Lauren Hunt from Reico Kitchen and Bath in Charlotte, NC, worked with The Atta Group to design a transitional-inspired kitchen and bar using Masterpiece cabinetry. The kitchen features Masterpiece cabinets in the Martel Evercore doorstyle in a Frost finish on the perimeter. The kitchen island and bar area both features the same doorstyle with a combination of two different finishes, Riverbed and Shortbread. The countertops are Calacatta Macchia Vecchia Sapien Stone Porcelain. The client shared their experience, saying, “I love the range hood and the slatted island decor. Riverbed is a beautiful color in both sun and shade. Lauren’s advice to get samples and lay them out in different lighting was invaluable. She went above and beyond, even coming out in the parking lot on a hot summer day to help us. We truly couldn’t have done this without her. Lauren was always patient and supportive as we made decisions, and she never pressured us. Any future projects we have, we’ll 100% reach out to Lauren. She even welcomed our newborn to the showroom!” Lauren shared, “The clients came with a clear aesthetic vision and plenty of inspiration photos, but they gave me the freedom to recommend and create a space that worked for their growing family while still looking great. We added design details like two-toned dining room cabinets, dark accent shelves in glass towers, an arched valance to match the doorways, and a custom hood that pulls from the island finishes. My favorite element is the slatted accent on the island, which the installers executed perfectly. This renovation was a big project, starting with a blank slate, which can be overwhelming with so many options. But it was incredibly rewarding to work with these clients who had such a creative vision. We really worked together to create a space that met their needs while showcasing their style. It was a team effort, and I hope that comes through in the final design.” Photos courtesy of Six Cents Media.

Lauren Hunt from Reico Kitchen and Bath in Charlotte, NC, worked with The Atta Group to design a transitional-inspired kitchen and bar using Masterpiece cabinetry. The kitchen features Masterpiece cabinets in the Martel Evercore doorstyle in a Frost finish on the perimeter. The kitchen island and bar area both features the same doorstyle with a combination of two different finishes, Riverbed and Shortbread. The countertops are Calacatta Macchia Vecchia Sapien Stone Porcelain. The client shared their experience, saying, “I love the range hood and the slatted island decor. Riverbed is a beautiful color in both sun and shade. Lauren’s advice to get samples and lay them out in different lighting was invaluable. She went above and beyond, even coming out in the parking lot on a hot summer day to help us. We truly couldn’t have done this without her. Lauren was always patient and supportive as we made decisions, and she never pressured us. Any future projects we have, we’ll 100% reach out to Lauren. She even welcomed our newborn to the showroom!” Lauren shared, “The clients came with a clear aesthetic vision and plenty of inspiration photos, but they gave me the freedom to recommend and create a space that worked for their growing family while still looking great. We added design details like two-toned dining room cabinets, dark accent shelves in glass towers, an arched valance to match the doorways, and a custom hood that pulls from the island finishes. My favorite element is the slatted accent on the island, which the installers executed perfectly. This renovation was a big project, starting with a blank slate, which can be overwhelming with so many options. But it was incredibly rewarding to work with these clients who had such a creative vision. We really worked together to create a space that met their needs while showcasing their style. It was a team effort, and I hope that comes through in the final design.” Photos courtesy of Six Cents Media.

Lauren Hunt from Reico Kitchen and Bath in Charlotte, NC, worked with The Atta Group to design a transitional-inspired kitchen and bar using Masterpiece cabinetry. The kitchen features Masterpiece cabinets in the Martel Evercore doorstyle in a Frost finish on the perimeter. The kitchen island and bar area both features the same doorstyle with a combination of two different finishes, Riverbed and Shortbread. The countertops are Calacatta Macchia Vecchia Sapien Stone Porcelain. The client shared their experience, saying, “I love the range hood and the slatted island decor. Riverbed is a beautiful color in both sun and shade. Lauren’s advice to get samples and lay them out in different lighting was invaluable. She went above and beyond, even coming out in the parking lot on a hot summer day to help us. We truly couldn’t have done this without her. Lauren was always patient and supportive as we made decisions, and she never pressured us. Any future projects we have, we’ll 100% reach out to Lauren. She even welcomed our newborn to the showroom!” Lauren shared, “The clients came with a clear aesthetic vision and plenty of inspiration photos, but they gave me the freedom to recommend and create a space that worked for their growing family while still looking great. We added design details like two-toned dining room cabinets, dark accent shelves in glass towers, an arched valance to match the doorways, and a custom hood that pulls from the island finishes. My favorite element is the slatted accent on the island, which the installers executed perfectly. This renovation was a big project, starting with a blank slate, which can be overwhelming with so many options. But it was incredibly rewarding to work with these clients who had such a creative vision. We really worked together to create a space that met their needs while showcasing their style. It was a team effort, and I hope that comes through in the final design.” Photos courtesy of Six Cents Media.

