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We received a request to renovate Victorian tiled hallway floor at a house in the London borough of Harlesden NW10. My client had modernised the heating system and this unfortunately required a section of the tiled flooring to be dug up so new pipework could be laid.
After speaking on the phone, I arranged an initial visit to the property so I could properly assess the work required and provide a price for restoring the floor. During my visit I could see there was another section of missing tiles at one of the door thresholds which would need attention. Except for the missing sections of floor I could see that the tiles themselves were in good condition for their age and would respond well to a deep clean and fresh seal.
I was confident on being able to source matching replacements for the missing tiles and reassured my client that we would be able not only repair the floor but also renovate it to a good standard. I gave them a price to do the restoration which they were happy to accept, and the work was booked.
After some research I managed to source replacement tiles from the Vintage Floor Tile Company in Kent; Victorian tiles are still popular so there a few companies that keep stock so we can usually find a match.
With the replacements in hand, work started by removing the cement and loose material from the missing sections of flooring and backfilling with self-levelling compound to bring the exposed base up to the right level for tiling.
The tiles were then cut to shape as required to match the existing patten and fixed into place with a quick setting adhesive and then grouted.
The floor was left to overnight to allow the adhesive to harden fully, and I returned the next day to deep clean the whole floor. To give the tiles are deep clean a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go was sprayed onto the floor and left to soak in for ten minutes. It was then scrubbed into the floor using a rotary machine fitted with a with a black pad. This action lifted the dirt out of the tiles and the resulting slurry was removed with the wet vacuum.
It turned out that the pores of the tiles were holding a lot of dirt, so the process was repeated until I was satisfied. Due to the age of the property, there was no damp-proof membrane installed so I do try to minimise the amount of water I use in this process as there is always a chance of exacerbating any latent efflorescence issues.
Efflorescence occurs where moisture rises through the tile bringing with it salts from underneath the floor as it evaporates on the surface. This can lead to unsightly white marks appearing on the tile. To counteract this potential problem the cleaning was followed by an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel applied with a 100 then 200-grit pad, before finishing on a 400-grit burnishing pad. The floor was again rinsed with water after the application of each pad to remove the slurry and extracted with a wet vacuum.
Once I was satisfied the floor was as clean as possible, we left site and the area was left to dry over the weekend ready for application of a new sealer.
I returned on the Monday and started by taking a few moisture readings to check the floor was dry. The floor was in an acceptable range, so I applied the first of 4 coats of sealer. For this floor I chose Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra which is specially formulated product that provides stain resistance with a hard wearing low-sheen finish.
This product is also breathable which is an important feature for old floors, anything that blocks moisture from rising through the tile will cause it to become trapped underneath where it will pool and eventually reach out to the walls and result in rising damp.
Once complete the floor looked brand new and I’m pleased to say with the deep clean and a fresh sealer applied it was impossible to tell the difference between the original and repaired sections of flooring.
For the aftercare of sealed Victorian tiled floors, I recommend Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner, it’s a mild day to day cleaner with a neutral pH that won’t damage the sealer. Many of the tile cleaning products you find in supermarkets are simply too strong.
Andrew Newstead
North London Tile Doctor

Inspired by 18th century french home furnishings. Our Devon French Oak 4 Drawer Chest feature distinctive hardware that perfectly compliments beautifully shaped bow front drawers. Each oak tall chest is hand-crafted of solid oak and oak veneers with a natural weathered oak Studio finish. English dovetail drawer construction feature cedar drawer bottoms and self-closing guides. This classic French oak chest of drawers will add a rustic-chic touch to your master bedroom.
Dimensions: 40W x 19D x 52H
Hand-crafted of solid oak, cedar and oak veneers
English dovetail drawer construction
Natural weathered oak Studio finish
Matching Bed Frame, Dresser, Nightstand and Mirror also available.
Metal hardware
Dust with a clean, dry cloth
French country Furniture Inspired.
Imported.

