Looking southeast, post remodel, what had been a bank of cabinets is now the main path through the kitchen. The stove has been relocated to the north with its back against the new bar. The face of bar is made from salvaged fir sliding door panels that had been stored in the home's basement from its original construction. The fir floor of the kitchen has been removed and replaced with oak to match the dining room and living room. The fir was salvaged for use as the countertop of the bar and pantry. The original exhaust fan was removed and replaced with a Zephyr island exhaust with built-in LED lights visible above the stove. The faux wood countertop and backsplash have been replaced with "Absolute Black" granite with a honed finish and Daltile 3" x 6" bright white subway tile. Combination power/led light strips were installed under the cabinets. A moveable island (antique enamel topped cabinet) serves as a landing spot and work surface. The center panels of the upper row of cabinets have been replaced with "mistlite" obscure glass. All of the cabinet pulls have been replaced with Van Dyke Restorers brushed silver "bow" handles. The hinges on the under-counter cabinets are new House of Antique Hardware 2-1/2" half-surface hinges to match the original ornamental butt hinges. The shape of the arched wall between the kitchen and dining room matches the wall between the dining room and living room. The curtain under the counter hides the space a dishwasher would go.

This fire feature is a custom four sided fireplace designed and fabricated with no visible corner posts. Fireplace is a welcoming center feature of the house and can be viewed from kitchen, dining and living room areas.

This large curved 2 level deck was built in Berkeley Heights, NJ. The flooring is Ipe hardwood that was screwed down and plugged. The plugs were then sanded flush with the floor so there were no visible fasteners. We used over 8000 plugs on the deck! The railing is a custom railing by Deck Pros. Most of the components are from the Azek railing system while the top rail and sub-rail are Ipe hardwood. It took many hours in our shop to bend the rail and attach the Ipe top rail. Low voltage LED light caps and stair lights provide illumination at night. The customer plans to add a pergola to the high 6x6 rail posts.

This completed outdoor project at 321 Plati Ave, Peterborough, showcases a sleek and modern composite fence installation designed to elevate both privacy and curb appeal. Built around the homeowner’s backyard pool area, the fence creates a clean, contemporary backdrop while enhancing the overall outdoor living experience. The design features premium woodgrain composite fence boards in a rich natural brown tone, paired with durable black aluminum posts and framing for a striking modern contrast. Integrated architectural lighting was strategically installed throughout the fence line, adding warmth, ambiance, and improved visibility during evening use. The soft lighting beautifully highlights the texture of the composite panels while creating a luxurious resort-inspired atmosphere around the pool. Constructed with low-maintenance composite materials, this fence was designed to withstand Ontario’s changing weather conditions without the need for staining, painting, or frequent upkeep. The durable materials resist warping, rotting, fading, and insect damage, making it a long-lasting investment for the property. In addition to providing enhanced backyard privacy and security, the completed project adds a refined architectural element to the outdoor space. The combination of modern materials, clean lines, and functional lighting creates a sophisticated and welcoming environment perfect for entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying the backyard day or night.

The curved timber work on the handrails and newel posts are clearly visible alongside the oak & glass doors that we installed on each level of the home

Post remodel, what had been a bank of cabinets is now the main path through the kitchen. The stove has been relocated to the north with its back against the new bar with subway tile backsplash. The fridge has been repositioned on the west side of the kitchen where a hall closet once was located. The fir floor of the kitchen has been removed and replaced with oak to match the dining room and living room. The fir was salvaged for use as the countertop of the bar and pantry. The original exhaust fan was removed and replaced with a Zephyr island exhaust with built-in LED lights visible above the stove. The faux wood countertop and backsplash have been replaced with "Absolute Black" granite with a honed finish and white subway tile. A moveable island (antique enamel topped cabinet) serves as a landing spot and work surface. The shape of the arched wall between the kitchen and dining room matches the wall between the dining room and living room.

Mediterranean style custom homes in the San Antonio are very popular and prevalent. They will always have an exterior of stucco with broad arching details and round columns. The roofing is always a barrel tile roof in the red and brown color pallet. The roofing pitch is usually low meaning that much of the roof is not visible due to its flatness. Inside the home will have high ceilings with details like arching ceilings and windows. There tends to be little interior detail like crown mold and base trim. Floors are usually tile with carpet in the bedrooms. Kitchens are usually open with granite counters and stained grade cabinets. Outside the pools are usually free form with no straight lines.

