This couple, who live in the seaside resort of Brighton, had purchased their house four months before Christmas and wanted to have the fantastic Terracotta tiled floor in the kitchen and conservatory looking its best before the festive period, since they had family visiting. The floor was looking washed out and it was clear the sealer had failed in the high traffic areas and was now allowing dirt to penetrate into the pores of the tile making it difficult to clean. We often get calls from new home owners keen to put their own stamp on a property shortly after moving in; stone floors rarely come with cleaning instructions so if you have a stone floor it makes sense to get in touch, so we can advise you on how best to maintain it. We provided a quote which included stripping the floor of old sealers, cleaning, oiling and then sealing it again to restore cleanliness and character to the Terracotta. There was a lot to do and two areas to clean so I anticipated it would take four days to complete. Having accepted the quote our first task upon returning to the property was to give the Terracotta tiles a deep clean and remove any remaining sealer present on the tile. This was achieved by applying a strong combination of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean and Tile Doctor NanoTech HBU to the tiles and then covering it in a plastic sheet, so it wouldn’t dry out. This method allows the products to really soak into the pores of the Terracotta and draw out the dirt. I should also mention that Pro-Clean is a very effective Tile and Grout cleaner whilst HBU enhances it by adding nano-sized cleaning particles. The plastic blanket was left in place for a few hours before being peeled off and then the cleaning products scrubbed into the tile and grout using a black pad fitted to a rotary floor machine and hand brushes. The now soiled product was rinsed off with water which was then extracted using a wet vacuum. The floor was inspected, and stubborn marks spot treated until the floor was clean. After thoroughly cleaning the Terracotta over two days, we left the floor to completely dry off over the weekend. The tiles would need to be sufficiently dry to receive fresh sealant, as excess moisture can cloud the sealant and prevent it from working correctly. When we returned to the property, we proceeded to apply Tile Doctor Stone Oil to the tiles. Stone Oil is a sealer which restores the colour and texture of tiled floors, as well as mechanical strength once cured. We applied a single coat of the Stone Oil before topping it up with multiple coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go, a topical sealer which provides a high-quality sheen finish to help accentuate the appearance of the Terracotta tiles as well as adding protection. You can see the results of the restoration below. The couple were so impressed that they have now agreed to have Tile Doctor visit once a year (at a fraction of the cost of the original restoration) to complete a maintenance clean. This will make sure this Terracotta is always looking at its best! Mick Conlon East Sussex Tile Doctor

Door #10 FP3190 Flat 3 Panel Interior Door with Farmhouse Sticking Solid Poplar stiles and rails MDF panels Painted White 1 x 4 door casing 1 x 6 baseboard Bravura 336B door knob Call us for a quote on your door project 419-684-9582 Visit https://www.door.cc

River Gold 180fx® by Formica Group: An inviting, creamy-white granite with linear veins of gold and gray highlighted by chocolate-brown crystals. One of the most desirable granite patterns, it reflects the trend toward light and white sophisticated stone.

Dimension: 47" L X 21" D X 72" H If you’re looking for a classic vintage beauty to grace your rooms with unfettered style, character, and amazing pragmatics, then our Dakota Contemporary Rustic Solid Wood Bedroom Armoire Wardrobe would be the perfect wardrobe cabinet for you! Designed on the contemporary style, this solid wood bedroom armoire features undertones of classical and vintage nature with beats of modern in the mix. The overall design is extremely charismatic, and will definitely become a highlight of your bedroom. The exterior constitutes of a double-leaf wardrobe compartment underscored by two long drawers and a vertical closet unit on the right. All of this is complemented by a gorgeous hand rubbed stain and hand-wrought metal hardware. The double-leaf compartment opens up to reveal an open shelf where you can store all your essentials within sight, and a stainless steel hanging rod up top. The two drawers provide sufficient space to keep folded laundry and other miscellaneous accessories while the vertical closet unit opens up to 4 equally divided shelves. Handcrafted from solid Mahogany wood, this rustic armoire warrants the best of aesthetics and pragmatics, along with a sturdy, durable and long-lasting heirloom quality! This solid hardwood armoire wardrobe is one of the most stylish and visually versatile furniture pieces you’ll ever find. You can easily match it up with a contemporary ambiance as a stunning accent piece, but it would look just as charming in a neo-classical, traditional or even a transitional style bedroom. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Solid Mahogany wood craftsmanship • Contemporary Style bedroom armoire • Double door wardrobe compartment with 1 open shelf and stainless steel rod • 2 exterior drawers • 1 vertical closet compartment with 4 shelves • Metal hardware • Heirloom quality • Can be custom-made to have adjustable/removable shelves upon request • Visually Versatile • Easy maintenance Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

