Inspiration for a contemporary hallway remodel in Chicago

Photo by: Landmark Photography
Elegant formal and open concept dark wood floor staircase photo in Minneapolis with beige walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and no tv

Lovely detail shot of the distressed, painted sage cabinets and handle pull.
Large farmhouse u-shaped ceramic tile kitchen photo in Boston with raised-panel cabinets, green cabinets, an island, an undermount sink, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances

Location: New York, NY, United States This Loft was tastefully renovated back in the '90s, but was due for an update and an expansion of the kitchen and dining areas to accommodate the client's cooking skills and entertaining needs. EnlargIing the island and adding cabinetry to delineate the office, bar and dining areas was a priority. The bathroom was updated to feel like a tranquil spa with beautiful new tile, plumbing fixtures and cabinets. Our biggest challenge was coordinating the entire renovation while our client was out of town for the Summer! Photographed by: James Salomon

Oivanki Photography
Patio - traditional courtyard patio idea in New Orleans with no cover

This beautiful Victorian tiled hallway was in desperate need of some TLC. The house had recently changed hands and the new owners of the house were having the entire property renovated. The last part of the renovation plan was to have the Victorian hallway tiles restoring back to their former glory. Floors are always best left until last, especially hallways as last as workmen don’t usually take a lot of care in my experience. The house was built in the early 1900’s and was situated close to Doncaster town centre a couple of streets away in fact from the famous Doncaster Racecourse which dates to the late 1500’s. There were a few areas of damage to the floor that would need dealing with first. This is not surprising given the age of the floor which must have seen a lot of comings and goings over the years. Our first task therefore was to repair the damage using replica tiles sourced to be as close a match to the originals as possible. We usually find any slight differences disappear once the floor has been deep cleaned and sealed. Once removing the damaged tile and cleaning the base we use a fast setting adhesive to fix the replacement tiles in place so we can get on with the cleaning as soon as possible. Once the replacement tiles had set, we unloaded our slow speed rotary floor machine and large wet vacuum which would be used during the cleaning. To start the cleaning the floor was sprayed with Tile Doctor Remove & Go and this was left to dwell on the tiles for twenty minutes. This gives time for the product to break down old floor coatings and grime, this was followed by scrubbing the tiles with a 200-grit diamond pad fitted to the floor machine and assisted with the addition of more water to help lubricate the process. This process generates a lot of slurry as the dirt and old sealers etc are released from the tiles and this is extracted from the surface of the floor using the wet vacuum. The next step was to give the floor an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel which is applied to the tiles and left to dwell for fifteen minutes and scrubbed in again with the floor buffer and 200-grit diamond pad. Once done the floor was rinsed with water and then dried using the wet vacuum to extract as much moisture as possible. This last process is designed to counter any alkaline salts that may be present in the floor which may cause efflorescence to appear later. It also removes old mineral deposits and generally get the tiles looking much brighter. Once complete the floor was left to dry off naturally overnight. I came back the next day to seal the tiles first checking the floor was dry using a moisture meter. Satisfied that the floor was ready for sealing I started to seal the tiles using multiple coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra which is a fully breathable sealer which is important for old floors like this. Seal and Go Extra also leaves a lovely satin finish which works well on Victorian tiles and brings the floor alive. This was the last step in this properties renovation, and I think you will agree that the floor responded really well to the restoration process and the colours in the tiles are now very vibrant. Matthew Lovett South Yorkshire Tile Doctor

Coastal exterior home idea in Jacksonville

A skylight at the top of the stairs allows for natural light to flood down below.
Example of a mid-sized minimalist light wood floor and brown floor hallway design in Toronto with white walls

Front door - large mediterranean dark wood floor front door idea in Orange County with beige walls and a medium wood front door

Example of an island style staircase design in Charleston

Deck - transitional deck idea in Denver

Photography: Ira Montgomery
Inspiration for a transitional entryway remodel in Dallas

The wire-brushed oak doors to the compound were hung on riveted strap hinges. The doors, hardware and lock were custom fabricated by the owner, Master Craftsman of Ornamental Ironwork Patrice Humbert. Patrice also fabricated the steel louvered panels in the breezeway connecting the main house to the guest house. Custom sconces designed by Anik Pearson were also fabricated by Patrice.

