It's a New Year! Which means, it's the perfect time for a new look!

If you're not ready to commit to a new hairdo or new wardrobe, then consider a new look for your home!

We have the best ideas, found on HGTV.com, to give you some ideas. But it's The Carpet Shop that can make them a reality for you!

New carpeting trends:​

http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/todays-carpet-trends

​New overall flooring trends:

http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/8-flooring-trends-to-try-pictures

Kids' rooms flooring trends:

http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/8-kids-flooring-ideas-pictures

Outdoor flooring trends:
​
http://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/outdoor-spaces/unique-outdoor-flooring-ideas-pictures

Call us today -- 215-342-5900!

Every year Pantone, the global authority on color, surveys the designers of New York Fashion Week (and other sources) to discover the season’s most prominent color trends. This year’s Pantone selection is: Radiant Orchid.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says, “An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, [it] inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm.”

At first glance, Radiant Orchid appears to be most at home in a tropical décor.  But with more consideration, you realize that you could incorporate this vibrant color into a contemporary, modern, or playful scheme.  

We especially adore Radiant Orchid in flooring for any room of the house! As you can see from the pictures attached, it's a fun and creative color that will spark new energy into any room from the bathroom to the kitchen and beyond!

Flooring contractors -- we're more than just a pretty face!

http://www.floortrendsmag.com/articles/96437-contractors-corner-the-role-of-the-flooring-contractor

It’s time to get down ‘n’ dirty!  

The Carpet Shop wants you to show us your ugliest floor! Upload pictures of  your ugly floor to our Facebook page for the chance to win a gift certificate towards the purchase of a new floor at The Carpet Shop -- just in time for the holidays.

We know what a big commitment and expense a new floor is.  We also know that, this time of year, many wish they could redecorate to prepare for holiday guests, but often can’t afford to.

This contest is just what you need in order to progress towards a gorgeous new carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl floor or more.

The first step in the contest is easy:  just shoot a picture of your butt-ugliest floor.  Then upload it to our Facebook page for public scrutiny and embarrassment (https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Carpet-Shop/207246436004491)!  
 
We mean it!  We want to see your most terrible floor – your most warped, moldy, rippled, stained, scratched, torn floor or even worse!

Bring 'em on! The uglier, the better!!

Enter as many floors in your home as you like. A panel of “ugly floor experts” will choose the Top-Five Worst.  From there, the people will choose the “Best of the Worst!”  The winner will receive a $50 gift certificate for The Carpet Shop towards beautiful new carpet, hardwood, vinyl, laminate floor or more to be used to help redo your floors for the holidays in 2013.*

“This time of year, many people would like to be able to begin the home-redecorating process for the holidays, but it’s not always possible because it can be so cost-prohibitive,” says Joe Dollak, owner of The Carpet Shop. “This is a fun way to get the ball rolling and save folks some money towards redecorating.”

Enter photos until Monday, October 14.  Voting will begin on October 15. Winner will be announced shortly thereafter.  

*Gift certificate must be used towards the purchase of new floors by November 8, 2013 to best ensure delivery and installation by the holidays.

Flooring trends, like other trends in fashion and design, come and go.  But unlike trends in shoes or paint color, floors tend to be pricier and they're not something that you necessarily want to change seasonally, let alone even annually.

Fortunately, the flooring trends for 2013 (according to HGTV) are classic, yet stylish, and something that can be enjoyed not only this year, but for many years to come.

1)    Bamboo:  This fast-growing tree (not wood!) has been around for a while now.  Home owners and interior designers like it because it's attractive and durable.  What's new this year in bamboo is an explosion of colors as well as styles, like a wide-plank version that mimics the look of hardwood.  A tip:  keep it out of moisture-prone areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.

2)    Reclaimed Hardwood:  Factory-finished hardwood flooring has all the charm of reclaimed timber -- but not the high price -- of true salvaged lumber.  Additionally, factory-finished wood stands up to moisture better than wood flooring finished onsite.

3)    Large Format Tiles:  Traditionally large format tiles have come in 12' x 12'.  But today they can come as big as 12" x 24" or even 36" x 36".  Not only do they look beautiful, but an added bonus is that there is less grout to clean!  The caveat is, they're quite heavy, so hire a professional installer.

