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Top Ways to Include Wood in Your Home Renovation, Including Hardwood Floor Installation

Wood is the perfect accent piece to incorporate throughout your home. It can be subtle yet adds so much character and charm. When you are renovating your home, let wood become the staple of your design and décor. It will be that perfect addition to make the space complete. Try any (or all!) of these ideas when you take on your home renovation project with hardwood floor installation.

Accent Walls
Over the last few years, accent walls have become a top trend that homeowners choose to liven up a room. It started out with painting one of the walls in the room a different color than the rest. As time went on, so did design creativity. Using a different, but similar, paint color evolved into the use of simple patterns or even adding in multiple colors and designs. Trends then turned to wallpaper. This wasn’t your 1970’s off-yellow wallpaper with flower patterns, it was sleek and fresh. As soon as people started to realize the many options for accent walls, they realized wood also made a great material for creating a bold focal point in a room. There are many different options when it comes to utilizing wood for accent walls. Use darker, aged reclaimed wood that has a mixture of colors for a rustic, farmhouse feel, or, if you have a modern home, choose a re-sawn wood with little color variation.

Built-In Shelving
Adding built-in shelves could be the perfect addition to your home. There are endless options available and they can fit into any design while providing functionality. Some ideas for built-in shelving includes:  

• Storage for a living room, creating a home entertainment center arrangement
• Wall length shelves in a home office with built-in track lighting
• Master bedroom walk-in closet setups for clothes, shoes and jewelry
• Stylish Bookcases that eliminate clutter
• Mantel over the fireplace
• Nightstands that fit into any size space
• Dining room shelves to showcase art and décor while providing storage for dishes

Cabinetry
Wood kitchen cabinets are a great addition to your home. If your cabinets are old, consider renovating your kitchen and add wood cabinets. For a cozy feel, choose a medium tone wood, or you can create a rustic feel by using distressed reclaimed hardwood that has both light and dark shades. If your style is contemporary or modern, choose a single shade of wood and make sure it has a smooth finish. Be sure to complete the look with customized hardware. If your kitchen has a large suspended hood above your oven, you can add cabinets directly above it to bring the kitchen together and hide unsightly vents. No matter what, your local hardwood specialist can create custom solutions, allowing you to add design, character and function to your space.

Ceiling Beams
Ceiling beams are a subtle touch to add during your renovation project. You can keep them simple by adding a few that extend the length of the room, staining them to match existing hardwoods or choose distressed beams for a rustic feel. If you have a space that needs a bold focal point, consider intersecting beams to create a pattern on the ceiling, which is more ideal for larger spaces. Depending on your room and location in the house, you can add skylight windows in between beams—perfect to adding natural light in your house. Beams can also be curved or angled if a room has vaulted ceilings, and many homeowners love trusses.

Butcher Block in the Kitchen
A butcher block is the perfect addition in the kitchen. Butcher block counters are planks of wood merged together and treated allowing you to cut and prepare food without using a cutting board. You might choose to install a butcher block on an island or outfit all countertops with wood. Certain stone counters have anti-microbial properties, and wood counters can also be resistant to germs and bacteria. Contrary to stone, wood typically needs to be treated at least twice per year to maintain their luster.

Hardwood Flooring
The ultimate way to add wood in your home is flooring, especially reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood has character and life, as it has been around for many years. This type of wood is available in a variety of colors, allowing you to mix and match light and dark to make the space unique. Reclaimed wood is also eco-friendly, and you can feel secure in your investment as you are saving and repurposing wood with rich history. There are many other types of hardwood flooring a homeowner may choose if reclaimed does not sound like a good fit. it is crucial to find the perfect fit for your home that fits your décor and style. Some options include:

• Strip flooring
• Wide plank flooring
• Pre-finished flooring

When you are refinishing your hardwood flooring Colorado, your floors are sanded down to eliminate imperfections from over the years. You can also re-stain it to be a different color. This allows you to easily change the look of your flooring if you choose to change your design in the future. 

When it comes to any of your home renovation and décor needs, choose the experts at Ward Hardwood Flooring. They have a variety of wood accents and flooring that will make for the perfect addition to your home. From wood beams, barn doors, and accent walls, to barn siding, timbers, and mantels, they have it all. Drop by our showroom located at 29390 Industrial Way #100 in Evergreen, call 303-674-6966 or email info@wardhardwoodflooring.com for more information!

Designing Your Perfect Home Office with Hardwood Flooring in Colorado

Whether you are seeking a remote position, starting your own business, or have the option to work out of your home—it’s important to set up your home office to work for you. Functionality and organization is key to productivity. With planning and research, you can create the perfect office that you’ll never want to leave! Use these go-to home office tips to set up your perfect space.

