One of the most popular hardwood floor finishing which offers Tom & Peter Flooring is provided by WOCA. If you’ve decided that you want a natural looking wooden floor that is lacquer-free, then the likelihood is that you’ve chosen oil as your way of protecting your wood and making your floor look great at the same time. WOCA for wood flooring comes in various forms and is a great way of making sure that your wood is protected, but at the same time looks natural. A highly popular as well as effective way of treating wood floors, oils effectively penetrate into the wood and in some cases harden into the surface of the floor to stop damage and to maintain the wood in its optimum condition. WOCA Oil finish hardwood flooring has taken the United States market by in 2014 and shows no signs of slowing down in 2016 and now. Here are some of the most common questions we have regarding this type of finish which we will I’m to answer in today’s my blog: Is oil finish as durable as traditional factory urethane finishes with aluminum oxide? When it comes to durability, oil finish flooring tackles the issue with a completely different method. The penetrating oil serves as protection from moisture and wear while allowing the user to feel the wood grains in their bare feet. If compared directly to factory finished aluminum oxide finish, the oil finish flooring will not perform as well to abrasion and impact. However, the beauty of this finish is the fact that it will camouflage any scratches which will inevitably accumulate over time. Will this finish evaporate over time and will this be harmful for indoor air quality? Another concern for oil finished floors its effect on indoor air quality. For on-site applications, some varieties suggest several coats which typically require the residents to be out of the home due to mild odors. However, there are factory finished UV-cured or single coat applications which lessen the downtime. Despite the odors produced during the drying process, oil finish floors rank amongst the lowest for VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. Certain brands even boast true zero VOC. This fact alone makes oil finished floors one of the best options for green building solutions. “WOCA products are certified by independent laboratories, the German Institute for Biological Building Materials, and are in accordance with DIN–Norm 53–160. WOCA WoodCare Denmark products meet or exceed the most stringent U.S. standards for volatile organic compounds.” –WOCA Oil Finish Manufacture Does this type of finish require additional maintenance which I am not familiar with? For weekly cleaning, oiled floors use a special cleaner which contains an oil and soap mixture. After a period of 12-18 months some oil may evaporate causing the wood grains to appear dry. An additional layer of oil can be reapplied to keep the floor looking fresh. Although oil finished floors require more involvement in periodic maintenance in high traffic areas, this maintenance can be done much easier than the equivalent of an onsite sand and refinish. WOCA Master Color Oil contains pigment, which provides a single-step hardwood floor staining process. Laying down the stain and the finish in one step. This product comes 14 different colors, from Black to Extra White, and you can mix them freely to create various color palettes that will meet the demands of any job. Below are some pictures of the finished job…

Our new client requested our services for the exterior painting of their 1981 Medfield home. The entire exterior was initially scrubbed by hand with bleach and jomax. The Hardy Plank siding, trim, casings, shutters, and doors were scraped of any failing paint, feather sanded and spot primed on the bare wood. The back deck was stripped of the existing stain, restored with a wood brightener and then applied with a semi-translucent stain. Sherwin Williams paint was used to match the existing exterior colors.

