Which Design Style Are You?

7 Design Aesthetics For Today's Homeowner - 

While everyone's design style is unique and can't always be pinned down to a single category, it can be helpful to notice patterns in your aesthetic.  We've narrowed the trends we've seen over the years to 7 distinct design categories.  Often times, someone can define their taste by mixing elements of multiple styles, so if you find two or three that you love, consider yourself lucky and have fun! 

1. Minimalist Modern

Made popular by Millenials, minimalism is all about quality over quantity.  Our customers that follow this design aesthetic go with durable and earthy materials and keep within a pretty neutral color pallet. Ceramic tile and wood are often the strong options they're looking for.  The modern minimalist will find suitable decor at West Elm, and Target.  

2. Modern Rustic 

If you're a fan of 'Fixer Upper', shiplap, or anything "farm-to-table", this might be your category!  Modern rustic is all about bringing the farmhouse to 2019.  Mixing restored hardware and wood with bright and sleek components will achieve this overall aesthetic.  The modern rustic customer will find   suitable decor at Williams Sonoma, Kirklands, and World Market.  

3. Cottage/Vintage

Shabby chic is the name of the game for this design style! The more weathered or distressed the piece, the better! Our customers that are looking for this cottage vibe will find a plethora of laminate options that come pre-distressed with plenty of texture. Those of you looking for this style will find suitable decor at Pottery Barn, and of course, your local antique shop!

4. Classic Comfort

For folks looking for a perfect combination of luxury and warmth, this is your category! Classic comfort is all about a natural color pallet, hints of metallic decor, and cozy fabrics. Customers that fall under this category are often looking for plush carpet in bedrooms, and a simple wood or tile for the rest of their home.  The lover of classic comfort can find suitable decor at Pottery Barn and Crate&Barrel.   

5. Mid-Century Modern

For the lovers of all things retro, mid century modern is the aesthetic that melds old and new into a more sophisticated look. Lighter colored woods and geometric touches throughout, create a chill and artistic vibe to any home. The Midcentury Modern customer will find suitable decor at West Elm, Urban Outfitters, and their local thrift store. 

6. Southwestern

If you love Native American art, log cabins, and Spanish influences, you'll find your home in this Southwestern category. To achieve this look, focus on bringing nature inside! Animal furs, clay pots, and plenty of wood will bring the wild West all the way home! The Southwestern homeowner will find suitable decor at Sheplers, Hobby Lobby, and local Western speciality shops. 

7. Eclectic & Whimsical

This category is all about spunk, creativity, and color.  Lovers of this category may find themselves borrowing from all sorts of design styles, all to create something bright, playful, and unique. A majority of our customers may find a flooring sample and think, "who could pull this off in their home?". The eclectic & whimsical buyer IS that customer and they pull it off in creative ways we wouldn't have thought of ourselves! Suitable decor for this aesthetic can be found in West Elm and World Market. 

By Dawnielle Carr

There are definitely more than 7 design styles, but we hope this inspired you to either narrow or expand your focus as you create the home of your dreams. At Flooring Direct Temecula, we pride ourselves on serving the widest range of customers as possible, so come stop by and let us help you with your home and flooring journey!  For more design inspo, follow Flooring Direct Temecula on Instagram, and Blogger.  Check out our Yelp pageas well. 

Temecula's Top 5 Flooring Picks

Temecula's 5 Favorite Floors

After 5 years of serving the Temecula area with quality flooring, we've rounded up of the 5 most requested flooring options by our local customers. However, Flooring Direct Temecula serves many more SoCal cities, so these favorites are truly for everyone!

5.  50 mil. Water Proof Vinyl Plank - California Floors 

An affordable and rustic option utilized by many of our property owners and renters!

4.  Italian-Made Porcelain Tile - MSI "Palmetto Smoke"

For our customers looking for the durability of tile matched with the look of wood, they've enjoyed this wood-look porcelain tile.  It's an especially popular option for bathrooms!

