I was contacted by a professional couple who were despairing over the state of their Victorian tiled hallway floor which was dull and uninviting. The property was in Newport which is on the south east side of Wales around twelve miles east of the bustling city of Cardiff. I went over to visit the property which was a beautiful Victorian period terrace house nestled amongst other properties of a similar age properties. The couple wanted their Victorian hallway floor to be brought back to life, so I demonstrated the cleaning process I intended to use on a small part of the floor. Immediately it had the desired effect and the floor looked much cleaner. I could see that there were no structural issues with the floor and the test clean proved it was just ingrained dirt that was the problem. The clients were happy with the result of the demonstration and subsequent quote, so we arranged a suitable date to come back and complete the work. When I arrived, I started by protecting the skirting boards with tape and then set about giving the Victorian tiles a deep clean. I applied a combination of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and Remove and Go leaving it to dwell for a short time to allow the products to soak into the pores of the tiles and start breaking down the ingrained dirt. After about ten minutes I scrubbed the floor with black scrubbing pad attached to a rotary floor buffer which released the years of grime and dirt. The floor was then rinsed with water and the soil removed using a wet vacuum. I repeated the process to ensure the floor was as clean as possible. A further inspection of the Victorian tiles revealed a few stubborn marks which were dealt with using handheld diamond burnishing blocks. These are also handy for getting into the corners of the floor which were difficult to reach with the rotary machine. The floor was then left overnight to dry out. The following day I returned, and I checked the floor was dry using a moisture meter to ensure it was dry. Once I was happy, I started to seal the floor with Tile Doctor Seal & Go which is a water-based sealer that works well on Victorian tiles. Several coats were applied building up layers to produce a stunning satin finish. Once I had finished the floor was looking so much cleaner and brighter and the addition of the sealer will protect the floor from dirt and keep it looking good for some time to come. My clients were over the moon with the floor! For aftercare I recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, which unlike the stronger products you find in supermarkets is ideal for cleaning sealed floors and will ensure the sealer stays in good condition. Paul Wales Monmouthshire Tile Doctor

This sleek and neutral style bathroom gives you cleaner showering and tubbing while probing to eliminate that last little space at the back of the tub where mold and mildew can grow. The shower enclosure attaches directly to the tub, so you no longer have a gap between the wall and the tub, where grimy soap scum can build up. The master bathroom remodels a seamless wall tile matched nicely with dark wood tone cabinets. An undermount sink is combined with an undermount tub, creating continuity in the design of this spa-like retreat, and it is cost-effective too. Overall, the space looks shiny because of chrome hardware fixtures, making the retreat seem endlessly modern. The guest bathroom uses brushed nickel hardware and fixtures that give the space a subtler-softer look with white wave wall tiles which are elegant and graceful additions that enhance the natural light that differs from the masters' bathroom. And the cabinets in the guest bathroom are clean and simple with shaker finishes-edges.

The Tempest Torch was created as an outdoor lighting and outdoor furnishing/accessory for a wide array of exterior settings and applications. The display possibilities are nearly endless: outdoor lighting for living spaces, walkway pillars, mounted onto moveable stainless steel columns, atop stone pillars or deck posts, or attached to any building's exterior for outdoor lighting. The Tempest Torch's innovation comes from its patent-pending torch technology that requires no mechanical or electrical means. Its no-power draft system simply utilizes the Venturi Effect for its unique flame appearance.

Photos by Owner
Small elegant entryway photo in Philadelphia

For every-day dining, guests and friends can enjoy the delightful, freestanding 16 person Dining Room. This all glass but fully shaded space actually has the desert landscape bermed up 1 meter high against the south & west walls to protect from the hot sun. There are huge roof overhangs and the entire space is shrouded with horizontal shade fins; effectively blocking the sun yet framing views in all directions through the many horizontal glass portals. Discretely attached are three wash basins, two toilet rooms and an ample storage room.