Lauren Hunt from Reico Kitchen and Bath in Charlotte, NC, worked with The Atta Group to design a transitional-inspired kitchen and bar using Masterpiece cabinetry. The kitchen features Masterpiece cabinets in the Martel Evercore doorstyle in a Frost finish on the perimeter. The kitchen island and bar area both features the same doorstyle with a combination of two different finishes, Riverbed and Shortbread. The countertops are Calacatta Macchia Vecchia Sapien Stone Porcelain. The client shared their experience, saying, “I love the range hood and the slatted island decor. Riverbed is a beautiful color in both sun and shade. Lauren’s advice to get samples and lay them out in different lighting was invaluable. She went above and beyond, even coming out in the parking lot on a hot summer day to help us. We truly couldn’t have done this without her. Lauren was always patient and supportive as we made decisions, and she never pressured us. Any future projects we have, we’ll 100% reach out to Lauren. She even welcomed our newborn to the showroom!” Lauren shared, “The clients came with a clear aesthetic vision and plenty of inspiration photos, but they gave me the freedom to recommend and create a space that worked for their growing family while still looking great. We added design details like two-toned dining room cabinets, dark accent shelves in glass towers, an arched valance to match the doorways, and a custom hood that pulls from the island finishes. My favorite element is the slatted accent on the island, which the installers executed perfectly. This renovation was a big project, starting with a blank slate, which can be overwhelming with so many options. But it was incredibly rewarding to work with these clients who had such a creative vision. We really worked together to create a space that met their needs while showcasing their style. It was a team effort, and I hope that comes through in the final design.” Photos courtesy of Six Cents Media.

Lauren Hunt from Reico Kitchen and Bath in Charlotte, NC, worked with The Atta Group to design a transitional-inspired kitchen and bar using Masterpiece cabinetry. The kitchen features Masterpiece cabinets in the Martel Evercore doorstyle in a Frost finish on the perimeter. The kitchen island and bar area both features the same doorstyle with a combination of two different finishes, Riverbed and Shortbread. The countertops are Calacatta Macchia Vecchia Sapien Stone Porcelain. The client shared their experience, saying, “I love the range hood and the slatted island decor. Riverbed is a beautiful color in both sun and shade. Lauren’s advice to get samples and lay them out in different lighting was invaluable. She went above and beyond, even coming out in the parking lot on a hot summer day to help us. We truly couldn’t have done this without her. Lauren was always patient and supportive as we made decisions, and she never pressured us. Any future projects we have, we’ll 100% reach out to Lauren. She even welcomed our newborn to the showroom!” Lauren shared, “The clients came with a clear aesthetic vision and plenty of inspiration photos, but they gave me the freedom to recommend and create a space that worked for their growing family while still looking great. We added design details like two-toned dining room cabinets, dark accent shelves in glass towers, an arched valance to match the doorways, and a custom hood that pulls from the island finishes. My favorite element is the slatted accent on the island, which the installers executed perfectly. This renovation was a big project, starting with a blank slate, which can be overwhelming with so many options. But it was incredibly rewarding to work with these clients who had such a creative vision. We really worked together to create a space that met their needs while showcasing their style. It was a team effort, and I hope that comes through in the final design.” Photos courtesy of Six Cents Media.

