Newly built properties are not without their problems and often take a while to resolve all the snagging which occasionally extends to resolving problems with newly laid tiled floors. At this new property in the village of Malvern, and overlooked by the Malvern hills, the builders had left the Terracotta tiled kitchen floor covered in grout smears (also known as Grout Haze) following installation. They had also neglected to seal the tiles, which was actually quite fortunate in this case as they would have sealed in the grout haze, making it more difficult to remove. Naturally, the property owner wanted the problem to be resolved as soon as possible, and for me to make the tiles easy to keep clean in future, which can be achieved by sealing the tile. Before starting work, I made sure to fully protect any exposed woodwork with a plastic sheet covering to protect them from potential damage. I then proceeded to give the floor a thorough clean, using Tile Doctor Remove and Go to clean the floor and eradicate some stains that had been left behind as a result of the building work. Next, I paid special attention to the grout, where the very visible problem of grout haze had arisen. To neutralise these smears I used Tile Doctor Grout Clean Up, a concentrated phosphoric acid cleaner that can also remove alkaline mineral deposits and efflorescence. Grout Clean Up is only to be used on acid resistant stone, as sensitive stone can suffer from irreparable etching if it comes into contact with the product. Once completely clean and free of grout smears the floor was thoroughly rinsed with water to remove any trace of product and then dried as much as possible with a wet vacuum, afterwards an air mover was installed to speed up the drying process. Later that afternoon the floor was dry and I was able to apply a sealer. To do this I opted to use several coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra, a topical, fully breathable sealer that works really well on Terracotta. The sealer builds up a layer of protection on the surface of the tiles, protecting against ingrained dirt and stains. Seal and Go Extra also provides a high quality sheen finish which really did well to enhance the look of the Terracotta. The property owner was exceptionally pleased with the results, and to have this problem dealt with quickly and efficiently, additionally the sealer will ensure the Kitchen floor is easy to keep clean in the future.

Immense home left abandoned and neglected for years. The roof had caved in at one time and the 3rd floor had to be rebuilt. Dedication and expertise brought this home back to be the show piece it once was

A small boutique hotel in the Grenadines overlooking the island of Mustique was an exercise in local artisanship. The hotel consists of an historic house that contained remnants of British Colonial furniture, and an old beachfront structure that was left in disrepair after years of neglect. We breathed new life into these spaces by whitewashing surfaces and commissioning local artisans to create pieces out of seashells and driftwood to give this property its simple, elegant, Island character.

2013 CHRYSALIS AWARD SOUTH REGION WINNER, RESIDENTIAL EXTERIOR This 1970’s split-level single-family home in an upscale Arlington neighborhood had been neglected for years. With his surrounding neighbors all doing major exterior and interior remodeling, however, the owner decided it was time to renovate his property as well. After several consultation meetings with the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes, he settled on an exterior layout to create an Art & Craft design for the home. It all got started by excavating the front and left side of the house and attaching a wrap-around stone porch. Key design attributes include a black metal roof, large tapered columns, blue and grey random style flag stone, beaded stain ceiling paneling and an octagonal seating area on the left side of this porch. The front porch has a wide stairway and another set of stairs leads to the back yard. All exterior walls of homes were modified with new headers to allow much larger custom-made windows, new front doors garage doors, and French side and back doors. A custom-designed mahogany front door with leaded glass provides more light and offers a wider entrance into the home’s living area. Design challenges included removing the entire face of the home and then adding new insulation, Tyvek and Hardiplank siding. The use of high-efficiency low-e windows makes the home air tight. The Arts & Crafts design touches include the front gable over the front porch, the prairie-style grill pattern on the windows and doors, the use of tapered columns sitting over stone columns and the leaded glass front door. Decorative exterior lighting provides the finishing touches to this look.

