Tenuous link I know but I worked on this semi riven Black Brazilian Slate Tiles in the kitchen and dining room of a house in the seaside town of Thornton-Cleveleys around the time of the Rio Olympics. I love working on Slate as although it’s appearance can degrade without proper maintenance due to a build-up of dirt I knew they would look fantastic by the time I had finished. The tile itself had lost its rich black colour and the grout lines had become stained, leaving the floor as a whole looking very unattractive. Out of interest honed Slate has a smooth, refined texture whereas the riven Slate has a rougher, more natural texture, and this can make it more difficult to keep clean. Needless to say, the customer was keen to have the tiles restored to looking their best. To restore the appearance of the Slate, I cleaned the floor and removed what remained of the old sealer off using Tile Doctor Remove and Go. This was scrubbed into the floor using a scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. The floor was then rinsed with water, and the process repeated where necessary to tackle particularly stubborn areas of dirt. As mentioned previously, the grout lines were in a particularly bad state, and would need special cleaning attention. I cleaned carefully with a strong 5-to-1 dilution of Tile Doctor Pro Clean with water, which is our high alkaline cleaner. The cleaning solution was scrubbed I’m using a stiff handheld grout brush, with the grout lines looking immediately cleaner. When I was satisfied that the grout lines had been restored to the best possible condition, I gave the floor a thorough rinse using the wet pickup function of a wet wax machine to get the floor as dry as possible and then left the whole floor to dry off overnight. Upon my return to the property I ran some quick damp tests to check that the floor was completely dry. This is important as any excess moisture would have prevented me from sealing the tiles, since it can cloud the sealer and damage it performance. Previously I discussed sealer options with the customer and they stated that they would prefer a Satin finish, so I applied a sealer called Tile Doctor Seal and Go, our topical sealer which will both protect the Slate from dirt and stains, and also gave it the desired finish. As you can see from the below photographs, the rich, dark shades in the Slate were really enhanced. The customer was very pleased with the finished result, but was also concerned about keeping the Slate clean in the long-term. For regular cleaning I advised the customer to use a pH neutral cleaner for aftercare called Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner. As a pH neutral cleaner, it will not erode the sealer compared to acidic cleaners you so often find in supermarkets. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

The colourful and diverse geometric patterns of a Victorian tiled floor can give a property a regal, elegant and timeless feel, making it a popular choice even in the 21st century. However, as time passes without regular care and maintenance, Victorian tiles can quickly lose their colour and appear deadened by the buildup of dirt and dust over several months (and sometimes years). This property owner in Hebden a very small village in North Yorkshire of less than 300 people, had this common problem. Her Victorian tiled hallway had not been adequately maintained and was now more difficult to keep clean than ever. To add to the problem, most of the tiles along the edges were either broken, cracked, or filled with holes, probably I suspect from the installation of carpet grippers at some point in the past. At this point, the property owner turned to Tile Doctor to see what could be done. Before beginning a deep clean of the entire length of the hallway, it was first necessary to source and install replacement tiles for those that had been broken and damaged. I also relaid any that were loose. When finished, I left the tiles to set and returned the next day to start the clean. My choice of cleaner in this situation was Tile Doctor Pro Clean, which was scrubbed into the floor with a special pad fitted to a rotary machine to break down ingrained dirt and stains. Pro Clean does this very effectively on all types of tile, including natural stone and of course Victorian tiles. The floor was then rinsed with water and the soiled cleaning solution extracted from the floor using a vet vacuum. Stubborn areas were re-treated with more Pro Clean, and when I was satisfied with the condition of the tiles the floor was given a final but thorough rinse to remove any trace of cleaning product. The floor was then left to dry completely overnight to ensure all excess moisture had disappeared, leaving it fresh to be sealed. I returned in the morning for a third day of work to seal the Victorian tiles with four coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go, a topical sealer which provides a rich satin finish to really add depth to the colours in the tile while protecting it against dirt and stains. The customer was delighted with the restoration and couldn’t quite believe the huge improvement in the appearance of the tiles, especially in regards to the enhancement in the different colours. Another satisfied customer! Nigel Stoker North West Yorkshire Tile Doctor

