Earlier this month I was in the town of Northampton, to see a client who had reported a problem with her Travertine kitchen tiles. Basically the grout between the tiles was badly stained, to the point of appearing almost black. The Travertine tiles were also in need of some maintenance, and so I was commissioned to provide a clean, polish and a fresh seal. Travertine is a popular choice for kitchen flooring due to its relatively high durability and distinct features. My task was to get this floor back to looking its best. My priority was to address the badly stained grout so I cleaned the grout lines by hand using a combination of hand brushes and Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up. The surface was pre-wet with water, before a solution of Grout-Clean Up and clean water was applied to the surface. The brushes were then used to agitate the solution. Grout Clean-Up contains a mix of concentrated phosphoric acid and cleaner designed to penetrate below the surface of the grout to remove grout stains, smears and mineral deposits. As you can see from the photos, Grout Clean-Up made an immediate difference to the appearance of the tiles. This product is suitable for use on masonry and acid resistant surfaces. After completing the clean, I gave the floor a thorough rinse to neutralise the floor after cleaning and removed as much of the water as possible using a wet vacuum. Following this, I paid attention to the tiles themselves, cleaning them to achieve a polished effect by using a system of burnishing pads. Tile Doctor burnishing pads comprise a set of four pads varying in grit type, from Coarse and Medium to Fine and Very Fine. I applied all four pads in turn to the floor, stopping to rinse the floor in between each. The result was a high quality polished finish. I then left the floor to dry completely overnight, before commencing the seal the next day. My choice of sealing product was Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a colour intensifying sealer that both enhances the natural appearance of the stone and provides a durable surface seal. My client was very pleased with the finished product, and left the following comment on the Tile Doctor feedback system: “efficiently done”, yielding “good results”. Phil Vissian Northamptonshire Tile Doctor

Architectural Resource is extremely excited to share with you the 'River View' house. This very special remodeling project was the first remodeling project in S.E. Michigan to achieve Emerald Certification (the highest level possible) in the National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) National Green Building Certification Program. This home combines smart, sustainable design; advanced construction techniques; and integrated solar panels for renewable energy capture. The result… our clients received a Credit for net excess electrical production in July of 2014, the hottest July on record to date! This state of the art remodel and addition project includes a new two-story addition, master suite and kitchen remodel, and a view of the Huron River valley that one reporter exclaimed was "the most beautiful view in Ann Arbor!" -Beth Singer Photography

Architectural Resource is extremely excited to share with you the 'River View' house. This very special remodeling project was the first remodeling project in S.E. Michigan to achieve Emerald Certification (the highest level possible) in the National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) National Green Building Certification Program. This home combines smart, sustainable design; advanced construction techniques; and integrated solar panels for renewable energy capture. The result… our clients received a Credit for net excess electrical production in July of 2014, the hottest July on record to date! This state of the art remodel and addition project includes a new two-story addition, master suite and kitchen remodel, and a view of the Huron River valley that one reporter exclaimed was "the most beautiful view in Ann Arbor!" -Beth Singer Photography

“Our main three design wishes were to incorporate an efficient use of space, keen aesthetics and an overall ease of use,” Ashwin says. Specifically, the kitchen was solely for cooking and while they did not rely on design Web sites for examples of kitchen designs, they did do their research during the design process. So, while the couple knew exactly what they wanted with their IKEA kitchen, they also knew that working with design professionals like IKD and a professional installer would make a huge difference. “We’d done our research and read horror stories online about installers stopping work midway through a project,” Ashwin explains. Well, that certainly wasn’t the case here! As the couple reports their experience with the installer was excellent. As was their experience with IKD’s designers who guided them through the design and the IKEA product selection process.

Architectural Resource is extremely excited to share with you the 'River View' house. This very special remodeling project was the first remodeling project in S.E. Michigan to achieve Emerald Certification (the highest level possible) in the National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) National Green Building Certification Program. This home combines smart, sustainable design; advanced construction techniques; and integrated solar panels for renewable energy capture. The result… our clients received a Credit for net excess electrical production in July of 2014, the hottest July on record to date! This state of the art remodel and addition project includes a new two-story addition, master suite and kitchen remodel, and a view of the Huron River valley that one reporter exclaimed was "the most beautiful view in Ann Arbor!" -Beth Singer Photography

Photo: Margot Hartford Photography © 2016 Houzz
Example of a trendy dining room design in Amsterdam

Exiting the foyer to the east, you walk into an open floor plan which includes the kitchen, dining room, and living room. You immediately have stunning views of the Big Belt Mountains to the east and the Crimson Bluffs to the south. Views of the Missouri River can be seen just down the hill to the east and northeast. The open living and dining room with the railing of the open staircase in the foreground that leads downstairs. The upper and lower operable awning windows were specially designed to promote passive cooling in the home. Cool air enters the home from the north and warm air exits to the south. The homeowners report the home is staying at a very comfortable interior temperature during the hot summer months without running any electric fans or venting devices. The Crimson Bluffs Home is a sustainable smaller home with 360 degree views of the Missouri River various mountain ranges. Energy-efficiency strategies include long-lasting building materials, passive cooling, ample natural day lighting, high insulation values, advanced framing, and a combined heating approach of passive solar heat gain and radiant hydronic floor heating, a strategy we call “Sun Smart Radiant Heating.” Greenovision Home Design

Architectural Resource is extremely excited to share with you the 'River View' house. This very special remodeling project was the first remodeling project in S.E. Michigan to achieve Emerald Certification (the highest level possible) in the National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) National Green Building Certification Program. This home combines smart, sustainable design; advanced construction techniques; and integrated solar panels for renewable energy capture. The result… our clients received a Credit for net excess electrical production in July of 2014, the hottest July on record to date! This state of the art remodel and addition project includes a new two-story addition, master suite and kitchen remodel, and a view of the Huron River valley that one reporter exclaimed was "the most beautiful view in Ann Arbor!" -Beth Singer Photography

Architectural Resource is extremely excited to share with you the 'River View' house. This very special remodeling project was the first remodeling project in S.E. Michigan to achieve Emerald Certification (the highest level possible) in the National Association of Home Builder’s (NAHB) National Green Building Certification Program. This home combines smart, sustainable design; advanced construction techniques; and integrated solar panels for renewable energy capture. The result… our clients received a Credit for net excess electrical production in July of 2014, the hottest July on record to date! This state of the art remodel and addition project includes a new two-story addition, master suite and kitchen remodel, and a view of the Huron River valley that one reporter exclaimed was "the most beautiful view in Ann Arbor!" -Beth Singer Photography