4)    Cork:  Cork flooring has many benefits including, but certainly not limited to, its acoustic-insulating qualities, more comfort when walking on it than hardwood or tile and better durability thanks to factory finishes.  These days cork is available in a range of colors than far exceeds its original blonde.  However, it will fade in sunlight so choose placement wisely.

5)    Luxury Vinyl:  This is a terrific two-for-one product.  It combines the look of hardwood or stone with the durability of vinyl.  And it is so not the peel-and-stick version of decades ago.  Today's luxury vinyl is beautiful and realistic looking, easy to walk on, durable and it stands up to moisture so it's great in bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.

6)    Cut-And-Loop Carpet:  For better or worse, when it comes to carpeting today, we are seeing far fewer shags and friezes.  The trend these days is more patterned carpets. By using a technique that combines both loops and cut loops, manufacturers can create a carpet with patterns that range from subtle to bold, with fibers are much softer than older styles. 

7)    American Hardwood:  Homeowners who want a truly sustainable look should choose American hardwoods.  Unlike bamboo and cork, both of which are imported, you can buy products that are perhaps made only a few hundred miles away.  Plus, U.S. manufacturers do a fantastic job at replenishing our natural forests as we cut the trees down.  Thanks to this, classic American hardwoods like oak, maple, heart pine and hickory are making a huge comeback.

8)    Concrete:  The versatility of concrete is what many admire most about this floor.  It can go from utilitarian to chic in no time.  It's trendy, sleek and, of course, durable.  But today it's adaptable to many different decors as it comes in an array of colors, textures and finishes.  However, concrete is not very foot-friendly.  Just like you wouldn't want to walk in a new pair of four-inch heels for a long period of time -- you wouldn't want to walk on concrete all day long either.

Accessibility to a home -- both indoors and out -- is important to helping elders, and those of all ages experiencing limited
mobility, maintain independence in the home, while ensuring their safety and security. Simple changes and upgrades to a home (be it their own or a family member’s) help our loved ones stay in their homes and familiar environments longer.  World-renowned gerontologist and designer, Patricia Moore, is sharing some simple flooring and lighting tips -- or what she likes to call "accessible design" -- for making a home more all-inclusive.

Because easy and safe access is paramount, start by eliminating unforgiving flooring with hard surfaces that are easy to slip on and can cause serious injuries.  For some of the best indoor flooring options, particularly if there is a wheelchair in the home, Moore recommends either vinyl or carpeting with a denser pile -- wheels can maneuver more easily on these floors and they offer more secure mobility.  And if you have area rugs scattered throughout the house, use tape to secure them to the floor.

Just as important as accurate flooring are appropriate lighting solutions.  With regard to those options, Moore suggests wall sconces because they're multi-functional -- they're not only useful, but stylish as well.  Additionally, plenty of floor and table lamps should be readily available throughout the home too.

It's also beneficial to install proper window treatments, such as shades or blinds, which allow in ample light during the day, but ensure your privacy throughout the night.
 
Call The Carpet Shop at 215-342-5900 to discuss your accessibility needs.  We can help you determine a solution today.

 
 

 

With summer just around the corner, many people are concerned with keeping the sun’s harmful UV rays off of themselves when
outside.  But have you ever thought to keep them off your body when you’re inside?  Today more and more people are anxious
to keep these dangerous rays out of their homes.  The Carpet Shop, which is more than just floors, offers a simple and beautiful solution for this in solar shades.  

Solar shades are a type of roller window shade and come in a range of screen openness factors, allowing you to choose how much light control you desire. Solar shades are the perfect choice for windows with a view. They reduce glare and improve energy efficiency by limiting solar heat gain and also block harmful UV rays.

Here are some of the benefits of solar shades:

UV protection
 o Because they substantially block UV rays, these shades will help reduce the fading of furniture and other room components. 
And of course, your family will be safer as they will keep the sun’s unsafe rays off precious skin!

Energy efficient
 o  Indoor sun shades are made from a mesh material that effectively reduce the absorption of heat through the window. They absorb and reflect solar heat before it even enters the window. So by limiting solar heat gain, these shades are exceptionally energy efficient and will help to lower your utility bills. 
o  They work in both the summer and winter. In the summer, they limit solar heat gain and in the winter, they help prevent radiant heat from escaping to the outside.

