Pictured here is Ron, our regular delivery driver from Shaw Industries, delivering over 5000 sq. yards of carpet for a big commercial job for us.  He is always prompt, courteous, and willing to go the extra mile for us. Just another great example of quality Shaw Personnel.

Keep your carpet just-like-new

Carpet may be one of the easiest types of flooring to take care of. Learn how to keep yours looking great over time with a simple care program:

• Preventive Maintenance - protect your investment before problems occur.
• Vacuuming - prolong the life and beauty of your floor.
• Spot and Spill Removal - be prepared for the unavoidable.
• Overall Cleaning - get regular care with cleaning systems.
• DIY Cleaning - get the right equipment to do it yourself.
• R2X- stain and soil remover.

No carpet is absolutely stain proof

Some carpets have stain resistant treatments that improve your ability to clean stains, but not prevent them. Similarly, carpets with soil resistant treatments reduce the rate of soiling, but all carpets require regular care and maintenance. Resist carpet soil and stains with R2X, Shaw’s own breakthrough technology.

Stains and soil

The majority of stain complaints are actually soil related. For example, many sugar-based spills, such as soft drinks and coffee, leave a sugar residue after removal. This sticky residue readily attracts soil from ordinary shoe traffic, and the resulting discolored area appears to be a stain.

The same thing happens when spills are cleaned with a detergent solution and the area is not sufficiently rinsed with plain water, leaving a sticky detergent residue. It is important to rinse thoroughly with water and blot dry after removing any spill.

You will want to reference your Shaw Residential Warranty for specific care requirements.

Here are pictures one of the homes we have just completed. The home was constructed by Harkey Construction of Chelan. Interior Design was done by Chrysalis Designs of Chelan(Peggy Harkey). This is a beautiful example how hardwood, natural stone, ceramics and carpet can all be incorporated to make a fantastic, comfortable home.

Hardwoods are Shaw plateau Point, tile was from many of our tile partners, slab granite was manufactured and installed by Precision Water jet, carpet is Shaw Kathy Ireland Home.

Porcelain tile’s beauty and durability are amazing.

Porcelain tile is a type of ceramic made of a very fine mixture of clays and minerals similar to those found in fine dinnerware. These special clays allow porcelain tile to be fired at temperatures even higher than ceramic tile, typically exceeding 2,400 degrees (F). The higher temperature results in a very dense tile. And the denser a tile, the better it resists moisture.

Like ceramic tile, porcelain tile from Shaw Tile & Stone collections are resistant to stains, odors, bacteria, and scratches. It is also…

• denser and harder than most other tile

• highly stain and water resistant

• naturally hygienic with easy to clean surfaces that can be smooth, textured, or polished
  beautiful and durable, both in the home or in commercial applications

Carpet and Allergens – Answers to Common Misconceptions

Allergens

Some biopollutants, such as animals, dander, house dust mites, and mold, have been linked to allergies and asthma, and many of these substances are commonly found in the average home.  It is important to understand that the mere presence of allergens does not in itself pose a hazard.  The allergen must be inhaled for exposure to occur, and in order for inhalation to occur, the allergen must be airborne.

Carpet acts as a trap for allergens

Carpet is capable of holding significant quantities of soil, dust, etc., without appearing very dirty.  It has been demonstrated that carpet is quite efficient at keeping allergen and other small particles such as pollen out of the air.  In fact, data from a Swedish government study indicates that when use of carpet declined, the number of people reporting allergy problems increased.

Regular vacuuming with a vacuum using a high-efficiency filter and periodic cleaning using the hot-water extraction cleaning (“steam cleaning”) removes the majority of allergen from carpet as well as significantly reducing mite populations.

Research has clearly shown that there is no correlation between allergen contained in carpet and allergen in the air in the carpeted room.

Research on carpet

In 2002, two schools in North Carolina were the subject of a study conducted by Research Triangle Institue (RTI) and University of North Carolina (UNC) investigators.  One school had mostly resilient tile floors, while the other was 70-75% carpeted. The study found that airborne contaminants, possible sources of allergens, were higher over the tiled floors than over carpet.

