The Antron Design Award honors architects and interior designers who showcase creativity in commercial interior design through the innovative use of carpet. Since 1983, the Antron Design Award has recognized design firms in the United States and Canada that continue to push the envelope in innovation and creativity in using carpet in commercial design.
Fans of HGTV recently got their first look at the Urban Oasis Tour 2012, feasting their eyes on the fully furnished 1,700-square-foot luxury condominium that is the centerpiece of this year’s $900,000 grand-prize giveaway.
In every floor-covering segment there are times when technology and innovation cross paths, shake hands and come together to take some seriously large steps forward in product advancement. In the tile industry, nowhere has this been more apparent of late than in format; when you walk into a showroom and encounter single tiles of scope and scale larger than a full-grown human, you know something’s changed.
“Green,” “environmentally friendly” and “sustainability” are terms that have become synonymous with life in 2012. Regardless of the region, industry or market, manufacturers, distributors and consumers have taken notice of how lifestyle choices influence product selection, and how those selections impact the environment.
Once upon a time, a resourceful retailer decided to venture into the turbulent world of commercial floor covering sales, only to be met with…less than total success.
Daltile recently opened the doors to a new design studio in Dallas, Texas. Located in a newly renovated design strip, the studio offers many opportunities for designers, specifiers and other A&D professionals. Daltile partnered with Gensler, a global architecture, design, planning and consulting firm, to create the space.
Just when you think the elder statesman of the floor covering industry couldn’t possibly have any more tricks up its rough-hewn, finely grained sleeve, new advances in manufacturing, finishes and more bring the spotlight back around to hardwood flooring.
You’re a successful floor-covering retailer or flooring contractor who has spent many years primarily working the residential home building and remodeling markets. But have you ever found yourself walking through a shopping mall where a new store was being built, seeing the hardwood floors being installed, and wishing that you got kind of work?
Last month I shared research that showed those who are the most successful in leadership, relationships and marriage are those who are not afraid to step up, address and discuss sensitive issues with others. The struggle with sensitive issues is that they are often very emotional and generate our age-old evolutionary response: fight or flight. That defense mechanism causes us to use ineffective methods of communication. When we are loaded with adrenalin, our brains lack the necessary blood flow to remain calm and think clearly.
Ah, money. Nothing like a good old-fashioned discussion about a person’s salary to bring an otherwise delightful conversation to a screeching halt. No? Next time you’re out with a group of friends, acquaintances, whomever, try this: wait until there’s a break in the conversation, turn to the closest member of the group and, in your most pleasant voice and with a big smile on your face, ask, “So, how much money do you make?”
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