I received an enquiry from a property in Crowthorne to come and survey an unknown Flagstone Floor in a converted barn that was ready to be rented out. The owners where concerned the stone was letting the rest of the property down due to it being dirty and heavily stained, particularly around the kitchen and entrance areas. If your selling or renting out a property it really needs to look its best if you want to achieve a good price. Having spoken over the phone we agreed a date for me to pop over to complete a survey. From further inspection I confirmed the stone was in fact a Sandstone, it was also clear that the sealer protecting the stone from ingrained dirt had worn away and was now allowing dirt and staining to ruin the appearance of the flagstones. It was a large floor so I measured up so I could work out the quantities of cleaning and sealing products needed and then walked the customer through the cleaning process. Later that day I sent over a detailed quotation which was accepted, and a date agreed for my return. I should mention this work took place during the Covid restrictions, fortunately being a rental property, I was able to work in the property alone. To deep clean the floor and remove the ingrained dirt and staining I used a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. It is sprayed onto the floor and left to soak in for five minutes before agitating with a Black scrubbing pad fitted to a weighted buffing machine. The resultant slurry was then wet extracted away using a powerful high-pressure van mounted extracting system. This action cleaned up most of the stone nicely however certain areas where heavily stained, particularly in the kitchen area where food and drink stains were more apparent. To tackle this, I applied a stronger cleaner/stripper product called Tile Doctor Remove and Go this time allowing ten minutes for it to soak in before scrubbing the surface with a very coarse 100-grit soft milling pad. This took quite a few attempts each time extracting the slurry away and then inspecting the floor to see if more work was needed. Happy the stains have been removed, I then focused on renovating the surface Sandstone after the application of the coarse pad. This involves the application of several finer grit burnishing pads which close the pores and adds a subtle polish to the Sandstone. As I started with 100-grit pad it was necessary to gradually refine the surface with an incremental series of pads that included 200, 400 and finally 800-grit pads. Then to ensure a uniform finish across the floor I continued the 400 and 800 grit pads throughout the property. Water is used to lubricate the process and this turns into a fine slurry that is rinse extracted as before. The cleaning process took up the whole of the first day and I am pleased to say the Sandstone floor looked very clean after I had finished. The stone was then allowed dry off overnight with the aid of an industrial air mover and I returned later the next day to apply a new protective seal. In the meantime, my customer had been over to check out the floor and were over the moon with how it looked and wanted to keep the finish as natural as possible. With this in mind, I applied Tile Doctor Ultra-Seal sealer to the Sandstone throughout, only two coats were needed. This is a premium sealer that is almost invisible and works by penetrating the stone thus preventing dirt from becoming ingrained. Once done the floor looked very clean and much brighter than before, it now had that wow factor which will help it attract a good yield in the rental market. The trouble with rental properties of course is making sure the tenant uses the right product to maintain the floor and not a typical supermarket tile cleaner that are only designed for use on Ceramic and Porcelain tiles. In fact, these types of cleaning product can slowly strip the sealer off the floor so it’s always worth checking the label before purchasing. Fortunately Tile Doctor sells a product called Neutral Cleaner that is ideal for maintaining sealed stone floors, so I left them with a complimentary bottle and recommended they get some more to leave under the sink for the new tenant. Dennis Buckland Berkshire Tile Doctor

Emily Andrews
Trendy multicolored tile and mosaic tile double shower photo in New York

Positioned at the base of Camelback Mountain this hacienda is muy caliente! Designed for dear friends from New York, this home was carefully extracted from the Mrs’ mind. She had a clear vision for a modern hacienda. Mirroring the clients, this house is both bold and colorful. The central focus was hospitality, outdoor living, and soaking up the amazing views. Full of amazing destinations connected with a curving circulation gallery, this hacienda includes water features, game rooms, nooks, and crannies all adorned with texture and color. This house has a bold identity and a warm embrace. It was a joy to design for these long-time friends, and we wish them many happy years at Hacienda Del Sueño. Project Details // Hacienda del Sueño Architecture: Drewett Works Builder: La Casa Builders Landscape + Pool: Bianchi Design Interior Designer: Kimberly Alonzo Photographer: Dino Tonn Wine Room: Innovative Wine Cellar Design Publications “Modern Hacienda: East Meets West in a Fabulous Phoenix Home,” Phoenix Home & Garden, November 2009 Awards ASID Awards: First place – Custom Residential over 6,000 square feet 2009 Phoenix Home and Garden Parade of Homes

This is an example of a mid-sized mid-century modern partial sun front yard concrete paver landscaping in Los Angeles for spring.

