With our busy and frenetic lives we challenged ourselves to come up with a list of 10 simple things in life that bring us happiness.  We must admit it was a fun thing to think about for a while.  Think back to the time when, “Life was much simpler when Apple and Blackberry were just fruits.”

So here’s our version of our top 10 list of the Simple Things in life.  We hope it inspires you:

 

1.  Something pretty –  How simple yet pretty is this?   Take a simple can and wrap ribbon or a grass around it.  Then add some pretty daisies from the garden and voila.  You have something pretty! “Surprise” yourself with a bouquet whenever you want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  Take a walk in the park on a sunny day – every community has  a wonderful park where you can take a sunny day stroll.  We drive by it everyday.  Take the time to stop and enjoy it.  You’ll be glad you did.

 

3.  Sleep in on a rainy morning – nothing better then this.  Give yourself a break.  Listen to the rain and relax.

 

4.  Hearing a familiar song – doesn’t it take you back?  You can relive those moment in your life just by hearing a song from your past.  Sort of a special surprise of the day.

 

5.  Smile – it’s contagious – A smile is a facelift that’s in everyone’s price range! And bonus, it makes others feel good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  Watch one of the 1,000 streaming educational videos – on www.ted.com TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design. Or try www.igniteshow.com – Ignite is a geek event in over 100 cities worldwide. At the events Ignite presenters share their personal and professional passions, using 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds for a total of just five minutes.

 

7.  Relax outdoors on a sunny day – ingredients required:

• Favorite chair
• Sun
• Light breeze
• Birds chirping

 

This is our favorite chair… what does yours look like?

 

 

It’s that time of year, make sure you take the time to enjoy it and treat yourself to a lazy sunny afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.   Watch the sunset with someone you care about. Nothing more to say on this one…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.   An embrace that lasts just a little longer than usual. Give someone an uncomfortably long hug   today!  You’ll both feel better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.   Keep track of things you are grateful for… we go through our days rushed and preoccupied with our to do list.  Don’t ever forget the good things we have in life.

 

Okay, now over to you. Take a few minutes to write your list of 10 Simple Things in life.  It’s kind of a fun thing to do.    Enjoy the little things in life because some day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New flooring is a great way to give your home an updated look and feel. It’s a big change that can make a big impact. But when winter turns to spring and you’re looking for ways to freshen up your home, there are plenty of little things to do. Here are a few simple ways to give your home a fresh feel.

 

Put away your heavy throw blankets and replace them with lighter ones in warmer hues. This will brighten things up while still keeping you cozy on those rainy days. Adding a variety of decorative pillows will also instantly change the feel of any room with ease.

With spring comes rain, and with rain come flowers. Add some life to your home décor with seasonal plants or flowers. Flowerpots are another way to add colour, with a wide variety of styles available in countless hues.

Even with a beautiful hardwood, cork, or tile floor adding an area rug can quickly change the feel of any room. With so many different styles, sizes, colours, patterns, and even shapes, they’re an ideal way to update any room for spring. Tie everything together with decorative candles, a great way to stretch colour across all corners of a room.

Spring is here, so infuse your home with a little more life of the season by adding personal touches. Don’t be afraid to play with the colours, textures and patterns of all your spring accessories. It’s these small touches that will make a big difference in your home.

 

The world is invited to ‘switch off’ our lights for 1 hour on Saturday, March 31^st from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm local time.  Will you be flicking off the switches  in your home?    Not to be confused with Earth Day — Earth Hour asks us to turn off our non essential lights for only an hour.  Earth hour has transformed into a symbolic event to encourage environmental action and awareness.

Earth hour’s origin began in 2004 when the WWF Australia began to look at new ways to take climate change mainstream after being confronted with serious scientific data. WWF Australia and advertising agency Leo Burnett Sydney discussed ideas for engaging Australians on the issue of climate change.

In 2005, WWF Australia and Leo Burnett Sydney developed the concept of a large scale switch off. The project had the working title, “The Big Flick”: A campaign based on hope not fear, and the idea that everyone can take personal responsibility for the future of the planet we live on.

In 2006 Leo Burnett was challenged to come up with a campaign name that represents more than simply flicking off lights –Earth Hour was born. WWF Australia and Leo Burnett Sydney took the concept of Earth Hour to Fairfax Media asking Fairfax to back the event – they agreed.

In 2007 Earth Hour was held on March 31 in Sydney, Australia at 7:30 pm, local time.

