Ashton Woods Homes announces the opening of the model home at Enclave on Johns Creek, a new community of just 14 luxury homes nestled in a tranquil setting in the top-ranked Chattahoochee High School district.
"This is a fabulous community in a great location in prestigious Johns Creek. Residents will have quick access to Highway 141 and Georgia 400 but it's in a beautiful wooded and private setting. The lots are acre or larger, something you don't find every day, and many of them back up to the natural setting of Johns Creek," said sales agent Becky Huffstetler.
The traditional-styled homes at Enclave on Johns Creek are two stories, with four bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths and 3,255 to 3,895 square feet of space. Master-on-the-main plans and three-car garage options are available. Since it's a brand-new community, buyers have the opportunity to personalize their home during the home building process to make it fit the unique needs of their family.
The model home, the Wesley 2, has the master on the main opening to a deck with a luxury bath featuring double vanities and a huge walk-in closet. The main floor includes a large family room open to the island kitchen, a breakfast room, a separate living room, a formal dining room and a second bedroom and bath. The second floor has two additional bedrooms and a bath with the option of a fifth bedroom and a fourth bath. Other options include a third car garage and a bay window in the family room.
All homes at Enclave on Johns Creek have 10-foot ceilings on the main level and nine-foot ceilings on the upper level with architectural details, such as columns, arches and niches, throughout. The homes have gourmet kitchens featuring maple cabinets with crown molding, granite countertops and backsplash, and stainless steel appliances including double ovens and microwaves vented to the exterior. The elegant master suites include trey ceilings , four-inch crown molding and/or a separate retreat or sitting area, spacious walk-in closets with mirrors, garden tubs with ceramic tile backsplash and separate showers with ceramic tile surround.
Ashton Woods Homes' earth-friendly homes meet the platinum performance standards of the Environment for Living Program with energy efficient measures that can save up to 42% of annual energy use.
Students at the Enclave at Johns Creek attend the area's award-winning schools including State Bridge Crossing Elementary, Taylor Road Middle School and Chattahoochee High School.
To reach the community take GA 400 north, to Old Milton Parkway (exit 10) and turn right. Go east on Old Milton Parkway for 2.5 miles and stay straight on State Bridge Road. Go 1.5 miles and turn left on Morton Road. The Enclave at Johns Creek is 1.3 miles on the left.
2011年11月29日星期二
DWP Lincoln Heights office combines movie-house style with bill paying
If Emerald City had a utility office, it would resemble the DWP’s customer service center in Lincoln Heights. Sheathed in green ceramic tile and opal glass, the streamlined facade of the Daly Street building includes a marquee featuring two-foot-high letters made from green glass that read: Municipal Light Water Power. All that’s missing are Munchkins lined up to pay overdue electric bills. The building, originally constructed in the 1920s, owes its flashy design to architect S. Charles Lee, who apparently applied many of the lessons he learned creating eye-catching movie palaces to this modest, approximately 3,000-square-foot structure.
Lee, who worked on several projects for the utility, transformed the simple brick storefront in Lincoln Heights into a jewel-box with a Regency Moderne facade as part of a $7,000 remodeling project.
The utility’s Lincoln Heights office opened in 1938 complete with a display of an all-electric kitchen and home economic classes, according to the DWP. After serving Lincoln Heights for nearly 40 years, the Daly Street office closed and the emerald-green glass letters removed after the building was damaged during the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. The office remained closed until 2008 when it reopened following $2 million in repairs and renovations. The original glass letters were found in a warehouse and returned to Lincoln Heights office, which is a city historic-cultural monument.
After walking past the glitzy facade and through a doorway framed in copper, DWP customers enter a pretty standard office albeit with historic photos and period lighting fixtures. It’s still no fun paying your utility bill but at least the architecture of the Lincoln Heights office, according to a security guard who works there, “softens the blow.”
Lee, who worked on several projects for the utility, transformed the simple brick storefront in Lincoln Heights into a jewel-box with a Regency Moderne facade as part of a $7,000 remodeling project.
The utility’s Lincoln Heights office opened in 1938 complete with a display of an all-electric kitchen and home economic classes, according to the DWP. After serving Lincoln Heights for nearly 40 years, the Daly Street office closed and the emerald-green glass letters removed after the building was damaged during the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. The office remained closed until 2008 when it reopened following $2 million in repairs and renovations. The original glass letters were found in a warehouse and returned to Lincoln Heights office, which is a city historic-cultural monument.
After walking past the glitzy facade and through a doorway framed in copper, DWP customers enter a pretty standard office albeit with historic photos and period lighting fixtures. It’s still no fun paying your utility bill but at least the architecture of the Lincoln Heights office, according to a security guard who works there, “softens the blow.”
2011年11月28日星期一
The Amalfi Coast's invisible hotel
When you think of a deluxe, five-star hotel you probably conjure breathtaking scenery, superb cuisine, elegant accommodations, first-rate service and romantic ambience all combined in a singular atmosphere of luxury. But Hotel San Pietro, on the outskirts of Positano, Italy, takes the concept one step further, into a whole new dimension.
How? Simply put, this magnificent family run hotel is…well…it’s invisible!
Whetheryou approach San Pietro from the road or the sea, you have to look for the hotel to find it, really look. But when you find it, that’s just the beginning.
About two kilometers to the east of Positano, the tiny Chapel of San Pietro perches at the edge of what is little more than a wide spot in the road that bends along the serpentine rock face of the coast. Use the chapel as a landmark. Otherwise you’ll miss the hotel.
Walk to the left of the church and go behind it. Then take the steps through a stunning array of fragrances emanating from the bougainvillea, hibiscus and grape arbors that line the stairway to an elevator. Or, better yet, stroll leisurely among the terraces of flowers that lead to the lobby, known as the Hall.
In moments you are surrounded by Italian marble, cool tile floors, cantilevered terraces, sloping gardens and sweeping views of the Bay of Positano that point a perpetual face to the sun. You have entered a world where luxury and simplicity blend harmoniously to create an atmosphere of casual charm and elegant perfection.
John Steinbeck visited Positano in 1953, describing it as “a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.” Soon after, the community became a haven for writers and artists. The hidden treasure had been discovered. It was no longer a secret. And Positano would never be the same.
In 1962 Carlo Cinque decided to build a private villa and bought some land at the peak of a rocky cliff face where only the tiny, ancient Chapel of San Pietro existed. At the time, Positano was just a sleepy fishing village that had gradually started to attract the attention of tourists in the previous decade.
Shortly after Carlo purchased the land, he went to work on his dream, literally carving his imaginative ideas into the rock. Overcoming overwhelming obstacles created by the sheer logistical difficulties of elevation and excavation, Cinque eventually completed a small apartment and garden.
Little by little, the idea of transforming his craggy precipice into the most perfect hotel on the crest of a cliff was born. With determination and imagination he burrowed his masterpiece into the rock without disturbing the natural beauty of the surroundings.
After eight years of incredibly difficult work, 33 rooms facing the bay were opened along with a large lobby and a spectacular terrace. Today, the hotel is a myriad of 62 rooms cleverly tucked into the cliffs in a series of nearly a dozen ledges. Each room is completely private with its own balcony and stunning view.
Carlo wanted his “small Eden” to have minimal separation from the exquisite plants and flowers outside, so those same exotic garden plants and fragrant flowers appear inside as well, spilling in abundance from planters. Vines trail along the interior ceiling, while bougainvillea cascades from balconies and other varieties of vegetation span shaded terraces.
Hotel San Pietro is an architectural wonder. Rooms are seductively appointed with antiques, hand-painted furniture, ceramic tiles and terra-cotta floors. Some rooms have no curtains in either the bedroom or the bathroom. The concept allows guests to see out, while no one else can see in; creating an ambience of being totally alone within nature.
“Special” rooms all have features that set them apart, be it the largest windows, the most sumptuous decor, or the most expansive bathroom. Experience a bed so large that it had to be constructed inside the room. Or enjoy the luxury of a sunken marble bathtub next to a giant picture window. The tub is big enough to accommodate you and three of your most intimate friends. There’s even a bedroom featuring a full-sized marble sculpture of a male figure with water streaming from a strategic and rather indiscreet location.
Perhaps the most amazing construction project, among many, was the delicate blasting that took place to install the elevator that travels from the main lobby to the private beach below. From the Hall, the lift incredibly descends 290-feet through solid rock before opening into a huge cave on the beach. From the cave, a 25-yard stroll leads to a walkway that goes to a sunbathing platform and bar on the rocks, which are surrounded by flower-filled terraces. There is also a nearby tennis court and rose garden.
The story of the creation of the Hotel San Pietro is the tale of one man's realization of a dream -- a family saga with elements of adventure, fantasy and flair plus inexhaustible commitment and dedication. Carlo Cinque was not an architect or a designer or a technical engineer. He was a man with an idea and desire to demonstrate how tenacity and determination could unite a sense of beauty and intelligence into a living paradise. That is the genius of Carlo Cinque and Hotel San Pietro.
How? Simply put, this magnificent family run hotel is…well…it’s invisible!
Whetheryou approach San Pietro from the road or the sea, you have to look for the hotel to find it, really look. But when you find it, that’s just the beginning.
About two kilometers to the east of Positano, the tiny Chapel of San Pietro perches at the edge of what is little more than a wide spot in the road that bends along the serpentine rock face of the coast. Use the chapel as a landmark. Otherwise you’ll miss the hotel.
Walk to the left of the church and go behind it. Then take the steps through a stunning array of fragrances emanating from the bougainvillea, hibiscus and grape arbors that line the stairway to an elevator. Or, better yet, stroll leisurely among the terraces of flowers that lead to the lobby, known as the Hall.
In moments you are surrounded by Italian marble, cool tile floors, cantilevered terraces, sloping gardens and sweeping views of the Bay of Positano that point a perpetual face to the sun. You have entered a world where luxury and simplicity blend harmoniously to create an atmosphere of casual charm and elegant perfection.
John Steinbeck visited Positano in 1953, describing it as “a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.” Soon after, the community became a haven for writers and artists. The hidden treasure had been discovered. It was no longer a secret. And Positano would never be the same.
In 1962 Carlo Cinque decided to build a private villa and bought some land at the peak of a rocky cliff face where only the tiny, ancient Chapel of San Pietro existed. At the time, Positano was just a sleepy fishing village that had gradually started to attract the attention of tourists in the previous decade.
Shortly after Carlo purchased the land, he went to work on his dream, literally carving his imaginative ideas into the rock. Overcoming overwhelming obstacles created by the sheer logistical difficulties of elevation and excavation, Cinque eventually completed a small apartment and garden.
Little by little, the idea of transforming his craggy precipice into the most perfect hotel on the crest of a cliff was born. With determination and imagination he burrowed his masterpiece into the rock without disturbing the natural beauty of the surroundings.
After eight years of incredibly difficult work, 33 rooms facing the bay were opened along with a large lobby and a spectacular terrace. Today, the hotel is a myriad of 62 rooms cleverly tucked into the cliffs in a series of nearly a dozen ledges. Each room is completely private with its own balcony and stunning view.
Carlo wanted his “small Eden” to have minimal separation from the exquisite plants and flowers outside, so those same exotic garden plants and fragrant flowers appear inside as well, spilling in abundance from planters. Vines trail along the interior ceiling, while bougainvillea cascades from balconies and other varieties of vegetation span shaded terraces.
Hotel San Pietro is an architectural wonder. Rooms are seductively appointed with antiques, hand-painted furniture, ceramic tiles and terra-cotta floors. Some rooms have no curtains in either the bedroom or the bathroom. The concept allows guests to see out, while no one else can see in; creating an ambience of being totally alone within nature.
“Special” rooms all have features that set them apart, be it the largest windows, the most sumptuous decor, or the most expansive bathroom. Experience a bed so large that it had to be constructed inside the room. Or enjoy the luxury of a sunken marble bathtub next to a giant picture window. The tub is big enough to accommodate you and three of your most intimate friends. There’s even a bedroom featuring a full-sized marble sculpture of a male figure with water streaming from a strategic and rather indiscreet location.
Perhaps the most amazing construction project, among many, was the delicate blasting that took place to install the elevator that travels from the main lobby to the private beach below. From the Hall, the lift incredibly descends 290-feet through solid rock before opening into a huge cave on the beach. From the cave, a 25-yard stroll leads to a walkway that goes to a sunbathing platform and bar on the rocks, which are surrounded by flower-filled terraces. There is also a nearby tennis court and rose garden.
The story of the creation of the Hotel San Pietro is the tale of one man's realization of a dream -- a family saga with elements of adventure, fantasy and flair plus inexhaustible commitment and dedication. Carlo Cinque was not an architect or a designer or a technical engineer. He was a man with an idea and desire to demonstrate how tenacity and determination could unite a sense of beauty and intelligence into a living paradise. That is the genius of Carlo Cinque and Hotel San Pietro.
2011年11月27日星期日
Jobs at risk after British Ceramic Tile deal
A 30-day consultation process is under way as continued weak performance of the UK and export building material sectors will mean both companies, which employ more than 400 staff between them, have to streamline operations.