One of the most popular hardwood floor finishing which offers Tom & Peter Flooring is provided by WOCA. If you’ve decided that you want a natural looking wooden floor that is lacquer-free, then the likelihood is that you’ve chosen oil as your way of protecting your wood and making your floor look great at the same time. WOCA for wood flooring comes in various forms and is a great way of making sure that your wood is protected, but at the same time looks natural. A highly popular as well as effective way of treating wood floors, oils effectively penetrate into the wood and in some cases harden into the surface of the floor to stop damage and to maintain the wood in its optimum condition. WOCA Oil finish hardwood flooring has taken the United States market by in 2014 and shows no signs of slowing down in 2016 and now. Here are some of the most common questions we have regarding this type of finish which we will I’m to answer in today’s my blog: Is oil finish as durable as traditional factory urethane finishes with aluminum oxide? When it comes to durability, oil finish flooring tackles the issue with a completely different method. The penetrating oil serves as protection from moisture and wear while allowing the user to feel the wood grains in their bare feet. If compared directly to factory finished aluminum oxide finish, the oil finish flooring will not perform as well to abrasion and impact. However, the beauty of this finish is the fact that it will camouflage any scratches which will inevitably accumulate over time. Will this finish evaporate over time and will this be harmful for indoor air quality? Another concern for oil finished floors its effect on indoor air quality. For on-site applications, some varieties suggest several coats which typically require the residents to be out of the home due to mild odors. However, there are factory finished UV-cured or single coat applications which lessen the downtime. Despite the odors produced during the drying process, oil finish floors rank amongst the lowest for VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. Certain brands even boast true zero VOC. This fact alone makes oil finished floors one of the best options for green building solutions. “WOCA products are certified by independent laboratories, the German Institute for Biological Building Materials, and are in accordance with DIN–Norm 53–160. WOCA WoodCare Denmark products meet or exceed the most stringent U.S. standards for volatile organic compounds.” –WOCA Oil Finish Manufacture Does this type of finish require additional maintenance which I am not familiar with? For weekly cleaning, oiled floors use a special cleaner which contains an oil and soap mixture. After a period of 12-18 months some oil may evaporate causing the wood grains to appear dry. An additional layer of oil can be reapplied to keep the floor looking fresh. Although oil finished floors require more involvement in periodic maintenance in high traffic areas, this maintenance can be done much easier than the equivalent of an onsite sand and refinish. WOCA Master Color Oil contains pigment, which provides a single-step hardwood floor staining process. Laying down the stain and the finish in one step. This product comes 14 different colors, from Black to Extra White, and you can mix them freely to create various color palettes that will meet the demands of any job. Below are some pictures of the finished job…

We finished building “Ramble Retreat” in 2021. One of our many homes in the Asheville community of The Ramble, PLATT architects designed this stone-clad stunner. The interior makes an impression with its soaring timber framework and hand-beveled and scraped flooring. You won’t find a bit of drywall in this home, as the walls and ceilings are covered in poplar and oak paneling. An outdoor kitchen sits within the screened porch, which is surrounded with handsome stonework on the flooring, pillars, and walls. Seamless screens are barely noticeable, creating a comfortable connection with nature. This cottage is a retreat in nature, located just minutes from Asheville’s urban life.