Lauren Hunt from Reico Kitchen and Bath in Charlotte, NC, worked with The Atta Group to design a transitional-inspired kitchen and bar using Masterpiece cabinetry. The kitchen features Masterpiece cabinets in the Martel Evercore doorstyle in a Frost finish on the perimeter. The kitchen island and bar area both features the same doorstyle with a combination of two different finishes, Riverbed and Shortbread. The countertops are Calacatta Macchia Vecchia Sapien Stone Porcelain. The client shared their experience, saying, “I love the range hood and the slatted island decor. Riverbed is a beautiful color in both sun and shade. Lauren’s advice to get samples and lay them out in different lighting was invaluable. She went above and beyond, even coming out in the parking lot on a hot summer day to help us. We truly couldn’t have done this without her. Lauren was always patient and supportive as we made decisions, and she never pressured us. Any future projects we have, we’ll 100% reach out to Lauren. She even welcomed our newborn to the showroom!” Lauren shared, “The clients came with a clear aesthetic vision and plenty of inspiration photos, but they gave me the freedom to recommend and create a space that worked for their growing family while still looking great. We added design details like two-toned dining room cabinets, dark accent shelves in glass towers, an arched valance to match the doorways, and a custom hood that pulls from the island finishes. My favorite element is the slatted accent on the island, which the installers executed perfectly. This renovation was a big project, starting with a blank slate, which can be overwhelming with so many options. But it was incredibly rewarding to work with these clients who had such a creative vision. We really worked together to create a space that met their needs while showcasing their style. It was a team effort, and I hope that comes through in the final design.” Photos courtesy of Six Cents Media.

I was asked by a Chelford homeowner (near Alderley Edge) to renovate their Ceramic Tiled Shower Cubicle which had an unsightly mould problem. They say pictures speak louder than words, so I’ve added some photos on this page which show how the grout and silicone sealant had become discoloured with mould over the ten years since it was installed. Mould likes damp warm areas and shower cubicles make a perfect habitat for it, grout especially can be a problem due to its cementitious rough surface that mould can get a grip on. In this case the ventilation in the ensuite was inadequate and ideally there should have been an extraction vent over the cubicle itself. My advice in these situations is to leave doors and windows open after showering and to run the cold water afterwards. To renovate the Tile and Grout I sprayed on Tile Doctor Duo-Clean which was left to soak into the grout line for ten minutes before being scrubbed in by hand. The Ceramic tiles cleaned quite easily but the grout had to be scrubbed hard and needed several applications before I was satisfied. The whole shower needed treating in this fashion and once rinsed and dried I set about stripping out all the old silicone sealant that had also been badly affected by mould. This is done carefully using a sharp knife. I removed the debris and moved onto applying a fresh mould resistant silicone sealant. Last step before leaving was to spray the Ceramic tile and especially the Grout and Silicone with a can of Tile Doctor Aerosol Grout Sealer. This doesn’t last as long as other sealants in the Tile Doctor range but its quick to apply, especially on wall tiles. The sealer ensures water will run straight off the walls into the shower tray and it also makes the shower easier to clean later. The shower looked like a new installation by the time I had finished, and my client was delighted with the transformation. He was also thankful that I had replaced the silicone, this was something he had considered doing himself but applying it does take practice and you can get yourself into a mess. Kamila Logonzy East Cheshire Tile Doctor

Lauren Hunt from Reico Kitchen and Bath in Charlotte, NC, worked with The Atta Group to design a transitional-inspired kitchen and bar using Masterpiece cabinetry. The kitchen features Masterpiece cabinets in the Martel Evercore doorstyle in a Frost finish on the perimeter. The kitchen island and bar area both features the same doorstyle with a combination of two different finishes, Riverbed and Shortbread. The countertops are Calacatta Macchia Vecchia Sapien Stone Porcelain. The client shared their experience, saying, “I love the range hood and the slatted island decor. Riverbed is a beautiful color in both sun and shade. Lauren’s advice to get samples and lay them out in different lighting was invaluable. She went above and beyond, even coming out in the parking lot on a hot summer day to help us. We truly couldn’t have done this without her. Lauren was always patient and supportive as we made decisions, and she never pressured us. Any future projects we have, we’ll 100% reach out to Lauren. She even welcomed our newborn to the showroom!” Lauren shared, “The clients came with a clear aesthetic vision and plenty of inspiration photos, but they gave me the freedom to recommend and create a space that worked for their growing family while still looking great. We added design details like two-toned dining room cabinets, dark accent shelves in glass towers, an arched valance to match the doorways, and a custom hood that pulls from the island finishes. My favorite element is the slatted accent on the island, which the installers executed perfectly. This renovation was a big project, starting with a blank slate, which can be overwhelming with so many options. But it was incredibly rewarding to work with these clients who had such a creative vision. We really worked together to create a space that met their needs while showcasing their style. It was a team effort, and I hope that comes through in the final design.” Photos courtesy of Six Cents Media.