Earth Hour 2008 included 31 partner cities, along with 182 other cities and regions that also supported the event.  Earth Hour 2008 was held internationally on March 28, 2008 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. local time, marking the first anniversary of the event.

Earth Hour 2009 was from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time, March 28, 2009. 88 countries and 4,159 cities participated in Earth Hour.

Earth Hour 2010 was held from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time, March 27th and  was reportedly the biggest Earth Hour yet, aiming to garner more than the one billion participant goal of 2009′s Earth Hour. 126 countries participated in Earth Hour 2010.

Earth Hour 2011 was the biggest year in the campaign’s five year history, reaffirming it as the largest ever voluntary action for the environment. It took place in a record 5,251 cities and towns in 135 countries and territories in all seven continents. It had an estimated reach of 1.8 billion people across the globe.

We’ll have to wait to see what  the results of Earth Hour 2012 will be.

New this year is that it will be watched over from space as the lights go out.  The event will have live commentary from space as landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Sydney Opera House switch off their lights.  WWF, the event’s organisers, say this year will see record participation, with 5,411 cities and towns, and 147 countries taking part, up from 5,251 and 135 in 2011.

 

Past the hour long tribute at 8:30 pm on March 31^st, here are some ideas to keep the momentum going forward throughout the year:

1.            Use green cleaning products when cleaning in your home.

2.            Adjust the thermostat when we’re not home.

3.            Upgrade the efficiency of your home, re new furnace, energy star rated appliances, hot water tanks, AC units, insulation, etc. – check out available rebate  programs when upgrading.

4.            Replace those drafty windows in your home – todays technology is a huge improvement over windows made 20 years ago.

5.            Dip into the ‘Honey-do’ jar for tasks like switching to compact florescent bulbs, adding weather stripping to doors, change your furnace filter, caulk around windows, etc.

 

So here’s to all the romantic and wonderful candlelit dinners that will be occurring on Saturday night!  What we do today will affect the world our children and grandchildren will live in.  It starts with 1 hour on the last Saturday of March.

 

Here is the Earth Hour 2012 video, which is wonderful!

Earth Hour 2012 Official Video

 

 

 

The Nufloors Langley, BC location recently did something wonderful for their staff.  They hosted a session on emergency preparation and how to survive and bounce back from a disaster.  We all know what our “threats” are based on where we live.  But we tend to push this to the background, adding it to our to do list, but never really truly addressing the “what if” and making a plan.

Dennis Lundstrom, Sales Manager of Nufloors Langley, has an early and vivid memory of what a major disaster looks like.  He was a young child when his family’s home, on the Sumas floodplain, was inundated in the Fraser River flood of 1948. His bedroom window on the top floor of the house was visible, but not much else.

Nufloors Langley is planning to hold a public event in the future so more people can learn about planning for an emergency.

 

Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada is May 6-12^th, 2012

So what about you?  Are you ready if a natural disaster strikes you and your family?

Are you prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least 72 hours in a disaster ?

Below are the 3 to-do’s:

1. Know the risks in your community.
2. Make a family emergency plan.
3. Get or make an emergency preparedness kit.

In an emergency, if phones don’t work or families aren’t together, what will you do?   Check out the Government of Canada’s video, “Making a Family Emergency Plan”.  Also available are emergency preparation downloadable guides:

http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx

 

Another great resource for learning more about this is the Canadian Red Cross:

http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=33841&tid=001&gclid=CPib4qCx7K4CFWcHRQod2h8ALQ

 

Do yourself a favor and spend a little time on this – trust us, you’ll sleep a lot better at night!

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly floor – Cork Flooring is one of best options available.  Its benefits are that it is warm and cozy, easy to walk and stand on (cork is 50% air which translates to a dense cushion that insulates against cold and makes every foot step comfortable -  no need for slippers anymore), reduces noise, is durable and it has a unique look that is beautiful and will last for years.    So just where does a cork floor come from?  It is harvested from the bark of oak trees in Southern Europe where cork oak species are plentiful.  The cork oaks must be at least 25 years old before they are harvested, and when they are, the cork is harvested by hand.

 

This is a traditional process that is done every 9 years  in a very careful method to maintain the health of the cork oaks, never destroying the tree.   The best part of this process is that the bark of the cork oak grows back, leaving the tree as healthy as ever.   It’s not unusual to have a 200 year-old tree still producing cork bark.  Thus the reason why cork floors are an entirely renewable resource.

