How to Prevent Chairs from Scratching Hardwood Floors

Did you know your chairs could be scratching your hardwood floors every time you use them?  Luckily, there's an easy fix to prevent chairs from damaging your hardwood--felt pads.  Felt pads come in a variety of sizes and shapes to accommodate all furniture pieces and are available at any home improvement store.  While felt pads come with an adhesive backing, we recommend enhancing their adhesion by adding a dab of construction or super glue.  Once the pads are applied, turn the chair upside down and allow to dry for at least three hours.  For a demonstration, please see our eHow video below:

How to Stop Chairs From Scratching Hardwood Floors -- powered by ehow

5 Tips for Creating a Show-Stopping Christmas Tree

Have you always wanted a tree that brings about a chorus of “ooohs” and “ahhhs” when people enter your home? Below are some tips that can get you headed in the right direction.  Decorating your tree shouldn’t be stressful, but a fun and meaningful activity for the whole family. So grab your hot chocolate, turn on the Christmas carols, and get to trimming that tree.
1. Choose a Color Scheme.
To begin your tree decorating adventure, the first step is deciding on your color scheme. You can go with a more traditional and elegant design, like red and gold, or go for a more contemporary look by using color combinations such as deep purple and lime green, blue and silver, or dark blue, turquoise, and gold.   It’s really up to you based on what colors you prefer, but once you choose your color palette, try to select all of your tree decorations based on your scheme (except of course for those special ornaments, like Baby’s 1st Christmas, etc).
2. Make Use of Large Ornaments and Bows.

Oversized Ornaments Add Volume to this Valencich Tree

Big bows, flowers, and ornaments are a great way to fill in space and add nice focal points to your tree. For the bows, choose a few different large ribbons and layer them together in different combinations. For the ornaments, use a mix of solids and bulbs with different designs and textures, using varying sizes. This is also where you can add lots of glitter and glam.
3. Light It Up.
The classic white/clear mini-lights will typically best compliment most color schemes, without detracting from the rest of the tree’s décor. If you choose to go with colored lights, you may consider a solid color, such as gold, green, or blue. A general rule of thumb is that you’ll need 300 lights for every foot of your tree’s height. According to Better Homes & Garden, “instead of wrapping the lights around the tree in a maypole style, mentally divide the tree into three triangular sections, from top to bottom, around the tree's cone.” First, plug in the lights and nestle the last bulb on the string at the top of the tree next to the trunk. Then weave the lights back and forth across the triangle until you reach the bottom. Repeat this process for the remaining triangles.

Tree Topper Designed by Blushing Blooms

4. The Tree Topper.
Angel, star, bow…what goes on top? The trend for tree toppers is moving more in the direction of bows, feathers, or eclectic collections of metallic berries, twigs, and shoots. Bows with cascading ribbon make a grand display, or feathers (anywhere from exotic peacock to white plumes) can give your tree a glamorous look. If you’re like me, and it almost doesn’t seem right not to have an angel or star on the top of your tree, there are decorative angels and stars that can keep your tree in style while still holding their symbolic meaning (try Hobby Lobby or Pier 1 for a great assortment of tree toppers). Of course, if you have a tree topper that holds special meaning or a family heirloom, that takes precedence over the design aspect.

"Giftscape" featured in Real Simple magazine

5. Don’t Forget What’s Under the Tree.
Your Christmas presents are an extension of your tree, so try to find wrapping paper that compliments your color scheme. Pick 1 or 2 patterns and a couple solids. There are all sorts of fun ribbons and bows to embellish your packages, and you may even try layering a thin ribbon on top of a thicker ribbon. Angle and lean the boxes to show off their best sides. And don’t forget the tree skirt. If your tree skirt is old and outdated, many home stores have a wide variety of beautiful tree skirts (again we suggest Pier1 or Hobby Lobby).
The most important things about decorating your tree are to enjoy the experience and make it a reflection of your own personal style. These are simply guidelines to help get you inspired, but add your own creativity and flare.
If Christmas tree decorating is just not your forte, go see our friends at Blushing Blooms by Brennen Farlow, and get a fabulous tree with none of the fuss.

