Is your cabinet hardware older than disco? Then come in to HomePlus this weekend and see our extensive selection of cabinet hardware. http://ping.fm/iMGkU

Need something to entertain the family this weekend? Check out the Great Texas Balloon Race in Longview, TX. http://ping.fm/zaar3

Home Plus has several tools on our website to help you "Try on a Floor" before you buy. Check it out here... http://ping.fm/Ypdw6

Please be sure to give Heath a honk if you see him in the new Home Plus measure van!

Happy 4th of July! If you are out and about on Monday, stop by and see us for some great deals on closeout stock products.

Look for our American Celebration ad in Sunday's paper.

NEW handscraped laminate - looks just like hardwood. Come in and take our challenge to see if you can tell the difference.

Check out our latest sale ad online at HomeplusTX.com. http://ping.fm/kCdGh

Unbelievable Backsplash at the Parade of Homes

Natural stone backsplashes have been a popular addition to the kitchen in many homes for the last several years. When natural stone was first used on backsplashes the design concept was limited to placing four by four inch square tiles horizontally set in even rows above the counter space. In this year's Tyler Area Builder Parade of Homes the trend is "anything goes".

Contrast and texture are key design elements in today's trendiest backsplash designs. For instance, combining multiple colors with different patterns c+
an create a unique yet blended design. Accents are also more common since the introduction of resin materials. These achieve the look of a true metal accent but are much more affordable.


If you can dream it, we can design it. Come in and see our backsplash concept boards that showcase these different design options or visit a parade home in your neighborhood for more ideas. For information regarding the 2010 Parade of Homes, access the TABA website.

Check out this month's featured items on sale. http://ping.fm/jLZ8H

Check out the new photos from the 2010 TABA Parade of Homes. http://ping.fm/vt9Bt?aid=178582&id=360290299329&ref=mf

2010 Parade of Homes: A Must See

Wow! I just returned from touring two parade homes here in Tyler and it never ceases to amaze me what a designer can do with a little tile and a lot of imagination. I have to give a special acknowledgment to Deborah Drennan, an ASID certified designer, for all of her hardwork on the parade's this year.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Deborah's designs are the use of deco pieces and glass inserts to bring a more elegant look to plain showers and tub surrounds. Using tile or natural stone in a shower is often a slightly more expensive option than acrylic and so many people are hesitant. If you do decide to go the extra mile for the sake of design by tiling your shower then adding a few strategically placed deco pieces is a must. The extra expense is minimal but often goes a long way in displaying your unique personality in a subtle way.


Another option is to change the direction of the room by turning a tile floor on a diagonal slant. This expense is also marginal and can often add spacial width and make the room seem larger.

Please take some time this week and visit a couple of homes in your neighborhood. For more information on the 2010 Parade of Homes you can access the TABA website.

Be sure to check out the phenomenal floors in the 2010 Parade of Homes. http://ping.fm/mX7rJ

New 2010 Trends for Kitchens

In almost any home, the kitchen is often the room that we spend the most time in as a family. It stands to reason then that we should put more loving care into the design of our kitchens than any other room in the house.

Kitchen design over the last fifteen years has changed dramatically and bolder colors have finally found a more predominant place. Ten years ago, the color trend for kitchens was muted and minimalistic. Walls and counter-tops were usually from the off white or light beige color family and woods tended to be natural oaks. The main goal was to blend colors rather than offer contrast.

More recently, bold splashes of color are used to add individuality to kitchen decor. According to Home and Garden TV, color is now showing up in some unexpected places such as faucets, cabinet insets, and counter-top appliances. For more ideas on how to update the color in your kitchen visit the HomePlus website and use our design your room feature.

May is National Karastan Month so all Karastan carpets are on sale. Come and check it out. http://ping.fm/DFmiG

Check out the Home Plus Mother's Day Sale ad on our website. http://ping.fm/CPKCa

Check out pics from the 2010 Cassity Jones Golf Tournament at Twin Lakes Golf Course in Canton, TX. http://ping.fm/80zPL?v=photos

Come visit the Home Plus booth this Wednesday night at Women's Night Out at Harvey Convention Center in Tyler.

Browse this month's latest deals in our sales ad - http://ping.fm/C3411

Click on www.HomePlusTX.com to use the Design Your Room feature. You can upload a picture of your own room and then change the flooring.

