Saturday, December 23, 2017

Have you heard of these fun and unusual New Year’s Eve customs?




Noisemakers, fireworks, popping champagne, watching New York City’s ball drop … New Year’s Eve gets celebrated with many customs.


Here are some from around the world that you might not have heard about:

• In Stonehaven, Scotland, the new year gets welcomed with a parade of people whirling balls of fire on long wires. The fireballs, which are lit just after the stroke of midnight, are created with wood and fabric soaked in paraffin and wrapped in wire mesh.

• People smash old plates against their neighbors’ doors in Denmark. The bigger the pile of broken glass outside a door, the luckier those people are because it means they have a lot of loyal friends who saved their plates for them.



• To drive away any hardships from the past year and make way for the coming year, people in Ecuador burn scarecrows and old photos that represent the past year.

• Romanians celebrate the new year with lively mask-dances, where participants dress up as goats, bears, gypsies, brides, and other characters.

• The world’s biggest water fight happens in Thailand on New Year’s Eve. When this custom began, throwing water was a form of respect toward family members and elders. Plus, it’s a symbol of cleansing and purification. Today there are huge Water Festivals in streets across the country.

• In Spain, people eat twelve grapes at midnight, one for each stroke of the clock, to bring luck in the coming year. It’s believed that if one skips eating those grapes, they are poisoning their fate for the new year.

Along with the customs above, there is ice cream dropping, coin tossing, pancakes and more in this video of the 25 Strangest New Year’s Traditions from Around the World.

No matter how you and your loved ones choose to spend your New Year’s Eve, we hope you have a great night and a prosperous 2018.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell
Email: sales@capellinteriors.com
Phone (208) 288-0151
Fax (208) 917-6160

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

One thing you may hate to admit is true



Can you believe how fast this year has passed? 2018 is just a week away!


For more than a month, many of us have been reflecting on the past year, even if that’s only in thought. There may even be an ‘I wish I had…” or two. We’re also starting to think about the ways we’d like the new year to be new-and-improved!

As New Year’s Eve approaches, so do thoughts and conversations about our 2018 resolutions. Have you ever wondered, ‘What are the top new year resolutions?’


First, about resolutions. They are a decision to do something different. However, when it comes to accomplishing them, they often fall to the wayside by mid-February.  

The most popular resolutions fall into the categories of health, organization, personal experiences, personal development, hobbies, and money. The most commonly broken resolutions are weight loss, getting fit, drinking less, healthier eating, getting out of debt, learning something new, reducing stress, traveling, volunteering, or quitting smoking.

Looking at that list, the one thing many people may hate to say is true is, “Yes, I can be taking better care of myself.” After all, the top resolutions are about health – weight, fitness, food, smoking, drinking and stress. Many people work hard putting their family, friends and jobs ahead of themselves, along with compacting time down to ‘I never have enough.’

The reasons behind those resolutions will remain the same, but maybe the top resolution should be to ‘make time each day to take care of me.’ Here are 13 ways to get started taking care of you.

From all of us, we wish you and your family Happy Holidays.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell
Email: sales@capellinteriors.com
Phone (208) 288-0151
Fax (208) 917-6160

Thursday, December 14, 2017

When It Comes to Cost Nobody Like Surprises…

It seems more and more often there are companies that offer something that sounds wonderful and almost too good to be true.  Free this, free that, then you read the fine print, or ask some questions and you end up just getting disappointed.  It makes me very concerned when I see a big billboard advertising something and then the print is so small there is just no humanly way to read what it says from a car that negates everything they just said.  It is the classic bait and switch, which I don’t think anybody really likes.

We don't want any surprises for you at Capell Flooring and Interiors!

In the flooring world a lot of the “big box stores” offer things like FREE pad, $39 labor, and other things that aren’t real.  They end up charging for things that shouldn’t be billed for, and by the end of the day you end paying more for the FREE carpet and labor. 