Establishing Needs
Your home office will need to be tailored to your specific needs. Your first step is to make a list of what you need and want in your work space. If you have a current workspace, start making a list of what you use daily. Consider things such as:  

• Storage and organization
• Desk size and filing cabinets
• Lighting
• Supplies and materials
• Equipment (computer, keyboards, scanner, etc.)
• Furniture
• Décor

As you go about your day, write down everything you use, how often you use it, and areas you think you can improve. Now is the perfect time to assess your current situation and find better solutions for a more functional space.

Discover Your Style for Design and Layout
A great benefit of creating your own space is being able to customize it to exactly the way you want. Think about what colors you’d like, how the layout would be most functional, what furniture to incorporate, art to hang on the walls, and more. Pictures of friends, family, or special events can be design highlights that help provide encouragement during the work day. Be sure to choose colors that will help you maintain focus and choose pieces that create a calming environment. Natural woods are great for bringing warmth and comfort into an office space.

Making Customer-Friendly
Will you have customers meeting with you in your home office? It is best to ensure there is space for your customers to feel comfortable. Most importantly, make sure there is ample seating and workspace while meeting with you. 

It might also be helpful to have a separate seating area depending on the nature of customer meetings. Otherwise, your desk with a couple of chairs on opposite would work for your clients. Make sure you have places available for them to leave their belongings, hang their coats or bags, and anything else to make their experience more comfortable. Depending on your needs, furniture can be custom-made in whatever configuration you are looking for. Speak with your local hardwood specialist to see what options are possible in your space.

Another bonus that will help provide your customers with a convenient experience is to make Wi-Fi or other frequently used resources easily accessible to them, they will appreciate the added amenities. Last, consider installing a small refrigerator in your office. Keep it stocked with water and a variety of soda to make available to your clients.

Ergonomic Features
Ergonomic furniture can be extremely important in your work place, as is not just for comfort but can prevent injuries due to improper posture. So, what exactly is ergonomics? Ergonomics is a method of arranging a work space that complements an individual’s needs. It includes seating that encourages proper posture, which may be complemented with foot rests. It also ensures your arms are at the appropriate length while working on a computer, your monitor being an arm’s length away to avoid added eye strain, and keyboards and a mouse that keep your hands at an appropriate distance while you type. There are other ergonomic features you might incorporate as well, such as standing desks to help avoid sitting for extended periods of time.

Organization and Storage
One of the top priorities you should set during your home office renovation is to ensure your storage and organization needs are met. Today, there are many types of versatile storage furniture allowing you to choose unique statement pieces, instead of standard metal filing cabinets. Proper organization can be essential in improving productivity in the workplace, and customized options can be made to suit your specific needs.

The newest development in office organization is to switch to electronic methods of storing and retrieving data. You can take advantage of services such as Google Drive or Dropbox to share files with clients, or to keep online documents secure. For paper you need to store, make sure to use file folders with labels, categorized in an order that makes most sense to you. Keep items you review or file frequently within quick reach.

Hardwood Floors
Another quality addition you can incorporate into your home office renovation is to add hardwood flooring. It’s sleek and professional, yet warm and inviting. You can add in personality by adding rugs into the space. Hardwood has longevity, whereas carpet does not, and is especially helpful if you have clients coming in to your office space. It also exudes professionalism that your customers will be impressed with. Find motivation using these renovation ideas to incorporate hardwood flooring.

When it comes to hardwood flooring and design for your home office renovation, Ward Hardwood Flooring has you covered. As your quality hardwood specialist, they will add warmth and charm to your space, making it a relaxing and professional. Stop by their showroom to explore ideas at 29390 Industrial Way #100 in Evergreen, Colorado. Available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., their specialists will help you to create a customized workspace that you will cherish daily.

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. 

Home Design Styles to Pair with Your Antique Hardwood Flooring Installation One of the great aspects of antique hardwood flooring installation is how versatile it fits with any style of home. You can fit the flooring to match your existing style, or it will work with future plans to renovate. This versatility gives you the ability over time to make changes that best fit the décor you are looking for. Plus, it’s a great way to increase your home’s value. Learn about features, elements, and décor styles for the top six design themes, and how you can incorporate your hardwood flooring installation with each.

Rustic

• Style definition: The rustic theme is a very nature and outdoor-oriented. It is often paired with natural colors, such as beige, white, or light blues.
• Features and elements: Wood and stone are the two main features of the rustic theme. The wood and stone can be placed anywhere in a room, from brick or stone accent walls to hardwood beams running vertically over a wood ceiling.
• Décor: When choosing furniture or décor for a rustic theme, a distressed look is popular. This includes handmade furniture with exquisite craftsmanship. It also includes several items that are repurposed, such as lamps constructed out of salvaged materials décor found at antique shops.
• Hardwood pairing: When choosing a rustic home, install hardwood with a distressed look. This will match your other décor and themes within the space. You can work with your local hardwood flooring specialist in pairing in the wood to match for other accents, such as mantels, doors, and fireplaces.

