Posts Tagged ‘floor’

Wet Basement problems? Recently a client hired Abella Home Staging & Redesign to design a man cave in the basement. The issue with the basement is, it sometimes gets flooded. So I had to come up with a viable solution. Carpet was no good, mold issue. Wood out of the question. Laminated floors, adhesive gets wet making the tiles pop up. Floating floor, water will damaged the particle boards. So I did some research and found this great product. It’s called Place N Go Flooring. Place N’ Go flooring is recycled composition which is totally waterproof.

No adhesive and easy to install!!

Comes in different colors and styles

Kids & Pets friendly

Can be used in any room

Unlike conventional laminated floors, it won’t swell or buckle in high humidity. And if you get flood, you just pick up the tiles, let dry and put them right back. What is the secret? It’s an interlocking covering that is adhesive-free. Simply snap it together. No need to prep the floors. No underlayments or moisture barrier. Simply put it over your old existing floor. Damaged a tile? Simply pull up the tile and replace it. Easy to maintain, just damp mop using regular cleaners.

White Kitchen, trendy or timeless? Have you notice when going through design magazines they are showing a lot of white kitchen? White kitchen seem to be stealing the show. And I couldn’t be happier!! As a home stager and redesigner and owner of Abella Home Staging & Redesign I often recommend painting the kitchen white, especially when it’s outdated. Why white? It’s crisp and clean. Makes your kitchen look bigger then it is. Works whether your kitchen is traditional, transitional, modern or even shabby chic country! Just make sure you add bold pops of color to ground the space. Add different textures and finishes to spice things up!

Colour me Happy

Decor Pad

 As you can see from these picture, by adding a dark floor, you help ground the kitchen and make it more balanced. Add old element with new finishes also gives it character. The options are limitless!! White kitchen I believe are here to stay. White kitchen, trendy or timeless? You decide. But it’s definitely here to stay!!

Color made easy. Many people fear picking out colors. Hopefully I can take that fear away. Most people are attracted to the level of saturation (Intensity of that color) and not so much with the color. Think blue and how many variations of blue there is. You many like one shade of blue but not the others. When picking a color there are many things to consider.

1. Visually- what are you attracted to?
2. Saturation- it’s the saturation of that color that matters most, not the color itself (Think shades of blue).
3. Col0r ratios-using the 60-30-10 ratio in a room will pull the room together. And add different values for interest.
4. Use color three times at different levels.
5. Adding a contrast wall actually shrinks a room.
6. Create balance-a room that has all the furnishing near the floor tends to be bottom heavy. Don’t forget adding visually interest near the ceiling (wall art, drapes).
7. Stay within three values of that color. When looking at a color strip go up or down the color.
8. Are your color current-like food, design has an expiration date. Has your’s expired?
9. When purchasing major items like sofa go with neutral and add punches of color. It’s easier to replace pillows then a sofa.
10. Love the color you choose-or you won’t be happy no  matter how great the room is!

If you need help in pulling together a room, or afraid to get started, give Abella Home Staging & Redesign a call. We can get started and give you the rooms/home you desire!

Making your bedroom serene!

Making your bedroom serene doesn’t mean you have to lose style. A soothing bedroom doesn’t have to be boring. Here are some easy step to achieving the bedroom of your dreams!

1. Imperfection-don’t try to fight it, instead embrace and work around it.  Long narrow horizontal   windows can be a problem but if you get floor to ceiling curtains, that will give the illusion of wider windows.
2. Matchy, Matchy-this is one place you can and should match. Matching nightstand , lamps these will give the room a symmetric look and feel to the room. This will enhance that soothing feeling that we want to achieve.
3. Fabric-use fabric that can withstand stains
4. Color-when choosing sheet for your bed, my rule of thumb is to match the bedspread. Too many color  are jarring to your sense.
5. Be practical-don’t try to have a high fashion bedroom that only looks good but is difficult to live in. Be practical and make it livable.

Remember this is your bedroom, use items that will appeal to your sense. Limit the amount of furniture (over crowding is a huge problem in bedrooms) and if you can at all help it, don’t put your office in the bedroom. Think 5-star hotel feeling and you won’t go wrong.

Laminated floors, what are the pros & cons? Laminated floors have exploded into the general public and with good reason. They are much more affordable then natural stone or wood and most homeowners can tackle the job themselves if they wish too.

