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Fall Home Renovation and Ideas for Denver Reclaimed Mantels

Fall is an excellent time to tackle your home renovations before the winter sets in. While some ideas can help you spruce up your home with fall themed décor, there are many other changes that you can enjoy all year long. These changes will also help to increase the value of your home that will pay off in the long run. As you consider which areas of your home need renovation, use these tips for entry ways, living rooms, bathrooms, décor, Denver reclaimed mantels, and outdoor maintenance.  

Ideas for the Foyer
Is the entryway of your home a welcoming area? As the first impression of your home, and the entrance that welcomes you each day, consider making some updates to make your house feel like a home. Not only should your renovations help to enhance the appearance, but also should be practical. Make sure you do not add anything to clutter the space, especially if you have a small foyer. One of the great ways to add your own personality is to add an accent wall and/or a photo wall that highlights those that live in the home. For practical use, have furniture that can hold keys, purses, bags, shoes, and more that keeps it out of the way, but is easy to access on your way in and out.

Adding Warmth to a Living Room

There are various ways you can make a living room feel cozy and comfortable through choice of décor. For colors, try different light shades of beige, orange, or red. Add accent and décor pieces to match with gold tones, and wood tables, cabinets, and more. Brown leather furniture, pillows, and accent pieces can also add warmth to a living space. If you prefer a lighter color for a living room with shades of blue or grey, add brown or black fur throw blankets on your couch to dress it up, and darker or lighter throw pillows that are the opposite color of your chairs and couch. Another great way to enhance your living room and add warmth is with a reclaimed mantel. By using salvaged wood that is fifty years old or even older, it will be rich with history. Use this wood to enhance your mantel and pair it with beams from your ceiling.

Lighting

When trying to set the tone in a room, having the proper lighting is key. For living spaces and bedrooms, you will want to make sure you have lighting to accommodate a variety of activities. During the day or night when you are busy, you will need bright lighting. You can accomplish this through can lights in the ceiling strategically placed by an electrician to provide optimal light around the room. You can add a dimmer to the can lights to help change the ambiance of a room. Kitchens can have similar themes with bright cans that help make it easy for preparing food. To save on costs, make sure to use LED lighting in your home.

Fall Décor Ideas

For a temporary, seasonal addition, add fall décor to your home. At your local home goods store, invest in faux pumpkins that are available in a variety of colors that can match the colors in your room. Pair them with fall themed real or faux flowers in your kitchen, foyer, living room, and more. You can also find fall themed art to hang over your new mantel of reclaimed wood. For other functional items, invest in inexpensive fall-themed throw pillows, blankets, rugs, curtains, and any other accessory you can find. Faux leaves are also another great addition that you can add to your mantel, as a table runner in the dining room, or entry way table. Last, add in a chalkboard in your kitchen and use reds and oranges to write notes, menus, and more.  

Ensuring Energy Efficiency

While many of your fall renovations are aesthetic, you can make many changes to your home that will help you save money. First and foremost, how are your windows? Inefficient windows that let air come in can make your heating and cooling bills soar. Before the cold temperatures set in, look into installing new, energy efficient windows that are properly sealed and keeping the air out. Next, your kitchen might be an inefficient part of your house. By installing ENERGY STAR certified appliances, you can use up to 30 percent less energy. This will provide valuable savings on your bills each month and will also increase the value of your home. Also, when installing energy efficient appliances in your home, you may be eligible for tax credits, rebates and savings from Energy.gov.

Outdoor Maintenance

Last, as fall sets in, make sure you give the outside of your home some TLC. It is the ideal time to make any changes to your lawn and landscaping, which can include walkways and driveways. Brick pavers are a great addition to replace concrete, which will add warmth to your home, will increase value, and will be more manageable during the winter. Make sure you re-mulch your landscaping and fertilize. This will help your plants, flowers, shrubs, etc., make it through the harsh winter. While you are working on the outside of your home, look into fall décor such as pumpkins on steps or at a door, or orange accent lighting in the ground or in shrubs. 