It has not been decided which company will bear the brunt of any possible job losses, with production, sales and administration staff at the Newton Abbot company all under threat, a spokesman told Insider.
"If redundancies do have to be made then the total number across both sites will be less than 100 employees," the company said.
BCT, which opened a new 40m factory in 2009, cut 83 jobs in July, from a workforce of 380, as a result of falling demand and a new 2m kiln, which helped to streamline processes.
Chief executive Matthew Gazzard said: "Any loss of British jobs, particularly in these tough times, is extremely regrettable and we aim to ensure the process is as smooth and fair as possible."
It was claimed the deal with Ceramic Prints will create one of the largest tile companies in the UK.
Turnover at BCT increased by 3.5m to 25.9m for the year to 30 November 2010, according to the last set of accounts filed.
However, the company's pre-tax losses widened to 12.2m, compared with 11.8m in 2009, as the fall in new housing construction since 2008 led to reduced demand for tiles.
Ceramic Prints, which was founded in 1983 in West Yorkshire by Tony Taylor, imports and distributes tile, stone and glass decorative products from its 150,000 sq ft distribution centre in Brighouse.
The enlarged business will be dual-sited in Devon and Brighouse.
Gazzard added: "We bring manufacturing scale and Ceramic Prints brings additional product, marketing and supply chain experience, as well as much-valued customers and suppliers.
"The newly enlarged company now places us in a very strong position from which we can better service customers both in the UK and abroad."
Tony Taylor will stay with the group as commercial director and will assume full responsibility for all aspects of sales and marketing, product management and design.
It has not been decided which company will bear the brunt of any possible job losses, with production, sales and administration staff at the Newton Abbot company all under threat, a spokesman told Insider.
"If redundancies do have to be made then the total number across both sites will be less than 100 employees," the company said.
BCT, which opened a new 40m factory in 2009, cut 83 jobs in July, from a workforce of 380, as a result of falling demand and a new 2m kiln, which helped to streamline processes.
Chief executive Matthew Gazzard said: "Any loss of British jobs, particularly in these tough times, is extremely regrettable and we aim to ensure the process is as smooth and fair as possible."
It was claimed the deal with Ceramic Prints will create one of the largest tile companies in the UK.
Turnover at BCT increased by 3.5m to 25.9m for the year to 30 November 2010, according to the last set of accounts filed.
However, the company's pre-tax losses widened to 12.2m, compared with 11.8m in 2009, as the fall in new housing construction since 2008 led to reduced demand for tiles.
Ceramic Prints, which was founded in 1983 in West Yorkshire by Tony Taylor, imports and distributes tile, stone and glass decorative products from its 150,000 sq ft distribution centre in Brighouse.
The enlarged business will be dual-sited in Devon and Brighouse.
Gazzard added: "We bring manufacturing scale and Ceramic Prints brings additional product, marketing and supply chain experience, as well as much-valued customers and suppliers.
"The newly enlarged company now places us in a very strong position from which we can better service customers both in the UK and abroad."
Tony Taylor will stay with the group as commercial director and will assume full responsibility for all aspects of sales and marketing, product management and design.
2011年11月24日星期四
Jobs at risk after British Ceramic Tile deal
A 30-day consultation process is under way as continued weak performance of the UK and export building material sectors will mean both companies, which employ more than 400 staff between them, have to streamline operations.
It has not been decided which company will bear the brunt of any possible job losses, with production, sales and administration staff at the Newton Abbot company all under threat, a spokesman told Insider.
"If redundancies do have to be made then the total number across both sites will be less than 100 employees," the company said.
BCT, which opened a new 40m factory in 2009, cut 83 jobs in July, from a workforce of 380, as a result of falling demand and a new 2m kiln, which helped to streamline processes.
Chief executive Matthew Gazzard said: "Any loss of British jobs, particularly in these tough times, is extremely regrettable and we aim to ensure the process is as smooth and fair as possible."
It was claimed the deal with Ceramic Prints will create one of the largest tile companies in the UK.
Turnover at BCT increased by 3.5m to 25.9m for the year to 30 November 2010, according to the last set of accounts filed.
However, the company's pre-tax losses widened to 12.2m, compared with 11.8m in 2009, as the fall in new housing construction since 2008 led to reduced demand for tiles.
Ceramic Prints, which was founded in 1983 in West Yorkshire by Tony Taylor, imports and distributes tile, stone and glass decorative products from its 150,000 sq ft distribution centre in Brighouse.
The enlarged business will be dual-sited in Devon and Brighouse.
Gazzard added: "We bring manufacturing scale and Ceramic Prints brings additional product, marketing and supply chain experience, as well as much-valued customers and suppliers.
"The newly enlarged company now places us in a very strong position from which we can better service customers both in the UK and abroad."
Tony Taylor will stay with the group as commercial director and will assume full responsibility for all aspects of sales and marketing, product management and design.
It has not been decided which company will bear the brunt of any possible job losses, with production, sales and administration staff at the Newton Abbot company all under threat, a spokesman told Insider.
"If redundancies do have to be made then the total number across both sites will be less than 100 employees," the company said.
BCT, which opened a new 40m factory in 2009, cut 83 jobs in July, from a workforce of 380, as a result of falling demand and a new 2m kiln, which helped to streamline processes.
Chief executive Matthew Gazzard said: "Any loss of British jobs, particularly in these tough times, is extremely regrettable and we aim to ensure the process is as smooth and fair as possible."
It was claimed the deal with Ceramic Prints will create one of the largest tile companies in the UK.
Turnover at BCT increased by 3.5m to 25.9m for the year to 30 November 2010, according to the last set of accounts filed.
However, the company's pre-tax losses widened to 12.2m, compared with 11.8m in 2009, as the fall in new housing construction since 2008 led to reduced demand for tiles.
Ceramic Prints, which was founded in 1983 in West Yorkshire by Tony Taylor, imports and distributes tile, stone and glass decorative products from its 150,000 sq ft distribution centre in Brighouse.
The enlarged business will be dual-sited in Devon and Brighouse.
Gazzard added: "We bring manufacturing scale and Ceramic Prints brings additional product, marketing and supply chain experience, as well as much-valued customers and suppliers.
"The newly enlarged company now places us in a very strong position from which we can better service customers both in the UK and abroad."
Tony Taylor will stay with the group as commercial director and will assume full responsibility for all aspects of sales and marketing, product management and design.
2011年11月23日星期三
Jobs at risk as shares acquisition creates giant within UK sector
British Ceramic Tile has completed the acquisition of a West Yorkshire business, to create one of the largest tile companies in the UK – in an expansion deal that has put up to 100 employees' jobs at risk.
Newton Abbot-based BCT has acquired Ceramic Prints, one of the UK's biggest importers and distributors of tile, stone and glass decorative products, in an undisclosed-figure share acquisition deal.
A spokesman said that the continued weak performance of the UK and export building material sectors, would necessitate both companies, which have a combined workforce of 430, streamlining their operations.
A 30-day consultation is due to begin over redundancies which will total "under 100" across both sites.
BCT, which earlier this year invested 2 million in a new kiln to streamline processes at its 40 million facility, reduced its 380-strong workforce by 83 staff in July. It also moved from a seven-day operation to a three-shift process Monday to Friday.
CP supplies DIY multiples and independent tile retailers across the UK via a 150,000 sq ft distribution centre. It also manufactures value added decorative tiles and borders.
A spokesman said the deal would see CP's extensive sourcing and supply chain experience boost the strengths of BCT's state-of-the-art manufacturing operation.
The enlarged business will be continue to be dual-sited in Devon and West Yorkshire.
BCT CEO Matthew Gazzard said: "The two companies make for a powerful combination. We bring manufacturing scale and CP brings additional product, marketing and supply chain experience as well as much valued customers and suppliers.
"The newly enlarged company now places us in a very strong position from which we can better service customers both in the UK and abroad."
The move will see CP's founder and CEO, Tony Taylor, stay with the group as its commercial director.
Newton Abbot-based BCT has acquired Ceramic Prints, one of the UK's biggest importers and distributors of tile, stone and glass decorative products, in an undisclosed-figure share acquisition deal.
A spokesman said that the continued weak performance of the UK and export building material sectors, would necessitate both companies, which have a combined workforce of 430, streamlining their operations.
A 30-day consultation is due to begin over redundancies which will total "under 100" across both sites.
BCT, which earlier this year invested 2 million in a new kiln to streamline processes at its 40 million facility, reduced its 380-strong workforce by 83 staff in July. It also moved from a seven-day operation to a three-shift process Monday to Friday.
CP supplies DIY multiples and independent tile retailers across the UK via a 150,000 sq ft distribution centre. It also manufactures value added decorative tiles and borders.
A spokesman said the deal would see CP's extensive sourcing and supply chain experience boost the strengths of BCT's state-of-the-art manufacturing operation.
The enlarged business will be continue to be dual-sited in Devon and West Yorkshire.
BCT CEO Matthew Gazzard said: "The two companies make for a powerful combination. We bring manufacturing scale and CP brings additional product, marketing and supply chain experience as well as much valued customers and suppliers.
"The newly enlarged company now places us in a very strong position from which we can better service customers both in the UK and abroad."
The move will see CP's founder and CEO, Tony Taylor, stay with the group as its commercial director.
2011年11月22日星期二
Red Cross cautions families on heating homes this winter
As Front Range residents prepared for the first big snow of the season last week, the American Red Cross urges families to be cautious when using space heaters and other heating sources and to make a plan in case of a home fire. Heating sources are the leading cause of winter fires and increase during the winter months of December, January and February.
Heat sources such as space heaters, fireplaces or wood and coal stoves can pose a fire hazard. To reduce the risk of heating-related fires, the Red Cross recommends keeping anything that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment and fireplaces and to never leave these unattended.
Last year the Red Cross Northern Colorado Chapter responded to 74 home fires in Northern Colorado. “Home fires are the number one disaster we respond to,” said Regional Communications Director Patricia Billinger. “But the good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of a home fire.”
The American Red Cross offers the following fire prevention tips:
All heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat the home.
Turn off portable space heaters every time people leave the room or go to sleep.
Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces and chimneys inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.
If one must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
The Red Cross depends on the generous support of Colorado residents to be ready to respond and help neighbors who are affected by home fires.
Heat sources such as space heaters, fireplaces or wood and coal stoves can pose a fire hazard. To reduce the risk of heating-related fires, the Red Cross recommends keeping anything that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment and fireplaces and to never leave these unattended.
Last year the Red Cross Northern Colorado Chapter responded to 74 home fires in Northern Colorado. “Home fires are the number one disaster we respond to,” said Regional Communications Director Patricia Billinger. “But the good news is that there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of a home fire.”
The American Red Cross offers the following fire prevention tips:
All heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.
Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended, and use a glass or metal fire screen to keep fire and embers in the fireplace.
Never use a cooking range or oven to heat the home.
Turn off portable space heaters every time people leave the room or go to sleep.
Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces and chimneys inspected annually by a professional and cleaned if necessary.
If one must use a space heater, place it on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
The Red Cross depends on the generous support of Colorado residents to be ready to respond and help neighbors who are affected by home fires.
2011年11月21日星期一
Rookwood Pottery Co. Revives Historic Line Through Product Agreement
The Rookwood Pottery Co., historic maker of one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted architectural tile and art pottery, is partnering with the largest family-owned supplier in funeral service, Aurora Casket Company, to make an exclusive line of cremation urns.
The deal marks Rookwood’s return to the funeral industry, where familial connections and legacies carry notable significance. In the 1940s, when World War II caused a severe shortage of metals in the United States, Rookwood produced ceramic urns to meet demand. In fact, one of the designs in the Aurora line is a modernized version of a 1940s classic.
Under the agreement, Aurora commissioned Rookwood to create a line of eight urns, comprising two designs in four colors. Rookwood’s artisans will produce the urns, which will bear the Rookwood logo and time stamp, at its Over-the-Rhine facility in Cincinnati.
The timing of the partnership with Aurora is important as demand for cremations continues to rise, with an estimated 44.4 percent of the population expected to choose cremation by 2015, according to the Cremation Association of North America. That compares with 34.3 percent of the population in 2007.
Chip DeMois, CEO of Rookwood, said the company decided to bring back its urns after recognizing this trend.
“In our research we find that most urns come from overseas and they are not ceramic,” DeMois said. “Aurora gives Rookwood a chance to revive American-made, ceramic urns. A Rookwood urn represents the finest in American ceramics and is one of the new business cornerstones of Rookwood’s current revival as the leader in architectural tile and art pottery.”
Aurora Casket has prominently featured the urns in its recent cremation products catalog. They are available to the thousands of funeral homes which Aurora serves, said Steve Jones, President of Meierjohan-Wengler, an Aurora subsidiary which manufactures and distributes cremation urns.
“We’re really honored that Rookwood chose us as partner,” Jones said. “Part of Aurora’s mission is to help bring an honorable closure to every life. Rookwood, because of its beauty and uniqueness, will help us take a step toward our mission. That is important to a family-run company.”
