Photo by Jillian Northrup. For more info see http://www.becausewecan.org/Resin_Inlay_Swiveling_desk

Sometimes you survey a job and you know that if you get the chance to restore it the results will be totally fantastic! This was the case with this Victorian black & white chequer tiled floor in the hallway of a large terraced Victorian house in Cardiff which dated back to around 1900 and was now looking well past its best, I know this because my family used to live in the house opposite. It was a well laid floor with no readings of dampness; I believe it’s imperative you check a floor for dampness before starting so you know what the baseline damp level is and which sealers will work with the floor. My first action was to hoover the floor and then scrape as much debris off the surface as possible, and then as always I mixed 50/50 Tile Doctor HBU (Heavy Build-Up) remover with Pro-Clean and on this occasion because I wanted the white tiles to become really white I added the same amount of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up. This special recipe created a very formidable and strong cleaning solution which is what the job called for. I swept it over the whole floor letting it soak in for about ten minutes and then worked it into the floor using a scrubbing machine fitted with a coarse black pad adding more of the solution to the floor where it was drying out as I went. The next step was to rinse the floor twice with water and extract the now filthy cleaning solution using a wet vacuum. At this point I inspected the tiles and I could see there were still a few stubborn areas with spots of paint and glue which I addressed with a decorators steam plate together with a scraper and hand held scrubbing pad. I was now happy that the floor was clean and ready to be sealed, before sealing though it’s important to remove any trace of cleaning solution as it may contaminate the sealer so I gave the floor a thorough rinse and extracted as much of the water as possible to reduce drying times. I left the floor to dry for 48hrs before coming back to seal the tiles taking a reader on my damp meter first to establish they had indeed dried out. To seal the floor I used eight coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go which really works well on Victorian tiles and in this case made the whites really stand out. The customer wanted this floor to look good because they were selling the property and were due to have an open day. The clean tiles really gave the house the wow factor and period features are so desirable these days so I don’t think it will take long to sell.

This Portland Zen Garden features two double gate sets to enter the serene back yard. The client chose our Asian Style Gate Latch and dummy handle for the gates. To top it all off, there’s a guest house for rent at the back of the property. Reservation, please?! A view from the exterior of the double gate shows the active latch alongside a dummy handle, to present a symmetrical look as you approach the yard.

An old door and brass backplate with a new reproduction black knob give this beach house front door charm.
Inspiration for a coastal single front door remodel in Portland

Originally, the exterior of the Napa ranch residence was a standard knocked down stucco finish. We covered over the entire exterior of the house with a natural plaster product that has been made in Italy for centuries, known as Rialto or Vero. This product is a combination of slaked lime mixed with 60% reconstituted crushed marble dust. Quarried from the legendary Carrara marble mines. The finish itself is a vertically combed striated texture embedded into the plaster. While it cures, a transparent group of patinas are applied to the stone-like plaster substance to create a look of an aged villa.

Photo: Teness Herman © 2015 Houzz
Home design - eclectic home design idea in Los Angeles

Verbena Homestead Purple will cover the space next year. Red Wave Petunias will add seasonal color with the Sun Parasol Mandevilla. Elliott Hallum
Inspiration for a small traditional full sun front yard gravel landscaping in Nashville for summer.

Jen Chu
Inspiration for a contemporary bedroom remodel in New York

Facade improvement to replace 1950s stucco with traditional Victorian exterior, paint and details.
Large elegant three-story wood home design photo in San Francisco

French Quarter gas lantern on a yoke hanger bracket lights the converted garage/seating area. The French Quarter® on yoke hanger bracket is a perfect fit when you have a broad area to address. The light is still very versatile architecturally and can be used on almost any home. This light is available in natural gas, liquid propane, and electric. Standard Lantern Sizes Height Width Depth 14.0" 9.25" 9.25" 18.0" 10.5" 10.5" 21.0" 11.5" 11.5" 24.0" 13.25" 13.25" 27.0" 14.5" 14.5"

A stainless steel kitchen integrated into a large scale landscaping makeover. The bronze undertone to a grey stainless steel cabinets adds a complementary contrast to the light grey tones of the house and landscaping. With an oversized sink that doubles as an ice bar and a fridge, this kitchen was designed with hosting poolside in mind.

www.nicholasgingold.com
Inspiration for a timeless front yard patio remodel in Orange County

A stone mailbox base made from Sunrise rock at American Stone.
Photo of a small rustic red front yard stone and gravel driveway in Salt Lake City.

Trendy home design photo in Toronto

Modern Mailbox

Genuine Custom Homes, LLC. Conveniently contact Michael Bryant via iPhone, email or text for a personalized consultation.
Country exterior home photo in Austin

photographer Turykina Maria

Detail of LED wall sconce with white glass tile background
Inspiration for a small contemporary kids' white tile and glass tile porcelain tile and gray floor alcove bathtub remodel in New York with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, green walls and an integrated sink