This completed outdoor project at 321 Plati Ave, Peterborough, showcases a sleek and modern composite fence installation designed to elevate both privacy and curb appeal. Built around the homeowner’s backyard pool area, the fence creates a clean, contemporary backdrop while enhancing the overall outdoor living experience. The design features premium woodgrain composite fence boards in a rich natural brown tone, paired with durable black aluminum posts and framing for a striking modern contrast. Integrated architectural lighting was strategically installed throughout the fence line, adding warmth, ambiance, and improved visibility during evening use. The soft lighting beautifully highlights the texture of the composite panels while creating a luxurious resort-inspired atmosphere around the pool. Constructed with low-maintenance composite materials, this fence was designed to withstand Ontario’s changing weather conditions without the need for staining, painting, or frequent upkeep. The durable materials resist warping, rotting, fading, and insect damage, making it a long-lasting investment for the property. In addition to providing enhanced backyard privacy and security, the completed project adds a refined architectural element to the outdoor space. The combination of modern materials, clean lines, and functional lighting creates a sophisticated and welcoming environment perfect for entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying the backyard day or night.

This customer from the historic city of Cardiff was keen to see what Tile Doctor could do to put some life back into their treasured Limestone kitchen floor that was laid in 2008. My first observations were mainly centred on the horrific condition of the surface which although adequately sealed initially the floor had not received any subsequent maintenance and its condition had deteriorated over time. The light shining in from the patio doors highlighted all the imperfections in the floor caused by surface wear and tear commonly seen in high traffic areas such as a kitchen. Upon closer inspection, there were further problems: the floor was stained and scuffed, and in most places the sealer had worn off completely allowing the dirt to become ingrained into the pores of the Limestone. Additionally the grout was recessed but was now flush with the tile surface due to dirt build-up. There were also areas contaminated with grease and kitchen cooking oil. The Limestone floor tiles were 20mm thick French Limestone, and had been laid very well so there was no requirement to do any tile or grout repairs however to get this floor back to its original condition the surface would need to be reconditioned using the Tile Doctor four stage burnishing system. I started by giving the floor a wash with a medium dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, focusing mainly on the grout lines in order to remove the muck that had built-up there. I used a special stiff grout brush for this activity; it’s quite narrow and ideal for grout scrubbing. This worked well, but the significant build-up of dirt along some of the grout lines meant more work was required. I tackled this problem with a hand scraper assisted with steam. At the end of this process, the whole floor was then rinsed down with water to remove any soil and the resulting slurry was then extracted using a wet vacuum. The next step was to start the burnishing process, which basically involves applying four diamond encrusted floor pads in sequence over the floor. Each pad is a different grade, starting with the most abrasive coarse pad and moving through to the finer grades using a little water to lubricate and rinsing away any slurry between each pad. I eventually finished with the extra fine pad which builds up shine and lustre on the tile; it had taken two days to clean the grout and burnish the Limestone but the floor was much improved and so after a final rinse down I left the floor to dry off overnight with the aid of the underfloor heating. During this time, I also addressed the stained Limestone in the area of the kitchen where the dustbin was situated. This had been a major upset for the customer and I’m happy to report I managed to deal with it. However, it was quite an involved process, so I’ll write about this in a separate post. On the third day I came back to seal the floor, checking first that it had dried sufficiently with a damp meter. Fortunately, the underfloor heating had done a great job of drying the stone and I was able to seal the floor using three coats of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealant. This sealant not only provides a durable seal but also penetrates deep into the pores of the stone protecting it from within and enhancing the natural colours of the Limestone in the process. After the final layer of sealant, I worked over the floor again with the extra fine burnishing pad both to add shine again following sealing, and to ensure that no smear marks were visible as the lighting conditions were unforgiving and highlighted any imperfections. The customer was delighted with the results: so much so, in fact, that they booked me in to restore their Victorian hallway floor as well but that’s a story for another time! Julian Iancono SE Wales Tile Doctor

A spacious outdoor patio features a light tan-colored deck furnished with multiple teal and turquoise wicker-style armchairs and loveseats, adorned with cushions in patterned designs, including stripes and geometric shapes. A matching light brown wicker coffee table sits centrally among the seating arrangements. The patio is bordered by a light beige building with soft yellow-green walls and enclosed by white vertical support posts and a white railing, offering a serene view of a calm light blue body of water, likely a canal or bay. Houses and other structures are visible along the distant shore, while the clear blue sky, dotted with a few scattered clouds, enhances the tranquil atmosphere. A ceiling fan mounted above adds a touch of functionality to the inviting waterfront setting.