The expansive island features a light countertop, likely quartz, providing ample space for meal prep and casual dining. A stylish gray subway tile backsplash adds a touch of texture.

Photo by Jay Sifford.

Step into this Elegant Torrance Kitchen Remodel, where timeless design meets modern functionality. The centerpiece of this kitchen is a stunning dual-tone island, featuring rich wood contrasted against the sleek white cabinetry. It's not just for show; the expansive countertop space makes it perfect for meal prep and casual dining. We went with a classic subway tile backsplash in a herringbone pattern, adding just the right amount of texture to the clean, neutral palette. Stainless steel appliances and a custom range hood bring a professional-grade touch, while glass-front upper cabinets provide a stylish display for glassware and dishware. Lighting was a game-changer here. We installed a trio of pendant lights over the island, casting beautiful patterns that enhance the overall ambiance. The open layout ensures an easy flow between cooking, dining, and entertaining. For this Torrance home, the goal was simple: combine elegance with everyday practicality, and we think it hit the mark beautifully.

We used: Custom cherry cabinetry in Arts & Crafts Shaker style by Kabinart in Boulder and Espresso stains. Liberty Hardware Venetian bronze 1-1/2" cabinet knobs. KitchenAid Architect II Series 22 CF counter-depth French door refrigerator. KitchenAid Architect Series II 27" convection single wall oven. KitchenAid 36" 6-burner dual fuel freestanding commercial-style range. KitchenAid Architect II Series 24" dishwasher. Sharp Insight Pro Series 24" built-in microwave drawer (Model #KB6524PS). Crystorama Solaris 12" wide pendant lights in English bronze. Granite countertops in Brown Fantasy. 3"x6" polished marble backsplash. Paint colors: Walls: Glidden Silver Cloud 30YY 63/024 Ceilings/Trims/Doors: Glidden Swan White GLC23 Robert B. Narod Photography

DARIS BROWN, WRITER If you think choosing the right shingle color is hard, you are not alone. With an endless array of colors to choose from, getting started can be difficult. But don't worry – we’ve got a great system to help you pick the perfect shingle color. If you are ready to look at shingles in a way you probably never have before, our three-step process can help you choose the color that works best for your home. Choosing By Style Before you can start flipping through a collection of earth-tone samples, you need to determine which shingle style best fits your home — and your price range. You don’t want to waste time falling in love with a beautiful shade of brown (let’s say hickory) if it’s not available in a style you like. Most homeowners are not aware that shingles come in different styles, including three-tab, architectural and slate-look. Three-Tab: These shingles have a traditional, flatter look and are considered the most affordable. They also are available in a wide range of colors. Slate: These asphalt shingles, as the name reveals, are meant to mimic the look of slate but offer the easy care and affordability of asphalt. They come in a variety of colors. Architectural: Also known as laminated or dimensional shingles, architectural shingles are manufactured with aesthetic appeal in mind. Layered to resemble wood shake, they are thicker and provide a more dimensional, interesting look than traditional three-tab shingles. Choosing By Features By comparing the available features, you can systematically narrow down your options to determine the best shingle available. Here are a few features to consider: Class 4 Impact Resistance – Do you live in an area of the country that experiences regular hailstorms? Class 4 impact resistant shingles deliver superior impact resistance to help protect your home during hail season. Algae Resistance – How humid is your region? Do you see roofs all around you with black streaks? Shingles manufactured with Scotchgard Protector help resist those ugly black streaks caused by algae. High Wind Rating – Do you get nervous anytime a strong wind blows? Shingles with high wind resistance, up to 130 mph wind speed coverage, are designed to stay put – and look good in the process. Comprehensive Warranty Protection – Do you want to feel secure with your investment? For maximum protection and warranty coverage, have a full roof system installed and receive an enhanced Premium Protection Period for total peace of mind. Extensive Color Palette – Are you tired of plain black shingles? Get ready for an explosion of color, as there are many different options available. Woodland Green, Desert Shake, Burnt Sienna and Pristine Oyster are a few of the many great colors you can explore. Choosing By Color By choosing shingle style and features first, you can significantly narrow your list of colors. Now go through your shortened list and pick the best color for your home. You could match the shingle color to your shutters or door. If you want to enhance your home, lighter-colored shingles can help make it look bigger. Finally, opposites attract. If you have a light-colored home, you can go with a dark roof, and vice-versa for a dark-colored home. The contrast will help your entire home pop. Don’t be afraid to spread out your sample boards and make a side-by-side comparison to help with your selection process. Likewise, don't hesitate to lean on the advice of your roofer. Years of experience and thousands of homes roofed make them a valuable resource for homeowners trying to choose the best shingle color. Choosing By Heart While many homeowners will go straight to color, taking a methodical approach often provides better results. Take a step back. Decide what style you truly like and what features are available, and the best color for your home will fall right into your lap. Visit AtlasRoofing.com for a quick start to your shingle selection process. Atlas offers a broad range of beautiful designer colors and styles, which makes it easy to find an exceptional shingle to boost your home’s curb appeal.