At my store, Capell Flooring and Interiors, we like to be upfront with you, and have no surprises.  After we do our patented Design Audit with you at our showroom in Meridian, Idaho, we do what we call Price Guaranteed Quotes.  

The bottom line is we don’t like surprises and neither do you.  We are upfront with you, so you will only be surprised in a positive way.  Come see us where we mix flooring, and business in a fun professional way for you, our customers.

Your Flooring Friend,

Matt Capell

P.S.  All “Flooring Stores” are not the same, but don’t just take our word for it click here to read some testimonials from some of our Wonderful Customers!


About Matt Capell – he is the primary owner of Capell Flooring and Interiors in the Boise, Idaho, and the surrounding area. He loves family, flooring, business, and meeting people. His company educates about flooring and the Treasure Valley and his company makes the floor covering process a fun and great experience each and every time.  You can download his FREE Consumer's Guide To Flooring by clicking here.  Feel free to connect with me! Let’s get social!

Saturday, December 9, 2017

10 tips to keep your holiday season fun and safe



Between now and the end of the year you may find yourself hosting or traveling to one of many seasonal events and gatherings, and that can make it a busy and stressful time of year. 

Here are a few tips to help keep the season happy and safe:

1. When traveling in the car, be sure the gas tank is full, tires get properly inflated, and any required vehicle service is complete before heading out. Plus have an emergency kit and blankets with you, including a full charge on your cell phone.

2. When cooking at home, keep your eye on what’s cooking. Stay in the kitchen while the stovetop is in use, and don’t leave home while the oven is on.

3. If using a turkey fryer, be certain to follow manufacturer directions, and keep it a safe distance from people and flammable structures.

4. Keep non-chefs and little ones at least three feet away from the stove and hot liquids to avoid burns.



5. Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and ensure guests know the fire escape plan.

6. Never leave a lit candle unattended, and keep them safely out of the reach of kids and pets.

7. Keep holiday decorations, especially tinsel, away from pets. They can eat the oddest things.

8. Be sure not to use outdoor lights indoors, and discard old light strings that are frayed, cracked, or have loose connections.

9. Always turn off holiday lights when leaving the house or going to bed.

10. Never connect more than one extension cord. Get one cord that can comfortably go the distance, and never run electrical cords under carpets, area rugs, or other high-foot-traffic areas.

Please have a fun and safe holiday season.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell
Email: sales@capellinteriors.com
Phone (208) 288-0151
Fax (208) 917-6160

Saturday, December 2, 2017

It’s time for Elf on the Shelf, but when did it start?




Elf on the Shelf has become a Christmas tradition in many homes.


Though the appearance of the elf resembles a vintage 1950s-style toy, the Elf on the Shelf tradition actually began in 2005 with a book inspired by a family tradition. It was from Carol Aebersold’s childhood with a vintage 50’s-era elf named Fisbee. Read more about that start-up story.

These special Scout Elves, as the tradition goes, are adopted by families and loved by children.
Each day they hide in a new spot within their family’s home, waiting for the children to find them. As they wait, they watch and note what the family is up to, then each night they return to the North Pole and report their observations to Santa about whether everyone was naughty or nice. Elves especially like to tell Santa about the kind and helpful things families do every single day.




Why do they return to the North Pole nightly? Scout elves like to be accurate, and they go back each night so that they don’t forget any details. It also means their records are as detailed as possible.

Scout elves do not stay in homes year-round. They arrive during the holidays, typically at the beginning of December or the beginning of a family’s holiday celebrations. In fact, some have already been working in homes since the middle of November!

Their final trip back to the North Pole is Christmas Eve, and between then and next December, they will help get ready for next Christmas.

You can learn more about Elf on the Shelf on the official website, which has sections for both kids and adults.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell
Email: sales@capellinteriors.com
Phone (208) 288-0151
Fax (208) 917-6160

Friday, December 1, 2017

Squeak, Squeak, and I’m not talking about Mice & Cheese…..

Squeak, Squeak, and I’m not talking about Mice & Cheese…..

