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Tips and Tricks

Encapsulating Autumn with Decor

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Seasonal decorating is a tradition many families will integrate into their homes.  When winter comes, the Christmas tree and lights go up, and when spring comes, flowers are planted around your house.  Autumn is a great season filled with holidays, festivities, and seasonal amenities which are fantastic to include in your home design.   

It’s also a great time to spice up your space with new floors and countertops. In fact, flooring and countertops can set the stage for your design. From hand-scraped to wire-brushed trends to marble looks, the design possibilities are endless in 2020. Plus, with innovations in the industry, you do not have to settle for only one type of flooring in your home.

We put together a list of five Autumn décor ideas you will want to include in your home to express your festive-side:

Plaid

Fall has a sense of being cozy when you are indoors and a sense of adventure when out and about.  Adding plaid blankets or a new area rug to your floors will give your house a nice warm and cozy feel.  You can try adding plaid designs outside through welcome mats, outdoor pillows, and blankets. 

Fall Plantation

Including fall harvest inside your home is another excellent way to make a statement.  Outside your home, you can add straw, autumn flowers, or corn stalks. Inside your home you can take these same elements and create an arrangement for your countertop to set the mood for fall.  Add pumpkins as a centerpiece on your table or you can even have a basket filled with fall foods like corn, squash, and baby pumpkins.  Including faux wheat is another excellent decor piece to add to vases or pitchers around your home.  Go a step further and add fall scents. You can incorporate things like cinnamon soaps or cider scented candles to help capture the fall feel.

However, if you notice that your countertops are not as pristine as they once were, you can have your countertops replaced. Currently homeowners love the natural, one-of-a-kind beauty of marble and quartz countertops. Marble countertops feature an authentic, beautiful veining that is unmatched by any other countertop. However, if you are looking for a more durable & low maintenance countertop, quartz is a great option, you can opt for beautiful quartz countertops. Quartz is composed of natural crystals, which makes it an insanely gorgeous countertop option. Plus, quartz countertops are perfect for homeowners who love to cook because they are scratch-, stain-, and heat-resistant.

Wood

Adding pictures with wood or incorporating wood into your home design can add to the overall warmth of a room.  You can start using your fireplace more and decorate your mantle with festive fall décor.  Put fallen leaves into picture frames and display the beautiful countryside colors of fall for an added touch.

Think Rustic

Rustic colors will make a substantial impact on your home’s decor and what you are trying to convey.  Adding rustic display items and antiques will help fully encapsulate the fall spirit.  Woven baskets are great to use in your home and can hold your plaid blankets.  Adding warm reds to your home through curtains, throw rugs, area rugs and floral arrangements can give a rural influenced aesthetic in the fall season. Try adding rustic display items as a centerpiece to your kitchen island!

Pillows and Pictures

A simple, cost-effective task you can add is swapping out your current pictures and pillows.  This is an easy tradition you can do for every season.  Plaids and stripes with autumn hues can help bring your room full circle, but you do not have to commit to the look year-round fully.

Autumn can have so many fun decorations to add to your home.  Try including some of these tricks and tips this fall season to your home.

How to Style Throw Pillows Like a Pro

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From vibrant, bold hues to jazzy patterns, throw pillows are a fabulous way to accent or spice up a bed or sofa. Whether you are decorating the couch in the living room or the bed in the master bedroom, putting together the right combination of throw pillows can be much harder than it looks. In fact, mixing patterns and colors can be considered an art. Here are some secrets for styling throw pillows like a professional:  

  • Don’t Make This Mistake

Perhaps, the biggest mistake that homeowners make when selecting throw pillows is playing it too safe. The great thing about accent pillows is that they are typically used sparingly, which means that you have room to play around with pattern and color without overwhelming the space. As the largest piece of furniture in the room, the sofa or bed is usually a neutral color. Using neutral colored throw pillows will create a whitewashed effect. Take a chance with your creativity and choose colorful or designed accent pillows for a beautiful look.   

  • Meshing Throw Pillows With Your Decor

Are you worried that a specific throw pillow will not work well with your room’s decor? Vibrant colors and patterns work well in any space as long as it harmonizes with something else in the room such as a piece of artwork, the rug, or even a chair. A throw pillow can look out of place in a space if it does not match well with anything in the room. Create a cohesive look by seeking inspiration from another element in the room.  

  • The Secret to Mixing Patterns

The key to tastefully mixing patterns is finding a common link between the patterns. Different patterns can look great together when they use a similar color or tone. Solid colored throw pillows mesh well with both large and small scaled patterns. Mixing solid throw pillows with patterns creates a balanced yet playful look. Avoid mixing more than three different patterns together in one setting.  

  • Where Should You Place Throw Pillows?

So where is the best spot for throw pillows? This largely depends on the set up of the sofa or the bed. Most designers will recommend placing throw pillows at the end or the corners of the seating area or bed. For a large couch or bed, you would want two throw pillows at both opposite ends. Leaving the midsection provides ample room for sitting or laying down.   For more expert advice, be sure to check back weekly! 

