The master bathroom has floors and walls of carefully selected and matched Carrara marble slabs that are contrasted with dark fixtures to evoke a spa. Photography by Eric Laignel.

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Urban landscape masterplan and installation. We created continuity of color, texture, and form starting at the street and front yard, and reaching to the rear yard and alleyway. Contemporary and naturalistic plantings blur the lines of rigidity and formality of this modern garden, while the structure of hardscaping holds the composition together year-round.

Only white custom cabinets will do for this 1904 house!
Kitchen - cottage kitchen idea in Sacramento

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Roger offers this advice to anyone considering a similar projects: “Do your own research so you can work with the suppliers and the installation contractor. There are not many contractors that have experience with tile installations in garages. The installer does not necessarily need to have experience with installing tile on garage floors but they do need to be willing to listen and learn what it takes for a successful project.”

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Here’s an interesting job I completed recently in the town of Lymington which is a lovely costal town within the New Forest and on the west side of the Solent. This Terracotta tiled floor was installed in the kitchen and was suffering from an efflorescence issue due to an ongoing leak which resulted in the salts in the water becoming deposited on the surface of the tiles as the water evaporated leaving a white bloom on the surface. This process is more commonly known as efflorescence and is particularly common in old properties which have no damp proof membrane under the floor and white staining by the cupboards is especially visible in the below photograph. My client was eager to have the problem fixed, and so enlisted Tile Doctor to get the job done. To remove the efflorescence, the Terracotta tiled floor was acid washed using a mild dilution of Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up which is primarily sold to remove grout smears but is equally effective at removing mineral deposits such as the white salts left behind by efflorescence. The solution was scrubbed into the tiles using a stiff scrubbing brush and was successful at removing the white staining. Naturally it’s not advised to leave acid too long on any surface so the floor was treated in sections and then rinsed off with water and the residue removed using a wet-vacuum. Following this, the floor was power-scrubbed in combination with a diluted solution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean. Pro-Clean is a versatile cleaner that also contains stripping properties, allowing it to break down and remove old sealers, it also does a nice job getting the grout clean. With the efflorescence treated and the floor now clean I was now happy with the condition of the tiles and give them a final rinse under pressure to ensure the floor was neutralised and any trace of products removed. The Terracotta tiled floor was then left to dry overnight and I came back to seal the floor the next day. To seal the tiles I used three coats of Tile Doctor Seal & Go Extra, which provides a robust surface seal, and is recommended for internal floors with the damp issues. Hopefully this quick report has offered some useful advice on how to treat efflorescence which is quite a common problem; naturally if you have further questions Tile Doctor does offer a free advice service so do get in touch. Charles Okwechime Hampshire Tile Doctor

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Beautiful small cabin settled into the woods on Howard Lake in Cass County Minnesota features sliding French doors looking over the lake, a large deck and screen porch, clerestory windows, a big loft, metal roof, detailed siding and beautiful paint colors. Photo: Erika Ludwig

Remodel or Refresh??? We get that question all the time in our initial home consult. They want the space updated, but don't want to spend the money that a true gut and remodel costs. In this case we offered valuable advice of how to spend the amount they were comfortable with to transform the space the most changes possible. We kept the island and buffet base cabinets stained, but painted the perimeter and buffet uppers to brighten the space. New counters, lighting, a, backsplash, lighting, and hardware were also very impactful. But, the biggest change was removing uppers and creating a whole floating shelf wall with tile behind and sconce lighting. All of this was done with Landmark Remodeling

Yeti Cooler Pull out Cabinet instead of ice maker
Home design - transitional home design idea in Charlotte

The photos on this page are of a Sandstone Kitchen floor at a house in the High Green suburb of Sheffield. The Sandstone tiles looked grubby and needed some love and attention. Our client was getting fed up trying to keep the stone clean, particularly around the kitchen area where cleaning didn’t seem to make much. You can see how dirty it had become on the before picture below, this is stark contrast to the middle of the of the kitchen where the portable kitchen island normally sits. I went to the property to get a better look at the problem floor and carried out a small test clean to see which products and methods would have the best impact. The patch came up really clean without much difficulty, so I was confident on being able to restore its appearance. It was clear to me the original protective sealer had worn off and dirt had become ingrained in the pores of the stone where it was proving difficult to remove. My client was very encouraged by the test clean initial result and agreed to go ahead with the quote. We arranged a suitable time to carry out the work on a day when the family would be out of the way. I started by taping up the area to make sure the skirting and woodwork were protected from splashing. Once done a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was sprayed onto Sandstone tile and grout. It was left to dwell for approximately ten minutes to help break down all the grime and dirt and was then worked into the stone using a rotary floor machine fitted with a stiff bristled brush. This method totally transformed the dull sandstone, the stunning sandstone colours started to leap out and I could see the stone was well on its way to being transformed. The floor was then rinsed several times with water and the now soiled cleaning solution carefully removed with an industrial wet vacuum. With the floor clean I inspected all the tiles and repeated the process until I was happy the floor was total clean. I should mention It’s not always this easy to clean a stone floor and quite often I find myself having to utilise all sorts of products and methods before I’m totally satisfied it’s as clean as it could possibly be. With the cleaning done I left the floor to dry out overnight aided with heaters and air blowers. I returned to seal the floor the next day checking first that the stone was dry with a damp meter. Leaving the blowers on overnight had helped and the readings I took from the floor confirmed it was now ready for sealing. Earlier I had discussed the different types of sealer available with my clients and they had chosen to have the floor sealed with Tile Doctor Seal & Go. This works really well on Sandstone, enhancing its appearance, improving colour and of course adding protection to the stone to prevent grime and dirt stuck in the pores of the stone. Several coats were applied until I could see if was fully sealed and the right level of finish had been achieved. Sealing a floor can take some time as you need to allow each coat to dry before applying the next. Once done the floor looked meticulously clean and the new sealer had added a lovely subtle sheen to the stone. My client was very please with the transformation and left the following feedback. ‘Very professional approach, friendly, and offered great advice throughout the job. Very pleased with the finish Cheers Matt we will see you again’ One of the problems we find with many homeowners is that for cleaning they use strong bleach-based cleaning product on their sealed tiles, and this actually strips off the sealer leaving the stone vulnerable to ingrained dirt. As a result, Tile Doctor has developed Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, it is pH neutral and gentle enough for everyday use without affecting the sealer. Matthew Lovett South Yorkshire Tile Doctor