Also in 2002, Professional Testing Laboratory studied the effect of foot traffic on air quality, using commercial carpet and commercial vinyl flooring.  Following 16 minutes of foot traffic over both surfaces, the particulate concentration over the vinyl floor was found to be four times that of carpet.

Other studies, including one using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), have reinforced these findings and concluded that carpets actually reduce exposure to particulates and potential adverse health effects.

In a recent paper, “Carpet, Asthma and Allergies – Myth or Realty,” Dr. Mitchell Sauerhoff, Ph.D., DABT, examined numerous scientific studies and other research contradicting some long-held beliefs on carpet’s alleged negative characteristics.

Sauerhoff concluded, “…based on the available science, carpet does not cause asthma or allergies and does not increase the incidence or severity of asthma or allergies symptoms. In fact, with respect to asthma and allergies, multiple studies have reported fewer allergy and asthma symptoms associated with carpet.”

Window Treatments|

If you prefer to have the focus of your room be away from the windows, and toward, for example, your furniture, or a colorful rug or wall hanging, the obvious choice for the window is a natural or neutral color, and a relatively simple style. Even a simple style, however, can be graceful and pleasing. Plain curtains can be tied back in the middle, down low or up high, depending what looks best to you.

Some people prefer more of the room focus to be on the windows, to complement or contrast with neutral color in their furnishings, or to emphasize a view out the window. In this case, perhaps more color or a bolder style in the window treatments is called for. Layering a top treatment over a curtain or a sheer, for example, definitely makes more of a statement at the window.

Choosing Colors

Colors in window treatments always play an important role in your overall decorating scheme. It’s common today to mix naturals and whites, or prints, stripes and solid colors. Warm shades of reds, yellows, and pinks will add life to a quiet room. Cool colors — gray, white or blue — are restful tones. Greens and browns are pleasing earth tones. The key is to pick colors that make you feel good, and that coordinate with or complement the other colors in your room.

Curtain Length

Curtain length is yet another factor to consider. Longer curtains will visually lengthen a window and add perceived height to a room. Curtains to the floor generally lend a more formal feeling to a room. Shorter curtains, to the sill, to the apron, or between the apron and the floor, feel more casual. Holding curtains back with fabric or rope tiebacks, or with holdback hardware, can visually widen a window.

Light Control

Then there’s the issue of light control. To soften and filter the incoming light, laces or sheers produce a wonderful effect, and lend themselves nicely to layering. To block out the light, consider a lined or insulated curtain, or a fabric shade. The latter choices will also afford privacy when you want it, and allow you to let in lots of light when you want that.

Rods and Hardware

Next, remember that hardware — curtain rods in various shapes, styles, and materials; finials; swag holders; etc — can help you to easily create the silhouette you want. Whether it’s tailored or ruffled curtains on continental or mesa rods, or tab curtains on wooden or wrought iron rods, or swags draped over wood, ceramic or glass swag holders, there’s a look available for every taste.

Featured Brands |

INTO THE WOODS

Wood continues to provide warmth and character in an instant. Today with the innovations in engineered wood flooring…finally you can put the wood floor over the slab foundation and be finished in an afternoon. Smart consumers are selecting domestic hardwood products that are driftwood gray, crackled white oak, polished black or white, as well as the beautiful and familiar birch, maple, oak and walnut. American forests are being grown 20% faster than they’re harvested so it’s an easy and responsible choice. ]]> http://chelanhomecenter.com/2011/02/13/decorate-with-confidence/feed/ 0 http://chelanhomecenter.com/2011/02/13/trend-watch/ http://chelanhomecenter.com/2011/02/13/trend-watch/#comments Mon, 14 Feb 2011 01:03:51 +0000 Tony http://chelanhomecenter.com/?p=1954 HARDWOOD EVOLUTION

Hardwood is moving more toward distressed planks, planks in wider widths, and exotic woods. Its no longer just plain maple or oak. Were seeing more mahogany, cherry, teak, and walnut. Also, mixing woods is becoming increasingly popular.

“Drape a beautiful solid or patterned throw over a plain sofa or chair for color impact. Disguise a worn area on a chair, sofa, or ottoman with a throw. Use a throw over the foot of a bed or over a table for color and style.”

Be sure and visit the rest or web site to see all the great products and brands that we carry. You Will find many more DESIGN Tips scattered throughout our site.