Unique pull out system ELLETIPI for waste separation, provided with metal sliders for total extraction. The containers are installed inside a polymer (PP) structure which is 100% recyclable, as are all its components. The top part of the object can be used as a Shelf to store objects and cleaning products, waste bags or any other object. A hatch with a flap allows you to dispose of small objects without having to pull out the whole container. It contains a bucket with a special anti-odor lid with a filter (washable cloth that can be regenerated many times using soap and water). You can install these bins in kitchen bases, specifically under the sink. Its installation on the bottom of the kitchen base with the 8 supplied self-tapping screws is easy and practical.

Inspiration for an eclectic kitchen remodel in Charlotte

EDEN is a family of products for relaxation and slumber, including a chaise longue, a bed and a sofa-bed. The particular feature of the collection is the original frame in metal and wood, entirely covered with cowhide, giving the product a precise connotation of luxury, functioning as the back of the chaise longue or the headboard of the bed and sofa-bed. In the daybed version the L-shaped back forms a support for soft down cushions. The bed comes with a base in wooden slats, with or without a storage compartment, and the headboard can be enhanced by two adjustable lateral wings that open to accommodate small bedside tables. The sofa-bed has a wooden slat platform and comes as a double bed or two twin beds; in the latter solution, the second extractable bed is raised off the ground with a simple touch of the foot, thanks to a patented mechanism that greatly facilitates the operation.

This modern kitchen in Leeds was designed to combine innovative layout planning with a rich mix of materials, resulting in a space that feels both striking and highly functional. The cabinetry is from the X-Line range, finished in a combination of Fluted Walnut Veneer and Artstone Laminate, creating depth and visual interest throughout the space. Wall units in fluted walnut reinforce this texture, adding a distinctive architectural element. Worktops are in 24mm Corian, offering a smooth, seamless surface that complements the kitchen's clean lines while providing durability for everyday use. Feature elements include a bespoke pantry, designed to maximise storage while keeping the layout streamlined, and a matt mirror splashback that softly reflects light, enhancing the sense of space without overpowering the design. Appliances are by Siemens, paired with a BORA hob that integrates extraction directly into the cooking surface, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic and improving functionality. The result is a kitchen that brings together a variety of materials and finishes in a considered way, delivering both visual impact and practical performance for modern living.

This modern kitchen in Leeds was designed to combine innovative layout planning with a rich mix of materials, resulting in a space that feels both striking and highly functional. The cabinetry is from the X-Line range, finished in a combination of Fluted Walnut Veneer and Artstone Laminate, creating depth and visual interest throughout the space. Wall units in fluted walnut reinforce this texture, adding a distinctive architectural element. Worktops are in 24mm Corian, offering a smooth, seamless surface that complements the kitchen's clean lines while providing durability for everyday use. Feature elements include a bespoke pantry, designed to maximise storage while keeping the layout streamlined, and a matt mirror splashback that softly reflects light, enhancing the sense of space without overpowering the design. Appliances are by Siemens, paired with a BORA hob that integrates extraction directly into the cooking surface, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic and improving functionality. The result is a kitchen that brings together a variety of materials and finishes in a considered way, delivering both visual impact and practical performance for modern living.

This modern kitchen in Leeds was designed to combine innovative layout planning with a rich mix of materials, resulting in a space that feels both striking and highly functional. The cabinetry is from the X-Line range, finished in a combination of Fluted Walnut Veneer and Artstone Laminate, creating depth and visual interest throughout the space. Wall units in fluted walnut reinforce this texture, adding a distinctive architectural element. Worktops are in 24mm Corian, offering a smooth, seamless surface that complements the kitchen's clean lines while providing durability for everyday use. Feature elements include a bespoke pantry, designed to maximise storage while keeping the layout streamlined, and a matt mirror splashback that softly reflects light, enhancing the sense of space without overpowering the design. Appliances are by Siemens, paired with a BORA hob that integrates extraction directly into the cooking surface, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic and improving functionality. The result is a kitchen that brings together a variety of materials and finishes in a considered way, delivering both visual impact and practical performance for modern living.