James Kruger, LandMark Photography, Peter Eskuche, AIA, Eskuche Design, Sharon Seitz, HISTORIC studio, Interior Design
Example of a huge mountain style u-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This Mid-Century home had been updated except for the kitchen and master bath. After a few years of being empty nesters, and with the neighborhood turning over drastically to infill property in the millions, this couple decided the time was right to update the last remaining rooms. Starting in the Kitchen Taking a dark, u-shaped kitchen out of the past and updating it for the future, was a dream come true for this family. They knew what they wanted in order to entertain their large extended family, which included their three kids; plus, his family, consisting of nine children, spouses, and now grandchildren. Requirements of an open space to hang out and help out, a banquet for food presentation without obstruction, bright and clean, easy storage, a place for her mother’s china decanters, and an instant hot for tea were all part of the “must haves” for this kitchen. We also needed to work around the homeowners’ existing appliances since many of them were practically new. Vaulted ceilings, lots of high windows, and large openings to other spaces in the house, were challenges that only a galley style kitchen could address. Blending and lacing the hardwood floor with new flooring required both the new and existing to be sanded down and refinished. This provided a coherent look to the entire first floor of this home. Matching casings, baseboards and base shoe helped to make the updates look fresh, but original to the house. In the kitchen, choosing the sandstone slate finish on our Wellborn Maple select series cabinets kept the space soft; but really opened it, making the space lighter and brighter. The Harmony style door choice blended with the décor in the rest of the house, while also giving straight clean lines the homeowner desired. Grounding the row of cabinets with their refrigerator and a pantry cabinet, gave symmetry to this side of the kitchen. On the opposite side, a built-in pantry cabinet mirrors the refrigerator. A row of drawer cabinets expanded the storage and banquet space, to lay out food for entertaining. Also added were some much-needed wall cabinets with glass inserts to mirror the windows and keep the space open. This also allowed the taller canister to be displayed and admired. A few smaller shelves were added above the window space, to house the smaller canisters so loved by the homeowner. An artist by trade, this homeowner added two narrow cabinets to the side of the pantry and the side of the refrigerator panel to house and create easy access to the various spices her husband loves to use while cooking. She painted them to blend with Wellborn’s Sandstone finish. The Caesarstone countertop with a 3cm eased edge in London Gray has a small pattern that is subtle and interesting. Cutting down the Caesarstone to 2 cm and carrying the same London Gray pattern up the backsplash area, lended to the clean lines and easy cleaning this homeowner requested. Choosing chrome plumbing fixtures from Moen’s Brantford line is timeless choice. Chrome is always popular and yet in today’s market, also very trendy. The Brantford faucet has a pull-down spray and one side handle, leaving space for the all-important request of a Transcape hot water dispenser, also in chrome. Scraping away the past included smoothing out the popcorn ceiling. Adding LED slope cans to the vaulted ceilings provided the necessary task lighting to elevate these homeowners’ joy of cooking. Removing the dated “popcorn look” enhanced the clean and spacious feel created by the architecture of the ceiling. Adding Top Knob chrome hardware was the final element that tied the kitchen all together. Master Bathroom The original dated Master Bathroom had dark cabinets, a huge Jacuzzi tub and a small shower stall that provided barely enough room for even a child to shower. Removing the Jacuzzi tub that was never used, opened this floor plan to a grand shower that is comfortable and spacious. For easy cleaning, these homeowners opted for a panel system in their shower. Onyx shower walls with a shower seat and recess wide shower caddy were installed in place of the old Jacuzzi style tub. The large panels were quite a challenge for our team, with an eight foot door and vaulted ceilings; but they were determined not to have a seam. These seamless panels are beautiful and very easy to clean. Keeping with the original floor plan, a double sink vanity from Wellborn’s select line with the Harmony door style in a pebble finish was installed. New Kohler Caxton under mount sinks were installed, along with the Moen Kinsley 8” wide spread faucets in chrome. Matching Kingsley 18” grab bars were added to the shower area, along with the Kohler Brantford fixed shower head and handheld slide bar. The countertop was a beautiful Caesarstone in Frosty Carrina with an eased edge and 4” back and side splash. Matching Kinsley towel hooks were added, along with mirrors the homeowner purchased and we installed for her. Top Knobs chrome cabinet hardware finished the look along with a beautiful tile floor AO Mira 1224-S Silver Maple laid in a broken joint pattern. Matching marble sills were added on top of the knee walls and threshold in the doorway. A 3/8” frameless custom shower door with fixed panels surrounded the shower creating an open airy feel to the space. Not shown: Kohler’s Wellworth highline toilet with a slow-close seat replaces the original toilet. The original shower stall became a space used to house a stackable washer and dryer, a top a safety pan and drain to slop sink in the basement. There was even enough room for small shelving to provide storage for laundry essentials. Adding a louver door keeps the laundry area behind the scene and opens the master area to multiple tasks needed. Master Bedroom Fireplace This homeowner really missed a bedroom fireplace they had in a previous home. Since we were going to be working on their master bathroom anyway; was there a way to create a fireplace without making it feel too odd in their large bedroom area? They had purchased a ventless gas fireplace and they had their original television as well. Challenged by windows, a vaulted ceiling and the natural light streaming from the back window; this divided wall was created, keeping the lighting from the other side of the room and providing a dressing area opposite the fireplace. This was a perfect idea since the closets are now in the dressing area and the creative wall houses the fireplace and TV for cold winter nights of snuggling to a movie. Better yet, the fireplace and TV are all on remote control!

The Whitehaven Hayridge apron-front kitchen sink features the benefits of the Whitehaven with a gentle pattern of horizontal ridges on the apron-front. A large single basin accommodates large pots and pans, while the sloped bottom helps with draining and cleanup.