Experience life in the heart of Paris Wagram with this cosy 1-bedroom, 34 square meters apartment located on the 1st floor of a secure residential building without an elevator. There is a space that can be used as a living, dining or home office area. It is furnished with a sofa bed, flat-screen TV and a breakfast bar with two stools. We understand the importance of staying connected, which is why there is a high-speed Wi-Fi (1/Gbps) connection. The fully equipped kitchen has an electric tea kettle, sink, toaster, full refrigerator, stove, drip coffee machine, oven, microwave and more. The kitchen also comes with all the cookware, dishes and utensils needed to prepare meals at home. The flat comes with a clothes washing and drying machine. Cleaning supplies, a vacuum, broom and mop are also provided. The apartment is heated with electric heating. The bedroom faces the interior courtyard and comes furnished with a king size bed and superior quality mattress. All the necessary bedding and linens are provided and professionally laundered. This property can host up to 4 guests. The flat has one bathroom accessible via the hallway or the bedroom with a shower, toilet and sink. You will find soap, shampoo, toilet paper and paper towels to start off your stay.
Upon confirmation of your stay, you will be provided with all the necessary details regarding the self checkin and checkout procedures. We offer 24/7 support for submit maintenance requests, extra cleanings and linen changes (for a fee) and more. Professional housekeepers clean and sanitize after each checkout.
- Charles de Gaulle-Etoile (Lines 1, 2 & 6)
- A refundable deposit will be required before arrival.
- All properties are strictly non-smoking. Excessive noise/parties will not be tolerated.
- Property Reference 1015. Brey
UpperKey also offers valuable resources and information for property owners. Our article, "All You Need to Know About Letting a Property," provides comprehensive guidance on the ins and outs of renting out your property. Be sure to check it out and take the first step towards successfully letting your property with UpperKey here: https://www.theupperkey.com/post/all-you-need-to-know-about-letting-a-property
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Large, historic home from the 1930's overlooking downtown Santa Cruz. My clients are self-described "plantaholics" and tend to buy many plants, only to have them die. They have an extensive gardening area and low water budget. Our main goal was to make the overall design cohesive between various areas of the garden while utilizing interesting and unusual plant selections - a very fun project for me! We removed over 3,000 square feet of traditional grass and replaced it with several lawn alternatives. The first is a walkable groundcover that uses a fraction of the water of regular grass (and can be seen here in several seasons, one of which has tiny flowers); The second is a California native grass that grows long (or can be kept short) and can tolerate some shade. Both of these are excellent choices for clients with children or dogs who want a green patch without using excessive water. My clients love plants from Australia and South Africa so plants from the Proteacea and other Southern Hemisphere beauties are used predominantly throughout the project. Clean, flowing water is so important for wildlife and the beautiful stone fountain is a constant gathering spot for birds and other animals. My clients are beyond thrilled with their gorgeous, nature-filled garden and ever-expanding plant knowledge.

The owner wanted a Tuscan feel to het kitchen, Ronald used a product that he imports from Italy, a hand applied self mottling glaze, that is plied by a brush and then using a trowel he compresses the material to create the color variation.