Environmentally-friendly
 o  Many shade and blind companies, such as Graber Blinds, havecommitted employees, processes, and products to improving the environment and passing clear benefits along to home owners. The goal is to minimize the overall environmental impact of the products by using recycled, renewable, and reduced content materials over virgin sources, reducing energy usage and waste, and improving air and water efficiency and indoor air quality.

Fabrics/Colors
o  There’s no need to sacrifice esthetics for functionality. Solar shades come in a surprising range of colors and fabrics. Choose from numerous colors as well as stripes, patterns, and weaves that more closely resemble natural materials.

Privacy
 o  Solar screens are available in screen openness factors from 3% to 14%. The smaller the number, the less 'open' the screen is. So for maximum view-through, choose a high % number. For greater privacy, choose small % numbers (3%-5%).

Options
o Available options include cordless and motorized lifts. Consider cordless solar shades if you have small children in your home, as dangling cords can be dangerous. Plus, cordless shades offer a cleaner, uncluttered look. Motorized window shades provide the ultimate in convenience and are especially useful for high or hard to reach windows.

To start utilizing solar shades in your home today, or for more information, call The Carpet Shop at 215.342.5900.

Laminate flooring has evolved into one of the most versatile, easy-to-work with floor coverings on the market today.

Way beyond mimicking hardwood, today’s laminate floors completely change a room's appearance, offering realistic patterns of exotic woods, stone, and ceramic tile. 
 
Laminate floors can be installed simply over almost every surface and they are very easy to maintain. The advantages of laminate floors include durability, easy/inexpensive to install, simple cleaning, stain resistant, good-looking styles/designs, hypo-allergenic, and they’re great for families with children and pets.

If any of these advantages appeal to you, laminate flooring may be the way to go in your family’s home.  Please read below for more detailed information on the benefits of laminates.

Beauty & Durability…

The most common laminate flooring designs have a good grain appearance; some are even made to look like stone or marble.
Laminates are designed to look good for many years with a minimal amount of maintenance.

Laminate flooring consists of a wear-resistant decorative surface made of resin-based melamine/aluminum oxide which is bonded to a moisture-resistant wood composition-based core. 
·        
A balancing backing is bonded to the underside of the core. On the top is a clear cap sheet of aluminum oxide, which provides
protection and stain resistance. Since the resin-filled wear layer is so dense, it becomes extremely difficult to stain, scratch, or
burn.

Laminate flooring will stand up to the wear and tear kids and pets can cause, and spills wipe up easily. All laminate floors offer good performance characteristics. Today’s laminates have a more durable finish to help protect your floor from scratching and chipping. 
 
Factory-applied finish coats are more resistant to abrasion, and will not show swirl marks, hairs, dust and other imperfections
often associated with unfinished hardwood flooring.

Easy Installation....
       
Ease of installation is one factor that contributes to the popularity of laminate flooring. It uses a tongue and groove interlocking system, which can be installed without difficulty on top of existing flooring. Laminates can be installed over almost any subfloor that is flat and clean.

Plywood, concrete slab, sheet vinyl flooring, hardwood flooring or virtually any other flat hard surface is a suitable base for laminates.
 ·        
Most brands of laminate flooring require that the joints be glued with specially-formulated, water-resistant glue placed between the tongue and grooves of every plank. However, several manufacturers today are meeting the demand of a glueless click-together floating floor that provides strong, tight joints without messy glue or special tools. These floors simply need to be cut to size, clicked together, and are immediately ready to walk. Most weekend do-it-yourselfers can handle this installation easily.

Because you can walk on your new floor immediately (no waiting for glue to dry), beautifying your home with new laminate flooring is truly a project you can do in a weekend.

Easy To Maintain....
 
Taking care of a laminate floor is very easy. Simply vacuum or dust mop regularly to remove loose dirt or grit to keep your floor looking like new and to avoid scratches. Chair glides or cushioned bottom protectors under chairs and table legs also help prevent possible scratching, and floor mats at all outside doorways keep dirt from coming inside.(More on cleaning below…)

Spills and messes easily clean up with a little soap and water mopping thanks to the hard moisture and wear-resistant surface coating. No residual stain or mess will remain and your laminate floors will continue to look brand new.