Tips for Homeowners with Pets

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We love our furry, little friends, but sometimes they can make quite the mess in our homes. As much as we vacuum and scrub, there may be some residue leftover after we clean. To tackle pet hair and dirt, we have created the ultimate pet cleaning list. You can successfully remove odors and stains with these quick and easy tips! 

Five Tips for Homeowners with Pets: 

  • Tip No. One: Unmark Their Territory. 

Sometimes our pets will mark their territory inside of our homes. Fight back by spraying the area with a natural mixture of eucalyptus (essential oil) and warm water. This will deter them from marking their territory in that area again and will add a new fresh scent. 

  • Tip No. Two: Clean Their Chew Toys.

Our pups do not have a care in the world, but we should care about their health. Make sure you clean their toys at least once a month to remove all germs and bacteria. Load the non-fabric toys into your dishwasher with one tablespoon of baking soda. Let the toys run through a cycle in your dishwasher then set them aside to dry. For your fabric toys, place them inside of your washing machine with a sprinkle of baking soda. Let the cycle run on the lowest setting possible for your washing machine them sit them out to dry naturally. 

  • Tip No. Three: Get Their Claws Off.

If your animal loves to shred things, take a couple of drops of lavender/rosemary essential oil (cats) or cinnamon/lemon essential oils (dogs) to deter them from clawing your stuff. 

  • Tip No. Four: Wash Their Beds.

Your pets’ beds can begin creating an odor in your home. You want to wash their beds as frequently as you wash your own sheets. Throw their dog bed in the washing machine with mild detergent. 

  • Tip No. Five: Brush Them Outside.

A way to avoid them shedding inside of your house is to take them outside. Brush them off outside, and they will not get the leftover hairs on your stuff.  

We hope you enjoyed these tips for your furry friend. Let us know what you think in the comment section.

Disclaimer: Please use common sense when spraying anything on any floor, fabric or surface!

New Year, New Design Goals

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With the New Year, it is time to set some goals for your design. And while the New Year does not mean you need to revamp your design completely, it is time to start taking proactive steps in your home’s design. Educating yourself on design tips and tricks to use in your home can only go as far as you allow it. So, you will need to start by setting goals. For instance, do you have a room that does not have the most functional layout? Or, do you have a space that feels like you have not designed it? Perhaps, you have been talking about remodeling your kitchen, yet never got to the task. Well, this year is going to be different. We are going to set achievable and obtainable goals to help our design theme reach the next level, and here is how:

Types of Goals

Before you can make a goal, you need to understand the three types of goals. You can have long-term, medium-term, and short-term goals. 

  • A long-term goal may be something like a kitchen remodel or an addition to your home. It can take a significant investment, incorporate many mini-projects, or consist of a long period of time to complete. 
  • A medium-term goal may be redesigning your master bedroom’s theme. Perhaps, you need to invest in a new bed frame, mattress, furniture, and bedding. You may be able to complete this within a week. 
  • A short-term goal is almost just daily maintenance. Doing your dishes or cleaning up after yourself.

SMART Goals

Now, it is time to create your goal with a plan. The SMART acronym is designed to help you easily obtain your goal with structure. Some refer to this method as the oars and rudder. Your goal is your oars to your boat. The plan of how you are going to carry out this goal is your rudder. Without the rudder directing your boat, you are meaninglessly paddling and will not reach your destination.

Specific

Make your goal specific. Having a goal like “remodel my kitchen” is not very specific. A goal that says, “I want to have new cabinets, countertops, and flooring in my kitchen by May 1, 2020.” This goal has specific actions and deadlines.

Measurable

A good goal is trackable. Make sure you can measure the progress of your goal. If your goal is to have your home’s flooring all redone, you can measure this goal by how many rooms you complete. If you have three out of four bedrooms’ flooring redone, you are 75% of the way complete.

Attainable

Make sure your goal is obtainable for you. If remodeling a bathroom is not in the near future budget, do not set this as a goal. Setting an unattainable goal can set you up for failure.

Realistic

Likewise, you do not want to make an unrealistic goal. If your home has zoning laws or limited property, do not set a goal to add to your home. This goal . is not realistic because your home cannot have this addition feasibly.

Time-Bound

Lastly, set time boundaries. You can use short-term and medium-term goals to help you obtain your long-term goals. If you are looking to finish your basement, setting aside a budget from each paycheck can be your short-term goal, while each project in and of itself could be a medium-term goal. Perhaps one month, you put up drywall and paint it. The following month you add flooring. These medium-goals can help move you along to the grand scheme plan, so make sure to set dates.

Setting these goals can help you obtain and achieve them. What are some of your design goals? Let us know below in the comment section. Remember, they can be all different sizes. Sometimes, stacking goals can actually make you stay more focused, so try not to overwhelm yourself.

