Lowe's first big stores looked "pitiful, " with narrow aisles and dark floors, says Bridgeford.

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The house also features dark wood floors, an updated gourmet kitchen, and updated baths.

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She spent the entire time in the dark between floors that had collapsed, according to the BSS report.

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On the second floor, the living room has white walls, vaulted ceilings with blonde wood support beams, wide-plank, dark wood floors and a second entryway.

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Dark timber floors, blue-cushioned chairs, high ceilings and glass panels provide comfortable environs for sampling dishes like coconut-crusted prawns with oven-roasted banana, or stuffed spatchcock in saffron cream.

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Adobe walls and dark-wood floors are enhanced by dramatic lighting schemes.

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Rooms in this former 12-storey Neo-Gothic hat factory are industrial chic and loft-like with 12ft ceilings, dark brushed oak floors and beds framed in steel, trimmed in leather, and topped with cosy down comforters and smooth Frette linens.

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There are herringbone and mahogany-accented floors, dark wood wainscoting on the walls, stained-glass skylight windows and coffered ceilings.

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Merchandise racks went from dark blue to beige to dove-gray until they finally matched the floors so that the eye fixes on the product first.

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