VICTORIAN LAKEFRONT BEFORE & AFTER This neglected Victorian on the waterfront in Hudson was a perfect example of a diamond in the rough. But its new owners recognized its potential and (lucky for us) we were hired to redesign the main floor. Everything was replaced, from the uneven and mismatched floor boards, to the dilapidated, rickety old staircase. Not to mention, new windows, sexy new hot water heaters imported from England., a new kitchen and main floor bathroom. The entire house was painted Moonshine by Benjamin Moore - a watery blue-grey colour which works perfectly with all the wood and white trim. The kitchen was gutted and reconfigured to optimize the fantastic water views allowing the owners to relax at their new island (with soapstone counters). The beautiful blue backsplash tiles make this traditional white kitchen anything but boring. And we painted the adjacent dining room ceiling the same deep blue colour to add impact. Our clients had travelled all over the world for work before returning to Montreal, and their art collection, geological artifacts, wool rugs and assortment of wood furniture (collected in Chile, Mexico and Arizona to name a few places) give this updated Victorian a lived-in, eclectic look. We added some unexpected lighting with a nod to the Victorian age throughout and the back room, once the exterior porch, is now a the perfect retreat to relax, hold book club meetings or just enjoy the views from the elegant new furniture or the newly reupholstered family heirloom bench.

To anchor a modern house, designed by Frederick Fisher & Partners, Campion Walker brought in a mature oak grove that at first frames the home and then invites the visitor to explore the grounds including an intimate culinary garden and stone fruit orchard. The neglected hillside on the back of the property once overgrown with ivy was transformed into a California native oak woodland, with under-planting of ceanothus and manzanitas. We used recycled water to create a dramatic water feature cut directly into the limestone entranceway framed by a cacti and succulent garden.

This beautiful secluded house and art studio, hand built by a Japanese Potter, has been given a new life as a writing studio for its owner. The building, having been neglected and uninhabited for some time, was in danger of being demolished. The owner’s recognition of the underlying spirit of the place, in what can only be described as a labor of love, worked with the designers and the artisans to bring this building back to life. The stone cylinder at the center of the building houses bathrooms and mechanical systems, allowing the remainder of the building to remain open. The new cedar posts, stair, custom cabinets and handcrafted sliding doors are among the details that were chosen to complement the restoration of the underlying building, ensuring a long life for this peaceful retreat.

This Minneapolis attic was transformed from a long-neglected space into a refined bonus room and full bath. TreHus reinforced the structure, leveled floors and ceilings, and preserved original details such as the antique clawfoot tub. The result is a warm, functional retreat that connects seamlessly with the restored 1901 historical home below.

Dunyon emerges as a modern, functional structure, its industrial aesthetic defined by a prominent gable roof and symmetrical façades. The building’s utilitarian purpose is reflected in its clean lines and durable materials, with large windows punctuating the metallic siding to allow ample natural light into the interior. Around the structure, a spacious parking area confirms its commercial intent, equipped with accessibility features. The exterior, though primarily functional, doesn’t neglect aesthetics, as evidenced by the strategic outdoor lighting that promises a welcoming presence in the evening hours.

A family of passionate athletes and sports aficionados embarked on a remarkable endeavor alongside our team and Studio M Merge. Their vision? To breathe new life into their outdated mid-century modern home and neglected pool, resulting in the dramatic “Sports Enthusiasts’ Hideaway.” The transformative journey focused on opening the interior spaces out toward the beautiful gardens and amenities. The renewed house features expanded open-plan living areas, a new bedroom, and a reimagined primary bath. An attached ADU added a sports bar and a flexible office space that can double as a private guest bedroom. The outdoor spaces were brought to life with the addition of expansive decks, inviting patios, a horseshoe pit, a basketball half-court, refreshing plunge pools, and a lush sports lawn. A pool house artfully frames the view from the pool to the neighboring golf course. This family of five finds themselves immersed in their expanded home and experiential outdoor hideaway. Every element has been thoughtfully designed to cater to their favorite activities, providing a peaceful haven where they can fully indulge their shared passion for sports. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Angela Todorova, Geoff Campen
Interior Architectural Design: Klopf Architecture
Landscape Architect: Studio M Merge
Contractor: Flegels Construction
Landscape Contractor: Frank & Grossman (phase 1), Garden Group (phase 2)
Photography: ©2013-2023 Mariko Reed
Year Completed: 2012 through 2020 Location: Los Gatos, CA

