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Stark Carpet- Charlotte, NC (UHM Feb/March 2013)

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In Our Own Backyard
By Dana W. Todd

Discerning interior designers have been incorporating Carpet’s products,including rugs, carpeting, wallcoverings and fabrics, into their projects worldwide for many, many years. The trend has continued, with Stark product lines popping up in top designer’s residential projects and the results showing up in broadcast, print and web media worldwide.

Well-known interior designer and star of HGTV’s “Showhouse Showdown”, Corey Damen Jenkins, named Stark as one of his top go-to vendors for his design projects. He recently used Stark’s Beatrice design from the Boucle Collection in an on-air renovation project, and known for using a range of design styles – traditional, modern and transitional – Stark’s wide selections and collections fit beautifully into his designs.

It’s not just Corey Damen Jenkins that recognizes the quality and versatility of Stark’s offerings; most national designers have been invested in Stark Carpet and their endless selection for over 70 years. Thankfully, all of their designs and collections are available locally, right here for Charlotte designers and homeowners. Products that have recently been used in nationally spotlighted renovations, as well as a showroom full of fabrics, rugs, wallcoverings and carpeting, can be perused at leisure in Stark’s Charlotte design center.

Not only that, but local Stark experts, Tim Cohen and Drew Olsen and their sales staff, are available to help designers and homeowners choose the right textiles to pull a room together and offer advice on what trends they see popping up. “Look for color trends to showcase subtle textures in sophisticated and understated grays and neutrals,” explains Tim. “In design, geometrics still are very much in play, from big and bold to small and understated.” Tim also suggests that traditional designs in grays and neutrals will now play a transitional role, bridging the diversity of furnishing styles.

Drew Olson promises to continue to bring in more and more products that suit every life style and budget in 2013. “Currently, we are offering over 30 new wool broadloom designs, which are new to the market,” he explains, “as well as hundreds of new and antique hand knotted rugs. The style ranges from contemporary to traditional and everything in between.”

With the help of the local Stark Carpet team, Charlotte homeowners can now re-create and achieve the high-end room designs seen in the pages of national magazines and in the hands of national designers. All right here, in our own backyard.v

For more information call 704-588-8842 or view Stark’s products online at www.starkcarpet.com or visit the Stark Carpet Design Center and Outlet at 11415 Granite Street, Suite A.

Twitt

Daring Transitions- (Charlotte June/July 2012 Issue)

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Written by Nancy Atkinson

Every year, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) surveys the design industry to learn more about the materials, styles and products designers used most often in the past year. The fixtures, finishes, color palettes, technology and shapes are all part of the toolbox used by the nation’s most creative kitchen and bath designers – and their picks set the trends that inspire the rest of us.

The NKBA recently held their Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Chicago, where they released a list of the nation’s top ten kitchen and bath trends and treatments for 2012 and we’ve outlined them for an easy go-to guide.

Transitional Style. One broad trend is the increased popularity of transitional style in both kitchen and baths. For the first time since the NKBA began tracking annual design trends, traditional is no longer the most popular type of design. Transitional style blends traditional and contemporary design, with lines that are simpler than traditional, but more elaborate than contemporary to create a modern, classic look.

Cassie Abernethy, manager at the Charlotte showroom for Hughes Supply, says understated design is in demand. “Our customers are asking for simplicity.  They want clean lines and less detail.  The transitional style fits all of those requests. Clients can use this in their traditional and contemporary settings.”

Glossy Finishes and Fixtures. Current kitchens shine with a combination of shimmering surfaces, high-sheen finishes and perfectly placed lighting accents. Stainless steel, walnut wood veneer and lights along the base of a kitchen island’s recessed toe-kick and polished wood floors are perfect examples of this prominent trend.

Interior Concrete. Concrete used inside the home continues to grow in popularity and is seen in many different contexts. Think bathroom countertops with integrated sinks or concrete surfaces buffed to a high shine and tinted with a variety of hues. When used with stone surfaces like recycled tile, exposed brick or lava rock, concrete unifies the space.

