Master bathroom at home on Russell Rd. in Alexandria. Photo by Greg Hadley
Example of a trendy subway tile bathroom design in DC Metro

The breakfast area adjoins the clean and open cooking and prep area with easy access to all cooking equipment. The floors are Marmoleum, and provide a sustainable and easy to clean surface. Photography by Ocular Proof.

A 150 square foot addition and comprehensive renovation of a small Northeast Minneapolis bungalow. The solution reinvented the cramped house into a modern, one bedroom home with light filled, functional spaces. © Gilbertson Photography

Inspiration for a timeless kitchen remodel in Omaha with granite countertops

This was an NHS hospital garden specifically designed as a therapeutic space for people living with dementia. Inspiration for the garden came from the humble snowdrop which provides a welcome sight towards the end of the winter months and also give hope to those suffering with dementia as its medicinal powers are known to slow down the destructive processes of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Site – The site the team were presented with was a long, thin courtyard garden set within the hospital site. The concrete paving was harsh and barren offering no respite or relaxation. Brief – The brief given by the hospital was to create a stimulating and safe garden environment for people suffering from dementia and serious mental health problems. Design – The garden design was divided into three distinct areas to allow for different activities and to stimulate different associations. The Terrace, with lots of seating for visitors and familiar aromatic herbs to stimulate the senses and aid relaxation. The Green with tactile planting such as grasses that sway and add movement and space for activities such as bowls. The Oasis, with the sound of water and lush planting for quiet contemplation. The whole garden is linked by a ribbon path, ensuring residents always return ‘home’.

This was an NHS hospital garden specifically designed as a therapeutic space for people living with dementia. Inspiration for the garden came from the humble snowdrop which provides a welcome sight towards the end of the winter months and also give hope to those suffering with dementia as its medicinal powers are known to slow down the destructive processes of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Site – The site the team were presented with was a long, thin courtyard garden set within the hospital site. The concrete paving was harsh and barren offering no respite or relaxation. Brief – The brief given by the hospital was to create a stimulating and safe garden environment for people suffering from dementia and serious mental health problems. Design – The garden design was divided into three distinct areas to allow for different activities and to stimulate different associations. The Terrace, with lots of seating for visitors and familiar aromatic herbs to stimulate the senses and aid relaxation. The Green with tactile planting such as grasses that sway and add movement and space for activities such as bowls. The Oasis, with the sound of water and lush planting for quiet contemplation. The whole garden is linked by a ribbon path, ensuring residents always return ‘home’.

This was an NHS hospital garden specifically designed as a therapeutic space for people living with dementia. Inspiration for the garden came from the humble snowdrop which provides a welcome sight towards the end of the winter months and also give hope to those suffering with dementia as its medicinal powers are known to slow down the destructive processes of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Site – The site the team were presented with was a long, thin courtyard garden set within the hospital site. The concrete paving was harsh and barren offering no respite or relaxation. Brief – The brief given by the hospital was to create a stimulating and safe garden environment for people suffering from dementia and serious mental health problems. Design – The garden design was divided into three distinct areas to allow for different activities and to stimulate different associations. The Terrace, with lots of seating for visitors and familiar aromatic herbs to stimulate the senses and aid relaxation. The Green with tactile planting such as grasses that sway and add movement and space for activities such as bowls. The Oasis, with the sound of water and lush planting for quiet contemplation. The whole garden is linked by a ribbon path, ensuring residents always return ‘home’.

This was an NHS hospital garden specifically designed as a therapeutic space for people living with dementia. Inspiration for the garden came from the humble snowdrop which provides a welcome sight towards the end of the winter months and also give hope to those suffering with dementia as its medicinal powers are known to slow down the destructive processes of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Site – The site the team were presented with was a long, thin courtyard garden set within the hospital site. The concrete paving was harsh and barren offering no respite or relaxation. Brief – The brief given by the hospital was to create a stimulating and safe garden environment for people suffering from dementia and serious mental health problems. Design – The garden design was divided into three distinct areas to allow for different activities and to stimulate different associations. The Terrace, with lots of seating for visitors and familiar aromatic herbs to stimulate the senses and aid relaxation. The Green with tactile planting such as grasses that sway and add movement and space for activities such as bowls. The Oasis, with the sound of water and lush planting for quiet contemplation. The whole garden is linked by a ribbon path, ensuring residents always return ‘home’.

A local cleaning contractor called us in to work on the Terracotta tiled floors at a council building in Amersham. The Terracotta had not been deep cleaned and resealed for about ten years and the sealer had worn off leaving the tile vulnerable to dirt becoming ingrained in the pores of the tile. The grout had also suffered the same fate and had almost gone black in many areas. This is a common problem with Terracotta which is quite porous and once those pores become ingrained with dirt the tile becomes difficult to clean effectively. The solution is to seal the tile however sealers wear off over time and this was basically the problem. After discussing the issues we agreed on a plan of action to deep clean the Terracotta tile and grout and then re-seal to protect it. Due to the busy nature of the building we agreed to do the work between Christmas and New Year when we knew the building would be empty. We started by applying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Oxy-Gel which is a strong tile cleaning product that being in a gel form ensures it sits on the tile for longer, giving it a longer effective dwell time so it can really eat into and loose the dirt. After approximately twenty minutes the gel was scrubbed into the tile with a black scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. This broke down most of the dirt and removed any remaining sealer. Once the whole floor had been treated in this manner it was rinsed thoroughly with water which was then extracted using a wet vacuum. With the soiled cleaning solution removed I could see the next step would be to spot clean stubborn staining and clean the grout. For this task I used a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean scrubbing it in by hand using stiff brushes and aided with a hand-held steamer to help treat the stubborn staining. Once done the floor was given a final rinse and then as much moisture as possible removed with the wet vacuum. We then left the floor to dry off completely and came back a couple of days later to seal the Terracotta tile. I mentioned earlier that Terracotta is porous; in fact it’s probably the most porous material I deal with, so to fully seal the floor I had to apply eight coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go which will provide complete and long lasting protection against staining and dirt. Seal and Go also adds an appealing satin sheen to the tile and the new seal will make it much easier to clean in future. The floor tile and grout now look much healthier and I’m sure the council will be very impressed when they go back to work after the holidays. Happy New Year… Andrew Newstead North Buckinghamshire Tile Doctor

Sue Stubbs
Bedroom - mid-sized contemporary carpeted bedroom idea in Sydney with black walls