As far as design constraints, there are limitless possibilities for ceramic tile. Available in numerous color and size variations, there are always additional application options as well- ceramic tile doesn’t have to stop at the floor, you can unify your design and create ceramic accents in the form of backsplashes, countertops, and shower stalls.

Ease of maintenance is probably ceramic tile’s biggest appeal. It is this quality that makes it ideal for use in areas where moisture might be an issue, as carpeting and wood cannot compete when it comes to dampness & spills. Ceramic tile also requires little in the way of a cleaning routine, since it is spill-resistant and does not trap allergens or bacteria. Another strong point of ceramic tiles is their wear resistance. Ceramic tile has a high level of durability and longevity, making it a great value.

There are many debates about what is good for your health and happiness vs. what is good for the environment. Luckily when it comes to your home, hardwood flooring is good for both you and the environment. All types of hardwood flooring are more beneficial to your health than carpeting for a multitude of reasons.

Materials

Bamboo: Bamboo is a renewable resource that grows faster than any other hard, woody plant in the world. The average speed of growth is about an inch an hour, and some species grow at twice that speed. It is extremely easy to clean, and is a great material to use if you are concerned about protecting the environment.

Cork: Cork is a great alternative for anyone with feet, leg, back, or joint issues. The softer material is gentle on the body and is soft underfoot. Its anti-microbial nature keeps your family safe from the breeding grounds of bacteria. Since it is normally used from what would otherwise be waste from bottle stopper manufacturing, it is a recycled material. Even better, it originates from the bark of trees without harming them at all.

Health Benefits

All types of hardwood materials are better for your health than carpeting. Many people think that carpets create a cozier environment for their family, but they do not realize how cozy of an environment they are creating for allergens and dust mites, as well. Many rooms with wall-to-wall carpeting have a dangerously high number of dust mites thriving just below the surface that emit an unhealthy amount of allergens.

Carpets are also much dustier, and can trap bacteria in their hard-to-clean fibers. Hardwood flooring is very easy to clean, and with care, can last decades longer than any type of carpeting. You do not have to worry about food or beverage stains, or getting your floor professionally cleaned.

If you have infants or small children around the house, there is no way to know for sure that the germs and bacteria trapped in a carpet will not harm them. Hardwood floors are much safer and can be easily cleaned on a daily basis without harm. The more you vacuum or shampoo a carpet, the faster it deteriorates.

The chemicals used to manufacture carpets can be very toxic and the amount of plastic used is extremely harmful to the environment. Since hardwood floors are a natural product, the chemical emissions are very low, and since they last much longer than carpeting, the production energy in the long run is much lower.

If you consider the value of your home, carpets are often replaced by new owners, or require replacement before selling the home. Hardwood flooring is the only way to increase the value of your home, whether you hope to sell it or not. The cleanliness, combined with the renewable resources, and fewer chemicals required in manufacturing guarantee a healthier, happier home and environment for all of us for years to come.

Aside from your own routine spot cleaning and vacuuming, you should also consider getting your carpets professionally cleaned. Professional cleaning services can bring your carpet back to life, and provide the deep, permeating cleaning that consumer-grade products just can’t match.

• Here are some things to keep in mind when getting your carpeting professionally cleaned:
  • Many professional carpet cleaning companies will use different cleaning methods, and it is important to find out which will be used in your home: steaming, shampooing, or dry chemical cleaning.
  • Also ask how long your carpet will need to remain unused.
  • Schedule cleanings every 18-24 months for routine cleaning, or more frequently in cases of heavier traffic and soiling
  • Make sure to keep any invoices or receipts from the company, for your carpet manufacturer’s warranty purposes

Hiring a professional company to clean your carpet is the safest and most effective route to take when dealing with heavy soiling and/or odors. It is a worthwhile investment that will keep your home’s carpet looking newer, longer.

Color Design Trends

The first big color trend that is expected to continue into the New Year is a move towards aged, distressed color finishes that are reminiscent of past times. Shades in earthy brown and aged greens, as well as smoky blues blue hues will continue to be popular for wall paints and fabrics. Lenzing Fibers, a cellulose fabrics manufacturer and retailer, reports that many of the colors that are going to continue to be seen in fabric design revolve around the earthly elements. Colors based on the colors of nature, i.e. minerals, soil and plants. Metallic colors are also expected to be a continuing trend in 2010. Pantone, the global organization that analyzes and sets color standards for each fashion season, says that the eight key color palettes for the New Year include: Greenmarket, Gatherings, Transformations, Pastiche and Ambiance, to name a few.

