When Menges & Curtis Pharmacy opened during the height of the Industrial Revolution on Saratoga Springs’ main street, its druggists mixed tinctures and remedies to their own formulas, examined and treated patients and even applied leeches if it was deemed appropriate. By 2010, the family that had owned the Menges & Curtis for the past 50 years was struggling with the conventional pharmacist’s lot in modern life: handing out prepared medications for an increasingly lower insurance reimbursements, and trying to make up the difference by selling spa and personal care products. All the while, M&C’s traditional clientele was drifting away to chain drugstores, supermarkets and retailers such as Walmart stores, which were dispensing medications at low margins to lure shoppers into their aisles while they waited for their prescriptions. The owner restructured his business plan, selling his traditional pharmacy assets to a chain and creating a partnership with a “compounding shop” in Latham to go back to time-honored methods of creating personally formulated nutritional and vitamin supplements, hormone balancers and natural wellness herbal extracts for preventative health maintenance, chronic illnesses, veterinary and pediatric care. Now a new business with an old-school ethos, Fallon Wellness Pharmacy needed substantial renovations to its iconic storefront in the S.W. Ainsworth Building in Saratoga’s Broadway Historic District. The low ceilings made the space feel cramped, and storage was ineffective. The new partners called upon Old Saratoga Restorations to project manage a complete modernization of the space, adding graceful private consultation rooms and compounding labs to comply with health and safety codes, while respecting the integrity of the ornate High Victorian 1871 brick commercial block building.

**I. Spatial Composition & Architectural Volume** This vignette operates as a masterclass in the choreography of compressed urban space, deploying a classic enfilade strategy to extract depth from a modest footprint. The composition is organized around a cased opening — flanked by heavy, mitered pilaster-style jambs and a substantial crown-capped header — that frames the kitchen beyond like a proscenium, establishing a telescoping sightline from the foreground banquette nook through to the range wall and its marble backsplash. The immediate volume is a canted, faceted room; the angled corner walls and the polygonal ceiling perimeter generate a subtle rotational geometry that is echoed, with deliberate rhyme, in the octagonal tabletop and its faceted plinth base. Architectural discipline is supplied by comprehensive millwork: recessed applied-molding wall panels calibrated to the wall heights, a built-in bibliothèque with adjustable shelving and integrated media niche on the left, and a bench base detailed as cabinetry with a plinth and reveal, so the seating reads as architecture rather than furniture. The crowning gesture is a stone-clad soffit and cove above the multi-part cornice, which visually lifts the ceiling plane and dissolves the corner conditions of the canted plan into a continuous, luminous band. **II. Materiality, Color & Texture** The palette is a study in low-chroma tonal layering, structured on a base of dove-grey lacquered joinery whose cool, faintly greige undertone reads as both patrician and contemporary. Against this, book-matched white marble with grey and taupe veining appears in three registers — the ceiling cove, the kitchen backsplash, and the honed tabletop — creating a vertical and horizontal continuity of stone that binds the two rooms into one material narrative. Underfoot, wide-plank white oak laid in a herringbone pattern is finished in a wire-brushed, cerused grey-brown, its open grain supplying essential tactility and directional energy that counteracts the smoothness of the cabinetry. The tonal reserve is punctured by a single decisive chromatic move: the oxblood-to-cognac aniline leather banquette, its capitonné-adjacent piping and channeled seat cushion delivering saturated warmth and a supple, patinating counterpoint to the cool minerals. Metals are deliberately stratified — brushed stainless on the appliance suite, polished nickel on the cabinet hardware and pendant collars, and a high-mirror chromed column and base on the table that pulls reflected fragments of the room into itself. Textile relief arrives through a heather-grey wool bolster and the woven, honeycomb-textured sconce shades, while the sunflowers and pantry provisions behind glazed muntin doors introduce a curated, humanizing note of the quotidian. **III. Lighting, Atmosphere & Style Profile** The lighting scheme is layered and hierarchical. Ambient illumination is borrowed rather than direct: the kitchen functions as a light well, its own concealed under-cabinet lighting and cove-washed ceiling projecting a cool, diffuse glow forward through the cased opening, so the brighter volume beyond reads as both destination and light source. In the foreground, symmetrically paired wall sconces with textured drum shades cast a warm, amber-filtered ellipse of light onto the paneling — providing intimate, low-level modeling that emphasizes the millwork's shadow lines and flatters the leather's depth. The kitchen's aligned trio of spun-metal dome pendants, with polished collars and diffused lenses, reinforce the axial perspective and supply task-appropriate downlight, while the marble cove above serves as an indirect reflector, softening any residual harshness. The cumulative atmosphere is hushed, refined, and slightly cinematic — a quiet formality more contemplative than performative. Stylistically, the project synthesizes into a form of Transitional Classicism, or more precisely a tailored American Neoclassicism recalibrated for contemporary living: the vocabulary of paneled millwork, crown profiles, and cased openings is retained, but stripped of ornament, flattened in profile, and rendered in a monochrome envelope, then energized by faceted geometries, mirror-finish metal, and a single confident stroke of leather. It is restraint deployed as luxury.