A little over 13 years ago, my family and I moved into a house in Meridian.  We were one of the first houses in the subdivision, and the sub was previously a farm.  We noticed a slight problem as soon as we moved in - we had mice, because the field mice didn’t know where to go.  My wife and I solved this problem by getting our daughter a cat, and you can imagine the rest is history……

That being said, at my store, Capell Flooring and Interiors, we do a lot of hardwood and laminate woods, and sometimes the unexpected annoyance happens.   Here is “what isn’t cheese” about wood flooring: Sometimes wood flooring products will occasionally “squeak.”  I promise an occasional squeak doesn’t mean the hardwood is defective.  Wood has moisture in it and the percentage of moisture will change throughout the year.  I’ve noticed this is the case in my own house, which was built in 2006, and has Rustic Hickory flooring.  We especially notice that by the heat vent registers at different times of the year in the morning when you first step on the hardwood flooring it will have some squeaks and creaks.  This is because wood will constantly expand and contract throughout the year.


The bottom line is if your wood and laminate wood squeaks from time to time, please don’t automatically think it is defective.  It probably isn’t and it is just part of wood.  Just like when a house settles, sometimes grout, caulking or even a tile can creak, hardwood floors will sometimes squeak due to temperatures changes in a house.  Other areas can squeak too, like your sub-floor, or even the walls in a room where a floor joist is loose.  If you ever have a concern, please let us know and we will come look at it for you. 

As you read before an occasional squeak in the floor is definitely a lot better than a squeak of a mouse running through your house right after it was built, right?
            
Your flooring friend,

Matt Capell



P.S.  Have you ever had a funny mouse story?  If so, email me about it so we can have a good laugh together.  Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (208) 288-0151 or email us sales@capellinteriors.com



Saturday, November 25, 2017

Speed reading: Your Key to Knowledge!





With knowledge, we can do anything we choose, and there is a lot we can read! A quick Google search offers tons of information about any topic we can imagine. Amazon reviews help decide what books will be good to read, and libraries can often save the expense of buying them all.  


Here are a few tips to speed up reading through all that content:

Eliminate distractions - Remove or turn off anything that can distract you, that could occupy your mind or take your thoughts away from the book in hand. Your total focus is key.


Warm up - Get familiar with the book before starting to read. Look over the dust covers, table of contents, in-book reviews, the author page, and the introduction. Flip through the pages of the book and read summaries, chapter keys, pull-outs, quotes, diagrams, appendices and index.

Stop the voices! - That means no subvocalizing, or reading to yourself in your head. Focus on what you see, rather than what you hear. Something that might help not vocalizing the words is chewing gum, humming, or holding a finger to your lips while reading.

Set your pace - Remember moving your finger along the row of words when you first learned to read? By doing this now, you can push yourself forward in the book. That finger also prevents you going backward in the text. Putting an index card over the text you've already read also stops back-skipping.

Set your goal - Decide how quickly you want to finish a book. How many pages do you aim to read in a half-hour or an hour? Set a timer and get it done. Push yourself to read faster to reach your goal, then reward yourself with a break, lunch, etc. when you achieve it.

Check here for more on speed reading techniques.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell
Email: sales@capellinteriors.com
Phone (208) 288-0151
Fax (208) 917-6160

Friday, November 24, 2017

Why Shopping Online For Flooring Just Doesn’t Work….

Why Shopping Online For Flooring Just Doesn’t Work….

Matt Capell here blogging again.  Today we continue with the topic of Costly Misconceptions About Flooring

By knowing about these, you can help insure that you'll invest in the best flooring for your taste and lifestyle.  Also, you'll get years of enjoyment from floors you love, rather than have to live with a decision you'll regret.

 

Misconception -- The best way to buy flooring is to shop online

Not so.  One of the worst places to go for floor covering is to the internet.  There are several things that make the internet an extremely undesirable place to look for a flooring. 
1.  You have no idea if the person on the other end of the line is ethical. 