The Mid-Levels of Hong Kong Island is one of the most prominent luxury residential areas. This project - Estoril Court in Mid-Levels Central is one of the rare heritage mansions in Hong Kong with a "thousand-year lease," comprising a total of 240 units.
The young couple, with their two daughters, have settled here. For the wide experience husband, the most important aspect of a home is that it carries the "depth of love." His wife's preferences and the children's interests were frequently mentioned during this project. "I hope the design can break through conventions and avoid falling into the trap of popular but clichéd styles. Kyle and I resonate deeply on this point; we both pursue a 'more personal expression.' Family life should be relaxing, natural, and bringing joy to my family members."
This residence features a square layout and excellent natural lighting, with a practicality rate of nearly 90%. However, its over 40-year-old structure poses numerous constraints on renovations. Adhering to the existing structure and the wisdom of geomancy, Karv One Design has re-examined the relationship among the landscape, windows, and functional flow within the home. They have integrated practicality, beauty, and self-expression into every corner, enhancing the happiness of living.
Once stepping into the living room, you are greeted by Hong Kong's most spectacular vistas. The ever-changing scenery of Victoria Harbour, both day and night, the immense skyscrapers of different banks and commercial buildings and the panoramic views of the Peak are all within sight. The expansive dimensions of the living room are a response to the surrounding environment, providing ample space for family bonding and companionship, while also allowing the breathtaking skyline views to seamlessly integrate into daily life.
Unlike traditional whole-house decoration, the design of Hong Kong homes emphasizes collage and customization. The minimalist aesthetic of the space corresponds to the luxurious craftsmanship and time costs involved. Elements such as natural stone, artistic paint, parquet flooring, wood veneer, and leather have all been meticulously coordinated in terms of color and proportion, while a significant amount of storage space has been cleverly concealed within the walls.
The study room is deliberately positioned to one side of the living room, embracing the gentle stretch of sunlight. The arched iron partition, exuding a vintage flavor and traces of time, not only serves as a natural divider of space but also becomes a highlight of the interior decoration with its unique artistic form, creating a serene yet stylish atmosphere. It ensures privacy without compromising on openness, allowing the home owner to work in the study room while still keeping an eye on the children playing in the living room.
Custom-made artisanal furniture offers a whole new expression of comfort and practicality to the space. The Giorgetti HUG armchair combines a sculptural sense of form with a flowing sense of shape. When natural light filters in, a rich artistic atmosphere permeates and grows within, making the home a place of tranquility and peace of mind.
The original open-plan layout of the master bedroom has been reconfigured and divided. The ultimate goal of the enclosed space is to provide comfort and ease of sleep. The pale green color is also carefully coordinated, focusing on creating a serene and pleasant atmosphere. The combination of "green," "wood," and "metal elements" is based on Feng Shui considerations, serving to stabilize and concentrate the energy flow.
The children's room is simple yet cozy, where sunlight awakens the space and transparent glass windows bring in the ocean view. The palette of pale blue and white adds warmth and vitality to the space, inspiring children's boundless imagination about the unknown world and giving them the courage to see mountains, seas, and the world beyond.
The moment when the door is open, the magic of lighting begins. What greets the eye is an elegant and tastefully designed artistic foyer. The pace of work in Hong Kong is fast and efficient, often causing people to overlook family time. Therefore, the entrance is adorned with a large area of gentle ivory white, featuring sculptural-like display stands and flowers and vignettes that can be arranged according to the owner's mood. As night falls, the panoramic view of the Victoria Harbour's night scene comes into view, elevating the enjoyment to the utmost.
The lighting system in the space brings more enjoyable experiences to "living as you desire." The smart system caters to various states of living scenarios at different times, as well as to the subtle needs of ambient temperature, brightness, and tactile atmosphere. Whether it's solo time or family moments, day or night, everyone has a comfortable place to be.
The "Estoril Court" project is a full-service case that last for 12 months. We had hundreds of communications and exchanges with the home owner, and continuously coordinated and collaborated with the property management, on-site construction and installation workers, manufacturers, and various suppliers, striving for perfection in craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail in execution. Finally, seeing the satisfied expressions of the home owner and their family, we felt that it was an ideal conveyance.

Most people who have lived in Auckland for a long time remember The Heritage Grand Tearoom, a beautiful large room with an incredible high-stud art-deco ceiling. So we were beyond honoured to be a part of this, as projects of these types don’t come around very often.
Because The Heritage Grand Tea Room is a Heritage site, nothing could be fixed into the existing structure. Therefore, everything had to be self-supporting, which is why everything was made out of steel. And that’s where the first challenge began.
The first step was getting the steel into the space. And due to the lack of access through the hotel, it had to come up through a window that was 1500x1500 with a 200 tonne mobile crane. We had to custom fabricate a 9m long cage to accommodate the steel with rollers on the bottom of it that was engineered and certified. Once it was time to start building, we had to lay out the footprints of the foundations to set out the base layer of the mezzanine. This was an important part of the process as every aspect of the build relies on this stage being perfect. Due to the restrictions of the Heritage building and load ratings on the floor, there was a lot of steel required. A large part of the challenge was to have the structural fabrication up to an architectural quality painted to a Matte Black finish.
The last big challenge was bringing both the main and spiral staircase into the space, as well as the stanchions, as they are very large structures. We brought individual pieces up in the elevator and welded on site in order to bring the design to life.
Although this was a tricky project, it was an absolute pleasure working with the owners of this incredible Heritage site and we are very proud of the final product.