One of the most popular hardwood floor finishing which offers Tom & Peter Flooring is provided by WOCA. If you’ve decided that you want a natural looking wooden floor that is lacquer-free, then the likelihood is that you’ve chosen oil as your way of protecting your wood and making your floor look great at the same time. WOCA for wood flooring comes in various forms and is a great way of making sure that your wood is protected, but at the same time looks natural. A highly popular as well as effective way of treating wood floors, oils effectively penetrate into the wood and in some cases harden into the surface of the floor to stop damage and to maintain the wood in its optimum condition. WOCA Oil finish hardwood flooring has taken the United States market by in 2014 and shows no signs of slowing down in 2016 and now. Here are some of the most common questions we have regarding this type of finish which we will I’m to answer in today’s my blog: Is oil finish as durable as traditional factory urethane finishes with aluminum oxide? When it comes to durability, oil finish flooring tackles the issue with a completely different method. The penetrating oil serves as protection from moisture and wear while allowing the user to feel the wood grains in their bare feet. If compared directly to factory finished aluminum oxide finish, the oil finish flooring will not perform as well to abrasion and impact. However, the beauty of this finish is the fact that it will camouflage any scratches which will inevitably accumulate over time. Will this finish evaporate over time and will this be harmful for indoor air quality? Another concern for oil finished floors its effect on indoor air quality. For on-site applications, some varieties suggest several coats which typically require the residents to be out of the home due to mild odors. However, there are factory finished UV-cured or single coat applications which lessen the downtime. Despite the odors produced during the drying process, oil finish floors rank amongst the lowest for VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. Certain brands even boast true zero VOC. This fact alone makes oil finished floors one of the best options for green building solutions. “WOCA products are certified by independent laboratories, the German Institute for Biological Building Materials, and are in accordance with DIN–Norm 53–160. WOCA WoodCare Denmark products meet or exceed the most stringent U.S. standards for volatile organic compounds.” –WOCA Oil Finish Manufacture Does this type of finish require additional maintenance which I am not familiar with? For weekly cleaning, oiled floors use a special cleaner which contains an oil and soap mixture. After a period of 12-18 months some oil may evaporate causing the wood grains to appear dry. An additional layer of oil can be reapplied to keep the floor looking fresh. Although oil finished floors require more involvement in periodic maintenance in high traffic areas, this maintenance can be done much easier than the equivalent of an onsite sand and refinish. WOCA Master Color Oil contains pigment, which provides a single-step hardwood floor staining process. Laying down the stain and the finish in one step. This product comes 14 different colors, from Black to Extra White, and you can mix them freely to create various color palettes that will meet the demands of any job. Below are some pictures of the finished job…

We finished building “Ramble Retreat” in 2021. One of our many homes in the Asheville community of The Ramble, PLATT architects designed this stone-clad stunner. A modern rustic bathroom adds to the home’s sense of retreat, featuring a spacious square soaking tub and a unique custom-built shower that blends clean lines with natural materials. The interior makes an impression with its soaring timber framework and hand-beveled and scraped flooring. You won’t find a bit of drywall in this home, as the walls and ceilings are covered in poplar and oak paneling. An outdoor kitchen sits within the screened porch, which is surrounded with handsome stonework on the flooring, pillars, and walls. Seamless screens are barely noticeable, creating a comfortable connection with nature. This cottage is a retreat in nature, located just minutes from Asheville’s urban life.

We finished building “Ramble Retreat” in 2021. One of our many homes in the Asheville community of The Ramble, PLATT architects designed this stone-clad stunner. The interior makes an impression with its soaring timber framework and hand-beveled and scraped flooring. You won’t find a bit of drywall in this home, as the walls and ceilings are covered in poplar and oak paneling. An outdoor kitchen sits within the screened porch, which is surrounded with handsome stonework on the flooring, pillars, and walls. Seamless screens are barely noticeable, creating a comfortable connection with nature. This cottage is a retreat in nature, located just minutes from Asheville’s urban life.

