Environmental flooring materials are natural without chemical processing or treatment. Flooring material that can be reused or recycled and flooring material made of recycled material also come under the definition of environmental flooring.

An example of environmental flooring is cork. You may not know this, but cork is natural and obtained from the bark of a tree. Cork flooring does not undergo a lot of chemical processing and can last for a very long time. Bamboo is another example of renewable flooring. Bamboo is a grass that can be replanted easily. Bamboo floors also require very little processing and are chemical free. Hardwood floors are examples of environmental flooring but you must make sure that the timber used is from trees that can be easily regenerated.

Easy to maintain and durable synthetic carpeting material made of recycled PET bottles or recycled nylon or rubber tires are another environmental flooring option. Linoleum is made of a combination of recycled components including linseed oil, wood shavings and cork shavings and makes an excellent non toxic environmental flooring option.

Stone and ceramic tiles are strong natural durable environmental flooring options that require very little maintenance and don’t give off toxic emissions.

The healthy wealthy and wise flooring choices for modern homes are environmental flooring options.  What’s your favorite choice for environmentally friendly floor choices?

Fresh flowers offer the best starting point. Inviting, easy, and inexpensive, they give you the best bang for your design efforts. Visit your local grocery or warehouse store and select one or two bouquets of similar flowers – either type or color. If you have color in your linens, look for flowers that will work well with them.

If arranging flowers seems challenging to you, go for very simple. Let the flowers determine the design. In this picture, just two stems join a handful of oranges to make an elegant and simple arrangement. Use any hard fruit or vegetable or even objects such as stones or marbles to hold the stems in place and add to the design.

Scatter your flower arrangements throughout your home. If your vase collection is limited, use any glassware you have to hold flowers. Whether you choose a casual approach or more design-focused, fresh flowers tell your guests that you spent some special time thinking of them and planning for their welcome.

Our new locations are:

Eastern Store

10050 S. Eastern Ave. Suite #150
Henderson, NV 89052
702-982-6659
Fax 702-982-5028

and

Arville Store
5270 Arville St.
Las Vegas, NV 89118
702-227-1243
Fax 702-851-0343

We are still located at:

I-95 & Craig Rd.
7091 W. Craig Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89148
702-589-8150

We still offer the same great service and the same great value – now just in new locations!

Bobby Flay has such a distinct style in clothes, personality and food, it’s easy to put some ideas together that would suit him. Living in New York City, his high-rise condo would shine with ebony wood floors. The rich dark tones fit perfectly with his taste – an eclectic mix of vintage mid-century modern and some contemporary pieces.

Flay’s spicy cooking approach can be matched with bold colors. A vivid red tailored sofa sits across from the open kitchen. Several rich yellow chairs sit to one side, with a golden wood asymmetrical coffee table straight from the 1950s linking everything together. Orange pillows and several orange glass bowls bring the room together.

The bright colors echo in the bright red wall behind Bobby’s kitchen countertops, a bright stainless steel to match the pots and pans hanging above. What’s Bobby making tonight? Something from the grill to feed the friends who will be dropping by soon. The space matches the food and the chef – spicy and cool at the same time.

What do you suppose could happen if this trend continues? It would be fun to see what various Food Network chefs would come up with as ideas for decorating.

Let’s start with Paula Deen. Her southern country style would be a great fit with warm heart pine flooring. The glow of wide planks in a rich golden brown matches the color of fresh-made flapjacks and maple syrup, and pine flooring looks more like home with a few spills and small scratches from her dogs’ paws.

The rest of the room is all about comfort and food. Some open shelves could hold her cooking staples, while a big round kitchen table with old-fashioned cushioned ladder back chairs would hole the whole family while giving table space for all the great dishes she whips up regularly. Finish up with some deep upholstered furniture with a variety of country-style patterns, just made for napping when you’re full. With a room like that, let’s hope Paula will invite us over soon!

There are some significant benefits to olefin besides its incredibly low price. One main advantage is the colorfast, fade-resistant quality of the fiber. Because color is introduced while the material is still in a liquid state, prior to extrusion into fiber, it can easily withstand direct sunlight or exposure to strong agents like chlorine bleach. Other qualities of olefin are that it is both static and mold resistant, making it a good candidate for recreation rooms, screened-in patios or even basements.

