HOME FEATURES Contexual modern design with contemporary Santa Fe–style elements Luxuriously open floor plan Stunning chef’s kitchen perfect for entertaining Gracious indoor/outdoor living with views of the Sangres

If “desert retro” could be translated as a design style, this MCM-inspired kitchen would be it. Our goal for these clients — a young couple who recently relocated to the Pittsburgh-area from Phoenix, AZ — was to bring a touch of the sunny Sonoran into their new home. This subdued, sun-bleached palette feels both vibrant and earthy. A dramatic, shifting landscape that comes alive with the day’s changing light. Large format terrazzo tiles ground the space with muted, dusty green, ochre and amber. A nod to the tough skins of cacti, agave, and creosote bushes. A mixed finish glass tile backsplash adds pale yellow accents found in parched sand dunes. Three different cabinet finishes form our rocky canyons. Deep brown and clay purple hues like ancient cliff faces stained by manganese and iron oxide. Washed out skies reflecting warm white light. Golden brass details throughout gleam like the desert sun. By removing a wall in between the kitchen and dining room, we were able to add a working peninsula and pull the range out of the corner. This change opened up the space, solving layout and storage puzzles for our clients — without making the kitchen feel cold or contemporary. Smooth, slab-style cabinet faces paired with streamlined appliances and fixtures keep things low maintenance.

No space for a full laundry room? No problem! Hidden by closet doors, this fully functional laundry area is sleek and modern.
Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall laundry closet remodel in San Francisco with a stacked washer/dryer, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets and beige walls

Living room library - rustic open concept medium tone wood floor living room library idea in Denver with white walls, a standard fireplace and a brick fireplace

Holger Obehaus Photography LLC
Inspiration for a coastal u-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen remodel in Charleston with beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, multicolored backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Valerie Wilcox
Example of a large trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen design in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, stone slab backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Inspiration for a transitional laundry room remodel in Toronto with shaker cabinets and blue cabinets

Amy Bartlam Photographer
Example of a small arts and crafts 3/4 white tile and ceramic tile white floor bathroom design in Los Angeles with white cabinets, white walls, a pedestal sink, glass countertops, white countertops and shaker cabinets

Remodel by Cornerstone Construction Services LLC Interior Design by Maison Inc. David Papazian Photography
Example of a mid-sized 1950s galley laundry room design in Portland with flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops and a side-by-side washer/dryer

Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls, we install ponds, water features and low maintenance water gardens. Renovation, Repair and Maintenance are our specialties. Check out our website http://www.acornponds.com and give us a call 585.442.6373. Ecosystem Pond Maintenace, Spring Pond or Water Garden Maintenance. Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Rochester, Monroe County NY. 585-442-6373 Contact us now to get on our spring pond maintenance schedule, or Please click here: http://www.acornponds.com/spring-maintenance.html Spring Pond Maintenance, what should water garden and pond owners be doing in the spring? In general it is alway a good idea to do a complete pond clean out in the spring. Here in Monroe County, Rochester NY the winters can be harsh and we recommend to shut down the pond so there are no surprises in the spring. Early spring is the best time to perform your pond clean out ( before the beneficial bacteria become re-established). Once completed, you can enjoy your pond for the rest of the season with very little maintenance. Keep your pond looking good and your fish healthy with regular pond clean out and maintenance in the spring. First, drain the pond down to a few inches and pump some of the water into a storage tank for the fish. Now, we can catch the fish more easily, place them in the tank and cover them up. Next, drain the pond down completely and remove all solids such as leaves and twigs. Take out all the filter media in the biofalls and skimmer. Once removed we then shop-vac out the biofalls and skimmer. Pond Maintenance NY, Water Feature Maintenance, Pond Algae, Green Water Solutions Monroe County Rochester NY Pond Maintenance NY, Pond Cleaning NY, Koi and Fish Pond Cleaning and Maintenance NY by Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls of Rochester NY in, NY, Install Pond Skimmer, Install Pond Biofalls, Rochester NY, New York, Pond cleaning service Rochester NY, clean out ponds Rochester NY, Water Feature Service Rochester NY, algae control Rochester NY. Algae problems, algae solutions, Fixing Algae in Fish Ponds, Water features NY, Service NY, Power wash landscape ponds Rochester NY, New York Pond Maintenance Rochester NY, Pond washing Rochester NY, Waterfalls Rochester NY, Ponds Rochester NY, pond design in Rochester NY, water garden service Rochester NY, backyard pond maintenance Rochester NY, pond Rochester NY, Water Garden Feature service Rochester NY, waterfall Rochester NY, Pond construction Rochester NY, pond installation Rochester NY, Pondless waterfalls Rochester NY, pond building or Replace Rochester NY, landscape ponds Rochester NY, pond plants Rochester NY, pond ecosystem Rochester NY, pond filtration Rochester NY, Pond Fish Rochester NY, koi ponds Rochester NY, pond less waterfalls, pond waterfalls, watergarden design in Fairport, Webster, Brighton, Spencerport, Pittsford, Repair or Repairs Rochester NY. Fix or Fixes Rochester NY, Re-do Rochester NY, Henrietta NY, Victor, Greece, Gates, East Rochester, Penfield, Pond less waterfalls Rochester NY Monroe County, Rain Water Collection Systems Rochester NY, Permeable Pavers Rochester NY, Rain Water Harvest Systems Rochester NY, Sustainable Gardens Rochester NY, Certified Aquascape Contractor of New York, Pond Designer

