✨ BEFORE & AFTER -- Step Repair ? ☎ Call Mike Boyd at 757-412-5630 to discuss your next masonry project. The square pavers on the landing were removed and replaced with Brookstown Full Range Modular Pavers from Pine Hall Brick Company, Inc. These traditional wire-cut, square-edge clay pavers complement the existing brick beautifully. The old, deteriorating mortar joints were ground out and filled with new mortar (Workrite 2906 N Old Colonial from York Building Products). After that, the area was cleaned using an acid wash designed for brick (@Prosoco SureKlean 600), which effectively dissolves mortar smears and construction dirt without causing acid burns or streaks. Repointing rejuvenates the old brick's appearance and helps prevent water from seeping into the joints. ✨ Want to restore your entryway? Give us a call! ☎ 757-412-5630 ? Now scheduling for MARCH 2025 for projects in Virginia Beach, Norfolk & Chesapeake, Virginia. #brick #bricklayer #brickmason #masonry #inspiration #skilledtrades #skills

The concept behind the ceiling design was to skillfully guide the eye across the room, ensuring proportional harmony. Simultaneously, the form of the ceiling served the purpose of concealing the beams, seamlessly integrating functionality with aesthetics, effectively dissolving the boundaries of the space.

Cool Paint is a paint roof cover that absorbs the warmth of the sun to keep the roof and the surrounding area cooler. The roof lasts longer and the temperature in the interior is more comfortable. Once the service is implemented, it starts to pay for itself. Cool Paint is weather-resistant and non-dissolvent. The cooling effect has a value (measured according to ASTM E1980) of SRI (Solar Reflectance Index). The SRI value of Cool Paint is 89. Therefore, a Cool Paint covering is 72% of sunlight and returns 87% of the heat to the atmosphere rather than the underlying air. Most solar heat reduces the difference in the roof temperature between day and night, summer and winter. The roof's lifetime is extended by constantly lower temperatures.

The photographs below are of an 80m2 Black Limestone Patio that was laid in rear garden of a property in Sandbach. All was going well until the installer decided to clean up the stone and remove the excess grout (aka grout haze) using brick acid. This is common practice in the trade after laying a patio however what they failed to realise is that Limestone can be marked by acids and in fact can be dissolved over time. This left the patio looking drained and in quite a state as you can imagine. In an attempt to restore the black colour of the stone, the tiler painted on a restoration product however with the grout haze still present on the stone all this did was to add to the problems. Frustrated the customer decided to call Tile Doctor and so I went over to see what could be done. I quickly deducted that the brick acid will have damaged the surface of the stone so to restore it I ran some tests on a small part of the patio that I been badly affected using a series of diamond encrusted burnishing pads of different grits. The pads successfully demonstrated that the appearance could be restored and impressed with the difference I was given the job of renovating all 80m2. Being outside weather was an issue and I had to reschedule until a dry weather window appeared. Cleaning during damp weather isn’t a problem, it’s the sealer which needs to be applied when the sone is dry to get the right result. Made with industrial diamonds and available in different sizes and grits, burnishing pads are ideal for restoring the appearance of polished stone floors. The first step was to work on the most badly damaged tiles with a coarse 100 and then 200-grit diamond milling pad fitted to a weighted rotary machine and lubricated with water. This took off the ruined top layer of the limestone bringing up the virgin stone underneath. Next the patio was worked on with a 400-grit diamond burnishing pad, followed by 800-grit, and then 1500-grit pad. Each pad further renovates the appearance of the stone (Honing) and had to be rinsed after each pad to remove the slurry that is generated. With 80m2 of Limestone paving to cover it took four days to completely restore all the stone using this method. It was tough work, but it made an incredible difference and naturally was far more cost effective than replacing the patio. With the stone cleaned up the last step was to restore the natural black colour in the Limestone with an application of Tile Doctor Stone-Oil which restores the deep black colour and adds texture to the stone, it’s also an impregnating sealer in its own right that adds protection and improves mechanical strength once cured. I allowed this to dry overnight then returned the next day to finish the patio restoration with a further coat of Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal, a no-sheen natural-looking sealer formulated to provide maximum stain protection without altering the colour of the stone. The customer was delighted with the transformation, what was one an uninviting ugly area now looks fantastic and welcoming. Impressed with the result they left the following glowing feedback: “Kamila is A M A Z I N G! From discussing our issue over the phone to meeting her in person, her advice and professionalism was second to none. She worked hard to repair our outdoor patio and we are thrilled with her results! We would happily recommend Kamila and wish her every success with her business in the future! Thank you Kamila! X Kamila Logonzy East Cheshire Tile Doctor

