"Brandon Stengel - www.farmkidstudios.com”
Example of a small danish multicolored floor mudroom design in Minneapolis with green walls

Photo: Carolyn Reyes © 2015 Houzz Writer’s Room, main house Design team: Robert Frank Design
Mid-sized elegant home office photo in Los Angeles

This detailed Victorian tiled hallway at a property in Camden was overdue some much-needed repair and maintenance. The owners of the property appreciated that original period features like this add a lot of value to a property and asked me to visit the property to quote for renovating it. The property was in a terrace of similar properties most of which appeared to have retained their Victorian character. I inspected the floor and found there were a couple of loose, cracked, worn and broken tiles that needed to be replaced. In addition, the floor tiles needed a deep clean and then seal to bring back the wow factor. I was confident we could renovate the floor but at that point unsure if we would be able to find exact match replacements for the damaged tiles. Fortunately, Victorian tiles are still in demand and I knew of several companies I could check with so I was confident they could be found. We discussed how long the work would take and assuming I could source the replacements agreed a price for the full restoration of the floor. After doing some research I managed to find suitable replacements with a company called Original Style and the work was scheduled for the following month. Firstly, we prepared all areas with protective tapes to threshold edges and skirting. This was followed by spaying the tiles with a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove & Go which is product designed to remove old sealers and coatings. After about ten minutes the tiles were scrubbed with black scrubbing pads and scrubbing brushes. Fresh water was used to rinse the floor and the slurry was extracted using a wet vacuum. The floor was inspected and then a second clean carried out, this time using Tile Doctor Pro-Clean which is a Tile and Grout cleaning agent. The same process of application was used and after rinsing and extracting the dirt the tiles were given a steam clean. This ensured all the dirt was lifted out of the pores of the tile and the floor was now as clean as it possible could be. The next step was the remove the loose and cracked tiles using the reclaimed tiles we had sourced earlier. Some cuts were necessary to get the replacements to match the originals but overall the plan worked. A quick drying adhesive was used to secure the tiles so we could apply the grout shortly after. The whole floor was then re-grouted and cleaned off to ensure a good match. The floor was left to dry off overnight, and you could already see it was now looking considerably improved. Returning the next morning we checked the floor was dry using a moisture meter, this is important as to apply a sealer to damp tiles will lead to a patchy experience. All was well so we were ready to apply the sealer. To start a single base coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer was applied to the floor and left to dry. This sealer is an impregnator that protects from within by occupying the pores in the clay tile improving colour in the process. This sealer does leave a matt finish however and the client wanted a subtle shine so one dry it was followed by four coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go. The combination of the two sealers works really well to add long lasting protection to the tiles and provide the desired finish to the floor. The floor was much improved, and the client was delighted. The detailed pattern and colours were now much more prominent, and the hallway looked much more inviting for both the owner and their guests. For the aftercare of Victorian tiles, I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is pH neutral and won’t prematurely erode the life of the sealer. Nigel Voyce North London Tile Doctor

In 2014, we were approached by a couple to achieve a dream space within their existing home. They wanted to expand their existing bar, wine, and cigar storage into a new one-of-a-kind room. Proud of their Italian heritage, they also wanted to bring an “old-world” feel into this project to be reminded of the unique character they experienced in Italian cellars. The dramatic tone of the space revolves around the signature piece of the project; a custom milled stone spiral stair that provides access from the first floor to the entry of the room. This stair tower features stone walls, custom iron handrails and spindles, and dry-laid milled stone treads and riser blocks. Once down the staircase, the entry to the cellar is through a French door assembly. The interior of the room is clad with stone veneer on the walls and a brick barrel vault ceiling. The natural stone and brick color bring in the cellar feel the client was looking for, while the rustic alder beams, flooring, and cabinetry help provide warmth. The entry door sequence is repeated along both walls in the room to provide rhythm in each ceiling barrel vault. These French doors also act as wine and cigar storage. To allow for ample cigar storage, a fully custom walk-in humidor was designed opposite the entry doors. The room is controlled by a fully concealed, state-of-the-art HVAC smoke eater system that allows for cigar enjoyment without any odor.

Cynthia Lynn
Inspiration for a large transitional underground dark wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Chicago with no fireplace and gray walls

Transitional staircase photo in New York

RVP Photography
Example of a small classic dark wood floor mudroom design in Cincinnati with gray walls

Living room - medium tone wood floor living room idea in Toronto with blue walls and no fireplace

Bedroom - small modern master white floor bedroom idea in Houston with gray walls

Upgrading the bathroom in this client's circa 1950s home required thoughtful consideration of the small space available. Elements of the home that had once been considered "modern" were now outdated and no longer functional (like the over-sized medicine cabinets and small closets). But the homeowner's eclectic style allowed us to still incorporate some classic mid-century elements that paid homage to the home's age, while enhancing the functionality of the space. Using a floating vanity and a corner shower allowed us to fit everything into the small footprint AND give her a walk-in closet next door - something she would never have dreamed of before!

maple floor

CAST architecture
Great room - small contemporary concrete floor great room idea in Seattle

Robert Elkins
Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor kitchen remodel in Oklahoma City with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Barry Grossman Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary dining room remodel in Miami

Mid-sized trendy formal medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room photo in Miami with brown walls, a ribbon fireplace and a plaster fireplace

Inspiration for a modern entryway remodel in Denver

Martinescu Photography
Example of a small minimalist kids' gray tile and ceramic tile ceramic tile and gray floor drop-in bathtub design in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, white walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

Jack Bates Photography
Inspiration for a contemporary master gray tile and white tile marble floor drop-in bathtub remodel in Miami with recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray walls, an undermount sink and marble countertops