The Right Choice For People With Allergies...
      
The hygienic and healthy living qualities make laminate floors ideal for those who suffer from allergies. Dust is unable to collect on laminate flooring and therefore house-mites are unable to establish themselves, making laminates a great option for people who suffer from allergies to dust, dander, and other household contaminates.

With regular cleaning, laminate floors can provide a much cleaner and healthier living environment when compared to carpets. Less dust, pet dander, allergens and dust mites accumulate on the surface, and the laminate surface will not hold residual stain contaminants. 

Selection....       
        
Laminate flooring designs are vast, with bigger and better ultra-realistic designs. Gorgeous faux wood and stone dominated this year’s laminate designs, recreating the look of hand-scraped or antique finishes and weathered stone that makes flooring look hundreds of years old. 
  
The newest advances in laminates are embossed textures or authentic materials embedded in the finish (like coffee husks,  banana fiber, or mica), and the finishes range from glossy to matte.
·        
No matter what your décor or your lifestyle, you can find a laminate floor to fit your needs. 
 
Price....

For budget-conscience consumers who want the look of a natural surface, durability, and the best quality for the money, laminates are an exceptionally good choice. 
 
If you are looking for an economical DIY project, installing laminate flooring is considered to be easy enough even for a beginner.

Once you consider the costs of alternate flooring solutions over a typical laminate flooring lifespan it becomes an extremely economical solution. 

The Best Flooring Choice for Families...

Laminate flooring was designed to stand up to the demands of a busy family household which has, therefore, made them extremely popular. Busy homes filled with kids and pets will have their fair share of stains, spills, and rips, which are difficult to get out of carpets and vinyl. Laminates can handle kids playing with toys, the dog’s muddy paws, wet shoes and spills. In fact, when compared to other types of flooring solutions, laminates easily outperform in almost every category.

Durability…

Designed with a tough and durable wear layer, laminates are much stronger than most solid hardwood flooring, vinyls, and  carpeting. Laminate flooring stands up much better to dents and scratches that the softer surface of solid hardwood floors, and is a much better surface with which to withstand heavy foot traffic, kids, and household pets. Best of all, it continues to look brand new even after several years of wear and tear.

Stain, fade, and moisture resistant…

Most laminate flooring manufacturers offer triple-warranty protection against stains, fading, and moisture damage for 25 years. In contrast, solid hardwood floors are susceptible to wood grain staining, fading in repeated sunlight exposure, and are not a suitable floor for areas with high moisture or humidity levels.

HOW TO CLEAN LAMINATE FLOORING

Firstly, we recommend that you always follow the manufacturer's directions. The following information may be used as a cleaning and maintenance guideline, courtesy of Shaw Floors, manufacturers of fine laminate floors. 
 
As soon as spills happen, quickly mop them up using a damp cloth. Never allow liquids to stand on your floor.

For tough stains, such as lipstick, oil, ink, paint, markers, or tar: test a small area first using an acetone/nail polish remover on a clean white cloth, then wipe the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue. If there is no visible fading, apply sparingly on the stain.

Sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly with the hardwood floor attachment (not the beater bar) to prevent accumulation of
dirt and grit that can scratch or dull the floor finish.

Periodically clean the floor with cleaning products made specifically for laminate floor care.

Do not wash or wet mop the floor with soap, water, oil-soap detergent or any other water-based cleaning material. Cleaning with
these products may cause swelling, warping, delamination and joint-line separation and void the warranty.

Use only very little water. Excessive water can damage the laminate coating on the surface of the floor. Soaking the floor can
damage the paper backing. Moisture can get trapped under the laminate and damage the floor or cause the growth of mold, which is not healthy.

Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, strong ammonia or chlorinated-type cleaners.

Do not use any type of buffing or polishing machine.

For spots such as candle wax or chewing gum, harden the spot with ice and then gently scrape with a plastic scraper, such as a credit card. Be careful not to scratch the flooring surface. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.





(Source: www.flooring-trends.com)