To help you add warmth and beauty to your home, Ward Hardwood Flooring has you covered. As your hardwood flooring expert, with experience with antique and reclaimed wood, we have a variety of ideas to help you with your home renovation. For more ideas, be sure to read our guide on rustic home décor ideas and reclaimed mantels. To see how we can help you with your home renovation project, contact us at 303-674-6966 or email us at info@wardhardwoodflooring.com. We can help with ideas that will provide you with a great return on your investment for years to come.

What You Need to Know About Beetle Kill Pine At Your Hardwood Floor Showroom

Building a sustainable and eco-friendly home involves more than just upgrading your home’s appliances to energy-efficient models. It involves being selective about the materials you incorporate throughout the structure. Luckily, in Colorado, we have access to a sustainable and beautiful building material, perfect for making your home’s interior look as unique as you could possibly want: beetle kill pine. This material is the perfect choice for your home’s hardwood flooring installation, but before you commit to using beetle kill pine in your house, there are a few things you’ll need to know. 
 
Beetle Kill Would Be Waste-Wood Otherwise

Throughout the Southwest, mountain pine beetles have destroyed large swaths of the forest by laying eggs inside the pine trees native to Colorado, New Mexico, and Northern Arizona. While insects laying eggs inside the bark are not always harmful, these bugs really pack a punch. They leave behind a blue stain fungus that keeps the tree from being able to repel the insects. Over time, the fungus spreads and kills the tree, preventing it from absorbing the nutrients it needs to survive. Without milling the wood as a sustainable flooring and siding material, it would otherwise be useless, slowly composting in the woods or acting as tinder for wildfires.
 
The Fungus Is What Causes The Stain

Beetle kill flooring is well known for its distinctive blue tint. Though it may look like it was artificially stained, the color is a direct result of the fungus introduced by the mountain pine beetle. Though it’s a fungus, it’s not harmful to your home or to humans, especially after the wood is treated. Prior to being installed in your house, the wood is heat-treated, killing any residual insects, fungi, bacteria, or spores lurking inside the panels. This makes it completely safe and prevents the fungus from spreading to any other wood in your house. 
 
More Coloration Doesn’t Mean Lesser Quality Wood

Contrary to popular belief, the fungus doesn’t diminish the structural integrity of the wood. It simply kills the tree, the structural integrity of the planks is only impacted by the number of knots and the overall quality of the milling process, not by the amount of “beetle kill” coloration on the wood. If you want to create a unique almost completely blue floor, you can without worrying about adding stabilizing supports.  
 
Beetle Kill Pine Can Be Used Everywhere

Though many people choose to install beetle kill for flooring, it can be incorporated almost anywhere in your house. Use sanded panels to create a decorative accent wall in the living room or frame out your fireplace using the distinctive boards. If you want to create a more rustic look, consider using the panels to add depth and dimension to your ceiling. The only limit is your imagination. With the right treatment and carpentry, beetle kill can be turned into almost anything. 

No Two Planks Are Alike

Because beetle kill pine produces a unique finish and color, there’s no way to create a uniform appearance. This makes the material perfect for homeowners wanting to make a room unique and help their home stand out from the rest in the neighborhood. If you’re wanting to create a uniform floor or wood-paneled wall, you’ll be better off choosing a wood like oak, maple, or cherry. These woods are easily stained and can give you a more uniform and cohesive look. Though all hardwood will have unique rings and natural imperfections, only beetle kill will give you a wide range of natural color variations from within the same tree. 
 
Waste Wood Can Be Used Decoratively

As with all wood floors, you’ll have some waste wood either from cuts or imperfections that you don’t want to include in your hardwood installation. However, the unique color of beetle kill wood lends itself to decoration. With a bit of creativity, the waste wood can be turned into beautiful inlaid designs, trim above the chimney, and even as standalone artwork. The more of the waste wood you can incorporate into your home’s build, the more sustainable the project will be. While it may not impact your bottom line, it will give you the chance to express your creativity and add unique touches to your house. 