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Fredericksburg, OH
High Point Cabinets
Columbus' Experienced Custom Cabinet Builder | 4x Best of Houzz Winner

Today’s skyscrapers do not accommodate ever-changing uses, health, and energy crisis.
onE.GLobe proposes organically grown, flexible, and scalable live-work-play structures which can adapt to any condition.
Stress increases the risk of chronic diseases, the leading cause of death and disability with around 75% (Source 1a, 1b).
Improving human health through a thoughtfully designed environment is as important as energy conservation and carbon sequestration. We can also address all three goals with similar solutions, such as allocating large green areas, water features, and diverse uses in proximity. Nature makes people happier and healthier, and it also absorbs stormwater and can be used for renewable energy production. Therefore, we can achieve resiliency for both environment and society easily together.
Amoeba Fusion aims to empower societies by providing a space for decentralized, innovative start-up communities. onE.GLobe considers the built environment a living, breathing, multiplying organism, evolving in nature with harmony. The structure can grow horizontally and vertically by adding new cores in different directions per each site condition. It creates public plazas shaded and shielded by the building as it grows. Fully self-sufficient structure houses flexible 3D printed dwellings and workspaces surrounded by semi-open garden spaces and atrium. Thirty feet deep floor plates receive daylight from the exterior and atrium and can conveniently be used as open-plan office space. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems are distributed through modular floor plates, on which 3D printed modules are flexibly plugged in. 3D printed inflatable shells with indoor air cleaning plants house a plug-in kitchen, bedroom, workspace, and bathroom modules. The bridge-connected clusters have decentralized systems with the off-grid micro-grid integrating renewable energy sources and excess energy storage.
Compact layouts provide space for an increasing number of entrepreneurs, making them socialize and inspire near their accommodation. Eliminating corridors in dwelling units with an efficient design and replacing them with the garden space surrounding units achieve this endeavor.
Amoeba Fusion New York is located at a General Commercial Zoning district in NYC with residential and commercial uses. The site currently accommodates six towers. This project explores a more resilient design solution for an innovative, diverse community for the post-pandemic world. Located in the Lincoln Square neighborhood in Manhattan, bordering Hell’s Kitchen with countless restaurants, the site is close to various public transportation, universities, cultural spaces, and businesses, making it ideal for an innovative, creative crowd. Mixed-use commercial and residential buildings are allowed with a floor area bonus of 20% with a public plaza. With tower regulation, there is no minimum lot coverage requirement, and no rule regarding the distribution of floor area allows the tallest buildings in the city.
There are plenty of luxury residential buildings in New York City, but they don’t serve innovative young people and entrepreneurs. Co-living buildings do not provide proper workspaces within the facility. For these reasons, onE.GLobe aims to investigate ways to design long-term live-work-play environments for innovative young people and ease the effects of the future pandemics with its efficient, flexible dwelling units and workspaces surrounded by semi-open garden spaces, atrium, rooftops, public plazas, and wet ponds.

