Jonathan Edwards Media
Example of a mid-sized beach style medium tone wood floor home design design with a two-piece toilet and gray walls

Exterior Mountain Modern Contemporary Steamboat Springs Ski Resort Custom Home built by Amaron Folkestad General Contractors www.AmaronBuilders.com Apex Architecture Photos by Brian Adams

Dining Room
Kitchen/dining room combo - contemporary medium tone wood floor kitchen/dining room combo idea in New York with white walls

Grout haze or grout smears as it is often called can be a huge problem when laying tiles. Grout haze is basically grout that has been left to dry on the surface of the tile after installation. It’s a common problem which is exacerbated by the use of quick drying products. Take for example this interesting Wood Effect Ceramic Tile installation at a house in Guildford following installation by a builder. I was a bit slow in following up on the initial enquiry as we had been very busy so by the time, I got in touch I was told they had employed someone else to carry out the work. I apologised for my late response and said to call me if he needed help in the future. Three days later I got a call so we arranged a visit so that I could carry out a test and quote a price. As it turns out the builder had returned and failed to remove the grout haze and so had a rival firm that seemed more interested in selling unnecessary sealer than fixing the problem. I was astonished to see what a state the builder had left his floor. Grout was all over the floor with footprints walked across thresholds and more. I could understand it if there was some grout was missed after installation but not to this level! I carried out a successful test and confirmed to the customer that there was absolutely no need to rip and replace his £2k floor. We agreed a date to resolve the problem and to say he was relieved was an understatement! The builders had used Mapei grout which contains polymers. Polymers offer better flexibility and adhesion, however in order to remove the grout haze we would first need to break down the polymers in the grout first and this is why the rival firm failed. With that in mind, my first action was to apply Tile Doctor Remove and Go to the floor and leave it to dwell for five to ten minutes. I then worked it into the tile using a scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. After washing the soil away with warm water and extracting with a wet vacuum I applied Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up to treat the grout. Grout Clean-up is an acid-based product that breaks down the grout so it can be rinsed away and extracted as before. Afterwards I rinsed the floor with warm water and extracted again to remove any trace of product and neutralise the floor. After removing as much moisture as possible with the wet vacuum I speed dried the tiles with a blower. Ceramic tiles won’t accept a sealer so once the floor had dried the job was finished and it took less than a day. The customer was over the moon with the difference. While his floor was in such a state, he has been unable to bring in new furniture as the serious possibility of removing the tiles was hanging over him. Relieved that the problem was now resolved he kindly left the following review: “I had a floor that had just been laid with very heavy grout haze. I had already had advice from two other professional floor cleaners who had advised me that the floor was irreparable and would need to be pulled up. As soon as I spoke with Rupert, it was clear he was extremely knowledgeable. He asked questions none of the other companies had. By understanding the specific nature of the problem, he was able to solve it by first removing the grout polymers and then applying an acid wash. The floor came up brilliantly. Rupert was the only person I spoke to that could fix this, everyone else told me I needed to replace my floor! Superbly knowledgeable, professional and did an excellent job. Don’t bother speaking to anyone else, just call Rupert! “ Rupert Mcleod West Surrey Tile Doctor

In a separate wing on the second floor, a guest suite awaits. Entertaining guests and family members for a night or a few weeks has never been easier. With an oversized bedroom that sleeps four, spa bath, large living room and kitchen, this house contains the perfect guest suite. Designed to incorporate the clean lines captured throughout the house, the living room offers a private space and very comfortable sitting area. The cozy kitchen surrounded with custom made cabinetry, a hand cut glass backsplash featuring cooking terminology (“grill”,“simmer”) and black granite counters offers guests an opportunity to steal away for a quiet meal or a quick midnight snack. Privately tucked away off the back staircase and away from the main house, the only problem with this guest suite is that your in-laws may never want to leave. Exiting down the backstairs, you arrive in an expansive mudroom with built-in cubbies and cabinetry, a half bath, a “command center” entered through a sliding glass barn door and, something every pet owner needs, a dog wash!

This project, sitting on a little more than 3.5 acres on Rivercrest was completed in 3 years with a total square footage of more than 26,000 square feet. Typically modern homes are smaller. At a certain size, usually around 4,000 square feet, the difficulty with modern or contemporary architecture becomes scale, and the minimalist idea gets lost. Whenever you get to this scale of house at over 26,000 square feet, this problem adds a layer of complexity. Connie Anderson Photography

In this kitchen, we updated the existing cabinets with new Silestone Quartz 3cm countertops in the Pulsar color with a beveled edge. The old wood countertops were removed and custom wood countertops were made and installed. On the existing tile backsplash, the bottom of some of the tiles were chipped, so to repair this problem, the tiles were handpainted to match the existing tiles.