PIROUETTE® Window Shadings Ultimate versatility in a fabric shading Our Pirouette® shadings feature soft fabric vanes attached to a sheer backing that appear to be floating, drawing natural light into your room. When closed, they look just like a contemporary shade. Light Control SUPERVISE THE SUN Soft vanes floating on a sheer backing put you in control of the amount of natural light that comes in, with dramatic effects. Transform harsh exterior light by diffusing it, spreading it evenly throughout your room, so you can maximize daylight hours and reduce your need for artificial light. Our beautiful sheer fabrics also softly filter out brightness, glare, and UV rays —protecting your furniture and flooring from fading. View-Through DRAMATIC SOFTNESS Invis-Lift™ allows you to view through the sheer fabric and floating vanes with no obstructing cords or tapes, while maintaining a discreet level of privacy. Platinum™ Technology CONTROL FROM YOUR PHONE OR TABLET Controlling your window treatments with a mobile device means you can set your blinds to movie mode, work mode, or 8 a.m. mode with the touch of a button, without leaving your seat. It’s effortless, fun and smart—with perfectly smooth operation. Lifetime Guarantee FOR LIFE Hunter Douglas products are designed and custom-assembled in the U.S. with the highest level of quality. But just in case, every window treatment from Hunter Douglas is covered by our lifetime limited guarantee. Read the Hunter Douglas Warranty to learn more. Hunter Douglas Pirouette® Window Shadings PowerRise® 2.1 with Platinum™ Technology Pirouette® Window Shadings Fabric: Satin Metallic Color: Glacier Operating Systems: PowerRise 2.1 with Platinum Technology Room: Living Room Room Styles: Contemporary, Casual, Eclectic Available from Accent Window Fashions LLC Hunter Douglas Showcase Priority Dealer Hunter Douglas Certified Installer Hunter Douglas Certified Professional Dealer #Hunter_Douglas #Pirouette #PowerRise #Platinum #Technology #Living_Room #Contemporary #Casual #Eclectic #Window_Shadings #Window_Treatments #HunterDouglas #Accent_Window_Fashions Copyright 2001-2014 Hunter Douglas, Inc. All rights reserved.

The soft glow of the landscape lighting begins to take effect as dusk rolls in.
Example of a large trendy backyard concrete paver patio design in Chicago with a fire pit

The design for this attached screen porch addition in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis was inspired by the client’s father who worked on the restoration of the Barcelona World Fair pavilion which is known for its open-plan spaces and minimalist design. The addition also incorporates the existing homes two unique architectural styles from when the original home was built in the early 1900’s. Creating a link between the house and the addition maintains the existing natural light in the kitchen while also allowing the porch to perch out over the steep slope to create a tree house effect in the heavily wooded urban lot. Ipe flooring warms the space while the sky blue bead board ceiling recalls porches common in the south, an area that the couple enjoys entertaining guests.

Fabric-Shield™ Storm Panels (also known as wind abatement screens or hurricane fabric) are a highly-effective alternative to steel or aluminum hurricane panels. The PVC-coated woven fabric panels are tested to block wind, rain, and storm-driven projectiles while being simple to handle and easy to store. The panel system attaches to the outside of windows, porches, doors – virtually any open space that you would like to protect. Fabric-Shield Storm Panels are also translucent allowing diffused light to enter so you won’t feel trapped in darkness.

Collection of classic painted doors with a discreet design. Clean lines, simple and unabashed design. Multi-layer finishing with enamels followed by matt varnishes makes the surface smooth, almost velvety. Premium decorative films are made on the basis of polypropylene. A special feature of this fims is outstanding imitation effect of a painted surface. Free from solvents and formaldehyde the Premium films are also extremely environmentally friendly and contribute to a healthier living climate. High quality material surface makes it easy to clean and guarantees outstanding resistance against mechanical stress and chemicals.. Finish - white paint. Door core - Wood (engineered wood). Thickness of the door - 1 1/2". Thickness of the glass - 1/6", 1 lite of Opaque Glass. Door is not pre-cut for the hardware. Assembly of frames and trims required. Door works with all swing directions. You can put a handle on right or left side. Frame is not pre-attached to the door..Rough opening can be calculated: door width" + 2"; door height" + 1 1/2". What included: - door slab;- trims (2.95" wide);- frames (for wall thickness from 4" to 5");- passage lever/knob;- non-mortise hinges; Introducing the "Classic Single Interior Door" from the Mela Collection, crafted with a blend of high-quality wood and Wood to create a stunning piece that is sure to elevate the style of any home or office. These doors come in a sleek white finish that adds a timeless touch to any interior design. With the Mela Collection, you're getting doors that are not only durable but also built to last. The craftsmanship on these doors is top-notch, ensuring that they can withstand the test of time. The combination of wood and Wood also makes them lightweight, which makes them easy to install and use. These doors are a perfect fit for any space that requires a practical and stylish solution. The Classic Single Interior Door comes in various hinge options, including butt hinge, ball bearing hinge, and spring hinge. This door is perfect for anyone who wants to customize their space with a door that's both versatile and durable. As a New York-based interior door supplier, we take pride in providing our customers with top-quality products that meet their needs. The Classic Single Interior Door is no exception. We're confident that this door will exceed your expectations, and we're proud to offer it as part of our extensive collection of interior and exterior doors. In summary, the Classic Single Interior Door from the Mela Collection is a stylish, durable, and versatile solution that is perfect for any space. With its white finish and top-notch craftsmanship, it's sure to add a touch of elegance to any room. Whether you're a homeowner, interior designer, or contractor, this door is an excellent investment that will stand the test of time. So why wait? Contact us today to order your Classic Single Interior Door from the Mela Collection!

