Much of the non-native foliage, which can struggle in LA's climate, is placed in contained gardens, so it can easily be protected from the elements. Unlike accent grasses, succulents hold hydration and pose little danger when potted and well maintained. Ceramic pots will not burn. Like low foliage, they can be placed to keep embers from drifting against vulnerable areas of a home. This photo was taken in 2009, prior to the requirement for a Zone 0. We would not place chip or shredded mulch against a home. The Oregon Grape, while very heat and drought resistant, would be placed further from the home, outside of the ember resistant zone. Photo: Orly Olivier

Located on farmland in McLean, Virginia, the American Farmhouse balances the expected comforts of a new home with the bucolic beauty of an old farmhouse. The final site plan still has evidence showing parallel courses of the barn’s destiny. The house mass is broken and lowered so that the home can remain secondary to the monolithic barn structure. Earthy and elemental materials are selected for the home that reference the barn without directly mimicking it. Wooden members found inside the barn and from other barns bridge ceilings and are used in floors along with rustic slate adding to a sense of simplicity to the farmhouse design. The age and patina of the barn is reflected in the house’s textural use of board and batten and field stone layered similar to stone foundations. The original development plan was to demolish the existing barn and construct three suburban homes. Part of an endangered breed, as one of the few remaining barns in the area, it was originally viewed as a challenge in a luxury home construction with several difficulties posed to the impending project: it would be expensive to renovate, vulnerable to demolition, and threatened by urban sprawl. However, instead of trying to alter or destroy the barn, the structure was fully embraced into the traditional architecture project as a centerpiece and was used as the inspiration for the home. The new house was sited parallel to the barn so that views to the barn gable were accessible.

Located on farmland in McLean, Virginia, the American Farmhouse balances the expected comforts of a new home with the bucolic beauty of an old farmhouse. The final site plan still has evidence showing parallel courses of the barn’s destiny. The house mass is broken and lowered so that the home can remain secondary to the monolithic barn structure. Earthy and elemental materials are selected for the home that reference the barn without directly mimicking it. Wooden members found inside the barn and from other barns bridge ceilings and are used in floors along with rustic slate adding to a sense of simplicity to the farmhouse design. The age and patina of the barn is reflected in the house’s textural use of board and batten and field stone layered similar to stone foundations. The original development plan was to demolish the existing barn and construct three suburban homes. Part of an endangered breed, as one of the few remaining barns in the area, it was originally viewed as a challenge in a luxury home construction with several difficulties posed to the impending project: it would be expensive to renovate, vulnerable to demolition, and threatened by urban sprawl. However, instead of trying to alter or destroy the barn, the structure was fully embraced into the traditional architecture project as a centerpiece and was used as the inspiration for the home. The new house was sited parallel to the barn so that views to the barn gable were accessible.

David Kiljanowicz
Example of a trendy kitchen design in New York

Inspired by the movie Chimpanzee, the artwork is a humble attempt to bring focus on the beauty and the vulnerability on this animal.
Example of a minimalist home office design in San Francisco

Located on farmland in McLean, Virginia, the American Farmhouse balances the expected comforts of a new home with the bucolic beauty of an old farmhouse. The final site plan still has evidence showing parallel courses of the barn’s destiny. The house mass is broken and lowered so that the home can remain secondary to the monolithic barn structure. Earthy and elemental materials are selected for the home that reference the barn without directly mimicking it. Wooden members found inside the barn and from other barns bridge ceilings and are used in floors along with rustic slate adding to a sense of simplicity to the farmhouse design. The age and patina of the barn is reflected in the house’s textural use of board and batten and field stone layered similar to stone foundations. The original development plan was to demolish the existing barn and construct three suburban homes. Part of an endangered breed, as one of the few remaining barns in the area, it was originally viewed as a challenge in a luxury home construction with several difficulties posed to the impending project: it would be expensive to renovate, vulnerable to demolition, and threatened by urban sprawl. However, instead of trying to alter or destroy the barn, the structure was fully embraced into the traditional architecture project as a centerpiece and was used as the inspiration for the home. The new house was sited parallel to the barn so that views to the barn gable were accessible.

Inspired by the movie Chimpanzee, the artwork is a humble attempt to bring focus on the beauty and the vulnerability on this animal.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern open concept family room remodel in San Francisco

We will reconfigure floor plans, move walls, fixtures and utilities, to increase floor area and storage space. A bathroom remodeling project is also the perfect chance to upgrade the plumbing systems, fix weak water pressure, or replace leaky faucets. Heat, moisture, and heavy use make the bathroom especially vulnerable to deterioration and structural damage, high-quality materials and exacting craftsmanship are imperative.

