How to Utilize Dead Space in the Home

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Every home has at least one.

A nook, a cranny, an odd spot that cannot be incorporated into the neighboring space and provides a design challenge due to its awkward size, shape, and/or location.

In the above picture, a client of Mercer Floor and Home decided to use the nook at the base of her main stair case as a spot to drop your keys and take off your shoes since it was in her entry way.  At it worked perfectly, the pieces she choose worked together to make the space feel welcoming without impeding traffic flow.

Just like in the above situation, when deciding on how to best utilize these awkward little spaces you are going to take note of...

1. location - this can help you determine the best use of this space
2. size - typically in these nooks and crannies you don't have a lot of space to use so it's often best to use pieces that are scaled down so they fit better visually as well as spatially
3. shape - you are definitely going to want to work with the architectural details that the space provides so  whatever is placed there looks like it belongs
4. style - what is your style, the style of your home, the style of that area? Do you want this spot to be apart of the overall picture or its own separate area?

With those for things in mind and some willingness to think outside the box, you have the tools necessary to turn that challenging awkward space into a viable and usable space of your home!

Recently I helped someone with an awkward space in their basement family room.  They had a staircase to the main floor that doubled back upon itself (like in the example picture below) and she had no idea how to use that cranny below the top half of the stairway.

Since it was off of the family room, I suggested a shorter floor lamp in the corner and a folding table placed at a slight angle (this folding table would preferably come with a removable leaf to make it larger if necessary). When not in use, pretty things like a vase of flowers and/or family pictures could be placed on the table.

Typically the space was going to be used by just the couple as their children had grown so nothing extravagant was needed in the way of storage or fixed seating.  They would have large gatherings of family and friends over during the holidays, so I thought that the folding table could serve two purposes. It could be left in the cranny to be used as a server. Or it could be pulled out and used either as a place to eat or to play games. I added the floor lamp to brighten the space up and help it feel larger.

Spots around staircases seem to be common challenging spaces.  And I thought that the space in the above picture was utilized well with the small office.  I have also seen people use the otherwise dead spaces under stairs as storage spots like in the picture below.

The below picture shows a unique take on the crannies below staircases.  What a charming little seating spot.

What are some of your challenging nooks and crannies?  Have you thought of what you could do with them?

Here are a few other pictures; hopefully they help!

I also highly suggest taking a look at The Not So Big House for additional tips!

Q&A: How to Tell if it is Authentic?

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Hi, Kat,

Read your blog at http://blog.mercercarpetone.com/2011/01/truth-about-brazilian-cherry.html. Very good knowledge. Thanks for sharing!

I live in C___ and am now researching to put Jatoba floor in my house. But there are many vendors claiming to sell authentic Jatoba on the market. Is there any way to tell in case someone is selling fake Jatoba?

Appreciate your insights on this.

Thanks,

KY

Hello KY,

I’m glad you enjoyed my post, The Truth About Brazilian Cherry! 

Jatoba (also called Brazilian Cherry) is a beautiful hardwood with its red/brown and gold coloring and finely speckled grain.  It is an excellent option for making a space feel richer and more serene.  When it comes to making sure that you are purchasing an authentic Jatoba there are a couple points I will touch on that will hopefully answer your question completely.

Appearance:

Definitely take a look at the grain of the sample.  Exotics tend to have what I like to call a speckled grain instead of the more continuous grain of the domestic species of hardwood.  See the images below for examples.

Jatoba/Brazilian Cherry

Oak

Also look to the coloring. Typically the overall color will be a rich, reddish-brown with hints of gold.  When you first get your Jatoba installed, it will be more golden than red but will darken rapidly the first 9-12 months you have it installed due to the natural oxidation of the hardwood.  (Due to this I would suggest keeping rugs off your new hardwood and moving furniture around regularly for the first year so the hardwood changes color evenly.) 

Of course, since Jatoba is a natural product there will be variation from board to board in the colors and grain.  I highly suggest looking at pictures of Jatoba/Brazilian Cherry after it has been installed so you have a good idea of what that variation can entail.

Reputation:

When looking to purchase authentic Jatoba hardwood, I would always check the authenticity and reputation of the company you would be purchasing the hardwood from.  I highly suggest going to CarpetOne.com and searching for your local Carpet One member store.  The requirements to become a member are pretty strict and as a whole the membership tend to have the best reputations in their areas.