3.  Knockout Stain-Resistant Carpet - Dreamweaver "Multi-Tone" A family favorite in Temecula that we installed in our own home as well! Stain resistant, fade resistant, and super soft!

2.  Wide Wire Brushed Oak Wood - Naturally Aged Flooring "Broadway Brown"A luxurious, richly colored wood for any room of the house.  Investing in wood flooring is an excellent way to add value and character to any space!

1.  Moisture Resistant 12mm Laminate - Republic "Helsinki"Another one of our most popular options for families!  High quality laminate is a close match to real wood with a more modest price tag for families on a budget.  Did we mention it's water resistant?

For more flooring inspiration, follow our Instagram & Blog or check out our Yelp Pagefor reviews and contact info! 

90'S TILE GROUT LINE WOES

Dear Flooring Direct Temecula,

I keep my floors as clean as possible, and one of my biggest pet peeves is dealing with dirty grout joints. Since our floor tile is in our entry way and throughout all of the high-traffic areas of our home, I'm constantly having to get down on my hands and knees to clean the tile. My main issue is cleaning the grout lines. I spray Lime-Away in the grout joints, let it set for an hour or so, then go back and scrub away until my floors look clean again. It's a pain!

I'm frankly tired of having to do this and the floors are becoming way too dated anyway. I think it's time to say goodbye to tile and hello to something easier for me to maintain. What are your suggestions? 

Signed,
Getting Too Old For This

Dear 'Getting Too Old For This',

You've contacted the right people! While we admire your love of cleanliness and your work ethic, we agree that it may be time for a flooring update that doesn't require all of the scrubbing and harsh chemicals. Our water-resistant laminate has become quite popular for just these reasons, as it does a great job in high traffic areas, is easy to maintain and gorgeous! We carry several different laminates from many wonderful flooring manufacturers. (Mohawk's Reclaimed Chic, Silver Ivory pictured here). Come and see us today!

Signed,

Flooring Direct Temecula

28121 Jefferson Ave

Temecula, CA 92590

(951) 777-6821

A "Stay-At-Home" Workspace

When my husband and I lived in Oklahoma City, I made some extra income by cleaning a local Airbnb nearby. It was a newly updated "tiny" house, equipped with a pull-down Murphy bed, white marble countertops, and trendy modern furniture.  The windows near the front door and the side of the house let in generous light that made the wood floors sparkle after a good mopping.  Cleaning after Airbnb guests was not exactly my dream job, and I certainly broke a sweat trying to clean within the given time, but I grew to value my hours spent in that little space.  Of course, it was always easier to clean in a new place, without my toddler constantly sabotaging my efforts, but it was more than that.  This space was beautiful.  It was designed to cultivate joy and rest, and though my work was hard, I felt grateful to labor in the presence of beauty and natural light.  I began to ask myself if I had valued those same priorities when I designed our home - the home I spent far more hours cooking, cleaning, and parenting in.

For so many parents, our homes are our work environments - We don't have a break-room down the hall where we can escape to for a sip of java.  We don't leave our place of work at 5pm to return to our homes - We use the exact same space for our work, rest, and everything in between.  Why, I wondered, had I never considered that this home was to cultivate energy and creativity for my work as a stay-at-home parent too? When I picked out furniture and decor, my first thought often centered around pure functionality, instead of whether or not a piece would uplift me or make me smile throughout the day. 

Hospitality had always been such a value of mine, and yet I'd never thought to be hospitable to myself as I served my family within our home. When I thought of the houses I loved the most, they seemed to beautifully reflect the family inside - they weren't merely functional, and they weren't perfect.  Perhaps creating an environment that I would like to work in would also create a space that my family and friends could enjoy too.  
My family is now living in a small apartment in New York City, while my husband completes his PhD. Even within the limits of a tiny space, I made design choices that brought me joy this time around.  I chose colorful throw pillows and a bright yellow throw blanket to drape over our bedspread.  I chose furniture that was more sleek and modern, even though it was a bit more expensive, and when we moved in and noticed that our laminate was buckling, I let our landlord know immediately, because those little things matter to me - the person that's in this apartment the most.  

