Fabulous Faux Collection from Schumacher

The latest Schumacher wallcovering features luxurious faux designs. The highlights are the crocodile and leather design, both available in an array of colors. A handful of the designs are a take off of marble, stone, suede or faux wood, all in stylish colors. The wallcoverings are unpasted and either 27" or 54" wide and untrimmed. Since the majority of the designs have a raised surface it would be best to clean them very softly if necessary.  See more pattern from Schumacher's Fabulous Faux.


Faux Crocodile Wallcovering in Color Crimson
Available in 4 Colorways

Romeo Wallcovering in Color Carrara

Available in 3 Colorways
 

Faux Bois Wallcovering in Color Silver Moon
Available in 3 Colorways

Florence Wallcovering in Color Carnelian
Available in 3 Colorways

Shagreen Wallcovering in Color Chinese Orange
Available in 8 Colorways

 

 

How to Paint a Non Functioning Fireplace

Painting a fireplace place can be a daunting project. But if you have a free day on your hands and want to give your non functioning fireplace a face lift, go for it. There are only three easy steps to painting your fireplace!

1. The fireplace needs to be cleaned and free of any dirt and dust. You can do this using TSP and a good scrub brush. Be sure to keep either paper towels or rags handy to clean and dry the area as you go.
 
2. The next step is priming the exposed bricks. All bricks need to be dried and free of any leftover residue from cleaning. Apply two coats of either a latex or oil stain blocking primer with a good quality brush.

3. You will need to wait approximately 2 hours before applying the finished coat. The paint can either be an oil or latex interior paint. And again a good quality brush is the way to go when painting your non functioning fireplace.

Our paint departments are here to help with any and all questions!

Factory Paint & Decorating

Benjamin Moore 2015 Color Trends

Benjamin Moore has released their paint color choices for 2015 as well as the color of the year, which is Guilford Green. The 2015 Colors can be viewed here. To stay up to date on the 2015 paint colors follow our Pinterest board.

I have to say I really like the 2015 colors. My firsts thoughts when looking at the colors is Romance with the pale barely there colors. Citrus with the handful of greens in all hues. Cool when looking at the range of blue and white hues. The Old Claret color makes for a fantastic focal wall or a small bathroom color. It pairs well with so many other colors.

All of Benjamin Moore colors are available in pint sized samples, when you are ready to take the plunge and try the new 2015 colors.

Thibaut Design Gives New Meaning to Bright & Worldly

If you are looking to add bright colors and worldy designs to your space you must see the wallpaper and fabric collection Caravan from Thibaut. The top colors that are throughout are blues, greens and oranges. All of the print and woven fabrics coordinate with the wallcovering making the challenge of decorating just a little bit easier. From quirky colorful birds to ikats to medallion designs you will see it all in this collection.

To see more of Caravan visit Thibaut Design.


Banyan Wallpaper in Fuschia and Coral

Janta Bazaar Wallpaper & Fabric in Flax

Patara Ikat Wallpaper in Fuschia

  



















Sevita Wallpaper in Blue & Green

Tarragon Wallpaper in Aqua

Striking Grasscloth Designs

The latest grasscloth wallcovering collection from Thibaut, Grasscloth Resource Volume 3, is a compilation of paper weaves, raffia and grasscloth. There are many brightly colored patterns as well as geometric designs. We are pleasantly surprised to see all the unique designs in the grasscloth collection. The rich deep colors lend themselves to a masculine space while the patterned designs can be used almost anywhere. Installing grasscloth in a foyer really makes a statement to your guests. It exudes a welcoming feeling as well as a bit of a sophistication.

We can recommend qualified wallpaper hangers to install grasscloth as it can be difficult to hang. Stop in to any one of our stores to see our collection of grasscloth. Click here to view more patterns from the Grasscloth Resource 3 collection.


Adriatic Design Grasscloth Wallcovering

Maze Design Grasscloth Wallcovering

 
Sachon Basket Design Grasscloth Wallcovering

Stablewood Design Grasscloth Wallcovering

Zagora Design Grasscloth Wallcovering

Regal Select Exterior Paint REVIVE for Vinyl Siding

Benjamin Moore has launched a new product for vinyl siding, REVIVE, available in 59 colors. REVIVE allows you to refresh the exterior of your home by painting faded vinyl siding with a subtle refresh or a dramatic change to your home. It is specially formulated for optimal performance on PVC, vinyl siding and trim. The exterior paint is easy to apply and easy to clean up!

Visit one of our three stores for more information.

Hunter Douglas Luminette's - Soft Sheer Draperies

The Luminette Privacy Sheers by Hunter Douglas are a sophisticated soft drapery sheer. The mechanics of the window treatment are quite simple, the fabric vanes rotate to close and open. Essentially controlling the light in the room as well as the privacy. The Luminette is perfect for sliders and large windows. The sheers are custom made to size, the size maximum is pretty impressive, Hunter Douglas can make them as wide as 192" and 120" in height. There is an option for motorization which is great if they are intended for out of reach windows. Another great feature is the selection of sheer fabric colors as well as the privacy levels.