Enjoy incredibly effective hurricane protection and the convenience of an electronically controlled or manually operated rolling hurricane screen system. Protecting you, your family and your home even when you are not there, this highly innovative and advanced design is like having a bulletproof vest for the vulnerable openings of your home. Additionally, the Storm Catcher Rolling Screen can cover large openings while the cutting-edge mesh structure filters in light, allowing you to see out.

Pro-Tile & Marble, Inc. Tile Backsplash A tile backsplash is a tile wall design that is usually located in high-heat or high-moisture areas in your home, like a kitchen or bathroom. This functional and decorative accent protects vulnerable areas from moisture and staining. Call today 904-731-6471

The Ubuntu Center provides pediatric HIV testing and treatment, counseling, education, and community empowerment. The design is focused on de-stigmatization and normalization of HIV testing and treatment. It provides access to a state-of-the-art facility in a beleaguered post-apartheid community. The design is a model for sustainable development that begins with environment and extends to the preservation of life. Funded globally and operated locally, Ubuntu reflects a world defined by unprecedented global connection and the resurgence of local, community based organization. Ubuntu center brings state of the art services to vulnerable children by providing centrally located, free and accessible social services in a single facility. It comprises a multi-purpose hall for education, concerts and shelter when needed; an empowerment wing with career guidance and computer centre, and a fully equipped Pediatric HIV /TB testing and counseling clinic with 47,691 people reached through community HIV prevention outreach. Ubuntu’s organic rooftop garden, together with Ubuntu’s neighborhood gardens feed 2,245 students daily. It provides a timely and practical template for sustainability on a societal as well as an environmental level. Ubuntu has been adopted by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR), and has become a model of success for the Clinton Global initiative, the Kresge foundation, and countless individual supporters.

Tucked behind a quiet street in Venice, this home faced a vulnerable alley elevation with several potential footholds. The owner wanted to stop opportunistic access without changing the minimalist black façade. We capped the fence runs with two complementary profiles: the Ninja Deterrent™ GIZAGIZA Heart along the corner spans for a crisp, graphic silhouette, and Classic short Black Dual-bladed along the bamboo side to create secure continuity where foliage meets the wall. The result is a clean, continuous line that reads like a slim architectural cap from a distance—yet removes hand purchase up close. The homeowner loves that security improved without sacrificing curb appeal.

Tucked behind a quiet street in Venice, this home faced a vulnerable alley elevation with several potential footholds. The owner wanted to stop opportunistic access without changing the minimalist black façade. We capped the fence runs with two complementary profiles: the Ninja Deterrent™ GIZAGIZA Heart along the corner spans for a crisp, graphic silhouette, and Classic short Black Dual-bladed along the bamboo side to create secure continuity where foliage meets the wall. The result is a clean, continuous line that reads like a slim architectural cap from a distance—yet removes hand purchase up close. The homeowner loves that security improved without sacrificing curb appeal.

Has your hardwood floors finish worn off in many areas, especially high traffic areas of your home such as hallways, entry ways and kitchens; These high traffic areas of your home are particularly important to keep maintained. If and when the finish has worn away in areas like entryways or kitchens where the impeding threat of water/moisture is present, the hardwood is then vulnerable to potential damage. You always want to keep a watchful eye on areas of your home that have a lot of foot traffic. If you notice that in your kitchen, where you stand to do dishes, or the entryway, where you first walk into your home, show signs of wear in the finish, this might be a good time to start thinking about refinishing. Even if you choose not to go through the entire sanding and refinishing process, a screening and recoating of polyurethane is a great option. Maintaining the integrity of the finish will ultimately give your hardwood floors the longest lifespan.

Tucked behind a quiet street in Venice, this home faced a vulnerable alley elevation with several potential footholds. The owner wanted to stop opportunistic access without changing the minimalist black façade. We capped the fence runs with two complementary profiles: the Ninja Deterrent™ GIZAGIZA Heart along the corner spans for a crisp, graphic silhouette, and Classic short Black Dual-bladed along the bamboo side to create secure continuity where foliage meets the wall. The result is a clean, continuous line that reads like a slim architectural cap from a distance—yet removes hand purchase up close. The homeowner loves that security improved without sacrificing curb appeal.