So what are the pros?

1. Installation. Many have a “click-lock” design. It comes with glue already on it. You simply activated with water and wipe off excess. The new laminated stone tiles can be applied by using glue. You can even grout them so they look like natural stone.
2. Moisture resistance. They’re great for basement and even bathroom. Solid wood would expand and warp with moisture. Although neither solid wood or laminated floors can withstand pools of water.
3. No Defects. Unlike solid wood or natural stone which may come with defects, laminated wood or tiles do not.
4. Easy to clean. Laminated wood floors don’t need waxing or refinishing. Laminated tiles don’t chip like natural stone. They don’t need to be sealed either. Use damp mop and you’re good to go.
5. Durability. Unlike wood which will wear out and scratch, laminated floors don’t. Laminated tiles don’t crack or chip like natural stones.
6. Resist Staining. Laminated floors resist stains. If you have pets, that is a huge benefit. Imagine what pet urine can do to your wood floors!
7. Easy to replace.Tired of your natural stone look?  Unlike laminated tiles, removing natural stone is a huge undertaking!!

So what are the cons?

1. Not real wood or natural stone. Lets face it nothing looks richer then real wood or the beauty of natural stone floors.
2. Resale value is not the same as real wood or natural stone.
3. Not Refinish-able. Unlike wood where you can sand the finish down and literally change the look by changing the color of the stain. With laminated floors you can’t.

When it’s all said and done, I think laminated floors are a great options to homeowners who want that look without the expense. Years ago if you couldn’t afford natural stone there wasn’t much choice.Today are so many options out there and the price is very reasonable.

Laminated Wood Floor

Laminated Stone Tiles

Going “Green” in the Kitchen!

Going “Green” in the Kitchen is the newest trend. Not only here in Long Island New York, but world wide. It’s also the best way to add value to your home. If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, here are some suggestions to incorporate going “Green”. Not only will this be eco-friendly, but it will be great for resale!

1. Appliances-with the tax incentives, buying Energy Star appliances will save you money in the long run. Yes, they do cost more money to purchase than other appliances but the savings and resale value will more then make up the cost.
2. Flooring-Did you know that bamboo is a fast growing natural resource? It grows in abundance, almost like weeds. Because of this, bamboo flooring is a wise choice when going “Green”. And it looks beautiful as well.
3. Windows-Don’t scrimp when purchasing new windows. Energy saving window will save you a small fortune when it comes to paying your utility bill. Buy windows with argon gas between the panes.
4. Lighting-Use fluorescent lighting as oppose to incandescent lighting. There is talk that incandescent lighting will be banned in the future. Also, use sky light to let the natural light in. If you don’t have the room or don’t want to incur the expenses, use solar tubing. A much more affordable option then sky lights.
5. Countertops-Recycled glass is an excellent choice for counters. The colors are dazzling and it’s quite durable. Another choice is concrete. It comes in array of colors. Concrete , like glass are in abundance supply.
6. Paint-Using low or no VOC paint. Thses paints have no volalite organic compunds that are hazardous to your health. They cover just as well.

There are many more ways to go “Green”. These are only a small sample of what can be achieved. When it’s time to remodel your kitchen, do your homework and research your materials. But most of all have fun experimenting, that’s what good design is all about.

Kitchen and baths are deal breakers when selling your home. So how do we improve these areas without breaking the bank? Hiring a home stager is a great way to get some great ideas! There are simple fixing that can be done, some are easy and inexpensive, some may require a professional and a bit more money. Either way, it’s less expensive then remodeling your entire kitchen and bath!

• Repaint cabinets. That alone will drastically change the look of the room. You can paint vanity and medicine cabinets. Just make sure you prime it well or you can hire a professional.
• Change out the hardware.
• Update the light fixture.
• Replace the vanity sink or kitchen sink if it’s old.
• Update the faucet.
• Update the floor. There are relativity inexpensive stick on tiles that look amazing. There is even a stick on tile that looks and feels like wood! It’s called Allure. Great product.
• Paint the walls.

The reason kitchen and baths are deal breakers when selling your home, is the fact they are expensive to remodel. But doing these inexpensive fixes allows the potential buyer an opportunity to see how great your kitchen and bath are. They can then remodel at a later time.

Bath

Kitchen