A memorable song remains with you for many reasons:  rhythm, dynamics, balance, and voice.  The same can be said for a well-designed space.

As your eye moves around the room, there should be rhythm; your eye should feel free to move up, down, around, and back again.  Your eye isn’t stuck on the 42″ plasma screen, because it is balanced by the granite fireplace surround, the low-slung sectional, the plush frieze carpet, and the three round padded ottomans.

Dynamics speak to the high and low points, reflecting a change in color, texture, space.  Flooring, furniture placement, textiles, and warmer neutrals are key to achieving an enhanced dynamic.

Balance is seen when there is no one overpowering element, and repetition is evident but not obvious.  Understanding your color palette, and what to bring in (or leave out) really makes a space sing.

Voice is key; both song and space work well when a strong voice is used, so we are not left guessing as to intent, and motive is clear.  Clearly defining your style aesthetic leads to success.

Let Duralum help you harmonize your home.

How can my favorite foods influence my design choices?  Inspiration can come from anywhere, so think about your foods of choice.

Chicken noodle soup?  Choose a low-level twist in a creamy pasta color.   Perhaps a  textured plush bordered in a contrasting band would fit the bill.

Steak and potatoes?  How about tiger-strand bamboo or a dimensional subway tile offset with a horizontal band of graphic deco’s?

Sushi?  Try cork.  Consider a glazed ceramic tile with definitive lines.  How about a subtle floral area rug?

Your preferences can provide a myriad of inspirational choices.  Iron Chef, anyone?

Many of us work from home, at least part of the time.  Others are students, crafters, artists—we need a space in which to get work done in a timely manner.

A home office may be a once-used bedroom, part of the living room, a corner in the basement; ideally it needs to be a designated space, set aside for that specific type of activity.  Make sure all of your supplies are in this space, and all of your distractions are safely put away—no excuses for not getting that work done.

Flooring best-suited for a home office includes commercial carpeting, berber carpeting, and laminate or hardwood.  All of these options are durable, easy to maintain, and are designed for work environments.

Let Duralum help lighten your workload with a great floor covering.

Pre-finished hardwood offers several advantages over sand and stain floors:

*It is ready for immediate installation

*5-7 coats of urethane are already applied in a controlled factory environment, as opposed to sand and stain which usually gets 2-3 coats applied on-site

*You may remain at home during installation

Realtors will tell you:  Hardwood is a product that appreciates in value, giving you a great return on your investment.

Hardwood visually increases the sense of space in your home, allowing further delineation with furniture placement and area rugs.  Great rooms can sometimes just become great messes.  With hardwood as a substantial base, it then is the job of outlining where you want do what with whom:  office is right before you go down the hallway to the bedrooms—TV viewing is in the center of the great room—dining is at the kitchen counter and right before the TV area begins.

Set up your home according to function, and let your floor covering choices help maintain this separation.  You’ll keep clutter to a minimum, while also keeping your sanity.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZH4PP7hhxs

• They add warmth to the room.
• They quiet the room.
• Your can change your room design by changing rug style or placement or both.
• They help to define the space.
• Can be an inexpensive way to update your decor.

With all this being said, the next question is: “What is the most efficient way to add Area Rugs to my home?”

At Duralum Carpets we  make Area Rugs out of our huge selection of carpet remnants.  These rems can be cut to exactly the size you want and are up to 60% off.  Generally it takes between one to two weeks to go from selection to delivery.  We also have a nice selection on padding that is made for Area Rugs and won’t stain the surface underneath.

• It’s always in fashion
• There are many styles and colors available
• It is a renewable resource
• Generally it is easy to keep clean with regular maintainance

There is something that you do need to know about hardwood flooring of any kind.  That is the relationship between Hardwood and humidity.  The number one misunderstood rule to keeping your hardwood floor in continued great shape is keeping your humidity level in your home between 30% – 60%.  I live in Stevens Point, WI where the summers are warm & humid and the winters are cold & dry.  You need to take steps to monitor your home humidity levels and take appropriate steps to raise or lower your humidity levels accordinly.  First, purchase a humidity gauge and check it regularly.  Go to your local hardware store or online at Amazon.com. Do this and your hardwood floor will thank you for it.