We have many clients who, before coming to us, used an online dealer and were promised certain prices and products, only to have something different installed or have the price change. Not to mention endless delays. 
2.  You have no idea if the “sales person” is experienced. 

On the Internet, you’ll be working with an eighteen-year-old telemarketer in most cases. Floor covering transactions are very complicated, and online dealers are notorious for causing delays and making mistakes. 
3.  They do not care about developing a long-term relationship with you. 

They will treat your purchase as a one-shot deal, with no consideration given to providing good service so they can earn your referrals and repeat business. 

At Capell Flooring, most of our business comes from repeat and referral clients. We depend upon repeat and referral business for our livelihood, so we have a vested interest in making sure that you are head-over-heels thrilled with the service you receive
.
5.  Warranty claims are a nightmare. 
We all hope that making a warranty claim won’t be necessary.  But when it becomes necessary, you really need the warranty to be honored. 

Getting most online dealers to honor their warranty is a time-consuming, frustrating ordeal.  You will most likely wind up playing the “Delay Game.”

6.  They have no relationships with installers. 
Because online dealers sell to anybody living anywhere, it’s impossible for them to keep control of the installation.  They might say they have “trained installers in your area,” but these are nothing more than sub-contractors. 
These sub-contractors work for many different dealers, so they have no real loyalty to the online dealers.  And since the online companies lure consumers in with “cheap price” offers, they cut corners by underpaying their installers.  This causes the installers to “rush” through the job, and makes them very reluctant to return to correct mistakes.  They simply can’t afford it.

7.  Also, the Internet is not regulated.
These days anybody can put together a website quickly and easily using the software that’s available. Sometimes these “businesses” are nothing more than installers working out of their garages to create a “company” via a website. Many of these are fly-by-night, here-today-and-gone-tomorrow dealers. 

This platform is geared toward perking interest. These are people who don’t have existing relationships, and who don’t work via referral. Unfortunately, they try to commoditize the industry.
Choosing floor covering is the largest decorating decision you will make in your life, and it needs to be taken very seriously. It’s not like shopping for the best price on a table lamp.

You need to consider that the lack of regulation on the Internet allows them to offer anything they want to you, the consumer, just to get their phone to ring.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule a free Design Audit, please call us at 208-288-0151.

Thanks for reading,

Matt "Shop Local" Capell

Get A Copy of My Consumer's Guide to Flooring Book

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving Our Hours - This Weekend

Happy Thanksgiving here are our hours over the weekend - Please reach out to us on Monday or feel free to email us at sales@capellinteriors.com




Monday, November 20, 2017

Trust Your Instincts, You Are Most Often Your Best Interior Designer – Capell Flooring Blog

Trust Your Instincts, You Are Most Often Your Best Interior

Designer – Capell Flooring Blog

Sometimes when picking out flooring for your home, it can be a little stressful.  I see all the time people worrying that what they are picking out might just not work.  Everyone at Capell Flooring and Interiors have been trained in interior design and can help you…….I just wanted to take a minute and let you know that you really should trust your instincts and that more often than not you are your best designer.

I’ve gone through thousands of homes, and everybody has their own unique style and I have found that they all look good.  The most important thing to consider too, is if you choose to get an interior designer, please make sure you still get what you ultimately like.  I have seen this all too often where a designer that is assertive will talk somebody into getting something they don’t really like.  Trust yourself. Picking out flooring should be a fun and a relaxing experience.  Come see us at CapellFlooring, we will help guide you with your selections and bring out the interior designer within you.

Thanks for reading,


Matt "Get Your Design On" Capell

Saturday, November 18, 2017

Do you yawn? You know you want to!


We've all been there. Across the room, someone's nose wrinkles up. Their eyes squeeze tight, and their mouth stretches wide open, compressing their cheeks – often with an audible "Aaaahhh!"


It's that blasted yawn! The one that many of us don't want to repeat. Some will go so far as pursing their lips and stretching their face muscles downward in an effort not to yawn – usually to no avail. The yawn eventually erupts from their face.