Congratulations Kelley Henderson, Winner of Our Tree Decorating Contest!

Kelley Henderson- Gainesville, GA

Congratulations to Kelley Henderson, winner of our 'Christmas with Pizazz' Tree Decorating Contest!  Kelley's Christmas tree (featured below) received an astounding 125 likes from fellow Facebook members, winning her a $50 Pier1 Gift Card. Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest.  We enjoyed seeing all of the beautiful trees and were very impressed with the decorating talent of our Facebook fans!

QR Giveaway Begins Today- Enter to Win a $499 Floral Arrangement!

So what is the deal with those funny little barcodes you've been seeing everywhere lately?  They're popping up on everything, from business cards to TV commercials to tattoos.  Well not only are we going to give you some insight into QR codes, but we're going to make it worth your while by giving away a floral arrangement valued at $499 to one lucky participant.

QR (Quick Response) codes are a form of matrix or 2D codes, made of modules arranged in a square pattern to store data.  They were originally created by the Japanese automotive industry in 1994 to track vehicles during manufacturing.  Today they have evolved into much more.    They are gaining populatiry because of their large storage capacity and fast readability.  Japan is still a pioneer in QR development, with QR codes even being placed on people's tombstones... not kidding! (check out http://bit.ly/rcKfv).  Here in the US, companies are using these codes to take their customers to more information about their business.  QR codes can be scanned by smartphone cameras, and can be directed to a webpage, contact information, a video, map, etc.

So we thought we'd have a little fun with these codes.  We've teamed up with Blushing Blooms By Brennen to bring you our "What's With Those QR Things?" Giveaway.  Just scan the below codes and "like" both company Facebook pages, and you'll be automatically entered to win a beautiful Blushing Blooms floral arrangement.  (Trust me, they are amazing!  I have one and it is the focal point of my foyer.)  Already a fan of the pages?  Don't have a smartphone?  No worries.  Just be sure you've liked both the Pizazz Floors and Blushing Blooms Facebook pages and share one of our posts with details about the giveaway on your wall to help us spread the word.  Easy enough.

See the below banner for details and start scanning!  The winner will be drawn at random on November 18th at 8pm.

How to Scan A QR Code (for smartphones):

• Download a QR reader from your app store.  It's free.  In your search bar, type "QR Reader" and pick one that is voted highly.  ScanLife and Zxing are good ones.
• Once downloaded, open the app.
• Place the QR code in front of your phone in the viewfinder.
• Voila!  The phone should scan the code and take you to the code's destination.

5 Fabulous Fall Decorating Ideas

The leaves are turning, football is in full swing, and there’s a crisp feeling in the air…  it’s time to get your home nice and cozy for fall.  Here are a few easy decorating ideas we love that will help get you inspired.

Welcome guests to your home with this beautiful and easy entrance collection.  All you need is a wheelbarrow, a couple medium to large pumpkins, some smaller gourds, black paint, and a few sprays of leaves.  If handwriting is not your forte, stencils work great.

Make use of an old garden rake with this clever fall display.  Just push ears of multicolor maize between the teeth of a metal rake.  You can hang your festive fall decoration near your front entrance with a hook or prop it against a wall.  Done in minutes!

Use a variety of seasonal gourds to create this simple mantel display.  This picture uses two large hard-shell gourds mixed with smaller soft-shell gourds, but you can be as creative with it as you like.  Complete the look with bittersweet branches and maple leaves for extra pops of color.

Start with a simple grapevine wreath.  Find some nice fall florals (Michaels or Hobby Lobby) and some metallic spray paint in varying shades of gold and bronze.  Spray the florals and insert them into your wreath.  To add a personalized touch, hang a monogram letter in the center, tied with a ribbon.

