If you have a tiled shower area in your home, it’s very likely you’ve experienced problems with the grout becoming excessively dirty and ridden with displeasing black spots of mould. The underlying issue is due to inadequate ventilation which can be a real problem in modern insulated houses and occasionally the grout can get so imbued with contamination that the problem needs to be resolved professionally. In the case of this Ceramic tiled shower area, located at a property in Galgate, Lancashire, mould had turned the grout black and had got into the sealant strip around the base. The property owner had tried using the run-of-the-mill cleaning products you can buy in superstores, but they simply couldn’t get the job done. So, she contacted me to see what could be done. At Tile Doctor, we come across the problem of mouldy shower tiles very often. Excess soaps and shampoos – many of which contain chemicals that harmful to the grout – can quickly build-up if not removed, causing mould and soap scum to emerge quickly, and before you know it, you have a problem like this one. Thankfully, with the right strength product and cleaning methods, mould can be removed quite easily. The cleaning product used here was Tile Doctor Mould Away, which does what it says on the bottle and can quickly remove mould and black spots from grout and silicone. I applied Mould Away to the grout and surrounding Ceramic tiles and left it to dwell for a short period, before starting to clean the affected areas carefully using soft nail brushes and a small amount of water. Sometimes it is necessary to repeat this process several times to achieve the best possible results, but in this case two attempts was all it took to get the grout looking like new once again. Following the cleaning, the area was rinsed thoroughly with water, before bring dried off quickly with a heat gun on a low setting. I then sealed the grout with a single coat of Tile Doctor Wall Grout Sealer, which is a water-based sealer designed to protect against water, oil and acid-based contaminants, and stop them from spoiling the appearance of the grout. It also provides a transparent finish that does not diminish the original colouring of the grout. To add the finishing touches, I polished off the Ceramic tiles as these were already fully glazed and did not require any extra sealer. The before and after photos are a testament to how significantly the condition and appearance of the grout was quickly improved and needless to say, the customer was very satisfied with the result. Russell Taylor Lancashire Tile Doctor

The clients' preferred aesthetic was a warm, comfortable, spa-like space. This quickly led to the concept of a Japanese bath. As the design work began, there was a necessity to bring a soothing sound of flowing water into the bath. The spa feel was further enhanced with the incorporation of teak vanities and stone tile. This relaxing theme flowed into the bedroom with a consistent color scheme and other Asian influences. FotoGrafik Arts

Garage and patio remodeling, turning a 2 car garage and a driveway into an amazing retreat in Los Angeles
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary detached two-car garage workshop remodel in Los Angeles

“There is a trend away from the white kitchen underway,” explains Glynn. “So, I really liked the idea that our client wanted a pop of color in the design, which we added to the lower cabinets and island.Now she’s got plenty of prep room, storage and some open shelving for seasonal display items. "During the morning hours this kitchen just glows with sunlight. I love it!" — Homeowner. “We did discover a little challenge right away at demolition,” recalls Glynn. "While we had checked the soffits for mechanical runs initially, and failed to find any, we did discover some in other parts of the kitchen. It was a little bit of an ‘oh something’ moment. But we quickly recalculated as needed and managed to redesign the cabinets with matching faux panels to hide the soffits and the mechanicals," points out Glynn.

Ed Sossich and Main Line Kitchen Design owner Paul McAlary have worked together at many different showrooms over 20 plus years. Ed refers to the pair as Batman and Robin although who is who is up for debate. Bringing Ed on to check and expedite all of Main Line Kitchen Design’s orders has kept mistakes and delays at our expanding company to a minimum. Ed, (Batman or Robin), your guess, can be found checking our company’s orders and designing his customer’s kitchens in our new Upper Darby office on City Line Avenue. Ed is quick with a joke although his yellow legal pad is no joking matter for our designers. Ed makes the trains run on time at Main Line Kitchen Design.

