Nicholson Builders partnered with ShadeFX for a backyard renovation in Columbus, Ohio. The Nicholson team built a large pergola for the homeowner’s poolside lounge area and ShadeFX customized two manual 14′ x 10′ retractable canopies in Sunbrella Cocoa to fit the structure.

The lifestyle of living on Lake Washington is naturally inclined towards entertaining and outdoor living. However, the homeowners of this Kirkland residence found that occupying the exterior space was difficult in part because there were few spaces that were protected from the harsh western exposure. They longed for a covered patio and more. Conversations and designs focused on creating a four-season space that addressed the high-exposure demands of the site while also providing a comfortable space to relax and entertain. The concept of extending the existing second floor level deck as a way to provide protection emerged as an early solution in the process. With the use of natural stone pavers and treads, the existing lower level patio was nearly doubled in usable area with different zones for intimate or large gatherings. The stone treads transition gracefully into the landscaped portion of the site. The deck above was expanded upon and resurfaced with a low maintenance porcelain pedestal paver system. A glass panel railing is constructed without a top rail, which allows for views of the water to remain unobstructed while sitting or standing. A custom outdoor fireplace was designed to act as a central focal point and to provide definition for the gathering spaces. The concrete mass is punctured through with a two-way fireplace, providing visual and bodily warmth for year-round comfort and use of the space. An updated, modernized outdoor kitchen was a necessity for larger gatherings. Durable yet elegant surfaces were required for this high use area. Cabinetry incorporates Parklex wood panels that are sustainably sourced and finished for long-term durability. Countertops and backsplash were comprised of an exterior-grade porcelain slab. Stainless steel appliances complete a low maintenance workspace. Energy efficient products were mindful components of this project. New and dimmable LED recessed and indirect lighting provides illumination for entertaining late into the night. Tread lighting provides a beacon of light for returning boaters coming in from the lake. The homeowner shared their pleasure with their new spaces commenting that the design seamlessly integrates with the existing house. They find themselves enjoying and using their outdoor spaces more thoroughly and on a daily basis. The surprise for them was the unintended additional space resulting from the expanded deck above.

Voila!! Beautiful wood look floor that is impervious to water, scratching and denting.
Small elegant 3/4 gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile alcove shower photo in Miami with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a one-piece toilet, blue walls, an undermount sink and granite countertops

Nicholson Builders partnered with ShadeFX for a backyard renovation in Columbus, Ohio. The Nicholson team built a large pergola for the homeowner’s poolside lounge area and ShadeFX customized two manual 14′ x 10′ retractable canopies in Sunbrella Cocoa to fit the structure.

Nicholson Builders partnered with ShadeFX for a backyard renovation in Columbus, Ohio. The Nicholson team built a large pergola for the homeowner’s poolside lounge area and ShadeFX customized two manual 14′ x 10′ retractable canopies in Sunbrella Cocoa to fit the structure.

Lower level outdoor dining under a vine pergola.
Example of a mid-sized cottage two-story stucco brown patio design in Denver with a shingle roof and a black roof

LeafGuard® Brand Gutters are uniquely fabricated on-site as a one-piece, seamless gutter system that includes a built-in protective hood. The gutter protection system pulls rainwater into the gutters while shedding leaves, twigs, and other solid materials to prevent clogs from forming. Here's a project our craftsmen recently completed for our client, Walter.

ShadeFX customized an 18’x16’ retractable shade structure with a manual canopy to fit a large, open deck. The sleek, dark frame was attached to the back of the house ensuring the homeowners could have a seamless transition from indoors to out.

ShadeFX customized an 18’x16’ retractable shade structure with a manual canopy to fit a large, open deck. The sleek, dark frame was attached to the back of the house ensuring the homeowners could have a seamless transition from indoors to out.

ShadeFX customized an 18’x16’ retractable shade structure with a manual canopy to fit a large, open deck. The sleek, dark frame was attached to the back of the house ensuring the homeowners could have a seamless transition from indoors to out.

International Landscaping partnered with ShadeFX to provide shade to another beautiful outdoor kitchen in Toronto. A 12’x8’ freestanding canopy in a neutral Sunbrella Cadet Grey fabric was manufactured for the space.

Homeowners in Halifax, Nova Scotia, added coverage to their new outdoor deck. ShadeFX manufactured a 16’x12’ manual retractable canopy made with HarborTime Edge Driftwood fabric to cover the al fresco dining area.

Homeowners in Halifax, Nova Scotia, added coverage to their new outdoor deck. ShadeFX manufactured a 16’x12’ manual retractable canopy made with HarborTime Edge Driftwood fabric to cover the al fresco dining area.

ShadeFX assessed an existing pergola and installed a custom 16′ x 16′ retractable roof in a neutral Sunbrella Linen. The motorized system is powder-coated Traffic black, completing the look and feel of the overall space.

ShadeFX assessed an existing pergola and installed a custom 16′ x 16′ retractable roof in a neutral Sunbrella Linen. The motorized system is powder-coated Traffic black, completing the look and feel of the overall space.