Also, be sure to check if the manufacturer of the hardwood is legitimate and is Lacey Act compliant.  Manufacturers with great reputations include Armstrong, Mannington, Shaw, and Mohawk; a Jatoba hardwood from one of those will be authentic and Lacey Act compliant.  Plus, they’ll provide a range of qualities and options so you, with the assistance of a highly trained flooring expert that your local Carpet One dealer should be able to provide, can discover the best option for you.

Now, with the exotic hardwood species being very similar in look there are times I have difficulty telling the different species apart.  There is much less of a difference in their look than with the domestic species.  So, in summary, you need to find a reputable vendor and a reputable manufacturer and trust in them to be sure that you are purchasing authentic Jatoba. 

Thank you for submitting your question, I hope I have been able to help.  Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance.

Best of Luck,

Katlin Farrell

Flooring Design Consultant

Katlin@MercerCarpetOne.com

We're Expanding and Need Your Help

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I've got great news!  We have big plans for 2012 and need additional personnel to help us achieve those dreams!  We're looking to build upon current locations and expand to new ones.

We're looking to fill all positions including sales, management, and administrative.  We're looking for the right mix of people with enthusiasm, integrity, and creativity who would like to become apart of a flourishing team.  So if you could help spread the word (or apply yourself), that would be fantastic.

Now, for a bit of background.  The available positions are for multiple locations throughout central Maryland including Carroll, Howard, and Baltimore Counties.  We are a small, family business that values drive, honesty, imagination, and a desire to help others.  Our employees and clients come first, because without either of them we wouldn't be here much less double the 53 years we've been in business so far.

Please send all resumes and cover letters to ExpansionProject2012@gmail.com.

[Guest Post] Kitchen Design Ideas for Spring

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Spring is a beautiful season of the year, with flowers beginning to blossom and the pinch of the winter chill being replaced with the aroma of freshly cut grass, it’s a wonderful time to observe nature.  It can also be a wonderful time to inject some nature-inspired design into your kitchen.

Adding a Splash of Color

If you’re guilty of being colour-shy in your kitchen and simply stick to neutral tones then use spring to encourage you to take a risk with colour. Spring’s all about fresh colours, think of the gentle petal buds which are eager to bloom and apple blossom trees which fill your neighbourhood with gentle colors.

Daffodils are very much a flower associated with spring and yellow can really freshen up those kitchen walls. If you’re daring enough opt for a zesty lemon which will awaken every aspect of your kitchen or go for a pastel yellow if your furniture is predominantly white.

Green is another refreshing color which can work well if you have cupboards in a beech wood or similar tone. Kiwi green gives a soft edge to country homes whilst lime greens are a must-have for modern kitchens which are crying out for a confident yet refreshing accent color.

Indulging in Little Luxuries

Another great way to kick-start revitalise your kitchen is to indulge in some luxuries which are pure indulgence and bliss.

Although the bite of winter has been left behind, crisp mornings and frost on the ground aren’t uncommon in spring weather patterns. After you’ve been on a refreshing Sunday morning walk you can warm up in your kitchen with a hot drink whilst huddling next to the radiator. Designer radiators can help to enhance your kitchen’s appearance whilst providing an effective heat output.

Choose a chrome finish radiator if you have a modern kitchen with chrome fixtures, appliances and cupboard handles. If you like to experiment with regular household objects in quirky designs then source a modern radiator which breaks style conventions.

If you’re sick of waking up to instant coffees then why not treat yourself to a coffee machine? There are so many different designs to choose from that you’re bound to find a model which suits your kitchen’s style. As well as its visual aspects, it will fill your kitchen with a pleasant aroma each morning and can help to kick-start your day.

Spring Accessories

Accessorising purposefully can not only make your kitchen look amazing, it can also enhance your culinary productivity. Here are some spring-inspired accessorising tips.

Cake stands are currently an incredibly popular kitchen accessory as cupcakes seem to be a much-loved sweet treat. As the fresh weather beckons you to snack outside cake stands can be great for using when entertaining. They can be an interesting way to display savory party food for spring garden parties as well as providing a pretty display stand for your afternoon tea and cakes.

There’s nothing more refreshing than freshly squeezed juice and by juicing your own fruit you know you’re getting 100% real fruit juice. Choose fruits which are ripe in season, invest in a juicing recipe book and experiment with different fruit cocktails to tantalise your taste buds whilst watching the birds.

Do you have any spring inspired kitchen designs for this season? Share them in the comments below!