Traditional

• Style definition: The traditional home theme comes from 18th and 19th century Europe and is classic and simplistic in nature. It adopts a natural color palette, with an elegant appearance. Traditional homes incorporate the elements from many different centuries and is warm, rich and inviting.
• Features and elements: Traditional homes typically have beige, white, or light color walls, with accents to help make them pop. Curves and lines are commonly featured in traditional homes but are not over-exaggerated. Tile is also a common feature, especially for backsplashes.
• Décor: When decorating a traditional themed home, elegance is key. Look to find pieces that create symmetry, such as lightly-colored throw pillows to arrange on your couch and simplistic window treatments. In fact, drapes are very common with this style. Wood beams on ceilings are a great accent to add to your spaces too. You can keep them as-is, paint them white, or stain them a color to match the remaining wood accents in the room.
• Hardwood pairing: Medium to dark hardwood flooring is common in traditional homes. If you prefer some carpet, have a lighter color in living rooms and bedrooms, and then utilize hardwood throughout. Or, you can install hardwood throughout the home and utilize rugs to accent the space.

Mid-Century Modern

• Style definition: Mid-century modern homes are influenced by the 1940s - 1960s-time period. They are somewhat industrial and minimalistic in nature, and very focused on clean lines and gentle curves.
• Features and elements: Delving into shapes, mid-century modern homes are heavily influenced by them. Some are linear-focused, while others have elements that are round, oddly-in-shape, or angular. Stone, metal and glass is also common in this theme, but still paired with traditional materials, such as wood. Colors range from neutral to bold, with emphasis on contrasting materials.
• Décor: Pieces from the 1950s and 1960s, or that resonate with that theme, are ideal décor items for mid-century modern homes. This includes chairs that are uniquely shaped, or wooden furniture or shelves simplistically designed and linear in fashion. As you search, find chairs, ottomans, and end tables with legs that slightly bow out. Do not overly decorate—keep things simple.
• Hardwood pairing: Antique hardwood is perfect for a mid-century style home. Choose a light or dark shade with clear lines to help continue the theme.

Industrial

• Style definition: The industrial style home is very driven by warehouses and urban settings. It often exudes an “unfinished” look. The industrial feel is achieved with a mix of grays, neutrals, and rustic colors. This style is typically found in urban areas and incorporates raw materials to give the space an unfinished feel.
• Features and elements: The industrial theme will feature exposed brick, open ducts and hardwood. Metal is incredibly common, from the exposed ducts to various décor pieces. Large sectionals help close off larger spaces and divide living areas, especially in an open loft setting.
• Décor: When designing an industrial space, keep it simple and use raw elements. This includes wood and metal accents. It could be distressed wood beams on a ceiling to a simple piece of art on a brick accent wall. Reclaimed wood open faced shelving and kitchen islands are big hits in the kitchen
• Hardwood pairing: Choose a dark, distressed shade of antique hardwood for your industrial spaces. You can also incorporate pops of lighter color to mix things up.

Modern

• Style definition: Modern, homes are influenced by the time period before the Industrial Revolution. It is a very clean and linear style with minimal detail and sparse design.
• Features and elements: Modern homes are driven by lines and symmetry. They feature oversized tiles, heavily sanded wood flooring, open floor plans with few walls, and minimal trim work. Modern homes are often described as clean, with many natural tones paired with pops of color throughout.
• Décor: When purchasing décor for modern homes, choose clean and sleek designs. Chrome and stainless steel paired with bold, primary colors creates a modern feel.
• Hardwood pairing: Choose a solid color of antique hardwood for your modern style—one that is higher grade, uniform, and evenly sanded and stained will fit best into the design.

Contemporary

• Style definition: Contemporary homes were designed after the 20th century, so while they are often confused as “modern” today, it will change with time. It encompasses specific attributes of all the different styles, with a new take.
• Features and elements: The contemporary style will feature lines and curves throughout, with a natural color palette. You will find this style to have clean elements and features, avoiding a distressed look. Eye-catching architectural elements are popular within this style, and the use of a shapely fireplace or room divider is common.
• Décor: When designing a contemporary space, tie in natural aspects such as genuine fabrics for throw blankets or pillows, and large accent lights. Art is also extremely popular with this style. Furniture pieces should have clean lines and smooth surfaces, and are typically made of light-colored woods, glass, stainless steel, or chrome. Natural fabrics add a sense of texture to the design, while bold colors and patterns can highlight specific areas in the room.
• Hardwood pairing: Choose simple and sleek hardwood floors for this home style. Avoid wood with imperfections as the style is defined by basic lines and patterns. Light or dark colors are both popular for contemporary homes.