This small rough Chinese Slate floor in the kitchen of a house in the village of Cheadle near Stockport in Greater Manchester had not had any sealer put on it for many years and was very grubby (dishevelled as described by the customer) looking even after the customer had tried to clean it. Sealers do take a lot of punishment, especially in a high traffic area such as a small kitchen and will wear off over time and once this happens the floor will start to lose its appearance as dirt becomes ingrained in the stone and it can no longer be cleaned effectively. As we have to apply a liberal amount of water with this sort of work, the first step was to remove the Kicker boards at the bottom of the Kitchen units and silicone the Kitchen units that were fixed; this stops water seeping in and blowing the MDF allowing us to concentrate on cleaning the Slate without causing any damage. I started the cleaning process by applying a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean to get rid of the built up dirt and any remaining sealer, leaving it to soak into the Slate before scrubbing the floor with a black scrub pad fitted to buffing machine running at slow speed. Tile Doctor Pro-Clean is a strong alkaline cleaner/stripper that is safe to use on natural stone, we do have stronger products available if required but in this case a strong dilution of Pro-Clean was sufficient to tackle any remaining sealer. This process gave the Slate and grout lines a good deep clean and after rinsing the floor with water which was then extracted using a wet vacuum I repeated the process on stubborn areas until satisfied the floor was as clean and free of old sealer. Last stage of the cleaning process was to give the floor a final rinse and then get it as dry as possible using the wet vacuum to soak up the moisture. The floor was quite small so I was able to leave the floor to dry off over lunch time and then on my return managed to get it fully dry with a little heat from a heat gun. The customer wanted a mat finish so once dry I applied Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer which impregnates into the pores of the natural stone protecting it from within and enhancing the natural colours of the Slate at the same time. For general cleaning of Sealed stone floors, we recommend the use of a PH Neutral Cleaner as anything with a strong PH will degrade the life of the sealer over time. Steve Keary Greater Manchester Tile Doctor

Organized Living Activity Organizers provides endless possibilities to organize sports and camping equipment. All accessories, including baskets and hooks, are adjustable which is important when it comes to customizing storage to your need for years to come. Perfect for garages, sheds and workshops. See more ways to use Activity Organizers here: http://www.organizedliving.com/home/products/activity-organizers/inspiration-gallery

Photo: Nanette Wong © 2014 Houzz
Example of an eclectic home design design in San Francisco

Two Birds Photography
Kids' room - transitional kids' room idea in Chicago

Collaboration with Canonbury Homes and Frank Neely Design Associates.
Inspiration for a timeless open concept kitchen remodel in Atlanta with beaded inset cabinets and two islands

This job was carried out in a terraced property in Llanelli which had a Victorian Tiled Hallway laid in a diamond pattern that looking worse for wear and in need of some attention. The clients were a young couple who had moved in two years previously and had only recently decided they wanted the floor renovated. This was earlier in the year, so I was able to pop over to the property and take a detailed look at the floor before recommending a course of action to renovate the tiles. Upon arrival the first thing we noticed was that the border had been laid with an inconsistent pattern, non- matching tiles had been patched in essentially filling voids as you can see in the images. The floor wasn’t terribly dirty however it wasn’t very clean either. I discussed with the client replacing the non-matching tiles, so the floor pattern was uniform however they decided against it and were happy to just to have it cleaned and sealed. We can usually source either reclaimed original tiles or some great reproduction ones, so most floors can be restored if needed. I worked out a quote for the work and they were happy to go ahead. If you have never been you should know that Llanelli is the largest town in the county of Carmarthenshire and famous for Rugby and the production of Tin. It is located on the Loughor Estuary, some 10 miles from Swansea and 12 miles from Carmarthen. With no tiling to do the first job was to protect the woodwork such as skirting and staircase with tape. Once done the process of cleaning began with the application of a 400-grit burnishing pad fitted to a buffing machine. The process is lubricated with water and the pad run over the whole floor two to three times to remove dirt and refine the appearance of the tile. Even after the first application of the pad we could see a massive improvement to the appearance of the tiles. To get right into the edges of the tiled floor we use a 400-grit handheld diamond block, this proved especially useful under the stairs where our buffer machine could not reach. During this process, the water turns into a fine slurry which is rinsed off with more water and extracted with a wet vacuum. On this occasion the floor was not dirty enough to require any chemicals, the use of water and the machine was enough to get the floor cleaned up. This job was very straight forward, and we did not run into any problems at all. After allowing the floor to dry out for 24 hours we returned to seal the tiles checking first that the floor was sufficiently dry first using a damp meter. Fortunately, the burnishing method uses a lot less water than a chemical clean, so I was able to get straight on with sealing. The client wanted a satin sheen finish, so I applied four coats of Tile Doctors Seal and Go which works well on Victorian tiles. The sealer really put the life back into the tiles and will protect them from staining going forward. It will also make the floor much easier to maintain and keep it looking good for much longer. I’m pleased to say the owners were very happy with the floor and recommended us to one of their friends who we also did some work for. For aftercare I recommended the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. This is an everyday tile cleaning product that is sealer friendly and not prematurely reduce the life of the sealer which can happen with many household cleaning products which are simply too strong. Adrian Iacono Swansea Tile Doctor

