An old closed off kitchen full of stock cabinetry got the upgrade it deserved. In this home we took down a wall to combine the then family room & kitchen area. We used the old family room space as the new dining room and connected them seamlessly with more flow and functionality.

We've transformed this cozy courtyard by the river valley into the ultimate focal point of this home. A substantial custom cedar pergola was created as the centrepiece, with plenty of spacing underneath for relaxing and entertaining. Rich, green foliage was used to emphasize the lush feeling of the forest. Artificial turf was used throughout to maintain a neat and verdant look without the upkeep involved, perfect for the homeowner's dog. Using a variety of paving stone throughout creates interest as well as tie in the entire courtyard together, making it flow. This courtyard is the ultimate summer relaxation spot, and we are pleased to help these wonderful homeowners create it! Designed by Zac Marks

An old closed off kitchen full of stock cabinetry got the upgrade it deserved. In this home we took down a wall to combine the then family room & kitchen area. We used the old family room space as the new dining room and connected them seamlessly with more flow and functionality.

Mark Pinkerton - Vi360
Large transitional dark wood floor and brown floor great room photo in San Francisco with gray walls

We've transformed this cozy courtyard by the river valley into the ultimate focal point of this home. A substantial custom cedar pergola was created as the centrepiece, with plenty of spacing underneath for relaxing and entertaining. Rich, green foliage was used to emphasize the lush feeling of the forest. Artificial turf was used throughout to maintain a neat and verdant look without the upkeep involved, perfect for the homeowner's dog. Using a variety of paving stone throughout creates interest as well as tie in the entire courtyard together, making it flow. This courtyard is the ultimate summer relaxation spot, and we are pleased to help these wonderful homeowners create it! Designed by Zac Marks

The pictures below are of Chinese Slate floor in the Kitchen of a property in the small village of Clifton just south of Penrith. We often get asked what the difference is between Rough and Semi Riven Slate, and this floor was a mixture of both. If you look closely at the pictures and check out the darker parts of the floor you will see these smoother Semi Riven Slate, whereas the light copper-coloured parts of the floor were of the rougher textured variety. It’s not that unusual for stone to be mixed in this fashion as it can be supplied from different quarries in order to achieve a particular look. The blend of different slates makes little difference when it comes to cleaning as the process is essentially the same. I would advise though if you intend to clean the floor using a mop then you should opt for Semi Riven Slate as Rough Slate can shred your mops and make it harder to maintain. We tend to use industrial floor buffing machines which work well on both surfaces so are less effected. There was a bit of wax on this floor so to remove this Tile Doctor Wax Away was applied. The product was left to stand for fifteen minutes before being scrubbed into the stone, rinsed and then the soil extracted with a wet vacuum. We then finished the cleaning with an Acid Rinse which involves scrubbing the Slate with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up. This not only works well at cleaning up the stone and grout but also neutralises the alkaline pH left over from using Wax Away. I am very wary of the pH level of the floor as it could have an impact on the new sealer, giving the floor an acid rinse before sealing also ensures a better bond with the sealer. Naturally, you can’t leave a strong product like Grout Clean-up on the Stone for long as it could etch the surface so once done the floor was thoroughly rinsed with water and extracted again with a wet vacuum. A mop and bucket and lots of sponges won’t do the job on a large area like this. Once we finished the clean, we left it to dry off overnight and came back the next day to apply the sealer. We were originally going to apply a satin finish sealer, but the client had a big dog with sharp claws which could of scratched and marked the sealer so decided against it. I advised the client to use an Impregnating sealer called Tile Doctor Colour Grow, which lifts the natural colours in the stone, but is not a topical shiny sealer as the seal soaks into the Slate and leaves a a nice matt finish instead. Only two coats of sealer were needed, and the floor looked like new again. My client was very happy with the difference in the appearance of the stone and how much cleaner the grout was, so much so they the following feedback for us, which is always appreciated. “Totally impressed with the team they couldn’t have been more professional and even left me with some cleaner. My horrible 12 year old slate tiles look fabulous” As usual we left a free bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner for aftercare, it’s very important not to undo all that hard work by using a product which will damage the seal, using a pH neutral cleaner will keep the seal looking sharp and fresh for years to come. Heidi Taylor North Cumbria Tile Doctor

Palo Alto Contemporary Great Room. Photography: Mark Pinkerton vi360
Example of a mid-sized trendy open concept light wood floor living room design in San Francisco with white walls, a ribbon fireplace, a tile fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

We've transformed this cozy courtyard by the river valley into the ultimate focal point of this home. A substantial custom cedar pergola was created as the centrepiece, with plenty of spacing underneath for relaxing and entertaining. Rich, green foliage was used to emphasize the lush feeling of the forest. Artificial turf was used throughout to maintain a neat and verdant look without the upkeep involved, perfect for the homeowner's dog. Using a variety of paving stone throughout creates interest as well as tie in the entire courtyard together, making it flow. This courtyard is the ultimate summer relaxation spot, and we are pleased to help these wonderful homeowners create it! Designed by Zac Marks

