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News Update: Our Industry Supports and Encourages Sustainable Choices at Every Turn
Last month, Jamie Rosen and I attended the 2011 NWFA Annual Wood Flooring Convention and Expo in San Diego, Calif. I am a board member of the NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association), and we look forward to attending the convention each year. Many of my industry colleagues and I learned more about NWFA’s Responsible Procurement Program. The program’s main goal is to “promote environmentally and socially responsible forest management in the regions that supply the timber on which we all depend,” according to NWFA. What does that mean to you, as a valued Apex Wood Floors client and partner? We have been – and continue to be – an environmentally responsible flooring company. We are proud of this and want you to feel good about the eco-friendly choices you make for yourself and your family. We use products that contain little or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds). We use water-based dyes and water-based finishes as green alternatives whenever possible. Furthermore, the “Dust-Extraction System” we use for floor refinishing virtually eliminates the need for any clean up. The dust is extracted from the client’s home and most customers can put their furniture and belongings back into place right after the project is completed. This system eliminates the need for prepping materials such as plastic. Finally, our “Revival” collection of reclaimed wide-plank hardwood flooring is truly sustainable. This collection is comprised exclusively from wood recycled from antique structures across the United States. If you’d like to learn more about how we succeed at being green, we hope you’ll spend a few minutes on our Web site: http://www.apexwoodfloors.com/ Design File: The Popularity of Wallpaper as a Design ElementIf you’ve been working with a local interior designer over the past two or three years, chances are they have recommended wallpaper as an attractive design element during your remodeling project. Why? According to interior designer Darl Grooters, president of Palos Park, IL-based Darl Grooters, Ltd., “Wallpaper adds texture, pattern and color to a space. It makes a statement and gives a room immediate interest. You don’t even need it on all four walls. If you use it on one wall, it can really create a complete focal point for your room.” A lot has changed. Homeowners who haven’t been in the market recently for wallcoverings will notice more geometrical influences and more texture than wallpaper designs from the 1990s. Among Darl’s favorites are grasscloths, geometric-patterned paper and those that use tone-on-tone. Darl indicated that many of his clients are choosing wallpaper versus painted walls for their powder rooms, mudrooms, laundry rooms and as accent walls in bedrooms and dining rooms. “You can combine different types of wallpaper within your home. For example, you may opt for a fun and whimsical design for your children’s rooms, while selecting a more classic print for the dining room and a nature-inspired pattern for the bathroom,” added Darl. Because of the wide variety of styles, colors and manufacturers from which to choose, most consumers can stick to their budgets when selecting wallpaper that complements their décor. And don’t sweat the tear-down process. Darl recommends using the proper products at installation time. “When it comes time to remove the paper down the road, it will be easy as long as the proper materials were used when it went up,” he said. To learn more about Darl, please visit http://www.darlgrootersltd.com/.
Don’t ignore your walls or your floors this summer! Give us a call if we can provide any type of hardwood flooring care for you. Sincerely, John Lessick |
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About Apex Wood Floors Based in Downers Grove, IL, the award-winning team at Apex Wood Floors has been providing customized hardwood floors to clients in the Midwest and across America since 1982. Apex uses its own highly trained craftsmen to provide unparalleled excellence to flooring projects that include wide plank, handcrafted floors, exotic species, patterns and design work. The company custom fabricates its own handcrafted and distressed plank flooring in several finishes and styles spanning the interior design spectrum. Apex works with designers, architects and their clients to provide a floor that will satisfy even the most discriminating clients. Every project provides longevity of beauty and character to any setting as they continually mature. In addition to an extensive selection of premium domestic and exotic wood species, Apex offers three destination flooring styles: Renaissance wide plank, Designer patterns and inlays and Select premium and exotic hardwoods. Apex provides complete design and installation services, including the removal of existing flooring, disposal of waste, and layout and finishing of new wood floors. |
Apex Wood Floors | West-suburban Showroom: 1326 Ogden Avenue | Downers Grove, IL 60515
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