If you’re building a new home or planning a remodel, ask your contractor about the many new products available on the market. Or if you’re a do-it-yourselfer, ask the retail shops that you patronize about their new selections.
Here are just a few ideas:
STAINMASTER, a leader in carpet flooring, has expanded into the vinyl products, offering STAINMASTER Resilient Flooring. Available locally at Abbey Carpet in Bremerton, these tile patterns come in vibrant colors that make the floor look like real tile. Stone, wood and textile patterns are also available, in a variety of earthy tones.
  If you have high-traffic areas especially, including those frequented by pets and kids, bathrooms, laundry rooms and mud rooms, this resilient line of products promises the same quality offered by the STAINMASTER rugs.
  Want to be green? For years, Forbo linoleum has been used in commercial buildings. The product is making a revival and entering the residential market. The durable linoleum is biodegradable, anti-microbial and can be easily repaired. The popularity prompted the company to open a “Marmoleum store” geared toward residential users.

The floor covering is made of natural materials primarily, including wood flour and linseed oil, and has jute backing. It also has anti-static qualities and a myriad of colors. Ask about it at Abbey Carpet or Paulson Enterprises in Bremerton.
  Manufacturer DuPont has a new line called Zodiak recently made available at Lowe’s stores. Viewers of the “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” shows have likely seen the Zodiak quartz crystal surfaces featured on the show. The line mingles technology with natural looks, and two dozen colors are available. Ask about it at Lowe’s in Bremerton or at the Countertop Company in Gig Harbor.
  CeasarStone offers a line of hand-crafted surfaces with semi-precious stones imported from around the world. The classy surface, called Concetto, can be used as countertop as well as furniture surface. Check Wittington Tile and Stone in Bremerton.
  If you’ve noticed furniture fading, glare, and other problems in your home like excessive heat from hot windows, look into window tinting. A new company called Sun Select in Bremerton offers Llumar window tinting for the home. If you’re thinking a black Honda driving down the road with dark windows, you’re wrong. Many tints are actually clear and hardly noticeable, and installation is clean. Building window tinting is not new, but the concept is catching on in the residential market.
Cleaning tinted windows doesn’t require anything different — 30 days after installation use regular window cleaner, non-abrasive, ammonia-free. No other maintenance is required for the scratch-resistant surfaces, and Sun Select offers lifetime warranty.