I work remotely now for Flooring Direct Temecula, but it's been so inspiring to see pictures of our customers' unique home designs.  They remind me that beauty matters, no matter who you are, or what kind of design aesthetic you have.  They remind me that beautiful homes can even make the difficult tasks of parenting and housekeeping, just a little bit more joyful.  

5 Flooring Trends in 2019

We've rung in 2019, and while we're cleaning up the mess from our holiday parties, many of us may be wondering if it's time to freshen up the design of our homes. Flooring Direct Temecula is dedicating the month of January to inspiration and creativity, so that we might spark some ideas for your home this year! 

Today, we're going to look at some new trends in flooring - Who doesn't want to be on the early side of a home trend? 

1. Matte Finishes

This year, it's out with the shiny, and in with the matte! Flooring with a matte finish adds an eclectic vibe and allows us to bring colorful and bold choices with decor and furniture.  Go for a matte finish in your tile, wood, and laminate, and bring the shine with natural light, appliances, and decor! 

2. Water-Proof Laminate 

For the last few years, vinyl has risen dramatically in popularity, due to it's affordability and defense against water damage.  Laminate producers have developed a product that is sturdier than vinyl, but is also waterproof, unlike standard laminate flooring. We foresee this as the most popular trend for our customers in 2019 and beyond!

3. Lighter Tones & Blacks!

We're moving away from rich chocolate browns and moving towards brighter lighter tones and/or going with the strong choice of black. This year is all about texture in our flooring, so even if this year's color schemes may be more classic, there's lots of ways to play with unique textures and patterns in our flooring. The light and dark contrast is a simple way to bring a strong aesthetic into flattened designs.  

4. Ceramic Patterned Tile

This is a trend that had it's beginnings in 2018, but is certainly here to stay! It used to be that colorful or patterned tile was reserved for a minimal backsplash or two, but now we're seeing ceramic tile installed in bathrooms floors, kitchen floors, or even as a statement wall! This is one of our favorite trends, and it's one of the quickest ways to elevate your design game in 2019. 

5. Soil-Resistant Carpet

It is getting easier to find carpets that will fight against stains and spills.  Carpet technology has grown quite a bit in the last few years, and you don't have to pay an arm and a leg for carpet that resists liquids either! These carpet fibers are often made of silk or other materials that have very low absorption; giving homeowners time to cleanup spills long before they soak in completely. We love this products for children's bedrooms!

If we've missed any trends, or if you'd like to share your thoughts on the ones we've mentioned, let us know in the comments.  For more design tips this year, follow Flooring Direct Temecula's blog,  Instagram, and Facebook! 

Christmas With My Italian Grandmother

Christmas With My Italian Grandmother

Like many families, mine usually switched off celebrating Christmas between each side of our family. As a child, I felt I had the best of both worlds - My mom's side of the family is Hispanic, and my dad's mother is Italian.  Flooring Direct Temecula is taking some time to share Christmas memories this month, so here's a few of the ways my Italian grandma made our Christmas celebrations unlike any other.  

1. La Pasta!

It's no coincidence that food is the first thing mentioned on our list!  Any Italian will tell you that food  acts as a powerful unifying force for all of our holiday gatherings, and that's why my grandma would begin prepping a full week before our Christmas feast! For Christmas in particular, she always prepared a few pasta dishes along side something slightly more traditional, like a ham or turkey. Whether it was lasagna, Spaghetti, or Rigatoni, the presence of pasta and homemade marinara was always a present homage to our Italian culture.

Other classics my grandma would make on Christmas included her famous "Wedding Soup"(which was usually served before the main course) and her perfectly-executed "Eggplant Parmigiana".