I was recently asked to survey an unusual stone floor at a house in in Harrogate comprising of Slate inlaid with Granite. The client advised that it had not been cleaned properly for 20 years and wanted it renovating! It was now definitely overdue a deep clean and professional attention. Fortunately, having worked on these floors for many years I knew I could make a substantial impact and transform its appearance. Fossilized slate is a beautiful stone when cleaned and sealed correctly. The owner confessed they had actually been sealing the floor every two years but without a deep clean first, so they were effectively sealing in the dirt each time. I discussed with them the process I would use to clean and re-seal the floor and we agreed a price to carry to out the work. To remove the layers of old sealer and dirt used a set of Tile Doctor Diamond Burnishing pads. The pads are attached to a rotary floor machine starting with the coarse 400-grit pad which was lubricated with a dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go to help strip the floor of dirt and layers of sealer. After rinsing and extracting the soil I worked through the different grades of pads in sequence finishing with the 1500-grit and this time using just water for lubrication. A set of diamond handheld burnishing blocks were then used to clean up the edges and corners where the large 17” pads struggle to reach. This ensures all areas are treated and free of dirt and old sealer. The floor was then rinsed and extracted again to remove the remaining soil. I find a wet vacuum is an invaluable tool for this. The floor was then left to dry out overnight ready for sealing the next day. I returned the next day to seal the floor, first checking with a damp meter that the floor was dry, and the moisture reading was below the acceptable level. These results were fine, so I had a green light to continue and seal the stone. The customer wanted a shine on the floor so rather than apply a satin sealer which I felt wouldn’t adhere to the stone properly I decided to polish the floor further with a the last of the four burnishing pads which is a very fine 3000-grit pad. You don’t need to use a lot of water with this last pad just a small amount sprayed onto the floor using a technique we refer to as a ‘Spray Burnish’. To seal the floor, two coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow were applied. This is an impregnating matt sealer which intensifies the natural colours of this beautiful stone and provides long lasting durable protection. Even I was impressed with the finished result but more importantly the client was over the moon. To keep the floor looking its best I recommended they use Tile Doctor Stone Soap which is pH neutral. You should always read the label in detail when choosing a floor cleaning product as many are too strong and not recommended for sealed stone surfaces as they will prematurely erode the sealer. Nigel Stoker North West Yorkshire Tile Doctor

This Victorian floor was discovered at a house in Swiss Cottage in the London borough of Camden when the current owner took the old carpet up. It was in need of substantial restoration to bring it back to its former glory however we have had really good results from restoring similar floors so we were confident it could be done. The carpet had literally just been taken away so we had to remove the gripper rods, underlay and deal with the adhesive which we managed to tackle using a strong solution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which was left to dwell and penetrate the glue for ten minutes before being scrubbed in. Once the glue was removed the tiles were given a thorough clean using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean using the same process of leaving it to soak in and then actively scrubbing it into the floor to get the tile and grout as clean as possible. The floor was then rinsed and stubborn areas re-treated until we were satisfied with the result. The last cleaning step was to use a steam cleaner to pull as much dirt out of the pores of the tiles as possible and a wet vacuum to extract the liquids and get the floor as dry as possible and we also re-grouted where necessary due to the damage caused by the gripper rods. We also gave the Victorian tiles in the entrance lobby a thorough clean using the same process, although they had not been covered in carpet they were still in need of a deep clean. The floor was left to dry and when we returned the whole floor was ready to be sealed and for this we used five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which adds a nice shine to the floor as well as providing a surface seal that will help protect the tiles from stains going forward. For the entrance lobby we used two coats of Colour Grow which doesn’t add the shine but as an impregnating sealer we felt it would perform better with the wear at the front of the house. The owner of the house was very pleased with the outcome and left the following testimonial: Prompt, courteous, hard working and great results !. Nigel Voyce North London Tile Doctor

