HOT IDEAS FOR A WARM,INVITING INTERIORWith winter on the horizon, now is

the time to take steps to ensure that

your home is a toasty haven. “Spruce

up your home by installing a new

wood floor, topping it with a great

area rug and painting the walls,”

suggested Wendy Fried, owner of

G. Fried Carpet & Design Center.

If new floors are not in your budget,

refinishing your existing hardwood floors

can really brighten up a home’s interior.

Installing wall-to-wall carpeting is

also a beautiful and practical design

solution. “Wall-to-wall acts as great

room insulation, especially with our

new pads that have greater insulating

properties,” said Bruce Hall, president

of Sid Hall Floors. Carpeting is espe-

cially useful in drafty spaces such as

basements, and in rooms over garages

and porches.

If you seek a quick room redo, you

won’t wait long at Fabric Mill. That’s

good news for anyone who wants a

fresh look for the holidays. “We can fabricate brand-new window treatments and slipcovers,

and even reupholster your existing sofas and chairs in just a few weeks to one month,” said

Mitchell Bassen, owner of Fabric Mill. “We are set up to provide both great values and fast

turnarounds.” Beyond a totally new look for a room, draperies with linings or interlinings help

retain heat and block cold air.

Update your family room or home office with the sleek, streamlined storage solutions

for today’s flat-screen televisions and computer monitors. “Our clients are using desks,

consoles and tables instead of deep, bulky armoires,” explained Meredith Waldner Stern, a

principal of Waldner’s Business Environments. Opt for adjustable mounting solutions that

raise monitors off surfaces or hang on the wall. These space-saving solutions also offer

ergonomic comfort.

Custom wood shutters are stylish,

practical and versatile window treat-

ments that can be created for every type

of window and doorway, and painted

to match all decors. “Shutters also have

natural insulating properties and are very

effective at controlling the flow of air and

light,” said Frank Rubino, president of

Aart Custom Shutters.

This special advertising feature is sponsored by participating advertisers. The material was written by Anne Sternheim and did not involve the reporting orediting staff of The New York Times. ©2009 The New York Times

A Nourmak rug from G. Fried Carpet & Design Center. Photo: Nourison Industries.

ADVERTISEMENT

Long Island Homes

WARM UP TOWINTER AT HOME

Silk Weave flooring from Sid Hill Floors.

Going Green

WATER CONSERVATION

• Go hands-free with motion sensor faucets from Blackman Plumbing, and control the flow by using showerheads with flow restrictors from Kolson.

• Make a smart choice with dual flushing system toilets available at Blackman Plumbing and Kolson that save water with different waste-elimination controls.

SMART FLOORING SOLUTIONS

• Opt for carpet made from a sustainable source. Mohawk’s SmartStrand with DuPont Sorona is crafted of a fiber derived from corn sugar. This soft, durable, well-priced and stain-resistant carpet is available at G. Fried Carpet.

• Step up to bamboo and cork flooring, which are made from renewable sources. Sid HallFloors stocks cork flooring and G. Fried Carpet has both bamboo and cork choices.

A window treatment from Aart Custom Shutters.

A home office from Waldner’s Business Environments.

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A few well-chosen accessories can do wonders.

“Add a knocker to your front door for a classic and dis-

tinctive look,” suggested Dale Landy, vice president of

Kolson. “Elsewhere in the home, freshen up the kitchen

or bathroom with new cabinet pulls, knobs or faucets.

Satin nickel, polished nickel and oil-rubbed bronze fin-

ishes are popular and available in a variety of styles and

price points.”

A new floor can change the whole look of the kitchen.

“You can make a custom-design statement with luxury vinyl

tile,” said Bruce Hall, president of Sid Hall Floors. Made

from recycled materials, luxury vinyl tiles offer unlimited

design potential and easy maintenance. Opt for styles that

resemble wood, ceramic tile, natural stone, marble or gran-

ite. You can even mix and match tiles to create interesting

borders or patterns.

New kitchen appliances are both practical and stylish.

If you seek inspiration, head to the Living Kitchen show-

rooms at Mr. Jay Appliances to view top-quality Sub-Zero

and Wolf models.

There are fast and practical additions that can make

the bathroom a warm and welcoming retreat. “Heat

lamps and heated towel bars will enhance your life with-

out breaking the bank. And they make great gifts,” said

David Lyon, managing director, showroom operations for

Blackman Plumbing.

Finally, prep your closets for winter. “Go through your

clothes, discard your unused apparel and substitute sum-

mer for winter wear,” advised Harvey Feder, vice president

of California Closets. The company has adjustable stor-

age systems that can change with the seasons: shelves for

bulky winter items such as sweaters and hanging racks for

summer’s lightweight, wrinkle-prone clothing.

CUSTOMIZED LUXURYEveryone’s definition of luxury is personal. That’s why

customized design for every room in the home is the key

to true comfort. For some, luxury is all about sumptuous

fabrics in an array of colors, prints, textures and materials.

“Animal prints in silk velvet, chenilles and jacquards bring a

vibrant accent to a room when used on pillows, throws and

on upholstery,” said Paulette Yaghoubi, owner of

Mells Karon, a store overflowing with marvelous fabrics

and trimmings. “Faux-fur throws, pillows and bedspreads

are also hugely popular and make a real design impact.