“Aurora, through Steve Jones, has demonstrated a true respect and appreciation for the quality that Rookwood represents,” DeMois said. “Likewise, the brand integrity and quality of the Aurora name ensures us the best opportunity to offer our urns throughout the country.”
The deal marks Rookwood’s return to the funeral industry, where familial connections and legacies carry notable significance. In the 1940s, when World War II caused a severe shortage of metals in the United States, Rookwood produced ceramic urns to meet demand. In fact, one of the designs in the Aurora line is a modernized version of a 1940s classic.
Under the agreement, Aurora commissioned Rookwood to create a line of eight urns, comprising two designs in four colors. Rookwood’s artisans will produce the urns, which will bear the Rookwood logo and time stamp, at its Over-the-Rhine facility in Cincinnati.
The timing of the partnership with Aurora is important as demand for cremations continues to rise, with an estimated 44.4 percent of the population expected to choose cremation by 2015, according to the Cremation Association of North America. That compares with 34.3 percent of the population in 2007.
Chip DeMois, CEO of Rookwood, said the company decided to bring back its urns after recognizing this trend.
“In our research we find that most urns come from overseas and they are not ceramic,” DeMois said. “Aurora gives Rookwood a chance to revive American-made, ceramic urns. A Rookwood urn represents the finest in American ceramics and is one of the new business cornerstones of Rookwood’s current revival as the leader in architectural tile and art pottery.”
Aurora Casket has prominently featured the urns in its recent cremation products catalog. They are available to the thousands of funeral homes which Aurora serves, said Steve Jones, President of Meierjohan-Wengler, an Aurora subsidiary which manufactures and distributes cremation urns.
“We’re really honored that Rookwood chose us as partner,” Jones said. “Part of Aurora’s mission is to help bring an honorable closure to every life. Rookwood, because of its beauty and uniqueness, will help us take a step toward our mission. That is important to a family-run company.”
“Aurora, through Steve Jones, has demonstrated a true respect and appreciation for the quality that Rookwood represents,” DeMois said. “Likewise, the brand integrity and quality of the Aurora name ensures us the best opportunity to offer our urns throughout the country.”
2011年11月20日星期日
Harbour Isle features resort style waterfront living
For many people, a new waterfront home represents the ultimate in Florida living. However, decades of development along the state's coasts have made such homes hard to come by. Today, Minto Communties' Harbour Isle on Anna Maria Sound in Bradenton offers homebuyers an opportunity to buy into Florida's last private resort island community, according to William Bullock, senior vice president of Minto.
Located on Perico Island, Harbour Isle is a master-planned community that was designed to combine resort style living with classic Florida coastal home architecture.
"We did a considerable amount of research and work to match the design of our homes and the resort feel of our community with what buyers want," said Michael Belmont, president of Minto. "We feel that we have created a unique carefree island lifestyle. The style of architecture we selected is unlike anything we've seen in this market."
According to Bullock, Minto took great care to preserve as much of the island's natural setting as possible, leaving abundant mangroves, wetlands and floral vistas, with two miles of nature trails for residents to enjoy. The amenities at Harbour Isle were designed to allow residents to make the most of the lush island setting, while enjoying its subtropical beauty.
The private island features a 38-acre man made lake, a mangrove walk, swimming pool and kayak launch. A large clubhouse with a screening room, fitness center, lap pool and tennis courts, as well as a beach club and a 119-slip marina will add to the resort feel of the community.
"We have built a fabulous entrance to the community with a guardhouse and an attached observation tower," Belmont said. "Residents will be able to enjoy incredible views of Anna Maria Sound and the Gulf of Mexico from the tower."
The first neighborhood being built in Harbour Isle is Mangrove Walk, which features Minto's Island Homes series. The two- and three-story buildings have a single home on the first floor and two homes on the second floor. Each home includes a two-car garage with ample overhead storage space. The homes range in size from 1,621 to 2,960 square feet, with a screened lanai or enclosed sunroom. Also, each home includes an elevator shaft from the garage to the second and third story of the homes with a dumbwaiter for luggage and groceries as a standard feature. Buyers have the option to purchase an elevator in place of the standard dumbwaiter.
"There are options to include an observatory and/or retreat, which adds additional living space and a third story to the home, resulting in as much as 2,960 square feet of living space," Belmont added. "Those third story retreats and observation rooms have ample windows to provide spectacular views of the water and natural habitat throughout the community."
The exteriors of the homes on Harbour Island feature cement shake and standing metal seam roofs with Hardie lap board siding and board and batten and stucco details. Inside the buildings, Minto offers six floor plans with 10-foot flat ceilings, (some select plans have standard vaulted ceilings), 18-inch ceramic tile floors in all living areas, GE ENERGY STAR stainless steel appliances, granite countertops in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room, and upgraded wood kitchen cabinets.
The GE ENERGY STAR appliance package is just one example of the green aspect of the homes.
"The homes are all LEED certified, which is the highest standard of building construction and sustainability," Belmont said. "The ENERGY STAR appliances and standard 14 SEER Carrier Air Conditioning system will reduce monthly electric bills."
Adds Bullock: "Today's buyer wants more than just a great location at a reasonable price. They want a home that efficiently saves them money, is healthy to live in and reduces the impact to the environment."
The homes in Harbour Isle are priced from the mid $320,000s, which Belmont said is a bargain value considering the location, quality, energy efficiency and exceptional standard features of the homes and the quality lifestyle Minto has created in the community.
"We are in grand opening mode with six decorated models," Bullock said. "The guard house and observation tower are completed and staffed. Our cabana pool and kayak launch is complete and offers a full outdoor kitchen, pool, private cabanas, a conversation fire pit and boathouse, complete with kayaks for residents' use on our mile long lagoon.
Located on Perico Island, Harbour Isle is a master-planned community that was designed to combine resort style living with classic Florida coastal home architecture.
"We did a considerable amount of research and work to match the design of our homes and the resort feel of our community with what buyers want," said Michael Belmont, president of Minto. "We feel that we have created a unique carefree island lifestyle. The style of architecture we selected is unlike anything we've seen in this market."
According to Bullock, Minto took great care to preserve as much of the island's natural setting as possible, leaving abundant mangroves, wetlands and floral vistas, with two miles of nature trails for residents to enjoy. The amenities at Harbour Isle were designed to allow residents to make the most of the lush island setting, while enjoying its subtropical beauty.
The private island features a 38-acre man made lake, a mangrove walk, swimming pool and kayak launch. A large clubhouse with a screening room, fitness center, lap pool and tennis courts, as well as a beach club and a 119-slip marina will add to the resort feel of the community.
"We have built a fabulous entrance to the community with a guardhouse and an attached observation tower," Belmont said. "Residents will be able to enjoy incredible views of Anna Maria Sound and the Gulf of Mexico from the tower."
The first neighborhood being built in Harbour Isle is Mangrove Walk, which features Minto's Island Homes series. The two- and three-story buildings have a single home on the first floor and two homes on the second floor. Each home includes a two-car garage with ample overhead storage space. The homes range in size from 1,621 to 2,960 square feet, with a screened lanai or enclosed sunroom. Also, each home includes an elevator shaft from the garage to the second and third story of the homes with a dumbwaiter for luggage and groceries as a standard feature. Buyers have the option to purchase an elevator in place of the standard dumbwaiter.
"There are options to include an observatory and/or retreat, which adds additional living space and a third story to the home, resulting in as much as 2,960 square feet of living space," Belmont added. "Those third story retreats and observation rooms have ample windows to provide spectacular views of the water and natural habitat throughout the community."
The exteriors of the homes on Harbour Island feature cement shake and standing metal seam roofs with Hardie lap board siding and board and batten and stucco details. Inside the buildings, Minto offers six floor plans with 10-foot flat ceilings, (some select plans have standard vaulted ceilings), 18-inch ceramic tile floors in all living areas, GE ENERGY STAR stainless steel appliances, granite countertops in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room, and upgraded wood kitchen cabinets.
The GE ENERGY STAR appliance package is just one example of the green aspect of the homes.
"The homes are all LEED certified, which is the highest standard of building construction and sustainability," Belmont said. "The ENERGY STAR appliances and standard 14 SEER Carrier Air Conditioning system will reduce monthly electric bills."
Adds Bullock: "Today's buyer wants more than just a great location at a reasonable price. They want a home that efficiently saves them money, is healthy to live in and reduces the impact to the environment."
The homes in Harbour Isle are priced from the mid $320,000s, which Belmont said is a bargain value considering the location, quality, energy efficiency and exceptional standard features of the homes and the quality lifestyle Minto has created in the community.
"We are in grand opening mode with six decorated models," Bullock said. "The guard house and observation tower are completed and staffed. Our cabana pool and kayak launch is complete and offers a full outdoor kitchen, pool, private cabanas, a conversation fire pit and boathouse, complete with kayaks for residents' use on our mile long lagoon.
2011年11月17日星期四
Cozy kitchen at their command
From the day they bought their modest home in southwest Eugene four years ago, Erin Chaparro and Jeremy Hall wanted to remodel the kitchen “cave.”
But rather than busting out walls in the confined, dim kitchen right away, the couple dug deep into homework.
“We decided to live in the house for a while to see what the space needs really were,” says Chaparro, who entertains topics relating to home design, decorating and cooking on her blog, “Eugene Modern Monkey.”
Magazines like dwell, subtitled “At Home in the Modern World,” helped Chaparro, 35, and Hall, 37, envision a kitchen far better suited for time together and with friends.
“We like entertaining; we like having friends over. And Jeremy loves to cook,” Chaparro says. “We wanted a space that felt good to do all of those things in.”
But the remodel also had to be “aesthetically artistic,” Chaparro says.
“Yes, we knew that we wanted the space opened up, but we thought an architect could bring different ideas to the table than we could, just because they’re immersed in it all the time and we’re not. It’s not our area of expertise.”
They recruited two Eugene pros: young architect David Schmitz for both his design and structural expertise, and neighborhood cabinet maker Jonathan Plummer for sleek, modular woodworks key to the remodel’s contemporary flair.
The team stewed over details for another few months, and work finally began earlier this year. Now, some $25,000 to $30,000 later, the couple have a kitchen that commands attention on multiple levels:
Against modernistic elements such as stainless-steel countertops and appliances, thin-concrete floors painted midnight blue, and white-laminate cabinet doors, more natural warmth literally flows from a big, curved, handsawn walnut top on the island bar.
“Just being in the Pacific Northwest, we wanted something that feels cozy and brings in the elements, but that still has that modern aesthetic to it,” informs Chaparro. “So that’s what we were aiming for: modern organic.”
Valley Stainless Inc. in Eugene forged the stainless-steel counters as single units, one run for the cabinet wall with sink and the other for the island bar with cooktop. Cabinet maker Plummer estimates the counters — with sculpted sink in the cabinet-wall section — cost about $80 per square foot.
“Some people don’t like it that, over time, they show scratches,” allows Chaparro in regard to the shiny metal counters. “But we’re pretty active in our kitchen, and so the more scratches, the less you notice. You can still polish it up really nice.”
Likewise, she says it’s “really easy” to clean the white laminate fronts on many of the kitchen’s cabinet doors. “A little sponge, and it’s gone.”
No run-of-the-mill cabinets, Plummer built these with ApplePly, a plywood made by States Industries in Eugene. With about a dozen layers of hardwood, “It’s a very fine and regular layering,” notes architect Schmitz. Inside, the cabinets are faced in birch; outside, Eastern maple.
Artistic flair offsets the boxy wall cabinets. Above the sink, an off-white ceramic tile backsplash runs clear to a walnut display shelf — lined with glassware — at ceiling height.
Not only do cabinet doors push to open — good for when both hands are full and a knee or elbow can suffice — but logic pervades to nooks and crannies.
One cabinet drawer slides out for composting kitchen scraps; recycling bins tuck underneath the sink. A step stool, handy for reaching the high, slide-out liquor drawer, fits by design into a shallow crevice above the fridge and below the wall cabinets.
“There’s a space for everything now, and that really helps us keep the whole house cleaner,” Chaparro says. “There’s no question about where to put anything, because that space was built to put that item there. So that’s a joy.”
Even the island bar’s big walnut slab, cut from a whole tree by Curly Burly Milling in Cottage Grove, yields surprises beneath the surface. One swooshed out edge creates room below for a wine cabinet; another, display shelves.
Look up, and a ceiling cabinet above the island bar also includes display shelves.
But look closer at the birch frame with walnut divider, and you notice it contains a custom range hood over the cooktop.
But rather than busting out walls in the confined, dim kitchen right away, the couple dug deep into homework.
“We decided to live in the house for a while to see what the space needs really were,” says Chaparro, who entertains topics relating to home design, decorating and cooking on her blog, “Eugene Modern Monkey.”
Magazines like dwell, subtitled “At Home in the Modern World,” helped Chaparro, 35, and Hall, 37, envision a kitchen far better suited for time together and with friends.
“We like entertaining; we like having friends over. And Jeremy loves to cook,” Chaparro says. “We wanted a space that felt good to do all of those things in.”
