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Bathroom Flooring – What’s Best for the Elderly

March 17, 2018 by iccfloors Leave a Comment

Bathroom Flooring – What’s Best for the Elderly

When it comes to selecting new flooring for the bathroom, it’s essential to give thought to safety. If you’re living in a home with elderly adults than you’ll want to select a flooring material that can aid in preventing slips and that is durable enough to support impact. The ideal type of flooring will also have a simple maintenance process, and complement the bathroom’s interior.

Before you purchase flooring for your bathroom, be aware of the safety ranking of popular flooring choices on the market:

Ceramic Tile
While ceramic tile flooring is low maintenance, it has a safety ranking of only five out of ten. Small tiled ceramic has enough texture to provide some support and aid in preventing slips and falls. However, ceramic is cold and hard which makes it unforgiving under impact. Also, when the ceramic floor gets wet it becomes even more slippery.

Carpet
Who doesn’t love carpet flooring? Carpet is soft, warm and is the most comfortable flooring option. Carpet flooring especially when combined with underpadding will provide a soft cushion in the event of a fall. Carpet also decreases the risk of falls. The safety ranking of carpet flooring is seven out of ten.

However, let’s be real! Maintaining carpet in the bathroom will be challenging to say the least! Since the bathroom is susceptible to moisture you’ll have to figure out a way to prevent molding and keep the carpet clean and free from other contaminants that carpet attracts, yet still keep it clean.

Rubber Flooring
Rubber flooring isn’t the most aesthetically appealing type of flooring. Surprisingly, it’s also very expensive which you’ll need to take into consideration if you are on a tight budget. However, rubber flooring is the safest choice of flooring for homes with elderly adults. It has a very forgiving surface and it’s not slippery when wet. The safety rank of rubber flooring is ten out of ten.

Natural Stone
Natural stone flooring in the bathroom is simply beautiful. You’ll find that there are a large variety of colors and designs on the market. However, natural stone flooring has a super-hard surface that can possibly cause more damage upon impact. Natural stone flooring has a safety rank of four out of ten.

Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank
This new growing product category provides a good combination of being easy to clean, softer than tile and stone, and if you choose the right type, more slip resistant than other surfaces. This flooring type is becoming the bathroom surface of choice for homes with elderly residents.

Color Schemes for Small Bedrooms

March 7, 2018 by iccfloors Leave a Comment

We would like to address the misconception that white is the only color that you can use in your small space. Honestly, we believe that any color can be incorporated into any type, size, and style of bedroom. If you are ready to fully embrace your small space, we have three genius color scheme ideas for you! These color schemes will work in any small bedroom and they will instantly transform your bedroom into a perfect sanctuary.

Color Schemes for Small Bedrooms:

Deep Dreams. Surprisingly, dark colors work well in smaller bedrooms. The darker shades tend to hide the fact the room is smaller in size instead of accentuating it. These deeper shades can be projected on your walls and furnishings to create a comfortable space. If you are looking for a cozy, den look, we recommend veering more towards warm-toned colors (Reds, burgundies, browns, beiges, and deep oranges).
Natural Vibes. If you love the more earthy tones found in nature, we recommend trying to incorporate darker blues and greens with neutral colors to accent. These colors that are distinctly pulled from nature can help to create a more serene space. You can even try to incorporate darker neutral tones like taupe or charcoal to help define the space.
Nice Neutrals. Do not get us wrong, white can still be a great color for your small space. We only recommend that you veer away from stark white. Stark white tends to make rooms feel lifeless and unwelcoming. Instead, you will want to incorporate softer neutral tones like tans, off-white, light grays, etc. Plus, white will compliment every other color. You can utilize white as your complementary color.

Pro-Tip # 1: We recommend buying high-gloss paint colors to help reflect the natural light throughout your space. This will help when you are using darker, deeper paint colors inside of your small room.
Pro-Tip # 2: Use lighter shades on your ceiling. The light colors will help to make your room feel more open. If you do not want to use white, you can incorporate a lighter shade of a specific color. For example, you can use a light tan or light purple to incorporate color without being overbearing.

If you need help deciding on your color scheme, be sure to stop by our showroom!

Colors Schemes Suited for Small Kitchens

March 2, 2018 by iccfloors Leave a Comment

Owning a small home can be an exciting adventure. While having less space to work with, you may be struggling to find the perfect color scheme that compliments your home’s dimensions. Today, we are going to focus specifically on five color schemes that are perfect for small kitchens.

