Home Decor: Ask The Carpet Girl
Dear, Carpet Girl,
We have an open floor plan on our first floor; it was what we loved about the house when we originally bought our dream home. The first floor is the place we always hang out, but now that it’s time to redesign the rooms, I‘m having a hard time making one large space into two defined rooms.
The kitchen is tile and the family room has one step down to all carpet. I’d like to be up-to-date with the latest trends but still stay classic. Everyone tells us to put down all wood, but I think it’s too cold and formal. We have a tendency to buy things that are safe and neutral so how do we decide what’s best for our home today, thinking about future design styles? We want a real change and statement, so what are your top suggestions?
Dear Open Floor,
Let’s start with my favorite question, what’s your favorite color? Blue? Green? No one ever says brown or gray, yet, that is the color found in most homes. Neutrals come in many shades, for example a very faint blue can be a beautiful choice for the kitchen, and, just a shade deeper for the family room. The first way to define an open space is to surround yourself in colors you love.
[Tweet “The first way to define an open space is to surround yourself in colors you love.”]I like to think outside the “flooring box” instead of installing wall to wall wood in two rooms. Let’s think about installing wood planks on the wall in the family room; it’s a great way to bring in the wood, but puts a new spin on an accent wall. Using wall to wall carpet with a bold pattern and soft fiber makes a statement in the family room as a cozy place for everyone to enjoy. Now that you’ve chosen wall to wall carpet, this avoids an area rug investment later on.
Kitchen Floor Advice
My advice for the kitchen is to keep the tile floor and install a new floor right over it, if possible. I personally love the idea of a bamboo or cork floor. Many of today’s manufacturers offer this product in an easy click floor. This design will install over what you have, therefore lowering the investment and minimizing the time under construction.
The easy click design will definitely allow the kitchen to stand alone with a hot, new unique product available in many colors and styles. For another style option, cork is warmer under the feet and can be very forgiving in an active home. However, it’s always best to speak with a flooring specialist in your area to make sure that specific product works well in your local environment.
These three simple changes can make a big difference in the home; using paint and flooring to redesign and revive an open space to two spaces. One open floor is now two stylish, unique rooms.
Identity Magazine is all about guiding women to discover their powers of Self-Acceptance, Appreciation, and Personal Achievement. We ask that every contributor and expert answer the Identity 5 questions in keeping with our theme. Their answers can be random and in the moment or they can be aligned with the current article they have written. In that way, and as a team, we hope to encourage and motivate each other, thus inspiring you to Get All A’s.
1. What have you accepted within your life, physically and/or mentally? Additionally, what are you still working on accepting? Now, we’re talking about resignation, rather stepping into, embraced, and owned.
I have accepted I am not a size 2, and never will be. I have accepted my stretch marks, they represent lines on my body that tell a story… A story of an 18yr old woman who began HER journey of motherhood while others were in college. A story of choice, a story of change, a story of decisions…
I’ve accepted the pain experienced in my past, wasn’t about me, it was about them, but that it created me. I’ve accept that my white canvas of who I am – has strokes of black marks on it, along with bright colors – which ultimately has made me who I am.
2. What have you learned to appreciate about yourself and/or within your life, physically and mentally? On the other hand OR in contrast, are there elements of who you are that you’re still working on appreciating?
I’ve learned to appreciate 2 things… 1, I am an outspoken woman – with a good head on her shoulder. Created from a life time of ups & downs, bad decisions and heart break. I am an overcomer… 2) I have learned that because I am the items listed in above, I am not always everyone’s favorite,
I am not miss popular. I’ve learned that while I think people what to hear the truth I speak, that is not always the case & it makes me often an outcast based on my own truths. I’d like to change some of it, become a better friend to woman, have better female relationships.. but often find myself, enjoying being alone.
3. What is one of your most rewarding achievements in life? Tell us not only what makes YOU most proud but also share the goals and dreams that you still have.
I am proud of the company I’ve built. Yes, I am proud of my children & family. That’s a given… For me being faced with loosing the life I built before TCG, was a life I made because it was the life I believed others expected me to be… A fancy home, fancy cars, kids in fancy camps… new clothes…The life I have today, is the TRUE life, and that makes me very proud–I finally took a hurt, from an outsider & overcame it.
Rather than taking ownership of the pain, I did something about it. I am so proud of building a company that not only has great potential but became a safe haven for my family. TCG became an umbrella for my family, in a violet storm. And that is my forever proudest moment. I am in the process of building TCG to be a national brand, I am franchising the company.
Its been a goal of mine since 2011, in 2017- it became a real – reality. My dream is to build a company that allows other overcomers that love interior design, a place they can become THEIR true self. A company owned by a woman for women.
4. Of course, we all have imperfections, or so we think. In truth, we are all perfectly imperfect. What are your not-so-perfect ways? Likewise, what imperfections and quirks create who you are–your Identity?
I have a potty mouth, I say exactly what is on my mind. I like to call people “out” on things, I am very critical. This can often be an asset & hurt…. my every so KNOW IT ALL, ways has often alienated me from friendships.
It often keeps woman away, not ready to embrace or hear what they need to.. It has also gained me huge amounts of respect within the flooring industry, and industry owned by men. When strangely enough their customer is female. I am the perfect voice – with an imperfect delivery system… I am often alone…
5. “I Love My…” is an outlet for you to appreciate and express all the positive traits that make you…well…YOU! In fact, sharing what you love about yourself will make you smile, feel empowered, and uplift your spirit and soul. (We assure you!) Therefore, Identity challenges you to complete the phrase “I Love My…?”
I LOVE my LIFE, I just LOVE the life I am finally living. I love hard, fight hard, sell hard, work hard, play hard. I say EXACTY what is on my mind. And I love it… even when it leaves me alone… I am finally in love with the life I’ve built. I love that I finally figured out that what makes me happy is owning & building a business. I love that I can grow as much or as little as I want, I love that I created a brand. Not just a company – but a brand. A brand that invites the female consumer in & gives her permission to buy fine flooring.
I LOVE that I have really created an example for how my 3 daughters can give themselves permission to live THEIR true life. I love that my son, and only son can see his mother finally happy. I love that at night when my husband puts his head on his pillow, and I am right next to him…. no matter where that pillow is… its exactly where we BOTH want to be…
I love that I am FREE to live the life I was designed to live… and its because I opened doors & created the life I wanted. I want to share this with other women, so they too can live up to their fullest potential.