 

 

 

Cork flooring is a great option for family/great rooms, entrance ways, hallways, basements, kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms.  As cork is a natural material, no two cork floor tile or planks are alike so some colour and shade variation should be expected. Cork floors also have a distinctive natural colouring that will age over time and fade if installed near direct sunlight or ultraviolet light. It is advised to use drapes, UV-protective windows and other methods to protect your cork floor from excessive sunlight. Cork flooring most commonly comes in tile form, and is usually sold in standard 12” X 12” or 15” X 15” sizes. There are also cork planks that come in standard 7” and 12” X 36” boards.

 

 

3 unique Benefits of Cork:

It’s Soft: A pulled cork from a wine bottle is soft and pliable, similar to a cork floor. It has a springy surface beneath the feet that is very comfortable to walk on or to stand on even for long periods of time.  A particularly good flooring choice for homes with small children or elderly family members. Ultimately, cork’s unique honeycomb-like structure acts as a natural shock absorber.

It’s sound absorbing: Cork flooring will act as natural insulation for a space, blocking out ambient noise that can come from rooms below. This is due to the fact that its surface is made up of millions of cells filled with air, acting as tiny sound cushions.  Cork also cushions impact sounds that can come from rolling or sliding furnishings across the floor, making this a great choice for a home office.

It has a great green story: Cork flooring is all natural, biodegradable, and very renewable.

 

 

For more information on cork floors, view these videos and web links:

 

http://www.nufloors.ca/videos/beforeyoubuy/cork

 

http://www.nufloors.ca/flooringchoices/cork

 

The Nufloors team has returned from our annual visit to the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas, after having attended the North American Flooring Show called ‘Surfaces’, which is attended by about 30,000 people from flooring manufacturers to retailers.    Not only did we see the show and all the new wonderful products that are headed into our showrooms in the next few months, we were able to take advantage of some of the 70+ education seminars on a whole array of subjects from sales and marketing, customer service, colour and design trends and communicating with Generation Y  to name a few.   After walking the show for 3 days (there are over 700 supplier participants!) we have to admit, we didn’t see every supplier, but we did get a wonderful feel for the new and interesting products for 2012 and here is our brief summary of some of these insights:

 

Hardwood –

We saw a beautiful but tough new hardwood by Armstrong called Premier Performance – it is a hardwood floor that stands up to kids, pets and active lifestyles. Liquid acrylic and a Permion® wear layer make Premier Performance a dramatically tougher engineered hardwood floor that resists scratches, scrapes, dings and dents better than any traditional hardwood floor.  This one comes with a 35 year residential warranty and is worth considering if you have a very busy household (dogs included!)

http://www.armstrong.com/flooring/hardwood/black-maple-3-in-engineered-hardwood-plank-EPP3107/floor-103822.asp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laminate –

We saw Mannington’s newest laminate flooring introductions which take the next step in realism, with the authentic look of reclaimed  (there’s that trend again) wood in a thicker 1/2” plank.   It really is getting harder and harder to tell if it’s laminate or hardwood once you see it on the floor!  Here is a link to the Mannington site:  http://www.mannington.com/Residential/WhatsNew/Search.aspx?FilterCollections=4\

 

 

 

 

Carpet –

We are seeing Lace on the catwalk for Spring/Summer 2012 collections and  the lace trend is making  its appearance in carpet design also.  This Beaulieu carpet has a unique contemporary pattern composed of intertwined asymmetrical swirls.  This is a perfect carpet for a beautiful bedroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Area Rugs -

The 2012/2013 colour trend is all about energy.   During Surfaces, we sat in on the Design and Colour Trends 2012/2013 seminar, presented by Victoria Redshaw of Scarlett Opus out of the U.K.  The current colours are vibrant and lively and the designs in area rugs are reflecting these brilliant colours.    We’ve provided a link to the Scarlett Opus website which details Victoria’s colour trends for 2012/2013:

http://trendsblog.co.uk/?cat=31

 

 

CERAMIC –

We have always believed the possibilities are endless when designing with tile and that we had seen it all.  But wow, it just keeps getting better.  We saw tile from a Bangkok company called  “Sonite” who offers new and interesting products that are manufactured with their signature concave and convex curved surfaces that give a sense of depth and texture.  The slight variation inherent in each tile comes from their specialized method of sculpting the material to form each individual tile that is unique.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hardwood looks are also available in tile!  Mohawk’s collection called “Stage Pointe”, features  a wood plank visual for home owners who want to create the warm look of hardwood in areas of their home where the high performance of tile is required.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daltile showcased metallic porcelain tiles which offers a unique look in metallics featuring shimmering coppers, bronzes, titanium’s and irons.  Stunning!

