Are you a Food Network fan? How about Home and Garden TV? If you enjoy both, consider what would happen if the two channels merged. It would be interesting to see what some of the celebrity chefs would do about decorating.

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.

For fans, HGTV and the Food Network have a lot in common. They’re both channels that provide insights to help you decorate and cook better. The connection has grown stronger recently when a major food firm hired several of HGTV’s celebrity decorators to “design” sandwiches for clients on various condiment commercials.

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!

For fans, HGTV and the Food Network have a lot in common. They’re both channels that provide insights to help you decorate and cook better. The connection has grown stronger recently when a major food firm hired several of HGTV’s celebrity decorators to “design” sandwiches for clients on various condiment commercials.

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!

Nylon clearly holds the top spot as the most popular fiber for high-performing carpet, but did you know that olefin (also called polypropylene) actually accounts for nearly 80% of business carpet sold? In a tough economy, and at around a 20% lower cost than a similarly constructed nylon, olefin carpets are now being considered much more often for the home. Typical residential styles for olefins will be berber loops, which means multi-color, multi-level loop pile construction, often in earth tones. The identification “berber” actually descends from the name of an ancient North African people famous for their woven fabrics of more than 2 colors and textures.

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.

Protecting your new carpet shouldn’t be a chore. Just a few practices can keep your carpet looking good. First, review the carpet manufacturer’s warranty for their requirements. Some manufacturers now require periodic professional steam extraction to keep their warranty in force.

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.

Two questions have to be asked before you clean your carpets. The first is whether to use steam or dry cleaning? The second is whether you do it yourself?

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!

The first blog in this series covered creating warmth in a room by adding soft surfaces. In this post, let’s take a look at how to sharpen up a space with too many soft surfaces.

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.

Many people find it difficult to take their rooms from “fine” to “designed.” This is often because we love one color, type of surface, or look and don’t build in enough contrast. Drama comes from the shift from light to dark, soft to hard, and the juxtaposition of various textures and colors. Let’s look at one of the most common challenges – softening a room with too many hard surfaces.

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!

Reader Question:

I have a small half-bath downstairs that has no windows for natural light. How do I decorate this to make the space inviting?

Answer:

A bathroom like this may seem like a challenge. In reality, it provides a unique opportunity to be creative and daring in your decorating. The small size allows you to spend more per square foot on flooring and other options without breaking your budget.

What you need to do is change your perspective. Move your thinking from small to special. You can create a “jewel box” bathroom by making choices that help the room shine.

Hesitant to use color? Here is an opportunity to experiment. Consider glass tiles on one wall. If you prefer a neutral finish, look at some of the decorative tiles with texture. Pull the sink backsplash all the way up to the ceiling. Like granite? With the small countertop in your half-bath, you can probably find a piece at a good price.

Forget about a medicine cabinet. It’s really not necessary in a guest bath. How about a dramatic mirror with lots of personality? Consider a pedestal sink also. The extra visible flooring will make the space seem larger.

Finish up your jewel box with just the right light fixture. Think outside the box – how about a small crystal chandelier? Finally, experiment with paint or even wallpaper in a daring pattern – not too dark – and you will have a guest bath that will get your company talking!

When you’re ready to select a wood floor, do you find yourself concerned with whether your choice is environmentally responsible? Well, fortunately there is a simple way to determine that. Look for flooring with the Forest Stewardship Council certification;

An international, not-for-profit organization, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was created to protect the world’s forests by promoting their responsible management. With an international presence that extends to over 50 countries and recognition by every major environmental group as well as the Green Building Council in the United States, the FSC is your best source for evaluating your potential wood purchases.

As forests are damaged and destroyed across the planet, FSC and organizations like it work hard to ensure that our children will also be able to enjoy the forested areas we have now. The goal is not to stop cutting trees, but to support responsible harvesting with no hazardous pesticides and no damage to the people who live in the forests.

FSC requires certification to be re-confirmed annually, so it is not possible for organizations to meet the certification once and then go on to break the rules.

How much more meaningful will your beautiful wood floor be if you know that the trees it represents were cut responsibly? If this means something to you, just ask your salesperson to show you products that are FSC certified, and enjoy your floor.