EDEN is a family of products for relaxation and slumber, including a chaise longue, a bed and a sofa-bed. The particular feature of the collection is the original frame in metal and wood, entirely covered with cowhide, giving the product a precise connotation of luxury, functioning as the back of the chaise longue or the headboard of the bed and sofa-bed. In the daybed version the L-shaped back forms a support for soft down cushions. The bed comes with a base in wooden slats, with or without a storage compartment, and the headboard can be enhanced by two adjustable lateral wings that open to accommodate small bedside tables. The sofa-bed has a wooden slat platform and comes as a double bed or two twin beds; in the latter solution, the second extractable bed is raised off the ground with a simple touch of the foot, thanks to a patented mechanism that greatly facilitates the operation.

This modern kitchen in Leeds was designed to combine innovative layout planning with a rich mix of materials, resulting in a space that feels both striking and highly functional. The cabinetry is from the X-Line range, finished in a combination of Fluted Walnut Veneer and Artstone Laminate, creating depth and visual interest throughout the space. Wall units in fluted walnut reinforce this texture, adding a distinctive architectural element. Worktops are in 24mm Corian, offering a smooth, seamless surface that complements the kitchen's clean lines while providing durability for everyday use. Feature elements include a bespoke pantry, designed to maximise storage while keeping the layout streamlined, and a matt mirror splashback that softly reflects light, enhancing the sense of space without overpowering the design. Appliances are by Siemens, paired with a BORA hob that integrates extraction directly into the cooking surface, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic and improving functionality. The result is a kitchen that brings together a variety of materials and finishes in a considered way, delivering both visual impact and practical performance for modern living.

This modern kitchen in Leeds was designed to combine innovative layout planning with a rich mix of materials, resulting in a space that feels both striking and highly functional. The cabinetry is from the X-Line range, finished in a combination of Fluted Walnut Veneer and Artstone Laminate, creating depth and visual interest throughout the space. Wall units in fluted walnut reinforce this texture, adding a distinctive architectural element. Worktops are in 24mm Corian, offering a smooth, seamless surface that complements the kitchen's clean lines while providing durability for everyday use. Feature elements include a bespoke pantry, designed to maximise storage while keeping the layout streamlined, and a matt mirror splashback that softly reflects light, enhancing the sense of space without overpowering the design. Appliances are by Siemens, paired with a BORA hob that integrates extraction directly into the cooking surface, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic and improving functionality. The result is a kitchen that brings together a variety of materials and finishes in a considered way, delivering both visual impact and practical performance for modern living.

This Victorian tiled hallway at a house in the Forest of Dean had a very interesting pattern, consisting of an array of different colours, including shades of red, yellow and blue. Unfortunately, as you can see from the first photograph below, the tiles had lost all life, with the colours largely masked by months’ – or maybe even years’ – worth of ingrained dirt and muck. The floor as a whole was also suffering from a number of loose tiles that needed to be reset before it could be cleaned. The property owner was keen to employ some professional assistance to restore the appearance of the floor and prevent it from getting in an even wrote state, and so contacted Tile Doctor who have a lot of experience working with Victorian tiled floors. As mentioned, the loose tiles had to be repaired before the cleaning process could be started. I removed the tiles and extracted excess grout and old adhesive from the exposed concrete substrate using a vacuum, before putting the original tiles back into place and fixing them back into position carefully using fresh adhesive and matching grout. Once happy the replaced tiles had set, I started the process of cleaning the entire area of hallway tiles using a combination of Tile Doctor Remove and Go to strip away the old sealer and Tile Doctor NanoTech HBU (formerly Ultra Clean) remover to get the tiles as clean as possible. The latter product contains nano-sized cleaning particles (hence the name) to reach difficult areas of trapped dirt, making it more effective than your run-of-the-mill tile cleaner. These two products were scrubbed into the tiles using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The floor was then rinsed with water and the soiled residue was extracted with a wet vacuum. I then paid particular attention to the grout, applying our alkaline-based multi-purpose cleaner Tile Doctor Pro-Clean to the grout lines, before scrubbing them with a narrow grout brush. This quickly had the grout looking clean again: I’d even go as far as to say that it matched it seamlessly with the fresh grout that had just been laid. With the tile and grout as clean as it was possible to get it, I gave the whole floor a final rinse to neutralise the excess chemicals. I extracted as much water as possible with a wet vacuum and left the floor to dry overnight. My first task upon returning to the property the next day was to check for any dampness. If you neglect to remove all excess moisture from the surface of the tiles before sealing it is more than likely going to cloud the sealer, rendering it less effective I’m protecting the stone against ingrained dirt and stains. Once satisfied that the floor was completely dry, I proceeded to seal the tiles using multiple costs of Tile Doctor Seal and Go. Seal and Go is what we would classify as a topical sealer, meaning it rests on the surface of the tiles to act as a durable layer of protection against all kinds of muck. While providing surface protection, Seal and Go also adds a nice subtle sheen to the tiles, as per the customer’s request. The customer was quite amazed at how quickly the appearance of the tiles had been restored. It was fantastic to see the colours we both knew were hidden in the tiles come to life once again. Another satisfied customer for sure! Paul Wales Monmouthshire Tile Doctor

