Tile Cleaning Tips & Tricks

Guests are coming and you really need to deep clean that guest bathroom or your laundry room floor is looking a little grimy or you just want to freshen up your kitchen backsplash. The grout is looking a little dingy and you just can’t seem to get the scum off of the tile. Here are a few easy tips and tricks for getting that tile sparkling clean.

·         Looking for easy? Stone and Tile Cleaner by Dupont, available at Traditions in Tile, is a multi-purpose cleaner that works on all polished marbles, porcelain and ceramic tiles and natural stone. Simply spray, lightly scrub and rinse.

·         For a little deeper clean to help with the soap scum, try a porcelain and ceramic tile cleaner. Test a small area on polished tiles first to make sure it does not affect the finish. As always, follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

·         Has your grout cracked at the corners and around the top of the tub? A common occurrence as walls expand and contract, but simple to fix. Cut out the grout in those locations and fill with a sanded caulk that matches your grout color. Allow to fully dry before using the tub or shower. Traditions in Tile is a great source. Always be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.

·         Once you have gotten your grout or natural stone freshly cleaned, seal it to help prolong the life and keep it looking like new. Most stones should be resealed every 1-3 years.

Nothing feels better than a sparkling clean tile. Your guests will thank you. What are your secrets for keeping your tile clean? I’d love to hear. Email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com

Hack Your Cabinets

How do you gain more or better storage in the cabinets you already have? Are you having new cabinets put in?  What can you do to make sure they are fully utilized?

1.      Pull out trash-hide your trash and recycling away behind a cabinet door. Attach it to the cabinet door so it’s one easy step to pull out the trash. It gets that dirty, smelly, eyesore out of your open kitchen space.

2.      Pull out drawer/tray under the sink. Whether it’s the kitchen or bathroom sink, this space underneath the pipes is often a difficult used space. Utilize it better with a pull out so you can actually see what’s in the back of that cabinet.

3.      Drawer dividers-one of my favorites! Organizing your silverware, large utensils, knives, etc. can make cooking and organization so much more pleasant.

4.      Tray dividers-it’s amazing how many things are more easily stored standing up. Cookie sheets, pizza pans, cutting boards, muffin tins, cooling racks and baking pans.

5.      Drawers-anything you can pull out and see in front of you is much easier to organize and utilize than if you have to get on your hands and knees and crawl into a deep, dark base cabinet.

6.      Corkboard or white board on the inside of cabinet doors-perfect for grocery lists, frequently used substitutions or recipes or beautiful clipart.

7.      Magnetic knife block-adhered to the side of a cabinet or the back wall, this is an easy way to store knives without putting them into a drawer or leaving your knife block on the counter taking up precious counter space.

Do you have any other cabinet hacks? I’d love to hear. Email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com

Best of Houzz 2017

This year we were honored to be awarded the 2017 awards from Houzz for best in Customer Service and best in Design. You may say "Who cares and what does it have to do with me?"

First, what is Houzz? Houzz is an online platform for new home building, home remodeling and design, providing people with everything they need to improve their homes from start to finish - online or from a mobile device. From decorating a room to building a custom home, Houzz connects millions of homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals across the country and around the world. With the largest residential design database in the world and a vibrant community powered by social tools, Houzz is the easiest way for people to find inspiration, get advice, buy products and hire the professionals they need to help turn their ideas into reality. Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, Houzz also has international offices in London, Berlin, Sydney, Moscow and Tokyo.

Second, what are the awards? The Best Of Houzz awards are given in three categories: Design, Customer Satisfaction and Photography. Design award winners’ work was the most popular among the more than 35 million monthly users on Houzz, known as “Houzzers.” Customer Satisfaction honors are determined by a variety of factors, including the number and quality of client reviews a professional received in 2016. Winners will receive a “Best Of Houzz 2017” badge on their profiles, helping Houzz users around the world who discover and love a professional’s work to learn even more about that business’ popularity and satisfaction rating among their peers in the Houzz community.  Best of Houzz awards are only awarded to 3% of the professionals on Houzz.

If you haven't discovered Houzz yet, I highly recommend checking it out.  One of my favorite ways to use it is as a search engine for design. Say I’m looking for a picture of a white subway tile backsplash with grey grout. Type it in the search bar and thousands of pictures will pop up. It’s a great way to gain a visual of how you want something to turn out. It’s helpful to share pictures of what you expect the end product of your project to look like with your contractor. It helps eliminate any confusion and helps translate the vision that is in your head. Any questions? Email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com

International Builder Show

I recently returned from the International Builder Show in Orlando, FL. The NAHB International Builders' Show® (IBS) is the largest annual light construction show in the world, every year attracting more than 60,000 visitors from 100 countries. They bring together global manufacturers and suppliers showcasing the latest products, materials and technologies.

