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Bob moves on to the children's nursery in the Melrose remodeling project. Bob reviews how the room used to appear before the cosmetic work was done. Insulation was blown into the third floor walls and windows were replaced. Bob reviews how the windows do not have shade cords which can pose a threat to young children and instead use a lever system with the shade embedded within the panes of glass. The ceiling is a Solserene fabric system that helps reduce sound in the room. Owens Corning QuietZone insulation has also been installed in the walls to help block noise. Bob then visits with Maggie and Nick Beasley and their newborn baby boy. Maggie Beasley explains that the room's color was selected because it was gender neutral. The paint itself contains no VOC's. Maggie reviews some of the furniture in the room including the crib, dresser, and bookshelf that are press-baord free and will not emit harmful chemicals in the baby's room. Maggie shows Bob the slipcovered glider chair that is fully washable and ideal for children. Bob wishes them good luck and health with their completed project and new family.

Bob and architect Michael Pierce review the elements of DD Allen's interior design for the Miami condo. While the dominant colors throughout are calm whites and blue grays, Pierce stresses that he and Allen choose to punctuate their designs with punches of furniture and color. The magenta Morrison three couch, which is a recumbant three draws the eye as does the purple velvet chair from the 1940s. These strong punches of color are offset by a series of black and white photos by Miami photographer Iran Itzakhan, the Kagan white kidney couch, and the white art deco-style table made by project supervisor David Southard through his furniture-making business, DS Woodworks.

Bob meets with general contractor Ted Riley as Dan Enright and his framing crew prepare to raise the gable end wall. The gable has a 12-12 pitch making it a 45-degree. The home will have 2" x 6" wall throughout yielding an R-Factor of R-21 using high density fiberglass insulation. The sheathing is Georgia-Pacific Blue Ribbon OSB. Noted for its strength and stability, the material has no knots or core voids and is gauged to expedite framing.

Bob goes to Tecate, Mexico, to meet tilemaker Javier Ramirez. Javier shows bob the different kinds of clays endemic to the Baja region of Mexico and shows how they are used in different types of tiles. Starting with the pulverizing of the clay then the mixing of the different types and the addition of water to make the material consistent. The tiles are made by hand then dried in the sun before being put in the kiln. Then hand painted in either the classic Mexican colors or modern hues. Bob admires the Baja Blue tile named after the color of the water in the Sea of Cortez. Javier walks Bob through the carvings and pieces both old and new. Ceramica JR�s corporate address is Box #67, Tecate, CA 91980. The phone number for the factory in Mexico is 011-526-654-2954. They should be able to help you find a distributor in your area.

Bob and designer DD Allen visit another Miami apartment designed by Pierce Allen. This 1,000-square-foot apartment was made of two former units and now has three bedrooms and an open living, dining, and kitchen area. The unifying concept of the apartment is the color scheme that is all white with punches of color throughout. Allen found vintage pieces like the Kagan sofa and table that were refurbished for the apartment. Vintage lighting designs from France, ship's dining chairs recovered in white, and a dining table made with surfboard technology complete a sleek, shape-focused blend of modern design and contemporary finishes. The kitchen, too, is white with lime green accents, an all-white, molded Corian counter, and an island with a floating, stainless shelf. Vintage glass panels with an etched bamboo motif and original handles grace the doors to the guest bedroom. Pivoting, laminated, frosted-glass doors open onto the master bedroom done in white, with a lime green upholstered back wall that softens the space and functions like a huge headboard. Lucite shelves, a bright pink ultra-suede wall, leather, and glass bring a funky feel to the sleek, monochromatic design that runs thorughout the apartment.

Decorator Leslie Curtis joins Bob in the project house's parlor to discuss the room's wall treatments. In lieu of wallpaper, stencils are used to add a decorative touch to the interior walls�a decorating solution borrowed directly from early 19th century America. Artist Ken Forcier is on location to demonstrate the stenciling process, showing how the stencil patterns are laid out and applied to the wall before paint is brushed on. Bob takes a turn at the brush, applying paint to one of the laser-cut Mylar stencils supplied by MB Historic D�cor.

Ken Micklow from Trent Culleny Landscaping Contractors talks with Bob about the native Sabal or Cabbage Palms that are being planted at the Punta Gorda home. The root ball has been trimmed as have the leaves to prevent stress during planting. Micklow says that it will have a full head and established roots within a year. Angela Polo looks at the Podocarpus being used for hedge plantings to screen the pool area. Their natural tendancy is to grow up not out, up to ten feet tall. They are easily maintined with tip pruing once or twice per year. Low maintenance, low pest and low water and feeding crotons are also being planted around the yard accroding to the landscape design plan. Gold Lantana is being planted as a nectar source for butterflies. Aztec grass is planted along the border with Bird of Paradise for ornamental accent plants. Micklow stresses that it's important not to add nutrients and fertilizers when planting or it could verly stress the plant by acclimating it to fertilized soil then taking it away. Ultimately it could make it more difficult for the plant to survice its natural conditions. Polo and Micklow have limited the turf area, but have provided functional grass area for their dogs and family with a transitional butterfly garden before the Lantana-planted area of the yard opens up.