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Show Page 1 2 THE DAILY JEALD. Horn Magazine. Friday January 7. 2000 Laminate flooring can take on look of almost anything BRECKENRIDGE Association. Knighl Kidder Newspapers M ., V- computer-generate- tured product that masquerades as hardwood, ceramic tile, marble, slate and 0ther flooring materials. Some laminate floors are such good fakes that not everyone notices the difference, at least right away. Invented in Sweden, laminates were introduced in the United States in 1993 by Perstorp Flooring, which makes Pergo. Although laminates represent a small portion of the 3 percent, industry sales are by one estimate growing by about 35 to 38 percent a year, says E.C. "Bill" floor-coverin- g '; " : I . BRECKENRIDGE Knight Ridder Newspapers Most likely, you've never seen a duck shiver. Nature gave waterfowl a way to repel the elements in their feathers and down. They keep humans comfortable and toasty, too, making them a top choice for bedding. "Man hns net been able to match nature," says David Pipkorn, vice president of manufacturing for the Company Store in La Crosse, Wis,, a catalog retailer and down bedding manufacturer. Feathers or down, or a combination of the two, are found in the bedroom in comforters, pillows, feather beds and sometimes blankets, which are t versions of Quality, however, can vary greatly among these products, so it's good to know some lighter-weigh- com-Jwter- s. basics before you buy. Here, then, is some information to' help you make your choice. In general Both down and feathers come f ' ''V ..V ' -- .'" . I ' t , d 1 -. wood-base- ''.' . transparent plastic laminate that's 10 times thicker than the ' coating on laminate counter tops, says C.R. Morris, a salesperson at First Flooring & Tile Inc. in Akron, Ohio. That hefty laminate helps the flooring stand up to wear. The flooring typically is warranted for 15 years against wearing out, fading from sunlight and staining, and Dearing likes point but that even acetone nail polish remover won't harm it. Although it's possible to scratch or dent ' ' from the plumage of ducks or geese. Feathers are the objects with quills that provide the bird with waterproofing and are used for flight, and down is the fluffy, clusters that come from the breast, beneath the feathers. Down is soft and lightweight and supplies warmth, while feathers act like springs to provide support in items like pillows and feather beds. Goose down is longer and stronger than duck down, which means it has better loft that is, the ability to spring back into shape, an attribute that's important to keeping you warm. Goose down doesn't automatically make for a superior product, however, Pipkorn says. Factors like construction and cover materials are important, too, Although white goose down is typically preferred over gray, color really doesn't matter unless your comforter or other item is Nancy says Hamilton, product manager for Coming Home, the home products division of catalog retailer Lands' End in Dodgeville, Wis. Down from European geese, however, is generally superior to three-dimension- light-colore- " '' ..' ' n ' v ;.' .. ,. if. fm , ,',1 A" . nt i A""..; Knijjhi Kidder Newi Srvl PHIL MAKUHZO It floats; Thompson Flooring owner Tom Thompson of Kent, Ohio,. Installs laminate flooring. Unattached to the surface beneath It, laminate flooring is called a "floating" floor and can carry a r warranty. 20-yea- laminate flooring, that's difficult to do, Morris says. "If you have an active family, I would definitely recommend it," says Tom Thompson, whose company, Thompson Flooring and Renovation in Tallmadge, Ohio, installs laminate and other types of flooring. Versatile application Laminate can go where hardwood can't notably, the bathroom. Although some brands aren't recommended for use there, otheru can be used successfully if they're installed properly, Morris aayu. Dearing says the laminate flooring in his family room even survived a flx)d from Sec FLOOR, 14 r" Down bedding great, but quality varies By MARY BETH mini ,tw.))wpiW'M"1 ;, Laminate flooring essentially consists of a photograph of flooring material wood, stone, tile or whatever on top of a core material that's product, usually a such as particlelxard. A backing gives it stability and helps prevent problems like warping. The photo layer is covered by-- a Fellow Americans, be warned: Flooring manufacturers are trying to fool you. They're doing a darned good job of it, too. Their means: of deception is laminate flooring, a manufac- i f,' Dearing, president of the North American Laminate Flooring By MARY BETH I 1 down from geese raised in Asia, says Farley Nachemin, vice president and general manager of Turiya, a home furnishings catalog company in New Oxford Pa. That's because European down is a byproduct of geese raised for food, which are allowed to become older and bigger than geese raised only for their plumage. Down from older geese is more developed and better able to warmth, supply Nachemin explains. Make sure to choose down he that has been says, particularly if you have allergies. All feather and down bedding is prone to leakage, which means little feathers or down plumes will work their way out periodically. The more tightly woven the fabric, the better its ability to keep the feathers and down inside, says Merrie Berkebile, for operations manager HomePlace in Montrose, Ohio. The higher the thread count on your cover, the better it is," : I f 7 Security :'f 360-605- 5 Home Mortgage or 754-61- I 434-061- J 1 See DOWN, 14 6 TMf OUTII $103,900 $ 1 07,500 (134,900 $ 1 39,900 5139,500 fl 39,900 $153,000 3 btd, 3 bath, Provo, Top Unit Sunriie village, immat ulate 3 btd, 2 both, Elevator, jauizl, tauna. Perfect for rttirM 4 bod, 3 bath, Provo, Tewnhome, hardwood floors, vaulted ceiling 3 bed, 3.5 bath, Provo, 1600 5q. Ft. Dream Townhouse 3 bed, 3 bath, Prove, BYU Santa Barbara Condo, new furniture 3 bed, 3 bath, Provo, BYU approved glrii, Mtnwood - I DEAN INGRAM ujjjjjjisiii (zrrmi Uisjjx KAYLVN WAKE 360-605- 5 r .r ; ' y,'.7 t Great 4 M, bath homi Utoniti Is Convifiun! iniin lloor living, fully aeapatf. Vary qultl naighborhooo, (14B.9U01 Maimll Daaa PR0V0- - lllll fv . lira I ii.,, t bad, kamt. Calm ..A ..Hi '.i 1 ll Rmblf balk. 1060 wunlln aak tablnata: Grail rm W llraplaca. Secluded; Anml Rli; Many Xtrae 0 Maneell 1210,000. Dean EURIDGE- - H.tH llM bm V ' , f l.i ,' f PR0V0- komil yam wrnn w4 1bl)0 id, Supur clean la elemanlary uhool. Oulal atrial. Onhf 1164,900, er Mmtill m-W- t - afe. 658-907- 5 -- nay ""V , : 360-562- LOOKING FOR A CRM C0U001 CHECK 3 bed, 1.3 ba, 3F end unit bocki to park, playground well-cleane- Berkebile says. Look for a thread count of more than 200, Hamilton recom- - w I y ' 1 I Vcm - ' i' i 1 1 p:;:.:. atwtw kama t !i Mm, katk. large Ianea4 fcckyarl. aantral air, la aulal Oil ttO tllbt 1121,1001 aalgli6orhoa4. Mawall fROVO-traa- t I |