2. Dolci! 

I don't know how other Italian grandmothers do it, but my grandma put out all sorts of sweets to nibble on, well before we ate our meal! Whether it was the various glass dishes she had filled with old-school candies, or her platters of homemade Italian cookies, it seemed the house was filled with treats the whole day. Since becoming a mom myself, I've tried to replicate my Grandma's recipes, and while mine will never be as good as hers, here's a wedding cookie recipe that seems to get close to the ones she would make.  Wedding Cookies! 

3. Poker and Bingo! 

Again, I'm not entirely sure if this is a distinctively Italian tradition, but my Grandma NEVER ended a Christmas celebration without a little Bingo or Poker at the end of the evening!  Of course, we only played with nickels and dimes, but no child was too young to participate, as long as they played some of that brave Italian spirit my Grandma always exuded!  

4. Vino!

You probably guessed this one, but truly, no Italian Christmas was successful unless the glasses were filled and refilledwith wine throughout the celebration.  Perhaps this is why there's always food around from the beginning of the day... After all, no one should drink on an empty stomach, right? 

My Dad told me that my grandma always left out an "Italian Hot Toddy" to go with the cookies her kids put out for Santa on Christmas Eve.  

Here's a recipie for one of those if you're looking to score points with St. Nick! Italian Hot Toddy!

Thank you for following Flooring Direct Temecula this month as we've been taking some time to reflect on our Christmas Traditions. This is, after all, a family business and we're glad to share some of our family with yours. Let us know the ways your family has incorporated unique traditions that reflect your heritage and values! Merry Christmas or should we say, Buon Natale!
By Dawnielle Carr

TACO ‘BOUT A PARTY!!!

Our Flooring Direct Temecula family is DEFINIETLY in the Christmas Spirit already.  Many of you know that Bill Norris is half Italian but did any of you know that his wife, yours truly, is Hispanic?  Yes, I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas which is a border city, so all of my most cherished childhood memories of Christmas are filled with beautiful images of Luminarias as decorations, tamales on New Year’s Eve, and Mariachis playing “Feliz Navidad” on Christmas Eve.  All of that got me thinking about having a party and I thought I’d share some tips for throwing a Christmas Fiesta of your own. It's time to spice things up a bit! The Ugly Christmas Sweater party is so "last year", if you know what I mean.

¡La Comida!  Tacos and Tamales!  You could do a Taco Potluck so your guests could contribute to a full taco bar; and then purchase several dozen tamales from your nearby Cardenas or other neighborhood Mexican restaurant.  Add some Spanish Rice, Refried beans and a salad, and you’ll be good to go! Margaritas anyone?

¡Decoraciones! My favorite Christmas decoration of all time is the Luminaria.  You don’t have to purchase an expensive set either; simply buy some paper brown lunch sacks which you can fill just a third of the way with some kitty litter or sand, and add your electric candles. For indoors, add some brightly colored paper flowers to your existing Christmas tree (made by your kiddos or purchased from the store).  You can never go wrong with those adorable paper chains either. Drape them everywhere!

¡Juegos De Fiesta!  Any Christmas music in the background will keep the festive atmosphere but also throw in any Feliz Navidad covers, (with a MUST HAVE José Feliciano version) along with some instrumental Spanish guitar Christmas songs to set the mood. How about some Christmas karaoke? A Mexican White Elephant Gift Exchange will also be a crowd pleaser!

!Regalos!  If you have room in your budget, Mexican ornaments would be a great take home gift for your guests!

Maybe next week, we'll put something together in honor of my hubby’s childhood memories and send some ideas for an ITALIAN CHRISTMAS party!  

Olé!

Professional Tips For Maintaining Your Tile & Carpet

Tile & Carpet Care 101

Often times, when you walk into a house and think, "Wow! Their floors look so nice.", it's likely that the owners clean and maintain them regularly. So today, Flooring Direct Temecula tackles the dos and don'ts of tile and carpet care.  Whether you've chosen a plush carpet for comfort and warmth, or sleek tile for a bold look, preserving your floors is as important as choosing the materials themselves! 

Tile

1. Sweep Regularly - One of the best ways to keep your tile looking sharp is to keep your grout lines clean of stains and dirt.  The longer dirt sits in your grout lines, the quicker it will permanently stain your grout.  