 

 

 

We’ve only summarized a few of the many new products arriving at the Nufloors stores in the next few months.  We think of ourselves as being in the ‘flooring industry’ but we are not, it is much more than that, we are in the “floor fashion industry” and are delighted to see that we, as an industry, are keeping pace with the trends and colours each year and commit to provide our consumers with the latest in floor fashions.    After all – flooring is that important 5^th wall that begins the design process in every room.  So many choices!

 

We’ll be back at Surfaces next January and we can’t wait to see what’s coming next – and as always, we’ll keep you posted!

 

 

Leather – it’s not just used for jackets, belts and shoes!  How about your floors?  A leather floor installation creates its own unique environment; it exudes elegance, sophistication and unashamed luxury.  Back in the day, leather flooring could be found in high end designer showrooms retailing for $100-$200 per square foot, available to a very exclusive market.  Today,  Torlys (a Toronto based flooring company) has made available a beautiful assortment of leather flooring in plank (7 5/8” wide x 45 7/8″ long x 3/8” thick) and tile format (15 1/4” wide x 15 ¼” wide x 3/8” thick).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leather floors would be a great choice for bedrooms, dens, libraries or kitchens where luxury abounds.  The price range is around $12-$13 a square foot, comparable to excellent quality hardwood or custom wool carpet.  So a 10 x 10 room would cost about $1200-$1300.

 

Leather improves beautifully with wear and age (just like we do!), developing a wonderful rich ‘patina’ that is entirely unique; each small sign of being lived with over a long number of years simply enriches its individual character…maturing majestically as both you and your leather floor grow a little older.

 

Leather floors have a great recycling story as most people don’t know that you can recycle leather.  Torlys leather flooring is made from 100% recycled leather which is gathered and reclaimed during the manufacture of jackets, upholstery, belts and shoes.  And did you know leather floors help absorb sound as they have a cork backing which also provides cushioning.  Also, leather flooring is naturally fire retardant.   Maintenance required to keep your leather floors in good shape involves vacuuming, sweeping, and cleaning with a Torly’s cleaning kit.  Fairly simple.

 

 

 

All TORLYS Leather Floors come with a 35- year Residential Wear Warranty, a Lifetime Structural and Joint Integrity Warranty, and a 7-year limited Commercial Warranty. Pretty nice peace of mind.

 

And don’t forget about your walls – leather  planks and tiles can be installed there too…  Wow!  Imagine the possibilities… 

 

Here are a couple of links if you want to learn more about Torlys Leather Floors:

http://www.torlys.com/leather/faq

http://www.torlys.com/leather/leather-videos

 

 

A new year is beginning (Happy New Year to you!) and if you’re thinking “out with the old and in with the new” when it comes to your floors, here’s some things to consider in your planning process.

 

WHERE TO START? We have learned that our customers’ main concerns are “how will it look?” and “what is the cost?”  A good place to start is to review all the flooring choices available to get an idea as to the product type, colour and attributes of the floor you are considering.

 

BEFORE YOU BUY: So many things to think about – we’ve summarized the key points to consider in your decision making process in our series of short videos  (select flooring choices, choose your flooring category (ie hardwood, carpet) in the drop down menu on the right hand side, select the “before you buy” link to view the video and learn more – see image below) before you buy .

 

LOOKING AFTER YOUR FLOORING: Take a moment to think about your current flooring and why you want to replace it.  Are you looking for easier maintenance?  Floor care is an important piece of the equation in your flooring decision; take some time to view our short maintenance videos for each flooring category which provides insights as to the maintenance regime.

 

STILL WANT TO LEARN MORE? Wow!  We are impressed at your thirst for flooring knowledge!  We have provided information on our website   www.nufloors.ca by flooring category on how each of the  flooring products are made, what the various style components are, what to expect on the day of installation as well as a glossary of “floor speak” words and definitions to help you navigate your way through the floor buying process.

