This kitchen floor in a Menlo Park condo was a straightforward job. We laid one-by-two-foot tiles in a running-bond (subway) pattern, running along the long axis of the kitchen. The backer was already installed when we arrived, so we went straight to layout and setting. The tile is in a “Delorean Gray,” a color that’s
Most of our jobs have a narrow scope. The homeowner already has a window in mind, has bought the materials, and needs someone to install them. We consult on design too, but on maybe a third of our jobs or fewer. This San Ramon condo was different. A realtor introduced us to the homeowner, who
I wanted this Laurel District backsplash to be as close to perfect as possible, and no detail was overlooked. The tiles were beautiful: handmade, with varying saturation from piece to piece and a mirrored back that gives them a very clean, bright look. They look amazing over the butcher-block countertop, where the warm wood plays
Kitchen Backsplash, Laurel District, September 2024 Read More »
This was a great project. Saltillo tiles are traditional handmade clay tiles from Mexico, formed by hand in molds, so no two are alike. That character is what makes them beautiful, and also what makes them a lot of work before they can even go down. Saltillo is baked clay, and it’s very porous. Left
Laurel District Oakland Saltillo Tile ‘Mudroom’, 2024 Read More »
This Oakland fireplace was a patchwork. The surround was made of separate panels that didn’t sit on the same plane: some stood proud, some were recessed, and the edges between them never lined up. It made the whole wall look unfinished, as if the fireplace had been assembled from leftovers. You can see how it
This Walnut Creek home had two problems that often turn out to be related: cracked travertine tiles and a squeaky floor. Why tile cracks, and why floors squeak Tile and stone are rigid. They don’t bend, so when the floor beneath them moves, they crack. A squeak is usually a sign of that same movement:
Walnut Creek Squeaky Floor And Travertine Repair, August, 2024 Read More »