A Sand Ceremony is a symbol of the union of two individuals, their unique strength, vulnerabilities, histories and families. This sand ceremony box, named Homok Sabbia, was a very special wedding gift for a Hungarian woman and her Italian fiancé. It represents the uniting of their origins, cultures and languages as they combined sand (Homok) from her home garden in Hungary and sand (Sabbia) from the seaside in Italy, during their wedding ceremony. The most beautiful and striking section of the heart wood was selected to create the box; an area with a grain structure that radiated up and out from the bottom, similar to a bouquet of vibrant flowers. The base was created with the natural edge of the walnut sap wood, or new growth, which has a different color and grain structure than the heart wood, the oldest growth. While cut from the same slap of Claro walnut, the two different sections, the base and the box, have their own unique beauty and striking features. The richness of the dark wood and intricate grain patterns were balanced with the addition of pure and striking white Carrara marble from Italy. The central marble heart was hand cut, sanded, polished and then secured in the heart shaped space that had been gently carved out of the glass front. A marble vein was inserted in the base and the narrow lid was also carved out of marble to harmoniously bring the whole piece together. When it arrived in Hungary, the bride to-be wrote us ““It’s sooooo beautiful! Perfect! I’m so happy, I like it more than I imagined!”

The Vancouver Downtown East Side Women's Centre required a proper space to store and offer clothing and accessories to vulnerable women in need. We were honoured to design and install this full walk-in closet for them.

The photos on this page are of a Sandstone Kitchen floor at a house in the High Green suburb of Sheffield. The Sandstone tiles looked grubby and needed some love and attention. Our client was getting fed up trying to keep the stone clean, particularly around the kitchen area where cleaning didn’t seem to make much. You can see how dirty it had become on the before picture below, this is stark contrast to the middle of the of the kitchen where the portable kitchen island normally sits. I went to the property to get a better look at the problem floor and carried out a small test clean to see which products and methods would have the best impact. The patch came up really clean without much difficulty, so I was confident on being able to restore its appearance. It was clear to me the original protective sealer had worn off and dirt had become ingrained in the pores of the stone where it was proving difficult to remove. My client was very encouraged by the test clean initial result and agreed to go ahead with the quote. We arranged a suitable time to carry out the work on a day when the family would be out of the way. I started by taping up the area to make sure the skirting and woodwork were protected from splashing. Once done a strong dilution of Tile Doctor Pro-Clean was sprayed onto Sandstone tile and grout. It was left to dwell for approximately ten minutes to help break down all the grime and dirt and was then worked into the stone using a rotary floor machine fitted with a stiff bristled brush. This method totally transformed the dull sandstone, the stunning sandstone colours started to leap out and I could see the stone was well on its way to being transformed. The floor was then rinsed several times with water and the now soiled cleaning solution carefully removed with an industrial wet vacuum. With the floor clean I inspected all the tiles and repeated the process until I was happy the floor was total clean. I should mention It’s not always this easy to clean a stone floor and quite often I find myself having to utilise all sorts of products and methods before I’m totally satisfied it’s as clean as it could possibly be. With the cleaning done I left the floor to dry out overnight aided with heaters and air blowers. I returned to seal the floor the next day checking first that the stone was dry with a damp meter. Leaving the blowers on overnight had helped and the readings I took from the floor confirmed it was now ready for sealing. Earlier I had discussed the different types of sealer available with my clients and they had chosen to have the floor sealed with Tile Doctor Seal & Go. This works really well on Sandstone, enhancing its appearance, improving colour and of course adding protection to the stone to prevent grime and dirt stuck in the pores of the stone. Several coats were applied until I could see if was fully sealed and the right level of finish had been achieved. Sealing a floor can take some time as you need to allow each coat to dry before applying the next. Once done the floor looked meticulously clean and the new sealer had added a lovely subtle sheen to the stone. My client was very please with the transformation and left the following feedback. ‘Very professional approach, friendly, and offered great advice throughout the job. Very pleased with the finish Cheers Matt we will see you again’ One of the problems we find with many homeowners is that for cleaning they use strong bleach-based cleaning product on their sealed tiles, and this actually strips off the sealer leaving the stone vulnerable to ingrained dirt. As a result, Tile Doctor has developed Tile Doctor Neutral Tile Cleaner, it is pH neutral and gentle enough for everyday use without affecting the sealer. Matthew Lovett South Yorkshire Tile Doctor

Stains? Cracks? Our stucco painting service has got your home covered. Our Liqua-Wrap paint for stucco delivers all the things that you would want from brand-new stucco: no more cracks or stains, protection against water and the elements and of course, an amazing new look. Oh, and without the price tag. Hairline cracks don’t just make your stucco look old, they can leave your home vulnerable to water infiltration that can lead to mold and rot behind your stucco walls. Plan your defence with a coating that bridges hairline cracks and wraps your home in waterproofing colour coat. Give us a call to book your free in-home consultation! (604) 260-4525