A few years ago, no one needed a reason to remodel their entire house every 18 months.  Things were booming and staying current was never more important.  These days, however, people are tending to remodel out of necessity more than anything else.  Aging bathrooms, the need for more space, and unknown plumbing problems could all spell remodel in your future.  The hardest reason for remodeling is in the wake of a natural disaster.  During the past year alone, our nation has faced hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and even a surprising East Coast earthquake.   Many families have been displaced until homes can be rebuilt or repaired. 

For those of you who have gone through any of these national tragedies, our hearts are with you.  Your stories of survival, optimism, and giving are always a challenge in the face of an otherwise selfish society we live in.  September is National Preparedness Month and in recognition of the need for all of us to be better prepared for whatever lies ahead, I would like to share a link to ready.gov, the Federal Government’s very own website where you can find helpful information on how to prepare your family for any emergency, including how to put together an emergency survival kit, things to know in an evacuation, and great tips on keeping your family safe, no matter what part of the country you live in.

If you find yourself rebuilding or remodeling after any setback, you can rest assured that our Customer Care Associates are here to guide you through the process of selecting and purchasing new flooring, kitchen, and bath materials.  And with Floor & Decor’s outstanding low prices, you can make every dollar well spent. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  It’s something I apply to my everyday life in many ways.  Wash your hands frequently to prevent catching colds… Good study habits means no cramming for tests… Measure twice, cut once … Eat your fruits and vegetables…Brush twice a day…you get the picture.  I also consider this when I make purchases for my family.  I LOVE a good deal but value doesn’t just mean price point.  I had to explain this to my son recently who couldn’t understand why every $10 RC car he purchased was broken in 3 days.  I explained that although they were affordable for him, they had no value if they broke so quickly.  Perhaps it would be wiser to spend a little more and get something that will stand the test of time.  So he promptly opened up a lemonade stand and started saving!

This brings me to the reason for this post, a great product available at Floor & Decor that I would recommend to anyone planning to install tile in their home - Tile Doctor Shield Grout AdMix.

It’s not an extra step, in fact it will actually save you a lot of work in the installation and care of your tile over time.  You use it in place of water when mixing your sanded Portland cement grout.  It contains Tile Doctor Shield Antimicrobial that protects against mold, mildew, algae, and odor-causing bacteria.  Using this product also means that you don’t have to seal the grout as you normally would.  This easily offsets the cost, along with the cost you will save on scrub brushes and bleach!  This stain-resistant shield is easy to clean and it’s protected by a lifetime warranty. 

Take my advice, this is the easiest way to save yourself time and keep your family’s home cleaner and microbe free!  For more great values, check out the full line of Tile Doctor products available from the Floor & Decor website.

pol•ish - to render finished, refined, or elegant.

Those were the exact words that came to mind when I first laid my eyes on these beautiful Peruvian Travertine tiles:

I love the look of the 12 x 24 tile.  It’s subway tile to the next level – linear and chic with an old-world undercurrent.  The epitome of retro.  The ultimate fusion of old and new.  I can see these tiles working beautifully in a large kitchen remodel  – surrounded by gorgeous cabinetry and wrought iron accents…or in a grand entry to a palatial home, just beneath the winding staircase.  The palette is so neutral they would work in almost any large room …… I can also see these in my basement.  I know, I know, I get too excited about these things.  But just look how beautiful the travertine is when it is finished and polished to complete perfection!  It rivals even marble in its elegance.  It can be hard to believe that this irrefutably gorgeous product started out as a dusty heap of rock.  If you are like me and you just love tile to pieces (pun intended), I have more fabulous finds to come!  Stay tuned!

My mom had this great theory when it came to design:  find something on sale and work with it.  I still do this today.  I might dream of marble tiles in my bathroom, but in the end I’m happy with travertine at a great price.  Of course, when my mother decorated, it was less about big new installation and more about new curtains and throw pillows.  A prime example of how my mom could stretch a dollar came to me today as I was thinking about patriotic design ideas.  My father was incredibly patriotic and my mother is the same.  When I was 8 or 9, my mom must have gotten 1,000 yards of fabric for 25 cents somewhere.  I remember that it coincided with my much older brother moving out of the house.  The plan was to turn his bedroom into a den.  So, together with a neutral sofa and large chest, these 1.000 yards of red, white, and blue sort-of 1980′s florally-paisley patterned fabric, our den was born. 

First I believe were the throw pillows (many, many patterned throw pillows).  Next were curtains, complete with valances and tie-backs (same pattern).  At some point an entire sofa-cover was constructed.  There were some solid blue and red accents popping up here and there, but the busy pattern was so predominant that it has been permanently etched into my brain.  I have a similar story involving the tiny pink rose patterned wallpaper in my childhood bedroom – but this is more of a wallpaper vs. paint story and I won’t get into that this time…

Back to the point.  It was overkill.  I would never decorate a room that way.  Somehow, though, just thinking about all that fabric gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling today.  It makes me want to incorporate that red, white and blue color scheme into one of the rooms in my home.  The style would undoubtedly be different but remind me of my childhood just the same. 