Did you know that suppressing a yawn can actually make you more likely to yawn? There have been studies on yawning, and when we see a yawn in photos or in person, almost three-quarters of us will also yawn. Some people only need to read about yawning (without a picture), and they will yawn.

Yawning is more about personality than sleepiness. According to a Time Health article, yawning is a sign of empathy, that you’re relating to someone else's emotions. It's suggested that contagious yawning is an act of bonding. Plus, some studies indicate that the younger a person is, the more likely they are to yawn after seeing another person do it.

Contagious yawning is mysterious. A recent study connects 'catching' yawns to how excitable our motor cortex is. That's the part of the cerebral cortex in our brain where nerve impulses start and engage voluntary muscular activity. During the test, participants were asked to resist yawning when they saw it and, overall, that group had stronger urges to yawn over those who could yawn as much as they wanted.

How much does seeing others yawn make you stifle or outright yawn?

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell
Email: sales@capellinteriors.com
Phone (208) 288-0151
Fax (208) 917-6160

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

FREE Carpet Spotter - Say What?

Capell Flooring and Interiors - FREE Carpet Spotter



Say what?  Free Carpet cleaner refills for life - hey tell me more!  Right now when you purchase carpet from Capell Flooring and Interiors in Meridian, Idaho - you will receive a FREE lifetime of refills on our "Spot Out," carpet cleaner!  This offer is limited to the Boise, Idaho area :)




Saturday, November 11, 2017

The paint color you choose – and what it means to you




Walking into a paint store to choose colors can be daunting. Along with brands and sheens, there are a lot of paint chip options! Never let that rack of colored squares be the end of your decision-making process. That's only part of the final choice.


Color has a deep mood connection, so start by deciding what mood you want for the room.

• Blue = honesty, authority, productivity
• Green = growth, relaxing
• Yellow = cheery, positive energy
• Red = passion, sometimes associated with anger or romance
• Light purple = calming, relaxing
• Dark purple = bold, pride, wealth, nobility
• Orange = youthful & energetic

When choosing your colors, use a color wheel to determine pairings. Often hues that are opposite one another on the wheel will complement each other nicely in a room.

Consider your furniture, fabric, and artwork, because each will impact the paint tone. Also, keep in mind the trim and its color.


Look at the windows and how much natural light comes into the room at different times of the day, along with other lighting choices. Fluorescent, incandescent, lamps, pocket lights, ceiling fixtures ... all of these will impact how the paint color reflects from each surface.

Make a note of where the shadows and darker areas are in your space. The paint will look different in those areas than in better-lit areas.

When choosing the actual brand or style of paint, know that the dried paint sheen – matte or enamel gloss level – will also impact the color appearance.

Finally, decide on the room’s focal point. For example, you may choose to include an accent wall, where you paint one wall a vibrant color while leaving all other walls a different, less dominant hue.

Once you have considered all those elements, test the color. Many dealers have paint samples that you can take home and apply to walls. Take home a few color options and check them in multiple spots in the room: a well-lit area and a darker area, alongside trim and windows, near an opening to another room. Make sure the paint tones in different rooms go well together too.

Paint those sample patches large enough to get a good look at the color. Then go into that room and look at them at different times of the day: morning, afternoon, evening, after dark. That is how you will get the best impression of what the color will look in the completed room.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell
Email: sales@capellinteriors.com
Phone (208) 288-0151
Fax (208) 917-6160

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

How can laminate samples help you in the wintertime in the Treasure Valley…..

How can laminate samples help you in the wintertime in the Treasure Valley…..

Let’s admit it.  You borrowed a bunch of Formica, Wilson Art, and Nevamar samples from our showroom and you didn’t return them, but don’t know what to do with them.  You may even feel bad….but no worries!  It is okay, and I’m just teasing, so please relax.  I wanted to point out a fun use for them, and please don’t worry about returning them to our store, Capell Flooring.