But the remodel also had to be “aesthetically artistic,” Chaparro says.
“Yes, we knew that we wanted the space opened up, but we thought an architect could bring different ideas to the table than we could, just because they’re immersed in it all the time and we’re not. It’s not our area of expertise.”
They recruited two Eugene pros: young architect David Schmitz for both his design and structural expertise, and neighborhood cabinet maker Jonathan Plummer for sleek, modular woodworks key to the remodel’s contemporary flair.
The team stewed over details for another few months, and work finally began earlier this year. Now, some $25,000 to $30,000 later, the couple have a kitchen that commands attention on multiple levels:
Against modernistic elements such as stainless-steel countertops and appliances, thin-concrete floors painted midnight blue, and white-laminate cabinet doors, more natural warmth literally flows from a big, curved, handsawn walnut top on the island bar.
“Just being in the Pacific Northwest, we wanted something that feels cozy and brings in the elements, but that still has that modern aesthetic to it,” informs Chaparro. “So that’s what we were aiming for: modern organic.”
Valley Stainless Inc. in Eugene forged the stainless-steel counters as single units, one run for the cabinet wall with sink and the other for the island bar with cooktop. Cabinet maker Plummer estimates the counters — with sculpted sink in the cabinet-wall section — cost about $80 per square foot.
“Some people don’t like it that, over time, they show scratches,” allows Chaparro in regard to the shiny metal counters. “But we’re pretty active in our kitchen, and so the more scratches, the less you notice. You can still polish it up really nice.”
Likewise, she says it’s “really easy” to clean the white laminate fronts on many of the kitchen’s cabinet doors. “A little sponge, and it’s gone.”
No run-of-the-mill cabinets, Plummer built these with ApplePly, a plywood made by States Industries in Eugene. With about a dozen layers of hardwood, “It’s a very fine and regular layering,” notes architect Schmitz. Inside, the cabinets are faced in birch; outside, Eastern maple.
Artistic flair offsets the boxy wall cabinets. Above the sink, an off-white ceramic tile backsplash runs clear to a walnut display shelf — lined with glassware — at ceiling height.
Not only do cabinet doors push to open — good for when both hands are full and a knee or elbow can suffice — but logic pervades to nooks and crannies.
One cabinet drawer slides out for composting kitchen scraps; recycling bins tuck underneath the sink. A step stool, handy for reaching the high, slide-out liquor drawer, fits by design into a shallow crevice above the fridge and below the wall cabinets.
“There’s a space for everything now, and that really helps us keep the whole house cleaner,” Chaparro says. “There’s no question about where to put anything, because that space was built to put that item there. So that’s a joy.”
Even the island bar’s big walnut slab, cut from a whole tree by Curly Burly Milling in Cottage Grove, yields surprises beneath the surface. One swooshed out edge creates room below for a wine cabinet; another, display shelves.
Look up, and a ceiling cabinet above the island bar also includes display shelves.
But look closer at the birch frame with walnut divider, and you notice it contains a custom range hood over the cooktop.
2011年11月16日星期三
Endesa and ASCER renew electricity supply agreement
With a market share year-to-date of 40%, Endesa is further cementing its status as Spain's leading electricity supplier.
Endesa and ASCER (the Spanish Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers) have renewed their framework agreement, establishing new economic and service conditions for the supply of electricity to ASCER member companies.
The agreement, which also covers the members of ANFFECC (National Association of Ceramic Frits, Glazes and Ceramic Pigments) and ASEBEC (Spanish Manufacturers of Machinery for the Ceramics Industry), was signed by the president of ASCER, Joaqun Pin, and the account manager for Price and Demand at Endesa, Juan Jos Muoz. Nearly 234 companies throughout Spain with annual consumption of over 1,000 GWh will benefit from the agreement.
The agreement is valid until 31 December 2012, extending the pact originally signed in November 2006. Over the last five years, this arrangement has enabled the ceramics industry power to receive electricity at highly competitive and stable prices..
In addition, the agreement entails various innovative price schemes that will enable ceramics makers to become even more cost competitive.
This deal is in addition to the one signed by ASCER and Endesa last April for the supply of natural gas to ASCER members which remains in force until December 2012 and means Endesa will remain the key energy supplier for the Spanish ceramics industry in 2012.
Elsewhere, Endesa and ASCER have developed lines of action that are providing ASCER affiliates with tools for boosting efficiency and achieving energy savings. Since 2007, Endesa has carried out over forty energy audits for ASCER members and will again offer this service in conjunction with the assistance programmes offered by the Valencia Energy Agency.
This energy audit work has yielded promising RDI initiatives and Endesa is currently working on heat recovery projects for sector companies that are expected to cut overall energy consumption by around 20%. Endesa and ASCER are also working together to optimise co-generation by association members. This agreement highlights once again the bargaining power wielded by ASCER on behalf of the Spanish ceramics industry in energy matters which are vital to the sector's future.
Under the scope of these energy agreements, Endesa will also sponsor the Tile of Spain Awards for Architecture and Interior Design organised by Ascer and the association's Network of Ceramic Tile Studies Departments, in particular the collaboration with the University of Alicante with a focus on sustainable construction and restoration.
Meanwhile, the deal guarantees Endesa reasonable medium-term remuneration on the generation assets it plans to earmark to supply the ceramics industry, while bolstering its position as leading power supplier in Spain, where it boasts a year-to-date market share of 40%.
ASCER represents over 98% of Spanish ceramic production. In 2010 a total of 178 countries accounted for 68.5% of the Spanish ceramic tile and paving manufacturing industry's sales. The sector's aggregate turnover stood at 2.59 billion. The ceramics industry is the second biggest contributor to the Spanish trade balance (1.65 billion) with exports exceeding imports by almost 2,000%, and in 2010 its exports represented almost 1% of the Spanish total. It is one of the finest examples of industry clustering in Spain and indeed Europe. The nature of the industry, its economic and social importance within the region, its ability to innovate and grow and its global leadership make the Castellón ceramic cluster a benchmark for a unique, competitive and sustainable industry at the heart of Europe.
Endesa and ASCER (the Spanish Association of Ceramic Tile Manufacturers) have renewed their framework agreement, establishing new economic and service conditions for the supply of electricity to ASCER member companies.
The agreement, which also covers the members of ANFFECC (National Association of Ceramic Frits, Glazes and Ceramic Pigments) and ASEBEC (Spanish Manufacturers of Machinery for the Ceramics Industry), was signed by the president of ASCER, Joaqun Pin, and the account manager for Price and Demand at Endesa, Juan Jos Muoz. Nearly 234 companies throughout Spain with annual consumption of over 1,000 GWh will benefit from the agreement.
The agreement is valid until 31 December 2012, extending the pact originally signed in November 2006. Over the last five years, this arrangement has enabled the ceramics industry power to receive electricity at highly competitive and stable prices..
In addition, the agreement entails various innovative price schemes that will enable ceramics makers to become even more cost competitive.
This deal is in addition to the one signed by ASCER and Endesa last April for the supply of natural gas to ASCER members which remains in force until December 2012 and means Endesa will remain the key energy supplier for the Spanish ceramics industry in 2012.
Elsewhere, Endesa and ASCER have developed lines of action that are providing ASCER affiliates with tools for boosting efficiency and achieving energy savings. Since 2007, Endesa has carried out over forty energy audits for ASCER members and will again offer this service in conjunction with the assistance programmes offered by the Valencia Energy Agency.
This energy audit work has yielded promising RDI initiatives and Endesa is currently working on heat recovery projects for sector companies that are expected to cut overall energy consumption by around 20%. Endesa and ASCER are also working together to optimise co-generation by association members. This agreement highlights once again the bargaining power wielded by ASCER on behalf of the Spanish ceramics industry in energy matters which are vital to the sector's future.
Under the scope of these energy agreements, Endesa will also sponsor the Tile of Spain Awards for Architecture and Interior Design organised by Ascer and the association's Network of Ceramic Tile Studies Departments, in particular the collaboration with the University of Alicante with a focus on sustainable construction and restoration.
Meanwhile, the deal guarantees Endesa reasonable medium-term remuneration on the generation assets it plans to earmark to supply the ceramics industry, while bolstering its position as leading power supplier in Spain, where it boasts a year-to-date market share of 40%.
ASCER represents over 98% of Spanish ceramic production. In 2010 a total of 178 countries accounted for 68.5% of the Spanish ceramic tile and paving manufacturing industry's sales. The sector's aggregate turnover stood at 2.59 billion. The ceramics industry is the second biggest contributor to the Spanish trade balance (1.65 billion) with exports exceeding imports by almost 2,000%, and in 2010 its exports represented almost 1% of the Spanish total. It is one of the finest examples of industry clustering in Spain and indeed Europe. The nature of the industry, its economic and social importance within the region, its ability to innovate and grow and its global leadership make the Castellón ceramic cluster a benchmark for a unique, competitive and sustainable industry at the heart of Europe.
2011年11月15日星期二
Steve Bartlett Blog
I am so lucky! People have been sending me pictures of their cats!
That's got me so excited I've been Irish step-dancing like that thing in the Robaxacet commercials.
In a recent column on my weighty cat, Jakey, I asked readers for advice on how to help him drop a few pounds. They gave it to me. Pics et al.
Some of the responses were even fit to print.
One writer suggested Jakey might just be naturally fat and not have a problem.
"I thought my Barney Boo was fat until I brought him to the vet recently for a check up and was informed that at, 17 pounds and only 2.5 years old, he is considered a 'large' cat rather than a 'fat' cat," she wrote.
I hope she's right because that would mean I didn't play a role in making Jakey reach a weight where he leaves footprints in ceramic tile. (And, no offense, but "Barney Boo?")
Speaking of vets, most respondents suggested that's where I should take Jakey. We'll be heading there, and I'll be more afraid than the cat. Sitting in a waiting room with a fat feline amongst all those humungous, hungry, dogs is about as fun as being the patient in home dentistry.
Anyway, in seeking advice on skinnying my cat, I also requested the responses purr with puns.
If there was a legal limit to pun usage, the email from "Barb" - the woman's real name - would land her in the slammer for a very, very long time.
"Poor Jakey, I know what it's like carrying around extra pounds. I've been doing it for years.
"Get him off the couch. Too much sleep is no good so forget the cat-nap, get him to the cat-walk, or play cat-ch with him (it keeps dogs slim). With all that exercise, you'll need to have lots of cat-ty litter for him. That will keep Stevie out of the dog house. If he does too much exercise, take him for a sail on a cat-amaran to relax him. Or you could cat-apult him through the air and, hopefully, he'd think he's a cat-bird and flap his paws, and that's a great workout.
"You love Jakey, so make sure he doesn't overdo it. Reward him with treats that can be found in any cat-alogue on pets. If he seems in pain, cat-er to him, serve him fresh cat-erpillars, cat-fish and cat-sup, if that's his thing. Please don't be alarmed if you hear his caterwauls - believe me that's a good thing for Jakey. But be on the safe side, and if you are really concerned about his health, take him to your vet for a CATscan. It certainly cat-n't hurt.
"Better go now. Gotta tie up the cat-tails with some cat-gut to bring to the fall sale at a cat-lic church. Cat-ch ya later."
Thanks, Barb, for making me cat-atonic. It must have been cat-hartic for you.
Not all feedback was punny though.
One guy sent an email titled "See ya Jakey." In it, he suggested how to get rid of our portly pussycat's poundage permanently. Thanks for the advice, but my house has a no-kill policy for all creatures except European earwigs - and husbands/fathers who harm Jakey.
That's got me so excited I've been Irish step-dancing like that thing in the Robaxacet commercials.
In a recent column on my weighty cat, Jakey, I asked readers for advice on how to help him drop a few pounds. They gave it to me. Pics et al.
Some of the responses were even fit to print.
One writer suggested Jakey might just be naturally fat and not have a problem.
"I thought my Barney Boo was fat until I brought him to the vet recently for a check up and was informed that at, 17 pounds and only 2.5 years old, he is considered a 'large' cat rather than a 'fat' cat," she wrote.
I hope she's right because that would mean I didn't play a role in making Jakey reach a weight where he leaves footprints in ceramic tile. (And, no offense, but "Barney Boo?")
Speaking of vets, most respondents suggested that's where I should take Jakey. We'll be heading there, and I'll be more afraid than the cat. Sitting in a waiting room with a fat feline amongst all those humungous, hungry, dogs is about as fun as being the patient in home dentistry.
Anyway, in seeking advice on skinnying my cat, I also requested the responses purr with puns.
If there was a legal limit to pun usage, the email from "Barb" - the woman's real name - would land her in the slammer for a very, very long time.
"Poor Jakey, I know what it's like carrying around extra pounds. I've been doing it for years.
"Get him off the couch. Too much sleep is no good so forget the cat-nap, get him to the cat-walk, or play cat-ch with him (it keeps dogs slim). With all that exercise, you'll need to have lots of cat-ty litter for him. That will keep Stevie out of the dog house. If he does too much exercise, take him for a sail on a cat-amaran to relax him. Or you could cat-apult him through the air and, hopefully, he'd think he's a cat-bird and flap his paws, and that's a great workout.
