Search results for "Neglecting" in Home Design Ideas

or a neglected 1928 Mission Revival house on San Francisco’s Potrero Hill, we were charged with enlarging it to the rear as well as reconfiguring and redesigning the entire interior. The kitchen and baths hadn’t been remodeled since the 60s and the original heavy wood detailing throughout and small rooms cried out for updating. The rear yard was overgrown and on a much lower level which required traversing a long side stair to access. We extended the ground floor 9 feet where we created a large new family room, a new bedroom, a bathroom, and wine storage with a new roof deck up top. Large sliding doors at the family room open to a new deck and terraced gardens which we collaborated on the design of with a landscape architect. At the main living level, we added a small bay addition to the rear and opened things up to create a new great room consisting of breakfast, kitchen, and dining areas with maximum glazing to open it up to the views and access a new roof deck above the ground floor addition. On the top floor, we reconfigured the bedrooms and created a new primary suite with a separate tub, shower, double vanity, water closet, and our signature slot skylight. New stairs and finishes throughout completed the modernization.

The original master bath twin casement windows remained, but now a tub is actually centered beneath them. It feels like a completely different space.

Central El Paso Backyard Renovation:
Fifteen years is a long time for a backyard to quietly wait.
At first, it was full of intention—a pool that promised summers, laughter, and long evenings. But time has a way of settling in. The water turned still, then green. Edges cracked. The space became less of a destination and more of something you looked past. Life moved forward, but the backyard stayed behind.
Then came the decision: it was time.
Not a patch job. Not a quick fix. A complete reset.
The transformation didn’t begin beautifully—it began with demolition. The old pool was drained, exposing years of neglect etched into its surface. Crews stepped in, breaking, clearing, reshaping. What once held stagnant water became an open cavity of possibility. Steel rebar formed a new skeleton, precise and intentional. Every line measured. Every elevation reconsidered.
This wasn’t just construction—it was rethinking how the space should live.
The shell was rebuilt. Surfaces were refined. Plumbing, structure, and flow were corrected at their core. What had once been outdated and failing was now engineered to last.
Then the shift happened.
Hardscape came in—clean, warm-toned concrete replacing worn decking. Stone walls, once just boundaries, were elevated into features. Subtle textures, intentional lines. A visual language that matched the architecture of the home instead of competing with it.
The pool returned—but not as it was.
Now it was sharp, modern, and inviting. A long, clean body of water with a shallow tanning ledge that catches the sun just right. Stainless steel scuppers arc water into the pool—movement, sound, life. Steps are crisp, geometry is balanced, and the water reflects clarity instead of neglect.
Around it, the yard found purpose.
Artificial turf introduced contrast—green, controlled, low-maintenance. A pergola structure rose in the corner, creating a destination within the destination. Beneath it, a built-in outdoor kitchen turned the backyard into a place to gather, not just pass through. Lighting stitched everything together, making the space just as alive at dusk as it is under the midday sun.
By the end, nothing felt accidental.
What was once forgotten is now deliberate. What was once avoided is now the center of attention.
Fifteen years later, the backyard didn’t just come back—it finally became what it was always supposed to be.
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Before Pitcure, showing the overgrowth and death left from not keeping up with a commercial property.
Example of a mid-sized urban one-story concrete exterior home design in Dallas
Example of a mid-sized urban one-story concrete exterior home design in Dallas

