Fall Home Improvement 2010

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Fall Home Improvement 2010

Page 12 — Albert Lea Tribune, Thursday, October 21, 2010

An emerging trends in kitchens: ceramic tiles

Kitchens cry out for a perfect balance between beauty and practicality. Nowhere is the marriage of form and function more important than in the room where most American families spend the majority of their at-home time together. Ceramic tile is the natural choice for kitchens. Homeowners appreciate its durability and designers admire the flexibility it gives them in creating beautiful, yet practical spaces. Now, advances in tile manufacturing, such as digital printing technology, and the endless creativity of homeowners and designers alike, are driving new trends in kitchen design.

European influence

Gone are the days when homeowners were willing to trade the spare, clean and peaceful look of an open wall for the storage convenience afforded by walls full of cabinets. Drawing on European influences, designers are now limiting the use of upper cabinets. Instead, they devote an entire wall of the kitchen to a floor-to-ceiling cabinet, similar to a wall unit, which easily replaces

the storage space lost by eliminating upper cabinets. The remaining three walls are either cabinet-free, or boast open shelving units. The open wall space above the countertop becomes a blank canvas for a design focal point. Ceramic tile is at the top of the list of preferred finish materials for these walls, often taking center stage as a stunning floor-toceiling backdrop to the sculptural stainless-steel range hoods currently in vogue. It’s also finding its way beyond the backsplash to the remaining kitchen walls.

Woods of wonder

A trend toward open floor plans, with the kitchen as a focal point of an

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entire living space, has led to some homeowners installing hardwood floors in the kitchen. While the appeal of an uninterrupted expanse of hardwood is undeniable, the material is rarely practical in a kitchen setting, where it may be exposed to moisture, food stains, heavy traffic and water spills. Homeowners and designers have discovered a better alternative. Ceramic tile, available in a variety of plank-like widths and lengths, uses

advanced digital printing technology to deliver the beauty and variability of pattern and grain that makes hardwood so enticing, but maintains the durability of ceramic tile. Woodlook ceramic tile can be installed with minimal joint lines, making it look even more like a real hardwood floor. And when it comes to cost, ceramic versions of popular hardwoods such as oak, beech or pine are cost-competitive with the authentic woods.

Top to bottom, your home’s exterior will be in good hands with the expert Home Solution’s staff! From the first phone call for your free estimate to the installers’ final cleanup, we will make your home improvement experience a wonderful one! See our website, Facebook page or stop in! Call for a FREE CATALOG.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Call Today for a Free Consultation Showroom Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8-5p.m. 310 1st Ave. South • Albert Lea, MN 507-373-8535 Toll Free 1-877-373-8535 e-mail: sales@coolwindowshades.com • FREE INSTALLATION • Visit our web site at: www.coolwindowshades.com


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