The Fifth Wall

If you are like most people, you wish you had more room in your home. You wish you had space for storage, an extra chair, or cute knick-knacks.  But have you ever thought “out of the box”—the box of seeing only 4 walls?

The best way to maximize space is to take advantage of your “fifth wall,” the floor!

Floor space takes specific shapes and patterns and can be utilized in other ways than for walking. Check out the following advice for making the most of your floors.

• Choose the right furniture: Tables, specifically dining room tables, do not have to be huge, stealing valuable space from your flooring, especially if you aren’t using it. Purchase compact dining sets that tuck into themselves, saving you flooring space. The same goes for furniture. Select pieces that fit the contours of the room and seat a realistic number of people. Multi-purpose furniture, such as a sleep couch, is also a good idea.
• Make use of corners: Often times people don’t use the corners of their home. We figure nothing can fit there, right? Think again. When wall space is at a premium, making use of the space where a wall and carpet meets is important. Corner cabinets that match your flooring are ideal for storage.
• Underneath Storage: The space between the floor and the bottom of your bed is typically large and only gathering dust. Use this flooring space for storage. You can place things in boxes or purchase small storage units.
• Stylish Storage: Remember that although it’s nice to have floor space, certain rooms don’t need as much. Purchasing baskets or moving storage carts can be placed in various areas around the home for additional storage.

As you are considering your floor space, consider the quality of your floor. Johnson Carpet One has been serving the Grand Rapids, MI area since 1954. We specialize in tile, carpet, hardwood, vinyl and laminate flooring. With the best array of products to choose from and a history you can count on, Johnson Carpet One is the first stop for all your flooring needs.

Friday Inspiration - Koetje Style

Anytime we get the chance to work with Koetje Builders, we know we're going to see some beautiful architecture.  For this years parade, they built a stunning home in the woods.  This home is built to harmonize with it's wooded lot, with lots of craftsman detailing and a blend of neutrals that's anything but bland. 

Check out the insets in the cutouts of the halfwalls above.  They are again echoed in the staircase shown below.

Another great detail that speaks to the amazing nature views is the flagstone fireplace, with a floating wood mantle.  Marilyn Kronemeyer, a talented designer on our staff, has worked to pick out flooring that ties all this together. 

She uses a stunning hard surface in the kitchen.   When I first saw it I was sure it was hardwood.  Take a look.

The light and dark tones in the floor tie together the two tones of wood used throughout the home. 

 

Ok, so if it's not hardwood, then would you believe it's actually laminate?  Laminates have come a long way, and do a very realistic job, without that heavy pattern repeat that used to give them away.  This floor is a high pressure laminate that will stand up to kids, dogs, a dropped pan or two and all the other abuse a family can hand out.  We've already gotten quite a few calls asking what that wood floor was. 

The palette of neutrals she's used has made the view the star of the show.  

And then there's the tile.  Don't have a 3x6 subway tile in the colors you want?  No problem, just take them in the 6x6s and have them cut down to size.  This backsplash is such a great mix of tones and works with the sublte cabinets and fine graining of the granite. 

The tile in the master bath is again a neutral with some teeth.  It doesn't bore, and when contrasted against the maple cabinet and the blue/gray walls, really stands on it's own. 

The tile is used in a smaller format as an accent on the walls of the shower and tub enclosures. 

We love Koetje Builders for their vision, their craftsmanship and their attention to details.  One of my favorite examples of those things in this house is this doorway.  It's not enough to just have bookshelves, but those shelves should match the wood tones in the house, the top of the shelves should be set off by the same stained wood, and then that wood should be brought around the room in a chair rail detail. 

What a gorgeous touch, and a perfect example of all the things that Koetje does so well.  We love this house, we are honored by the opportunity to finish it with them, and we look forward to what they do next.  Thanks so much to the terrific client for letting us be part of the project!

Two more weeks to get your ROAR on!

How do you make your home look beautiful and help save an amazing animal from extinction at the same time?  Come on in and we'll show you! Right now, our Tigressa carpets are on sale with FREE installation through the end of June.  We love this deal, let us count the ways!

1) Great softness, strength and beauty, all at a great sale price

2) Free installation (also available on all our Carpet One products)

3) Save the Tigers! 

4) Enter the sweepstakes to win a trip to see the tigers in India

Free installation ends June 30, but the sweepstakes continues through August 20.

How can you say no to this face?!

Inspiration Friday ... Spring Parade Part 2

It's always wonderful to work with Andy Ashby.  Not only is he a terrific builder, but he's just so easy going and turns out a beautifully detailed home.  His parade home this year is stunning and full of touches and details that make you keep saying 'oooooh'.  Let me give you a few "for instances". 

Take a look at the coffered ceiling in the living room.  All the windows in this room bring in lots of light and an amazing view of the lake behind the house.

Also note the sliding glass door to the left in the room. That's actually an amped up sliding glass door that opens the wall up completely to the screened in porch.  Definitely indoor/outdoor living at it's finest!

The ceiling touches continue with a trayed ceiling in the kitchen.  Marilyn Kronemeyer, a longtime designer on staff at Johnson's, picked out warm tones and colors to make the most of these ceiling details.  In the living room and kitchen the sage green insets set off the white in the detailing. She then plays up these tones with the warmth of the laminate wood floor.