Central El Paso Backyard Renovation:
Fifteen years is a long time for a backyard to quietly wait.
At first, it was full of intention—a pool that promised summers, laughter, and long evenings. But time has a way of settling in. The water turned still, then green. Edges cracked. The space became less of a destination and more of something you looked past. Life moved forward, but the backyard stayed behind.
Then came the decision: it was time.
Not a patch job. Not a quick fix. A complete reset.
The transformation didn’t begin beautifully—it began with demolition. The old pool was drained, exposing years of neglect etched into its surface. Crews stepped in, breaking, clearing, reshaping. What once held stagnant water became an open cavity of possibility. Steel rebar formed a new skeleton, precise and intentional. Every line measured. Every elevation reconsidered.
This wasn’t just construction—it was rethinking how the space should live.
The shell was rebuilt. Surfaces were refined. Plumbing, structure, and flow were corrected at their core. What had once been outdated and failing was now engineered to last.
Then the shift happened.
Hardscape came in—clean, warm-toned concrete replacing worn decking. Stone walls, once just boundaries, were elevated into features. Subtle textures, intentional lines. A visual language that matched the architecture of the home instead of competing with it.
The pool returned—but not as it was.
Now it was sharp, modern, and inviting. A long, clean body of water with a shallow tanning ledge that catches the sun just right. Stainless steel scuppers arc water into the pool—movement, sound, life. Steps are crisp, geometry is balanced, and the water reflects clarity instead of neglect.
Around it, the yard found purpose.
Artificial turf introduced contrast—green, controlled, low-maintenance. A pergola structure rose in the corner, creating a destination within the destination. Beneath it, a built-in outdoor kitchen turned the backyard into a place to gather, not just pass through. Lighting stitched everything together, making the space just as alive at dusk as it is under the midday sun.
By the end, nothing felt accidental.
What was once forgotten is now deliberate. What was once avoided is now the center of attention.
Fifteen years later, the backyard didn’t just come back—it finally became what it was always supposed to be.

The garden was a mess when I arrived to redesign it. Neglected chaos and an elderly couple who wanted a peaceful,place to relax in.
This is an example of a small traditional shade backyard landscaping in Surrey for summer.
This is an example of a small traditional shade backyard landscaping in Surrey for summer.

We were contacted by a customer in West Kirby who needed help renovating a Victorian tiled hallway in a house they had just purchased. Kirby is a desirable seaside location North of Heswall that expanded with the arrival of the railway in 1848. The railway brought a demand for property and so it’s not unusual to find housing stock in this area dating back to the Victorian era.
The Victorian tiles at this property appear to have been neglected by the previous owner and were now looking very dull and marked by paint from decorating; all the colours looked washed out and the floor was now looking very unappealing.
The good news however is that this problem is not uncommon and with a deep clean and a fresh sealer applied it can be transformed. I gave the owner a quote which was accepted a date agreed for my return to do the work.
On the first day the floor was sprayed with a neat solution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a powerful alkaline cleaning and stripping agent used to remove old seals and paint. The solution was left to dwell for about twenty minutes so it could soak in and get to work. It was then scrubbed into the tiles using a coarse 200-grit pad fitted to a heavy buffing machine. Water was then added to the floor for lubrication and the soils released from the pores of the tile during scrubbing was removed by with a wet vacuum.
To treat the stubborn paint stains and remains of what I suspect was carpet adhesive a hand scraper and wire brush was used, this was made easier by the Remove and Go which had softened the paint etc.
The next stage was to give the Victorian tiles a mild acid wash using Acid Gel which is applied to the floor, scrubbed in, and rinsed off with a little water then extracted using the wet vacuum. We always recommend an acid wash for old floors like these as it will counter any efflorescent salts resident in the tiles and helps to remove other mineral contaminates and old grout that can mask the true beauty of the tiles.
I left the tiles to dry out for two days before returning to apply the sealer, first checking it was dry by testing for moisture in various places with an electronic damp tester. It’s not a good idea to apply a sealer to a damp floor so we always check first.
Satisfied the floor was dry, I started applying a coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a colour enhancing impregnating sealer that helps to bring out the true colours in the tile. This was allowed to dry for thirty minutes and then followed up five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra which is a breathable sealer that leaves a lovely satin finish and builds on the protection.
Once done the Victorian hallway tiles looked so much cleaner and healthier. It was quite a transformation and the new sealer had given the floor a nice low sheen shine which the customer was very happy with.
For aftercare cleaning I left them with a bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is specially formulated for cleaning sealed tiles. We don’t recommend tile cleaning products you find on supermarket shelves as the are usually too strong and can strip a sealer off the floor prematurely. If your choosing another product to clean your floor always read the label to make sure its compatible.
Andrew Robb
Merseyside Tile Doctor