To help you find the perfect flooring for the style of your home, choose Ward Hardwood Flooring to help you find the perfect floor to match the design style that you are seeking. Contact today at 303-674-6966 or email info@wardhardwoodflooring.com to get started on your project.

When installing hardwood flooring in your home or business, there are a few things to consider. First, you must decide what style of wood you would like to use and how it will look next to the rest of your style choices. If your home or business has a rustic appeal to it, choosing floors that use antique wood can be a fantastic choice to accentuate the existing characteristics of your structure. 

‘Shabby chic’ style choices have become all the rage in recent years. This style is when items, whether furniture, flooring, or other interior decorations, are chosen for their antique appearance due to wear and tear or artificial distressing.

Environmentally Friendly Choices

If you are interested in a hardwood flooring style that fulfills the shabby chic aesthetic, using wood that has been reclaimed can be the perfect choice for your flooring project. Reclaimed wood is more environmentally conscious, as you are reusing wood from previously crafted structures, reducing the need for live tree harvesting. As deforestation becomes a more critical issue for society, the trend of reclaimed wood in hardwood flooring will likely continue to rise in popularity.

By utilizing reclaimed hardwood, you are also able to have it LEED certified, which can be useful in marketing and promotion material if you own a business. Recycled and reclaimed wood counts toward LEED certification, as you will be using wood that does not deplete a non-renewable resource. In general, using reclaimed wood is an eco-friendly choice that can let customers or guests know that you care deeply about your environmental impact.

Stylistic Choices

Reclaimed and antique wood flooring can have a classy appearance, as antique wood has a great deal of natural beauty in comparison to engineered products. Antique wood options also have several unique characteristics, as the texture and color of this wood choice tends to be much more diverse and dynamic than standard options. Because this wood has been used for other projects, the variation in texture and pattern will be unlike any other choice you can find. Each wood plank will have its own history and story behind it, which can add to the unique style and character of your home. Each board has a history that can be seen within the weathered and distressed appearance of the wood itself.

The vibrancy and depth of colors found in antique wood is unparalleled in comparison to newer choices. Reclaimed wood will stand out more due to the aged appearance of the wood itself. Age and exposure can add a new dimension to the color of the wood that often cannot be fully mimicked. This aspect of antique wood creates increased character and style for your flooring that will be sure to impress any guests.

Strength and Durability

Choosing reclaimed wood as your flooring can be a smart choice in terms of durability. Many reclaimed wood planks will have been exposed to outside elements, meaning that they will be less susceptible to warping and damage from other environmental factors. Additionally, species such as American chestnut and longleaf pine will likely only be found as a reclaimed wood product. 

Antique wood choices may be of an older growth variety, which is stronger and denser that most of the new wood choices available on the market today. As antique wood was often grown during times of decreased and minimal pollution, the strength of the wood itself can be much greater than that of contemporary counterparts. By opting for a reclaimed wood choice, you will know that your wood flooring will last for years to come. 

One of the biggest worries that can accompany the installation of a hardwood floor is the potential for scratches. With an antique flooring choice, the wood will already have a distressed appearance, making dirt and minor scratches less noticeable, the perfect choice for homeowners who have young children and pets.

Potential downsides of antique and reclaimed wood

Although antique wood flooring may be a fantastic option to consider when taking on a new project, it is also important to consider some of the potential downsides with such a choice. Increased price is one of the biggest downsides to opting for reclaimed wood, as this option has increased in popularity in recent years with aforementioned ‘shabby chic’ stylistic choice. 

This choice can also come with an increased cost due to additional manufacturing demands that can accompany antique wood flooring projects. Often reclaimed wood will have metal particles lodged in the wood, which will require additional labor to remove prior to the installation process. Dealers may misidentify wood due to a lack of experience with certain species, which further stresses the importance of choosing a hardwood flooring company that employs experienced and qualified professionals. Additionally, antique or reclaimed wood that is not kiln-dried or treated may contain pests that can lead to your wood slowly decaying and becoming damaged over the course of time. It is important to source your wood from reputable dealers who have taken the proper precautions to ensure the durability and appropriate conditions of the wood. 

If you are interested in having reclaimed or antique wood flooring installed in your home or business, contact Ward Hardwood Flooring today to speak with a qualified professional. They pride themselves on matching customer needs with the perfect wood flooring choice and are happy to walk you through the process.