"You love Jakey, so make sure he doesn't overdo it. Reward him with treats that can be found in any cat-alogue on pets. If he seems in pain, cat-er to him, serve him fresh cat-erpillars, cat-fish and cat-sup, if that's his thing. Please don't be alarmed if you hear his caterwauls - believe me that's a good thing for Jakey. But be on the safe side, and if you are really concerned about his health, take him to your vet for a CATscan. It certainly cat-n't hurt.
"Better go now. Gotta tie up the cat-tails with some cat-gut to bring to the fall sale at a cat-lic church. Cat-ch ya later."
Thanks, Barb, for making me cat-atonic. It must have been cat-hartic for you.
Not all feedback was punny though.
One guy sent an email titled "See ya Jakey." In it, he suggested how to get rid of our portly pussycat's poundage permanently. Thanks for the advice, but my house has a no-kill policy for all creatures except European earwigs - and husbands/fathers who harm Jakey.
2011年11月14日星期一
Tiny Arizona border town full of strange stories
Deborah Grider is a guera, one of those light-skinned, blond-haired women who look Anglo but are actually Mexican-American.
Gueras and gueros are common at the border, where stereotypes don't easily apply. But it still surprises visitors when Grider switches from English to Spanish in midsentence or when Grider tells them her grandfather, Carlos Escalante, and great-aunt, Raquel Serrano Weaver, both Mexicans, founded the town of Sasabe around 1916.
It surprises them even more if they assume she's Anglo and say something bad about Mexicans. More on that later.
If you have never heard of Sasabe, you are not alone. The tiny speck of a town sits on the border, 72 miles from Tucson. Just 11 people live here. And the only way to get to Sasabe is to drive 20 miles west from Tucson on Ajo Way and then south on Arizona 286 from Robles Junction through nearly 50 miles of nothing but desert scrub land.
Anyone who has spent time in Sasabe knows Grider. She runs the general store, along with her mother, Alice Knagge.
The store has been in their family since 1932, and you can usually find Grider or her mother behind the cash register from sunrise to sunset. It's the only store left in this town, and they are the only two people who work there.
In 1960, Life magazine sent famed photographer J.R. Eyerman to take pictures of Sasabe after Grider's grandfather put the entire town up for sale for $500,000. The price included 450 acres of land and 29 adobe buildings.
"My grandfather built all of these houses," said Grider, who is not about to tell you her age, no matter how much you prod.
Eyerman's black-and-white photographs ran in the March, 28, 1960, edition of the magazine under the headline, "Any Money Down, A Desert Town."
In one photo, the town's entire population, all 30 men, women and children, is shown standing on a hill with Sasabe's rooftops and electric poles in the background. Grider, a little girl in a white blouse, her hair freshly curled, stands in the foreground with her mother, her stepfather, Mike Knagge, her grandparents, Carlos and Luisa Escalante, and her brother Bill, who is looking down at his feet.
Shortly after, Grider's family sent her away to boarding school in Tucson. Grider spent 10 years being taught by nuns at Immaculate Heart Academy, then an all-girls Catholic school.
"My grandparents wanted me to have a good education," Grider said.
As a girl, Grider lived in Sasabe only during the summers. She remembers walking across the border into Mexico to buy candy. When she would return, the customs agents "would just wave you through if they knew you," Grider said.
She remembers playing hide-and-seek and hopscotch with the other children in town. Their parents, most of them ranch hands or customs agents who worked at the port of entry, rented adobe houses built and owned by her grandfather.
There are no children living in Sasabe now, and the entire town is owned by a wealthy Mexican businessman named Domingo Pesqueiro. The San Fernando Elementary School is still there, but the school's 17 students come from Arivaca and other nearby towns or from across the border in El Sasabe.
Grider finished high school in Sahuarita. She used to get up at 5 a.m. to catch the bus for the 1 hour and 45 minute trip from Sasabe to Sahuarita north of Green Valley.
After high school, Grider studied at Pima Community College in Tucson but came home to Sasabe after a year to help her mother at the store.
Grider never married or had children. She moved back to Tucson and spent most of her life living and working there. But doing exactly what, she won't say.
All she will say is, "I had a very interesting life."
"I had lots of jobs," Grider said. "I also ran several of my own businesses. One of them was a mail-order business. Not M-A-L-E order but M-A-I-L order."
In 2001, Grider returned to Sasabe for good. She lives with her mother in a stately ranch house with tall cypress trees overlooking the border. She has been working at the store ever since.
If you visit the store and are lucky, Grider will pull a set of keys from behind the counter and walk you through the store -- past the rows of canned food, the stacks of propane tanks and the racks of T-shirts that say, "Where the Hell Is Sasabe?" -- to a door in back painted green and purple.
A sign above says Hilltop Bar. And when Grider unlocks the door, it feels almost like magic. Hidden inside has got to be the strangest, if not the smallest, bar in Arizona. Just 12 stools and a little table big enough for a game of cards.
"Bienvenidos al rincon de los borrachos," says the ceramic tile hanging on the door. Welcome to the drunkards' corner. (Grider makes sure there is always a designated driver.)
But it's not just the size that makes the bar seem so weird. It's the way the women have decorated the place, kind of like a cross between cowgirl shabby chic and a museum.
On the cement floor are a couple of mano y metates, the grinding stones used by Native Americans in prehistoric times. An old broom and a metal pitchfork hang from one of the walls. A mounted deer head, a gift from one of Grider's hunter friends, juts out from the side of the bar.
But the most bizarre item is a female mannequin. Decked out in a cowboy hat and woolly chaps, the curvy figure is propped up on a table in the middle of the bar clutching a six-pack of beer. A perpetual smile graces her face.
"We used to have a clothing department. She used to be our clothing mannequin," Grider said. "Did you notice she hardly has any fingers? Some kids from across the line broke her fingers off. They thought she was real, so they broke her fingers off to see if she would bleed."
The mannequin is just one example of Grider's quirky sense of border humor.
Over the bar, Grider has posted a sign listing the "House Specials." Sasabe sits in the middle of one of the biggest human-smuggling and drug-trafficking corridors on the border. Using Mexican border slang, Grider has concocted drink specials that pay homage to the various characters found along the border. One drink, tequila and a "secret juice chaser that makes it real smooth," is called "La Migra" -- the Border Patrol.
"The juice is green, and what does La Migra do? They chase people," Grider said.
Another -- tequila, bloody Mary mix in a glass rimmed with salt and chili powder --is called "El pollero," or the smuggler.
"I can say these things because I'm Mexican. And in Mexico we are not politically correct," Grider says with a laugh.
Grider opens the bar just two nights a week, on Fridays and Saturdays, and for special occasions. On a good night, the bar might draw 15 people. But usually it's just Grider and four or five customers. Some are town residents. Others are visitors from the nearby Rancho De La Osa Guest Ranch, an exclusive hotel that serves gourmet meals.
During hunting season in October and November, the bar also fills up with hunters who sometimes stay at a bunkhouse that Grider rents out for $25 a night per person next to the store.
Grider has a rule against foul language at the bar. Customers who break it stick a dollar in a "cuss jar" she keeps on the counter. When the jar fills up, she donates the money to charity.
And here is the part where Grider sometimes hears people say bad things about Mexicans. It's usually the hunters sitting at the bar after they've had a few drinks. Because she is guera, the hunters assume she is Anglo. Grider, who has an easy-going manner and a charming smile, lets them dig a deep hole before she lets on.
Gueras and gueros are common at the border, where stereotypes don't easily apply. But it still surprises visitors when Grider switches from English to Spanish in midsentence or when Grider tells them her grandfather, Carlos Escalante, and great-aunt, Raquel Serrano Weaver, both Mexicans, founded the town of Sasabe around 1916.
It surprises them even more if they assume she's Anglo and say something bad about Mexicans. More on that later.
If you have never heard of Sasabe, you are not alone. The tiny speck of a town sits on the border, 72 miles from Tucson. Just 11 people live here. And the only way to get to Sasabe is to drive 20 miles west from Tucson on Ajo Way and then south on Arizona 286 from Robles Junction through nearly 50 miles of nothing but desert scrub land.
Anyone who has spent time in Sasabe knows Grider. She runs the general store, along with her mother, Alice Knagge.
The store has been in their family since 1932, and you can usually find Grider or her mother behind the cash register from sunrise to sunset. It's the only store left in this town, and they are the only two people who work there.
In 1960, Life magazine sent famed photographer J.R. Eyerman to take pictures of Sasabe after Grider's grandfather put the entire town up for sale for $500,000. The price included 450 acres of land and 29 adobe buildings.
"My grandfather built all of these houses," said Grider, who is not about to tell you her age, no matter how much you prod.
Eyerman's black-and-white photographs ran in the March, 28, 1960, edition of the magazine under the headline, "Any Money Down, A Desert Town."
In one photo, the town's entire population, all 30 men, women and children, is shown standing on a hill with Sasabe's rooftops and electric poles in the background. Grider, a little girl in a white blouse, her hair freshly curled, stands in the foreground with her mother, her stepfather, Mike Knagge, her grandparents, Carlos and Luisa Escalante, and her brother Bill, who is looking down at his feet.
Shortly after, Grider's family sent her away to boarding school in Tucson. Grider spent 10 years being taught by nuns at Immaculate Heart Academy, then an all-girls Catholic school.
"My grandparents wanted me to have a good education," Grider said.
As a girl, Grider lived in Sasabe only during the summers. She remembers walking across the border into Mexico to buy candy. When she would return, the customs agents "would just wave you through if they knew you," Grider said.
She remembers playing hide-and-seek and hopscotch with the other children in town. Their parents, most of them ranch hands or customs agents who worked at the port of entry, rented adobe houses built and owned by her grandfather.
There are no children living in Sasabe now, and the entire town is owned by a wealthy Mexican businessman named Domingo Pesqueiro. The San Fernando Elementary School is still there, but the school's 17 students come from Arivaca and other nearby towns or from across the border in El Sasabe.
Grider finished high school in Sahuarita. She used to get up at 5 a.m. to catch the bus for the 1 hour and 45 minute trip from Sasabe to Sahuarita north of Green Valley.
After high school, Grider studied at Pima Community College in Tucson but came home to Sasabe after a year to help her mother at the store.
Grider never married or had children. She moved back to Tucson and spent most of her life living and working there. But doing exactly what, she won't say.
All she will say is, "I had a very interesting life."
"I had lots of jobs," Grider said. "I also ran several of my own businesses. One of them was a mail-order business. Not M-A-L-E order but M-A-I-L order."
In 2001, Grider returned to Sasabe for good. She lives with her mother in a stately ranch house with tall cypress trees overlooking the border. She has been working at the store ever since.
If you visit the store and are lucky, Grider will pull a set of keys from behind the counter and walk you through the store -- past the rows of canned food, the stacks of propane tanks and the racks of T-shirts that say, "Where the Hell Is Sasabe?" -- to a door in back painted green and purple.
A sign above says Hilltop Bar. And when Grider unlocks the door, it feels almost like magic. Hidden inside has got to be the strangest, if not the smallest, bar in Arizona. Just 12 stools and a little table big enough for a game of cards.
"Bienvenidos al rincon de los borrachos," says the ceramic tile hanging on the door. Welcome to the drunkards' corner. (Grider makes sure there is always a designated driver.)
But it's not just the size that makes the bar seem so weird. It's the way the women have decorated the place, kind of like a cross between cowgirl shabby chic and a museum.
On the cement floor are a couple of mano y metates, the grinding stones used by Native Americans in prehistoric times. An old broom and a metal pitchfork hang from one of the walls. A mounted deer head, a gift from one of Grider's hunter friends, juts out from the side of the bar.
But the most bizarre item is a female mannequin. Decked out in a cowboy hat and woolly chaps, the curvy figure is propped up on a table in the middle of the bar clutching a six-pack of beer. A perpetual smile graces her face.
"We used to have a clothing department. She used to be our clothing mannequin," Grider said. "Did you notice she hardly has any fingers? Some kids from across the line broke her fingers off. They thought she was real, so they broke her fingers off to see if she would bleed."
The mannequin is just one example of Grider's quirky sense of border humor.
Over the bar, Grider has posted a sign listing the "House Specials." Sasabe sits in the middle of one of the biggest human-smuggling and drug-trafficking corridors on the border. Using Mexican border slang, Grider has concocted drink specials that pay homage to the various characters found along the border. One drink, tequila and a "secret juice chaser that makes it real smooth," is called "La Migra" -- the Border Patrol.
"The juice is green, and what does La Migra do? They chase people," Grider said.
Another -- tequila, bloody Mary mix in a glass rimmed with salt and chili powder --is called "El pollero," or the smuggler.
"I can say these things because I'm Mexican. And in Mexico we are not politically correct," Grider says with a laugh.
Grider opens the bar just two nights a week, on Fridays and Saturdays, and for special occasions. On a good night, the bar might draw 15 people. But usually it's just Grider and four or five customers. Some are town residents. Others are visitors from the nearby Rancho De La Osa Guest Ranch, an exclusive hotel that serves gourmet meals.
