Annie Schlecter
Upholstery
Pleather
What it is: Components of plastic PVC (yes, the
kind used in pipes) stretched very thin and coated onto a woven
backing.
What it costs: About $35 to $100 a yard.
Pros: Tough and stain-resistant, plastic leather
is shedding its tacky rep, and new versions have more aesthetic
appeal.
Cons: Vinyl and other synthetics feel hot in
summer, and most don't age gracefully. When pleather finally
shows wear (which, in high-end versions, could take decades), it
cracks.
Leather
What it is: Animal skins and hides tanned in a
chemical stew, stretched, and stained.
What it costs: About $250 to $500 a hide.
Pros: It develops an alluring luster as it ages.
Since it's a natural product, it breathes and feels cooler than
vinyl.
Cons: It scratches and stains easily and is hard
to clean. You can find products that claim to remove spots, but
often only a pro can give you good results.
Learn How to Organize Home Décor Samples at Real Simple.
Curtain Fabric
Polyester
What it is: A petroleum product spun into
yarn.
What it costs: About $20 to $50 a yard.
Pros: The name may be synonymous with leisure
suits from the 70s, but new polyester fabrics can be satiny and
luxurious. The material is slow to fade and typically doesn't
need ironing.
Cons: It stains more easily than natural fibers
and may require pretreatment with a stain remover or dry cleaning.
Polyester often hangs more stiffly than natural fabrics.
Cotton
What it is: A natural fiber derived from a
seedpod.
What it costs: About $30 to $60 a yard.
Pros: It has a natural, soft look that drapes
well. "And it's been around since the beginning of
time," says Steffany Hollingsworth, an interior designer in
Santa Fe, so it works in any setting, from traditional to modern.
Generally, it can go right into the washing machine.
Cons: It fades and wears out faster than many
synthetics.
Floorboards
Laminate
What it is: Planks made of resin, ground wood,
and paper, then printed with a wood grain or some other natural
design.
What it costs: About $1 to $6 a square foot.
Pros: Snap the planks into place and you're
done. The latest laminates look more like wood than ever before and
resist scratching. Dog claws? Stiletto heels? No problem.
Cons: It can't be refinished with, say, a
different stain. Aesthetically, it lacks the wow value of genuine
wood.
Wood
What it is: Planks or strips cut from
trees.
What it costs: About $4 to $20 a square foot.
Pros: It gives a bit, making it pleasant
underfoot. It is beautiful and warms up a room, and over time it
can be resanded to restore the original sheen.
Cons: It should be professionally installed and
topped with polyurethane (or stained and regularly waxed) to
prevent damage from household attackers, like grit and grime.
Annie Schlecter
Nylon
What it is: A petroleum product liquefied and
forced through small holes to form strands that are twisted
together.
What it costs: About $20 to $75 a square yard.
Pros: "You can set a heavy desk on nylon for
five years," says Odette Lueck, an interior designer in
Oakland, Maryland, "and the carpet will pop right back up when
you move it."
Cons: Nylon carpet can look and feel stiff; when
you walk on it barefoot, you won't think "freshly mowed
lawn."
Wool
What it is: Sheep's fur spun into yarn and
woven or pulled through a backing to make tufts.
What it costs: About $30 to $130 a square
yard.
Pros: Because it's a natural fiber, it absorbs
dye readily, so "you get richer colors" than with nylon,
says Wes Connelly, a wool-industry expert in Atlanta. Wool is also
softer than most synthetic yarns and doesn't show wear as
readily as nylon does.
Cons: Professional cleaning is usually
required.
Countertops
Corian
What it is: A blend of acrylic polymers,
minerals, and pigments bonded together to look like stone.
What it costs: $45 to $75 a square foot.
Pros: It comes in many colors and patterns and
stands up to all kinds of abuse. It is sturdy, doesn't stain,
and lasts a lifetime. Scratches and burns can be buffed out.
Cons: It has to be installed by a certified
expert. It looks a bit artificial, and don't expect it to gain
character over time.
Marble
What it is: Dense crystallized limestone.
What it costs: $65 to $95 a square foot.
Pros: It's gorgeous. It comes in a number of
colors, and no two slabs are alike. Its naturally cool surface is
great for rolling out pastry dough. Over time it develops a
pleasing patina.
Cons: It's delicate; the edges can chip. The
surface is porous, so wipe that red-wine ring away quickly. A
sealant must be applied periodically to prevent staining and
dullness.
From Real Simple: Tips for Choosing a Paint Color
Flooring
Vinyl
What it is: A plastic composite stamped with a
pattern to resemble stone, wood, clay, or some other natural
material.
What it costs: 50 cents to $6 a square foot for
tile or sheet flooring.
Pros: Today's vinyl tile is of a high quality;
it resists scratching, gouging, and dents, yet it's softer than
ceramic tile. Drop a glass and it may very well survive the
fall.
Cons: No one will mistake it for a natural
material.
Ceramic
What it is: Clay pressed into squares,
sometimes glazed, and fired at high temperatures.
What it costs: About $3 to $10 a square foot.
Pros: "It's more durable than vinyl,
hands down," says Michael Nagel, chair of the National
Association of Home Builders Remodelers. Easy to clean, it comes in
many colors and styles.
Cons: Installation often requires a pro. It's
cold and hard on the feet. Drop that glass and it will smash.
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