When I purchased my home from a builder 9 years ago, all of the rooms (except for the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room, front entry and hall) came with the standard saxony broadloom with a low face weight meaning not very thick.
I upgraded the family room carpet to a berber with the builder but I kept the standard carpet in the other rooms until I could replace with a higher quality berber carpet or hardwood over time. (I have hardwood now in most of the rooms.)
I was on the hunt for an inexpensive but good quality (and soft) berber to replace the upgraded berber in the family room and the standard carpet in two of the bedrooms (one used as a den and the other used as my daughter’s hang-out room. I’ve been told playroom is too juvenile!)
Although I do love hardwood, the two bedrooms are over the garage and are prone to being cold in the winter. Carpet is insulating and cozy and absorbs sounds, meaning when my daughter is practicing her hip-hop routines, I don’t hear her downstairs!
When I spied this berber at the Home Depot, I knew it would be perfect for the three rooms. Berber carpeting is crafted from continuous fiber loops which means that it is extremely durable and doesn’t show footprints or vacuum tracks.
It’s a Martha Stewart 100% nylon berber (the next best thing to wool) and I chose a light colour called Sisal with no pattern. It really does mimic a natural fibre. I used the best underpad the Home Depot sells and I have to tell you, it is so soft and comfy underfoot. Just perfect for when my daughter has sleepover’s. They all can pile in with their sleeping bags in the family room or “hang-out” room.
When choosing carpet, the warranties are important to know. I love that this carpet has a lifetime stain and soil warranty and a 20 year texture and abrasive wear warranty. That is incredible! The berber that I upgraded to with the builder wore out very quickly and even though I cleaned it, the stains never came out. It was inferior quality even though I paid a lot for it.
The above photo is my daughter’s craft/hang-out room, professionally photographed with the builder carpet.
This is how it looks now with the Martha Stewart berber – much better, right? (not professionally photographed – did I mention I’m investing in a quality camera this year?)
And here is the other bedroom/den with the new carpet (photo by me.) The neutral colour works well with everything and doesn’t compete with the wallpaper or fabrics. Did I mention that it is really soft? 🙂
Thank you Home Depot for the carpet. The rooms feel more modern and clean with the berber. It’s hard to explain but the saxony carpet gave it a real dated and cluttered feel.
Take a look at the Home Depot, if you are considering carpet. You can see all of their carpet selections here.
Happy weekend everyone! I have a busy one – out with my university friends tonight, celebrating my sister’s birthday tomorrow and out with our adoption group on Sunday. Fun, fun!
Tiffany Leigh Interior Design
January 18, 2013I actually recently got a part time job in the flooring and decor departments of Home Depot, while I support myself through school. I love the Martha Stewart carpets and they are the ones I usually recommend. During training, I watched a video where martha pours red wine all over the carpet and it doesn’t sink in, just sits on the surface. Incredible! It looks great in your space.
Vanessa@decor happy
January 18, 2013Congrats on your new job! I’m sure it will be a great learning experience. I’ll have to find that video online but I believe that it’s true. We already had one spill and you can’t even tell. Thanks for sharing Tiffany!
Mary Ann at classic•casual•home
January 18, 2013Looks so lovely and fresh. I’ll have to re-look at Home Depot’s carpets.
Vanessa@decor happy
January 18, 2013That’s the word I was looking for Mary Ann – fresh! And yes, take a look. I have recommended to a few clients and one purchased a similar one for her house.
Karen Albert
January 19, 2013Beautiful choice Vanessa!! Love it!
xoxo
Karena
2012 Artist Series
kasey@girlinthegrayhouse
January 19, 2013oh, i might have to look into this! our carpet is horrible and this might just do the trick. it looks great in your rooms!
Rochelle
January 19, 2013Wow. I’ve been looking for new carpet in our basement. The salesman was trying to convice me of going berber, but I couldn’t be convinced. Well, I think you’ve changed my mind. Thanks for the post. I’ll be checking out Marthas line. Even though it is a subtle change colour wise, it sure looks so much more updated and current. Good job!
Lisa
January 19, 2013So much better Vanessa. This past Fall I replaced the area rug at our cottage with a MSL carpet from Home Depot as well. I had it cut and bound to the size I wanted and picked one that looked like natural sisal. Such a great alternative when you need a custom size for not a custom price 🙂 I love it and it is much softer and more durable and cleanable than real sisal.
Vanessa@decor happy
January 20, 2013Good point Lisa! Forgot to mention that the Home Depot also bounds their carpets into area rugs.
Julie Taylor and Danni Greenwalt
January 20, 2013I will have to check it out…thanks!
StagerLinda
January 20, 2013What a great improvement in those rooms! Berber wears like caste iron! MLS was a great choice.
Kelly @ JAX does design
January 23, 2013Your new berber carpeting looks great, and so do the two rooms you installed it in! Love your daughter’s hang out room – wish I’d had a room like that when I was a kid 🙂 The wallpapers are beautiful.
Megan
February 18, 2015HI! I am in the process of searching for carpet for the house we are buying and was curious if you knew the style name of the carpet you got from Home Depot? Thanks!