During hunting season in October and November, the bar also fills up with hunters who sometimes stay at a bunkhouse that Grider rents out for $25 a night per person next to the store.
Grider has a rule against foul language at the bar. Customers who break it stick a dollar in a "cuss jar" she keeps on the counter. When the jar fills up, she donates the money to charity.
And here is the part where Grider sometimes hears people say bad things about Mexicans. It's usually the hunters sitting at the bar after they've had a few drinks. Because she is guera, the hunters assume she is Anglo. Grider, who has an easy-going manner and a charming smile, lets them dig a deep hole before she lets on.
2011年11月13日星期日
Matisse, Cocteau made canvases of two chapels
Regardless of our religious inclinations, when we travel, we wander through grand cathedrals and mosques, sometimes as though they were museums, awestruck by the light, the smell of incense, or the sounds of an ancient organ.
But sometimes it’s the simpler sacred spaces that draw us, intimate places built not over hundreds of years, but maybe a decade, that reflect the dedication - or downright obsession - of their creators. The traveler can find two such tiny chapels not far from the center of Nice in the south of France. Henri Matisse’s Chapelle du Sainte Marie du Rosaire is set on a hillside in this pretty 15th-century hilltown, while Jean Cocteau’s Chapelle Saint-Pierre sits near the waterfront of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Both are masterworks created by artists late in their careers: Cocteau began work on his chapel when he was 68 and Matisse started in his 70s. And both reflect a singular vision of their creators: Matisse’s clean line and color and Cocteau’s fantasmagorical merging of myth and catechism.
You can get an introduction to the Matisse chapel at the Matisse Museum, set in a candy-colored 17th-century Italian villa in the Cimiez section of Nice, just up the hill from the Hotel Regina, where the artist lived and worked until his death in 1954. Here, in addition to a fine collection of his paintings and sculptures, you see models and drawings Matisse developed for the chapel.
Matisse (1869-1954) lived in Vence from 1943-49 and designed his chapel to honor Monique Bourgeois, who served as a model, and who later became a Dominican nun. (Today nuns provide the tours, in French.) The chapel, which sits on the outskirts of town, opened in 1951, and Matisse oversaw its every aspect, from the boldly-colored stained glass windows to the vestments worn by the priests who celebrate Mass at its plain stone altar. It was the first time an artist had done so.
Matisse wrote: “I want those entering my chapel to feel themselves purified and lightened of their burdens. . . . I regard it, despite all its imperfections, as my masterpiece . . . as an effort which is the culmination of a whole life dedicated to the search for truth.’’
This chapel is stark in its simplicity; visitors are sometimes underwhelmed by its modernity. Its exterior is plain, white-washed stucco with a blue ceramic tile roof, decorated with a thin, wrought iron cross, adorned only with gold crescent moons.
Inside, white ceramic tile walls reflect the colored light as it streams through three sets of stained glass windows designed in Matisse’s abstract shapes and three colors: yellow, green, and blue. On the walls are three plain, black line images: the 15-foot-tall St. Dominic, the Virgin Mary and Child, and the Stations of the Cross. The Madonna is a modern one (she is naked), and Jesus’ arms are spread in the shape of a cross.
As you sit on the plain, wooden chairs and watch the light change through the windows, you get a sense of what Matisse was trying to accomplish: a feeling of peace and inner quiet. Instead of being overwhelmed by grandeur, you are prompted to move deeper inside yourself.
Not far away, in the seaside village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, avant-garde poet, artist, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) took a totally different approach, imprinting his own wild vision on an ancient church that had been used to store fishing equipment.
“Cocteau turns muralist for fisherman’s chapel’’ was the headline in July 1957, when Life magazine covered the opening of the Chapelle Saint-Pierre. The photos show the tiny, candlelit chapel filled with visitors who had come to see what the artist had created. “Cocteau himself considers the chapel the ‘crown’ of his work,’’ noted the article’s author, who went on to quote Cocteau: “In doing it I did not use my mind but my heart.’’
We inadvertently got a sense of what its creation must have been like when we visited one late afternoon last spring. The place was closed for renovations, but when I noticed the heavy wooden door was slightly ajar, I pushed on it anyway.
Inside, two young women clad in paint-spattered shirts chatted quietly as they dabbed at the frescoes, oblivious to our presence. Jazz played on a boombox. We had traveled so far, we begged them in bad French. Could we look? Yes, if you are careful, they replied. It turned out to be one of those travel moments you never forget.
Scaffolding filled the 14th-century chapel’s interior, but even in the dusky light, we could see the sweeping images in odd juxtapositions that cross time and genre, some religious, some civil.
Cocteau painted scenes from the life of St. Peter: his walk on water, and his arrest by Roman soldiers. There’s an homage to the women of Villefranche, who carry their basket of fish and sea urchins under the watchful eyes of the angels. The Virgin Mary is serenaded by a 1950s-clad jazz guitarist. The rooster crows. Above it all, angels swoop in a cascade of movement.
Cocteau became enchanted with the rundown chapel while staying at the nearby Hotel Welcome in the 1920s. Back then, he would hardly have been called a religious man. In her book, “Artists and Their Museums on the Riviera,’’ author Barbara Freed points out that the hotel was the scene of, as Cocteau’s friend Ned Rorem put it, “outrageous public behavior.’’ And that’s probably putting it mildly.
When Cocteau returned to Villefranche in 1950, he was an older, established writer, and he began his excursions into painting murals and sketches - he called them “tattoos.’’ As with his film and writings, he drew heavily on Greek mythology, and he made the chapel his canvas.
It took the artist more than seven years to cut through French red tape to renovate the chapel. Once he had the keys, some fishermen stole his ladders to prevent the project from happening - they wanted to keep it for storing nets. Cocteau compromised by donating the entrance fees to a local fishermen’s fund.
Happily, he persisted, and today the church is used a few times each year. Mostly, though, it’s open for the traveler, a chapel-canvas that serves as a reminder that, when it comes to art and religion, good things sometimes come in small packages.
But sometimes it’s the simpler sacred spaces that draw us, intimate places built not over hundreds of years, but maybe a decade, that reflect the dedication - or downright obsession - of their creators. The traveler can find two such tiny chapels not far from the center of Nice in the south of France. Henri Matisse’s Chapelle du Sainte Marie du Rosaire is set on a hillside in this pretty 15th-century hilltown, while Jean Cocteau’s Chapelle Saint-Pierre sits near the waterfront of Villefranche-sur-Mer.
Both are masterworks created by artists late in their careers: Cocteau began work on his chapel when he was 68 and Matisse started in his 70s. And both reflect a singular vision of their creators: Matisse’s clean line and color and Cocteau’s fantasmagorical merging of myth and catechism.
You can get an introduction to the Matisse chapel at the Matisse Museum, set in a candy-colored 17th-century Italian villa in the Cimiez section of Nice, just up the hill from the Hotel Regina, where the artist lived and worked until his death in 1954. Here, in addition to a fine collection of his paintings and sculptures, you see models and drawings Matisse developed for the chapel.
Matisse (1869-1954) lived in Vence from 1943-49 and designed his chapel to honor Monique Bourgeois, who served as a model, and who later became a Dominican nun. (Today nuns provide the tours, in French.) The chapel, which sits on the outskirts of town, opened in 1951, and Matisse oversaw its every aspect, from the boldly-colored stained glass windows to the vestments worn by the priests who celebrate Mass at its plain stone altar. It was the first time an artist had done so.
Matisse wrote: “I want those entering my chapel to feel themselves purified and lightened of their burdens. . . . I regard it, despite all its imperfections, as my masterpiece . . . as an effort which is the culmination of a whole life dedicated to the search for truth.’’
This chapel is stark in its simplicity; visitors are sometimes underwhelmed by its modernity. Its exterior is plain, white-washed stucco with a blue ceramic tile roof, decorated with a thin, wrought iron cross, adorned only with gold crescent moons.
Inside, white ceramic tile walls reflect the colored light as it streams through three sets of stained glass windows designed in Matisse’s abstract shapes and three colors: yellow, green, and blue. On the walls are three plain, black line images: the 15-foot-tall St. Dominic, the Virgin Mary and Child, and the Stations of the Cross. The Madonna is a modern one (she is naked), and Jesus’ arms are spread in the shape of a cross.
As you sit on the plain, wooden chairs and watch the light change through the windows, you get a sense of what Matisse was trying to accomplish: a feeling of peace and inner quiet. Instead of being overwhelmed by grandeur, you are prompted to move deeper inside yourself.
Not far away, in the seaside village of Villefranche-sur-Mer, avant-garde poet, artist, and filmmaker Jean Cocteau (1889-1963) took a totally different approach, imprinting his own wild vision on an ancient church that had been used to store fishing equipment.
“Cocteau turns muralist for fisherman’s chapel’’ was the headline in July 1957, when Life magazine covered the opening of the Chapelle Saint-Pierre. The photos show the tiny, candlelit chapel filled with visitors who had come to see what the artist had created. “Cocteau himself considers the chapel the ‘crown’ of his work,’’ noted the article’s author, who went on to quote Cocteau: “In doing it I did not use my mind but my heart.’’
We inadvertently got a sense of what its creation must have been like when we visited one late afternoon last spring. The place was closed for renovations, but when I noticed the heavy wooden door was slightly ajar, I pushed on it anyway.
Inside, two young women clad in paint-spattered shirts chatted quietly as they dabbed at the frescoes, oblivious to our presence. Jazz played on a boombox. We had traveled so far, we begged them in bad French. Could we look? Yes, if you are careful, they replied. It turned out to be one of those travel moments you never forget.
Scaffolding filled the 14th-century chapel’s interior, but even in the dusky light, we could see the sweeping images in odd juxtapositions that cross time and genre, some religious, some civil.
Cocteau painted scenes from the life of St. Peter: his walk on water, and his arrest by Roman soldiers. There’s an homage to the women of Villefranche, who carry their basket of fish and sea urchins under the watchful eyes of the angels. The Virgin Mary is serenaded by a 1950s-clad jazz guitarist. The rooster crows. Above it all, angels swoop in a cascade of movement.
Cocteau became enchanted with the rundown chapel while staying at the nearby Hotel Welcome in the 1920s. Back then, he would hardly have been called a religious man. In her book, “Artists and Their Museums on the Riviera,’’ author Barbara Freed points out that the hotel was the scene of, as Cocteau’s friend Ned Rorem put it, “outrageous public behavior.’’ And that’s probably putting it mildly.
When Cocteau returned to Villefranche in 1950, he was an older, established writer, and he began his excursions into painting murals and sketches - he called them “tattoos.’’ As with his film and writings, he drew heavily on Greek mythology, and he made the chapel his canvas.
It took the artist more than seven years to cut through French red tape to renovate the chapel. Once he had the keys, some fishermen stole his ladders to prevent the project from happening - they wanted to keep it for storing nets. Cocteau compromised by donating the entrance fees to a local fishermen’s fund.
Happily, he persisted, and today the church is used a few times each year. Mostly, though, it’s open for the traveler, a chapel-canvas that serves as a reminder that, when it comes to art and religion, good things sometimes come in small packages.
2011年11月10日星期四
Get your flooring right
Ceramic is the season trend for floor cover. Scoring over materials like timber, marble and other cumbersome options, tiling has made floor overhauling a fairly quick job. With expenses overshooting budgets and with festivities to take care of, one mostly ponders over cash flow needed for home makeovers.
Reasonably priced with an assortment of options, easy laying and even easier maintenance have made ceramic tiles the most opted for flooring idea. Tiles today simulate the look and texture of other materials as well, like leather, carpeting, linen, marble, slate, bamboo and hardwood.
When compared to timber, flooring tiles offer great durability and trouble-free maintenance. Often considered as elegant as stone, tiled floors are easier to lay, look more fashionable and are longer lasting. Laminate flooring is very susceptible to moisture damage and are therefore not appropriate for tropical climates like ours. A bit of thought into the following aspects and you can never go wrong with tiled floors:
Purpose – The purpose and usage of the space is a vital criterion in opting for the right tiles. Interior, exterior, bathroom, kitchens, porticos.different tiles are available for different areas.
Of late, tiles have moved out of their conventional usage in kitchens and bath areas.
Homeowners are increasingly experimenting and using ceramic tiles in focal areas like living rooms and porticos and even for outdoor landscaping. Responding to demand, ceramic tiles offer special features which make them relevant to use in that particular space.
Usage & traffic – The use of the space and how much it is frequented has to be taken into consideration for hassle-free maintenance of your tiled floor. For the kitchen, anti-bacterial tiles are a practical and safe flooring solution.
From heavy usage areas such as living rooms, lobbies and porches, the use of VC Shield Tiles which have a high abrasion resistant glaze keeps the finish fresher for longer. Using anti-skid tiles, which is the non glossy variety in bathroom, is more desirable than smooth glossy ones.