Color Infusion Behind Glass. Glass may be a niche material for kitchen countertops, but the survey shows more than half the NKBA designers are using it in several ways. One kitchen in the design competition inspired the judges with its simple painted wall and glass panels overlaid to create a sleek sheen of cool color that became a calm focal point in a family kitchen.

Jennifer Creasser of Tile Collection in Charlotte suggests incorporating colored tiles in a different way. “Say good bye to painting over the scuff marks on your stair raisers every year,” she says. “With color infused glass, you can add a whole new dimension to your stairway and dress up your high traffic areas with color.”

The White Kitchen, Reinvented. Classic, contemporary and clean, the white kitchen is consistent from year to year. This year it’s cleverly reinvented in a variety of hues including muted, milky tones.

Jennifer has also noticed this trend with designers, seeing their use of White Carrera marble countertops. With a backsplash of flickering metals, color or glass, it really pops. “Traditional material meets contemporary tile finishes in popular linear designs to create a transitional look,” she says.

Suspended Lighting. In kitchen design, suspended lighting provides an element of artistic sculpture that exudes light, glimmer and glitz. These dangling focal points drop light onto defined areas, perfectly accenting the high-sheen finishes that are so wonderful in this year’s kitchen designs.

Symmetry in Design. Symmetry in room design creates stability and balance. For example, a wall with a large framed window behind the kitchen sink will be counterbalanced by open, glass door cabinetry that draws the eye up and around the room.

Repeating and Complementing Shapes. Designers know that repeating a particular shape in various sizes, colors and textures creates a continuum that adds a soothing element to any room design. In a bathroom for instance, a designer may use large squares of travertine on the floor, glass mosaics in the shower and a series of square windows to draw the eye up and repeat the theme.

Traditional Technology in Non-Traditional Spaces. Creative designers are using today’s technology to solve design challenges in the kitchen. Fridge drawers that are integrated into the sleek lines of cabinetry and a steam oven placed where sink plumbing once existed create solutions to kitchen space problems.

Tile in Totality. Designers are using tile for more than the wall, floor and bathroom space. One bathroom design presented at the 2012 NKAB Design Competition featured translucent recycled glass tiles surrounding a Japanese soaking tub. Muted pine green tiles were paired with small mosaic tiles in colors that evoked a tranquil sunset. Linen-textured, sand colored porcelain tiles created the foundation for a restful space wrapped entirely in glass tile.

Open Concept Bathroom. The space-efficient and sleek open-plan bathroom was highlighted in this year’s designs. With few walls, these expansive bathrooms have an entirely open shower and a minimalist product selection approach. By eliminating the shower stall and extending the open floor, the room becomes a sweeping space.

Resources
www.advancedrenovations.com
www.andrewroby.com
www.arborconstructiongroup.com
www.mybeconstruction.com
www.benhambuilders.com
www.bistanydesign.com
www.cosentinonorthamerica.com
www.crossvilletileandstone.com
www.e3cabinets.com
www.hughessupply.com
www.impactdesignresources.com
www.lanternbuilders.com
www.myschultzcustomhome.com
www.sheacustom.com
www.stone-systems.com
www.tilecollection.com
www.wolfappliance.com
www.zarcustomhomes.com

To view more articles in Urban Home Magazine visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com or click here.

Twitt

Showcase Home- Minimalism Finds Home in the South (Charlotte,NC)

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Written By Anne Marie Ashley

When interior designer Steven Rasnick and his partner moved to Charlotte from San Francisco, he suspected they’d end up in a modern Uptown apartment in the heart of the city.

What they discovered, as many do when they move to the South, is that the charm some of Charlotte’s neighborhoods provide can be irresistible. Finding minimalist style in an old charming area however, can present a challenge.

Thankfully, the couple found the perfect Georgian style home in Myers Park that just begged for Rasnick’s creative eye and the result is nothing short of an impeccable use of minimalist style. We just had to explore this house, and this designer, further.