This home was not even visible from the street because of the overgrown and neglected landscape. There was no obvious entrance to the front door, and the garden area was surprisingly spacious once the over grown brush was removed. We added an arbored and walled patio in the rear garden, near the kitchen, for morning coffee and meditation. .

Neglected Garden bed and pool area resurfaced, cleaned and painted.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional full sun backyard raised garden bed in Los Angeles for summer.

Before photos of the entry with amazing bones but carrying years of neglect. The walls are doodled on and the molding is peeling off. The pocket doors are stuck open but I'm working on getting them back on track!

Our customer asked us to remodel their pool that had been neglected for some time. Our team got right to work and resurfaced the pool and installed new tile. What a beautiful finished pool that our customer can enjoy for years to come with their friends and family.

A historic Oregon cabin at Mt. Hood's Government Camp gets a modern makeover. This once-neglected cabin in the woods has been revitalized into a stylish, cozy, ski-in/ski-out retreat with forest views.

The client wanted to have an existing apartment remodeled and the kitchen, the bathroom and the powder room redesigned on a large-scale. For this purpose, the existing kitchen was gutted and also the wall to the storeroom was removed, which created much more space. She wanted a central kitchen element as a meeting place for family, friends and guests, flanked by a simple kitchenette and a wall unit with maximum storage space. A two-sided access to the kitchen makes it now easy to store purchases on short distances and to reach the nearby dining table in the open plan living area. White was chosen as the basic color for the cabinet furniture, which blends perfectly with the warm wooden elements of the surface material and the floor made of patterned ceramic tiles. All seems cozy and homely. Suspended lamps with vintage settings give the room a special touch. The existing interior bathroom was also gutted. We replaced the bathtub with a generous shower facility. The vanity unit in a classic oak look provides a lot of storage space, even for a washing machine and a dryer. The opposite wall construction offers additional storage space for a variety of personal items, but also technical units such as a hot water tank. The generous mirror coating creates a greatly enlarged space that turns this small bathroom into a spa oasis. The open-plan two-floor room concept was elegantly coordinated in terms of colors – white as the dominant color is alternated by delicate shades of gray. The existing wooden staircase was color-adapted with a special coating. Minimalist elements such as a fireplace in a concrete look give the room a modern touch, without neglecting the factor of coziness.

This Minneapolis attic was transformed from a long-neglected space into a refined bonus room and full bath. TreHus reinforced the structure, leveled floors and ceilings, and preserved original details such as the antique clawfoot tub. The result is a warm, functional retreat that connects seamlessly with the restored 1901 historical home below.

A close-up--no detail goes neglected!
Example of a tuscan dining room design in Dallas

It’s been said that when you dream about a house, the basement represents your subconscious level. Perhaps that was true in the past, when basements were often neglected. But in most of today’s new builds and remodels, lower levels are becoming valuable living spaces. If you’re looking at building or renovating, opening up that lower level with sufficient light can add square footage and value to your home. In addition, having access to bright indoor areas can help combat cabin fever, which peaks in late winter. Looking at the photos here, you’d never know what you’re seeing is a lower level. That’s because a smart builder knew that bringing natural light into the space was key. Our job, in furnishing the space, was to make the most of that light. The off-white walls and light grey carpet provide a good base. A grey sectional sofa with clean, modern lines easily fits into the spacious room. It’s an ideal piece to encourage people to spend time together. The strong, forgiving linen resists staining, and like a blank canvas this true neutral allows for accessorizing with various throws and pillows depending on the season. The cream-colored throw echoes the light colors in the space, while the nubby pillow adds a textured contrast.