Faux leather in a basket-weave pattern is also hot right now

in upholstered pieces, pillows and wall coverings. Genuine

zebra and cowhide floor coverings are also a big hit.”

Nothing finishes a room like the right window treat-

ments. Today, customers are opting for simple silk drapes.

ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT

Drapes from Fabric Mill.

The Titian sectional from Signature Leather.

An Elegancia bath from Blackman Plumbing.

ROHL’s Country Bath Collection from Kolson.

Trimmings from Mells Karon.

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ADVERTISEMENT

For a more elaborate look, embellish

your drapes with crystal trimmings. In

addition, select window-treatment hard-

ware to suit your room’s style.

As for color, customers are look-

ing for bold and bright hues that make

a statement. “Lemon, lime, lavender,

gold, red, purple and brown are all

hugely popular,” said Yaghoubi, “along

with vibrant combinations like purple

with gold or silver and the classic blue

and brown.”

For others, true luxury is complete

relaxation in great style. “Our custom-

ers love to lounge in their media rooms,

family rooms and living rooms, and we

provide contemporary leather furniture

ideally suited to that,” said Leonard

Zion, owner of Signature Leather, which

carries lines by Natuzzi, Ekornes, W.

Schillig and American Leather. You’ll find

an impressive array of leather chairs,

sofas, sectionals, lounges and chaises

available in more than 200 leather and

color choices.

When it comes to warmth and

luxury, what could be better than

making your bathroom a private spa

retreat? Head to Blackman Plumbing

for a trio of bright ideas. Cold tiles are

a thing of the past with in-floor radi-

ant heating systems that can be set to

warm the floor before you enter the

bathroom each morning. What else is

available? Consider the therapeutic

benefits of the Bain Ultra Tub, an air

masseur tub that combines a heated

backrest and an effervescent water

massage. Finally, a thermostatic show-

er system can be preset so the water

flows at your desired temperature.

GREAT OFFERS Now is a great time of year to invest

in new energy-efficient appliances.

“We’re offering rebates up to $75 on

refrigerators and up to $50 on wash-

ing machines that meet ENERGY STAR

requirements,” said David Leibowitz of

Mr. Jay Appliances. The offers are valid

now through December 31, 2009, and

rebate forms are available in the store

or online at www.lipower.org.

While the weather is cooling, it may be a good time to

think about next summer and air conditioning. That’s because

New York Unique Indoor Comfort is making an offer you

just can’t refuse. The company specializes in retrofitting

older homes with high-velocity air conditioning systems that

deliver cool air through two-inch flexible tubing that prevents

architectural disruption and the need to remodel. The high-

velocity system is cool, comfortable, draft-free and quiet.

Said Chris McGuire, the general manager, “Right now, we are

offering an off-season special along with an instant $1,500

rebate from the manufacturer.”

Aart Custom Shutters7701 Roosevelt Avenue

Jackson Heights, NY 11372(718) 424-3737

www.aartshutters.com

Blackman Plumbing Supply Company

240 BroadwayHuntington Station, NY 11746

(800) 843-2695www.blackman.comSee website for all

showroom locations.

California Closets700 Shames Drive

Westbury, NY 11590(516) 334-0077

www.calclosets.com

Fabric Mill219 South Service Road

Plainview, NY 11803(516) 465-6400

www.fabricmill.com

G. Fried Carpet & Design Center

800 Old Country RoadWestbury, NY 11590

(516) 333-3900www.gfriedcarpet.com

Kolson 653 Middle Neck RoadGreat Neck, NY 11023

(516) 487-1224www.kolson.com

Mells Karon19 Bryant AvenueRoslyn, NY 11576(516) 484-3000

www.mellskaron.com

Mr. Jay Appliances294 Hillside Avenue

Williston Park, NY 11596(516) 248-6767

www.mrjayappliances.com

New York Unique Indoor Comfort(888) 491-9030

www.newyorkunique.com

Sid Hall Floors106 Northern Blvd.

Great Neck, NY 11021(516) 487-5591

Signature Leather627 Broadhollow Road

(Route 110)Melville, NY 11747(631) 777-7890

www.signatureleather.com

Waldner’s Business Environments125 Route 110

Farmingdale, NY 11735(631) 844-9300

www.waldners.com

Home Heating Tips

Mark Schmittzeh, director of sales and mar-keting at Blackman Plumbing, recommends the following steps to get your home ready for the winter cold:

• Check for air leaking in and out around doors and windows, and make sure they are properly caulked.

• If your home does not have storm win-dows, seal windows with plastic.

• If you have an oil boiler, have it cleaned and tuned.

• If you have a gas furnace, ensure that the filters are clean.

• Consider upgrading to a new oil or gas boiler or a new oil or gas furnace. Your home will be warmer and you’ll recoup your investment over time with a savings in heating bills.

A Sub-Zero kitchen from Mr. Jay Appliances.

A closet/office from California Closets.

Advertiser Directory

A high-velocity air conditioning system from New York Unique Indoor Comfort.

LI 15THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009

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