ShadeFX assessed an existing pergola and installed a custom 16′ x 16′ retractable roof in a neutral Sunbrella Linen. The motorized system is powder-coated Traffic black, completing the look and feel of the overall space.

I thought I would share this case history of a Yellow and Black Victorian Tiled floor that we worked on at a large house in Lancaster last year. It’s a great example of the typical problems we face with old Victorian floors, especially around door thresholds where the transition between the different foundation invariable cause problems. I didn’t know the full history of the floor, but it was now in quite a state and recent renovation work had left the floor unstable with loose and cracked tiles. The tiles needed to be removed and then the damaged subfloor carefully scraped out and replaced. Once that was done the floor would need relaying and then cleaned and sealed so everything would blend in. After visiting the property and providing a quotation we were given the go ahead and agreed a date to do the work. We returned on the agreed date and set about carefully removing the loose and cracked Victorian tiles and put them aside for later use. Some would need replacing however this would not present a problem and they are still widely available, and I have several contacts I can turn to for this. Once this was done and the subfloor exposed and cleaned up, I used self-levelling cement to bring the floor level up and in-line with the existing. This now needed to set hard, so the rest of the day was spent cleaning up the tiles we removed earlier with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up and Pro-clean. Our goal is to reuse as many of the original tiles as possible to preserve the heritage of the floor. The next day with the new subfloor set it was ready for tiling. This involves laying out the tiles first without adhesive carefully cutting and fitting new tiles as needed to maintain the overall pattern of the floor. Once I was happy the tiles were moved to a board and then fitted with fresh adhesive. I came back on day three with the aim of cleaning the floor so it could be sealed however whilst inspecting my new tiling I was disappointed to discover some were not as level as I had hoped. I had noticed the replacement tiles were not the same thickness as the originals the previous day but I had worked around this by using different levels of adhesive, clearly this plan was not as effective as I had hoped for. To counter this problem, I used a set of 50-Grit, 100-grit and then 200-grit diamond pads in sequence to mill the floor flat and remove the lippage between them. This is done with water to lubricate the process and a weighted floor buffer. The pads generate a lot of slurry and so you need to rinse this off with more water and extract all the soil after each pad. I followed this up with various Diamond burnishing pads of increasingly finer grits across the whole floor until we achieved a consistent finish and had the added benefit of getting the whole floor clean. More water is used to rinse the tiles after burnishing and the soil extracted with a wet vacuum as before. Once done and inspected the floor was left to dry off overnight. Tile Doctor Colour Grow was applied to enhance the appearance of the tiles and protect them going forward. This product copes well with damp which can always be a problem with old floors like this one with no damp proof membrane present. The floor looked amazing when finished and our attention to detail had really paid off, in fact you simply could not tell we had done any tiling work or replaced any tiles. For aftercare I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is designed for the regular cleaning of sealed tiles. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

ShadeFX assessed an existing pergola and installed a custom 16′ x 16′ retractable roof in a neutral Sunbrella Linen. The motorized system is powder-coated Traffic black, completing the look and feel of the overall space.

The client’s brief was to create a space reminiscent of their beloved downtown Chicago industrial loft, in a rural farm setting, while incorporating their unique collection of vintage and architectural salvage. The result is a custom designed space that blends life on the farm with an industrial sensibility. The new house is located on approximately the same footprint as the original farm house on the property. Barely visible from the road due to the protection of conifer trees and a long driveway, the house sits on the edge of a field with views of the neighbouring 60 acre farm and creek that runs along the length of the property. The main level open living space is conceived as a transparent social hub for viewing the landscape. Large sliding glass doors create strong visual connections with an adjacent barn on one end and a mature black walnut tree on the other. The house is situated to optimize views, while at the same time protecting occupants from blazing summer sun and stiff winter winds. The wall to wall sliding doors on the south side of the main living space provide expansive views to the creek, and allow for breezes to flow throughout. The wrap around aluminum louvered sun shade tempers the sun. The subdued exterior material palette is defined by horizontal wood siding, standing seam metal roofing and large format polished concrete blocks. The interiors were driven by the owners’ desire to have a home that would properly feature their unique vintage collection, and yet have a modern open layout. Polished concrete floors and steel beams on the main level set the industrial tone and are paired with a stainless steel island counter top, backsplash and industrial range hood in the kitchen. An old drinking fountain is built-in to the mudroom millwork, carefully restored bi-parting doors frame the library entrance, and a vibrant antique stained glass panel is set into the foyer wall allowing diffused coloured light to spill into the hallway. Upstairs, refurbished claw foot tubs are situated to view the landscape. The double height library with mezzanine serves as a prominent feature and quiet retreat for the residents. The white oak millwork exquisitely displays the homeowners’ vast collection of books and manuscripts. The material palette is complemented by steel counter tops, stainless steel ladder hardware and matte black metal mezzanine guards. The stairs carry the same language, with white oak open risers and stainless steel woven wire mesh panels set into a matte black steel frame. The overall effect is a truly sublime blend of an industrial modern aesthetic punctuated by personal elements of the owners’ storied life. Photography: James Brittain