The Old is New Again

Antique and vintage interior décor pieces add a bit of warmth and human soul to a home, and in the past year, the urge to revisit the past in new design settings has been increasing and the trend seems to be ready to continue into the New Year. This also explains the rise in thrift store and consignment store shopping, as well as the surging of sites like 1stdibs.com. This same trend in revisiting the pasts design aesthetics has led people to revisit their own past heritage when designing the interior of their homes. A return to one’s roots is a growing interior décor trend. People are looking for Native American, aboriginal and tribal colors and patterns that employ bold hues and geometric shapes.

Going Green

A few years ago, green living was a brand new trend in the world of interior design. Now, it might be more accurate to call it a staple of contemporary design aesthetics. As we head into 2010, green design is still growing and shows no signs of slowing down. Green construction and building materials have become a huge part of the home improvement marketplace, a trend that will hopefully continue not just through 2010 but for many years to come.

Environmentally friendly paint, cloth fabrics, furniture and flooring materials, and energy saving lighting alternatives are just some of the green elements that are factoring into today’s interior décor fashions. Characteristics of green products include sustainability and a minimum emission of volatile organic compounds that could be harmful to people and the environment. Another design trend that is related to recent green living trends is the increased use of re purposed or recycled furniture and design accessories. Reusing, repainting and refinishing old items can give them new life and help avoid unnecessary waste.

Mixed Fabrics

The trend of mixing colors and texture when picking out a living room’s decorative fabric pieces looks like it’s going to continue well into 2010. A room with matching textures tends to get old after a while. Layering different textures of fabric creates a more interesting arrangement. Try mixing and matching satins, furs and cotton fabrics to see what you like, and feel free to incorporate patterned fabrics as well.

Layered Flooring

A home’s floor is as much a part of its interior design elements as the walls and furniture. Adding patterned mats, decorative carpets, area rugs and other decorative elements to your floor will give it a rich layered look that will in turn lend warmth and coziness to your home. Runner carpets for stairways and hallways are also back in style. Layered flooring started to grow as a trend in recent years and it seems poised to be a big part of 2010 interior design landscape. In a tight economy, layering your existing floor rather than replacing it with a new one is a money-saving way to completely renovate the look and feel of your home interior.

Rectangular area rug shapes are the most common, and are a traditional, versatile choice. They can work in almost any room, and can help in making a room appear larger.

Square area rugs, like rectangles, are versatile enough to work in most settings. However, they give a more balanced look because of their symmetry, and can make more of a statement.

Round area rugs are a great solution for rooms of an unusual shape. They also work well with round dining tables, as long as the rug is large enough that the chairs can be pushed back without landing off the rug’s edge.

Oval area rugs are the pairing between the organic feel of round rugs and rectangular. They work in the same instances where you would use a rectangular rug, but add more interest, and elongate the space they’re put into.

Hexagon, octagon, and free-form shaped area rugs are not very common, but are very unique and eye-catching. They capture attention and create a dramatic effect in foyers, under dining tables, and on stair landings.

Runners are elongated versions of rectangular area rugs, which are perfect for hallways & stairways. They “lead the way” visually, creating a natural path along a set area, & often making spaces appear longer.

The San Diego BBB recently presented its Torch Awards- an annual awards program that, now into its 10^th year, honors businesses and organizations that uphold and maintain the ethical standards & practices of the BBB.

We have ranked among many contenders, and many other fine businesses, because of our commitment to service and integrity, and are pleased to have been named as a finalist for such an honorable award.

A powerful force in the development of eco-friendly building products, Teragren offers products with the highest quality of environmental & health standards, including LEED^® certification, FloorScore^® certification, and responsible harvesting & manufacturing processes.

We are proud to offer homeowners such an environmentally conscious, high-quality brand for their flooring needs. To learn more about bamboo flooring, click here.

Carpet tiles are exactly what they sound like: smaller squares of carpeting, which are installed by laying them together, like tiles. This type of carpeting allows for creating patterns of infinite customization.

The biggest incentive to utilize carpet tile, rather than broadloom carpeting, is the ease of installation. The flooring can be installed quickly, and can be completed when offices are closed, to avoid business disruption. It can be installed section-by-section, meaning that less moving of furniture is required. And if one section of carpeting eventually gets stained or otherwise flawed, it’s a simple process of removing the affected carpet tiles, and replacing them with new ones- no cutting or measuring required.