Neutrally natural: "Seriously Fashionable" is the Term for Decor in 2008

What's in store for home decor in 2008? Expect to see a lot of anything that looks "natural."

Slubby undyed linen upholstery. Neutral-colored natural-fiber rugs. Tables made to look like logs.

Here's a breakdown of what you'll see in stores, and simple ways to incorporate it into your home decor, whether you want to spend a lot of money or a little.

See beautifully designed vacation houses in Navarro County.

Dome Home Saves on Energy

This intriguing house in Leander is shaped like a geodesic dome. It was built in 1987 by the late Dennis Armstrong, a home builder and designer, and his wife Peggy Armstrong, a licensed interior designer. Gary Caywood of Austin was the contractor.

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Wood Floors

Benefits of Wood Floors

It's obvious that wood floors are beautiful, but what do they offer in terms of advantages over other flooring options?

• Hardwood floors are a lifelong product that should never need to be replaced.
• Flooring made of wood can increase the value of your home come selling time.
• It is healthier to have wood floors than carpet because wood is more sanitary and doesn't trap dust and alergens the way carpet can.
• Hardwood floors are easy to maintain.

Types of Wood Floors

There are basically three types of wood floors available for home use:

1. Solid Wood Floors- Solid constructed wood floor products ranging from 1/4" to 25/32" with some product of 1".
   
2. Engineered Wood Floors - Flooring made of wood pressed into layers with alternating grain direction. This product comes in various ply's ( layers), most being 3-5 ply.
   
3. Acrylic Impregnated - Wood Floor products that the wood grain has been injected with an acrylic material making it very hard and durable, making this a good choice for high traffic areas such as restaurants, malls, and other high traffic areas. This is the Pergo type of wood floor.

Styles of Wood Floors

All wood floors are not alike. Wood is categorized by many different features including:

• Wood Species: Choose your species depending on your location and humidity. You may select between Domestic Woods and Exotic Woods.
• Grade: Choose the quality of your wood when selecting its grade.
• Cut: The cut of floor wood in relation to its grain. 3 cuts are standard, plain, quartered, or riftsawn.
• Dimensions: The thickness, width and lengths should be determined in your wood floor selection.
• Pattern: Figure out which pattern you want for your wood floors.

Preston Hollow Homes