To get away with using this color scheme, I think you really have two options.  First of all, you can go ultra-traditional.  Hang the bunting out on  your porch, tie a yellow ribbon around that old oak tree, put in white kitchen cabinets, blue tile, and red accents.  Consider a star accent medallion in a backsplash.  Pastoral paintings, old china patterns, and farm animals blend in well.  Make sure you give a nod to colonial antiques somewhere in your design and go for copper appliances over stainless steal.

LOVE These Cabinets!

Bold Tones Blue Cobalt Ceramic Wall Tile from Floor & Decor

North Star Medallion from Floor & Decor

Option two is ultra modern.  Floor and Decor offers ceramic tiles in red, blue and white.  You could choose one color for high impact.  Or if you are confident in your sense of design, choose two or all three colors and create a dramatic pattern.  Large white floor tiles, white countertops and a bright red backsplash with very minimal blue accents would provide a clean and bright atmosphere.  You could go with smooth, white minimalist cabinetry or very dark or natural wood.  Pendant lights and a retro Formica table compliment stainless steel appliances. 

Fairfax Mesquite Glaze Cabinets - Available at Floor & Decor

These are just two examples of ways you can show your patriotism and celebrate America throughout the year.  But in my opinion, you can let design freedom reign!  So this July 4th, head over to Floor and Decor, get inspired, feel proud, and consider the classic red, white, and blue for your home.

The heat wave continues and I am left thinking, “What on earth could not only take all of this heat efficiently, but add value in style and practicality?”  The answer?  Red Quarry Tile.  The first time I considered using this remarkable product in a home application was back when I attended the Pro Services Contractor’s event in April.  Upon first glance, I assumed it was Saltillo tile.  While I like Saltillo tile, one of its’ down-falls is its upkeep and maintenance requirements.  These days, with the cost of living skyrocketing, the idea of sealing and resealing Saltillo as well as the cumbersome cleaning methods one must use, make it a beautiful but definite luxury.  Red Quarry Tile, however, is a very interesting and appealing alternative.  It has the look of red Saltillo but it is made to withstand commercial and even outdoor application.  Let me put that into plain English for you:  you can abuse the crap out of it.

Here’s an example.  You see Red Quarry Tile in use in many restaurants.  Perhaps that’s where it gets its’ less than lovely reputation.  However, there are reasons why restaurants love it.  You can put hot pans on it, splatter grease on it, get all kinds of stuff stuck to it and at the end of the night, hose it down with your choice of cost-effective chemicals.  It is really appealing for those of us (myself included) who really, actually use their kitchens.  Don’t like the plain look of it?  Find an area where you can add some hand painted accents, or maybe a medallion, and you’ve got the perfect mix of fashion and practicality…very chic these days (think Coach bags and Sperry shoes). 

Want another example of a great domestic application for this utilitarian star?  You can use it outside.  So when I am ready to dig up the aging uneven bricks on my backyard patio and start fresh, I will be reaching for Red Quarry Tile.  I love it not just for its’ resemblance to Saltillo, but also for the reasons that it can withstand very high temperatures, low temperatures, and anything Mother Nature can throw at it.  It won’t fade like brick and conducts heat away from the surface very nicely. 

All-in-all,  I am very pleasantly surprised at how much I love this tile.  Discovering its unexpected uses is a true breath of fresh air on a very hot Atlanta day.  Now when am I going to get back to that basement remodel….

Like all other design choices, tile designs have not remained stagnant, but have changed with new technologies, trends, and cultural influences.  With each passing year, the products we see become more exciting, more cost effective, and appealing to the do-it-yourself-er and consumer.  Today I would like to show you some really cool new tile applications you may have not seen, unless you have walked around the latest Design Expo. 

This Ain’t Yo Mama’s Backsplash…

The idea behind a focal point should be simple – to capture the eye and draw attention to the overall look of your beautiful room.  However, too many tile backsplashes look like they arrived here in a “how to make your kitchen look like it was constructed in 1983” kit.  Busy designs and kitschy prints are a thing of the past.  If you want a real focal point, try using a geometric pattern like this… 

Although very simple, when it comes to design, less really is more.  Sometimes you can make the grandest statement with the fewest words.

If you want a really modern and lovely version of the “tiles that make a picture” motif, try these great tiles I found at Floor & Décor.  You could use these as a focal point or over an entire backsplash.  Because of the simplicity of it, it will be hard to over-saturate with this pattern. 

Finally, one of my favorite things in the store….glass tile! 

Timeless elegance and class just doesn’t get any easier to install.  These babies are sold in mesh mosaic squares for ease of application (could you imagine trying to line up all those tiny squares?)  Want a splash of color?  Glass tile comes in a variety of colors and patterns to suit your taste.  

The best way to start your spring project planning is to start browsing.  So whether online or in the store, get started on a long stroll down the aisles and see what’s new this year.  You’re sure to get inspired by products like these on the shelf!