Gorgeous master bath finished with Dal-Tile's Fabrique porcelain tile in the color Noir Linen polished. Tile size is 12"x24" installed in a brick joint pattern. The floor boasts underfloor heating on a timed thermostat.

Dimension: 47" L X 21" D X 72" H If you’re looking for a classic vintage beauty to grace your rooms with unfettered style, character, and amazing pragmatics, then our Carina Rustic Solid Mahogany Wood Large Clothing Armoire Wardrobe With 3 Doors And Drawers would be the perfect armoire closet for you! Designed on the contemporary style, this solid wood 3 door bedroom armoire features undertones of classical and vintage nature with beats of modern in the mix. The overall design is extremely charismatic, and will definitely become a highlight of your bedroom. The exterior constitutes of a double-leaf wardrobe compartment underscored by two long drawers and a vertical closet unit on the right. All of this is complemented by a gorgeous hand rubbed stain and hand-wrought metal hardware. The double-leaf compartment opens up to reveal an open shelf where you can store all your essentials within sight, and a stainless steel hanging rod up top. The two drawers provide sufficient space to keep folded laundry and other miscellaneous accessories while the vertical closet unit opens up to 4 equally divided shelves. The 2 door cabinet comes with 2 removable shelves, allowing you to customize your storage option and turning the wardrobe armoire into a large cabinet when required. Handcrafted from solid Mahogany wood, this rustic large armoire closet warrants the best of aesthetics and pragmatics, along with a sturdy, durable and long-lasting heirloom quality! This solid wood armoire wardrobe is one of the most stylish and visually versatile furniture pieces you’ll ever find. You can easily match it up with a contemporary ambiance as a stunning accent piece, but it would look just as charming in a neo-classical, traditional or even a transitional style bedroom. For a completely coordinated look, pair it up with the rest of our Carina Bedroom collection which includes a contemporary platform sleigh bed, dresser with 6 drawers and 2 nightstands. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Solid Mahogany wood craftsmanship • Contemporary style bedroom armoire • Double door wardrobe compartment with a shelf and stainless steel rod • Comes with 2 removable shelves • 2 exterior drawers • Vertical closet compartment with 4 shelves • Metal hardware • Heirloom quality • Visually Versatile • Easy maintenance • Part of Carina Bedroom Collection • Anti-tip kit included Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

Great spacious bathroom with lot of amenities. Photographer: Jon Upson
Large elegant master beige tile and porcelain tile drop-in bathtub photo in San Diego with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, beige walls and a two-piece toilet