This sleek and neutral style bathroom gives you cleaner showering and tubbing while probing to eliminate that last little space at the back of the tub where mold and mildew can grow. The shower enclosure attaches directly to the tub, so you no longer have a gap between the wall and the tub, where grimy soap scum can build up. The master bathroom remodels a seamless wall tile matched nicely with dark wood tone cabinets. An undermount sink is combined with an undermount tub, creating continuity in the design of this spa-like retreat, and it is cost-effective too. Overall, the space looks shiny because of chrome hardware fixtures, making the retreat seem endlessly modern. The guest bathroom uses brushed nickel hardware and fixtures that give the space a subtler-softer look with white wave wall tiles which are elegant and graceful additions that enhance the natural light that differs from the masters' bathroom. And the cabinets in the guest bathroom are clean and simple with shaker finishes-edges.

This toddler was being promoted to big sister, so the guest bedroom was converted to fit her new role. This upholstered daybed from Restoration hardware was paired with the matching armoire. An ivory and pink rug on the dark hardwood was perfect for balancing the light colored walls. The ceiling was painted a pink hue and the damask wallpaper created the perfect backdrop for the bed. This washable coverlet is practical for children's rooms, while the custom pillows and neckrolls give an elegant and sophisticated look for the growing girl. Custom table skirts were made for the round side tables to keep a soft look in the room. Stationary drapery panels add a dramatic, yet soft effect on either side of the operable exterior doors to the patio. The attached bathroom features soft pink walls with a custom shower curtain to accommodate extra length and personalized with a monogram and ruffles for this little lady.

The Tempest Torch was created as an outdoor lighting and outdoor furnishing/accessory for a wide array of exterior settings and applications. The display possibilities are nearly endless: outdoor lighting for living spaces, walkway pillars, mounted onto moveable stainless steel columns, atop stone pillars or deck posts, or attached to any building's exterior for outdoor lighting. The Tempest Torch's innovation comes from its patent-pending torch technology that requires no mechanical or electrical means. Its no-power draft system simply utilizes the Venturi Effect for its unique flame appearance.

Throughout the home, excluding the bathrooms, 5" white oak floors have had an artisan finish applied to the wood to create a patina-like effect creating a unique finish...just another example of refined details created by Smith Family Homes.

Road view of new home, breezeway and attached garage
Mid-sized elegant gray two-story wood gable roof photo in Boston

The stretch ceiling here is white high gloss, with a black graphic printed in the corners. Off screen, there is blue lighting on the left, which is reflecting off the ceiling. The issues that annoyed the family in this condo are common to new condo units: Low ceilings covered with a popcorn finish, small rooms, low light in the bedrooms and living room, and no ceiling light fixtures. Concrete ceilings are not only difficult to drill into to install fixtures, installing wiring behind them for such fixtures is impossible. There are often conduits for building services embedded in the concrete along with structural steel reinforcements, so drilling without x-raying first is dangerous. Laqfoil stretch ceiling provided a solution to all of these issues for this condo unit. A high gloss finish was chosen, as the reflections visually double the height of the space. Installing a stretch ceiling also naturally conceals the popcorn ceiling behind it, but in this case, was also used to conceal the wiring necessary to add ceiling lights in every room. The wiring was simply attached to the existing popcorn ceiling. Laqfoil stretch ceiling is supported around the perimeter only, by tracks, or profiles which are only about 0.75" thick. The ceiling membrane itself is less than one millimetre thick. We also added a small vector graphic, printed in each corner of the living room ceiling, for a unique aesthetic effect.

In order to better view a beautiful pool when in the spa, another trend covered under Attached Hot Tubs is elevating spas “above” the pools. Indeed, we proved this a stunning choice for an existing pool by installing a portable Bullfrog Spa with a beautiful natural stone raised above the pool. Special plumbing was added to regulate the new spa's sheer descent water feature: water spills from the fire bowl into the hot tub; in turn, spa water flows out into the pool for a beautiful hot springs/Roman pool effect, and, of course, you have the perfect vantage point to enjoy the pool. www.deckandpatio.com

This sleek and neutral style bathroom gives you cleaner showering and tubbing while probing to eliminate that last little space at the back of the tub where mold and mildew can grow. The shower enclosure attaches directly to the tub, so you no longer have a gap between the wall and the tub, where grimy soap scum can build up. The master bathroom remodels a seamless wall tile matched nicely with dark wood tone cabinets. An undermount sink is combined with an undermount tub, creating continuity in the design of this spa-like retreat, and it is cost-effective too. Overall, the space looks shiny because of chrome hardware fixtures, making the retreat seem endlessly modern. The guest bathroom uses brushed nickel hardware and fixtures that give the space a subtler-softer look with white wave wall tiles which are elegant and graceful additions that enhance the natural light that differs from the masters' bathroom. And the cabinets in the guest bathroom are clean and simple with shaker finishes-edges.

Discover the stunning private movie room for two attached to the primary suite. This luxurious space boasts a remarkable optic fiber ceiling, creating a mesmerizing starry night effect. Perfect for a cozy night in with your favorite films.