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Sheila Bridges: Designer Living
Episode FLSBD-109

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Sheila with rug merchant Anthony Mott

Floor Fetish (109)
Interior Designer Sheila Bridges shows you how to design homes from the ground up with a look at current directions in flooring. From the ultimate in parquetry floors to designer rug creations, here's what's hot underfoot.


Design from the Ground Up

  • Light colored rugs make a room look more spacious. Deeper colors lend coziness to a room.
  • Seal slate floors with a stone sealer. Clean weekly with a damp mop and use a wax polish occasionally.

Contact Information

Courtney Sloan & Cheryl Riley
Alternative Design
646-230-7222 x230
www.alternativedesign.com

Resources

Carpet and Rug Institute
www.carpet-rug.room

Cleaning and stain removal tips
Do It Yourself Network, www.diynet.com


Woods and Wools

  • Photosensitive woods like cherry are prone to fading in direct sunlight.
  • Parquet floors were popular during the early 1900s, used mostly in dining rooms, drawing rooms and libraries.
  • Marquetry is a type of parquet flooring that uses curved as well as straight cuts in the design.
  • Natural fibers like sisal and seagrass are highly absorbent and prone to water damage. Clean with a vacuum.
  • Sisal is woven from the fibers of the Agave plant, a type of succulent native to arid regions such as Arizona and Mexico.
  • Sisal is naturally sound-absorbing, anti-static and difficult to ignite.
  • Paper rugs are coated in a wax emulsion making them water and stain resistant.
  • Look for wool carpets made with a jute backing. They have a superior tuft bind and will wear better.

Resources

Sisal Rugs Direct
www.sisalrugs.com

Designer's Notebook

  • Wide plank floors have a relaxed look for a more casual style.
  • American oak is the popular choice for wood floors.
  • American cherry is a dark wood that gives a more formal look.
  • Inlaid floors are a sophisticated variation of wood floors.
  • Paint a design onto a wood floor for a fresh look.
  • Give wood floors the right sheen with satin polyurethane.

Contact Information

Janos P. Spitzer Flooring Company
212-627-1818
www.janosspitzerflorring.com

Resources

Wood Floors Online
www.woodfloorsonline.com


Rugs that Rock

  • Wool carpeting is naturally durable and will not matt or crush like nylon carpet.
  • Area rugs of 4 x 6 and 6 x 9 feet work well under a coffee table, while an 8 x 11 or larger can cover a room.
  • Don't be boxed in by the idea of a rectangular rug. Circular and octagonal rugs add flair to a room.

Resources

Carpet Guru's Carpet College
www.carpetguru.com

About.com Interior Decorating
www.interiordec.about.com

Furnishing Forward: A Practical Guide to Furnishing for a Lifetime
by Sheila Bridges


Sheila's Fab Finds: Bringing It Home

  • Linoleum Tiles
    $3.45-$4.75 sq. ft.
    Armstrong
    888-ARMSTRONG
    www.armstrong.com

  • Todd Oldham Tiles
    $20-$25 sq. ft.
    Artisan Workshop
    212-260-6700

  • Carpet Sweeper
    $19.99
    Bed Bath and Beyond
    800-GO BEYOND
    www.bedbathbeyond.com

  • Aluminum Vacuum Cleaner
    $1008.00
    Miele, Inc.
    800.883-4537
    www.miele.com

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