This 1920s single bay house in Earlsdon had been restored by the builder from top to bottom. The hallway floor had been covered in laminate flooring which had been removed, revealing an Edwardian tiled floor beneath. Unfortunately, the plasterer had not covered the floor when working on the walls, so the tiles were now covered in plaster! The client was keen to keep as many original features as possible and called me in to see if the original 100-year-old floor could be renovated in keeping with the rest of the house. I visited the property to survey the tiles and explained that it certainly could be and having worked on hundreds of these renovations before I was confident of getting a good result. They were happy to go with my quotation and we arranged a time to carry out the work. The floor tiles themselves were in good condition, but I had to hand carefully scrape the plaster off the tiles before starting on the deep clean. With the plaster removed from the floor I applied Tile Doctor Acid Gel and worked it into the tiles with a coarse 100-grit pad. The floor was then rinsed, and the waste extracted from the floor using a wet vacuum. The process was then repeated with a 200-Grit and then a 400-grit pad until I was happy. The floor was then speed dried with fans whilst I worked on a repair around the threshold of one of the doors. The repair was relatively straight forward, and I managed to restore the tiling, so the repair was unnoticeable. The floor was then left overnight to completely dry out. Floors of this age don’t have a damp proof membrane so moisture can build up if they have been covered as in this case. The next stage in the restoration would be to apply a sealer and the floor needs to be dry before you do this otherwise the result can be patchy. Returning the following day, I first tested the floor with a damp meter to check the moisture levels in different parts of the floor to ensure it was dry enough to seal. The fans had done a good job and I was pleased to find that the floor was dry. To seal this floor, I used Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra, it’s a breathable acrylic based sealer that allows for moisture vapour to rise through the tile and evaporate at the surface. This makes it ideal for situations where no damp proof membrane has been installed and there is a low risk of mineral salt deposits being formed (efflorescence). Once completed the transformation was huge and he Victorian tiles looked well suited to the hallway. Feedback from my client was they were over the moon with the newly restored floor! For regular cleaning, I recommended Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, this is a gentle pH neutral cleaner that will ensure the newly applied seal is retained and not eroded prematurely. This can be the problem with most household cleaning products which contain strong chemicals like bleach which can break down the sealer over time. Without a sealer dirt gets back into the pores of the tile which will mean the homeowner will need to get the floor cleaned and sealed again – a vicious circle! Mick Gayton Warwickshire Tile Doctor

Clay Jones
Country exterior home photo in Louisville

Think beyond glass and select an acrylic panel or wire mesh insert for a personalized touch, adding complimentary organic textures, patterns and shapes to enhance the overall look of your space.

McCown Design
Inspiration for a modern exterior home remodel in Miami

This 2 bedroom 2 bath 727 perches 50 feet above the jungle canopy Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Manuel Antonio National Park, this 2 bedroom 2 bath home, re-purposed from a 727, has been named by Travel and Leisure, HGTV, Strange Homes and Animal Planet as one of the most unique and fantastic experiences in the jungles of Costa Rica. Wake to the roar of the howler monkeys, have coffee with the playful spider and white faced monkeys to start your day. Fully equipped kitchen, flat screen TV, a total of 3 Queen beds and 2 large outdoor over the wing deck/ balconies of polished teak and handcrafted furnishings make this flight of fancy a truly unforgettable vacation home. Monkeys , sloths, acoutis, and over 184 species of birds will become your neighbors, greeting you in your private jungle paradise. You are a short downhill walk to the white sand beach and the shops and nightlife of Manuel Antonio. Adjacent to Costa Verde Hotel, you will enjoy the 3 pools, one is adult only with a pool bar, 4 restaurants, maid service and tour/ concierge services within a few minutes walk or a call to the bilingual front desk. Free Internet. The closest airport is Quepos, or San Jose International airport which is approx 2.5 hours drive. Arrangements can be made to pick you up at either. Pez Vela Marina in Quepos is home to some of the best sport fishing in Costa Rica, with daily charters, catamaran cruises, and private sunset sails . Several great ocean front restaurants in the marina have become the place to enjoy some world class sports fishing and be part of the international boating community that docks in Marina Pez Vela. Waterfalls, ATV's, Hiking, Zip Lining, Manuel Antonio National Park, surfing, bird watching, jungle explorations are all part of the Manuel Antonio experience for the nature lover. Or do nothing, lay by the pool, have a massage on your private 727 and listen to sounds of the jungle with a cold drink in hand. Click on our video for a close up look at the interiors and views. Please note the rates do not include 13% CR tax. 727 Fuselage Home The airplane, nestled beside the rain forest and beside our Costa Verde II building, is perched on a custom-built platform 15 meters (50 feet) up from the ground. At this height, its guests will be able to enjoy scenic ocean and jungle views from both the factory airplane windows and the handcrafted deck that has been built atop its wings. The inside of the plane has been decorated using local teak wood and Costa Verde‘s renowned innovation. This has resulted in a beautiful wood paneled fuselage with three queen size beds, two bathrooms, TV, AC, kitchenette and safety deposit.