Nonetheless, olefin does also bring some challenges. It is highly susceptible to staining from oil-based materials, which is why you should never attempt to utilize a solvent-based stain protection product. Also, olefin has a low melting point, allowing for the fiber to actually melt and leave permanent damage from friction caused by something heavy being dragged over the face of the carpet. Finally, olefin fibers will crush and mat in areas of high traffic.

Entryways, according to studies, are the primary source of soil entering your home. Since about 80% of soil arrives on your floor in the first 4-6 steps from outside, good walkoff mats and entry rugs will significantly reduce the amount of soil making it onto your floors.

Vacuuming regularly—daily in traffic areas—is the next best thing you can do to protect your carpet. Dirt particles have sharp edges that can gash and abrade carpet fibers, leading to a crushed and matted look. A good vacuum with strong suction and beater bars will remove most of these particles. If your vacuum has bags, change them often.

Every 12-24 months, have your carpets professionally hot water extracted. The home models generally don’t have enough power, heat or suction to adequately clean and remove the dirty water and cleaning solution.

Address spills and spots immediately! Blot water-based spills from the outside to the center, using a clean, white, absorbent cloth. Use a neutral pH cleaner and rinse afterward to remove any residues. Dry well and vacuum before walking on the spot.

For oil-based spills/stains, cover the spot completely with cornstarch, baking soda or baby powder and allow it to sit overnight. Vacuum in the morning. If you can still see the stain, repeat this process, then follow the procedure above for water-based stains.

When it is done properly, steam cleaning is likely the best choice—and the one most often recommended by carpet manufacturers. “Done properly” means that the water is hot enough, the technician is appropriately trained (best if he’s IICRC Certified), the cleaning products are right for your carpet and the cleaning equipment is in good working order, especially the vacuum. When a truck-mounted vacuum works correctly, it will retrieve up to 95% of the moisture used in cleaning your carpet. This dramatically increases the effectiveness of the cleaning and reduces drying time for the carpet.

It is best not to try steam cleaning on your own. The great majority of tools available for rent or purchase for home use don’t generate enough heat for the water or power to retrieve what water they spray into your carpet. They often work well for spot-cleaning, but for a true deep extraction cleaning, it is best to utilize an experienced professional who operates a truck-mounted steam unit. Remember that for steam to reach your carpet, the water temp has to start at about 250 degrees!

It is also critical that all the cleaning agents are rinsed and removed, and that your carpet isn’t over-wetted. Overwetting can cause wrinkles or backing separation; cleaner residues left in your carpet will accelerate future soiling!

Traditional styles lend themselves to soft surfaces. Carpeting provides a good look for a traditional approach to decorating. Often rooms hold lots of overstuffed furniture and plenty of pillows. Tables are curved and in the dining room, tablecloths are standard and dining chairs have cushions.

If a room feels too soft, a few simple steps can sharpen its corners. Look for opportunities to include accessories in metals and glass. Consider wood window shades or shutters to sharpen the space without losing a traditional look.

One of the best ways to cut back on softness is to cut back on furniture and accessories. If you have space between elements in a room, the softness is tempered by the walls and the extra room.

Soft surfaces add warmth and welcome to a space. Balancing them with a few hard-surfaced items helps the softness stand out.

The preference for hard surfaces often reflects modern taste. Hard surfaces are sleeker and more streamlined, with tile or wood floors, simple lines on tables, few pillows or other accessories. Even couches and chairs lean toward more tailored lines. This can create a beautiful room that feels almost like a sculpture. However, too many hard surfaces without some softness to balance them can make a space feel cold, even to the point where voices echo.

A few simple changes can make the space more inviting without compromising the style. How about a thick rug in white shag or even leather strips? Think about hanging a contemporary tapestry or quilt on the walls in place of framed art. A table runner will soften and warm up a sleek table, and contribute to its style and look. How about a stack of two or three tailored floor pillows in a corner to contrast with the hard-surface floor and provide extra seating?

Bringing in softer surfaces won’t compromise your modern style; instead, it will bring the sculptural feel of your room into focus by providing contrast!