Beetle kill pine is a fantastic addition to almost any home, whether you’re renovating a room or building from the ground up. At Ward Hardwood Flooring, our dedicated staff will help you create a home you can be proud of. You’ll have the flexibility to buy materials and handle the installation on your own or let our experienced crew get your floor installed quickly. Already have flooring you love, but want to make it look like new again? We can refinish and repair existing planks to breathe new life into your house. Fill out our contact form for your free no-obligation hardwood flooring installation estimate today.  

Ways Your Hardwood Floor Showroom Can Transform Your Home to Rustic Style

When considering a style to update your home, consider transforming yours into a rustic theme. Rustic homes have charm and warmth that make it a cozy and welcoming place to come home to each day. This style of home is simple and elegant with so many unique opportunities to explore. Take some time to learn all about this antique style and how your local hardwood floor showroom can help make your home transformation and décor dreams possible.

Rustic Style Overview
Homes with rustic style and themes are heavily decorated with wood. Wood themes are throughout the property in every room. It could be as simple as flooring and trim, to walls and furniture. Rustic homes are beloved by many homeowners thanks to their authenticity. Whether you are looking to add in rustic themes as accents or throughout your entire home, there is much that can be done.

Features within rustic homes include:

• Antique finishes: The rustic style is true to the past. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through adding in antique fixtures and pieces into your home. These can be everything from light fixtures to furniture. The finishes do not have to be antique but can be new pieces of furniture and décor that are designed in an antique fashion.
• Distressed appearances: Items with a distressed look showcase their past. These items are aged, and while they aren’t perfect or pristine, this is what people love so much about them. The cracks, patterns, etc. honor all their years in existence. Whether they are floors or beams, a variety of items in your home can be distressed.
• Exposed elements: A very common theme in rustic homes is the presence of exposed elements. These can include exposed brick, stone or wood. Tying into the distressed look, exposed elements are a great way to build character. These exposed features are not painted over but rather true to their original elements. Exposed fixtures can be smaller accent features or the focal point of the entire room.

Flooring
Your flooring is one of the first go-to options for the rustic theme. Accomplish this task by installing antique and reclaimed flooring. It is available in a variety of light and dark shades in oak, heart pine, tobacco pine, wormy chestnut, hickory, and more.

With hardwood flooring, make sure to invest in antique reclaimed wood when seeking a rustic theme as it is distressed and rich with history. Even better, this type of hardwood is reclaimed, which means it was harvested and crafted into an entirely different structure many years ago. From here, it has then been re-used in a variety of commercial and residential settings. You will notice all the pieces of its history within the cracks and character; however, these characteristics are finished. You will not be investing in outdated and poor-quality flooring, but strong floors that have stood the test of time. The wood is so durable because at the time it was cut, wood was not as in-demand as it is today.

Accents
There are a variety of rustic accents you can incorporate into your home. First, consider adding a wood accent wall. This can be a consistent grouping of colors or a mixture of lights and darks. Pair the accent wall with neutral paint colors such as grey or white. You can create an outside-of-the-box idea by adding trim in the shape of an archway and have wood planks that fill it. Put the icing on the cake with an antique hanging light fixture. 

Whether you are installing an accent wall or hardwood floors, you do not have to keep a traditional shape. Consider creating patterns with the planks such as zigzags. Your local hardwood flooring specialist will be able to help you create the perfect pattern that will enhance the space.

Fireplaces and Mantels
A great way to add warmth, both literally and decoratively to your rustic-themed home is with a fireplace. Did you know by adding a fireplace to your home, you could be increasing its value by $10,000 or more? And you may only need to spend a few thousand dollars for installation, depending on the type of fireplace that appeals to you. With your rustic fireplace, it can have a wood frame or even exposed brick. You can choose gas, wood or electric for your fireplace—and any can be tailored to your rustic theme. Wondering which to choose?
 

