Robin Leigh
Example of a trendy home design design in New York

Robin Leigh
Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in New York

Robin Leigh
Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in New York

The wife travels often for business and loves to cook with her daughter when at home. She was desperately unhappy with the old kitchen. The clients report the new design is an “incredibly spacious masterpiece that brings a whole new purpose and meaning to our kitchen. We now have FOUR countertop workspaces when we previously had one cramped and tiny one. We love the clean and simple design, with neutrals and pops of color.”

2011 NARI CAPITAL COTY HONORABLE MENTION AWARD WINNER Since moving into their home 10 years ago, the lady of the house has been unhappy with her kitchen, dining room and entryway. The layout wasn’t efficient and the formal dining room was rarely used. With two children and a dog, a mud room made more sense for their lifestyle. To make best use of the space, the design team at Michael Nash Design, Build & Homes removed the dining room altogether. Four feet of that space went to the kitchen to make it more spacious and functional. The rest went to creating a mud room for the kids with locker style storage. The highlight of the renovation is, however, the new kitchen. Featuring a large center island with distressed curved wood countertop, it provides an anchor around which the rest of the room flows. Stark white cabinets run along two walls, providing significant kitchen storage, as well as several display cabinets for the homeowner’s fine china. A white farmer’s sink sits below a large window looking out over the backyard and the counters are topped with complementary stone counter and tile backsplash. Stainless steel appliances include a gas cooktop with custom wood hood that matches the cabinets. Matching crown molding tops the flush-to-the-ceiling cabinets. In addition to natural light from the windows, the kitchen features pendant lights over the island, under-cabinet lighting and LED lights. The added lighting along with the white cabinets make the room look even more spacious. Being a gourmet cook, the homeowner enjoys her time in kitchen while the mud room makes her daily chores a lot simpler.

Living room - coastal light wood floor, beige floor and coffered ceiling living room idea in Vancouver with white walls

This 1922 home’s kitchen was due for a functional and aesthetic uplift. The homeowner was unhappy with the layout, so a new layout was designed to streamline usage for modern day living. A chimney that was no longer used was removed in order to create a more open space. The design was created in order to create a warm and inviting space, as well as relate to the home’s traditional styling – old ranch base trim and casing where replaced to match the old existing trim in the rest of the home, and the hardwood floors were installed to match what was in the living and dining room in the front of the house. Traditional light fixtures and handmade tiles round out the timeless details in the renovation. Overall, a neutral color palette allows the wood grain in the cabinetry and the beautiful colors and pattern in the new quartz countertops to shine. The homeowners gained much more usable storage – a large pantry, and cabinet function like the blind corner cabinet shelving system.

This 1922 home’s kitchen was due for a functional and aesthetic uplift. The homeowner was unhappy with the layout, so a new layout was designed to streamline usage for modern day living. A chimney that was no longer used was removed in order to create a more open space. The design was created in order to create a warm and inviting space, as well as relate to the home’s traditional styling – old ranch base trim and casing where replaced to match the old existing trim in the rest of the home, and the hardwood floors were installed to match what was in the living and dining room in the front of the house. Traditional light fixtures and handmade tiles round out the timeless details in the renovation. Overall, a neutral color palette allows the wood grain in the cabinetry and the beautiful colors and pattern in the new quartz countertops to shine. The homeowners gained much more usable storage – a large pantry, and cabinet function like the blind corner cabinet shelving system.

This 1922 home’s kitchen was due for a functional and aesthetic uplift. The homeowner was unhappy with the layout, so a new layout was designed to streamline usage for modern day living. A chimney that was no longer used was removed in order to create a more open space. The design was created in order to create a warm and inviting space, as well as relate to the home’s traditional styling – old ranch base trim and casing where replaced to match the old existing trim in the rest of the home, and the hardwood floors were installed to match what was in the living and dining room in the front of the house. Traditional light fixtures and handmade tiles round out the timeless details in the renovation. Overall, a neutral color palette allows the wood grain in the cabinetry and the beautiful colors and pattern in the new quartz countertops to shine. The homeowners gained much more usable storage – a large pantry, and cabinet function like the blind corner cabinet shelving system.

The wife travels often for business and loves to cook with her daughter when at home. She was desperately unhappy with the old kitchen. The clients report the new design is an “incredibly spacious masterpiece that brings a whole new purpose and meaning to our kitchen. We now have FOUR countertop workspaces when we previously had one cramped and tiny one. We love the clean and simple design, with neutrals and pops of color.”

