Justin Lee is an expert servicing the Montgomery County real estate market and surrounding areas. If you are looking for Gaithersburg real estate, Justin is a professional who can go to work for you.
After all these years of having hardwood floors that are mid brown and easy to clean, the word is that new, pale floors will be sweeping the market. These lighter floors have been popular in Europe and are just being introduced over here in North America.
Lighter toned floors do have their advantages, of course, one of them being that instant 'lift' of lightness and brightness that permeates the room. Another is that they might raise the value of shares in floor cleaning products! Yes, there is no doubt about it, paler floors need more upkeep and so is the extra maintenance worth it?
A spokesman for BuildDirect who has just returned from this year's "Surfaces" trade show said that the lighter influence which was from the European designs was 'everywhere'. However, this does not mean that flooring manufacturers are suggesting that we all switch to light oak wood!
There were many new innovative ideas on display that could be adapted to all types of flooring. Perhaps do-it-yourselfers could even adapt their present flooring to imitate some of the new looks that were on display.
This may not be too difficult because some of the most popular looks that were demonstrated at the exhibition showed flooring that had a faded or distressed appearance. Of course some of us had trendy floors without even knowing it as we already had this distressed look!
But on a more serious note, whether the flooring was of ceramic tile, wood or vinyl, the latest trade show exhibited all of these mediums in light colors, or faded colors. Some of the finishes had a gray-washed effect or a white-washed look, reminiscent of the old scrubbed floors of a farmhouse.
For those unfamiliar with the look of white-washed floors, it means that there is almost a dusting of gray or white color over top of the wood, but that the wood is still visible beneath.
In the old kitchens the wood would already have faded to a weathered gray color, and the left-over whitewash that was applied to the outside brickwork was often watered down and slopped over the floor to 'freshen it up' each spring.
Laminate floorings will be following the market trend and anticipate the early launching of new products to meet the expected demand. Wood grain porcelain tiles are also becoming popular and they are easier to maintain than real wood tiles.
The whole idea of flooring is changing as more and more people are becoming more adventurous and even applying flooring to the walls and ceilings! The introduction of light weight products such as cork and bamboo has meant that it can be applied anywhere.
Stone is also being used on the wall and slate flooring and porcelain are often used on walls, behind fireplaces and stoves and on chimneys. Applying cork to the walls in any room is a mild form of insulation as cork will hold the warmth in a room. It has often been used on office walls and offers one large cork board on which to pin up memos!
Newly built homes are the ones where the latest in market trends first appear, so with the expectation of this new look of white-washed or gray-washed floors, should we anticipate that the minimalist look may disappear?
White or gray 'washed' floors are reminiscent of the old country farmhouses in Provence, France. There the large wooden table in the middle of the room is scrubbed daily and matches the bleached look of the wooden floor. Does this mean that the French country kitchen look will be creeping back?
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How to Add a Home Theater
By: charles gueli | 07/01/2010It used to be that only the rich could install a home theater. Yet today, with Blu-ray discs, big screens and comfortable seating, installing a home theater is easy, great entertainment and a distinctive feature when listing your property.
Renovating the Right Way
By: DB Wilson | 07/01/2010For those parts of the project that you can do yourself, consider getting some help from a friend who has some experience with the same kind of renovation. Another good option is to take classes or workshops from your local home improvement store; many of these types of stores offer weekend classes in a variety of different areas.
Modern Bathroom Remodeling Tips
By: San Diego | 07/01/2010Aside from the bedroom, the bathroom is another area where people usually spend most of their time. It is everybody's private sanctuary. It is everyone's favorite haven. It is an all-important cause, therefore, to keep your bathroom updated. Through the bath remodeling trends that come up every so often, you will be able to make your beloved space functional and even more pleasurable to be in.
Modern Bathroom Remodeling Tips
By: San Diego | 07/01/2010Aside from the bedroom, the bathroom is another area where people usually spend most of their time. It is everybody's private sanctuary. It is everyone's favorite haven. It is an all-important cause, therefore, to keep your bathroom updated. Through the bath remodeling trends that come up every so often, you will be able to make your beloved space functional and even more pleasurable to be in.
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Ways To Cleaning Wood Blinds
By: Kenneth D. Tafolla | 07/01/2010Wood blinds are great for many different rooms and areas. These kinds of blinds need to be cleaned properly to be able to maintain their appearance and durability. Cleaning wood blinds is not a difficult task. It depends on what kind of blinds design you have and also on what the medium is for your wood blinds. Wooden slats and woven wood are among the more common designs which your binds may have. Cleaning wood blinds will need your fair amount of work especially for those with slats.
Top Kitchen Remodeling Ideas For 2010
By: San Diego | 07/01/2010Kitchen remodeling is an exciting project to get into. It is a worthwhile project that will help you improve your kitchen surroundings to improve the quality of your home life. If you are thinking about kitchen are giving you kitchen remodeling design ideas that you can use to beautify this important space in your house.
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By: Justin Lee | 29/06/2009 | Real EstateI have to admit, I was really impressed when he told me that he had kept calm when they mentioned that to him; I can't say I would have been as restrained. In effect, his clients had wasted weeks of time that he could have been looking for a more appropriate property for them on which they could have kept horses.
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Breaking Ground on the National Mall
By: Justin Lee | 13/05/2009 | Real EstateThe organic garden will include the spring crops such as field peas, lettuce, spinach and kale. Next summer or late season crops will be planted and will include tomatoes, peppers, squash and herbs. Nearby demonstration tents will display the meaning and principles of organic gardening and the public will be able to view an actual working concept.
Can You Tweet Your Way to a Home Sale?
By: Justin Lee | 21/04/2009 | Real EstateTwitter, the massive micro-blogging platform (140 characters, that's all you get) could be your key to jumping in Google rankings and consequently getting more leads. This social networking site has been derided as merely a vehicle for teens and tweens to let their friends know what they're doing every nine seconds, but has gained quite a following in all demographics.
Green-Staging Your Home
By: Justin Lee | 17/04/2009 | Real EstateNothing can take the place of soap and water when it comes to marketing your home. Clean homes smell better - even if you or the buyer doesn't notice it - and look better. Invest in some orange oil cleansers for a fresh citrus scent and scrub, scrub, scrub! Instead of replacing bathroom fixtures, clean and polish them. Have your home powerwashed if it is covered with vinyl siding.
The Wisdom of Hindsight in the Real Estate Market
By: Justin Lee | 31/12/2008 | Real EstateAdd to this mix, greedy money lenders offering low introductory interest rates (only to spike in a few years), and resulting in too many people owning homes they can't afford. The demand for real estate begins to decrease, inventory rises, and eventually home prices drop. Sound familiar?
Common Sense Home Improvements
By: Justin Lee | 31/12/2008 | Home ImprovementEnergy Star Windows - If your home needs new windows, then ensure that you choose energy star rated models. Not only will you save on heating costs, but you'll provide an extra incentive for a prospective buyer.