• Gas: A gas fireplace is easy to keep up with and is more inexpensive with monthly costs. It also requires less maintenance as a wood burning fireplace as you will not need to spend the time or labor chopping wood. When ready to extinguish your fire, you can do so with a slip of a switch.
• Wood: True to the rustic theme, wood burning fireplaces have an essence and scent that you will love coming home to. It is also a great way to save money as it requires neither gas or electric to run.
• Electric: For a safe option that you may need around children or pets, an electric fireplace is a great choice. They are also a great way to warm your house or room while not having to turn up your heat. You can purchase an electric fireplace and incorporate rustic décor and themes around it. Plus, many electric fireplaces can be controlled with a remote, making it highly convenient!

Along with your rustic fireplace, you can also install a mantle or a reclaimed wooden wall treatment as an accent to the room. Keeping with your rustic theme, work with your local hardwood flooring specialist to install a mantel constructed of reclaimed wood.

From reclaimed hardwood floors to ceiling beams and other rustic fixtures, Ward Hardwood Flooring will help you every step of the way for your rustic home transition. They have a variety of services to accommodate your project. In addition to these ideas, you can also take advantage of their finishing treatments, custom barn doors, beams, timbers, stairs, handrails, wall treatments, and more. See what they can do for you by stopping by their showroom at 29390 Industrial Way, Suite 100 in Evergreen. 

Transforming Your Living Room with Reclaimed Furniture
Are you looking for ways to share your story through your home design? You can add character and charm in a variety of ways, especially with reclaimed furniture. Tying in with reclaimed floors and ceiling beams, this type of furniture is perfect to complete the décor goals you are trying to achieve. Not only will you be impressed with the possibilities, guests of your home will love it too! Custom options are rarely seen, allowing you to create a truly unique space. Learn the benefits of furniture made of reclaimed wood, ideas to implement in your space, rustic themes, custom furniture, and tips for perfect lighting and color.

Why Reclaimed Furniture?
You can incorporate reclaimed furniture into your décor for extra character. Each piece will tell a different story and bring warmth to any room. What you may not realize is that reclaimed wood used for furniture is very strong and durable. It survived decades, or in some cases, even centuries! This is great to know as you are thinking of how to replace existing furniture. And while reclaimed furniture can show its age in upscale ways, you can trust it’s reliability. Some of the common types of reclaimed furniture include:

• Dining room tables
• Coffee or end tables
• Chairs and barstools
• Foot stools
• Benches for entryways or for dining room seating
• Islands
• Desks
• Bookshelves
• Floating shelves
• Dressers
• Cabinets
• Mantels

Ideas for Your Space
Wondering how to add reclaimed furniture in your home? There are a variety of ways!

• Dining rooms: The number one method of incorporating reclaimed wood into a dining room is by adding a wooden table with matching chairs. For small spaces, choose a lighter color to help make a space look larger. Looking to add warmth? Choose a dark wood with red cherry tones. Pair it with a wood storage cabinet to allow you to store your china, glassware, and more.
• Kitchens: Replace your existing vinyl countertop with wood! This is the perfect addition that will match perfectly with wood used in other rooms in the home. Plus, the reclaimed wood will be durable—making it ideal for this high traffic area. You can have a glossy finish over it, or you can keep it more natural. Whichever you choose!
• Living Rooms: If you have a couch in your living room, you can add rocking chairs or foot stools/storage spaces made of reclaimed wood. If you have ceiling beams and hardwood flooring, choose colors and textures that complement them. For additional décor, add shelving to place picture frames or small flower pots to give added character.
• Bedrooms: Have you considered a bed made of 100 percent reclaimed wood? This durable option is perfect for rustic and country homes. Pair it with matching night stands that sit next to, or are attached, to the bed. Next, add a bench in front of the bed with a comfortable cushion on top. A bench is perfect for getting ready in the morning or sitting for a few minutes while winding down for the day.
• Recreational areas: Use reclaimed wood to store items for your entertaining spaces, recreational rooms, garages, or more. Whether you need to put beverages and glasses in a safe place, or store your tools, reclaimed wood will protect them.