UH: You come from progressive San Francisco – what drew you to this traditional home and neighborhood in Charlotte?
Homeowners: Originally, we thought about a center city apartment close to work, but nothing was meeting our needs in a home. We fell in love with Myers Park – great location, enchanting streets, beautifully maintained yards and homes, and its magnificent tree canopy. We wanted an older home with character that we could renovate.

UH: Tell us about your San Francisco (SF) residence and how it influenced the design of your home in Charlotte.
Homeowners: Our home in SF was a large urban industrial loft with 20-foot ceilings. We loved our wide-open floor plan and wanted to create that same sense of openness in our Charlotte home.

UH: What did the house look like when you found it?
Homeowners: The house was really lovely; great curb appeal with perfect proportions typical of 1920s Georgian architecture. It was simple, symmetrical and unadorned with all brick construction, a screened porch and the original detached two-car garage. Interiors were period appropriate with intimate rooms, great moldings and
panel detail.

UH: Tells us about the renovation process.
Homeowners: We knew we wanted to open up the downstairs and fortunately there were no structural barriers to prevent that. We widened and heightened all existing doorways to give a more soaring quality to all the rooms. We converted the side porch to a sunroom, took out a full bath off the family room and added a wall of French doors that opened onto a new colonnaded back porch. We added a mudroom off of the new kitchen and created a powder room under the staircase by combining a closet with the back of the butler’s pantry. We also added a second master suite.

UH: How long did the remodel take place?
Homeowners: It took just over a year to complete and we couldn’t live in it for the first 10 months. We replaced all the wood floors on the first floor, built interior closet systems and reconfigured the center hall staircase. We balanced and re-hung all the old doors and replaced all the brass hardware.

UH: How do you create minimalist style without the house looking cold?
Homeowners: Most of our furniture and lighting is contemporary and the minimal styling of it is a perfect counterweight to the more substantial period details of the house – tall baseboards, crown moldings, panel doors and ornate staircase accents. Warmth is added with rich stained floors, vibrant art and textured rugs.

UH: How have you used art to decorate?
Homeowners: All the art is original. For us, art is a preeminent consideration when looking for a new home. I think art is what anchors your home – no matter where you move to – it remains the one true constant. It makes your house comfortable in the most important way.

Homeowners:Tell us about the master bath.
UH: We designed the new master suite at the top of the stairs around a double-sided gas fireplace. The fireplace was built in Canada and is distinguished by a 36-inch narrow ribbon of fire. I wanted to enjoy the fire both from the bathroom and the bedroom, so I designed a deep, Japanese soaking tub with a wide deck and angled back for comfort that faces the fireplace cabinet. I also designed the bedroomside maple fireplace cabinet.

UH: What are your favorite local design resources?
Homeowners: My local go-to stores are places like Mrs. Howard, Luxe, BD Jeffries, Metro, Design Within Reach, Stark Carpet, Cotswold Marketplace and the DOMA Gallery.

Resources
www.bdjeffries.com
www.cotswoldmarketplace.com
www.dwr.com
www.luxehomecouture.com
www.mrshowardpersonalshopper.com
www.starkcarpet.com
Steven Rasnick Interior Design

To view other articles visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com or click here.

Twitt

Tiles Inspired by Journeys Afar- Tile Collection in Pineville, NC

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One endearing feature of tiles is the diversity and character they showcase, which naturally means they remain one of the best and most creative investments when remodeling any home area.

A recommendation for an impressive choice for today’s projects – whether it’s face-lifting, dressing up a new home or a period renovation? The unique Odyssey collection from one of the UK’s leading ceramic-tile manufacturers – Original Style – has transfixed the market.

T he discerning eye of Jennifer Creasser Bridges, Tile Collection director of sales and marketing, is aptly impressed with what she sees. “It’s no secret that patterns in an interior design can produce a broad variety of physical, emotional and psychological responses in those who view them — from cheerfulness and a desire to get things done to agitation or lethargy,” Jennifer says. “These tiles are practical anywhere around the home. Ideal applications include courtyards, foyers, hallways and stair risers.”

