Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Inspiration for a mid-sized coastal front yard concrete paver patio remodel in Orange County with a fire pit and no cover

This project won in the 2013 Builders Association of Metropolitan Pittsburgh Housing Excellence Award for Best Urban Renewal Renovation Project. The glass bowl was made in the glass studio owned by the owner which is adjacent to the residence. The mirror is a repurposed window. The door is repurposed from a boarding house. George Mendel

Interior Design Project Manager: Caitlin Lambert // Photography: Caitlin Lambert // Consultant: Jody Schurman, Lab 8 Designs

Sanford Goldman
Home design - 1960s home design idea

I was asked to look at renovating a shower cubicle at a property in in Manchester city centre that had been clad in White Limestone tiles. I understood the bathroom had been installed 12 years prior, but now the tiles were looking grubby, mouldy and dirty. The client had lived at the property for the last two years and in an attempt to resolve the problems had used a few different household products such as flash and bleach, they had tried everything, and nothing had helped. I suspected that these strong acidic cleaners had actually made the problem worse by stripping off what was left of the sealer that was protecting the Limestone, allowing dirt to become ingrained in the stone. I visited the property and ran a few cleaning tests in the shower cubicle with Tile Doctor products. This allows me to see which product will have the best results and gives the customer confidence that we can resolve their issues. The results were immediate, they could see the difference and they were happy to accept my quote and agree a date for my return to complete the work. I arrived several weeks later and made a start. The tiles were scrubbed by hand with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go with excellent results. This product is designed to remove coatings and sealers, and in this case, it did a great job of drawing out the ingrained stains and dirt build-up. This removed what was left of the sealer and took off most of the dirt and mould. The Limestone tiles and grout were then rinsed with water to remove the soil. Next I needed to restore the smooth surface of the limestone which had been etched by the use of strong acidic cleaning products. To do this I used a set of six-inch diamond burnishing pads attached to a hand buffer to hone and restore the stone. I then dried the shower tiles and grout with a heat gun checking the moisture levels with damp meter until I was satisfied it was completely dry. The last step was to re-seal the Limestone and Grout using a couple of coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow. This is natural coloured intensifying sealer which provides durable protection to the surface allowing it to breathe and enhancing the colours. The Customer was amazed with the difference and left the following feedback! “Kamila was friendly, professional and kept me informed about what to expect before she took on the job and during the tile cleaning. The tiles look absolutely amazing after her work – I feel as though I have a brand new bathroom! Kamila also gave me helpful tips on looking after limestone tiles. I can’t recommend her highly enough.” For future cleaning I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Aqua-Pro which is a pH neutral shower tile cleaner designed for use on sealed surfaces. Most cleaning products you find in supermarkets are overly strong and will erode the sealer prematurely, so when choosing a cleaning product always read the label and make sure it’s safe to use on Sealed Stone tiles. Alex Logonzy Greater Manchester Tile Doctor

Interior design by Kati Curtis Design http://www.katicurtisdesign.com/ Photography by Marco Ricca http://www.marcoriccastudio.com

Our designer has achieved a stylish look by combining dark cabinets and light-colored marbles.

The house wraps around a lushly landscaped courtyard with soothing water feature.
Design ideas for a large contemporary partial sun courtyard stone water fountain landscape.

Shiloh Cabinetry. Polar White, Inset
Eat-in kitchen - traditional medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in Manchester with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and marble backsplash

Example of a large trendy l-shaped travertine floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen design in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multicolored backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, two islands and quartzite countertops

photography: Todd Gieg
Mid-sized eclectic l-shaped enclosed kitchen photo in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, soapstone countertops and stainless steel appliances

This man made natural pond is situated on a stunning piece of property in Chicago's Elite Northern Suburbs. The high water level creates a beautiful look that is not easy to achieve. The lily pockets bloom with beautiful flowers while helping filter the water.

This man made natural pond is situated on a stunning piece of property in Chicago's Elite Northern Suburbs. The high water level creates a beautiful look that is not easy to achieve. The lily pockets bloom with beautiful flowers while helping filter the water.

This man made natural pond is situated on a stunning piece of property in Chicago's Elite Northern Suburbs. The high water level creates a beautiful look that is not easy to achieve. The lily pockets bloom with beautiful flowers while helping filter the water.

This man made natural pond is situated on a stunning piece of property in Chicago's Elite Northern Suburbs. The high water level creates a beautiful look that is not easy to achieve. The lily pockets bloom with beautiful flowers while helping filter the water.

This man made natural pond is situated on a stunning piece of property in Chicago's Elite Northern Suburbs. The high water level creates a beautiful look that is not easy to achieve. The lily pockets bloom with beautiful flowers while helping filter the water.

This man made natural pond is situated on a stunning piece of property in Chicago's Elite Northern Suburbs. The high water level creates a beautiful look that is not easy to achieve. The lily pockets bloom with beautiful flowers while helping filter the water.