Overall area to be covered – Area size is a vital factor in deciding the tile size one should opt for. For instance, small-sized tiles work best for shower areas as they provide efficient drainage for a bathroom floor. Large tiles are good to create the illusion of bigger spaces. For the kitchen, large floor tiles are preferred as they result in lesser number of joints.
Medium-sized tiles are easier to install and are apt to cover large areas like terraces.
Driveways require friction on the floor and therefore small tiles to ensure more joints, works best.
Design & trend - Subjective to the space in consideration, tiles are available in unlimited designs that one can consider. Tiles with the natural finish of marble and wood are most sought after.
Metallic finishes embossed in gold, silver, bronze, copper or steel are hot in high-end luxury homes that prefer an opulent look. Textured tiles are the next big thing taking over flat surface tiles. Digital tiles bring out unlimited designs possibilities with sharper finishes and high-resolution printing.
Created based on principles and procedures similar to those used in graphic art work, digitally printed tiles offer photo-like high resolution impressions on ceramic tiles.
Shapes beyond the regular squares such as hexagons and rectangles are gaining popularity. A word of caution, unusual shapes must be used with careful planning as they give a rather bold look.
Flooring renovation can breathe new life into spaces without spending a fortune this festival season. The only important factor is to understand the space which is to be tiled. Flooring of a space needs to serve the twin purpose of being functional and tasteful at the same time.
The right tile is the ultimate solution to all floor renovation questions as it offers strength, design versatility, easy maintenance and affordability.
Reasonably priced with an assortment of options, easy laying and even easier maintenance have made ceramic tiles the most opted for flooring idea. Tiles today simulate the look and texture of other materials as well, like leather, carpeting, linen, marble, slate, bamboo and hardwood.
When compared to timber, flooring tiles offer great durability and trouble-free maintenance. Often considered as elegant as stone, tiled floors are easier to lay, look more fashionable and are longer lasting. Laminate flooring is very susceptible to moisture damage and are therefore not appropriate for tropical climates like ours. A bit of thought into the following aspects and you can never go wrong with tiled floors:
Purpose – The purpose and usage of the space is a vital criterion in opting for the right tiles. Interior, exterior, bathroom, kitchens, porticos.different tiles are available for different areas.
Of late, tiles have moved out of their conventional usage in kitchens and bath areas.
Homeowners are increasingly experimenting and using ceramic tiles in focal areas like living rooms and porticos and even for outdoor landscaping. Responding to demand, ceramic tiles offer special features which make them relevant to use in that particular space.
Usage & traffic – The use of the space and how much it is frequented has to be taken into consideration for hassle-free maintenance of your tiled floor. For the kitchen, anti-bacterial tiles are a practical and safe flooring solution.
From heavy usage areas such as living rooms, lobbies and porches, the use of VC Shield Tiles which have a high abrasion resistant glaze keeps the finish fresher for longer. Using anti-skid tiles, which is the non glossy variety in bathroom, is more desirable than smooth glossy ones.
Overall area to be covered – Area size is a vital factor in deciding the tile size one should opt for. For instance, small-sized tiles work best for shower areas as they provide efficient drainage for a bathroom floor. Large tiles are good to create the illusion of bigger spaces. For the kitchen, large floor tiles are preferred as they result in lesser number of joints.
Medium-sized tiles are easier to install and are apt to cover large areas like terraces.
Driveways require friction on the floor and therefore small tiles to ensure more joints, works best.
Design & trend - Subjective to the space in consideration, tiles are available in unlimited designs that one can consider. Tiles with the natural finish of marble and wood are most sought after.
Metallic finishes embossed in gold, silver, bronze, copper or steel are hot in high-end luxury homes that prefer an opulent look. Textured tiles are the next big thing taking over flat surface tiles. Digital tiles bring out unlimited designs possibilities with sharper finishes and high-resolution printing.
Created based on principles and procedures similar to those used in graphic art work, digitally printed tiles offer photo-like high resolution impressions on ceramic tiles.
Shapes beyond the regular squares such as hexagons and rectangles are gaining popularity. A word of caution, unusual shapes must be used with careful planning as they give a rather bold look.
Flooring renovation can breathe new life into spaces without spending a fortune this festival season. The only important factor is to understand the space which is to be tiled. Flooring of a space needs to serve the twin purpose of being functional and tasteful at the same time.
The right tile is the ultimate solution to all floor renovation questions as it offers strength, design versatility, easy maintenance and affordability.
2011年11月9日星期三
Get into holiday spirit at the Victorian House Museum in Millersburg
If during the next seven weeks you find yourself craving an antidote to the stress of shopping for the latest bank-account-breaking gadgets and taking your credit cards to the limit, "Holidays at the Mansion" at the Victorian House Museum in Millersburg could be just the right medicine.
"Holidays at the Mansion" opens with a lighting ceremony and tours from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, and runs through Saturday, Dec. 31.
For the past nine years, the 28-room mansion, completed in 1902 and featured in Victorian Homes Magazine and on HGTV's "Victorian America," has been swathed in holiday splendor thanks to Millersburg-area decorators.
The original character of the mansion -- glowing hardwood floors, fanciful fireplaces and old-fashioned lighting -- gets done up to remind us of children nestled in their beds with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads, figgy pudding, carolers and other romantic images associated with Christmases of old.
When: The event begins with a free lighting ceremony and tours, 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. After that, the mansion is open daily for self-guided tours, 1-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 1-8 p.m. Friday and Sunday, through Saturday, Dec. 31. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Admission: $8, adults; $7, seniors 65 and older; $3, students; free; children 12 and younger.
"This started out small and has grown over the years," says Mark Boley, director of the Holmes County Historical Society. The society owns the mansion, which was built by steel industrialist L.H. Brightman, a father of 12 who had 56 patents when he passed away.
Each room will have a unique holiday flavor. The ballroom will feature the ceramic Santa collection of Greg Oswald of Millersburg. For many years Oswald's father, Marvin, hand-painted themed ceramic Santas as a hobby.
"They are very intricately painted," says the younger Oswald, who is a pharmacist. For example, he adds, the Scottish Santa wears plaid, and painting the kilt required a steady hand.
Every year his father painted custom Santas, from 7 to 12 inches tall, as gifts. There will be about 40 of them displayed in the ballroom.
"I know I'm a little prejudiced," Oswald says of the Santas painted by his father. "But everyone who sees them is impressed by them."
"Holidays at the Mansion" opens with a lighting ceremony and tours from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, and runs through Saturday, Dec. 31.
For the past nine years, the 28-room mansion, completed in 1902 and featured in Victorian Homes Magazine and on HGTV's "Victorian America," has been swathed in holiday splendor thanks to Millersburg-area decorators.
The original character of the mansion -- glowing hardwood floors, fanciful fireplaces and old-fashioned lighting -- gets done up to remind us of children nestled in their beds with visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads, figgy pudding, carolers and other romantic images associated with Christmases of old.
When: The event begins with a free lighting ceremony and tours, 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19. After that, the mansion is open daily for self-guided tours, 1-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 1-8 p.m. Friday and Sunday, through Saturday, Dec. 31. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Admission: $8, adults; $7, seniors 65 and older; $3, students; free; children 12 and younger.
"This started out small and has grown over the years," says Mark Boley, director of the Holmes County Historical Society. The society owns the mansion, which was built by steel industrialist L.H. Brightman, a father of 12 who had 56 patents when he passed away.
Each room will have a unique holiday flavor. The ballroom will feature the ceramic Santa collection of Greg Oswald of Millersburg. For many years Oswald's father, Marvin, hand-painted themed ceramic Santas as a hobby.
"They are very intricately painted," says the younger Oswald, who is a pharmacist. For example, he adds, the Scottish Santa wears plaid, and painting the kilt required a steady hand.
Every year his father painted custom Santas, from 7 to 12 inches tall, as gifts. There will be about 40 of them displayed in the ballroom.
"I know I'm a little prejudiced," Oswald says of the Santas painted by his father. "But everyone who sees them is impressed by them."
2011年11月8日星期二
QuadTech aims to make off-line a thing of the past
The new high-definition viewing capability facilitates easy on-the-fly detection of dot abnormalities such as pin-holing, bridging, doughnuts and halos. Images are captured at 2500dpi and made instantly accessible through the ICONTM user interface, so that dot quality detail can be analysed by the human eye as soon as ink is transferred to the substrate.
‘SpectralCam HD provides an instant means of identifying dot abnormalities that until now could only have been discovered by stopping production and analysing a magnified sample of printed work offline. The operator has reassurance that dot abnormalities will be detected to a much higher standard than was previously possible, without compromising production up-time levels,’ comments Laura Casale, project manager at QuadTech.
The enhanced viewing capability enables print operators to react faster to changes in pressure or plate anomalies and take appropriate remedial action in a shorter time, thereby reducing material waste and reject levels.
SpectralCam HD is likely to be of particular benefit in flexible packaging printing situations, where the ability to view dot profiles is paramount, and to operators of central impression-flexo presses, which require significant pressure adjustment. The device performs at up to 1076 m/min (3500 ft/min) and is capable of working with a wide range of paper and film substrates.
Another innovation found in the Color Measurement System is a web stabilising unit that allows precise spectral colour measurement of transparent and opaque films on-the-fly without risk of substrate corrugation.
The web stabiliser device consists of a flat-top, low-friction platform, on to which the moving web is momentarily stabilised by suction, to enable colour measurement over two ceramic tiles: one black, to measure opacity, and one white, to measure transparency. The tiles meet the British Ceramic Research Association (BCRA) ceramic colour standard, guaranteeing a long-term constant backing value The tile assembly is removable for easy cleaning.
The substrate is sucked into contact with the tile, in order to take colour readings without wrinkles, bubbles and shadows that may result in distortion. Suction occurs when a vacuum is created around the tiles, by pumping pulses of high-pressure air through a channel and out through small holes along the side of the tile. After being held for no more than the few milliseconds necessary to take a reading, the substrate is released. The low friction-coefficient of the contact area prevents scratching or scuffing of either the surface area or substrate. Multiple targets can be captured at one time.
The web stabiliser device provides an alternative to white rollers whose large surface areas are prone to contamination, difficult to clean, and fail to give a constant backing solution.
Laura Casale, project manager at QuadTech, commented, ‘In package print, the need to measure colour off-line is a major barrier to achieving lean production management. With the Color Measurement System, we empower packaging printers to achieve optimum spectral colour quality without interruption to the printing run, whatever the substrate or application, and further drive waste out of the workflow.’
‘SpectralCam HD provides an instant means of identifying dot abnormalities that until now could only have been discovered by stopping production and analysing a magnified sample of printed work offline. The operator has reassurance that dot abnormalities will be detected to a much higher standard than was previously possible, without compromising production up-time levels,’ comments Laura Casale, project manager at QuadTech.
The enhanced viewing capability enables print operators to react faster to changes in pressure or plate anomalies and take appropriate remedial action in a shorter time, thereby reducing material waste and reject levels.
SpectralCam HD is likely to be of particular benefit in flexible packaging printing situations, where the ability to view dot profiles is paramount, and to operators of central impression-flexo presses, which require significant pressure adjustment. The device performs at up to 1076 m/min (3500 ft/min) and is capable of working with a wide range of paper and film substrates.
Another innovation found in the Color Measurement System is a web stabilising unit that allows precise spectral colour measurement of transparent and opaque films on-the-fly without risk of substrate corrugation.
The web stabiliser device consists of a flat-top, low-friction platform, on to which the moving web is momentarily stabilised by suction, to enable colour measurement over two ceramic tiles: one black, to measure opacity, and one white, to measure transparency. The tiles meet the British Ceramic Research Association (BCRA) ceramic colour standard, guaranteeing a long-term constant backing value The tile assembly is removable for easy cleaning.
The substrate is sucked into contact with the tile, in order to take colour readings without wrinkles, bubbles and shadows that may result in distortion. Suction occurs when a vacuum is created around the tiles, by pumping pulses of high-pressure air through a channel and out through small holes along the side of the tile. After being held for no more than the few milliseconds necessary to take a reading, the substrate is released. The low friction-coefficient of the contact area prevents scratching or scuffing of either the surface area or substrate. Multiple targets can be captured at one time.
The web stabiliser device provides an alternative to white rollers whose large surface areas are prone to contamination, difficult to clean, and fail to give a constant backing solution.
Laura Casale, project manager at QuadTech, commented, ‘In package print, the need to measure colour off-line is a major barrier to achieving lean production management. With the Color Measurement System, we empower packaging printers to achieve optimum spectral colour quality without interruption to the printing run, whatever the substrate or application, and further drive waste out of the workflow.’
2011年11月7日星期一
Mohawk Industries Shares Given New $44.00 Price Target
Mohawk Industries Shares Given New $44.00 Price Target by Goldman Sachs Analysts
Equities research analysts at Goldman Sachs raised their price target on shares of Mohawk Industries to $44.00 in a research issued note to investors on Monday.