The bull speaks without words. Telling you, “this kid’s gonna get it”. And then the boy says, “bring on the horns”. Anyone can tell this relationship is not going to last. Once the boy makes contact with the bull’s south side, the bull will undoubtedly return the favor. At this moment the boy will quickly lose interest in bulling the bull, and will steadfast seek a Ph.D. education in self-preservation. With nowhere to run or hid, you can only dream of what will happen. And yes, it was worth it!

Ed Sossich and Main Line Kitchen Design owner Paul McAlary have worked together at many different showrooms over 20 plus years. Ed refers to the pair as Batman and Robin although who is who is up for debate. Bringing Ed on to check and expedite all of Main Line Kitchen Design’s orders has kept mistakes and delays at our expanding company to a minimum. Ed, (Batman or Robin), your guess, can be found checking our company’s orders and designing his customer’s kitchens in our new Upper Darby office on City Line Avenue. Ed is quick with a joke although his yellow legal pad is no joking matter for our designers. Ed makes the trains run on time at Main Line Kitchen Design.

The client asked us to reconsider the front entry and associated landscape to give the house not only more curb appeal but to create a safer approach. The previous walkway was sloped and meandered for no apparent reason while the landscape plantings were overgrown and lacked the design aesthetic the client desired. We graded the area to eliminate the slope and straightened the walkway to compliment the homes contemporary architecture. We used custom cut bluestone in a modified running bond pattern for a unique look. Additionally, we widened the front stoop and added what we like to call a Hello / Goodbye terrace directly off the entrance landing. As guests arrive or depart, there’s a comfortable transition area that allows for quick conversation and an easy pedestrian flow. We simplified the plantings by using only 3 species, lavender, boxwood, and hydrangea, along the foundation while adding ornamental grasses for additional colors and textures in other areas. The back yard features a small deck overlooking a conservation area that we enlarged to create a dining area & a lounge with a sectional sofa. We choose a stainless steel railing system to open up the view and replaced the old wooden deck with a sustainable wood similar to mahogany called Ipe. We carried the Ipe over the side to create a horizontal lattice that encloses the underside of the deck for storage and adds to the contemporary feel of the home.

Ed Sossich and Main Line Kitchen Design owner Paul McAlary have worked together at many different showrooms over 20 plus years. Ed refers to the pair as Batman and Robin although who is who is up for debate. Bringing Ed on to check and expedite all of Main Line Kitchen Design’s orders has kept mistakes and delays at our expanding company to a minimum. Ed, (Batman or Robin), your guess, can be found checking our company’s orders and designing his customer’s kitchens in our new Upper Darby office on City Line Avenue. Ed is quick with a joke although his yellow legal pad is no joking matter for our designers. Ed makes the trains run on time at Main Line Kitchen Design.

Designed and built by Terramor Homes in Raleigh, NC. We also incorporated a comfortably sized guest bedroom suite that adjoins the bathroom that was designed to be used for all guests in the basement area. Another important objective in this basement area, is the fact that the door to the flagstone patio outside, then leads you through the back yard and back to the greenway and river behind. This was the main reason for this home site being chosen- for full enjoyment of all that the river and greenway have to offer- from paddle boarding, tubing, swimming, fishing to running and biking on the greenway. It was imperative that a space be created for the return of any of those trips. A tile floored mudroom was created from that entrance to include a sink for quick washing of hands, cabinets for extra supplies that could be needed, hooks for hanging towels and direct access to the bathroom with walk in shower for muddy boots, wet swim suits and any other items or creatures that may find their way back in. The décor was also kept simple and in keeping with the theme. Walls in horizontal planking, an old fashioned wall mounted sink and restoration looking barn style light fixtures both above the sink and on the ceiling complete the look we wanted to achieve. Photography: M. Eric Honeycutt

Rhinelander real thin stone veneer from the Quarry Mill adds elegance and modern simplicity to this fireplace focal point. Rhinelander is a natural stone veneer sawn into consistent 6” x 30” panels. The larger pieces of stone are white/light grey and have a sandblasted face. The sandblasted finish gives them just a hint of texture as the pieces are otherwise flat and consistent. Each panel of stone has been sawn on all six sides making perfectly clean and squared edges on the pieces. Rhinelander is installed in a running bond or course height pattern meaning you can make out each row or “course” of stone. This installation style is similar to how brick is installed. Rhinelander is a great choice for large commercial projects as the stone installs quickly and easily. This is a premium quality imported product.

