The open floor-plan and vaulted ceiling give this space a loft like feel, perfect for entertaining. Photo by NSPJ Architects / Cathy Kudelko
Trendy loft-style living room photo in Kansas City with a hanging fireplace

Sometimes it makes sense to have two islands in a kitchen, especially in an expansive space. In this California inspired “Open Floor Plan” the double island can have many functions. One of the islands is a waterfall island that features a cooking station. The other has a seating area, a working sink, and a microwave drawer. Also, on the side wall in the room, is a built in hutch with sliding doors for storing those extra accessories. While the cook is working in one space, guests can sit and socialize at the other, leaving a cluster free area for moving around and yet not leave anyone out while talking! The kitchen’s cabinets are done up in our rich Chocolate stain on Maple each adorned in a beautiful light colored counter top to contrast. The doors and drawers are a custom styled veneer slab door with horizontal grain, giving this kitchen a contemporary “frameless” look while actually using Full Overlay framed cabinetry. Its minimalistic lines create a simple and clean atmosphere. Designer: Bruce Albert of Alcraft, Inc. Ramsey, NJ Website: http://www.alcraftkitchens.com/ Finish: Chocolate Specie: Maple Overlay: FOLC Doors and Drawers: Custom Slab

Featured this time are two projects in one home. A beautifully done kitchen and a very distinguished and sporty “Man Cave”. Used for cooking, eating, and conversations, the kitchen is one of the most visited rooms in your home. This open spaced kitchen with White painted Shaker doors and drawer fronts, house ample amounts of storage space. Utilizing our custom made accessories for the drawers like cutlery divider and the knife block, you can easily have within reach your choice of utensil. For the sporty person inside, the “man cave” is a perfect way to show off those darker, more distinguished colors like our Peppercorn finish on Ramsey door and drawer fronts. This is a contrast to the light colors played in the kitchen. This room is for those that love the richer, darker colors. The island in the center hosts cooling units to keep those drinks cold, and custom built shelves hold the collectables that anyone would cherish. After all you’ve invested in your home, you deserve the very best — starting with the highest quality materials and distinctive designs of master craftsmen, who create that one-of-a-kind look you want. Whether it’s a custom kitchen or a place to escape, Brighton Cabinetry can build it for you.

Dealer: Jim Polzin Location: Cabinet Discounters – Columbia Butler’s Pantry: Specie – Maple Finish – Tranquil Overlay – Inset Concealed – Beaded Frame Doors – Verona Drawer – 5pc Flat Bar: Same as above Overlay - FOLC Kitchen: Same as Above

At Brighton Cabinetry, we’re dedicated to creating elegant and functional cabinets for every area of your home. With more than 1,000 combinations of door styles, wood species, and finishing options, the Brighton possibilities are endless. The kitchen is one of the most used rooms in your home. Take this month’s featured project for example; its maple wood, which is perfect for painting, is shown in the trending bright color of White. Inset oil rubbed bronze hinges complement the Verona style doors and drawer fronts. This spectacular floor plan boasts a Brighton custom wood range hood, 3-door angled base cabinet on the island, and a diagonal cabinet arrangement to accommodate a farmer’s sink under the windows. Lighted glass-front cabinets accent the range top and cooking area while varied cabinet heights are used to add visual interest and sensible storage options. The distinctive crown molding further defines this kitchen’s sense of style. Brighton’s exquisite attention to detail and master craftsmanship assure you of cabinetry that perfectly fits your needs and tastes. After all you have invested in your home, you deserve the best.

Featured this time are two projects in one home. A beautifully done kitchen and a very distinguished and sporty “Man Cave”. Used for cooking, eating, and conversations, the kitchen is one of the most visited rooms in your home. This open spaced kitchen with White painted Shaker doors and drawer fronts, house ample amounts of storage space. Utilizing our custom made accessories for the drawers like cutlery divider and the knife block, you can easily have within reach your choice of utensil. For the sporty person inside, the “man cave” is a perfect way to show off those darker, more distinguished colors like our Peppercorn finish on Ramsey door and drawer fronts. This is a contrast to the light colors played in the kitchen. This room is for those that love the richer, darker colors. The island in the center hosts cooling units to keep those drinks cold, and custom built shelves hold the collectables that anyone would cherish. After all you’ve invested in your home, you deserve the very best — starting with the highest quality materials and distinctive designs of master craftsmen, who create that one-of-a-kind look you want. Whether it’s a custom kitchen or a place to escape, Brighton Cabinetry can build it for you.

Dealer: Jim Polzin Location: Cabinet Discounters – Columbia Butler’s Pantry: Specie – Maple Finish – Tranquil Overlay – Inset Concealed – Beaded Frame Doors – Verona Drawer – 5pc Flat Bar: Same as above Overlay - FOLC Kitchen: Same as Above

Inspiration for a timeless concrete patio remodel

Patio - large traditional backyard concrete patio idea

An industrial space is transformed into a cozy living room. A neutral palette, layered textures, brass and wood create a warm and inviting atmosphere. While vintage pieces peppered through out ensure the eye never settles in one spot for too long. Photography: MJay Photography

Terracotta is an interesting type of stone manufactured using a variety of techniques dependant on the country of origin which leads to a number of differences such as Spanish Terracotta being less porous than its Mexican counterpart: the former is semi-hand made and finished in a factory kiln, while the latter is completely handmade. Spanish Terracotta is therefore a lot less than porous and ultimately, of a higher quality. But despite the Spanish Terracotta being less porous, and therefore being less prone to ingrained dirt, it still, like any other stone, needs regular maintenance to keep it looking smart. In the tiling trade, we quite often refer to this as a good old fashioned ‘Clean and Seal’ and this is exactly what was requested by this property owner in Halifax, for their Spanish Terracotta tiled floors in the kitchen and adjacent hallway. I cleaned both sets of Terracotta tiles using the same process, which involved the application of our reliable alkaline cleaner known as Tile a Doctor Pro Clean, diluted with five parts of warm water. Once the solution had been left to dwell for a short period, it was scrubbed into the tiles to remove all dust, dirt, and general muck. This created a slurry of cleaning residue, which I promptly soaked up using a wet vac. A wet vac machine is an essential tool when it comes to cleaning porous tiles since, unlike a traditional mop and bucket, it sucks the excess trapped dirt out of the clay and thus provides a superior clean. Following this, I applied a small amount of our heavy duty remover, known as Tile Doctor Remove & Go, to deal with some of the more stubborn stains and paint splashes, before rinsing with clean water and wet vaxing in a similar fashion to before. Once the clean had been completed I left the tiles to dry completely. This can take 12 to 24 hours depending on numerous factors including whether a Damp proof Membrane and underfloor heating has been installed which can really help reduce drying times. Letting the tiles dry completely before sealing is paramount as moisture can cloud the sealer and affect its performance. Upon my return to the property I ran some quick damp tests, which revealed the tiles were ready to be sealed. I then applied several coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go, our topical sealer which provides a satin finish and accentuates colour. A new coat of this product is recommended every six months on Terracotta to ensure the continuous protection of the tiles’ soft clay particles. My customer was extremely pleased with her refreshed Terracotta tiles. It goes to show what a big difference a bit of regular maintenance can make. I advised the customer that an everyday cleaner called Tile Doctor pH Neutral cleaner can also be used regularly to keep the tiles looking great without damaging the sealer. Nigel Stoker North West Yorkshire Tile Doctor