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Tag: Ask a Pro

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Nail Down New Flooring: Go from slab to hardwood with these stylish flooring options

    If outdated flooring has you puzzled as to the next remodeling step… our interior design pro, Jennifer Adams, is here to help. Consider these variables for a new look that your loved ones will enjoy walking all over.

    Question: I live in a 1953 ranch home built on a slab. I want to install hardwood flooring throughout. However, the slab is covered with asbestos tile.  How would you install hardwood flooring?

    It is possible to install wood flooring over a slab floor with asbestos tile on it. However, there are lots of variables to consider, including how level the slab is, the moisture content in the air, and the level of moisture in the slab itself. A high-quality engineered flooring product might be a better solution and give you a similar look to hardwood, especially if you can’t nail the new flooring down. To find out what products will be best for your situation, ask a professional installer or licensed contractor.

    – Jennifer Adams

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Revamp Your Bathroom with a Modern Touch: See which look is cleaning up in style

    Do you have a small bathroom and no ideas for how to spruce it up? Even compact bathrooms can benefit from this refresh. Our interior design pro, Jennifer Adams, gives you tips to go from small and cluttered to a streamlined sanctuary.

    Question: I am looking for ideas to remodel a small master bathroom. Absolutely willing to look at this as a clean slate – any modern, trendy suggestions would be wonderful!

    As luck would have it, the most modern, trendy look for bathrooms right now is a clean slate! Create a relaxing, spa-like atmosphere with airy whites, soft grays, open spaces, clutter-free surfaces and room to move.

    Choose a pedestal sink or a sleek, wall-hung vanity for a more spacious feel, enhanced by beautiful storage baskets. Use the biggest mirror possible and put lighting on dimmer switches to control the brightness. Consider a roomy shower with clear glass doors or a simple shower curtain instead of a standard tub/shower combo. Add a skylight or window, especially if there is no natural light.

    – Jennifer Adams

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – When It Rains, It Pours: Exploring title coverage for runoff

    When a challenge arises, insurance should be there to help. Learn the ins and outs of title insurance to deal with water runoff from outdoor pro Carson Arthur.

    Question: A house was built on the property behind me. The land had been raised so that the ground around the house is now higher than mine. Whenever it rains, the water from the property behind me washes into my yard and causes a river each time. Does title insurance cover this?

    Unfortunately, it does not. Title insurance only covers liens on a property from debtors to the former owners. The easiest solution is to create a raised planter along the shared property line. By raising the soil, the water should stop running into your yard!

    -Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – To Stop a Leak: Learn how to investigate a metal roof properly

    Including damaging your home and threatening your family’s safety, roof leaks pose great dangers. Learn how to seek these hazards out with tips from outdoor pro Carson Arthur.

    Question: How can I identify a leak entry spot on a metal roof? My cabin has a 45 percent pitch.

    There is no easy answer here, especially with a metal roof. If I were to start hunting, I’d be looking at the joints and flashing around the edges. The trouble with roof leaks is water’s ability to travel: the hole may not be where the water is coming in. Best of luck to you!

    -Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Copy Thy Neighbor: Learn how to take inspiration from the Joneses for an ideal yard

    Neighbors can inspire exteriors and landscaping. They may also help decipher growing conditions that will make your yard thrive. Outdoor pro Carson Arthur shares how to seamlessly change outdoor plants with help from the Joneses.

    Question: We are about to change some of the plants in the front of our home. Fifteen were planted about 28 years ago, but are now dying. We have nine plants left that are grouped in threes.  We are planning an 8′ x 15′ stone patio in front of a bay window for morning coffee with neighbors. We currently have a mini-Japanese maple in the front corner and various bushes scattered around the yard.  We plan to take drawings to our local nursery for advice on filler pieces. Do you have any suggestions?

    Bringing drawings of your garden to a local garden center is an excellent plan. In addition, present pictures of plants you like that are growing in your neighbor’s yard. This will give workers an idea of growing conditions. Ideally, if the plants you like thrive in their yard, they should do the same in yours. Happy growing!

    -Carson Arthur

  • Ask A Pro Q&A – How to Create an Oasis of Style: Matching brick and wood

    From the walls, floor and ceiling, texture is key to creating a visually interesting home. Interior designer Jennifer Adams shares how to select wood tile that enhances existing red brick.

    Question: I am buying a home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that was built in 1986. The living room and sunroom floors are red brick. The rest of the house has an old and stained Berber carpet. We want to put new wood tile throughout the rest of the house, but I am not sure which color. I am thinking a light, almost creamy white like bleached barn wood. The trim around baseboards and windows is a natural wood. The walls will be a Navajo white. Would love your thoughts on the color of wood tile to choose.

    If the walls, floor and ceiling of most of the house are white, that red brick will be an exciting departure. If you’re planning to keep the original wood trim, consider going with a flooring color that is close to, but a bit darker than that. In tile, your choices might be limited. Go closer to the wood trim color, not the brick. And in the living room, add a natural fiber area rug in jute or sisal that will coordinate with the wood trim. Good luck and send in a photo when you’re done!

    -Jennifer Adams

  • Ask A Pro Q&A – Ceramic Tile or Wood: The best choice for your home

    With so many stylish flooring options, choosing the right one to fit your budget and goals can be a challenge. Interior designer Jennifer Adams shares whether ceramic tile or wood is best for your home with these considerations and tips.

    Question: Should I install ceramic tile that looks like wood floors?

    It depends on your budget and goals for the space! There are a lot of gorgeous tile products that look like wood and can be more durable if you have pets or live in a sandy or wet environment. Even though there are amazing finishes for hardwood flooring these days, if you truly love the look of wood but can’t deal with the floor getting even a little scratched or worn-looking, perhaps ceramic tile that looks like wood is for you.

    -Jennifer Adams

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Plant a Stunning Yard: Explore options to halt soil erosion

    Soil erosion increases work for homeowners. Good ground cover helps your yard thrive.  Outdoor pro Carson Arthur shares how to preserve the integrity of your soil, in and out of shade.

    Question: What can I do with a hill that has a tree but zero grass? It’s too expensive to cut the tree, and the dirt is eroding.

    It sounds like you need to get a good ground cover in place that will survive living under a tree AND hold soil in place. I would check out a sweet woodruff or a periwinkle. Both thrive in dry shade and solve erosion with their roots.

    -Carson Arthur

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Don’t Pale at Picking Colors: How to play around with seasonal hues

    Don’t underestimate the classic sophistication of white or other neutrals to celebrate the season. Interior designer Jennifer Adams reviews which hues make your home a holiday destination.

    Question: Which are the best colors of the season for now and later? We are going to paint soon.

    White is always right! White gives any space a clean, airy look and blends with every style and taste. Choose a pure white if you prefer cool tones or a warmer off-white. Another option is a very pale gray, sand or tan with brownish undertones—not too pink, not too green and not too yellow. You can easily accent with brighter colors for the time of year or your personal taste.

    -Jennifer Adams

  • Ask a Pro Q&A – Choosing a Timeless Kitchen Hue

    Kitchens are the heart of the home. By selecting the right color, you welcome guests and express your style.  Interior designer Jennifer Adams discusses the best options for cabinets and a refreshed look.

    Question: Which are the most classic kitchen cabinets that will not look dated?

    I’m assuming you are talking about the door style. For a truly classic look, simpler is better! A look that never goes out of style and blends with any decor is a solid slab-style door without any panel or embellishment at all. But that look can be a little boring if it’s finished with plain white paint. To add some timeless interest to cabinet doors, choose an inset Shaker panel for the larger doors and drawers, with a slab style for small drawers.

    -Jennifer Adams