Example of a large classic hallway design in Tampa with yellow walls

This Indian Sandstone Patio in Bolton-Le-Sands near Lancaster had not been cleaned successfully for several years. Although the owner had power washed it on occasion, that won’t rid you of Black Spot, Mould, Lichen etc and this will build-up over the years. It does clean the stone up to a certain standard but at some point, it will need further treatment. My client had now reached this point and decided to give Tile Doctor a call to have it renovated. We discussed the Patio which ran around the house and calculated that it measured approximately 60m2. With the measurements and a summary of the issues I was able to work out a quote which they were happy to accept. To improve the appearance of the stone I started by giving it a power wash to remove the general grime and dirt. I used a top of the range Karcher Pressure Washer for this which can apply up to 20 bars of pressure. The machine also comes with a spinner attachment results in a much more even clean than simply using the spray head. The patio was left to dry for thirty minutes before applying neat Tile Doctor Patio & Brick Driveway Cleaner. Please note this is a very powerful product meant for professional use so if you’re using it always wear gloves and protective glasses. You leave it on the stone for ten minutes or longer before working it in. The directions on the back of the bottle say recommend leaving it for two to four hours, but its general advice. Personally, I find it is best to test the timing on a small inconspicuous area first, leave it on for say ten minutes then add a bit of water, scrub the surface and if the Black Spot disappears then that is all the time you need. If the stain is stubborn, increase the time. The two to four hour recommendation is really for difficult Black Spots that have become ingrained into the stone and then the product needs longer to digest the stain before it can work. Once that was done, I used the power washer on low pressure to wash the products off the stone and into the sewerage drain, a wet vacuum comes in handy for this. Don’t dispose of it into the grass or planting areas as the strong chemicals in the product could upset them. Many properties have a soak away to capture rainwater from gutters, so you need to make sure it’s the sewage drain you are using. As you can see on the pictures, this product really does work and got rid of the Black Spot completely. To maintain the patio a regular jet wash was recommended, the household versions are ideal for keeping it clean and tidy. Due to the size of the Sandstone patio the whole process took around six hours to complete. Once done though the patio looked transformed and was all ready for a barbeque and some guests. Hopefully, it will stop raining long enough for this to happen. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional wooden u-shaped staircase remodel in New York with painted risers

Inspiration for a mid-sized tropical drought-tolerant and full sun backyard concrete paver landscaping in San Diego.