I recently worked on the restoration of a Victorian tiled hallway in Cwmbran Wales which is six miles North of Newport. As you can see from the photographs the floor was in quite a neglected dirty state and many of the the black and white border tiles needed removing and replacing. The worst part was the area by the front door where most of the tiles had been removed and then backfilled with concrete. I can only assume at some point in the past it was deemed to difficult or expensive to restore the floor, so they simply covered it up.
After visiting to survey the floor I did offer to source replacements for the concreted section and restore that as part of the work however my client’s budget would not stretch to that at the time. My quote was therefore focused on the main section of flooring and included replacing border tiles, deep cleaning the whole floor and then sealing the tiles to add protection. Although I did need to check that I could indeed source the replacement tiles before being able to provide the quote which as it turned out would not be an issue.
They were happy to go ahead and we arranged a suitable time to carry out the work which would enable me to work in the property whilst minimising contact with the owners due to the Covid-19 situation.
I spend the first day sorting out the black and white border tiles which needed to be gently prised out of position without upsetting the main part of the floor. The exposed subfloor was then cleaned up to remove old adhesive and replacements were fitted where required and secured into place. The floor would need to be solid before cleaning so that was left for day two so the new adhesive could go off overnight.
On day two I gave the floor an initial clean using a combination of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and Remove and Go diluted with water. This produces a strong cleaner/stripper that will tackle dirt and remove coatings such as previous sealers. The old tiles had accumulated years of ingrained dirt, so I needed this extra power to remove the years of dirt and contaminates from the tile. It was sprayed onto the tiles and then left to soak in for ten minutes before being actively scrubbed into the tile using a rotary machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad. The soil was then rinsed off with water and extracted with a wet vacuum. The floor was inspected, and the process repeated on the tough stains until I was satisfied all the dirt had been removed.
Next the floor was treated to an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel using a similar method as before. This is an important treatment for these old Victorian floors that have no damp proof course as it neutralises efflorescent salts trapped in the tile which can appear as white salt deposits later. Once I was happy with the condition of the floor it was given a final rinse and left to dry off. I use a wet vacuum to remove liquids from the floor and on this last extraction I spent extra time to remove as much moisture from the tiles as possible.
I came back a few days later and after checking the tiles were dry using a damp meter, I started the application of the sealer. For this floor I applied seven coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go for a satin finish. Tile Doctor Seal and Go is a specially formulated water-based sealer that provides both stain resistance and a durable low-sheen finish. It is perfect on a floor of this age where it leaves a lovely finish and will remain durable in what is a essentially a high traffic area.
Although we didn’t manage to sort out the area by the front door the client managed to fit a made to measure coir door mat along with carpet bar which was quite practical and looked fine so they were able to resolve that problem without blowing their budget.
The client was over the moon with results, the floor had a lovely pattern and the colours now shone through. I suggested the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner to keep the floor clean and in good condition. It is neutral in pH so will ensure that the newly applied sealer stays in place and will ensure maintenance is nice and easy for them.
Paul Wales
Monmouthshire Tile Doctor

