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KNITTED TOP $15 CARDI $35
JEANS $30
Winter
WARMERS
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JERSEY $27
CARDI $
DRESS $25
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PULL OVER $33 RIB SKIRT $17
PULL OVER $35 LEGGINGS $10
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TOP $30
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ROLL NECK $15 JACKET $55
JACKET $65 LEGGINGS $17
SKINNIES $30
cosy
cover ups
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CORE TEE $9 CORE JEAN $23
SHOULDER JERSEY $33
GREY CARDI $35 ROLL NECK $15
SIMPLE
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DUSTER $47
DUSTER $35
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TRACK TOP $27
TRACK TOP $30
TRACK BOTTOMS $23
C h i l l Out
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PULL OVER $35
TUBE DRESS $35
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JACKETS $75
GLAM
sophisticated
Prices available in-store
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DRESS $35
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JACKET $33 DRESS $37
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JACKET $35 TS SKIRT $25 TS
DRESS $35 TS
Rustic Elegance VENUE & DECOR HIRE SERVICE
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downtime home Some handy tips to consider when renovating your space.
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Hardwood Floor Ceramic Tile eramic tile offers homeowners a long-lasting beautiful floor and so do hardwood floors. Both types of floors have advantages and disadvantages as far as upkeep and installation. Although ceramic tile and hardwood floors are quite different in construction and installation they are both used in the same areas of the home and both types have become extremely popular among homeowners. Ceramic floor tile is made from various clays, is somewhat brittle, and takes a very sturdy sub-floor. The preferred installation is using a cementous mixture over a concrete slab. Although it is also sometimes installed over a double layer, extra thick exterior-grade plywood that has no bounce when walked on. Between the tiles you need a special coloured grout mixture that needs to be sealed if sand-based. Ceramic tile has a glazed finish and if scratched may show the tile’s under-body colour. Tiles come in a variety of geometric sizes and shapes, colors are mainly earth tones, and prices range under $1.00 per square foot to several dollars. The real key to having a long lasting ceramic tile floor is in the installation (including floor -prep) and regular maintenance. You need a sound sub-floor and the tiles need to be well-adhered to the sub-floor. Although the finish is extremely hard, chair pads and regularly removing any grit and dirt from the floor’s surface will help prevent scratching the glazed finish. Ceramic tile is a good choice for wet areas, such as bathrooms and kitch-
ens as well as front foyers. In some areas of the country (especially the warmer climates) ceramic tiles are used throughout the home. Be sure to choose a tile you want to live with for a long time, because it is very costly to replace existing tile. Hardwood floors come in three common types, solid and engineered planks. Solid wood floors should only be used where humidity is not an issue and have to be nailed-down during installation. Engineered floors are somewhat confusing because they come in narrow planks (similar to solid) and in wide planks that look like several planks glued together. Many engineered floors can be installed by gluing down to the sub-floor, stapling to a wood sub-floor, or floated over a variety of existing sub-floors. Engineered floors are more dimensional stable than solid wood floors and can be used in many areas of the home, including over concrete slabs. Also, engineered wood floor that is going to be installed with the floating installation method will be less costly to install per square floor than installing a ceramic tile floor in the same area. Today, we are seeing more and more engineered wood floors with a glue less installation and are often confused with laminate floors. No matter what type of glue less floor you intend to install (wood or laminate) you still need a very level subfloor with no dips or high areas.. Wood floors are not recommended for wet areas, es-
downtime home pecially bathrooms. If a pre-finished engineered floor is used in a kitchen area rugs can help prevent spills from damaging the floor’s finish. Chair pads should be used to prevent scratching and regular dust-mopping or sweeping to remove any grit or dirt from the floor. In rooms that get a lot of sunlight you will probably notice some colour change. Areas where moisture can get in may discolour the wood planks, such as near patio doors. Whether you choose ceramic tile or hardwood floor be sure to regularly clean the floor and check the chair pads. Today’s premium floors will last for years when properly maintained.
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ERAMIC TILE REVIEWS: With today’s technology advancements manufacturers, many new tile designs and tile applications are available for both homeowners and commercial facilities. If you have never used ceramic tile before or it has been a long time since you have done so, you will be amazed at the wide selection of colours, sizes, shapes and new textures that are now available. Ceramic tile is a natural product made up of clay, several other naturally-occurring minerals and water. Ceramic tile comes in both glazed and unglazed tiles. Glazed ceramic tile has a ceramic coating applied to the tile body which gives the tile its colour and finish. Ceramic tile is a popular choice for your interior floors and walls and offers unlimited decorating possibilities. Some characteristics of glazed ceramic tile are: • Durable - a properly installed ceramic tile will outperform and outlast nearly any other floor covering product created for the same application. • Easy care - glazed ceramic tile resists stains, odours, and dirt and can be cleaned up with a damp mop or sponge or common household cleaners such as Mr. Clean. • Scratch resistant - Grade III and Grade IV glazed ceramic tiles are extremely resistant to scratching and you never should worry about a cut or tear like you do with some other types of floors. • Environmentally friendly - ceramic tile is manufactured using natural materials and does not retain odours, allergens, or bacteria. • Beautiful and Versatile - modern ceramic manufacturing technology has created virtually an unlimited number of colors, sizes, styles, shapes, and textures that will add rich beauty and character to any room decor. • Fire Resistant - ceramic tile doesn’t burn nor emit toxic fumes. A lighted cigarette, when dropped on the floor, even if allowed to sit, will not do any damage to ceramic tile. Even hot kitchen pans or skillets will not scorch or melt the surface of glazed ceramic tile. • Water Resistant - most glazed ceramic tile has a dense body that permits little or no accumulation of moisture. This means spills from common liquids found in a kitchen are not a big concern.
Some of the other important things to consider when selecting a ceramic tile are: 1.Slip-resistance of ceramic tile 2. Size of tile compared to the overall room size 3. Width and colour of the grout joints 4. Thickness of the tile 5. Height variations of the floors between adjoining rooms 6. Suitability of the sub floor for ceramic tile 7. Cleanability of the ceramic tile
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ARDWOOD FLOORING REVIEW:
If you are like most people you probably love the look and charm of real hardwood flooring. For centuries people, have used wood floors throughout their homes to add warmth and charm. Hardwood floors never seem to go out of fashion and can add real value to your home. Today, many designers recommend hardwood floors as the main base-layer and then suggest a rug to enhance the room’s overall interior colour scheme.
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. The manufacturers of pre-finished hardwood floors have dramatically improved the finish, durability and ease of maintenance of hardwood flooring. No more paste waxing your hardwood floors! With the introduction of engineered wood floors, you can use hardwood flooring in many different areas in the home that 3/4” solid wood flooring are not recommended for. Also, engineered wood floors waste less of the tree during production. See engineered wood floors for more information. Many engineered wood floors can now be floated over a variety of sub-floors and without having to staple, nail or glue-down the planks to the sub-floor.
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. It is truly amazing today how many new colorations, wood species, and widths are available to homeowners. Besides the common North American hard-woods (such as oak, maple, hickory and ash), many wood flooring manufacturers now offer exotic hardwood species from all around the World. If you are looking for ways to express your own personal interior decorating tastes with a more unique looking wood floor you need to go, see the exotic wood floors offered by many of the hardwood flooring brands.
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. An extremely popular trend in wood floors today is the hand-scraped hardwood floors offered by many of the wood flooring companies. If you desire a more rustic-looking wood floor with lots of character than be sure to see the samples of hand scraped hardwood floors before you buy.
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. In the hardwood flooring section, you can learn all about the different types of hardwood flooring and where each one can be used. c