Archive for the ‘Commercial’ Category

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The Growth of LVT

Tuesday, December 11th, 2012

LVT has continued to grow in design and technology. People love it because of its versatile ability to be placed anywhere, even in high moisture areas. Designers love it because it has the ability to replicate wood and stone with amazing accuracy.

As LVT technology continues to develop so does the printing process. Instead of using only a two color finish we are now seeing five colors. This means LVT can achieve higher depth and shadow which gives it a more realistic look.  IRE (In-Register-Embossing) is starting to become more sophisticated as companies continue to develop the product. IRE is where the texture of the surface directly matches the printed picture. Instead of having a flat surface you will be able to see all the dips and ridges of traditional stone.

The real exciting concept will come when companies begin to incorporate a more original design. Since this is a printed product anything can be possible. You want your floor to incorporate an image of your choice? Get it printed in the LVT finish. Look for some amazing advances in this field; you will soon see it popping up in more spaces.

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Posted in Commercial, Epoxy Flooring, Fun Facts, Home, Tile, Wood | No Comments »

Shedding Light on New Light Bulbs

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

The world of light bulbs keeps changing. We have come a long way from the simple wire design that has a life span of a month. LED bulbs are expanding in technology and design. They are showing up in almost every store and more companies are jumping in on the action.

LED bulbs last longer and use less energy than their conventional counter part. LEB bulbs fit into conventional bulb sockets and almost all are dimmable. It seems to be a win-win at every angle.

The new bulb from Insignia has the potential to last 22 years and only cost $14-$17. It illuminates at 40 or 60 watts but might have a little BUZZ sound to it.

Insignia – LED Bulb

Switch Lighting came out with a liquid cooled LED bulb that last 25,000 hours. Sure, water and electricity usually don’t mix and why would you need a liquid cooled bulb. The question is why not! This bad boy looks cooler than your ordinary bulb and it does something almost every other electronic in your home doesn’t.

Switch Lighting – Liquid Cooled LED

If brighter is your goal, 100 watt bulbs are starting to roll into stores. Sylvania, Switch Lighting, and Philips all have 100 Watt bulbs that are able to use up to 85% less energy than conventional bulbs. Of course the spiral bulb that we have become custom to seeing is the cheapest version of the bunch.

 

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Give Your Bulbs a Twist

Tuesday, September 11th, 2012

If you want to have a subtle but impactful “wow” try switching out normal bulbs for specialty ones. Light bulb design has come a long way in recent years, if you can utilize this new trend you will achieve a look not many others will. Not only are most of these new bulbs more stylish but they will save you money on energy costs. The Baby Plumen 001 shown below is a great example of how a simple little change can add a lot to your light fixture.

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Reclaimed Countertops

Tuesday, August 21st, 2012

Give your kitchen a little extra “something” while also feeling good about what you have installed. Reclaimed tops have to ability to make a kitchen shine with style and nostalgia. They are recycles from old kitchen tear outs, wood barn scraps, or just about any other source possible. They are then refinished and sealed to give an amazing shine and feel.

A great option is a butcher block island top or a flat bar top. These both will add a special focus in your space as well as give you the feel of warmth. Combine these tops with excellent lighting and you will forever fall in love with the possibilities of wood.

 

Posted in Commercial, Fun Facts, Home, Wood | 1 Comment »

Luxury with Vinyl Tiles

Tuesday, August 7th, 2012

Luxury vinyl tiles have been used in commercial applications for years, but are now filtering their way to smaller venues. LVT comes in square tile form made to resemble ceramic tiles and they also come in plank form to resemble wood flooring.

The quick and dirty of LVT is that it is much easier to install and also to maintain. It is water resistant as well as scratch, stain, dent, and scuff resistant. It is at a lower cost than ceramic tile and wood planks but still retains the look of these products.

LVT is no longer just a checker pattern that a lot of our grandparents use to have. It can be made to accommodate any design and is a great option to enhance a room.

   

Posted in Commercial, Home, Shaw, Tile, Wood | No Comments »

Pinterest

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard where people can “collect” pictures.  It is a place to organize and share the things that you love.  People can find design ideas, do-it-yourself crafts, recipes, ideas for weddings and travel ideas.  Whatever you are looking for Pinterest will have an idea for you. 

The main appeal to Pinterest.com is that it is easy to use and helps eliminate the need for magazines.  Everyone has a “board” where they “pin” their image.  People can follow their friends, celebrities and also find new friends with the same interests.  Your followers will see all your new ideas and inspirations.  The images can be liked, commented on or re-pinned to their own boards.

You can follow us on Pinterest under Focalpointflooring.  We showcase some of our own installs along with what inspires our designers.  You will also find a board titled Eye Catching, Fun Loving and Yum! Delicious.  This is where we post fun and yummy ideas in addition to our design styles.

We hope you follow us for inspiration and we look forward to following you for our own inspirational ideas.  We are here to make your “pinning” home and remodel dreams a reality.

Happy Pinning!!

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Larger Tiles For A Larger Feel

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012

We are always getting the age old question “how to make a small bath or kitchen feel larger.”

One of the easiest and most productive ways to create the feel of a larger space is to use larger tile. I always suggest 12 X 12 tiles or larger will give the best effect. This method can be used on the floor as well as on the walls if wanted. The theory is that with larger tiles you will have more surface and less grout lines, this opens your eye to the whole space.

When you combine small spaces with small tiles your get a cluttered and busy look, this in turn makes your room feel smaller.

If you are going to go with a large tile make sure to level the floor and use a strong cement base. This will give you less of a chance for cracks and other problems down the road. You will also notice less maintenance in your space while using large tiles.

Posted in Commercial, Fun Facts, Home, Tile | No Comments »

Get To Know Your Quartz Counter-top

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

Quartz is a natural stone; it is ground up and combined with resins to form a hard surface counter-top. This process yields a much harder and none porous surface. Since the counter-top is manufactured you can mix dye to make any color imaginable. Many manufactures will also combine antibacterial substances into the resin to help maintain the healthiness of the counter.

With the lack of veins and stress lines you can use quartz in more corner applications than granite. You will be able to lay your counter into double corners and have less seams in your overall concept. This not only will look a lot smoother but will give way to less problems in the future.

 

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The Space Above

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Ceilings normally don’t get very much love. If you want to set your room or house apart from the rest, introduce some color to the space above.

If you currently have low ceilings try using your wall color at about half intensity. This will give a more consistent look and help give the impression of higher ceilings. If you want to lower the look of your ceiling try using darker shades, the darker the color the lower it will seem.

To set a section of your home apart and give the space some definite character, use an “off the wall” color like pink or purple. This will give your boring space some much needed life.

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Wood Floor Knowledge

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

Wood flooring comes in many styles, finishes, and density. With so many choices it can become very confusing to choose the right floor for you. Here are some examples to think about when picking a new floor.

  • Type: Exotic, Solid, Engineered, Pre-finished, Unfinished
  • Style: Distressed, Hand scraped, Cabin/Country style, Raised grain, Wire scraped
  • Finish: High shine, Oiled finished, Satin finished, Gloss finished, Matte finished

You also have to consider the density of the wood that will best meet your needs. If you are going to have people walking in shoes, mostly heels than you will want a floor with high density. If your home is going to have light traffic with little dropped objects, than you will be able to use a medium or low density wood. The density rating is based on the Janka system. Woods such as Maple, Cherry, and Oak come in various densities, these can fit any situation. Bamboo is a great renewable product that can very in density, depending on the plant fibers.  

Posted in Commercial, Fun Facts, Home, Wood | No Comments »

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