Reminiscent of your own sojourns worldwide, the tiles and matching borders will help you perhaps recall a faraway market in which you found lovely souvenirs to bring home to keep your travels fresh in your mind. While their inspiration may come from the past, such as a humble rug found in a Moroccan bazaar to majestic palaces or from rustic Turkish pottery to the lost Incan civilization, the tiles are modern and fresh. When you bring Odyssey into your home for a global adventure, you can think of it as venturing “around the world in 20 designs.”

There’s no mass production here; each of these hand-finished tiles is a small, unique work of art. “With patterns adding richness and depth to a design, they give life and energy to areas of design usually left blank, namely white space,” says Jennifer.

Also, these designs can be used as supporting backdrops for text and images as long as they don’t overwhelm the element they’re placed on top of or the element they aim to support.

With combinations that are infinite, the most important factor when selecting from this unique line is to devise a look that always catches your eye and appeals to your sense of adventure. The professionalsat Tile Collection will help make sure the look works for what you are envisioning for tile creations right in your own home.

Contact Tile Collection at 704-541-8453, check out www.tilecollection.com, or visit their showroom at 11200 Carolina Place Parkway in Pineville open Mondays-Fridays 9-6, Thursdays 9-8, Saturdays 10-5 and Sundays 12-5.

To view more articles about Tile Collection visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com or click here.

Twitt

Refreshingly Understated- Stark Carpet in Charlotte, NC

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Color palettes come and go, but the timeless sophistication of a neutral, monochromatic color scheme is never out of fashion. As Coco Chanel said, “Elegance is refusal.”

Whether for its calming effects or a desire to return to elegant restraint, today’s top designers are using sophisticated shades of gray, taupe and other neutrals in their room designs.

Tim Cohen, co-manager of Stark Carpets Design Center andLuxury Outlet in Charlotte says designers in the Stark showroom are choosing rugs with patterns of two or three harmonious colors to lay the foundation for understated elegance in a room.  “The monochromatic palette is in vogue now,” he says. “Our designers are choosing hand-knotted rugs of wool and silk woven in highly stylized patterns. These beautiful rugs definitely make a statement, butit’s quieter. It’s an understatement.”

Drew Olson co-manages Charlotte’s Stark Facility with Tim. He says the trend they’re seeing is consistent with the 2011 and 2012 color forecasts. “Monochromatic color schemes are calming,” says Drew. “They make rooms feel larger and quieter, helping homeowners find more silence and space in their lives.”

Warm grays are emerging as the new neutrals. With natural fibers providing the perfect complement to this calming minimalism, Stark has introduced many new sisal lines to help designers achieve this look. Other favorite Stark Carpet designs include an elegant (or playful depending on its use) antelope pattern, sophisticated contemporary geometrics, or the vintage look of a faded quilt.

At the same time designers sing the praises of a monochromatic space, they want us to know that color, as always, has its place. “We love color,” says Drew. “Some of the most brilliant splashes of color in our showroom are from LELIEVRE, the exclusive line of designer fabrics from a Paris-based company. They provide the perfect punch of color in any room.”

Stark has also introduced a collection of vibrantly colored area rugs by New York designer Charlotte Moss, who found her inspiration on a trip to Istanbul while sourcing antique ikat textiles. From soothing neutrals to energetic brights, designers find what they’re looking for at Charlotte’s Stark showroom. If they don’t find it, Stark will make it for them.

“We make bespoke carpets every day,” says Tim, dispelling the myth that they only carry very expensive carpet. “Our selection is diverse, covering every level of style and price range. Our inventory is unlimited and we bring a designer’s vision to life – whether the carpet of their dreams exists or we make it for them.”

Visit Stark Carpet Design Center and Outlet at 11415 Granite Street, Suite A in Charlotte. Call 704-588-8842 or visit them online at http://www.starkcarpet.comto learn more.

For more articles on Stark Carpet visit www.urbanhomemagazine.com or click here.

Twitt