Tim Bibb
Inspiration for a southwestern full sun front yard driveway in Phoenix.

Entryway - mid-sized traditional entryway idea in Chicago

Inspiration for a patio remodel in San Francisco

Kitchen with pantry behind screen door
Kitchen - country light wood floor kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Cincinnati with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

Kitchen - coastal u-shaped kitchen idea in Los Angeles with a single-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and white countertops

Large farmhouse light wood floor dining room photo in Charlotte with white walls and a standard fireplace

We were contacted by a customer in West Kirby who needed help renovating a Victorian tiled hallway in a house they had just purchased. Kirby is a desirable seaside location North of Heswall that expanded with the arrival of the railway in 1848. The railway brought a demand for property and so it’s not unusual to find housing stock in this area dating back to the Victorian era. The Victorian tiles at this property appear to have been neglected by the previous owner and were now looking very dull and marked by paint from decorating; all the colours looked washed out and the floor was now looking very unappealing. The good news however is that this problem is not uncommon and with a deep clean and a fresh sealer applied it can be transformed. I gave the owner a quote which was accepted a date agreed for my return to do the work. On the first day the floor was sprayed with a neat solution of Tile Doctor Remove and Go which is a powerful alkaline cleaning and stripping agent used to remove old seals and paint. The solution was left to dwell for about twenty minutes so it could soak in and get to work. It was then scrubbed into the tiles using a coarse 200-grit pad fitted to a heavy buffing machine. Water was then added to the floor for lubrication and the soils released from the pores of the tile during scrubbing was removed by with a wet vacuum. To treat the stubborn paint stains and remains of what I suspect was carpet adhesive a hand scraper and wire brush was used, this was made easier by the Remove and Go which had softened the paint etc. The next stage was to give the Victorian tiles a mild acid wash using Acid Gel which is applied to the floor, scrubbed in, and rinsed off with a little water then extracted using the wet vacuum. We always recommend an acid wash for old floors like these as it will counter any efflorescent salts resident in the tiles and helps to remove other mineral contaminates and old grout that can mask the true beauty of the tiles. I left the tiles to dry out for two days before returning to apply the sealer, first checking it was dry by testing for moisture in various places with an electronic damp tester. It’s not a good idea to apply a sealer to a damp floor so we always check first. Satisfied the floor was dry, I started applying a coat of Tile Doctor Colour Grow which is a colour enhancing impregnating sealer that helps to bring out the true colours in the tile. This was allowed to dry for thirty minutes and then followed up five coats of Tile Doctor Seal and Go Extra which is a breathable sealer that leaves a lovely satin finish and builds on the protection. Once done the Victorian hallway tiles looked so much cleaner and healthier. It was quite a transformation and the new sealer had given the floor a nice low sheen shine which the customer was very happy with. For aftercare cleaning I left them with a bottle of Tile Doctor Neutral Cleaner which is specially formulated for cleaning sealed tiles. We don’t recommend tile cleaning products you find on supermarket shelves as the are usually too strong and can strip a sealer off the floor prematurely. If your choosing another product to clean your floor always read the label to make sure its compatible. Andrew Robb Merseyside Tile Doctor

photography by Rob Karosis
Example of a large classic l-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen design in Portland Maine with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash and stainless steel appliances