Triptych House is composed of three volumes that are united by a horizontal plane extending out to define outdoor spaces and functions. Inside, the definition between the volumes dissolves as the open kitchen, living, and dining spaces provide a flowing spatial experience for guests and family alike. This form arose from the functional goal of a home with spaces that at times offer privacy but are most often shared and familial. The volumes were also pulled apart to create pockets of greenery and outdoor space that are experienced as one circulates around the home. The home relates to its neighborhood abstractly in terms of scale, datum, and rhythm of openings, rather than through stylistic replication. The distinct nature of each volume is emphasized by its material character. The verticality of board and batten siding cladding the central two-story volume draws the eye downward, while its dark color allows the single-story light brick volume to hold the foreground when viewed from the street. The steel-edged canopy highlights the horizontal datum that ties all spaces together, allowing a series of special moments articulated in millwork and saturated color to be united under a single plane.

Interior view of the living room corner window which is about 10 feet x 6 feet. The glass corner nearly dissolves in the reflections as the pastoral view of forest and field enters into the living room. Clear maple floors with a monocoat finish give the wood a natural, almost unfinished quality.

Updated master bathroom from below counter, to ceramic Canoe sinks mounted on top of new marble counters. Replaced faucets with a mix of modern and old world charm water pump style faucets. Both sinks and faucets are are both more stylish and more ergonomic the the fixtures from the 80's. The sinks have ease of use push pop up drains, containing removable hair traps reducing clogged sinks and inconvenience, mess, need and cost liquid cures to dissolve hair buildup in typical sink drains. Went over old Linoleum floors with a laminate with a rubber underside and very tight seams, a ideal moisture tolerant solution for a floating floor in a bathroom, and pleasing to the eye and under foot. Replaced Formica counters with Marble. Build custom on site trim to encase and frame around existing large mirrors that were frame less and glued to the wall.

Beach Grove Social transforms a dated 3-bed, 2.5-bath into a modern, moody home made for entertaining. Vaulted cedar ceilings and triangular clerestories bathe white oak and graphite finishes in soft light, while a linear hearth anchors the open living–dining core. The reimagined kitchen hides the daily clutter with a concealed appliance garage and a grain-matched door to the laundry, keeping surfaces calm. Full-width sliders dissolve the boundary to a terrace designed for gatherings. Three new bathrooms—each tailored to its user—pair refined materials with serene lighting to deliver sophisticated, restorative spaces.

Updated master bathroom from below counter, to ceramic Canoe sinks mounted on top of new marble counters. Replaced faucets with a mix of modern and old world charm water pump style faucets. Both sinks and faucets are are both more stylish and more ergonomic the the fixtures from the 80's. The sinks have ease of use push pop up drains, containing removable hair traps, reducing clogged sinks and inconvenience, mess, need and cost liquid cures to dissolve hair buildup in typical sink drains. Went over old Linoleum floors with a laminate with a rubber underside and very tight seams, a ideal moisture tolerant solution for a floating floor in a bathroom, and pleasing to the eye and under foot. Replaced Formica counters with Marble. Build custom on site trim to encase and frame around existing large mirrors that were frame less and glued to the wall.