This is a guest post written by Stephanie Staszko who’s looking forward to embracing the upcoming spring, you can drop Steph a line on Twitter @StephStaz

[Guest Post] Home Design Trends of 2012

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If you're thinking about creating a new motif throughout your home or freshen up one room, pay attention to the interior design trends of 2012. Many of the trends that will be hot this year are affordable and can be done on even the smallest budget.

 The stringent, white, streamlined feel, favored by a lot of modern homes, is out this year. Color, lighting, and texture are back in and can be used to add a sense of warmth to your home.

Those who follow interior design trends have probably noticed the recent trend toward brighter and bolder colors. 2012 promises to continue the bright color trend as upholstered furniture continues to get brighter.

The same goes for lighting. One way to really spruce up a room is to change the lighting fixtures. The fixtures themselves should be big and wide enough to flood the room with light. I've used the lighting fixture trick a few times with great results. The fixture itself is a cosmetic change and when you pair that with the new way the light falls into the room, it's almost like you're getting a double whammy.

The rustic craze that has swept through interior design for the last couple of years will continue this year. Wood is getting lighter and more and more unfinished. You don't have to be a lumberjack to have wood beams on the ceiling of your kitchen or living room. This can add a very warm and homey feel to any room.

If you wish to keep your home's modern feel, bright palettes like amethyst, sapphire, ruby, emerald and creamy tones are all great ways to breathe some life into an otherwise sterile room. Try mixing and matching these colors on your bed sheets. Pair this with a big bright light fixture and a couple of wall vases of flowers and you will have a completely a new room.

 Ryan is a guest blogger who loves to write about interior design and housing market trends like real estate Austin Tx and Eanes West homes for sale.   I would love to know what you think of his post!

You are Invited!

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I posted earlier about an upcoming event that Mercers is hosting at our Ellicott City Showroom: our 2nd quarterly Lunch-n-Learn for Designers, Architects, Contractors, Real Estate Agents, and anyone interested in topics related to the home.

Here is the additional information I promised!

Where: 10291 Baltimore National Pike, Ellicott City, Maryland - located just west of Centennial Lane
When: February 8th from 11am to 2pm
Why: Many reasons!

• giveaways
• catered lunch (A Gourmet Affair is to be catering)
• networking with trade professionals
• educational presentations by flooring experts
• 100% complimentary
• open to all who are interested

This is our second lunch and learn event and we are thrilled with the success of the first.  We received lots of good feedback from the attendees who also said that they were looking forward to the next event.  We even based the presentation topics for the upcoming lunch and learn off their suggestions!

The topics that we will be presenting on during the Lunch-n-Learn on 2/8th are as follows...

• Carpet for Dummies - by Dwayne Unger
• Hardwood for Dummies - by Travis Mack
• Vinyl for Dummies - by Joel Courchaine

And, we will have interactive activities (thanks to another suggestion by a previous attendee) to add to the learning experience (organized by me!).  If you attended the first Lunch-n-Learn or if this will be your first, we'd love to see you and are greatly looking forward to the event!

Here is the official event flyer, please share with anyone you think would be interested!

[Featured Blog] Build Direct with Tips on Kitchen Remodeling and Conserving Heat

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I've posted about Build Direct before and I'm doing it again.  The writers for that blog bring up some useful, simply written content.  I thought that you would find the following two blog posts of theirs interesting and would love to hear any feedback you have!

"5 Ways to be Warm at Home Without Touching the Thermostat"

Keeping your house warm in winter can be challenging at the best of times. Whether its heat escaping via improperly sealed windows or doors or paying extra heating costs to heat rooms that aren’t being used, unless you stop and look at what your house may be costing you and the energy you are wasting, you may not realize the how much precious heat is escaping your home.
They are a number of things you can do to make rooms warmer without a heater and save on heating costs.
1. Let there be (south-facing) light

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7 Really Bad Ideas for your Kitchen Remodel

Millions of homeowners choose to do some sort of remodeling project every year. Out of all those projects, the most popular is the kitchen remodel. Though most kitchen remodels go very well and homeowners are satisfied with the outcome, there are the same handful of horror stories related again and again about the remodel that went horribly wrong.
Paying attention to the worst decisions can help ensure you make the best ones. Learn from those who have made the mistakes so you don’t have to! Here are seven of the most common terrible ideas for your kitchen remodel.

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Did you find these posts helpful?  Which was your favorite?  Did they include all the tips that you think they should have?