These samples work as an excellent windshield scraper in the winter time here in the Boise Area.  They are lightweight, don’t take up a lot of space in a car, and work really well.  Now, I know some of you are thinking, “I wish I wouldn’t have returned those to the store, and that sounds like a great idea.”  Please by all means stop by our store, and pick some up.  I will let you keep them.

In all seriousness, they do work great, and I have even made a quick video demonstrating their effectiveness.  Please see below.  Drive safe this winter, and feel free to stop by and see us, so we can help you or your friend with your next flooring project.

Thanks for reading,

Matt Capell

P. S. Enjoy the video and stay warm this winter!!! 



Saturday, November 4, 2017

Get A Copy of My Consumer's Guide to Flooring!!!

Get A Copy of My Consumer's Guide to Flooring!!!

Shopping for New Floors?



Please take moment and get my FREE book, “The Consumer’s Guide to Floor Covering.” Go to www.consumersguidetoflooring.com to download your FREE Copy or stop by our store to pick
up a copy today!  It really is a must read before shopping for floors, and the very least will make a better-informed shopper in the Boise, Idaho area.

Get A Copy of My Consumer's Guide to Flooring!!

Have you ever dreamed of writing a book?






Have you ever wanted to write a book? November is your chance to get the rough draft down by getting involved with NaNoWriMo – one part boot camp and one part rollicking party.


NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. It’s a 19-year-old non-profit organization designed to encourage creativity, education, and the power of imagination.



Hundreds of thousands of people participate each year, like the 431,626 people across six continents and all age groups who joined in 2015 with the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Of those, more than 40,000 people achieved their goal.

“Too many people think they’re not a ‘creative type,’ but to be human is to be a ‘creative type’. NaNoWriMo teaches you to believe that your story matters, to trust the gambols of your imagination, and to make the blank page a launching pad to explore new universes. That’s important because when we create, we cultivate meaning. Our stories remind us that we’re alive, and what being alive means,” said Grant Faulkner, Executive Director of NaNoWriMo, in October 2016.

If you have a dream to write a novel, check out NaNoWriMo.org

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell
Email: sales@capellinteriors.com
Phone (208) 288-0151
Fax (208) 917-6160

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Don’t Devalue the Importance of the Labor – Capell Flooring

Don't Devalue the Importance of Labor - Capell Flooring and Interiors - Boise Flooring

It seems like I’m seeing more and more ads saying, “$99 labor, $39 labor, or FREE labor” from big box stores??  The unfortunate part about each and every one of these ads is that it tends to devalue the importance of the labor when installing flooring. It gives the impression that it is kind of an afterthought or not super critical in the process of flooring. Actually, at the end of the day, stores that use this type of advertising usually just pad the cost of labor in the materials. It really isn’t free. The other issue is that the actual labor will make or break your new flooring……

You can purchase the nicest, most expensive tile, hardwood, carpet, etc., and if it isn’t installed properly then your new flooring just will not look good. When buying furniture or electronics they are assembled at a factory, and you just put them into your house directly from the store. Flooring needs to be manufactured and installed in your home. It is crucial to have trained and experienced installers doing this for you.

Labor for flooring is super critical, so when shopping around ask the store what their labor warranty entails. Also, please come see us for a FREE design audit. You will not be disappointed.

Thanks for reading,
Matt Capell – Owner Capell Flooring and Interiors

P.S.  Come see us for a FREE showroom design audit…..we will go through a series of questions to help you get the perfect flooring for your needs.
About Matt Capell – he is the primary owner of Capell Flooring and Interiors in the Boise, Idaho, and the surrounding area. He loves family, flooring, business, and meeting people. His company educates about flooring and the Treasure Valley and his company makes the floor covering process a fun and great experience each and every time.  You can download his FREE Consumer's Guide To Flooring by clicking here.  Feel free to connect with me! Let’s get social!
Email | | LinkedIn | Twitter | Blog | Facebook

Capell Flooring and Interiors - Meridian, Idaho Showroom