This modern kitchen in Leeds was designed to combine innovative layout planning with a rich mix of materials, resulting in a space that feels both striking and highly functional. The cabinetry is from the X-Line range, finished in a combination of Fluted Walnut Veneer and Artstone Laminate, creating depth and visual interest throughout the space. Wall units in fluted walnut reinforce this texture, adding a distinctive architectural element. Worktops are in 24mm Corian, offering a smooth, seamless surface that complements the kitchen's clean lines while providing durability for everyday use. Feature elements include a bespoke pantry, designed to maximise storage while keeping the layout streamlined, and a matt mirror splashback that softly reflects light, enhancing the sense of space without overpowering the design. Appliances are by Siemens, paired with a BORA hob that integrates extraction directly into the cooking surface, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic and improving functionality. The result is a kitchen that brings together a variety of materials and finishes in a considered way, delivering both visual impact and practical performance for modern living.

While neutral colors form the background that extracts all the attention for the artwork, some focused lighting plays the role of an exhibit-like showcase. Smart controls for temperature, sound, and light are hidden away within the architecture, so a concerted existence in the room becomes paramount. With the knowledge that a great day or season epitomizes quiet appreciation, the whole space can keep the craving for social interaction. Photography by Francis Augustine

This modern kitchen in Leeds was designed to combine innovative layout planning with a rich mix of materials, resulting in a space that feels both striking and highly functional. The cabinetry is from the X-Line range, finished in a combination of Fluted Walnut Veneer and Artstone Laminate, creating depth and visual interest throughout the space. Wall units in fluted walnut reinforce this texture, adding a distinctive architectural element. Worktops are in 24mm Corian, offering a smooth, seamless surface that complements the kitchen's clean lines while providing durability for everyday use. Feature elements include a bespoke pantry, designed to maximise storage while keeping the layout streamlined, and a matt mirror splashback that softly reflects light, enhancing the sense of space without overpowering the design. Appliances are by Siemens, paired with a BORA hob that integrates extraction directly into the cooking surface, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic and improving functionality. The result is a kitchen that brings together a variety of materials and finishes in a considered way, delivering both visual impact and practical performance for modern living.

This modern kitchen in Leeds was designed to combine innovative layout planning with a rich mix of materials, resulting in a space that feels both striking and highly functional. The cabinetry is from the X-Line range, finished in a combination of Fluted Walnut Veneer and Artstone Laminate, creating depth and visual interest throughout the space. Wall units in fluted walnut reinforce this texture, adding a distinctive architectural element. Worktops are in 24mm Corian, offering a smooth, seamless surface that complements the kitchen's clean lines while providing durability for everyday use. Feature elements include a bespoke pantry, designed to maximise storage while keeping the layout streamlined, and a matt mirror splashback that softly reflects light, enhancing the sense of space without overpowering the design. Appliances are by Siemens, paired with a BORA hob that integrates extraction directly into the cooking surface, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic and improving functionality. The result is a kitchen that brings together a variety of materials and finishes in a considered way, delivering both visual impact and practical performance for modern living.

This modern kitchen in Leeds was designed to combine innovative layout planning with a rich mix of materials, resulting in a space that feels both striking and highly functional. The cabinetry is from the X-Line range, finished in a combination of Fluted Walnut Veneer and Artstone Laminate, creating depth and visual interest throughout the space. Wall units in fluted walnut reinforce this texture, adding a distinctive architectural element. Worktops are in 24mm Corian, offering a smooth, seamless surface that complements the kitchen's clean lines while providing durability for everyday use. Feature elements include a bespoke pantry, designed to maximise storage while keeping the layout streamlined, and a matt mirror splashback that softly reflects light, enhancing the sense of space without overpowering the design. Appliances are by Siemens, paired with a BORA hob that integrates extraction directly into the cooking surface, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic and improving functionality. The result is a kitchen that brings together a variety of materials and finishes in a considered way, delivering both visual impact and practical performance for modern living.