In This Issue:
Home Building Tips: Tile Care
I've just had new tile installed as part of my renovation. What can I do to protect it and keep it looking as great as it does now?
Regardless of whether your tile finish is polished, textured or honed, there are some simple steps to prevent damage to the finish from wear or staining. The best way to protect your stone is to seal it, preferably with a water-based sealer that provides a no sheen, natural look and high stain protection. When selecting a sealer, you should notice the type of warranty that it provides. Investing in a higher warranty sealer, can prove cost effective and save you the time involved in additional applications. Although most tiles have a glaze or protective coating baked in, tile and grout still need to be sealed. Grout is extremely porous and can become easily stained with mildew, soap scum and hard water deposits. To help eliminate build up, a grout sealer should be applied after the tile is set. One recommendation is to seal any type of crackle-style tile before the installation. During the job, dirt and grout can get into the cracks on the tile. Sealing the tile before hand will help eliminate this. The last step in preserving your stone and tile is the cleaning process. Harsh cleaners containing bleach or acid, such as water and vinegar solution, should never be used. Acids will cause grout to deteriorate and colored grout will loose pigmentation. In order to avoid staining and wear, acids like wine, carbonated beverages, and fruit juices should be cleaned up immediately. These elements can eventually eat away the surface of the sealer and stone. As one of Pippin Home Design's preferred vendors, we are happy to offer the products, experience and expertise that you need at Renaissance Tile & Bath, Inc. Please call one of our Design Consultants or visit us online for more information.
Submitted by: Amanda Manganaro, Renaissance Tile & Bath, Inc. Charlotte, NC (704) 372-1575 amanganaro@rentile.com www.renaissancetileandbath.com
Visit Renaissance Tile & Bath's virtual showroom now...
Visit Our Professional Organizations
|
|
This month's newsletter offers a wealth of information. With more details on Feng-Shui from our new "Healing Home" column, expert advice from Renaissance Tile, a glimpse at another custom home new on our website and a simple explanation of an important aspect of Renovation Design that is often overlooked, I hope you find information to help you or someone you know!
- Jennifer B. Pippin, CPBD; Owner, Pippin Home Designs, Inc.
|
Pippin's Projects: The Hillside
 After purchasing a quiet, wooded lot just outside of the village of Davidson, NC, Brian and Anne Taylor were ready to build their dream home. While the location was convenient and peaceful, the sloping hillside left them with a small building envelope. So, the Taylors met with Jennifer Pippin to discuss the options for making the most of the lot and the home they wanted built there.
In search of a traditional brick exterior and fine interior details, the Taylors sought to develop a design that was comfortable, yet classy. Pippin helped guide the couple through the custom design process, and Artisan Custom Homes built the home. The result is a showcase of classic design elements and the modern style and comfort of a truly custom home.
Visit the Taylor Residence... »
|
|
Designing Your Home: Do I Really Need "As Built Drawings"?
After discussing last month the importance and value of a site visit for your renovation, the next question that many homeowners ask involves the process of designing the renovation. Any experienced builder or designer will recognize that a successful renovation begins with good planning, so what does that mean to you?
Well, after determining the objectives of a project, the next step is to develop an accurate set of "As-Built" plans on computer. These drawings are an accurate representation of the existing construction and serve as the basis for all renovation or addition designs. In simple terms, you need to show what is already there in order to accurately re-develop that space in the new design and assure that the new areas properly tie into the existing conditions.
See the results of some of our professional renovation designs... »
|
|
From Jenny's Design Board: A Study in Classical Architecture
 After nearly a year of classes held across the Southeast, Jennifer Pippin has been awarded a Certificate in Classical Architecture by The Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America in New York. Just another one of her growing list of credentials, the certification involved a series of assignments on classical architecture and the development of an actual project.
Selecting the Italianate style to research, study and develop for her project, Pippin's design won rave reviews at the final class held in Williamsburg, VA last weekend.
Click here to learn more about the American Institute of Building Design. »
|
|
The Healing Home: Does my home have "good Feng-Shui"?
 "Good Feng- Shui" is determined by how you feel in your home. Do you look forward to coming home at the end of a stressful day? Does your home welcome you, invite you in to relax and sit a spell, or are you overwhelmed with all the "stuff" that hits you on all levels? Are there areas in your home you just don't want to think about for one reason or another? Also, how do you feel walking into your workspace? These are questions a feng shui consultant will ask, because it's all about you and how you relate to the spaces in which you live and work. It's very important that the spaces where we spend the most time bring us contentment.
I think we've all walked into a room where there's been an argument, and we've felt the tension; like the phrase, "the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife." That's heavy, negative chi you're experiencing, and whether you notice it consciously or not, it is definitely affecting your well-being. Now imagine yourself living in that kind of environment-bad feng shui.
The goal of feng shui is to bring negative, stagnant or dull energies back into balance, to create a lively and enriching environment to have health, wealth, and success in your life.
- Valerie DeLong, Feng Shui Concepts 704-502-8814 valdelong@earthlink.net
Visit a Feng Shui professional... »
| |
Print This Page