Rustic Themes
Are you looking for ways to transform your home to have a rustic theme? There are many traits of this style you can incorporate into your home. Rustic homes are very earth-centric, incorporating several aspects of nature. Common materials used in rustic homes include natural stones and color palettes, iron and metal accents, natural cloth, wood, and leather. 

Rustic homes often are thought of as older and that they revisit décor of an earlier time. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t incorporate new items, just be sure they fit the theme. Need ideas? Try some of these rustic home décor ideas and reclaimed mantels.

Also, rustic and country homes often have large porches or patios to complement them. This is perfect to spend summer evenings lounging, or for showing off plants, flowers, and more. Working with a local hardwood specialist you can customize the exterior of your home to give it a personalized look.

Creating Custom Furniture
If you were inspired by some of the furniture mentioned above, you can work with a local hardwood specialist to create a custom piece. If you haven’t been able to find the perfect piece for your needs, then customization would be the perfect choice. When going custom, you can be sure you are using true reclaimed furniture. This will both fit with your rustic theme and be more durable than store bought furniture. If you are handy and love to build, you can buy the wood and create the item yourself. Or, you can work with a local specialist to help you map out your ideas on paper, assist with finding the perfect material and take on the building project.

Lighting and Colors
As you put together the final pieces to your rustic remodel, make sure you are choosing the right lighting and colors for your spaces. While shades of brown are common in these theme, you can pair other shades to add life to your spaces.
 
Next, make sure you have lighting that properly accents your renovations. Use warm lighting and bulbs that have a soft appearance. Instead of your bright white LEDs, you can choose bulbs that have orange hues to reduce strain on the eyes. 

Ward Hardwood Flooring is your go-to hardwood expert to help you create the perfect rustic home. From hardwood flooring and mantels, to reclaimed furniture, they will help you renovate your space and create the rustic home of your dreams! Get inspired and stop by their showroom, located at 29390 Industrial Way #100 in Evergreen, anytime between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"We are so pleased with our newly-refinished floor and stairs! We think the color turned out really well and the workmanship is great. We wanted to make sure you know that we think all of your employees worked diligently, professionally and efficiently -- AND they are all truly nice people. We couldn't believe that the project was completed in just 4 days! - Roger & Sue, 2015

"WOW the floor is fantastic, it is definitely an eye looker. We are going to be the envy of the neighborhood!!! The workmanship of the installers is wonderful. The custom work around each heat vent is amazing. I just stood there and stared at the floor for what seemed like forever." - Alicia, 2014

"It had been a while since we had our floors refinished and Dave was extremely professional throughout the experience. The price was fair, they completed the job on time and the quality really shows off the oak floors. We have 20 ft vaulted ceilings and the work crew did a great job protecting our furniture and left the room dust-free . I definitely recommend anyone looking for quality hardwood refinishing to use Ward Hardwood." - David, 2017

"I received several estimates for a large hardwood flooring project in my home. David Ward came out to my home to give me an estimate, and I could tell right away that I had found the right company. I plan to keep my home permanently, and was looking for an exceptional job, and this company delivered. The price I paid was exactly what I had been quoted, and the job was done quickly. The floor is amazing and I get compliments for it all the time. I would strongly recommend this company!" - Kevin, 2014

"Great people to deal with all the way around from the showroom to installers. Every person was courteous and went the extra mile for us. A truly unique product that changes the look of your home. Do not hesitate to do business with." - Frank, 2015


"...I commend them for their efforts and willingness to work around my busy travel schedule.

The reclaimed oak they obtained from the east coast and installed with the Glitsa finish looks fantastic." - William
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