CLOSE-UP VIEW This master bath makeover starts with bare walls that have been floated out smooth over the sheetrock. Then we hand applied a beautiful custom tinted, soft grey Venetian plaster. After two coats of plaster, the walls were waxed and buffed. This process seals the plaster, leaving a long-lasting finish. The finished product is subtle and undeniably beautiful! I’ve included a close-up view of the finish below.

First things first…this renovation was certainly a labor of love for everyone involved, from our amazing clients, to the contractors, vendors and us, this project consumed all of us and the outcome is more than Gorgeous. This contemporary home is nestled back in a a great area of St Louis County. A brick ranch with contemporary touches…once adorned glass blocked bar and stairwell, a tiny galley kitchen and a remodeled garage that once housed their “dining and hearth room” but no one ever used that space. CURE Senior Designer, Cori Dyer took this space, completely and brilliantly re worked the configuration and entire floor plan and layout. Tearing out the dividing wall from the kitchen and what was once the garage, allowed the new kitchen layout to be flipped to the now long perpendicular wall, and created an open mega kitchen with great natural light, double islands, eat in kitchen and seating area, bar and open the great room. You can stand among the space at any point and are able to take in the entire view. Creating an uber chic space doesn’t happen on its own…it takes intricate design, research and planning. Custom made cabinets, a double island featuring two surfaces a butcher block and unforgettable marble. This clean color palette plays well with the new custom furniture in the great room, creating a seating area that sparks conversations.

Dreamy Elk Photography & Design
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Stephanie Wiley Photography
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Creative concepts by Norm Panczak, and myself Joe Panczak, hand-made every piece of panel, installed them and lacquer sprayed the entire South western Style room back in 2002. My apologize for the poor quality in photos, considering this was the optimal photo quality that I was able to pick up from a bad hard drive. Each piece took about 9 minutes to manufacture (bull nosed edges, then rough sanded, edges, then progressive fine sanding took place, pieces were then installed, pine was lacquer sprayed twice natural in color, then steel wool sanded, then sprayed a third time.)

Custom steel gate with keypad locking handle - Angelica Norton
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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…

Julian Hodges - Featured Project of the Month by Truitt & White This month featured project brings you beautifully crafted gates and entryways from local craftsman Julian Hodges. For over 35 years, Mr. Hodges has been designing and crafting custom wooden gates in Berkeley and the greater Bay Area. His projects mainly feature old growth, vertical grained redwood or western red cedar which is air or kiln dried. The gates are fully mortised and tenoned (male / female joints) and a very powerful epoxy is used to glue the parts together. Wherever a floating panel rides in a dado, drainage is provided in the form of several holes that are out of sight that allow any rain water to be ushered out at the bottom of the gate enabling the gate to dry itself rather than staying damp which otherwise could lead to long term decomposition of the wood. Adding to the unique feel of each gate, Julian creates his own custom hardware from heavy gauge steel, which also provides a pleasing solid sound as it operates. All gates are then finished in a penetrating oil seal which optimizes the longevity and good appearance of the gates. For more information on Julian Hodges' work, visit www.julianhodges.com.

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Close-up of the faux walnut--would you think this is paint?!
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The color combination/contrasting and we used Rhoeo bermudensis, a great ground cover as well as a good border plant and the Ruellia brittoniana (also call the Mexican petunia) a great hardy hedge.

SBLA, Inc.
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Isabelle Castillo
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View of Master bed from sitting room
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Kitchen remodel. Work completed includes: Floor refinish Bar extension New ceiling lighting, under cabinet lighting, inside cabinet lighting Cabinet refinish New hinges and pulls on doors New granite counter tops New back splash