Not too long ago, I visited a house in the town of Fulwood in Preston, Lancashire. My client had a Terracotta tiled floor which had been neglected for many years and in their attempt to improve it had unfortunately been given some very poor advice by tile retailers, all of whom sold him different products, and each of which was unsuitable. Using these different products in succession had resulted in the depreciation of the floor’s texture and smoothness, in turn making the clay difficult to clean and maintain.
As per my usual process I ran a small test clean to demonstrate what could be done to improve the floor and I was commissioned to restore the floor back to its former glory.
I started by mixing a strong cleaning solution consisting of one part Tile Doctor Pro-Clean to three parts water. The solution was applied to the floor and left it to dwell for a short period. The high alkaline cleaner seeps into the pores of the tile getting underneath and lifting out the ingrained dirt and breaking down the old sealers. Then, I agitated the floor using a scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary floor machine before using a wet vacuum to suck up the resulting soiled solution.
There were a few paint marks dotted across the floor, but these were not noticeable until after I had given the Terracotta a deep clean. To remove the paint marks I used Tile Doctor Remove & Go, which is specially formulated to break down paint stains, adhesives and coatings. This product was used in combination with a steamer which, when applied directly to the tiles, helped to lift the paint out. Following this, I rinsed the entire floor a couple of times to remove any trace of cleaning product, and vacuumed up the excess moisture.
It’s always best to let the floor dry completely prior to sealing as applying sealer to a damp floor will affect the sealer. I left the house to allow this to take place overnight returning the next day. To get the best out of the Terracotta I sealed the floor using one coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow, which is an impregnating sealer that soaks into the pores of the tile and acts as both as a bonding sealer enhancing the natural colours and darkening the clay (as requested by my client).
After the coat of Colour Grow had dried, I applied a further seven coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go, which achieves a nice, low sheen Satin finish. Before leaving my happy client to enjoy his newly restored Terracotta floor, I made sure to provide some professional cleaning and long-term maintenance advice.
Russell Taylor
Lancashire Tile Doctor

This home started as a typical suburban all‑brick house, but years of deferred maintenance led to the complete failure of the original wood fascia and soffit. The damage was extensive enough that full replacement was the only long‑term solution.
We removed the deteriorated wood and rebuilt the exterior details using James Hardie fascia, soffit, trim, and selective siding replacement to restore structural integrity and give the home a clean, modern finish. Once the new Hardie components were installed, we protected and unified everything with two coats of Sherwin‑Williams Emerald Rain Refresh, providing a durable, low‑maintenance coating designed to stand up to Houston’s heat, humidity, and storms.
Need fascia, soffit, or trim repairs in Cypress, Tomball, or Northwest Houston?
Contact Deskins Siding & Exteriors today for a free, no‑pressure estimate and expert guidance on James Hardie upgrades.

This home started as a typical suburban all‑brick house, but years of deferred maintenance led to the complete failure of the original wood fascia and soffit. The damage was extensive enough that full replacement was the only long‑term solution.
We removed the deteriorated wood and rebuilt the exterior details using James Hardie fascia, soffit, trim, and selective siding replacement to restore structural integrity and give the home a clean, modern finish. Once the new Hardie components were installed, we protected and unified everything with two coats of Sherwin‑Williams Emerald Rain Refresh, providing a durable, low‑maintenance coating designed to stand up to Houston’s heat, humidity, and storms.
Need fascia, soffit, or trim repairs in Cypress, Tomball, or Northwest Houston?
Contact Deskins Siding & Exteriors today for a free, no‑pressure estimate and expert guidance on James Hardie upgrades.

Richmond Bedroom, floral headboard, deep velvet luxury with injections of cerise and purple tones. Detailed with complimenting and contrast bolster cushion.

Before picture reveals the desperate state of this room
Inspiration for a 1960s living room remodel in Other
Inspiration for a 1960s living room remodel in Other

This home started as a typical suburban all‑brick house, but years of deferred maintenance led to the complete failure of the original wood fascia and soffit. The damage was extensive enough that full replacement was the only long‑term solution.
We removed the deteriorated wood and rebuilt the exterior details using James Hardie fascia, soffit, trim, and selective siding replacement to restore structural integrity and give the home a clean, modern finish. Once the new Hardie components were installed, we protected and unified everything with two coats of Sherwin‑Williams Emerald Rain Refresh, providing a durable, low‑maintenance coating designed to stand up to Houston’s heat, humidity, and storms.
Need fascia, soffit, or trim repairs in Cypress, Tomball, or Northwest Houston?
Contact Deskins Siding & Exteriors today for a free, no‑pressure estimate and expert guidance on James Hardie upgrades.
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