There is a Luminette in each of our three stores if you are in the area you can give it a test drive.

Bring "Joy" in to Your Home by Decorating with Coral and Salmon

As we are in the middle of Summer I wanted to touch upon decorating with the Salmon and Coral hues. There is something about these colors and Summer that put a smile on my face. 

There seems to be many color meanings for the colors Coral and Salmon. While some take Coral to represent loyalty and creativity others say it stands for passion and desire. As for the color Salmon it signifys good health, youth, joy as well as a passion for life.

If you like the said colors take the plunge and go for a faux grasscloth in coral or paint a focal wall in Benjamin Moore's Passion Fruit. If these ideas are too bold start off with a few throw pillows to bring the color in to your space. Introducing the colors in to your current decor is a lot easier than you think.

Bankin Raffia in Coral from Thibaut's Texture Resource V 4 Collection
Benjamin Moore's Abode Orange 2171-30

Hampton Court from York's 18 Karat Collection
Benjamin Moore's Andes Summit CSP600

Thibaut's Brunswick from the Serendipty Collection
Benjamin Moore Lip Gloss CSP-1160

Stanburry Trellis in Coral from Thibaut's Graphic Resource Collection
Benjamin Moore's Passion Fruit 2171-40

Benjamin Moore's Summer Melon 2168-50 - Fawn Hill Wallpaper from Waverly Cottage - Benjamin Moore's Mellowed Ivory 2149-50

Sophisticated and Sheer Silhouette Window Shadings

The Silhouette Window Shadings by Hunter Douglas are a sophisticated and elegant window treatment.

The Silhouette is custom made to the size of your window. They can be ordered as wide as 12 feet and as long as 10 1/2 feet in height. A great option for a very large window!  For larger windows the option of having two on one headrail is available.

With the construction of contemporary and modern homes there is usually a window that is out of the ordinary in terms of shape. The Silhouette can be constructed in to specialty shapes such as an arch, an angle, a circle and an oval.



The construction of the Silhouette is soft fabric vanes suspended between two sheers. The Signature S-Vane™ creates ambient light and shadow giving you daytime privacy. The vanes are available in 2-4" sizes.


If you can believe it there are 10 lifting options for the Silhouette! Making it easy for you to choose the one that works best for your home. Hunter Douglas has really taken the motorization upgrade to a new level with their Platinum™ Technology. You can actually control the Silhouette from your phone or tablet. Wow! How convenient.

Additional Features:

~Reflect Solar Heat
~Enhance Natural Sunlight
~88% Ultraviolet Protection
~Inside/Outside Mount
~White Sheer Facing Street

Stop in to one of our three decorating departments to preview the Silhouette.

Looking for an Easy to Clean Window Treatment? Aluminum Blinds May Just do the Trick

If you are looking for a fashionable sleek modern window treatment, Hunter Douglas Modern Metals aluminum blinds would do the trick. The options are endless! The slat size ranges from ½" up to 2" giving you either an ultra private view or a wide view through. If light control is a factor for you, the de-Light™ feature is available in a few of the blinds. This feature blocks light and hides cord holes giving you better light control.


The smallest of the aluminum blinds sizes (½" and 1") has the widest selection of colors and finishes. These are the most economical blinds offered within Hunter Douglas aluminum blinds.

I was delightly surprised to see Hunter Douglas Natural Elements™ blinds. It is a combination of real wood valances and aluminum slats.

A few of the upgrades include the literise (cordless) option as well as the option for adding decorative tapes. Both enhance the blind greatly.

Decorative Tapes 

LiteRise Lift System Option

Simple Selections™ by Graber offers a 1" Aluminum Blind. These affordable blinds are pretty straight forward and do not have upgrade options. They are however easy to mount with their hidden brackets, have a sleek headrail design allowing for no valance, and both the headrail and bottomrail are color coordinated.  Turn around time is quite quick with only having to wait 10 days.

Vertical Blinds for all Budgets

Vertical Blinds can be a great window treatment for sliders and large bay windows. We offer custom verticals that can be installed either on the inside or outside of the window frame. Our professional installers can measure your windows for the most accurate measurements.

Hunter Douglas offers Somner Custom Verticals which are easy to operate and have great light control. Hunter Douglas verticals are available in a wide array of colors and patterns as well as available in vinyl, fabric and aluminum.

Graber Vertical Blinds are perfect for patio doors and large windows. Selecting a bold color or pairing the existing decor will surely make a statement. Traditional vinyl verticals are also available in S-shaped louvers. The fabric verticals is a nice touch especially with the feature of either light filtering or room darkening. Graber's sheer verticals have the appearance of a soft drapery.

Stop in to one of our three showrooms today to see our Vertical Blind options.

