Design from Nature

There are many things that nature can teach us about decorating. From the colors that you see to the textures you can feel, you can discover ways to draw inspiration from nature to enhance the interior design of your home.
There is much more in nature than the colors brown and green.  Nature is three-dimensional so texture should play an important role in your home décor. For instance, consider the roughness of a tree compared to the softness of the grass. You can have a rough wood table in the kitchen, or even as a coffee table in your living space, but you need to add a soft element to offset it. You can add soft, smooth placemats to the table or soft, fluffy throw pillows on the sofa. You would not want to have a rough wood table with rough placemats, as this can make the space feel cold and unwelcoming. So, keep nature in mind when creating your overall design scheme.  It is much easier and cost effective to have a neutral color, such as a soft grey on the walls, and then add the colors you love in art, decorative pillows and accent pieces.  Or even paint one wall, such as your fireplace wall, in a complimenting color.  These things can easily be changed out when you decide you want a differ look. 

Have fun designing the interiors of your home!  (photo from Country Living)

Who is the Floor Trader

Customers come in daily not knowing what products we carry or who we really are. I want to take this opportunity to tell you not only how we operate, but who we are.
Our partnership with the largest floor covering cooperative in North America, allows us enormous buying power and access to all the major brands, mills and manufacturers at great savings…..everyday. The Floor Trader carries a huge selection of carpets and floors from around the world, in-stock and ready immediately for your home or office. With personal service from our specially trained flooring consultants, you will be guided through the shopping process to find the product, style and color that is just right for you.
We offer At-Cost installation, where you pay the installers directly for the work that they do for you. These installers are local and recommended by customers like you. Many have been with us since we opened our doors!
Local owners Keith and Vicki Rhodes have over 50 years of flooring experience combined. Keith is a Certified Flooring Executive with the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA). Vicki is an Interior Decorator who has appeared on HGTV’s Designer’s Challenge and assisted on TLC’s Trading Spaces.
Members, locally, of the following organizations:
- Chamber of Commerce's
- Rotary
- Home Builders Association
Over the years, the Rhodes’ have received several prestigious awards for their business such as Member of the Year, Retail Professional, Highest Delivered Sales and Franchisee of the Year.
Vist any one of our three locations (Gulfport & Gautier, MS or Mobile, AL) and meet our professional team. Let them help you pick out the perfect flooring for your home. You will be amazed at how easy flooring is once you are in the right store - and we are that store for you!

Do Your Research First

Shopping for new floors? Do your research to see what type of flooring is right for you. Visit these helpful web sites:
www.WFCA.org
www.myfloortrader.com
www.tigressaoutlet.com
www.shawfloors.com
And if you need help with color visit www.benjaminmoore.com
Get some GREAT IDEAS!

Ugly Floors?

Do you have a flooring design dilemma? Bring in your pictures and describe your problem and we will see if we can help! Whether its a maintenance problem, installation "how to" or finding the right design for you, the Floor Trader can help.
Take a look at this old shotgun house before & after.

Q & A

Q - I have 3 kids and a dog. My carpet is worn and I need to replace it. I love carpet. Is there a carpet you would recommend for such an active family?
A - The new Tigressa carpets are soft & durable. With its texture and stain warranties, it's sure to please an active family. Check it out on our web site www.myfloortrader.com under "Our Brands"

Q & A

Q - I really love the look of ceramic but do not like the hardness. I have bad knees and the hardness really makes them hurt after standing in the kitchen cooking. Is there another option in flooring that would give me that look but not make my knees hurt?
A - Flooring styles have come a long way in the past few years. Many people love the beauty of ceramic but do not like the hardness. DynaFlex Vinyl has some very stylish ceramic looks. The texture and coloring is so realistic that most people can not tell it is vinyl. There are also vinyl tiles that look like ceramic.

Toys for Tots

The Floor Trader of Mobile is the drop off site for "Toys for Tots" Drop off new toys and help the United States Marine Corp help families in need.