Design ideas for a mediterranean landscaping in Orange County.

Trendy entryway photo in Orange County

Ed Sossich and Main Line Kitchen Design owner Paul McAlary have worked together at many different showrooms over 20 plus years. Ed refers to the pair as Batman and Robin although who is who is up for debate. Bringing Ed on to check and expedite all of Main Line Kitchen Design’s orders has kept mistakes and delays at our expanding company to a minimum. Ed, (Batman or Robin), your guess, can be found checking our company’s orders and designing his customer’s kitchens in our new Upper Darby office on City Line Avenue. Ed is quick with a joke although his yellow legal pad is no joking matter for our designers. Ed makes the trains run on time at Main Line Kitchen Design.

Photo: Sarah Greenman © 2015 Houzz
Example of an eclectic kitchen design in Dallas

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   Lakefront property in the northwest suburbs of Chicago is hard to come by, so when we were hired by this young family with exactly that, we were immediately inspired by not just the unusually large footprint of this 1950’s colonial revival but also the lovely views of the manmade lake it was sited on. The large 5-bedroom home was solidly stuck in the 1980’s, but we saw tons of potential. We started out by updating the existing staircase with a fresh coat of paint and adding new herringbone slate to the entry hall. The powder room off the entryway also got a refresh - new flooring, new cabinets and fixtures. We ran the new slate right through into this space for some consistency. A fun wallpaper and shiplap trim add a welcoming feel and set the tone for the home. Next, we tackled the kitchen. Located away from the rest of the first floor, the kitchen felt a little isolated, so we immediately began planning for how to better connect it to the rest of the first floor. We landed on removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room and designed a modified galley style space with separate cooking and clean up zones. The cooking zone consists of the refrigerator, prep sink and cooktop, along with a nice long run of prep space at the island. The cleanup side of the kitchen consists of the main sink and dishwasher. Both areas are situated so that the user can view the lake during prep work and cleanup! One of the home’s main puzzles was how to incorporate the mudroom and area in front of the patio doors at the back of the house. We already had a breakfast table area, so the space by the patio doors was a bit of a no man’s land. We decided to separate the kitchen proper from what became the new mudroom with a large set of barn doors. That way you can quickly hide any mudroom messes but have easy access to the light coming in through the patio doors as well as the outdoor grilling station. We also love the impact the barn doors add to the overall space. The homeowners’ first words to us were “it’s time to ditch the brown,” so we did! We chose a lovely blue pallet that reflects the home’s location on the lake which is also vibrant yet easy on the eye. Countertops are white quartz, and the natural oak floor works well with the other honey accents. The breakfast table was given a refresh with new chairs, chandelier and window treatments that frame the gorgeous views of the lake out the back. We coordinated the slate mudroom flooring with that used in the home’s main entrance for a consistent feel. The storage area consists of open and closed storage to allow for some clutter control as needed. Next on our “to do” list was revamping the dated brown bar area in the neighboring dining room. We eliminated the clutter by adding some closed cabinets and did some easy updates to help the space feel more current. One snag we ran into here was the discovery of a beam above the existing open shelving that had to be modified with a smaller structural beam to allow for our new design to work. This was an unexpected surprise, but in the end we think it was well worth it! We kept the colors here a bit more muted to blend with the homeowner’s existing furnishings. Open shelving and polished nickel hardware add some simple detail to the new entertainment zone which also looks out onto the lake! Next we tackled the upstairs starting with the homeowner’s son’s bath. The bath originally had both a tub shower and a separate shower, so we decided to swap out the shower for a new laundry area. This freed up some space downstairs in what used to be the mudroom/laundry room and is much more convenient for daily laundry needs. We continued the blue palette here with navy cabinetry and the navy tile in the shower. Porcelain floor tile and chrome fixtures keep maintenance to a minimum while matte black mirrors and lighting add some depth the design. A low maintenance runner adds some warmth underfoot and ties the whole space together. We added a pocket door to the bathroom to minimize interference with the door swings. The left door of the laundry closet is on a 180 degree hinge to allow for easy full access to the machines. Next we tackled the master bath which is an en suite arrangement. The original was typical of the 1980’s with the vanity outside of the bathroom, situated near the master closet. And the brown theme continued here with multiple shades of brown. Our first move was to segment off the bath and the closet from the master bedroom. We created a short hall from the bedroom to the bathroom with his and hers walk-in closets on the left and right as well as a separate toilet closet outside of the main bathroom for privacy and flexibility. The original bathroom had a giant soaking tub with steps (dangerous!) as well as a small shower that did not work well for our homeowner who is 6’3”. With other bathtubs in the home, they decided to eliminate the tub and create an oversized shower which takes up the space where the old tub was located. The double vanity is on the opposite wall and a bench is located under the window for morning conversations and a place to set a couple of towels. The pallet in here is light and airy with a mix of blond wood, creamy porcelain and marble tile, and brass accents. A simple roman shade adds some texture and it’s top-down mechanism allows for light and privacy. This large whole house remodel gave our homeowners not only the ability to maximize the potential of their home but also created a lovely new frame from which to view their fabulous lake views. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Ed Sossich and Main Line Kitchen Design owner Paul McAlary have worked together at many different showrooms over 20 plus years. Ed refers to the pair as Batman and Robin although who is who is up for debate. Bringing Ed on to check and expedite all of Main Line Kitchen Design’s orders has kept mistakes and delays at our expanding company to a minimum. Ed, (Batman or Robin), your guess, can be found checking our company’s orders and designing his customer’s kitchens in our new Upper Darby office on City Line Avenue. Ed is quick with a joke although his yellow legal pad is no joking matter for our designers. Ed makes the trains run on time at Main Line Kitchen Design.