Upgrade from a Traditional Fabric Shade

If you are looking for a traditional fabric shade but want a little enhancment, Hunter Douglas's Pirouette Window Shadings are the route to go. Similar to the Silhouette they are a horizontal sheer fabric vane. The fabric vanes reduce glare while also offering UV protection. The Pirouette's are custom made up to 12 feet in width and height. Another excellent option for large windows. Motorization and Specialty Shapes are additional features you can add on. All hardware and cords are color coordinated to match the fabric.

All of the Hunter Douglas products are custom made so it is best to have a professional installer measure to be assured accurate measurements.

Visit one of our three stores to peruse the Pirouette fabrics.

Pirouette® Window Shadings with EasyRise®

Pirouette® Window Shadings with UltraGlide®

Decorating with Blue and Aqua

Blue and Aqua, the colors of the ocean and all things calming. Even though Spring is moving along I'm looking to the summer months and the beach!

Navy and White has always been a classic combination in decorating. Thibaut has two blue and white wallcovering patterns that are fun and quirky. The design Shore Thing actually resembles the crest of a wave. Available in both wallpaper and fabric, the design is that much easier to incorporate. If blue and white isn't for you but you love the design there are plenty of other colorways available. I'm so happy to see the Chevron design making its way into classic colors making the pattern easier to add to your decor. If you are striving for a nautical theme in your bathroom, Molokini is perfect! The realistic coral reef design in blue screams tranquil.

Shore Thing - Resort Collection by Thibaut

Widenor Chevron in Navy - Graphic Resource Thibaut
paired with Benjamin Moore's Van Deusen HC-156

Molokini Blue on White - Biscayne Collection by Thibaut

Hunter Douglas' latest window treatment, Solera Soft Shades, is a combination of a soft sculpted look with unique cellular construction. The Solera shades are available in both light-filtering and room-darkening opacities. The fabric colors available are a balance between fresh neutrals and inspired hues.

Solera by Hunter Douglas

Aqua, now who doesn't love the color Aqua?! Looking at it just puts a smile on my face. It is so uplifting and looks great with everything. It always looks so chic with bright white trim or wainscotting. The Turtle Bay wallcovering by Thibaut is a fun design available both Aqua and Blue. It would be a great addition to a bland bathroom that needs a little spunk but not over the top.

Regina Starfish in Aqua - Resort Collection by Thibaut
paired with Fabricut's Seaglass Stripe Fabric

CSP640 In The Tropics by Benjamin Moore
paired with Zelbio by Stout Fabrics

Widenor Chevron in Aqua - Graphic Resource Collection
CSP700 Skydive by Benjamin Moore
Turtle Bay in Aqua - Biscayne Collection by Thibaut

Spring is Here - Time to Paint Your Swimming Pool

Pool season is just around the corner and you never know what is under that cover when you open your pool for the season. Insl-x offers a great Rubber Based Swimming Pool Paint in a Satin sheen for use in both residential and commercial concrete pools. There are many great colors to choose from: White, Aquamarine, Black, Ocean Blue, and Royal Blue.

Before you start painting it is best to read up on all the details of Swimming Pool Paint as there are many things you should know before starting your project. Here are just a few important facts: 

~Do not paint in direct rays of the sun.
~Allow paint to dry for a minimum of 7 days after final coat was applied, before filling pool.
~For indoor pools allow 14 days drying time before filling the pool

Rubber Based Pool Paint features: 
~OTC-compliant, solvent-based pool paint
~For use in fresh, salt water, or chlorinated pools
~Ideal for bare concrete, marcite, gunite & other masonry
~Excellent chemical and abrasion resistance
~For use over existing chlorinated rubber or synthetic rubber-based pool paints

 

 

 

The Perfect Solution for High Humid Areas - Faux Wood Blinds

Faux Wood Blinds are a great solution for high humidity areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms. They are also perfect for homes near the water as they are designed to withstand the elements, including light, heat, moisture, and salty air.  Faux Wood Blinds won't crack, peel, warp or yellow. We offer three fantastic brands of Faux Wood Blinds hitting all price points.

Graber Faux Wood Blinds Simple Selections Collection
The Graber Faux Woods are easy-to-clean, sturdy and strong, and a cost-effective way to decorate your home.

Norman Faux Wood Blinds
The award-winning Faux Woods Blinds from Norman feature Smart Privacy. The routeless feature offers minimal light leakage, more privacy, smoother operation and tighter closure.
 

Hunter Douglas Everwood Faux Wood Blinds
If you are looking for a Faux Wood Blind with a ton of options the Everwood Collection by Hunter Douglas is the way to go. The Everwoods is available with three operating systems: Lite Rise Cordless, Standard Cordlock, and PowerTilt with Platinum Technology. There are decorative upgrades available such as custom tapes and specialty shapes. There are a large selection of whites as well as realistic wood grain finishes available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit one of our three stores today to learn more about Faux Wood Blinds.