The Atherton House is a family compound for a professional couple in the tech industry, and their two teenage children. After living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, and building homes there, they looked forward to continuing their search for a new place to start a life and set down roots. The site is located on Atherton Avenue on a flat, 1 acre lot. The neighboring lots are of a similar size, and are filled with mature planting and gardens. The brief on this site was to create a house that would comfortably accommodate the busy lives of each of the family members, as well as provide opportunities for wonder and awe. Views on the site are internal. Our goal was to create an indoor- outdoor home that embraced the benign California climate. The building was conceived as a classic “H” plan with two wings attached by a double height entertaining space. The “H” shape allows for alcoves of the yard to be embraced by the mass of the building, creating different types of exterior space. The two wings of the home provide some sense of enclosure and privacy along the side property lines. The south wing contains three bedroom suites at the second level, as well as laundry. At the first level there is a guest suite facing east, powder room and a Library facing west. The north wing is entirely given over to the Primary suite at the top level, including the main bedroom, dressing and bathroom. The bedroom opens out to a roof terrace to the west, overlooking a pool and courtyard below. At the ground floor, the north wing contains the family room, kitchen and dining room. The family room and dining room each have pocketing sliding glass doors that dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. Connecting the wings is a double high living space meant to be comfortable, delightful and awe-inspiring. A custom fabricated two story circular stair of steel and glass connects the upper level to the main level, and down to the basement “lounge” below. An acrylic and steel bridge begins near one end of the stair landing and flies 40 feet to the children’s bedroom wing. People going about their day moving through the stair and bridge become both observed and observer. The front (EAST) wall is the all important receiving place for guests and family alike. There the interplay between yin and yang, weathering steel and the mature olive tree, empower the entrance. Most other materials are white and pure. The mechanical systems are efficiently combined hydronic heating and cooling, with no forced air required.

Susan Semmelmann is famed for audacious design statements, but she also cherishes the simplicity and elegance of a Step into the realm of your Dream Home with us. We curate the look and feel of your desired abode, encompassing all elements from illuminations to adornments. While Susan Semmelmann is acclaimed for her daring design declarations, she holds a deep reverence for the allure of chic, minimalist aesthetics. Our fabrics, draperies, and furnishings are skillfully fashioned at our Fort Worth Fabric Studio - a vibrant, woman-led establishment nestled in the heart of Texas. Your dream living room comes to life with a prominent white brick accent wall and fireplace, lending an urban twist to your Texan home. Resting beneath a dazzling crystal chandelier are plush beige couches, creating a harmonious balance between comfort and elegance. Our concept of a bathroom is a place for you to dissolve the day's stresses; thus, we utilized a serene, all-white palette and emphasized absolute balance within your personal retreat. Amidst designing your symmetrically placed, eggshell cabinets, we laid down a classy marble floor intended for regal footfalls. The center stage is dominated by a spotless, inviting plunge bath designed for indulgent bubble baths. In crafting your dream kitchen, we married chic design with timeless elegance. Across a single stretch, we merged eggshell cabinets and a marble countertop with a smoothly integrated sink, dishwasher, and state-of-the-art oven. The dark wood floors and custom brown drapes add warmth and contrast to the space, accentuating the room's modern-yet-classic appeal. With the bounty of countertop space ready to echo your personal style, we’ll inject a unique decorative flourish guaranteed to impress your visitors. For an innovative take on modern home conception, trust Susan Semmelmann and her 23 years of Interior Design experience to realize your dreams.

The primary living area features soaring vaulted ceilings and expansive sliding glass doors that dissolve the barrier between interior and exterior. The material palette balances moody, sophisticated furnishings with the organic textures of the forest canopy visible beyond the glazing.

The Atherton House is a family compound for a professional couple in the tech industry, and their two teenage children. After living in Singapore, then Hong Kong, and building homes there, they looked forward to continuing their search for a new place to start a life and set down roots. The site is located on Atherton Avenue on a flat, 1 acre lot. The neighboring lots are of a similar size, and are filled with mature planting and gardens. The brief on this site was to create a house that would comfortably accommodate the busy lives of each of the family members, as well as provide opportunities for wonder and awe. Views on the site are internal. Our goal was to create an indoor- outdoor home that embraced the benign California climate. The building was conceived as a classic “H” plan with two wings attached by a double height entertaining space. The “H” shape allows for alcoves of the yard to be embraced by the mass of the building, creating different types of exterior space. The two wings of the home provide some sense of enclosure and privacy along the side property lines. The south wing contains three bedroom suites at the second level, as well as laundry. At the first level there is a guest suite facing east, powder room and a Library facing west. The north wing is entirely given over to the Primary suite at the top level, including the main bedroom, dressing and bathroom. The bedroom opens out to a roof terrace to the west, overlooking a pool and courtyard below. At the ground floor, the north wing contains the family room, kitchen and dining room. The family room and dining room each have pocketing sliding glass doors that dissolve the boundary between inside and outside. Connecting the wings is a double high living space meant to be comfortable, delightful and awe-inspiring. A custom fabricated two story circular stair of steel and glass connects the upper level to the main level, and down to the basement “lounge” below. An acrylic and steel bridge begins near one end of the stair landing and flies 40 feet to the children’s bedroom wing. People going about their day moving through the stair and bridge become both observed and observer. The front (EAST) wall is the all important receiving place for guests and family alike. There the interplay between yin and yang, weathering steel and the mature olive tree, empower the entrance. Most other materials are white and pure. The mechanical systems are efficiently combined hydronic heating and cooling, with no forced air required.

