If this is your first forage into gardening, then stay put! This article is just for you!
Creating a beautiful backyard garden that will be the envy of your neighbors requires you to remember just one word: Simplicity.
Diving headfirst into a garden that will require constant time and attention usually has disastrous results. Cultivating a garden that can be enjoyed without constant maintenance, however, will likely be a success. The three key points to remember when mapping out your garden is to stick with native plants, use organic materials whenever possible, and use low-maintenance, low-water plants. Continue reading →
A dated or worn floor can instantly bring down any room. However, just as a bad floor can spell disaster for a room’s look, a fresh, updated floor can instantly add interest and pizzazz.
Take a walk through your local home improvement center and you will begin to see that flooring options for today’s homes are virtually endless. If new flooring is in your home’s future, the best way to begin the process of selecting flooring is to decide which type of flooring works best in your particular room.
Carpeting
Pros: Carpeting still remains the most popular floor covering in America. Warm, soft and comfortable underfoot, carpeting is usually a wonderful way to update your home. Carpeting can be quickly installed (by professionals, of course) and features a wide array of price points to suit virtually any budget. Many different carpet options, such as plush, frieze and Berber, allow homeowners to find the ideal color, texture and appearance for their needs.
Cons: Carpeting is not meant for every room in the home. Damp or wet areas, such as the front entry or the bathroom, are not ideal places for carpeting, neither is the kitchen, as food and carpeting don’t mix well together. Carpeting can also become stained, damaged, pulled or torn and may be costly to repair or replace. High-traffic areas often see the most carpet wear, thus purchasing higher grade carpeting for these areas is a must. Continue reading →
Bathroom remodels are still a great way to add value to your home. And today’s bathrooms don’t disappoint, either. Steam showers, dual-flush toilets, jetted bathtubs and heated towel racks are just a few of the goodies that many of today’s homeowners are considering for their bathrooms.
If you have decided that a bathroom remodel is a good home improvement project for your home, then the following tips will keep you on track during the process.
1. Begin by researching your options, and educate yourself on the cost of fixtures, toilets, tubs and sinks. After you have a rough idea of what you’ll need for your bathroom project, determine your budget and stick with it. Many homeowners find themselves knee-deep in a bathroom remodel, only to find out that all of those “extras” have put them way over budget. Although your budget certainly won’t be down the dollar, if you have a general idea of how much money you are going to spend on your toilet, however, then you’ll be less likely to make an impulse purchase on something that is far above your price range.
Empire Today, or also known quite well as Empire Carpet, is one of the most recognized home improvement brands in the United States. Empire Today was founded in 1959 in the Chicago area as a next day flooring and carpeting company which specializes in in-home sales and demonstrations, then sends out their installation crew the next day to install : swift, efficient and with competitive pricing.
Empire Today is also incredibly well known for their commericals and jingle. The tune “588-2300 … Empire!” has been on the lips of myself, kids, friends and even the family pets for years. If anything, the Empire Jingle, along with their impeccable service record, has grown the company into what it has become today; the #1 Specialty Flooring Retailer in the U.S. and one of the Nation’s Top 200 Brand Names.
Empire Today Brand
In fact, according to AdAge, the Empire Today brand is more popular than Office Depot, Dunkin’ Donuts, H&R Block, Intel, and PlayStation.
As an example, a simple search on YouTube for the Empire Today company name serves not only Empire Today commercials but also many happy customers and YouTube users uploading videos of the Empire Today song and even kids dancing to the jingle.
Empire Carpet Man
Besides the jingle, Empire Carpet is also know for the Empire Man, who’s story is available via the Wikipedia Empire Today entry :
The Empire Man was introduced in 1977 as a live action character and later adapted into a popular animated persona that has grown to become a cultural icon. The Empire Man has been seen internationally in commercials and other media, has spawned a line of collectible bobblehead dolls, is featured each year in the annual McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade , and inspired the Chicago Cubs to declare an official “Empire Day” at Wrigley Field in 2007.
The Empire Man was originally portrayed on television by Lynn Hauldren, who continues to provide the voice of the animated character
Empire Today Commercials
Here are some commercials featuring the famous Empire Man of Empire Carpet and Empire Today:
And here’s a version of an Empire Today Window Treatments commercial in Spanish :
So, Empire Today is famous for not only its specialty flooring prices, but also next day installation, quality products, in-home demonstrations, in-home sales and friendly service, but also branding, commercials and creating a strong character.
Whether a national business or a contractor serving the local community, there is much to be learned from the Empire Today story.
Flooring can make a dramatic difference in the appearance of your home. It will also contribute to the resale value, and it enhances the ambiance of a home. There are a great many choices to consider when deciding on the flooring for your home. Let’s take a look at ten of the most popular flooring styles from which to choose for your home.
1. Hardwood Flooring
Solid hardwood floors are one of the staples within the flooring industry. Because of the natural beauty and durability of solid hardwood floors, they have been around for centuries. Solid wood floors are a timeless investment that can produce a lifetime of beauty and add value to the home. Wood floors come in Maple, Pecan, Beech, Cherry, Oak, Pine, Birch, Walnut, Hickory and more.
2. Bamboo Flooring
Bamboo flooring is one of the newcomers in the flooring industry. Bamboo is more environmentally friendly than hardwood floors, and it is actually not wood – it is a grass. Bamboo is very durable, elegant and versatile. The natural variations of color that is unique to bamboo come from carbonization and are usually a honey brown color or light tan.
3. Laminate Flooring
Laminate floors are the fastest growing choice in flooring in America today. The laminate flooring received its fame from Europe and now it is increasingly popular here in the United States. Laminate floors are cheaper than hardwood and they are easy to maintain. The laminate flooring is virtually resistant to burns, scratches, chipping and is great for high traffic areas. Continue reading →