Roll out drawers for maximizing storage of pantry items with easy visibility and access
Home design - traditional home design idea in Other

Photo from the Blue Sky Archives
Home design - contemporary home design idea in Vancouver

This view from the deck shows the outdoor dining area furnished with dark metal table and chairs with gray cushions. A red brick exterior wall with a small recessed arch fireplace is visible on the right. The clear, framed roof extends over this section, providing rain protection. The view extends over the railing to a sloped grassy area in the distance.

The marble tile backsplash unites the kitchen and pantry visually with a subtle but lively pattern. The colors in the backsplash tie all of the different elements of the kitchen together. The tile pattern is both traditional and "edgy." It is a 2 x 2 pattern, but each square is cut either in matchstick thin slivers or on a single diagonal thereby giving the vertical surface a lively look in a traditional design. One focus of the new kitchen is the IKEA farm sink that works almost like a command post with its two large bowls and pull-out faucet. Glass cabinets surrounding the window and in the pantry add a bit of sparkle with the reflective surface of the glass and allow special objects to be displayed. From a working perspective, the owner says the one of the best features of the kitchen design is the new lighting. Recessed LED downlights and LED undercabinet lights give illumination for all tasks. The undercabinet LED lighting does not get hot and it uses very little energy. They are mounted towards the front of the cabinet while a continuous strip of plug mold runs along the back part of the upper cabinets providing many outlets throughout the working areas of the kitchen without being visible. Elizabeth C. Masters Architects, Ltd.

Being visible from many areas of the main floor, these homeowners desired a family room that reflected their sense of design and classy sophistication. Together with their interior designer, we introduced a fireplace and surrounding built-ins that properly balanced the room with their large scale. This created a beautiful focal point. With a design sense founded in clean lines, we also gave a facelift to the newel posts on the staircases that flank this gorgeous room.

Dark stained wood handrail and newel posts, white painted turned balusters, and stained treads with white risers rising through a double height stair hall lit by a tall divided lite window on the landing. The same beaded crystal chandelier from the foyer is visible above

The marble tile backsplash unites the kitchen and pantry visually with a subtle but lively pattern. The colors in the backsplash tie all of the different elements of the kitchen together. The tile pattern is both traditional and "edgy." It is a 2 x 2 pattern, but each square is cut either in matchstick thin slivers or on a single diagonal thereby giving the vertical surface a lively look in a traditional design. One focus of the new kitchen is the IKEA farm sink that works almost like a command post with its two large bowls and pull-out faucet. Glass cabinets surrounding the window and in the pantry add a bit of sparkle with the reflective surface of the glass and allow special objects to be displayed. From a working perspective, the owner says the one of the best features of the kitchen design is the new lighting. Recessed LED downlights and LED undercabinet lights give illumination for all tasks. The undercabinet LED lighting does not get hot and it uses very little energy. They are mounted towards the front of the cabinet while a continuous strip of plug mold runs along the back part of the upper cabinets providing many outlets throughout the working areas of the kitchen without being visible. Elizabeth C. Masters Architects, Ltd.

This photo shows the raised deck structure from a low, exterior angle. The deck features dark gray/black railings and a modern, black metal frame supporting a clear, flat roof (likely glass or polycarbonate) dotted with raindrops. A large, dark ceiling fan is visible beneath the roof. The decking material is a neutral, composite wood tone, and the structure is set against a backdrop of trees and a green yard.

This large curved 2 level deck was built in Berkeley Heights, NJ. The flooring is Ipe hardwood that was screwed down and plugged. The plugs were then sanded flush with the floor so there were no visible fasteners. We used over 8000 plugs on the deck! The railing is a custom railing by Deck Pros. Most of the components are from the Azek railing system while the top rail and sub-rail are Ipe hardwood. It took many hours in our shop to bend the rail and attach the Ipe top rail. Low voltage LED light caps and stair lights provide illumination at night. The customer plans to add a pergola to the high 6x6 rail posts.