Nestled along South Boulder Creek with sweeping Flatirons views, Creekside is a custom modern mountain home shaped by one guiding principle: dissolve the boundary between light, landscape, and daily living. From the first conversations, the project began not with a floor plan, but with the land itself—carefully evaluating a rare, delicate site and letting its rhythms, constraints, and beauty set the tone for every decision. Designed for a couple building their forever home in the Boulder foothills, the residence balances crisp modernity with the warmth and honesty of natural materials. Expansive glazing and clean lines are grounded by timber, stone, and tactile finishes—quietly luxurious rather than showy. The clients had spent years “chasing the light” from home to home; here, that pursuit became something more intentional. Instead of chasing the sun, the architecture invites sunlight to travel through the house across the day and seasons. Light is treated as a living element, orchestrated to create moments of surprise and calm. An interior window captures southern exposure at the upper level, guiding it through the loft and filtering it into the northern living room below—an atmospheric shift that changes hour by hour. A glass stair bridge adds levitation and clarity, linking front and back, public and private. Beneath it, a serene Zen garden winds under floating stairs, creating a quiet pause in the home’s circulation. Facing the creek, the home opens into a composition of glass and crisp geometry, framing moving water and long bands of daylight. Peaked roofs, timber beams, and stone cladding nod to regional vernacular, rooting the modern form in its mountain context. Set beside a sensitive riparian corridor, Creekside demanded exceptional care, including meticulous deconstruction of an existing structure with 94% landfill diversion. Performance was treated as a design feature: HERS 4, ENERGY STAR certification, a 15.8 kWh solar array, 30 kW battery backup, 1 ACH air-sealed construction, and air-source heat pumps—proof that stewardship and comfort can coexist beautifully.

This Morgan Hill pool house was designed as a seamless extension of the home, where indoor comfort meets effortless outdoor living. A soft, neutral palette layered with warm wood tones and textured stone creates a relaxed yet refined backdrop for gathering, anchored by a contemporary fireplace wall and custom millwork. Expansive openings dissolve the boundary to the pool beyond, inviting year-round enjoyment and an easy, sun-soaked California lifestyle.