I want to share with you some of the great new products I got to see in action.

Electric Fireplaces: These were EVERYWHERE! From traditional to linear contemporary units, these units can be put nearly anywhere in a home.

Copper Lights: Handcrafted statement lights for the exterior of your home is one way to personalize a space.

Dimensional Tile: with texture, the ability to insert lights and brass inlays, tile is not just a basic surface for your floor or shower anymore.  Can’t wait to try some of these designs!

That's just a taste of some of the great things I got to see. Want to hear more? Don't hesitate to stop me if you see me out and about. Or have questions about any of these products? Email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com

Kitchen & Bath Industry Show

I recently returned from the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show in Orlando. KBIS, in conjunction with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), is an inspiring, interactive tradeshow that showcases the latest industry products, trends and technologies. KBIS truly is the voice of the kitchen and bath industry and has been for over 50 years. This year was a record breaking year for attendees, which is a key indicator for the health of the industry.

I want to share with you some of the great new products I got to see in action.

Sinks: from wild colors to unique designs, custom organization within the sink and easier ways to keep a sink clean. Sinks are stepping up their game in 2017!

Quartz: great concrete look alikes, rich colors and marble patterns. This technology only keeps getting better looking.

Brass: not your 1980’s shiny brass, but rich, brushed brass. On everything from sinks to faucets to appliances to cabinet hardware and light fixtures. Have you considered using this in your home?

Jewel Tones: Jewel tones are HOT! Rich, deep colors on cabinets, walls and even appliances.

This La Cornue range in Quintessential Teal designed by Matthew Quinn is one example.

That's just a taste of some of the great things I got to see. Want to hear more? Don't hesitate to stop me if you see me out and about. Or have questions about any of these products? Email me at jessica@webbercoleman.com

   

Aging in Place

A recent AARP survey showed that more than 90% of people 65 or over indicate that they would prefer to stay in their current residence as long as they live and 4 out of 5 persons in that age bracket believe that their current residence is where they will always live. If people intend to stay in their homes as long as possible, what are some things they should consider as plan for the future?

1.      Grab bars-the dreaded word. No, adding grab bars to your shower doesn’t mean you are old. How many young people have had to have foot surgery and their balance is compromised? I believe every person would benefit from having grab bars in their shower. Manufacturers make very attractive grab bars that match your other faucets and add to the aesthetic of the shower rather than taking away from it. Many manufacturers also make combo grab bar/toilet paper holders or grab bar/towel bars. Two functions in one without compromising on the look of the space.

2.      Better light-It’s no secret that we need more light as we age. Consider changing your light bulbs out with brighter LED bulbs, adding undercabinet lighting in your kitchen or even adding a motion sensor light to your toilet seat for those late night runs.

3.      A bench in the shower-whether it’s a tiled bench you can add, a fold down teak bench mounted to the wall or an attractive stand alone teak bench that you can bring in and out of the shower as needed, this can be very helpful.

These are the most common items we see clients needing and adding to their homes to facilitate them living there as long as possible. Is there anything you think needs to be added to the list? Email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com

Wallpaper-Stay or Go?

Many projects we walk into, there is wallpaper on the walls and most of the time client wants to paint the walls. The question is always-remove the wallpaper or paint over the wallpaper? Today we will explore the pros and cons of each decision.

How do you decide if the wallpaper needs to come down? The best telltale sign of if it should come down is if the seams are coming apart and peeling. Are there air pockets underneath the wallpaper or does the wallpaper have a texture? Those will only be magnified once it is painted. Below are our recommended steps if you decide to paint over the wallpaper.

1.      Prime over the wallpaper with a quality primer.

2.      Any imperfections will be visible once you have primed the walls.

3.      Skim with sheetrock mud all seams, holes and imperfections.

4.      Sand smooth

5.      Remud and sand as needed

6.      Prime

7.      Paint

If care and attention is given to these steps, you will not be able to tell you have just painted over wallpaper. The most common mistake I see is people not mudding over the seams but rather just painting over the wallpaper. The seams are only magnified once the paint is on the wall. Take the extra time and expense that this step requires. You won’t regret it.

If you decide the wallpaper is not in good enough shape and needs to come down, consult a local paint store on the type of wallpaper you have and what the best way is to remove it. Once the wallpaper is off the walls, you will likely need to skim the walls with sheetrock mud and sand before priming and painting the walls.

Have you tried painting over wallpaper? Did you have good success? I’d love to hear how your project went. Email me at Jessica@webbercoleman.com