This Mid-Century home had been updated except for the kitchen and master bath. After a few years of being empty nesters, and with the neighborhood turning over drastically to infill property in the millions, this couple decided the time was right to update the last remaining rooms. Starting in the Kitchen Taking a dark, u-shaped kitchen out of the past and updating it for the future, was a dream come true for this family. They knew what they wanted in order to entertain their large extended family, which included their three kids; plus, his family, consisting of nine children, spouses, and now grandchildren. Requirements of an open space to hang out and help out, a banquet for food presentation without obstruction, bright and clean, easy storage, a place for her mother’s china decanters, and an instant hot for tea were all part of the “must haves” for this kitchen. We also needed to work around the homeowners’ existing appliances since many of them were practically new. Vaulted ceilings, lots of high windows, and large openings to other spaces in the house, were challenges that only a galley style kitchen could address. Blending and lacing the hardwood floor with new flooring required both the new and existing to be sanded down and refinished. This provided a coherent look to the entire first floor of this home. Matching casings, baseboards and base shoe helped to make the updates look fresh, but original to the house. In the kitchen, choosing the sandstone slate finish on our Wellborn Maple select series cabinets kept the space soft; but really opened it, making the space lighter and brighter. The Harmony style door choice blended with the décor in the rest of the house, while also giving straight clean lines the homeowner desired. Grounding the row of cabinets with their refrigerator and a pantry cabinet, gave symmetry to this side of the kitchen. On the opposite side, a built-in pantry cabinet mirrors the refrigerator. A row of drawer cabinets expanded the storage and banquet space, to lay out food for entertaining. Also added were some much-needed wall cabinets with glass inserts to mirror the windows and keep the space open. This also allowed the taller canister to be displayed and admired. A few smaller shelves were added above the window space, to house the smaller canisters so loved by the homeowner. An artist by trade, this homeowner added two narrow cabinets to the side of the pantry and the side of the refrigerator panel to house and create easy access to the various spices her husband loves to use while cooking. She painted them to blend with Wellborn’s Sandstone finish. The Caesarstone countertop with a 3cm eased edge in London Gray has a small pattern that is subtle and interesting. Cutting down the Caesarstone to 2 cm and carrying the same London Gray pattern up the backsplash area, lended to the clean lines and easy cleaning this homeowner requested. Choosing chrome plumbing fixtures from Moen’s Brantford line is timeless choice. Chrome is always popular and yet in today’s market, also very trendy. The Brantford faucet has a pull-down spray and one side handle, leaving space for the all-important request of a Transcape hot water dispenser, also in chrome. Scraping away the past included smoothing out the popcorn ceiling. Adding LED slope cans to the vaulted ceilings provided the necessary task lighting to elevate these homeowners’ joy of cooking. Removing the dated “popcorn look” enhanced the clean and spacious feel created by the architecture of the ceiling. Adding Top Knob chrome hardware was the final element that tied the kitchen all together. Master Bathroom The original dated Master Bathroom had dark cabinets, a huge Jacuzzi tub and a small shower stall that provided barely enough room for even a child to shower. Removing the Jacuzzi tub that was never used, opened this floor plan to a grand shower that is comfortable and spacious. For easy cleaning, these homeowners opted for a panel system in their shower. Onyx shower walls with a shower seat and recess wide shower caddy were installed in place of the old Jacuzzi style tub. The large panels were quite a challenge for our team, with an eight foot door and vaulted ceilings; but they were determined not to have a seam. These seamless panels are beautiful and very easy to clean. Keeping with the original floor plan, a double sink vanity from Wellborn’s select line with the Harmony door style in a pebble finish was installed. New Kohler Caxton under mount sinks were installed, along with the Moen Kinsley 8” wide spread faucets in chrome. Matching Kingsley 18” grab bars were added to the shower area, along with the Kohler Brantford fixed shower head and handheld slide bar. The countertop was a beautiful Caesarstone in Frosty Carrina with an eased edge and 4” back and side splash. Matching Kinsley towel hooks were added, along with mirrors the homeowner purchased and we installed for her. Top Knobs chrome cabinet hardware finished the look along with a beautiful tile floor AO Mira 1224-S Silver Maple laid in a broken joint pattern. Matching marble sills were added on top of the knee walls and threshold in the doorway. A 3/8” frameless custom shower door with fixed panels surrounded the shower creating an open airy feel to the space. Not shown: Kohler’s Wellworth highline toilet with a slow-close seat replaces the original toilet. The original shower stall became a space used to house a stackable washer and dryer, a top a safety pan and drain to slop sink in the basement. There was even enough room for small shelving to provide storage for laundry essentials. Adding a louver door keeps the laundry area behind the scene and opens the master area to multiple tasks needed. Master Bedroom Fireplace This homeowner really missed a bedroom fireplace they had in a previous home. Since we were going to be working on their master bathroom anyway; was there a way to create a fireplace without making it feel too odd in their large bedroom area? They had purchased a ventless gas fireplace and they had their original television as well. Challenged by windows, a vaulted ceiling and the natural light streaming from the back window; this divided wall was created, keeping the lighting from the other side of the room and providing a dressing area opposite the fireplace. This was a perfect idea since the closets are now in the dressing area and the creative wall houses the fireplace and TV for cold winter nights of snuggling to a movie. Better yet, the fireplace and TV are all on remote control!