These pictures of a Victorian Tiled Hallway are from a property in Canterbury that was once a nursing home and was now being renovated to become a children’s home. The building was being gutted and extended at the same time and when the carpet was pulled up in the hallway, they were surprised to find a relatively intact Victorian tiled floor underneath. Whilst they thought it bizarre that anyone would want to cover up such an attractive floor the carpet had protected it over the years. They realized it would make a marvellous feature at the entrance to the property, but professional restoration would be needed to do it justice. After a bit of research, they came across Tile Doctor and got in touch. Canterbury comes under my North Kent designation, so I went to visit the property and survey the floor and quote for doing the restoration. There were a few missing and loose tiles that would need replacing and refixing also there was a lot of ingrained dirt so a deep clean and application of a new sealer would be required. I gave them a price for the work which they readily accepted, and we arranged a suitable time to carry out the work. Subject to the building schedule I had calculated the floor would take three days to restore. On the first day I set about replacing and re-fixing the missing, broken, and loose tiles. This is delicate work as you need to extract the old tile without disturbing its neighbours and then clean up the area ready for its replacement. Being a Tile Doctor I keep a selection of stock tiles for repairs, some are reclaimed, and some are replica. Also, there are several companies still making Victorian style tiles so I can usually source what I need. After the individual missing and broken tiles had been replaced and the adhesive had set, it was then a matter of renovating the floor as a whole. The tiles were covered in a thick layer of carpet adhesive which needed a combination of specialist tools and products to remove. First, a liberal layer of Tile Doctor Remove and Go was applied and left to dwell for thirty minutes. Next, Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was added and scrubbed in with a black pad. This process softened the adhesive sufficiently in readiness for the next stage which involves using a set of diamond burnishing pads on a weighted buffing machine. Several applications were needed, each time with a successively finer grade of diamond pad and rinsing off the slurry in between. The tiles were first milled using a very coarse 50-grit pad, followed by 100, 200 and finally burnished with a 400-grit burnishing pads. This removed all the adhesive and dirt in the tiles, which was cleaned up using the wet vacuum. Old Victorian floors like this do not have a damp proof membrane installed under the floor, and with a lot of water being used in the cleaning process I was concerned White efflorescence salts could appear later as the floor dried. To counter this, I gave the floor an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel to counter and dissolve the salts, it also gives the tiles another clean and will remove any old grout smears further improving the appearance of the tiles. Once done the floor was left to dry overnight. On my return I tested the floor was dry by taking several moisture readings around the floor with a damp meter. Applying sealer to a damp floor is never advised and can lead to clouding and an unwanted finish. Happy that the tiles were dry, a single coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer was applied. This is an impregnating sealer with a colour enhancing component to ‘lift’ the stronger colours of the floor. Colour Grow however does leave a matt appearance and as the client had asked for a shiny finish it was topped up with five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go. This is a compatible topical sealer which added a mid to high sheen. By the end of the third day the Victorian floor looked brand new, and I received the following feedback from the client. Its rare to receive feedback from commercial customers so they were clearly overwhelmed with the transformation. Did not think this glued covered bad old floor could look sooooo good Fabulous Fantastic job Looks Amazing Thank you For aftercare I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which isn’t as harsh as many of the products you find in supermarket. Stronger products can actually strip off the sealer over time leaving it vulnerable to dirt and detracting from its appearance. Graham Davis North Kent Tile Doctor

At dusk, the rear of this Foxcroft residence reveals a private retreat designed for effortless living and quiet luxury. Framed by mature trees and soft evening light, the home opens fully to the outdoors, creating a seamless connection between interior spaces and the surrounding landscape. The architecture unfolds around a resort inspired courtyard, anchored by a sleek pool and expansive stone terrace. Clean rooflines, soft masonry tones, and warm interior lighting give the home a calm, inviting presence while maintaining a sense of architectural order and balance. Large expanses of glass dissolve the boundary between inside and out, allowing living spaces to extend naturally onto the patio. The covered outdoor living area is designed for year round enjoyment, offering a sheltered space that feels just as intentional as the interior. Whether hosting guests or enjoying quiet evenings at home, the layout supports both gathering and retreat without feeling overstated. Subtle landscape and hardscape lighting enhance the experience after sunset, highlighting architectural forms while maintaining a relaxed, residential atmosphere. Every element was carefully considered to support comfort, flow, and long term enjoyment. This outdoor living environment completes the Foxcroft home as a true extension of the interior experience. A Kingswood residence designed not only to be seen, but to be lived in fully from day to night.

Recently, we embarked on a design project to redesign the entry landscaping with the timeless beauty of a Japanese garden, emphasizing Tsukiyama earth mounding. This technique, which involves sculpting gentle, rolling hills to reflect natural landscapes, brought a new dimension of tranquility and depth to the space. By integrating a minimalist planting aesthetic and organic, dissolving lines, we achieved a seamless fusion of serenity with modern sophistication. The transformed entryway now greets visitors with unfolding views that perfectly complements the home’s treehouse views into Nichols Arboretum.

Beach Grove Social transforms a dated 3-bed, 2.5-bath into a modern, moody home made for entertaining. Vaulted cedar ceilings and triangular clerestories bathe white oak and graphite finishes in soft light, while a linear hearth anchors the open living–dining core. The reimagined kitchen hides the daily clutter with a concealed appliance garage and a grain-matched door to the laundry, keeping surfaces calm. Full-width sliders dissolve the boundary to a terrace designed for gatherings. Three new bathrooms—each tailored to its user—pair refined materials with serene lighting to deliver sophisticated, restorative spaces.