The client was in the midst of a substantial renovation of a period property and sought a kitchen that would complement the home's historic character. The challenge was to design a kitchen that not only preserved the traditional aesthetic but also incorporated modern conveniences. Key elements included a large island for both cooking and casual dining, as well as a curved booth seating bench and bespoke oval Nolte table for the eating area. Additional functional aspects, such as a breakfast unit for small appliances like a toaster and a sideboard for added storage, were to be integrated seamlessly, extending the kitchen's theme into the adjoining living space. For a timeless appeal, we opted for the Nolte Windsor range. The choice of the oval knob handles on the 721 White furniture shade delivered a contemporary classic feel that effortlessly blended with the newly constructed living area. A 30mm Silestone Blanco Rivers worktop was paired with Nolte’s 40mm Holm Oak, offering both durability and a chic aesthetic. The kitchen was equipped with top-tier Kitchen Aid appliances - including a single oven, combination microwave, warming drawer, induction hob, and downdraft extraction. Complementing these were a full-height NEFF fridge, a 70/30 fridge freezer, and a dishwasher. Prioritising both functionality and style, we incorporated a Blanco Sona 1 ½ sink in Alumetallic and a Quooker Fusion Classic Chrome instant boiling water tap. These additions ensure daily kitchen tasks are performed with utmost efficiency without compromising on design. Ready to transform your space into a modern haven? Reach out to us today.

The client was in the midst of a substantial renovation of a period property and sought a kitchen that would complement the home's historic character. The challenge was to design a kitchen that not only preserved the traditional aesthetic but also incorporated modern conveniences. Key elements included a large island for both cooking and casual dining, as well as a curved booth seating bench and bespoke oval Nolte table for the eating area. Additional functional aspects, such as a breakfast unit for small appliances like a toaster and a sideboard for added storage, were to be integrated seamlessly, extending the kitchen's theme into the adjoining living space. For a timeless appeal, we opted for the Nolte Windsor range. The choice of the oval knob handles on the 721 White furniture shade delivered a contemporary classic feel that effortlessly blended with the newly constructed living area. A 30mm Silestone Blanco Rivers worktop was paired with Nolte’s 40mm Holm Oak, offering both durability and a chic aesthetic. The kitchen was equipped with top-tier Kitchen Aid appliances - including a single oven, combination microwave, warming drawer, induction hob, and downdraft extraction. Complementing these were a full-height NEFF fridge, a 70/30 fridge freezer, and a dishwasher. Prioritising both functionality and style, we incorporated a Blanco Sona 1 ½ sink in Alumetallic and a Quooker Fusion Classic Chrome instant boiling water tap. These additions ensure daily kitchen tasks are performed with utmost efficiency without compromising on design. Ready to transform your space into a modern haven? Reach out to us today.

The client was in the midst of a substantial renovation of a period property and sought a kitchen that would complement the home's historic character. The challenge was to design a kitchen that not only preserved the traditional aesthetic but also incorporated modern conveniences. Key elements included a large island for both cooking and casual dining, as well as a curved booth seating bench and bespoke oval Nolte table for the eating area. Additional functional aspects, such as a breakfast unit for small appliances like a toaster and a sideboard for added storage, were to be integrated seamlessly, extending the kitchen's theme into the adjoining living space. For a timeless appeal, we opted for the Nolte Windsor range. The choice of the oval knob handles on the 721 White furniture shade delivered a contemporary classic feel that effortlessly blended with the newly constructed living area. A 30mm Silestone Blanco Rivers worktop was paired with Nolte’s 40mm Holm Oak, offering both durability and a chic aesthetic. The kitchen was equipped with top-tier Kitchen Aid appliances - including a single oven, combination microwave, warming drawer, induction hob, and downdraft extraction. Complementing these were a full-height NEFF fridge, a 70/30 fridge freezer, and a dishwasher. Prioritising both functionality and style, we incorporated a Blanco Sona 1 ½ sink in Alumetallic and a Quooker Fusion Classic Chrome instant boiling water tap. These additions ensure daily kitchen tasks are performed with utmost efficiency without compromising on design. Ready to transform your space into a modern haven? Reach out to us today.