How to Pick Hardware for Your Cabinets

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You have begun your kitchen remodel, and every design element has fallen into place. Your new countertops look amazing with your new floors that complement your cabinet selection. But all of a sudden, you realize that you have forgotten to choose your cabinet’s hardware. While it is not the biggest decision, you have been dreading making it. Luckily, you remembered this article, and all of your stress went away – okay, well, maybe not all of it.

The hardware you select for your kitchen cabinets can help complete the overall design; therefore, it can often be a challenging decision for homeowners to make. From modern, sleek pieces to more elaborately-designed pieces, you have a wide selection when it comes to styles. Fortunately, the decision does not need to be difficult. At ICC Home, we strive to make all of your design selections easy. Today, we are going to help you choose the right hardware for your cabinets with six easy steps. Let’s get started!

Where There Is a Design, There Is a Way

When you are designing your kitchen, it is important to keep within a design theme. If you do, it will help you make more accurate decisions. For example, if you have a Modern kitchen, you will want to look more toward Modern hardware, especially if your cabinets have clean lines. Ideally, you want to complement the overall design theme you have chosen by selecting cabinet hardware within its design family.

The Finishing Touch

Another great tip to remember is that all finishes should match within your kitchen. For example, if you have a stainless steel faucet, you would want to select stainless steel hardware.

Color Me Inspired

If you do not decide to match your kitchen’s finishes, your kitchen cabinet’s colors should help you decide on a color. For example, if you have gray cabinets, you may decide to go with black hardware since it is within the same color family.

Don’t Go Overboard

A lot of homeowners are incorporating the trend of mixing metals; however, it is important to set a limit for yourself. While this may currently be a trend, you want to try creating a kitchen design that is timeless. For example, if you have stainless steel appliances, you may want to opt for hardware that complements stainless steel rather than opposes it.

Quality, Quality, Quality

The most inexpensive option is not always the best option, especially when it comes to hardware. When designing your kitchen, you will want to choose quality pieces that will last a lifetime. They may have more of a price tag, but they will be able to stand up against daily tasks.

Mix and Match

When deciding whether to choose a knob or a pull, you can explore the idea of mixing and matching the two throughout your kitchen. Pulls can be more useful for areas that you frequently use, whereas knobs can hold a lot of decorative potential.

A Realm of Possibilities

Designing a space is your chance to express yourself and your creativity. It can always be fun to try something new and bold. Explore your options before you commit to the simplest design.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, ICC Home has you covered. We have a beautiful showroom filled with inspiring room scenes to help you during the design process. Plus, we have expert designers ready to answer any and all of your questions. Do not hesitate; visit us today to make all of your dreams a reality.

4 Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting Paint

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Paint can completely transform a space. Certain colors have specific “feelings” associated with them and as a result, choosing the correct color can create a seemingly perfect, well-put-together design. Since paint holds together a whole design, it is often encouraged to finish off the look with paint. If you are nearing the final step in your design process, we would like to share some common mistakes to avoid when choosing paint colors. These helpful tips will eliminate any questions, doubt or concerns when searching for the perfect paint color. Let’s take a look! 

Four Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting Paint:

Mistake No. 1: Picking Your Paint Color First: 

You will want to determine what you are keeping in the room if you are not starting the design process from scratch. Organize existing colors in the room starting with the flooring, furniture, window coverings, artwork, textiles, and area rugs. You will also want to take into consideration how much natural light comes into the room. Consider how all these variables play off each other and choose a color that can support these various items.  Maybe you will decide to select your main wall color from an accent throw pillow, area rug or window coverings. If you pick your color first, you will limit your choices, and you cannot guarantee that your new shade will match the existing colors. This theory also works if you are starting your design process from scratch. Experts recommend choosing paint last to ensure that it fits within the current color scheme. 

Mistake No. 2: Not Looking at The Whole Picture: 

You will want to walk from room to room and understand the flow. Considering the transitions of your rooms is essential. You want the entire home to blend aesthetically from room to room. For example, you would not paint the kitchen a bright red and the family room a neon green. While the colors may look nice separately, they can clash during the overall transition. 

Mistake No. 3: Picking an Overbearing Color:

If you love red, we do not recommend painting the entire room red because it may potentially overpower the room. Instead, choose an accent piece like a lamp with a red base or red accent pillows to introduce the color into the room. Wall colors with a lighter, more muted tone work much better for the wall color. The last thing you want is for the paint colors to fight for attention and clash with the other colors found throughout the room.

Mistake No. 4: Not Considering Emotional Goals:

Each color evokes a certain feeling. Warm tones and cool tones have specific attributes associated with them. For example, cool tones are often seen as relaxing and refreshing whereas warm tones are seen as cozy and comforting. When you are choosing a color, you will want to consider the feelings associated with it. For bedrooms, you may desire a comfortable, in turn, choose a warm beige. Whatever emotional goal you are trying to obtain, have your paint color help you get there. 

If you are struggling with the process or have any specific questions, one of our expert sales staff would love to help you! At ICC Floors, we provide a one-stop shop for your design needs. Stop into our paint store where we feature high-quality, beautiful Benjamin Moore paint and a knowledgeable sales staff. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you!