No greater compliment of a material is possible than when stone is selected for a historic property renovation within a home rich in tradition and with a celebrated past. This new feature stair addition to a private residence in Toronto, Canada, has an equally compelling story to tell.
Originally envisioned as a wall-supported, cantilevered stone stair, the owner boldly accepted a unique solution for their showpiece element. The 19-tread stair would be designed with 550 lb. solid stone treads, and fully
liberated from traditional supports and the adjacent rubble wall. To say, “it would float” is not an exaggeration. The stair would be designed as a monolithic beam spanning 16.5 feet, 10 feet high and 41 inches wide. Aesthetically bold, with a reduced tone from
pure black, the basalt stone was the perfect contrast for the white modern interior of the home. The 3-1/2" tension cables played the most important role by resisting the large bending moment generated by the stone load and stair geometry. Fabrication required precise coordination and care to ensure perfect alignment of the interlocking key, and the corresponding cable holes.
The fabrication challenge was achieving the highest level of accuracy in notching, coring, and replicating each tread identically. Expert precision and skill were key to nesting each tread in sequence and simultaneously with the strands. Meticulous alignment and exacting tolerance assured the true performance and aesthetics were delivered. Hydraulic post-tensioning pulled each cable to 120 kiloNewtons or 27,000 lbs, infusing strength and structural integrity. Removing the temporary support and testing was the last critical step—it was the first time the stone stair would be self-supporting.
The “floating” stair is an ultimate achievement and example of innovation, material strength, fabrication quality, installation precision, and expert coordination. A perfect final chapter to a historical journey and modern ode to stone as structure.

EXCLUSIVELY OURS.
Alder frame.
Polyester/rayon velvet upholstery.
Comes with seven self-fabric pillows.
Chaise on left as you face the sofa.
Sofa, 119"W x 41"D x 35"T; chaise, 96"L; seat, 19.5"T.
Handcrafted in the USA of imported materials.
Boxed weight, approximately 415 lbs.

We partnered up with Furtado Contracting to update the kitchen in this stunning 100 year old house in Vancouver. The vision was to freshen up the dated cabinetry and countertops to a style that would lend well to the age of the home, while providing more storage and new appliances.
Layout: The gas range was previously hidden from the dining room by a pony wall. It was decided early on to remove the pony wall, opening the space visually while providing added counter space behind the range. The removal of the pony wall also allowed us to add additional storage on the dining room side of the kitchen.
The fridge was the next item to be relocated. Previously encroaching into the walkway, the fridge was previously placed where our new microwave lives. The fridge now sits in the perfect spot, next to a narrow open-self cabinet which was another wish list from the client, to display bottles and decorative items.
Storage in this kitchen increased by mounting the upper cabinets to the ceiling and improving the lower cabinets by adding more drawers and interior accessories like pullouts, spice storage and a super-susan in the base-corner cabinet.
Materials:
The materials used were extra important to this renovation to ensure we complimented the age of the home. To achieve the right look, shaker doors were used on all cabinets. The painted white cabinets were constructed of a Maple species and painted in Benjamin Moores ‘Silver Satin’. On the base cabinets, a Cherry species was used in a warm stain. To brighten up the room, Caesarstone countertops in ‘Frosty Carrina’ were paired with a white tile in a subway pattern from Olympia Tile.
The details on the crown moulding, door-style panels, cabinetry hardware, kitchen faucet and pendant light fixture are what made this space feel warm and welcoming for the 21st century.

Large, historic home from the 1930's overlooking downtown Santa Cruz. My clients are self-described "plantaholics" and tend to buy many plants, only to have them die. They have an extensive gardening area and low water budget. Our main goal was to make the overall design cohesive between various areas of the garden while utilizing interesting and unusual plant selections - a very fun project for me! We removed over 3,000 square feet of traditional grass and replaced it with several lawn alternatives. The first is a walkable groundcover that uses a fraction of the water of regular grass (and can be seen here in several seasons, one of which has tiny flowers); The second is a California native grass that grows long (or can be kept short) and can tolerate some shade. Both of these are excellent choices for clients with children or dogs who want a green patch without using excessive water. My clients love plants from Australia and South Africa so plants from the Proteacea and other Southern Hemisphere beauties are used predominantly throughout the project. Clean, flowing water is so important for wildlife and the beautiful stone fountain is a constant gathering spot for birds and other animals. My clients are beyond thrilled with their gorgeous, nature-filled garden and ever-expanding plant knowledge.
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