New Luxe plank from Armstrong

Armstrong has just released a new vinyl plank product called Luxe Plank. It combines the visual beauty of hardwood with the durability of vinyl. The new Lynx installation technology allows you to easily reposition the flooring if a mistake is made during installation while maintaining the integrity of the overall floor. Take a look at this exciting new product at Armstrong.com. http://www.armstrong.com/flooring/vinyl-tile/luxe-plank-collection.asp

Congratulations to this week's Viewer's Club Give-away winner Meredith Hamilton. Go to http://ping.fm/3QwL1 to register.

Go to HomePlusTX.com and click the Savings Center to see the latest Sale ad. http://ping.fm/38yj7

Only a few more days to sign up for this week's Viewer's Club drawing. Remember you can enter once every day to increase your chances. http://ping.fm/tHCoP

Congratulations to Cheri Reeves, the first weekly winner of the Home Plus Viewer's Club gift card. Go to HomePlusTX.com to register. http://ping.fm/WoZPf

Sign up for the $250 Home Plus Viewer's Club give-away http://ping.fm/8NjpE

Take a look at the new Home Plus Tyler blog http://ping.fm/xXmyZ

Stainmaster Carpet: What is it and why do I care?

Carpet fiber is one of the enigmas of the floor covering industry. Not just for consumers but for us retailers too. Every company has something different and all of them claim to be the best, so we often have customers who ask "What is the best carpet"? The answer is ... it depends on what features are most important to you. It could be price, durability, stain protection or texture retention. There are three main types of carpet fiber, nylon, polyester, and Triexta. Today I will focus on Stainmaster nylon fibers and the benefits of choosing that brand of carpet for your home.

The Stainmaster brand is one of the most recognized brands in the flooring industry. They were originally owned by DuPont who found that they could combine the durability of a Stainmaster nylon with the teflon stain protection of DuPont to create a carpet more resistant to stains than any other brand on the market. In 1986 they launched a massive marketing campaign in order to familiarize the nation with the Stainmaster difference. Many of you may remember these commercials. The most notable was a toddler with a airplane food container. Stainmaster is now owned by another parent company but they continue to dominate the market in name recognition and product durability.

Although nylon is a naturally more resilient fiber than polyester or Triexta, it is also less cost efficient to produce. However, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. Stainmaster carpet is proven to stay up to 30% cleaner and last up to 50% longer. You can visit their website to see a short product review video. http://www.stainmaster.com

New measure vehicle for Home Plus Tyler

Some of you will see Home Plus Tyler's new mobile billboard traveling around East Texas. It's a Ford Transit Connect. Home Plus has always offered free estimates to our customers so if we come to measure your home or office you may see this up close and personal. Aaron Welch is our estimator in Tyler and he's very proud of his new transportation. If you see him around the East Texas area, please give him a honk and a wave.

To all local area leaders: The Giant Impact Leadercast is coming to Mobberly Baptist Church in Longview on May 7th, 2010. Speakers include leadership guru John Maxwell, former Colts head coach Tony Dungy, and Ed Bastian President of Delta Airlines. I went last year and it was an inspirational event. http://ping.fm/NE89V

Natural Cork : not just for wine bottles

Someone asked me yesterday if consumers still purchase cork flooring and the answer is definitely yes. Natural Cork is a material that has been used for various products since the 1600's. Although it is not considered a traditional flooring alternative, there are many examples of this type of flooring still in use today. The 2010 HGTV Dream Home is one of the most recent examples of the resurgence of cork as a practical design option. In addition, cork is a naturally Eco friendly product with a rich history spanning several industries and uses.

Most people today are familiar with cork as stoppers for wine bottles. Dom Perignon invented the first cork stoppers to seal his champagne bottles in the 1600's. This discovery quickly spread throughout the entire wine industry and led to the development of the first cork stopper factory in Spain in the 1750's.

Today, cork flooring is an environmentally sound alternative to other more traditional flooring choices. Since cork is harvested from the bark of the cork trees rather than the actual lumber these trees can survive multiple harvests and have an average lifespan of 170 years. Some of the other benefits of cork versus other flooring products include the ease of installation, which is similar to laminate flooring, durability, and natural scratch resistance. All of these characteristics make cork a natural and stylish option for today's consumers.

Don't forget the Spring Azalea Trail in Tyler starts this Friday March 19th and ends April 4th. Visit http://ping.fm/QgeXv for details.

Go to www.homeplustx.com and sign up for the Home Plus Viewer's Club and a chance to win $250

Look for Home Plus Tyler's Saving of the Green flyer in Sunday's Tyler Morning-Telegraph