  Our TV lives there – something we tend to not use while entertaining our friends.

Whew!!!  (All this for one crazy table I had to have!)

I am, however, back to an empty space in the “formal dining room” – but think I have solved that dilemma also.  My husband lost what he thought would grow into his “man cave” when I deemed the finished basement as our space.  I believe the “dining room” is soon to become our game room – complete with a nice gaming table that doubles as a poker table – and gorgeous storage to hide all the board games.  (The gaming stations will have to stay in the basement with the TV….he’ll survive.)  Again – more hunting for furniture!!

 

Before - Floorplan

After - Floorplan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We bought the house because it lent itself to a great entertaining space for us.  Sometimes, you just have to stop and figure out how to make the box you live in become the home you want to have.

Enjoy your spaces!
We’ll talk soon~

For more design tips, visit the design resources section of the America’s Floor Source website. You can also give us a call at 877-237-2317 or send us an inquiry via our contact us form.

1 Comment by  /  August 18, 2011  /  Posted in: Decorating and Design Tips
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