The transformation of this 1913 Ruxton home is one of the most substantial projects that Greenleaf Construction has completed to date. Greenleaf craftsmen collaborated with Mark Mobley Architecture, Custom Fit Cabinetry and Landscaping Creative Ways to bring this family's dream home to life. The expansive two-story addition includes a gourmet kitchen, mudroom room, family room, second story primary suite as well as a full basement. The existing home was completely reconfigured to accommodate the needs of the owners, including new bathrooms, second floor laundry, a guest suite and additional storage spaces. The new kitchen and bar are equipped with custom cabinetry, top of the line appliances and a large island with a combination of marble and butcher block countertops. The mudroom has custom built lockers, and a partial height shower for cleat and dog washing. Upstairs, the primary suite has custom cabinets and vanity, a large walk-in marble shower with rain head and custom closet systems. Multiple french doors open to the blue stone patio with butler stone walls. New Andersen A series windows and doors were installed throughout the existing home and addition. The roof was replaced with a DiVinci composite cedar shake roof system, and all of the siding was replaced with James Hardie fiber cement lap siding maintaining the character of the original home.

The transformation of this 1913 Ruxton home is one of the most substantial projects that Greenleaf Construction has completed to date. Greenleaf craftsmen collaborated with Mark Mobley Architecture, Custom Fit Cabinetry and Landscaping Creative Ways to bring this family's dream home to life. The expansive two-story addition includes a gourmet kitchen, mudroom room, family room, second story primary suite as well as a full basement. The existing home was completely reconfigured to accommodate the needs of the owners, including new bathrooms, second floor laundry, a guest suite and additional storage spaces. The new kitchen and bar are equipped with custom cabinetry, top of the line appliances and a large island with a combination of marble and butcher block countertops. The mudroom has custom built lockers, and a partial height shower for cleat and dog washing. Upstairs, the primary suite has custom cabinets and vanity, a large walk-in marble shower with rain head and custom closet systems. Multiple french doors open to the blue stone patio with butler stone walls. New Andersen A series windows and doors were installed throughout the existing home and addition. The roof was replaced with a DiVinci composite cedar shake roof system, and all of the siding was replaced with James Hardie fiber cement lap siding maintaining the character of the original home.

Open concept kitchen - small transitional u-shaped ceramic tile and beige floor open concept kitchen idea in Phoenix with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, travertine backsplash, white appliances and an island

Side yard entrance. Ground was turf before. Ecology Artisans removed the grass and installed drought tolerant and water wise plantings in the landscape. We also performed tree pruning work of the citrus and pomegranate. Natal plum edging should reach a height of 1.5-2' (and as wide) to provide a sharp edge to deter dogs from doing their business. 8 month mark after install.

Photo By Mark Herron
Bedroom - mid-sized contemporary medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in Dallas with brown walls

Ensuite is a spa lover's dream! Featuring a custom smoked ceiling, marble shower, freestanding soaker tub and polished floor
Example of a large trendy master gray tile and marble tile ceramic tile and white floor bathroom design in Edmonton with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink, quartz countertops and a hinged shower door

Noe Valley, also known as Stroller Town by some, is an upscale neighborhood in central San Francisco. Wide sidewalks, its own strips of shops, and an eclectic style of homes makes it a curiosity and a pleasure to walk through.It’s a mixture of homes, both large and small. From multi-million dollar mansions to 6-figure homes, there’s something for everyone. Rumor has it, even Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook fame lives here somewhere.

Not to be forgotten, the family dog has a built-in dedicated food area with a pull-out storage shelf. Photography: Mark Olson
Example of a large minimalist u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor enclosed kitchen design with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, stainless steel countertops, metallic backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and mosaic tile backsplash

Design by Mark Lind | Project Management by Jim Venable | Photography by Paul Finkel | This exterior features painted Hardi fiber cement paneling & Hubbardton Forge "After Hours" light sconces in bronze.

Photography: Dana Hoff Architecture and Interiors: Anderson Studio of Architecture & Design; Scott Anderson, Principal Architect/ Mark Moehring, Project Architect/ Adam Wilson, Associate Architect and Project Manager/ Ryan Smith, Associate Architect/ Michelle Suddeth, Director of Interiors/Emily Cox, Director of Interior Architecture/Anna Bett Moore, Designer & Procurement Expeditor/Gina Iacovelli, Design Assistant Walls: Shiplap Floors: French Limestone Antique Table: Bobo Intriguing Objects Dog Model: Boston, Anna Bett Moore (proud mom)

The mudroom received an updated palette that suited the coastal area, with fresh whites and navy. New sconces were added, as well as durable rugs for this high-traffic area that has entries from the back, front and garage. Additional storage was added with a free-standing bench seat, a great place to pull on boots in the winter. Pillows and local art soften the space. Custom hooks were designed to mark each cubby for Mom, Dad, Thing 1 & Thing 2.