Elisabeth Stubbs

BY ELISABETH STUBBS

Homeowners are tackling home improvement projects this summer. Maybe you put off installing new flooring during the pandemic, because you didn’t want workers in your home, so now it’s on the top of your to-do list. If you planned on installing hardwoods, knowing what type of flooring is trending now might surprise you. It’s carpet!

Carpet is like comfort food: familiar, cozy, warm. Not to mention, it’s affordable. Carpet is typically the flooring of choice for bedrooms and cold basements. If you love to play games on the floor with your kids, you’ll appreciate the softness of carpet.

Popular looks include luxury cut loop patterns and Berber designs. Bold patterns often are chosen for staircases, and more subtle looks typically are chosen for other rooms in the home. Carpets with color flecks are popular choices, especially for active households. If you have kids and/or pets, be sure to take a look at triexta, a soft synthetic carpet fiber, also known as Sorona or SmartStrand. This style offers built-in, lifetime stain and soil resistance. It doesn’t wash or wear off, and it is easy to clean with just water.

If you have allergies and have been told to stay away from carpet, the first step is pinpointing exactly what you are allergic to. If you have a chemical allergy, it may be latex. The latex that is used in carpet construction is one of the most common allergens for clients. Other allergens include volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust and pollen. Depending on your allergy, here are new options that might work for you. • No latex. Air.o by Mohawk is latex-free, with no VOCs. Another option is PureBac carpet, recently launched by Dream Weaver, which contains no latex. • Plant-based. SmartStrand Forever Clean carpets are made with DuPont’s partially plant-based polymer, Sorona, which is free from harmful substances. • Low VOCs. A wool carpet with a woven backing is low in VOCs, as there is no secondary backing, and wool is a proven air purifier. A synthetic fiber pad, or a rubber waffle pad, is the best choice for carpet cushion when VOCs are a concern. • Dust and pollen. A dense, tightly-woven carpet, cleaned often by a vacuum with a high efficiency particulate air filter, and occasionally professionally cleaned with a hot water extraction, can help combat dust and pollen allergies.

Carpet is also budget-friendly. Hard-surface floors, like luxury vinyl plank and hardwoods, are usually double the cost of new carpet, sometimes more. Most carpet is made in the U.S., so steep import charges do not apply.

If it’s time to replace your flooring, don’t let the popularity of hardwoods deter you from choosing what you want. Carpet is in!

Elisabeth Stubbs is one of the owners of Enhance Floors and More, one of Atlanta’s top-rated flooring dealers, located in Marietta.

SUPPORT Local Seniors

National Senior Citizens Day is Aug. 21, and it’s a great opportunity to let them know how much you care and appreciate them. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed this holiday to raise awareness about issues that affect senior citizens and their quality of life.

Today, many seniors remain active in their communities, and continue to have a strong presence in the workforce. For all they do and achieve, senior citizens deserve our thanks!

Here are some ideas for anyone - of any age - to help support and encourage our local senior citizens.

If you don’t have a special senior citizen in your life, reach out to a local assisted living center, and ask about adopting one.

Help Them Go Digital

According to a survey conducted by Pew Research, onethird of Americans over age 65 are not confident about technology. Help elderly parents or friends feel connected with family and friends by hooking up devices for texts, Facetime or Google Duo or even Zoom chats. Write out easy-to-follow directions in case they forget.

Enjoy Armchair Travel

Have fun planning a virtual around-the-world tour. Travel with Grandma to a different country each month, by simply sharing and watching YouTube videos. Make it even more special by dressing up, or making a meal or dessert from that country. Get younger family members involved by having them create the country’s flag or finding music that reflects the culture.

Take a Fresh Air Tour

Research at ScienceDaily.com reveals that spending time outside boosts the immune system, lowers blood pressure and reduces stress. After a trip to the doctor or pharmacy, drive your elderly loved one to a park or the lake to sit outside for a breath of fresh air.

Plan a Dinner or Lunch Date

A recent survey from the Council on Aging, conducted during the pandemic, shows many seniors don’t take advantage of food or meal delivery, and many don’t have access to smartphones. Order a favorite meal and have it delivered to your loved one. Families and friends who don’t live close by can have a delivery service drop off the meal, while hosting a video call and eating together.

Create a Virtual Story Hour

Give Grandpa and the grandkids the same children’s book, and have Grandpa read the book via Zoom or Facetime/Duo while the kids follow along.

Boredom Busters

If email isn’t Grandma or Grandpa's style, send some old-fashioned handwritten letters and cards. Don’t forget to make return letters easy for them by including a self-addressed stamped envelope. Sign them up for a favorite magazine subscription, or send care packages with books, adult coloring books (don’t forget the colored pencils) or maybe a custom jigsaw puzzle made from a family picture.