 

A couple of extra things to think about when budgeting:

1.  What’s under your current flooring?  Think about your subfloor – A subfloor is the immediate layer of planks or plywood that is laid over the floor joists. It is the base for whatever else is laid upon it such as carpet, vinyl, laminate or bamboo flooring, between which there is a layer of underlayment. (Underlayment is the materials used over the subfloor to create a stable and smooth surface for the finishing material.)  The subfloor is one of the most fundamental elements of interiors. Without a stable, level floor, whatever is placed upon it will not live up to its claims of durability, longevity or other virtues. In fact, a poorly installed subfloor can be the downfall of the entire flooring system, whatever finishes are chosen.  Is your existing subfloor in good condition?  If your subfloor is concrete, (basements), for certain types of flooring, you may need to add a plywood subfloor over top to create a moisture barrier.  Your flooring consultant will review this with you.

2.  What’s on the floor right now that needs to be removed?  If you are replacing the flooring in your home, tearing out existing floors can add costs to your budget, ie ceramic floors, which can be more difficult to remove.  Talk to your flooring consultant about this.

 

 

Tip:  use this quick measurement tool to calculate the approximate quantity of materials needed based on the size of your rooms:  http://www.nufloors.ca/measurements and     review/print off  this 1 page flooring questionnaire summary sheet http://www.nufloors.ca/resources/uploads/pages/flooring-questionaire.pdf as a quick reference.

 

 

 

The more you know about what to expect with your flooring product the happier you will be with the final result.  We hope these ideas, videos and links will help you learn which flooring products will work best for your lifestyle.

And don’t forget, you can always visit us in store for a good ‘ol face to face conversation – we’re here to help and the coffee’s always on!

You’ve begun the journey – you’re looking for new flooring for your home.  The time has come to remove the old flooring and replace it with something new and gorgeous.  But you’re not sure if you want to replace it with carpet or hardwood…  “I wonder what the room would look like with each of these flooring options?” you think to yourself.

 

Well, take the guess work out of it.  Nufloors has a tool on our website (www.nufloors.ca) called the VIRTUAL ROOM DESIGNER.  Using this program allows you to select a room (kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc.), and further select a room scene that most resembles the room in your home.  Once you’ve made your selections, you can use the program to view various flooring products to get a feel for what it will look like.  Select from choices such as carpet, hardwood, vinyl, laminate, cork, ceramic tile and natural stone.  All of the major brands (Shaw, Mohawk, Armstrong, and Mannington) are represented with product specs and full colour lines.  You can even change the wall and trim colours to further match your room.

 

 

 

 

 

A great feature is that you can register and save your work into your own personal workbook.  Collect your favourites and store them to help you when considering the right products for your home.   You can also keep detailed notes about your project from design ideas and product specifications to questions you want to remember to ask us!

 

Seeing is believing! Set aside a little time, grab a cup of coffee and explore our Virtual Room Designer tool to create beautiful rooms.  Think of the floor as a fifth wall for the room.   In fact, think of it as the most important wall since it sets the tone for the rest of the decor.  Have fun creating and exploring the various flooring options and don’t forget to save your work in your own personal workbook.

 

Carpet Cushion – also known as underpad, undercushion, padding, cushion and underlay – is the important,  hard working and often overlooked component of your carpet flooring.  Not all carpet performs the same and not all carpet cushion does either.

 

Carpet cushion does more than cushion your carpet when you walk on it – it also does these important jobs:

• acts as a buffer between the carpet and the subfloor, allowing fibers to bounce back and retain their appearance

• feels better underfoot
• keeps most common household spills from penetrating the cushion or subfloor
• Adds to the useful life of your carpet
• Protects your carpet investment
• Makes a less expensive carpet feel more luxurious
• Absorbs sounds and reduces noise

Many carpet cushions today have extra features worth the money, such as STAINMASTER^® carpet cushion which is available with Odour Guard technology which helps to reduce odours caused by most common household spills and pet accidents.  It is also available with antimicrobial treatment which helps to resist bacteria, mould and mildew in the padding.

 

It is important to never install a new carpet over old carpet cushion or over the old carpet and cushion.  If your carpet needs replacing, so does the carpet cushion.

 

The right carpet cushion can extend the life of your carpet and protect the floors underneath. Ask about STAINMASTER^® carpet cushion when choosing your new carpet.   Plus, when it’s installed with your new STAINMASTER^® carpet, Stainmaster will extend your carpet limited warranties.

 

Visit this site for more info and a short video on Stainmaster Carpet Cushion:

http://www.stainmaster.com/page/our-carpets/carpet-cushion