Las Vegas casino sells pieces of its famous British carpet

The El Cortez Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas impresses its visitors with its brightly coloured floral carpet on the casino floor, which was created by British carpet manufacturer Brintons. This replaced a previous Brintons carpet – the pieces of which are now being sold by the hotel.

The hotel is one of Las Vegas’ oldest, having been built in 1941. The first Brintons carpet was installed in 2007 and was famous for its so-called “kitsch” design. After being walked on by thousands of people every week, it was removed in 2020 and replaced by a new woven carpet from Brintons. Alike its predecessor, the new carpet has a large, colourful pattern of leaves and flowers, but it is much brighter.

The old carpet has been cut into 16-inch by 16-inch squares, which are now on sale in the hotel gift shop for $19, so that hotel visitors can own a piece of casino history.

The marketing manager of Brintons, Lisa Conway, told the Kidderminster Shuttle that:

"The longevity of the carpet in situ is a testament to the quality of both the design and the carpet itself, and we continue to take immense pride in our British wool made export.”

Conway added that the news provided a positive story during the hard times of the pandemic.

Large, vividly coloured floral patterns suit large spaces, but often, when choosing carpets in Chester and North Wales homes, homeowners opt for more subtle designs.

Patterned carpets to be popular again in 2021

According to Megan Slack, writing for the website Livingetc, 2021 is the year of the patterned carpet.

Many people are working from home during the coronavirus lockdown, and they are looking at ways of livening up their home during the cold months of winter, when outside it’s dreary and grey. Rooms are also becoming multi-purpose, functioning as office spaces, home bars, cinemas, dining areas and disco rooms.

Room decoration is a way to express personality and to cheer the household up with vibrant colours and patterns. This is one reason why many people are turning away from hard floors and are buying brightly coloured rugs and carpets.

Carpet design expert Claire Kimble told Livingetc that:

"Bringing colour and pattern within carpet and rugs into our homes uses the floor as a decorative platform that reflects feelings and who we are."

Carpet manufacturers have reported that sales of patterned carpets have risen by more than 10% compared to 2019, and they expect demand to grow more during 2021. There is a wide range of patterned carpets available. For a special, luxury carpet, a bespoke design can be created.

Many consumers are also wanting to buy British carpets, and they are choosing UK manufactured patterned wool carpets, which are a sustainable, natural product.

There is no shortage of patterned carpet options for Chester, Wrexham and North Wales rooms. Carpet retailers and fitters offer a variety of carpet patterns to suit all tastes and room styles.

How to protect your home from carpet beetles

Carpets are ideal surfaces for carpet beetles to lay their eggs on during colder weather. Fortunately, there are simple ways to protect a home form an infestation of carpet beetles.

The eggs of carpet beetle look like dark dots or black flecks on a carpet. They are a health risk and can cause skin rashes. The hatched beetles can eat objects in the house, causing damage to books, photos, furniture and carpets. They can fly through open windows, be brought in on plants or flowers, or travel on pets’ fur. They can also enter the home down chimneys, vents and electrical conduits.

How to remove the beetles

Pest controller Mario Stanchev told Grimsby Live that regular vacuuming is the best method of removing the eggs and hatched beetles from carpet. Pets should be kept away from furniture and carpets, as they can spread carpet beetles, and keep the rest of the home clean. If beetles have spread beyond the carpet, wash all washable fabrics in soapy hot water, including curtains, clothing, towels, bedding and cushion covers.

For high level infestations, a professional pest controller can kill larvae, eggs and beetles with insecticide. Carpets should be professionally deep cleaned to remove any trace of the beetles. Deep cleaning carpets also removes dust mites, odours, bacteria and makes the air quality better.

Another way to clean carpets in North Wales homes is to sprinkle baking soda or boric acid on them before vacuuming, or to use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.

Carpets help reduce heating bills

According to a recent study by the building society Nationwide, homes could be wasting over £27.50 a month due to inefficient heating systems and insulation. There are many ways to reduce heating bills, including the use of carpets.

It can get very cold in North Wales during the winter. Many residents are spending more time at home due to the coronavirus lockdown, and this increases their heating costs.

Some solutions for decreasing heating costs, including insulation, underfloor heating and heat pumps, can be expensive. Many homes in North Wales were built before 1920 and have solid walls, and solid wall insulation can cost between £7,000 and £13,000. Air source heat pumps cost up to £11,000 and ground source heat pumps cost more, ranging between £14,000 to £19,000.

The Green Homes Grant scheme provides funds that help pay off the cost of energy efficiency improvements, but it may not cover all costs.

There are some ways to make a home more energy efficient that are not too expensive, however. Carpets have insulating qualities and make rooms less expensive to heat, and homes with solid floors can benefit from rugs. Ground floor insulation can cost less than £600, depending on the room size. Gaps in skirting boards or floors can easily be filled with sealant.

Carpets in North Wales homes are a great choice of flooring covering if you want to keep rooms warm and cosy. There is a wide selection of colours and patterns available suitable for all home decor styles.

What are the best flooring solutions for a home office?

An ideal office at home must be functional but inspire motivation. If, like many UK professionals, you’ve been working remotely as of late, you’ll find operating from home can have its own challenges, and a workspace that is practical yet encourages you to spend time in it has many benefits.

While some people have set up a temporary work environment at home, if you’re planning to make your office a permanent fixture about the house, it may be time to make some design choices. While furniture and storage space are important, it can be wise to start planning your new office from the ground up by selecting the perfect floor.

Whether you’re looking for longevity or a sense of style, you’ll find there are a wealth of options worth considering. In the following article, we’ll explore three solid choices that may be an ideal fit for your office floor.

Wood

Among the more expensive floor solutions, nothing says “I mean business” like a hardwood floor. Robust and dependable, wood floors have been known to outlast the homes they’re fitted in and can look refined or rustic depending on your selection.

Solid and engineered hardwood floors alike present practical options that come in a wide variety of colours, textures and woodgrains to create different looks. Lighter woods can make rooms feel bright and spacious, while darker varieties can add a stately elegance to your office at home.

Vinyl

Whether by the roll or in separate tiles, vinyl offers an easy to care for option for your home office and is incredibly durable. Strong enough to stand up to the weight of a sliding swivel chair, it comes equipped with extra protection. The top layer of vinyl flooring can defend against scuffs as well as spilled coffee thanks to its scratch and stain resistant properties.

Additionally, some vinyl solutions boast cushioned backing to absorb the noise of you pacing your office over a problem or contacting clients for a conversation. Vinyl also provides exceptional thermal qualities, ensuring you’ll stay warm while working.

Vinyl is a versatile product, readily available in many colours, patterns and designs.

Laminate

Like luxury vinyl tile (LVT), laminate flooring can be an affordable way to enjoy the look of a stone or wood floor in your office space at a fraction of the cost. Laminate is also readily available in a rainbow of colours and patterns to create an office tailored to your brand.

Hardwearing, laminate is also extremely low maintenance to look after, so you can easily keep your office in good order and focus instead on your overflowing inbox. Another added benefit of laminate flooring is that it can be swift and simple to install by yourself, perfect for when you want to get your office sorted quickly.

Remember, as an extension of your house, your new home office may need to match with the rest of your décor for a more cohesive look. Whether you’re interested in vinyl, laminate or wood, order some samples and start planning your perfect workspace.