This Multi-Coloured Slate floor looks nice in the Kitchen of this property in Hythe, however due to the riven surface of the tile and the deep grout lines my customer had struggled to keep it clean. Additionally, the Slate has lost all of its lustre over the years since it had been installed and it was now due a deep clean and reseal. The combination of durability and price makes Slate a popular choice for floor covering, it is also available in a number of colours, ranging from plain black to a more diverse array of shades. Like any natural stone floor though it need sealing to keep the dirt out of the pores of the stone however sealers wear off with use Hythe by the way is a lovely medieval coastal market town with its own beach on the edge of Romney Marsh and close to Folkestone. Before starting I removed the kickboards underneath the kitchen units and protected the exposed woodwork with a thin film. To deep clean the Slate floor and remove any remaining sealer I applied Tile Doctor Remove and Go and left it to soak in for ten minutes before scrubbing it in with a light carbide brush. As well as removing the old sealer this process releases the dirt from the pores of the stone and brings it to the surface where it can be extracted. I have probably mentioned this before, but I’ve invested in a powerful van mounted pressure extraction system for removing the dirt, old sealer and emulsified soils released from the stone. The system works by applying water at high pressure on the floor via a spinner tool and then simultaneously extracts the waste under suction back to a grey water tank on the van. From the customers point of view, it makes light work of cleaning the floor and more importantly leaves the floor dry and leaves no mess. Having a dry floor at this stage is important as it means I can usually seal the floor on the same day. Its not a good idea to apply a sealer to damp floor as it will affect the way it cures and lead to an undesirable finish. The way to make sure the floor its dry is to use a moisture meter and take readings in several places around the floor. You can use an air mover to improve drying times however older floors can take a very long time to dry and for those I tend to book another day to apply the sealer. With the floor dry I set about applying the first of two coats of Tile Doctor X-Tra Seal which provides both a hardwearing sheen to the slate as well as enhancing its natural colourings. It has strong water repellency characteristics which makes it ideal for use in a kitchen where spillages are quite common. This was quite a small kitchen, so the work was completed in one day. My client was amazed at the transformation and grateful for our advice on continued maintenance which for this floor I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Stone Soap for daily cleaning. Michael Conlon South Kent Tile Doctor

At Corvus Construction, quality kitchen and bathroom remodels are our specialty. And while it’s great to go and pick out some nice tool for your kitchen backsplash or bathroom, what’s even better is when it can be configured uniquely to give you a custom-made design that will be one-of-a-kind and the envy of all who see it. If you’re considering a bathroom remodel and need your shower replaced or upgraded, tile is a great way to go. We’ve tiled hundreds of showers and most homeowners go for the standard look you see in home décor magazines or online. What you’ve likely seen, and may have now, is tile underfoot in the shower pan, field tile on the walls and perhaps an accent row of different pattern, color, or textured tile running horizontally around the walls of the shower stall. Some higher-end showers may feature accent rows of tile running vertically from floor to ceiling. This is nice but still pretty vanilla. The reality is there’s nothing that says you have to limit yourself to what you’ve seen before or what you see on idea walls at big box home improvement stores. Almost anything you can imagine is feasible when it comes to tile work. Today we’ll talk about a recent project where we thought way outside the tile box and created a bespoke shower that wasn’t limited to the same old horizontal and vertical runs of tile. after tile bathroom remodelbefore bathroom tile remodel What we’ve found is that irregularly shaped tile accents on a larger scale make an amazing focal point and turn your shower into a tailor-made work of art. Many homeowners never even consider a custom feature like this because they think of them as a luxury that’s outside of their price range. But nothing can be farther from the truth. In fact, a stunning shower design like this can be quite affordable. The photos featured in this blog are from a recent remodel we did and you can see just how incredible and opulent this custom tile work makes even this modest-sized bathroom look. If you hire a knowledgeable and experienced contractor for your bathroom remodel, a tile feature should only cost you about six more hours of labor – depending of the complexity of the design. The more complex, the more costly, but even a simpler design can make a huge difference in the look of your bathroom and can improve the look and value of your home. bathroom tile accents Done properly, the result is a totally unique, fantastic focal point. Having personally tiled hundreds of showers and bathrooms, I can tell you that crafting a custom design like this is an enjoyable change of pace. If you’re not sure what you want, we can work with you to come up with a layout that will express your style and ramp up the visual appeal of your bathroom. Collaborating with you to create a unique piece of tile work for your home would be a privilege. If you’re planning a bathroom remodel, why not break away from the norm and indulge yourself in an affordable tile feature that you’ll enjoy time and again? One piece of advice I’ll offer is that if you want to keep the price of your custom tile work modest, be sure to select accent tiles in the same gauge (i.e. thickness) as your primary tile (also called field tile). If they have different depths, it will be more work to achieve a flush surface and more work equals higher cost.