This Mid-Century home had been updated except for the kitchen and master bath. After a few years of being empty nesters, and with the neighborhood turning over drastically to infill property in the millions, this couple decided the time was right to update the last remaining rooms. Starting in the Kitchen Taking a dark, u-shaped kitchen out of the past and updating it for the future, was a dream come true for this family. They knew what they wanted in order to entertain their large extended family, which included their three kids; plus, his family, consisting of nine children, spouses, and now grandchildren. Requirements of an open space to hang out and help out, a banquet for food presentation without obstruction, bright and clean, easy storage, a place for her mother’s china decanters, and an instant hot for tea were all part of the “must haves” for this kitchen. We also needed to work around the homeowners’ existing appliances since many of them were practically new. Vaulted ceilings, lots of high windows, and large openings to other spaces in the house, were challenges that only a galley style kitchen could address. Blending and lacing the hardwood floor with new flooring required both the new and existing to be sanded down and refinished. This provided a coherent look to the entire first floor of this home. Matching casings, baseboards and base shoe helped to make the updates look fresh, but original to the house. In the kitchen, choosing the sandstone slate finish on our Wellborn Maple select series cabinets kept the space soft; but really opened it, making the space lighter and brighter. The Harmony style door choice blended with the décor in the rest of the house, while also giving straight clean lines the homeowner desired. Grounding the row of cabinets with their refrigerator and a pantry cabinet, gave symmetry to this side of the kitchen. On the opposite side, a built-in pantry cabinet mirrors the refrigerator. A row of drawer cabinets expanded the storage and banquet space, to lay out food for entertaining. Also added were some much-needed wall cabinets with glass inserts to mirror the windows and keep the space open. This also allowed the taller canister to be displayed and admired. A few smaller shelves were added above the window space, to house the smaller canisters so loved by the homeowner. An artist by trade, this homeowner added two narrow cabinets to the side of the pantry and the side of the refrigerator panel to house and create easy access to the various spices her husband loves to use while cooking. She painted them to blend with Wellborn’s Sandstone finish. The Caesarstone countertop with a 3cm eased edge in London Gray has a small pattern that is subtle and interesting. Cutting down the Caesarstone to 2 cm and carrying the same London Gray pattern up the backsplash area, lended to the clean lines and easy cleaning this homeowner requested. Choosing chrome plumbing fixtures from Moen’s Brantford line is timeless choice. Chrome is always popular and yet in today’s market, also very trendy. The Brantford faucet has a pull-down spray and one side handle, leaving space for the all-important request of a Transcape hot water dispenser, also in chrome. Scraping away the past included smoothing out the popcorn ceiling. Adding LED slope cans to the vaulted ceilings provided the necessary task lighting to elevate these homeowners’ joy of cooking. Removing the dated “popcorn look” enhanced the clean and spacious feel created by the architecture of the ceiling. Adding Top Knob chrome hardware was the final element that tied the kitchen all together. Master Bathroom The original dated Master Bathroom had dark cabinets, a huge Jacuzzi tub and a small shower stall that provided barely enough room for even a child to shower. Removing the Jacuzzi tub that was never used, opened this floor plan to a grand shower that is comfortable and spacious. For easy cleaning, these homeowners opted for a panel system in their shower. Onyx shower walls with a shower seat and recess wide shower caddy were installed in place of the old Jacuzzi style tub. The large panels were quite a challenge for our team, with an eight foot door and vaulted ceilings; but they were determined not to have a seam. These seamless panels are beautiful and very easy to clean. Keeping with the original floor plan, a double sink vanity from Wellborn’s select line with the Harmony door style in a pebble finish was installed. New Kohler Caxton under mount sinks were installed, along with the Moen Kinsley 8” wide spread faucets in chrome. Matching Kingsley 18” grab bars were added to the shower area, along with the Kohler Brantford fixed shower head and handheld slide bar. The countertop was a beautiful Caesarstone in Frosty Carrina with an eased edge and 4” back and side splash. Matching Kinsley towel hooks were added, along with mirrors the homeowner purchased and we installed for her. Top Knobs chrome cabinet hardware finished the look along with a beautiful tile floor AO Mira 1224-S Silver Maple laid in a broken joint pattern. Matching marble sills were added on top of the knee walls and threshold in the doorway. A 3/8” frameless custom shower door with fixed panels surrounded the shower creating an open airy feel to the space. Not shown: Kohler’s Wellworth highline toilet with a slow-close seat replaces the original toilet. The original shower stall became a space used to house a stackable washer and dryer, a top a safety pan and drain to slop sink in the basement. There was even enough room for small shelving to provide storage for laundry essentials. Adding a louver door keeps the laundry area behind the scene and opens the master area to multiple tasks needed. Master Bedroom Fireplace This homeowner really missed a bedroom fireplace they had in a previous home. Since we were going to be working on their master bathroom anyway; was there a way to create a fireplace without making it feel too odd in their large bedroom area? They had purchased a ventless gas fireplace and they had their original television as well. Challenged by windows, a vaulted ceiling and the natural light streaming from the back window; this divided wall was created, keeping the lighting from the other side of the room and providing a dressing area opposite the fireplace. This was a perfect idea since the closets are now in the dressing area and the creative wall houses the fireplace and TV for cold winter nights of snuggling to a movie. Better yet, the fireplace and TV are all on remote control!