Dimension: 47" L X 21" D X 72" H If you’re looking for a classic vintage beauty to grace your rooms with unfettered style, character, and amazing pragmatics, then our Carina Rustic Solid Mahogany Wood Large Clothing Armoire Wardrobe With 3 Doors And Drawers would be the perfect armoire closet for you! Designed on the contemporary style, this solid wood 3 door bedroom armoire features undertones of classical and vintage nature with beats of modern in the mix. The overall design is extremely charismatic, and will definitely become a highlight of your bedroom. The exterior constitutes of a double-leaf wardrobe compartment underscored by two long drawers and a vertical closet unit on the right. All of this is complemented by a gorgeous hand rubbed stain and hand-wrought metal hardware. The double-leaf compartment opens up to reveal an open shelf where you can store all your essentials within sight, and a stainless steel hanging rod up top. The two drawers provide sufficient space to keep folded laundry and other miscellaneous accessories while the vertical closet unit opens up to 4 equally divided shelves. The 2 door cabinet comes with 2 removable shelves, allowing you to customize your storage option and turning the wardrobe armoire into a large cabinet when required. Handcrafted from solid Mahogany wood, this rustic large armoire closet warrants the best of aesthetics and pragmatics, along with a sturdy, durable and long-lasting heirloom quality! This solid wood armoire wardrobe is one of the most stylish and visually versatile furniture pieces you’ll ever find. You can easily match it up with a contemporary ambiance as a stunning accent piece, but it would look just as charming in a neo-classical, traditional or even a transitional style bedroom. For a completely coordinated look, pair it up with the rest of our Carina Bedroom collection which includes a contemporary platform sleigh bed, dresser with 6 drawers and 2 nightstands. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Solid Mahogany wood craftsmanship • Contemporary style bedroom armoire • Double door wardrobe compartment with a shelf and stainless steel rod • Comes with 2 removable shelves • 2 exterior drawers • Vertical closet compartment with 4 shelves • Metal hardware • Heirloom quality • Visually Versatile • Easy maintenance • Part of Carina Bedroom Collection • Anti-tip kit included Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

Tucked away in the backwoods of Torch Lake, this home marries “rustic” with the sleek elegance of modern. The combination of wood, stone and metal textures embrace the charm of a classic farmhouse. Although this is not your average farmhouse. The home is outfitted with a high performing system that seamlessly works with the design and architecture. The tall ceilings and windows allow ample natural light into the main room. Spire Integrated Systems installed Lutron QS Wireless motorized shades paired with Hartmann & Forbes windowcovers to offer privacy and block harsh light. The custom 18′ windowcover’s woven natural fabric complements the organic esthetics of the room. The shades are artfully concealed in the millwork when not in use. Spire installed B&W in-ceiling speakers and Sonance invisible in-wall speakers to deliver ambient music that emanates throughout the space with no visual footprint. Spire also installed a Sonance Landscape Audio System so the homeowner can enjoy music outside. Each system is easily controlled using Savant. Spire personalized the settings to the homeowner’s preference making controlling the home efficient and convenient.

Learn seed starting basics and get a jump start on growing the flower garden of your dreams. In this striking guide you will find everything you need to grow, harvest, and arrange stunning seasonal blooms. With equal parts instruction and inspiration, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden welcomes you into Erin Benzakein’s abundant, bloom-filled world, and is a feast for every flower lover’s eyes and soul. Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden. Written by Erin Benzakein with Julie Chai. Photos by Michèle M. Waite. Published by Chronicle Books.

Dimension: 47" L X 21" D X 72" H If you’re looking for a classic vintage beauty to grace your rooms with unfettered style, character, and amazing pragmatics, then our Carina Rustic Solid Mahogany Wood Large Clothing Armoire Wardrobe With 3 Doors And Drawers would be the perfect armoire closet for you! Designed on the contemporary style, this solid wood 3 door bedroom armoire features undertones of classical and vintage nature with beats of modern in the mix. The overall design is extremely charismatic, and will definitely become a highlight of your bedroom. The exterior constitutes of a double-leaf wardrobe compartment underscored by two long drawers and a vertical closet unit on the right. All of this is complemented by a gorgeous hand rubbed stain and hand-wrought metal hardware. The double-leaf compartment opens up to reveal an open shelf where you can store all your essentials within sight, and a stainless steel hanging rod up top. The two drawers provide sufficient space to keep folded laundry and other miscellaneous accessories while the vertical closet unit opens up to 4 equally divided shelves. The 2 door cabinet comes with 2 removable shelves, allowing you to customize your storage option and turning the wardrobe armoire into a large cabinet when required. Handcrafted from solid Mahogany wood, this rustic large armoire closet warrants the best of aesthetics and pragmatics, along with a sturdy, durable and long-lasting heirloom quality! This solid wood armoire wardrobe is one of the most stylish and visually versatile furniture pieces you’ll ever find. You can easily match it up with a contemporary ambiance as a stunning accent piece, but it would look just as charming in a neo-classical, traditional or even a transitional style bedroom. For a completely coordinated look, pair it up with the rest of our Carina Bedroom collection which includes a contemporary platform sleigh bed, dresser with 6 drawers and 2 nightstands. Special Features: • 100% Handcrafted • Solid Mahogany wood craftsmanship • Contemporary style bedroom armoire • Double door wardrobe compartment with a shelf and stainless steel rod • Comes with 2 removable shelves • 2 exterior drawers • Vertical closet compartment with 4 shelves • Metal hardware • Heirloom quality • Visually Versatile • Easy maintenance • Part of Carina Bedroom Collection • Anti-tip kit included Note: Real wood is a product of nature, and as such, no two pieces are alike. Variations in solid wood grain patterns are to be expected and make each furniture uniquely beautiful, just like us humans.