Some of this dressing room was existing but not performing too well so with a little bit of re-organizing it now works really well. Shoe storage is always a problem so we took advantage of a deep area were we added a double deep shoe rack, very easy to do for anyone.

Mid-sized transitional enclosed light wood floor and beige floor family room photo with white walls, a standard fireplace, a tile fireplace and no tv

Kousa Dogwoods frame the granite autocourt. The challenge of this site was to design functional living spaces while resolving a series of problems. Two entry courts offer suitable welcomes to the home: a formal granite court that is approached from above as one descends down a once blind driveway, and a more utilitarian play court off the garage. The rear yard, once disconnected from the house, is terraced and suitable for entertaining. A granite stair descends from the terrace to a new expanded lower lawn. A custom fire pit sits off the upper terrace and provides a more intimate gathering space.

A large infinity bath tub overlooks the meditation garden. photo by Lael Taylor
Walk-in shower - large contemporary master marble tile brown floor walk-in shower idea in DC Metro with flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, an undermount sink, quartz countertops, gray countertops and beige walls

Custom window treatments makes large windows, that are hard to reach, easy to fix… This Glass Block area over the tub was letting in too much glare all day long. We selected materials to coordinate with her interiors and we designed a mock roman shade to solve the problem. Looks Great!

Tim & Elissa have a beautiful home in the most desirable Wyomissing neighborhood. Broad sidewalks under stately oaks, with nearby parks makes it a perfect place to raise a growing family. But their 2-bedroom mid-century rancher was becoming a squeeze. They asked Spring Creek Design to come up with a cost-effective solution to their space problem, while also tackling some of the home’s aged infrastructure. Design Criteria: - Increase living space by adding a new 2nd storey Master Suite. - Enhance livability with an open floorplan on the first floor. - Improve the connection to the outdoors. - Update basics systems with new windows, HVAC and insulation. - Update interior with paint & refinished floors. Special Features: - Bright, mid-century modern design is true to the home’s vintage. - Custom steel cable railings at both stairways. - New open plan creates strong connections between kitchen, living room, dining room and deck. - High-performance Pella windows throughout, including a new triple-panel slider to the deck.

photos by: Tony Vasquez
Dock - large coastal backyard dock idea in Indianapolis with a roof extension

This seaside castle has everything including a fabulous garden. With limited space available, we dug into the ground to create a veggie garden that would enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding estate. By positioning the garden hillside we were able to help prevent run off problems as well stay within a confined space. A tidy garden tucked into the hillside, perfection!

PlushGrass installs personal putting greens of all shapes, sizes, and skill levels. We will bring your design to life or simulate a particular green that has been giving you problems over the years. We also install water hazards/water features and sand traps. PlushGrass Putting Greens are constructed with chipping practice in mind, they accept shots like a natural grass putting green. Improve your short game by practicing anytime you like with a custom artificial putting green by PlushGrass.

Area under this raised Deck was transformed it into a shaded, outdoor kitchen with a serving bar, stone piers, azek raised panel columns and arches over the girder...giving it the feeling of an outdoor cafe, the kind of place you'd like to linger for awhile. Outdoor Kitchen below raised Deck. Design and Construction by Decks by Kiefer, Martinsville, NJ USA. (Frank Gensheimer Photography)

If you are experiencing an issue with your Water Heater, call Des Moines water heater repair service right away. They will be able to find out what the problem is and fix it so that you can enjoy your home again. Having a warm home and plenty of hot water is not only a matter of comfort, but also a practical and health concern. When you can't have those things, it's nearly impossible to live in your home or to do the work you need to do in that space. The good news is, if you're having a problem with Water Heaters or furnaces, help is just a phone call away. Call H&H Plumbing today!

This project, sitting on a little more than 3.5 acres on Rivercrest was completed in 3 years with a total square footage of more than 26,000 square feet. Typically modern homes are smaller. At a certain size, usually around 4,000 square feet, the difficulty with modern or contemporary architecture becomes scale, and the minimalist idea gets lost. Whenever you get to this scale of house at over 26,000 square feet, this problem adds a layer of complexity. Connie Anderson Photography