As an architect, I have a list of words saved on my desktop that I am conscious can sound confusing to the client! One day I hope to write a little archi-dictionary to help clients work out what we mean when we use so many of the words that seem natural to us! 'Form', 'honest materials', 'warmth', 'documentation', 'draft', 'sketch plan', 'detail', 'mass', 'spine', 'circulation', 'water harvesting', 'floating', 'dynamic', 'heavy', 'celebrate'... etc.

Our apartment is perfect for my partner and I as we love monochrome, soft colours and grey! The owners before us loved the red and black combo so added a HUGE red glass panel stuck onto the black caesarstone splashback as a feature. They did something similar in the bathroom over marble (gasp!) and in the study they replaced the inbuilt black wooden desk with red wood laminate. As it is super expensive to replace marble and caeserstone it is something we can't do right now and have to live with it. I tend to block it out of my mind... It's horrid.

Hi Cath The 3 quotes you have are from a builder and 2 renovating companies? As we said previously, the main thing to focus on is that now you know some of the requirements, you are really faced with deciding between a cosmetic renovation and a rework of the entire layout. Each has its (layout) advantages and (cost) disadvantages. The real issue here is which option do you actually want (and fits within the budget) for your project? Once you decide that you can explore all your options and then you can move forward. Regarding your comments about the quotes, the 2nd and 3rd quotes appear to be cosmetic because they are not moving plumbing. That's always going to be cheaper. Just because they are not quoting on relocating things though doesn't make them cheaper... Apple vs apples.... Regarding conflicting comments about 'weakening the slab', it depends on what type of slab you have. If it is eg a Melbourne waffle/raft slab then it needs a review of the original drawings and an engineer detail/ certification that cutting it is ok.... neither of which is a very big undertaking. If it is a simple 100mm slab then it is no big deal to sort. The reality for you in this is that at the moment you are on a learning curve, getting a little bit of info from each of the people you have spoken to. Without knowing what state you are in and what type of home you have then they could conceivably all be telling you the truth. Yes, if you need to alter the plumbing then you obviously need to deal with the slab. Yes if you want to have a walk in shower you need to lower the plumbing as we said earlier and it means you need to deal with the slab to do so. Yes if you have a waffle slab you need to allow for it to be cut and reinforced properly. You may well need to reinforce the slab, and any modifications to it may cost, hence your builders quote taking that into account. Whether you can fit that in the budget will determine whether you can change the layout or not, and whether you do the plumbing. If not then a cosmetic reno will be limited to tiling at the same heights by either replacing the base with screed to create fall as one has suggested or tiling over another base ( I wouldn't do this). Ultimately if reworking the layout blows the budget then many people here will be able to suggest amazing cosmetic changes to create the wow factor your job deserves. Your next step is to make the decision on which way you want to go so that the Houzzers here can give you lots more ideas... Cheers

Does your marble floor give you headaches? Today as a cleaning company we will give you practical advice, simple care that following them constantly will prevent you from having bad times and unnecessary expenses on the floor surface of your spaces. The marble floor is formed by a natural and strong limestone rock from different mountains worldwide. Marble is very popular in Australia. Post in trend: How to save flooded wooden floors If you are in Melbourne and you find yourself involved in some domestic trouble regarding the cleaning of these surfaces, you can count on our team of cleaning professionals. However, our aim is to help you and advise you on the care of the marble floor, in order to ensure that its useful life is satisfactory for you. Marble floors provide elegance, aesthetic design, light, and shine to any space in which it is installed. It is highly recommended to coat walls and floors in bathroom and kitchen areas that are constantly in contact with moisture. Although the marble floor is a resistant material, it is necessary to comply with certain basic care when cleaning it and we will describe them below. Prevents agglomeration of liquids on a marble floor Marble is ‌resistant to liquids, but like any other surface, it has its limits‌. In the event of spills, marble is porous and will absorb spilled liquids if left unattended. If you let things sit too long, they will become discolored or stained. We recommend using a microfiber cloth to dry up any spills on the marble floor. Marble Floor: Easy Cleaning Tricks Always remove dirt and dust with a cloth dampened in warm water. Wash it regularly with a neutral formula soap. Rinse with a dry cloth after letting it work for a few minutes. To make it shine, you can use a mixture of baking soda and a little water. Place it on the marble and let it act for half an hour. Remove the mixture and clean residue with warm water. Dry with a cloth. Another option is to use a little hydrogen peroxide mixed with cold water. Wet a rag and pass it over the entire area. Then dry with a clean cloth. It is important to highlight that you should avoid the use of acidic products on marble floors at all costs! Instead, focus on using neutral pH cleaning products that do not harm marble floors at all. Among the products mostly used for different areas but that you should keep away from your marble floor care vinegar, ammonia, citrus cleaners (such as lemon or orange), and any other general cleaning chemical. Drying For marble flooring, you can't afford to let it dry freely. Because the marble will absorb the water or solution and could stain or discolor. So what you should do is use a soft towel or cloth, preferably a microfiber material, to dry the floor as soon as you finish rinsing it. The process can also be sped up by using a fan. Scratches When you see a scuff or other mark that won't go away with normal washing, remove it with a felt pad. Simply wet the pad with a mixture of water and detergent and stroke the marble along the grain. Don't rub in circular motions because they will damage the marble. Uses rugs Rugs and carpets serve the function of collecting waste, making it easier to sweep with a soft bristle brush or vacuum the most frequented areas. They protect the most traveled areas from scratches. The cleaning company Our aim as a professional cleaning company is to help you with the daily or deep maintenance of your home, school, building, or hospital. Guaranteeing its durability‌. Too easy to perform the task.