The Master Bathroom was the only room in this lovely Fredericksburg home that needed updating. As the second owners of this property, our clients were unhappy with the contractor grade selections that the original homeowners made in this room. They came to us with a few requests-- they wanted to expand the shower and remove an awkward column between the vanities as well as replace the tile in all the areas. We used Cambria Somerset quartz on the counters because it harmonized nicely with the colors in the mosaic tile accent used in the shower and on the face of the soaking tub. We chose the same Happy Floors Eternity tile in Gold but used various sizes for the floor and in the shower and on the tub deck, which contributed to the relaxing, spa-like atmosphere of the space. A rich and warm earth tone for the walls (Benjamin Moore’s Rich Clay Brown) was the final element in creating a beautiful Master Bathroom to complete an already lovely home.

This 1922 home’s kitchen was due for a functional and aesthetic uplift. The homeowner was unhappy with the layout, so a new layout was designed to streamline usage for modern day living. A chimney that was no longer used was removed in order to create a more open space. The design was created in order to create a warm and inviting space, as well as relate to the home’s traditional styling – old ranch base trim and casing where replaced to match the old existing trim in the rest of the home, and the hardwood floors were installed to match what was in the living and dining room in the front of the house. Traditional light fixtures and handmade tiles round out the timeless details in the renovation. Overall, a neutral color palette allows the wood grain in the cabinetry and the beautiful colors and pattern in the new quartz countertops to shine. The homeowners gained much more usable storage – a large pantry, and cabinet function like the blind corner cabinet shelving system.

The Master Bathroom was the only room in this lovely Fredericksburg home that needed updating. As the second owners of this property, our clients were unhappy with the contractor grade selections that the original homeowners made in this room. They came to us with a few requests-- they wanted to expand the shower and remove an awkward column between the vanities as well as replace the tile in all the areas. We used Cambria Somerset quartz on the counters because it harmonized nicely with the colors in the mosaic tile accent used in the shower and on the face of the soaking tub. We chose the same Happy Floors Eternity tile in Gold but used various sizes for the floor and in the shower and on the tub deck, which contributed to the relaxing, spa-like atmosphere of the space. A rich and warm earth tone for the walls (Benjamin Moore’s Rich Clay Brown) was the final element in creating a beautiful Master Bathroom to complete an already lovely home.

This 1922 home’s kitchen was due for a functional and aesthetic uplift. The homeowner was unhappy with the layout, so a new layout was designed to streamline usage for modern day living. A chimney that was no longer used was removed in order to create a more open space. The design was created in order to create a warm and inviting space, as well as relate to the home’s traditional styling – old ranch base trim and casing where replaced to match the old existing trim in the rest of the home, and the hardwood floors were installed to match what was in the living and dining room in the front of the house. Traditional light fixtures and handmade tiles round out the timeless details in the renovation. Overall, a neutral color palette allows the wood grain in the cabinetry and the beautiful colors and pattern in the new quartz countertops to shine. The homeowners gained much more usable storage – a large pantry, and cabinet function like the blind corner cabinet shelving system.

The client was unhappy with her existing oak cabinet exteriors that were restained a number of years ago. Aside from the door style being outdated, the colour was washing/wearing off. The client chose to update the kitchen by refacing the upper cabinets in Stain White (solid colour) veneer and using Shaker style doors. The lower cabinets were refaced in Cherry veneer in a Milano stain with the same Shaker door. Drawer fronts are solid Cherry slab style. We also installed new Amerock 5 inch Brushed Nickel handles and Blum SoftClose hinges were used throughout. To increase the storage efficiency we added 8 new pot drawers to the lower cabinets left and right of the stove, and to the left of sink area. Finally, to add more functionality to the existing kitchen layout, a new 48 inch tall bookcase cabinet was added to replace the existing glass curio display case to the left of the sink.

This request came from a client who lives in the Newcastle district of Jesmond who was unhappy with the appearance of their Textured Porcelain floor tiles. The problem was that the Porcelain Tiles were grouted in whilst the underfloor heating was switched on. This resulted in the grout drying out quicker than expected and the tiler struggled to get the excess grout off the tiles. To rectify the problem, the tiler tried to get the dried grout off with acid, but it didn’t work, and the floor was left looking dark and dull. Unable to rectify the problem the client was left with a disappointing pale floor and had searched around the internet for a solution. Normally grout smears like these (aka Grout Haze) can be removed with an acidic product and Tile Doctor sell Grout Clean-up specially for this purpose. However, some grouts contain acid resistant polymers which need to broken down first. Fortunately, we have a solution for everything tile related and the system we use does not affect the main grout lines only the excess grout. I called in to do a site visit and having surveyed the problem I was confident it could resolved, I gave them a price for the work and agreed a date to return to do the job. My first task was to spray the tiles with Tile Doctor Remove and Go, this was left to soak into the tile for around ten minutes before being scrubbed in. Remove and Go is a coatings remover that is safe to use on tile and grout; normally we use it to remove old sealers but in this case I applied it to break down the polymers. To work the product into the tile I use a buffing machine fitted with a black scrubbing pad, the mechanical advantage this gives makes the job a lot quicker. Then the slurry generated is rinsed off with water and removed with a wet vacuum. The floor was then left to dry for 30 minutes. We were then able to remove the excess grout which was done by applying Tile Doctor Grout Clean-Up which I mentioned earlier. The process was the same, i.e. using the buffing machine and a wet vacuum to scrub the floor and extract the soil. The floor was rinsed with water to remove any trace of the products used and dried as much as possible using the wet vacuum. The underfloor heating really helped at this point to dry out the floor. Once the floor was fully dry including the grout lines a single thin coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow sealer was applied. The tiles were textured porcelain, so the dirt gets trapped into the textured surface if it is not sealed. We usually find one coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow is more than enough for this, anything that hadn’t soaked in after three to five minutes was then polished off with clean dry cloths. The client was very happy with the floor and pleased that the excess grout had been cleaned up and the floor looked as it should. Before leaving I recommended the use a pH Neutral tile cleaner for general cleaning such as Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner. There is no point sealing the tiles only to have it stripped off later with the use of a bleach based cleaner. Raf Barrett Tyneside Tile Doctor