Colors Schemes Suited for Small Kitchens:

To preface this post, we want to discuss what each term will represent in your kitchen. Primary colors will be the areas like your walls. Secondary colors will be an area like your cabinetry. Lastly, tertiary colors will represent an area of your decor. Each color will play an essential role in the overall design of your kitchen. Together, the colors work well to open up a small space and bring it to life. Let’s take a look!

Primary Color: White; Secondary Color: Light Gray; Tertiary Color: Baby Blue.
For our first recommendation, the color scheme is white, light gray, and baby blue. These colors are perfect for a homeowner who wants a little bit of color without overcommitting. The neutrals of the white and gray compliment the brightness of baby blue to create an enduring color scheme.

Primary Color: Pure White; Secondary Color: Off-White; Tertiary Color: Beige.
For our second recommendation, the color scheme is pure white, off-white, and beige. This color scheme is for homeowners who want to play it safe. These neutrals are always a classic and will not go out of style. You can create a clean, modern look with this simple color scheme.

Primary Color: Mint Green; Secondary Color: White; Tertiary Color: Cyan.
For our third recommendation, the color scheme is mint green, white and cyan. This color scheme is a little more adventurous than the first two. It helps pull the beautiful hues found in nature right into your very own kitchen. You will love this color scheme if you are looking for a stylish kitchen.

Primary Color: White; Secondary Color: Black; Tertiary Color: Optional.
For our fourth recommendation, the color scheme is black, white, and an optional color. Whether the third color is red or blue, you will see that any color pairs perfectly with black and white. This color scheme can create a modern, clean look in any kitchen design.

Primary Color: Light Gray; Secondary Color: Charcoal Gray; Tertiary Color: White.
For our fifth recommendation, the color scheme is light gray, charcoal gray, and white. Now, this color scheme is definitely for gray lovers. It embodies elegance and warmth all in one room. We genuinely love the way charcoal looks on cabinetry, and we encourage you to try it out in your kitchen!

We hope you enjoyed these five color scheme ideas! Which one was your favorite? We would love to hear your feedback in the comment section below.

ICC Chicks Bios

February 19, 2018 by iccfloors 1 Comment

Ariel Pierce Bio

Hi, I’m Ariel! I’m an Indiana native whose heart beats for the annual Indy500. I live in Carmel with my husband and rescue puppy, Milo and spend most of my free time running my online business or blogging for my website, ArielAnn.com. I graduated Butler University this year (2018) with my degree in Marketing and a focus in Strategic Communications. After spending the past four years in and out of corporate America in various marketing positions, I realized that I simply just did not fit the “mold” and decided to try something new. So, I decided to give the flooring industry a shot and over the past month have realized that this is where I’m supposed to be. Additionally, I have also come to love the sense of community and creativity here at ICC Floors. At ICC, everyone is family, no matter where you came from or how new you are to the industry. As I grow into a more well-rounded flooring “pro”, I am super excited to share my experiences as I learn about the industry!

Alicia Mitschelen Bio

Hello, friends! My name is Alicia Mitschelen and I was born and raised in Northern Indiana. After attending Indiana University of South Bend, my fiancé, Garret and I wanted to spread our wings and venture outside of the Midwest. We sold our cars, bought a minivan (we looked super cool driving a minivan in our early 20’s FYI) packed it to our shoulders with our belongings and moved to San Diego, California for four years. We made a lot of memories, gained a handful of amazing friends, and we became dog parents to two German Pinscher dogs, Bella and Jax. We always knew we would eventually move back to Indiana to be closer to friends and family, but we didn’t realize it would be so hard to leave sunny San Diego, it will always be our home away from home. My background is in marketing and I have heavily focused on Event Planning and Management for the past 3+ years.

Before accepting a position at ICC I worked as an Event Planner and an Interior Design assistant at an Event Planning & Interior Design firm in the heart of downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. Interior Design awakened an old passion of mine that I completely gave up on. When I was a child, a popular life simulation computer game called ‘The Sims’ was released. The point of the game was to create a family and a home, keep the Sims alive, and teach them basic survival skills. I decided that I didn’t care about the Sims people whatsoever so I would just build a house until it was to my liking and then move on to the next house. I would spend hours a day playing the game, I was obsessed, to say the least. I’d like to believe that I have an eye for design and creativity. DIY’s are my jam and visiting antique stores and Ikea on the weekends brings a big smile to my face!