2. Get Your Grout Sealed - Speaking of grout lines, any experienced and professional installer will come back after the initial installation to put a seal over your grout lines.  This will create a solid barrier to keep grime from soaking into your grout lines.  This should be done 3-7 days after an installation.  

3. Avoid Waxes and Syrupy Cleaners - When choosing a floor cleaner, you want to avoid a solution that has a wax in it such as Mop&Glo, or such "syrupy" cleaners as Pine-Sol, or Fabuloso.  While a wax may create a shine to the finish of your floors, it's also going to seal in dirt and dust instead of removing it, which can permanently alter the color and texture of your tile.  If you pick a quality product, you shouldn't feel the need to apply a wax on top. 

Here are a few products we recommend for a gentle but effective clean. 

 [Flooring Direct Temecula has not been asked to promote these products and is not receiving any compensation or benefit for mentioning them.]

Carpet

1. Use A Professional Once A Year - We're sure you've heard this before from other flooring professionals, but it's because it's true! Hiring a professional and reputable carpet cleaning service once a year will extend the lifetime of your carpet by years.  Those rental steam machines that you've probably seen at the grocery store can help a little if used properly, but the equipment from a carpet cleaning company will be much more sophisticated and effective, and is often times, a better value than renting a machine 2-3 times a year.  

2. Avoid Excessive Water -  One common question we get about carpet is how to keep it from lifting up and bunching.  Most of the time, this has to do with improper installation, but drastic exposure to water can also cause this problem. If carpet is over exposed, the water causes the material to swell which results in buckling once it dries.  Be careful with machines that use moisture, and try to minimize the risk of large water spills.  This is another reason to consider leaving the steam cleaning to the professionals who's machines are designed to dispense safe amounts of water. 

3. Step Up Your Vacuum Game -  Did you know that there is a Carpet & Rug Institute that gives some carpet-cleaning products a seal of approval?  If you choose a vacuum on their list, you can be sure that it will effectively remove dirt, and won't change the color  or quality of your carpets or rugs.  In addition to your machine, go for a slow and steady method instead of quickly pushing your vacuum over the floor multiple times. This gives your machine a chance to effectively extract dust and dirt from deep in your carpet. 

*As with any flooring, be sure to read the warranty if your material came with one. It might actually require some type of routine cleaning for the warranty to stay valid.  

For more tips and information about all types of flooring, follow Flooring Direct Temecula on Instagram, Facebook, and Blogger.  And if you're in the SoCal area, check out our website and yelp page for a free quote today! 

Professional Tips For Maintaining Your Hardwood & Laminate

There's A TON of misinformation about how to take care of our floors. Unfortunately, there's also an entire industry of unnecessary, and sometimes harmful products threatening the longevity of our flooring.  We've been repairing, cleaning, and installing laminate, tile, hardwood, and carpet for over 20 years, and we've got some secrets to share! 

Laminate

Of all of the categories, laminate may be the textile with the most confusion about maintenance and care.  We have three helpful suggestions.  

• Do not soak your laminate floors with a big bucket of soapy water.  Think of excessive water as the enemy of your laminate floors.  Instead of going with a product like Pine-Sol, or some other oil based soap, choose a spray specifically listed for laminate that you'll lightly mist on your floors before drying it off.

• Ditch your conventional mop, and go with a detachable microfiber mop-head that fits a flathead mop.  This will gently clean your laminate floors immediately after you apply that spray cleaner. 

• Speaking of those microfiber mop-heads, leave the fabric softener out when you wash the microfiber attachment at home.  This goes for all microfiber towels, because the softener clogs the fibers, which ends up defeating the purpose of the fabric.

Here's a floor cleaner  and a flat top mop we at Flooring Direct Temecula, can recommend for your laminate. But remember, a light mist and a good microfiber mop is key. No need to soak your floors if you use this combo! Flooring Direct has absolutely no ties, affiliates, or any kind of sponsorship with these products. They merely meet our high standards for maintaining flooring.