Our new clients required a thorough prep and painting of their Newton home. The siding was stripped down to 100% bare wood and applied one coat of California Troubleshooter Oil primer. After some light sanding and caulking to the trim, the siding was given two fresh coats of Benjamin Moore Lampblack on the upper body of the home and Benjamin Moore Slate on the lower body. The trim and casings were scraped, feather sanded, spot primed and painted with Sherwin Williams Extra White. The porch railings, floor, and posts were all scraped, spot primed and applied two finish coats. The porch ceiling required stripping down to 100% bare wood and two new coats of Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist. The new color change looks beautiful!

Inspiration for a mid-century modern home design remodel in Other

In a neighborhood of 3-story Italianate houses called “Mansion Hill” by the locals, the new homeowners of this 2-story brick home called to say that they wanted to have the stand-out house on the block. The house, originally known as the Kirker-Fischer House had history, an elegant interior and a rather plain exterior, compared with many of its neighbors. The homeowners also said that they envisioned an all-black house. Fortunately they are not only bold, but have great taste, demonstrated by immediately approving a new color palette. The palette has lots of deep gray, dark purple tones and five different blacks, highlighted with metallic copper. The house had been poorly maintained and quickly-rehabbed more than once. The carved stone details were filled in with several layers of old paint. The most recent repaint was fairly fresh, but in some places was barely attached to the brick substrate. Lots of old paint was hand-scraped from brick walls and both stone and wood trim. The trim was sanded smooth and some mortar was replaced in the brick. Material-specific primers were used on all bare surfaces. The details in the wood window trim were so badly scarred that it was impossible to bring them back, so we clad them with new poplar molding. Other carpentry projects included some minor repairs to the fascia boards plus a line of trim on the front porch roof to add another copper highlight to a very plain area. After all this preparation and repair, the highly-detailed plan for painting took another two weeks. Meticulous attention was paid to the surfaces to accent each level and maximize the amount of visible detail. The top coats were Sherwin-Williams Emerald along with some Resilience. The project took a 3-person crew three weeks to finish. We knew right away that this was the project we were submitting for American Painting Contractor magazine’s Top Job Award, and we’re very pleased that APC recognized the Kirker-Fischer House as a winner in the category of restoration.

Chemical Cleaned and Pressure Washed the entire exterior to remove all mold and mildew in preparation for painting Removed and Replaced 8lft of 8’’ beveled cedar siding Siding and Trim – Scraped all peeling paint Oil Primed bare wood and water stains Caulked cracks/gaps and Filled holes Stained all Siding and Trim in Sherwin-Williams Anchors Aweigh SW9179 Shutters – Removed Prepared Painted Blue match to existing Front Deck Skirt Board – Prepared Scraped all loose and peeling paint Oil Primed bare wood Stained White match to existing

We finished building “Ramble Retreat” in 2021. One of our many homes in the Asheville community of The Ramble, PLATT architects designed this stone-clad stunner. The interior makes an impression with its soaring timber framework and hand-beveled and scraped flooring. You won’t find a bit of drywall in this home, as the walls and ceilings are covered in poplar and oak paneling. An outdoor kitchen sits within the screened porch, which is surrounded with handsome stonework on the flooring, pillars, and walls. Seamless screens are barely noticeable, creating a comfortable connection with nature. This cottage is a retreat in nature, located just minutes from Asheville’s urban life.