The client asked us to reconsider the front entry and associated landscape to give the house not only more curb appeal but to create a safer approach. The previous walkway was sloped and meandered for no apparent reason while the landscape plantings were overgrown and lacked the design aesthetic the client desired. We graded the area to eliminate the slope and straightened the walkway to compliment the homes contemporary architecture. We used custom cut bluestone in a modified running bond pattern for a unique look. Additionally, we widened the front stoop and added what we like to call a Hello / Goodbye terrace directly off the entrance landing. As guests arrive or depart, there’s a comfortable transition area that allows for quick conversation and an easy pedestrian flow. We simplified the plantings by using only 3 species, lavender, boxwood, and hydrangea, along the foundation while adding ornamental grasses for additional colors and textures in other areas. The back yard features a small deck overlooking a conservation area that we enlarged to create a dining area & a lounge with a sectional sofa. We choose a stainless steel railing system to open up the view and replaced the old wooden deck with a sustainable wood similar to mahogany called Ipe. We carried the Ipe over the side to create a horizontal lattice that encloses the underside of the deck for storage and adds to the contemporary feel of the home.

Ed Sossich and Main Line Kitchen Design owner Paul McAlary have worked together at many different showrooms over 20 plus years. Ed refers to the pair as Batman and Robin although who is who is up for debate. Bringing Ed on to check and expedite all of Main Line Kitchen Design’s orders has kept mistakes and delays at our expanding company to a minimum. Ed, (Batman or Robin), your guess, can be found checking our company’s orders and designing his customer’s kitchens in our new Upper Darby office on City Line Avenue. Ed is quick with a joke although his yellow legal pad is no joking matter for our designers. Ed makes the trains run on time at Main Line Kitchen Design.