Goals for the Blog

With both of us being so new to the flooring industry, we thought this would be a perfect opportunity to talk about all that we are learning in real-time. ICC is a one-stop-shop for most home-building and remodeling needs for both residential and commercial projects. We offer ceramic & porcelain tile, hardwood flooring, LVT, carpeting, paint, cabinets, countertops, and much more.

With so many options, it can often be overwhelming to make a decision or understand what products will work best for you. Our goal is to simplify the process as we learn and grow into professionals in the flooring industry. We hope that as we grow that you can grow with us and learn not only about the flooring process but also become inspired and confident in your own ventures!

How to Choose a Color Scheme

February 15, 2018 by iccfloors Leave a Comment

Selecting a color scheme for your house can be a difficult process. With so many colors and variations out there, you may be overwhelmed. To help you choose the perfect color for your home, we have pulled together seven expert tips to assist you. We hope you enjoy!

How to Choose a Color Scheme:

Pull From Patterns.

A great way to choose a color palette is to look at your favorite pattern. You can gain inspiration and incorporate the colors used within the pattern to create the perfect color scheme.

Begin in Larger Rooms.

To help make the process easier, you can begin with your larger rooms and work down to your smaller rooms. By starting with your bigger rooms, you can decide on a general color scheme that will pair well throughout your entire home. Eventually, you can work down to the small rooms and focus on their color scheme.

The Dark to Light Theory.

Interior design experts recommend following the dark to light theory. The theory states that you should go from dark to light moving up the room. For example, your floors would be the darkest color, your walls would be the middle tone, and your ceiling would be the lightest color.

The Rule of 60-30-10.

The rule of 60-30-10 states that you will want to divide the room into 60% the dominant color, 30% the secondary color, and 10% the accent color. For example, your dominant color would be the walls, your upholstery would be the secondary color, and your decor pieces would be the accent color.

Get Inspired.

Blogs, magazines, and television shows can be an incredible resource for gaining color inspiration. Do some research on popular color trends before you decide on the perfect color scheme for your house.

Use Undertones.

A lot of homeowners do not realize it, but the undertones within a color can really affect the way it looks and feels in your room. To help make sure you choose the correct undertones, we are ready to show you the intricacies of the selections. We are happy to help you choose an appropriate undertone and help to create a more appealing overall paint tone.

Sample, Sample, Sample.

Before you commit to ANY color, you want to try it out on your physical walls. Colors can look extremely different once they are dried down and in your space. Take a look at the colors during the daytime and the evening to see the difference that lighting makes. Once you have decided on a color, you can then purchase the full paint can.

Designing a Guest Bathroom

February 2, 2018 by iccfloors Leave a Comment

While the spare bathroom doesn’t always get much use, it is important to ensure that it is well-designed. Yes, guest bathrooms give homeowners an opportunity to create a space that’s welcoming and comfortable. Since these washrooms aren’t used daily you can make bold and unique choices when it comes to designing the interior.

Before you begin selecting accessories, flooring, and wall colors you should first consider the layout of the bathroom. Are you working with a fairly small or a large space? Often, the guest bathroom doesn’t require many storage options since it’s likely that your guest won’t have large quantities of items to store. Therefore, when decorating you don’t have to place much emphasis on utility.

Perhaps the best part of designing a guest bathroom is that you can experiment with patterns and colors that you would normally consider too bold for other areas of the home. After you have analyzed the current layout of the bathroom it’s time to formulate a distinct design that you’re interested in implementing. Do you want to create a rustic feel or try a fun or loud wall color? Try utilizing unique fixtures and furniture pieces. You can find different pieces at thrift stores and boutiques. Remember, the sky is really the limit.

Even though your guests’ stay is temporary you still want them to be comfortable. Give your guests a hotel-like experience by adding function. You can stock the guest bathroom vanity with amenities such as toothpaste, soap, and towels. Additionally, ensure that the bathroom is free from clutter.

If you have questions about the best flooring, cabinets, or paint colors for your guest bathroom, feel free to ask! We are always happy to help you through the process. Stop by to see one of our showrooms or fill out a contact form and we will get in touch with you.