Hardwood

Taking care of your hardwood floors starts with your installation. Have a detailed conversation with the sales associate or manufacturer about maintaining finish and minimizing damage before you walk out the door. But no matter the state of your floor's finish, these tips will help maintain your unique hardwood. 

• Believe it or not, in most cases, plain old water is the best substance we can use for our wood floors, but like laminate, it's all about moderation.  We recommend using a rung-out, damp, terry cloth towel and gliding it gently across your floors with a flat-head mop. This will remove more dirt than you'll expect, and most importantly, it won't remove your gorgeous finish!

• About that finish - scrubbing your floors is sure to ware it down.  You always want to apply even, light pressure as you clean - trying to avoid scrubbing or scratching your floors in certain spots.  This will make your floors look blotchy, and dull.

• Avoid anything that isn't PH-compatible with your hardwood floors.  This means you need to avoid Pinesol, 409, and anything with vinegar in it.  Acid will wear down your finish and the quality of your hardwood.

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The best tip we can give you is to discuss flooring-care with a professional. Each material has different tips and tricks for cleaning, so the experts on your particular product can likely point you in the right direction.  

Look for Flooring Direct Temecula's next post on maintaining carpet and tile!

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The Horrors Of Rental Properties

If you own or have ever owned a rental property, you've probably witnessed both the benefits of additional income, and perhaps also the nightmares that can come when things don't go according to plan with your property. Based on some of our own experiences and those of others, we've put together some of the spookiest, most goosebump-inspiring scenarios that can happen to an owner or landlord. 

..........................................................................................................................................

1.Water Damage

All it takes is one flooding event on your property for you to be out THOUSANDS of dollars!  Floors may need to be replaced, appliances can be completely ruined, and the very structure of your property can be threatened.  Aside from having proper insurance, especially in areas prone to severe weather,  owners can opt to use flooring options that may be able to withstand minor levels of flooding if it were to occur.  Remember, stone tile and vinyl are your friends when it comes to low absorption! 

2. Carpets Stained 

  Beyond Repair

Carpet is a great choice for parts of a family-home, but when it comes to rental properties with high turnover, you may want to think twice.  Carpet not only holds onto stains, but also smells. If you go with a hard surface, like an inexpensive laminate, you can more easily provide a fresh start for each new tenant.  And hey, if a renter prefers a plush floor, they can always bring in a rug or two of their own!

3. Renters Hosting 

a "Few Too Many" Friends

We all love a good party, right? Well, maybe not certain kinds of parties that may go on at a home we're renting out.  We can of course, be sure to include certain parameters in our contracts about illegal behaviors, but we may still find ourselves needing to hire a cleaning crew after move-out date due to extra wear and tear.   

4. Trashed Bathrooms 

Ugh, bathrooms! It's hard enough to deal with the stress of maintaining our own personal bathrooms, but when it comes to our rental properties, we have to have a plan of action. 
It seems the motto for rental bathrooms should be, "less is more". For starters - the fewer grout lines, the better! Choosing larger tile or vinyl plank will keep dirt and buildup from being permanently absorbed.  Linoleum is also a good option for easy cleanup here! 

5. Tenants Who Didn't Abide by the "No Pets" Rule

Now for one of our own horror stories!  After deciding to relocate to a new state for work, we finally arrived at the new place we'd be renting for the year.  We couldn't wait to move into the nice house we'd seen on the internet during the months prior.  As we opened the door, we were greeted with the most potent smell of cat urine!!! Unbeknownst to the landlord, the old tenants had broken their NO PETS rule. Lucky for us, Flooring Direct Temecula's excellent prices and quick turnaround provided all of us with new carpet that very same week.  Checking a property in-person, prior to move-in-day is A MUST!

Do you have rental property horror stories to share? Leave them in the comments below and we may feature it in a future post!If you're in Southern California, check out  www.flooringintemeculaca.com  for all your flooring needs!