We blame it on HGTV.
Before “House Hunters” and “Property Virgins,” Bag Lady and Shopping Siren never thought about details like flooring. Wood vs. carpet? Tile vs. vinyl? Truly, we couldn’t have cared less. As long as there was a floor and not, say, gaping open space or a sea of unsightly wee stains, we were generally satisfied. (Delicate flowers, both.)
But then SS bought a home. BL undertook a renovation. Suddenly, we both began paying more attention to those TV shows where people seriously pondered the value of light-colored, sustainable bamboo floors vs. low-VOC carpet. We grew interested. Then intrigued.
By the time BL passed Sherm Arnold’s Flooring and Kitchen Design Center on lower Lisbon Street in Lewiston, our fates were sealed.
A source of potential home improvements and an adorable name like Sherm? We had to go shopping.
Housed in a formidable-looking old mill, with three sizable rooms and a chipper, willing-to-let-you-wander sales staff, it didn’t disappoint.
* Tile flooring, various colors and prices
The first room you’ll encounter at Sherm’s is filled with in-stock tiles by the box. Alpine Taupe too light? Try Texas Dark Beige. Too subtle? Go with Hamlet Manor Thatch. We were partial to Everest Cafe, an aptly named mocha-colored tile that cost $1.99/square foot and covered just over 15 square feet per box. (About the per-box average from what we saw.) Because between Everest Cafe and Anatolia Talesma? Duh. No contest.
* Area rugs, various colors and prices
Sure, buying an area rug at a flooring store sounds like a natural idea, but neither of us considered it before wandering into Sherm’s with its remarkable remnants, awesome area rugs and really cool, basic runners. Grab a 3- by 5-foot shag rug for $20, or a brown Berber runner for $25. Larger remnants cost $30 or more. Had us thinking dorm room or very fly treehouse. Great colors and patterns. Mostly. One or two made us recoil in horror (SS: “Oh my God! Why? Why?”) But more about that later.
* Vinyl remnants, various designs and prices
Vinyl flooring always looks odd rolled up. Unlike solid-color rugs, vinyl often has pattens, and those patterns can be hard to envision on a roll. But if you want to be safe, Sherm’s offered a beige tile-pattern Armstrong 12- by 10-foot remnant. Want to take a risk? Try the honey-colored wood-esque pattern, $200 for a 12- by 16-foot piece. That’s like one-quarter of a non-tree!
* Mosaic tiles, various colors and prices
This, right here, was love. We left wanting to mosaic tile-trim everything from our shower walls to our car dashboards. Brand names like Florida Tile, Fine, Mohawk and Applause. So many, in fact, there were almost too many. Sherm’s offered mostly modern styles, but there were a few … let’s say traditional ones to choose from. (If white tiles painted with fruit bowls don’t remind you of grandma’s, nothing will.)
Best find: Hallway o’laminate deals, $1.99/square foot with pad and 20-year warranty
Quick Step Brazilian Cherry, with dark and red tones, jumped out as a favorite. Had us thinking, “We could install this, we’re two grown women capable of snapping and locking!” And maybe we are. Time will tell.
Think twice: Everglade carpet, 15 by 11 feet, $90
Thin like Astroturf, rough like sandpaper, colored like gray/blue sadness, it instantly puts one in an industrial, it’s-OK-to-wee-on-the-carpet (it’s-been-wee’d-on-before) frame of mind. Granted, it’s a step up from gaping open space, but not much. So, bypass the depressing carpet and opt for something a little more upbeat. Like anything else.
Bag Lady and Shopping Siren’s true identities are protected by a pair of stylish, sweater-wearing Doberman pinschers (who plead the Fifth) and the Customer Service counter at the Sun Journal. You can reach them at baglady@junjournal.com and shoppingsiren@sunjournal.com.
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