To make your home feel extra warm and cozy this fall, light some fall scented candles in yummy scents like pumpkin spice, apple pie, or gingerbread.  Turn your candle into a centerpiece by placing the candle in a pumpkin (remove the stem and cut a small indention into the top of the pumpkin) and tuck in a few leaves, vines, or artificial berries.

Decorating for fall doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive.  Fall is full of rich colors and textures, so think about bringing the outdoors in.  Using things you find in nature, like autumn leaves, branches, pumpkins, and pinecones, is a nice and cost-effective way to add some charm to your home this season.  Happy fall decorating!

Congratulations to Our Home Improvement Contest Winner- Brian Jordan!

Well Facebook fans, you definitely showed us your skills!  Our "Show Us What You Got" Home Improvement Contest wrapped up this weekend, and we must say, we were impressed!

Our winner was Brian Jordan of Gainesville, GA, who submitted a picture and video of his Caribbean resort bar (pictured below).  Brian got the idea from a Bombay Sapphire magazine ad.  His picture received a whopping 30 'likes" landing him in first place with a prize of $100 cash.

Coming in second place was Wendy Green with her elegant, remodeled bathroom, receiving 20 likes.  Wendy and Brian were neck and neck for much of the contest, but Brian pulled out ahead on the last day.  Wendy expresses "We had a great time getting involved with the contest.  Thank you for hosting!"

Also entering the contest were Kathy Berg with a custom built pool house and Ray Barany with a display of intricate wood work.

To see all of the entries, go to our Facebook page.  Thanks to everyone who participated!  Be sure to look out for more contests to come in the future.

Brian Jordan's Caribbean Style Bar

Is Vinyl Out?

Is vinyl a practical flooring solution... or is it soooo last century?  Well we’d probably argue a little of both.  Vinyl has some clear advantages and disadvantages.  If you’re considering vinyl for your home or commercial space, here’s some information to help in your decision.
Vinyl entered the flooring scene in the 1930s, and has experienced peaks and lows in popularity throughout the decades.  While vinyl is currently not the most popular flooring option, the product has evolved immensely over the years, and has come a long way in style and durability.   Vinyl does offer some key advantages:
-Durabilty. Vinyl is a durable product that is resistant to scratches and moisture, making it ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.  It is also available with an enhanced urethane finish, for even greater resilience to scratching and helping to keep its new appearance for longer periods of time.
-Affordability. Vinyl is the most affordable flooring option.  Period.
-Large selection of colors and designs. Because vinyl is a man-made product, it can be produced in almost any color or pattern, giving homeowners a wide range of options.  Vinyl is also available in planks and tiles (as opposed to the traditional sheet vinyl) to replicate the look of hardwood and tile.

-Comfort. Vinyl is more comfortable underfoot than tile, and is not as cold or hard.
-Easy to clean. Vinyl can be mopped using a variety of cleaning products.  There is no concern about cleaning grout, as with tile, or having to purchase special products, as with hardwood.
With all these advantages, you may be thinking why wouldn’t we choose vinyl?  First, vinyl does not offer the same natural beauty and appeal of other flooring options.  In essence, it does have a cheaper appearance.  You’re not likely to hear someone viewing a home say, “Ooooh look at those nice vinyl floors!”  or “It’s got vinyl throughout!  Just what I was looking for!”  Also, while vinyl is durable, it cannot be refinished or restored, so it will have to be replaced sooner than hardwood or tile would.  Lastly, vinyl typically does not add value to a home or offer a return on investment for most homeowners.
So when does vinyl make sense?  There are a few situations for which we believe vinyl is a viable option:

• Commercial spaces.  VCT (vinyl composition tile) is great for schools, offices, stores, and other commercial settings.  Vinyl can also be made with a slip resistant surface, to minimize accidents.
• Homes under $125,000, particularly in bathrooms and laundry rooms.
• Rental properties.

So that’s our take on vinyl.   We hope the information helps in your floor selection process.  For more advice on vinyl or any other flooring options, call us at 678-687-8693 or visit http://www.pizazzfloors.com.