One of the most popular hardwood floor finishing which offers Tom & Peter Flooring is provided by WOCA. If you’ve decided that you want a natural looking wooden floor that is lacquer-free, then the likelihood is that you’ve chosen oil as your way of protecting your wood and making your floor look great at the same time. WOCA for wood flooring comes in various forms and is a great way of making sure that your wood is protected, but at the same time looks natural. A highly popular as well as effective way of treating wood floors, oils effectively penetrate into the wood and in some cases harden into the surface of the floor to stop damage and to maintain the wood in its optimum condition. WOCA Oil finish hardwood flooring has taken the United States market by in 2014 and shows no signs of slowing down in 2016 and now. Here are some of the most common questions we have regarding this type of finish which we will I’m to answer in today’s my blog: Is oil finish as durable as traditional factory urethane finishes with aluminum oxide? When it comes to durability, oil finish flooring tackles the issue with a completely different method. The penetrating oil serves as protection from moisture and wear while allowing the user to feel the wood grains in their bare feet. If compared directly to factory finished aluminum oxide finish, the oil finish flooring will not perform as well to abrasion and impact. However, the beauty of this finish is the fact that it will camouflage any scratches which will inevitably accumulate over time. Will this finish evaporate over time and will this be harmful for indoor air quality? Another concern for oil finished floors its effect on indoor air quality. For on-site applications, some varieties suggest several coats which typically require the residents to be out of the home due to mild odors. However, there are factory finished UV-cured or single coat applications which lessen the downtime. Despite the odors produced during the drying process, oil finish floors rank amongst the lowest for VOC (volatile organic compound) emissions. Certain brands even boast true zero VOC. This fact alone makes oil finished floors one of the best options for green building solutions. “WOCA products are certified by independent laboratories, the German Institute for Biological Building Materials, and are in accordance with DIN–Norm 53–160. WOCA WoodCare Denmark products meet or exceed the most stringent U.S. standards for volatile organic compounds.” –WOCA Oil Finish Manufacture Does this type of finish require additional maintenance which I am not familiar with? For weekly cleaning, oiled floors use a special cleaner which contains an oil and soap mixture. After a period of 12-18 months some oil may evaporate causing the wood grains to appear dry. An additional layer of oil can be reapplied to keep the floor looking fresh. Although oil finished floors require more involvement in periodic maintenance in high traffic areas, this maintenance can be done much easier than the equivalent of an onsite sand and refinish. WOCA Master Color Oil contains pigment, which provides a single-step hardwood floor staining process. Laying down the stain and the finish in one step. This product comes 14 different colors, from Black to Extra White, and you can mix them freely to create various color palettes that will meet the demands of any job. Below are some pictures of the finished job…

Catch-all Storage Closet Transforms into Elegant Wine Cellar It was a typical unused space with bare studs and exposed insulation located at the base of the lower level stairs, next to the mechanical room. The entire lower level floor is covered with multi-color slate which contained in-floor heat. This posed a problem for the new wine cellar. The challenge was overcome by placing a layer of foam insulation with a vapor barrier over the slate floor, walls, and ceiling. Then, a plywood subfloor was glued in. A wall space vented into the adjacent laundry room was created to house a cooling unit, which maintains a perfect temperature within the wine cellar. The location of this wine cellar was a wonderful opportunity to create a showpiece that could be viewed from the upper level. An old fashioned store front, complete with two large windows and a faux painted shingle roof, was designed and built to draw attention and allow the viewer to see inside. Tami found a wall mural of an authentic wine cave and had it sized to fit the side wall of the new wine cellar, providing an illusion of continuing space and setting the tone of what was about to come. A rustic wood floor and a tongue and groove barrel ceiling, faux painted to resemble brick, were installed - all coinciding with the wall mural. Custom cabinetry filled the interior, holding wine bottles and boxes of such. A copper sink was inlayed into a wood counter top. Faux painted bricks highlight an oiled rubbed bronze faucet and a leaded seedy glass cabinet above is designed to hold various types of scotch whiskey. Ambient lighting enhances the cabinetry while a rustic mini chandelier hangs from the center of the barrel ceiling. This once “catch-all” storage closet is no more. A small, old world wine cellar has emerged and now, is quite a show piece.