Hi bagpu55, thanks for your comment, you will find that the level of scratches that come through on the sealer will depend on the type of gloss sealer used. Polyurethane or solvent based sealers last a lot longer and are much more durable, even with animals present. Having said this, the negatives are that solvent based products take some time for the strong smell to escape in a confined environment and are not the most eco-friendly of products. And eventually the scratches will come through particularly in high traffic areas. As for the dust, the gloss will show it a bit more. Based on the fact that you do have a number of animals in your home, you probably will not regret going with the matt finish. The concrete won’t have the ‘wet’ shinny look, but you also won’t be sitting on your couch possibly looking at a lot of scratches on the floor when the light hits it just so. A possible compromise is a satin finish sealer. It will provide some shine and enhancement to the floor without showing as many scratches. I hope this helps you out a bit. Good luck with your choice and post some pics of what your finished floor looks like. Always great to see the finished product!

Hi all our terrazzo bench has been installed and in use for over 12 months. This bench was poured in Italy and then finished by a stonemason off-site type. When 1st installed I spilt some lemon juice which created a mark so we are careful not to use acidic items on the bench. I am not sure if this happened before or after we sealed it but I think it’s important to seal any natural stone product and we used the sellers recommended product called “slow drying sure seal” but I won’t vouch for its effectiveness as I can’t compare it to anything. Over all we love the look but I think you need to be a little more careful around natural products than engineered ones so it may depend on your lifestyle

Anna - your first photo of the terrazzo tile running up the bathroom wall is really striking, but I think it is the soaring ceiling with the natural light flooding in that makes it so appealing rather than the terrazzo tiles. All of the bathrooms are a similar size, so one way to avoid the stress of all those selections (in a short time) is to find the right tiles and follow it through consistently for all three bathrooms. I agree with you that the dramatic all charcoal tile may be a bit overpowering in a small space, unless you want to go for that nightclub/bachelor pad feel for your kids bathroom. Your kids may think it is cool now, but what about in five years time? You also need to think about how long you are going to live in the house, and how long until you renovate your bathrooms. I think that the vertical subway tile will date quickly, and in 2028 it will look very 2018. The terrazzo tile is classic, timeless, hardwearing and beautiful so I would probably be considering the terrazzo as a floor tile in all three bathrooms, matched with a large format white or soft grey wall tile that complements your terrazzo colours. This solution will give you practicality, longevity and make the spaces feel bigger. Go for understated and elegant when it comes to tile selections in bathrooms if you need them to look good for a long time. But if you are in a financial position to renovate your bathrooms in ten years time go with what is fashionable and on-trend now. Best of luck (and don't stress) Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

I am sorry I am going to disagree with Julie Herbert. A "feature" contrasting material to the existing decking is not going to be a "design statement", rather it will always look like you are trying to fill in a hole where the bay window used to be. Every time you use this door it won't look like a design statement, but a ghostly constant reminder of the old bay window. Better to remove the old decking that is adjacent to the hole, and replace with new decking of the same width and profile along the wall. Tidy up the remaining decking and refinish the new and old timber at the same time with the same decking finish. The outline of the old bay window will be lost forever and the difference between old and new will be minimal. Putting in new decking is simple and cost effective, bringing in different materials, such as tiles or stone is not simple or cost-effective. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls.