South Cypress

Oct 2014

Richard wanted to replace the outdated carpet in his Garret Park homes basement with something more modern and durable. To achieve the desired look, he turned to South Cypress to find the flooring that was right for him. The previous carpet was a light beige, but Richard wanted a medium to dark shade of brown with flecks of grey to pair with the greyish-green wall color. Rick wasnt afraid to use a darker color for the flooring in this basement because the room gets a lot of natural light from the windows. Rick chose to go with the Storka Rustic 6x 24 Dark Leather from SouthCypress.com. This beautiful wood look porcelain tile cleans up the space and gives a good contrast to the lighter walls. Rick also installed an insulated subfloor to help protect against moisture accumulation due to differences in temperature between the concrete subfloor and the warmer air. The dark shades of this wood look tile create a rustic feel while remaining modern. Rick says that he loves the textured nature and the shade variations of the tile, as well as its durability. It completely changes the feel of the space from outdated and bland to new and stylish! Rick also knocked down the drywall that encased the stairwell in the basement. By putting in an open staircase, Rick maximized the space available in the basement. Replacing the staircase really opened the room up. It looks much less cramped now! Rick installed columns along the sides of the stairwell that add a nice aesthetic touch to the space. The new style is a massive improvement on the original basement! For anyone considering a similar project, Rick recommends ordering several samples to be sure that the tile you choose is the one that you love. The small cost of samples is well worth it in the end and is much cheaper than replacing a large tile floor a few years later!

Garrett Park, MD

Jul 2014

Roger has been a car lover for years, but he wanted a unique and professional garage that would really showcase his vehicles in a distinctive way. Roger had an 1,800 square foot garage with concrete flooring that he wanted to transform into an upscale, professional garage. He turned to South Cypress products to help bring his vision for the space to life. By doing thorough research prior to starting his project, he found that many similar garage projects ended with cracked or delaminated tiles due to incorrect products or installation. To avoid these problems, he made sure to account for the floor loads from cars, jacks, and other tools in the garage. In a project like this, the floor preparation prior to installation is extremely important. Roger worked closely with Schluter to understand the necessary underlayment and installment methods required to end up with a professional result. Here we see the Schluter Ditra Uncoupling Membrane that he used. This membrane layer is extremely important because it protects the tiles from movement of the concrete floor while also providing a waterproofing layer to prevent water penetration. One of the things that was stressed to Roger was 100% coverage of the thin-set to both the tile and the floor surface is essential. This would ensure that there are no hollow spots that could create a weakness in the tile. The finished project! Roger used Storka 24 x 24 Lusso Nero and Bianco unpolished tiles to create his auto racing inspired checkerboard floor. These tiles give the floor a clean, professional look, and they really complement the vehicles well. To further account for the unique changes in pressure and temperature that a garage floor may face, Roger placed expansion joints throughout the space. These joints are a must-have for a project of this size. Being a garage floor, Roger had to account for the possibility of spillage of various fluids including oil. Roger chose premium grade MAPEI Kerapoxy due to its stain proof and chemical-resistant formula. It also provides the strength necessary for this environment. A unique feature of Rogers renovated garage is the drainage system. While most of the floor is covered in 24 x 24 tile, Roger creatively used mosaic tile to create the gradient necessary for the floor to drain properly. He also worked with a metal fabricator to make stainless steel collars that bring the drains flush with the floor. The spacious garage gives Roger ample room to park and work on multiple cars. Roger finished off the space with automobile logo lighted signs along with stainless steel cabinets and equipment. Roger offers this advice to anyone considering a similar projects: Do your own research so you can work with the suppliers and the installation contractor. There are not many contractors that have experience with tile installations in garages. The installer does not necessarily need to have experience with installing tile on garage floors but they do need to be willing to listen and learn what it takes for a successful project.

Keswick, VA

Jul 2014

When the owners of the Savvy Salon and Day Spa, Lauren and Pat, were getting ready to replace the furniture in the salon, they decided that it was a good time to refresh the entire space with new paint, flooring, and furnishings as well. They turned to Kimber from Kimber By Design to help create a luxurious new interior for the space. The previous design featured dark blue and brown accents, but they wanted to lighten up the space a bit. The first step in redesigning the space was to add new lighting and flooring. When Lauren saw Barn Wood Ceramic wood-look tile on Pinterest, she immediately knew that she had to have that flooring in her salon! This flooring has beautiful variation in the wood pattern that makes it look incredibly realistic, and the porcelain makes cleanup a breeze! The herringbone pattern also really draws your eyes through the space. The finished space looks absolutely incredible! Kimbers addition of chandeliers and lighter colors really opens up the space. She also tied the colors together with the floor and furnishings beautifully. Lauren says that the whole color palette was inspired by the floor tile.

Cornelius, NC

Jun 2014

When Nat bought his condo in Redmond, Washington, the kitchen was original to the complex and resembled a long, enclosed ships galley built in the 1980s. He wanted to give the condo a personal and unique touch and also create an open feel that would allow guest to interact more easily in the space. Nat started construction by marking the areas to remove and then attacking the sheetrock with sledgehammers.The wall wasnt load bearing, but it did house electrical wiring that they had to be cautious of. After demolition was complete and the space was cleaned, Nat and his contractor were able to start patching sheetrock and installing his new granite countertops, cabinets, and backsplash. The kitchen now feels much larger after reconstructing it to an open layout, which will allow guest to interact more easily in the entire space. To learn a little more about Nats renovation, we asked him a few questions. Did you use a designer or architect for your project? I designed the entire kitchen with support from the contractor, including some unusual design features and the unique tile backsplash. Your backsplash has a beautiful design that was achieved by cutting tiles to create the custom pattern. What inspired the design for your backsplash and the kitchen? Lightning and stretching towards the sky (or skylights in my case) and warmth, bright wood and the sun.

Redmond, WA

Apr 2014

When Rita wanted to create her ideal master bathroom in her home, she chose to renovate the unused attic space that was attached to her bedroom. In order to transform this unused storage area into a sleek, contemporary bathroom, a lot of work would need to be done. Complete explanation for this project can be found our blog: http://renovation1500.com/attic-to-master-bath-transformation/

Ware Neck, VA

May 2013

When Robert was contracted to remodel this Washington D.C. bathroom, it hadnt seen updating since its construction. The bathroom had all of the original features including the porcelain tub, peach shower tile, and beige vanity and floor tile.

McLean, VA