Tag Archives: Redesign St. Paul MN

Using Wallpaper as a Design Element

Photo credit: Homesandgardens.com

Wallpaper is all over the place these days and there are so many fun fresh patterns.  Plus with peel-and-stick, you can easily apply it yourself and not be tied to it for years to come.  Wallpaper is a very easy way to add some personality to your space.

Great spaces to try wallpaper for the first time are:

Powder Bathrooms: A small, safe place to do something different or bold!  This paper is from Rifle Paper Co.

Photo credit: Stylecharade.com

Primary Bedroom or Kids Bedroom: Less visitors in these rooms, so you can design more specifically to you or your children’s taste.

Photo credit: Thespruce.com

Laundry Room: Add some spunk to an ordinarily not-so-fun room.  Maybe you’ll enjoy doing laundry more!

Photo credit: Bria Hammel Interiors

Anywhere with bookshelves or open shelves: Try it just inside some open shelving for a peek of color or texture.

Photo credit: Decorpad.com

Great places to look for wallpaper are:

Good price point — Amazon + Home Depot + Etsy

Some of the prettiest, unique designs — Spoonflower + Wallshoppe + Chasing Paper

Happy papering!

 

 

Decorating With Coastal Colors

Ahhh……I think it is finally Spring and with that comes an urge to redo a room or two in your home. An easy way to do that is with a paint color change or even changing a few accessories like throw pillows, accent pieces or artwork.

I love Coastal Colors as they are so fresh you can almost smell the salt air. I will say I have some coastal color favorites when it comes to paint.

Let’s start with Drizzle by Sherwin Williams SW 6479. There are so many rooms that I have used this color and have never been disappointed.

In a Family Room:

 

A guest bath:

 

 

And even a Laundry Room:

 

 

Another great coastal color is Rainwashed by Sherwin Williams SW 6211.  Again I have used this in a laundry room and also a Master Bedroom and Living Area.

 

 

 

Sherwin Williams Comfort Gary SW 6205 and Sea Salt SW 6204 are probably the highest on my list for coastal colors. They are so spa like as well.

 

 

 

 

If you don’t want to commit to a new painting color (but why not it’s only paint after all), accessorizing in coastal colors is a great option.

 

 

 

 

You do not have to live at the beach to use Coastal Colors in your home. Pick a room that you would like to add some color and head to the paint store this weekend!

 

What is LVT/LVP? You will want to know!

If you are building or remodeling a home, there is a chance that you may have come across these abbreviated letters. But many of my clients just starting the process get a blank look when I say “Have you considered LVT?”

LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile. When I mention the word vinyl I sometimes see a horrified look on my client’s faces with flash backs to the large linoleum rolls of flooring from the 60s. That is NOT what I am talking about. 

Many times LVT is used as a catch all for all vinyl flooring but there is a difference based on style.

Luxury Vinyl (LV) comes in many styles and colors. It comes in long planks (LVP –Luxury Vinyl Planks) of different widths for the appearance of real wood. It also comes in 12″x24″ rectangles for the appearance of ceramic tiles (LVT). These rectangles can be grouted for an even more realistic tile look. You can even find luxury vinyl that looks likes stone.

 

 

 

Luxury Vinyl continues to improve and many times I have to get down to feel the flooring to determine if it is ceramic tile, hardward, or Luxury Vinyl. Of course real hardwood and real tile will add more value to your home but many times these products are not the best choices.

Vinyl plank flooring is the perfect flooring solution for busy households, basements, bathrooms, and even kitchens. It has the natural, stunning look of wood, without the risk of water damage because it is waterproof! I installed LVP in my laundry room and I LOVE IT!

 

 

It not only looks like rustic wood, my wash machine could flood and the flooring could sit in water for days and not be harmed.

 

 

AND is is super easy maintenance in a room that is high traffic for St Bernards. 🙂   

 

 

Please do your homework. Some vinyl sheets or planks are only water resistant….not waterproof. Many of the peel and stick variety you find in the big box stores are only water resistant.

A FABULOUS article about Luxury Vinyl from one of the best flooring experts in the Country is The Flooring Girl’s Blog Post. Check it out!

I installed LVT in my guest bath. I chose not to grout it as I didn’t want the maintenance of scrubbing and keeping grout clean. The best thing about LVT is the low maintenance so why complicate it?

 

 

 

LV is made in layers with it’s primary component being PVC vinyl. This makes it makes stable and flexible. Luxury wood vinyl planks also, unlike hardwood, have an extremely hard, durable wear layer. Created under great heat and pressure, the many layers of luxury vinyl tile make it extremely durable and stable. Luxury vinyl tile is extremely durable and stable, with little to no upkeep.

Vinyl flooring typically lasts anywhere from 10 to 20 years, and thus isn’t considered quite as durable as linoleum. But who wouldn’t replace their flooring after 10-20 years anyway? The styles will be totally different.

So if you are remodeling, building or updating your home for selliing, it is worth your time to discuss LVT/LVP with your flooring specialist to see if it is right for you.