The owners of this Edwardian property in Finchley had purchased it a couple of years prior and since then had slowly been renovating it to restore its original character. The project was almost complete and now attention had turned to the tiled floor. The tiles were in quite a state and I was asked to work our Tile Doctor magic and bring it back to its original condition. When they moved in the hallway had been covered with carpet which gave the tiles underneath some protection. Unfortunately, however the carpet has been secured with carpet grippers that had been glued to the tiles around the edges. There were also paint splashes on the surface that would need dealing with. On top of that the floor had a few missing tiles that had been back filled by cement to provide a level base for the carpet, the client wanted like them replaced if possible. After surveying the floor, I explained what could be done and ever completed a small test clean to demonstrate how the tiles would look once deep cleaned. I was confident on being able to source very similar reclaimed tiles so replacing the missing should not be a problem. The client was very happy with the initial test result and my quotation so booked me in to restore the floor. On my return I started by applying Tile Doctor Remove and Go to soften up the glue which allowed it to be carefully peeled off the tiles with scrappers. Once all the carpet adhesive was gone, I worked a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go into the tiles using a black pad to work the cleaning solution deeper into the tiles. A wet vacuum was used to remove the slurry created, and I followed this by giving the tiles an extra clean using a 200-grit diamond burnishing pad lubricated with water. The last step in the cleaning process was to give the floor an acid rinse using Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up, I did this for several reasons, first it removes old grout smears from the surface of the tile and second it neutralised any efflorescent salts lying dormant in the floor. This can be quite a problem for old floors which don’t have the benefit of a protective damp proof membrane under the floor. The floor was given a final rinse with water which was again extracted with a wet vacuum. I then set about lifting all the loose tiles (approximately ten) and carefully removing the concrete infills. I had previously managed to source replacements for these holes from original features. Unfortunately, they didn’t sell the correct sized octagon tiles, so I had bought 150mm square tiles and then needed to cut them on site to get the right size. After cutting and fixing the tiles I fixed them in place and regrouted the rest of the floor. I then left the floor to dry out overnight and returned in the morning. Before applying a sealer, I took several moisture readings with the damp meter to make sure the tiles were dry enough to take the sealer. I was able to confirm the floor was dry, so went ahead and applied three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealant. Colour Grow is an impregnating sealer that is fully breathable sealer which is important when it comes to old floors like these that don’t have a damp proof membrane installed. My client was very happy with the renovated floor and for aftercare I left them with a bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner and gave advice on how best to clean the floor going forward. Andrew Newstead North London Tile Doctor

Durat recycled pink countertop

Custom Suspended Pantry System with, tray storage slots, pull out wine racks and pull out drawers and baskets. Custom Closets Sarasota County Manatee County Custom Storage Sarasota County Manatee County

Kitchen - transitional kitchen idea in Minneapolis

Example of a large trendy l-shaped terrazzo floor and multicolored floor kitchen design in Tampa with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, glass countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and blue countertops

Photo: Rikki Snyder © 2014 Houzz
Family room - eclectic dark wood floor family room idea in New York with white walls and no tv

Tricia Shay Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary gray two-story mixed siding house exterior remodel in Milwaukee with a shed roof

Photo credit: Charles-Ryan Barber Architect: Nadav Rokach Interior Design: Eliana Rokach Staging: Carolyn Greco at Meredith Baer Contractor: Building Solutions and Design, Inc.

Example of a mid-sized urban two-car garage workshop design in Toronto

After living in their 1966 SW Portland home for more than 30 years, our clients were ready to rethink the best use of their space and furnish accordingly. We converted the barely used living room to a light and modern media room with a custom wall-mounted bamboo cabinet that provides a clean solution for hiding the tv. The furniture is a mix of modern classic design and custom solutions tailored to the specific needs of this couple. We added the expansive three-panel slider door to the garden, plus skylights, lighting, paint, and refinished floors. Project by Portland interior design studio Jenni Leasia Interior Design. Also serving Lake Oswego, West Linn, Vancouver, Sherwood, Camas, Oregon City, Beaverton, and the whole of Greater Portland. For more about Jenni Leasia Interior Design, click here: https://www.jennileasiadesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.jennileasiadesign.com/sw-portland-midcentury

This eclectic space is infused with unique pieces and warm finishes combined to create a welcoming and comfortable space. We used Ikea kitchen cabinets and butcher block counter top for the bar area and built in media center. Custom wood floating shelves to match, maximize storage while maintaining clean lines and minimizing clutter. A custom bar table in the same wood tones is the perfect spot to hang out and play games. Splashes of brass and pewter in the hardware and antique accessories offset bright accents that pop against or white walls and ceiling. Grey floor tiles are an easy to clean solution warmed up by woven area rugs.

Once a galley kitchen with a garage door at the end of it, MOTIF reconfigured the layout and moved the garage door, removed a wall and opened the kitchen to the adjacent living space, The couple who lives in this cottage-like home has a great place to cook and entertain friends. These very social homeowners can now host parties and entertain their friends and family well with the newly designed layout. A love for cooking inspired the design of the wall above the range. The cabinets were built by hand by the previous owner who was a professional carpenter. In the interest of honoring his life, we kept the boxes and reconfigured the layout while adding some new custom touches that look like they were always there.

Sporty Spa. Texture and pattern from the tile set the backdrop for the soft grey-washed bamboo and custom cast concrete sink. Calm and soothing tones meet active lines and angles- might just be the perfect way to start the day.

Laundry room - mediterranean laundry room idea in Orange County

After living in their 1966 SW Portland home for more than 30 years, our clients were ready to rethink the best use of their space and furnish accordingly. We converted the barely used living room to a light and modern media room with a custom wall-mounted bamboo cabinet that provides a clean solution for hiding the tv. The furniture is a mix of modern classic design and custom solutions tailored to the specific needs of this couple. We added the expansive three-panel slider door to the garden, plus skylights, lighting, paint, and refinished floors. Project by Portland interior design studio Jenni Leasia Interior Design. Also serving Lake Oswego, West Linn, Vancouver, Sherwood, Camas, Oregon City, Beaverton, and the whole of Greater Portland. For more about Jenni Leasia Interior Design, click here: https://www.jennileasiadesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.jennileasiadesign.com/sw-portland-midcentury

Inspiration for a coastal patio remodel in Orange County

Bathroom - modern beige floor, double-sink and vaulted ceiling bathroom idea in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, white walls, an undermount sink, white countertops and a floating vanity