The client, a single man in his thirties, was unhappy with his dark, closed-off home. He wanted a space for entertaining but lacked a functional kitchen and dining area. The master bathroom also felt cramped and outdated. To address these issues, we focused on creating an open-concept kitchen with a dedicated entertainment zone and a multifunctional island. We also updated the master bathroom with a walk-in shower and floating vanity. Additionally, we modernized the front entrance and mudroom with improved storage solutions. Key features of the renovation include: Open-concept kitchen: Removed the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create a more spacious and inviting area. Entertainment zone: Added a stylish bar area and a space for a large TV to create a dedicated space for socializing and watching TV. Multifunctional island: Designed a large island that can be used for food preparation, casual dining, and socializing. Ample storage: Incorporated custom cabinets and drawers to keep the kitchen organized and clutter-free. Master bathroom renovation: Installed a spacious walk-in shower and a floating vanity to create a more modern and spa-like feel. Front entrance and mudroom update: Modernized the entrance with updated fixtures and added clever storage solutions. The final result is a stylish and functional home that perfectly reflects the client's personality and lifestyle.

Details of a Limestone patio I was asked to clean at a property in the affluent neighbourhood of Alderly Edge, Cheshire, famous for being the home of choice for several Premier League footballers. In fact Alderly Edge, which lies not too far south of Manchester and is one of the most sought after places to live in the UK. My client was unhappy with the look of the patio had previously been sealed using a topical sealer, and this had left the tiles looking dull and lifeless. Limestone is a fantastic natural stone, popularly used for internal floors as well as patios, it comes in a variety of fantastic colours and shades. What my client really wanted for the patio was a wet look to bring out the character of the Limestone. So, my job was to strip the old sealer off and replace it will one that would achieve the desired finish. To strip the old sealer from the patio, I used a series of fine diamond encrusted burnishing pads which are applied in order from Coarse, Medium, Fine and then Super Fine. The coarse pad is effective at stripping off sealer without damaging the tile, and without the need to use a liquid product. The finer burnishing pads then rebuild the appearance of the Limestone to provide a nice deep shine. The new sealer of choice was Tile Doctor Colour Grow, which can be used on both internal and external natural stone surfaces. Colour Grow is an impregnating sealer which penetrates deep into the pores of the stone, providing both long-lasting resistance and durable protection against ingrained dirt and stains. As you can see from the photos, Colour Grow is also specially formulated to intensify the natural colours in the stone, and it really helped to bring the Limestone back to life again. The finished job left this patio with the wet, polished look my client had requested. She was very pleased with the result and amazed by just how quickly such a marked difference could be made. Another happy client! Steve Keary North Cheshire Tile Doctor

The client, a single man in his thirties, was unhappy with his dark, closed-off home. He wanted a space for entertaining but lacked a functional kitchen and dining area. The master bathroom also felt cramped and outdated. To address these issues, we focused on creating an open-concept kitchen with a dedicated entertainment zone and a multifunctional island. We also updated the master bathroom with a walk-in shower and floating vanity. Additionally, we modernized the front entrance and mudroom with improved storage solutions. Key features of the renovation include: Open-concept kitchen: Removed the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create a more spacious and inviting area. Entertainment zone: Added a stylish bar area and a space for a large TV to create a dedicated space for socializing and watching TV. Multifunctional island: Designed a large island that can be used for food preparation, casual dining, and socializing. Ample storage: Incorporated custom cabinets and drawers to keep the kitchen organized and clutter-free. Master bathroom renovation: Installed a spacious walk-in shower and a floating vanity to create a more modern and spa-like feel. Front entrance and mudroom update: Modernized the entrance with updated fixtures and added clever storage solutions. The final result is a stylish and functional home that perfectly reflects the client's personality and lifestyle.