Detail of rusted steel gate structure, with black stained cedar infill. photo: grant wilds
Inspiration for a modern landscaping in Seattle.

These pictures of a Victorian Tiled Hallway are from a property in Canterbury that was once a nursing home and was now being renovated to become a children’s home. The building was being gutted and extended at the same time and when the carpet was pulled up in the hallway, they were surprised to find a relatively intact Victorian tiled floor underneath. Whilst they thought it bizarre that anyone would want to cover up such an attractive floor the carpet had protected it over the years. They realized it would make a marvellous feature at the entrance to the property, but professional restoration would be needed to do it justice. After a bit of research, they came across Tile Doctor and got in touch. Canterbury comes under my North Kent designation, so I went to visit the property and survey the floor and quote for doing the restoration. There were a few missing and loose tiles that would need replacing and refixing also there was a lot of ingrained dirt so a deep clean and application of a new sealer would be required. I gave them a price for the work which they readily accepted, and we arranged a suitable time to carry out the work. Subject to the building schedule I had calculated the floor would take three days to restore. On the first day I set about replacing and re-fixing the missing, broken, and loose tiles. This is delicate work as you need to extract the old tile without disturbing its neighbours and then clean up the area ready for its replacement. Being a Tile Doctor I keep a selection of stock tiles for repairs, some are reclaimed, and some are replica. Also, there are several companies still making Victorian style tiles so I can usually source what I need. After the individual missing and broken tiles had been replaced and the adhesive had set, it was then a matter of renovating the floor as a whole. The tiles were covered in a thick layer of carpet adhesive which needed a combination of specialist tools and products to remove. First, a liberal layer of Tile Doctor Remove and Go was applied and left to dwell for thirty minutes. Next, Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was added and scrubbed in with a black pad. This process softened the adhesive sufficiently in readiness for the next stage which involves using a set of diamond burnishing pads on a weighted buffing machine. Several applications were needed, each time with a successively finer grade of diamond pad and rinsing off the slurry in between. The tiles were first milled using a very coarse 50-grit pad, followed by 100, 200 and finally burnished with a 400-grit burnishing pads. This removed all the adhesive and dirt in the tiles, which was cleaned up using the wet vacuum. Old Victorian floors like this do not have a damp proof membrane installed under the floor, and with a lot of water being used in the cleaning process I was concerned White efflorescence salts could appear later as the floor dried. To counter this, I gave the floor an acid wash using Tile Doctor Acid Gel to counter and dissolve the salts, it also gives the tiles another clean and will remove any old grout smears further improving the appearance of the tiles. Once done the floor was left to dry overnight. On my return I tested the floor was dry by taking several moisture readings around the floor with a damp meter. Applying sealer to a damp floor is never advised and can lead to clouding and an unwanted finish. Happy that the tiles were dry, a single coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer was applied. This is an impregnating sealer with a colour enhancing component to ‘lift’ the stronger colours of the floor. Colour Grow however does leave a matt appearance and as the client had asked for a shiny finish it was topped up with five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go. This is a compatible topical sealer which added a mid to high sheen. By the end of the third day the Victorian floor looked brand new, and I received the following feedback from the client. Its rare to receive feedback from commercial customers so they were clearly overwhelmed with the transformation. Did not think this glued covered bad old floor could look sooooo good Fabulous Fantastic job Looks Amazing Thank you For aftercare I recommend the use of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which isn’t as harsh as many of the products you find in supermarket. Stronger products can actually strip off the sealer over time leaving it vulnerable to dirt and detracting from its appearance. Graham Davis North Kent Tile Doctor