The laminate is a Quickstep floor that has lots of detailing making it look very realistic as a handscraped wood floor.

Another neat touch is the lights in the staircase finials.  Each newel post is topped with a lit square.   Then in a lit niche at the top of the staircase Andy has tucked in a seat with storage and hooks.

The master bedroom shows off another trayed ceiling, this time in a warm deep caramel.  New softer carpet fibers are coming out, and Marilyn is showcasing these in the bedroom and living room.  You really have to walk barefoot on these to appreciate the difference these new carpets make.  Your toes will be happy!

The attached master bath blends this warm caramel on the floor with the sages used throughout the rest of the house.  The tile floor is a mix of both these tones, tying everything together. 

A house is made up of hundreds of these details and Marilyn and Andy are a great team at highlighting them.  Even if it's already built, we can help you pull together all those details in your own home.  Take a look at #9 on the Parade of homes and get inspired.  Oh, and if Andy is there, have him open the sliders for you.  Trust me, it's worth it!

Inspiration Friday - Spring Parade

I had the very great pleasure of touring one of the parade homes we worked on last night and am very excited to show the pictures.  Gary Byker and Janel Joppie designed and built this masterpiece and their use of space and attention to detail is shown in each aspect of the home. 

The home sits on a lake and makes great use of the views.  The windows and ceilings are soaring, taking  in the vistas from both levels.  Note the coffered ceiling detail, so beautiful!

Janel selected a Lauzon hardwood in the Black Walnut to give the upstairs a gorgeous, warm feeling.  This product glows and has so much character in the wood, and installed with 3-1/2" and 5-1/2" planks, it really is a show stopper. 

   

The colors in the wood are complemented by the stone and set off by the crisp white trim.  Janel was not afraid to use color and incorporated a slate blue that plays off the water in view from the large windows.  That blue is again echoed in the office off the master bedroom.

While color sometimes feels scary, using it just in the paint leaves you free to contrast against the neutral whites in the trim or the wood tones in the flooring.  I also love the unusual choice of the bedside lighting in the master bedroom.  The petite chandeliers give a little bling without being over the top.

The carpets, as all the other fixed elements, are a neutral that get their elegance from both the softness of the brands used, and the surrounding elements. 

The lower level family room with it's fireplace and walkouts to the beach. 

Definitely a room with a view!

A room to jam in.

This home was a pleasure to work on and we really appreciate the chance to be part of such an amazing project.  Seeing it all come together was a treat.  We know the home owners are going to love their new home!!

Of course we also hope this inspires you to go out there, tour the Parade of Homes and find some ideas for your own space.  Remember to stop by #12 on the map and get ready to be impressed.  Then come in and see us and we'll show you how to make your own home a Parade Home.

Inspiration Friday

Well it felt like Spring and now there's snow on the ground again.  We're dying for color and warmth and with that in mind, we bring you some Spring Time Inspiration. 

This is a home in Vero Beach desgined by the talented Phoebe Howard. 

This is the living room.  The turquoise is a bright splash against the crisp whites, and the splash of green gives it an added punch.

Another shot of the same Vero Beach house, using a coral color to set off this architectural element.

The children's bedroom in the house brings in the green from the living room and pairs it with a soft pink and a seagrass carpet.

This picture just says spring to me.  It's from BHS and they're using a colorful combo in a stark white room. 

Apartment Therapy showcased this exciting kitchen.  I love the combination of the turquoise and the bright red.

We've got plenty of options for color at Johnson's to inspire you.  Everything from classy, traditional, showcased in Robin's Egg blue from Karastan...

to bright and kicky saturated hues from Fabrica. 

Don't be afraid of color.  Come on in and let us help you find the hue for you. 

Beautiful new home!

We had the distinct pleasure of working with one of our favorite clients and their talented builder, Koetje Builders, this winter.  Marilyn Kronemeyer, an amazing designer on our staff, helped them bring their vision of a comfortable and welcoming home to life.  Thank you for throwing your doors open for us to get a look at your amazing home.

This is the look into the kitchen and dinette from the entry.  I love the hand scraped wood floors.

Another view of the kitchen showing off the beautiful backsplash.  The woodworking is so amazing with the corbels and the rubbed cabinets. 

A shot back into the kitchen/dinette showing their gorgeous furniture which is set off by the planking on the floor and the wood finish on the island cabinets. 

A view down the hall, showing off the beautiful wood floor and complimenting sage colors.  I love how the tones set each other off.  Each makes the other look richer.

Looking back the other way you can appreciate the architectural details so inherent in Koetje's style.  The white painted woodwork contrasts beautifully with the stained hardwood on the caps and rails, as well as the custom bookcase on the end.

The living and dining rooms.  This just makes me want to have a seat and pull out a good book. 

Here's the office.  What a great space to work in!

Here's the master bedroom.  Notice the turret, accented with contrasting beams.  This is hard to beat for either a spot to catch a nap or catch up on some reading.

Here's the pool room downstairs.  The lower level is a haven for grandkids with a pool table, kitchenette, living area and their own bedrooms and bathroom.  I want to be adopted! 

Kitchenette

Living Room

Bedroom

Lower level bathroom

We really appreciate the chance to work with this client and their builder, their vision, integrity, cheer, and loyalty mean the world to us.  It was a joy and a privilege to be part of this project. Thank you for sharing your home with us! 

Johnson Carpet One