Separately, analysts at RBC Capital raised their price target on shares of Mohawk Industries from $54.00 to $58.00 in a research note to investors on Monday. They now have a “sector perform” rating on the stock. Analysts at Barclays Capital initiated coverage on shares of Mohawk Industries in a research note to investors on Thursday, October 13rd. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $59.00 price target on the stock. Also, analysts at Credit Suisse cut their EPS estimates on shares of Mohawk Industries in a research note on Wednesday. They now have a “neutral” rating and a $47.00 price target on the stock.
Mohawk Industries, Inc., is a producer of floor covering products for residential and commercial applications in the United States and residential applications in Europe. The Company is a carpet and rug manufacturer, and manufactures, markets and distributes of ceramic tile, natural stone and hardwood flooring in the United States, as well as a producer of laminate flooring in the United States and Europe. The Company operates in three segments: the Mohawk segment, the Dal-Tile segment and the Unilin segment.
Shares of Mohawk Industries traded down 2.48% during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $51.97. Mohawk Industries has a 52 week low of $39.93 and a 52 week high of $68.86. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $44.96 and its 200-day moving average is $55.60. The company has a market cap of $3.573 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.26.
Stay on top of analysts' coverage with our daily email newsletter that provides a concise list of analysts' upgrades, analysts' downgrades and analysts' price target changes for each day. Click here to register.
Equities research analysts at Goldman Sachs raised their price target on shares of Mohawk Industries to $44.00 in a research issued note to investors on Monday.
Separately, analysts at RBC Capital raised their price target on shares of Mohawk Industries from $54.00 to $58.00 in a research note to investors on Monday. They now have a “sector perform” rating on the stock. Analysts at Barclays Capital initiated coverage on shares of Mohawk Industries in a research note to investors on Thursday, October 13rd. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $59.00 price target on the stock. Also, analysts at Credit Suisse cut their EPS estimates on shares of Mohawk Industries in a research note on Wednesday. They now have a “neutral” rating and a $47.00 price target on the stock.
Mohawk Industries, Inc., is a producer of floor covering products for residential and commercial applications in the United States and residential applications in Europe. The Company is a carpet and rug manufacturer, and manufactures, markets and distributes of ceramic tile, natural stone and hardwood flooring in the United States, as well as a producer of laminate flooring in the United States and Europe. The Company operates in three segments: the Mohawk segment, the Dal-Tile segment and the Unilin segment.
Shares of Mohawk Industries traded down 2.48% during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $51.97. Mohawk Industries has a 52 week low of $39.93 and a 52 week high of $68.86. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $44.96 and its 200-day moving average is $55.60. The company has a market cap of $3.573 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.26.
Stay on top of analysts' coverage with our daily email newsletter that provides a concise list of analysts' upgrades, analysts' downgrades and analysts' price target changes for each day. Click here to register.
2011年11月6日星期日
Highland Homes expands Pasco presence
With an innovative "on your lot'' program and the opening of several new communities, Highland Homes is expanding its presence throughout Pasco County.
"Based on our success in selling in Zephyrhills the past two years, we've decided to venture into other areas of Pasco County, '' said Kathie McDaniel, vice president of sales and marketing for the Lakeland-based homebuilder. "And with our $99 moves-you-in program, people can find that, in many instances, it's cheaper to own a home than it is to rent one.''
In the "on your lot'' program, Highland Homes will build a house based on their own or a buyer's floor plan, with prices starting in the low $100,000s.
"Buyers who own their lot and are interested in building a new home can now build one with Highland Homes," she said. "Or they can also choose to buy a lot in another subdivision and have Highland Homes build on that lot as part of their contract process. Now buyers have several options when choosing Highland Homes as their builder, and as usual, it's still $99 down.''
Highland's latest venture is in the new community of Sunset Hills in Dade City. Part of Pasco County's efforts for neighborhood stabilization, Sunset Hills will feature homes in size that range from 1,100 square feet to up to 2,000 square feet. Each home will have at least three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage, along with blinds throughout the house, a microwave over the range, a 21-cubic-foot refrigerator and a washer and dryer.
Prices start in the low $100,000s, and eligible buyers can receive up to $50,000 of down payment assistance, McDaniel said.
"Additionally, there will be no closing costs for these homes," she added, noting that house payments start around $600 a month, and buyers need just $99 down to buy.
"We're excited about this community,'' McDaniel said. "It just opened the first of October, and already we have two sales.''
The company also is highlighting homes in the neo-traditional community of Ten Oaks in Zephyrhillls. Houses there feature concrete siding and some also have front porches. Additional features include quality cabinets in several stains, Mohawk carpet, Delta faucets, contemporary light fixtures and Whirlpool appliances.
"Choosing everything from the perfect lot with the perfect view to your favorite floor plan and everything inside the home is what makes Highland Homes special,'' McDaniel said. "Our buyers choose everything rather than selecting a home that a builder has for sale or a resale that someone else already owned. Buyers can determine their choices by their own wants, needs and budget and create their own custom interiors at the personal selection studio.''
Cheryl Gonzalez, community sales manager, said buyers seem to love the look of the homes built in Ten Oaks.
"It's a nice throwback to homes that were built in the '50s and '60s, but with all the modern conveniences,'' she explained.
Highland Homes offers several floor plans in the community, with prices starting in the $130,000s and sizes ranging from 1,100 to 2,200 square feet.
The response to Ten Oaks has been very favorable, according to McDaniel. The grand opening was in September and more than 10 homes were sold by mid-October. The community features hiking trails, sidewalks, a community gazebo and several ponds.
It is located off Eiland Boulevard, which is an extension of Morris Bridge and is just minutes away from The Shoppes at Wiregrass and the Groves shopping center in Wesley Chapel.
However, the community has a serene and rural feel with surrounding properties that have open spaces along with grazing cows, McDaniel said.
Ten Oaks is located in a USDA area which allows 100 percent financing to qualified buyers.
"Combine our $99 down moves-you-in special with the USDA financing and our low interest rate and buyers will find it's cheaper to buy than rent," she said. "Highland Homes prides itself on helping buyers who have less than perfect credit purchase a new home."
The first community that Highland opened this summer in West Pasco, The Reserve at Meadow Oaks, is a golf course community that is designed to offer homeowners a country club lifestyle with affordable pricing.
Meadow Oaks features homes with living space from 1,450 square feet to more than 2,600 square feet. Houses are one or two stories, feature three to five bedrooms, two to three and half bathrooms, and two-and three-car garages.
Houses feature quality cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms, Whirlpool appliances, Delta faucets, R-30 insulation, 14 SEER air conditioning units, steel/ceramic bathtubs with tile surrounds, Mohawk carpeting and Armstrong flooring.
"Two things that separate us from the other builders in the area are our foundations – they are higher than most so that the homes are not affected by flooding – and our deposit requirement,'' McDaniel said. "The $99 down to purchase a home has been a big hit for our company.''
Sales counselor Phil Wainio added, "Even buyers who pay cash love the fact that they only need $99 down to purchase a home."
The community also offers a large swimming pool, tennis courts and a clubhouse. It is located off Highway 52 in Hudson and is minutes away from the Gulf of Mexico for owners who love the beach, yet close enough to the Suncoast Parkway for buyers who need to commute to Tampa, McDaniel said.
"Based on our success in selling in Zephyrhills the past two years, we've decided to venture into other areas of Pasco County, '' said Kathie McDaniel, vice president of sales and marketing for the Lakeland-based homebuilder. "And with our $99 moves-you-in program, people can find that, in many instances, it's cheaper to own a home than it is to rent one.''
In the "on your lot'' program, Highland Homes will build a house based on their own or a buyer's floor plan, with prices starting in the low $100,000s.
"Buyers who own their lot and are interested in building a new home can now build one with Highland Homes," she said. "Or they can also choose to buy a lot in another subdivision and have Highland Homes build on that lot as part of their contract process. Now buyers have several options when choosing Highland Homes as their builder, and as usual, it's still $99 down.''
Highland's latest venture is in the new community of Sunset Hills in Dade City. Part of Pasco County's efforts for neighborhood stabilization, Sunset Hills will feature homes in size that range from 1,100 square feet to up to 2,000 square feet. Each home will have at least three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage, along with blinds throughout the house, a microwave over the range, a 21-cubic-foot refrigerator and a washer and dryer.
Prices start in the low $100,000s, and eligible buyers can receive up to $50,000 of down payment assistance, McDaniel said.
"Additionally, there will be no closing costs for these homes," she added, noting that house payments start around $600 a month, and buyers need just $99 down to buy.
"We're excited about this community,'' McDaniel said. "It just opened the first of October, and already we have two sales.''
The company also is highlighting homes in the neo-traditional community of Ten Oaks in Zephyrhillls. Houses there feature concrete siding and some also have front porches. Additional features include quality cabinets in several stains, Mohawk carpet, Delta faucets, contemporary light fixtures and Whirlpool appliances.
"Choosing everything from the perfect lot with the perfect view to your favorite floor plan and everything inside the home is what makes Highland Homes special,'' McDaniel said. "Our buyers choose everything rather than selecting a home that a builder has for sale or a resale that someone else already owned. Buyers can determine their choices by their own wants, needs and budget and create their own custom interiors at the personal selection studio.''
Cheryl Gonzalez, community sales manager, said buyers seem to love the look of the homes built in Ten Oaks.
"It's a nice throwback to homes that were built in the '50s and '60s, but with all the modern conveniences,'' she explained.
Highland Homes offers several floor plans in the community, with prices starting in the $130,000s and sizes ranging from 1,100 to 2,200 square feet.
The response to Ten Oaks has been very favorable, according to McDaniel. The grand opening was in September and more than 10 homes were sold by mid-October. The community features hiking trails, sidewalks, a community gazebo and several ponds.
It is located off Eiland Boulevard, which is an extension of Morris Bridge and is just minutes away from The Shoppes at Wiregrass and the Groves shopping center in Wesley Chapel.
However, the community has a serene and rural feel with surrounding properties that have open spaces along with grazing cows, McDaniel said.
Ten Oaks is located in a USDA area which allows 100 percent financing to qualified buyers.
"Combine our $99 down moves-you-in special with the USDA financing and our low interest rate and buyers will find it's cheaper to buy than rent," she said. "Highland Homes prides itself on helping buyers who have less than perfect credit purchase a new home."
The first community that Highland opened this summer in West Pasco, The Reserve at Meadow Oaks, is a golf course community that is designed to offer homeowners a country club lifestyle with affordable pricing.
Meadow Oaks features homes with living space from 1,450 square feet to more than 2,600 square feet. Houses are one or two stories, feature three to five bedrooms, two to three and half bathrooms, and two-and three-car garages.
Houses feature quality cabinets in kitchens and bathrooms, Whirlpool appliances, Delta faucets, R-30 insulation, 14 SEER air conditioning units, steel/ceramic bathtubs with tile surrounds, Mohawk carpeting and Armstrong flooring.
"Two things that separate us from the other builders in the area are our foundations – they are higher than most so that the homes are not affected by flooding – and our deposit requirement,'' McDaniel said. "The $99 down to purchase a home has been a big hit for our company.''
Sales counselor Phil Wainio added, "Even buyers who pay cash love the fact that they only need $99 down to purchase a home."
The community also offers a large swimming pool, tennis courts and a clubhouse. It is located off Highway 52 in Hudson and is minutes away from the Gulf of Mexico for owners who love the beach, yet close enough to the Suncoast Parkway for buyers who need to commute to Tampa, McDaniel said.
2011年11月3日星期四
Tread on baked earth
I fondly remember the clatter of us children jumping on terracotta tiles that fell from the unused part of the roof at my grandma’s place in Allahabad. The earth-coloured tiles looked beautiful. We may not see too much of this material used in modern buildings now, but terracotta has been around from ancient times. It was used for building and decorative arts by cultures and civilisations around the world. Literally meaning ‘baked earth,’ it is made of natural clay, which gives it a characteristic reddish-brown colour.
The colour varies slightly depending on the clay used. Terracotta may be glazed for extra durability or to provide colour. The best part about the tile is that it is waterproof and a sturdy material, which is why so many ancient terracotta sculptures are still in excellent shape.
A much-advanced form of terracotta tiles are flooring tiles with stunning patterns and a smooth finish. You can also check out some designer tiles for your home. Beautifully paved, the flooring tiles can be easily adapted to modern-day architecture and can lend a warm look to the interiors. Ceilings and wall claddings are other areas where you can use terracotta. Patterned tiles can make for an artistic wall or ceiling. Terracotta can help in controlling the indoor temperature thereby making it a weather friendly tiling option. It is definitely an aesthetic relief from the usual.
Terracotta tiling can also be used for lawns – it adapts naturally to the green environment and looks very much a part of the space. You can choose from handcrafted or machine-made tiles. These rustic tile pieces will surely add to the charm of any space. Gayathri Rao from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala decided to restore her ancestral house and did it all with terracotta tiles and antique furniture. “Terracotta has come in very handy in creating the warm traditional look,” she says. If not the complete flooring or walls, do add some glazed artistically done terracotta tiles to a blank wall or ceiling to bring it alive with colour and warmth.
Terracotta tiles are beautiful in their natural state. However, they are very porous. In order for them to be durable, they need to be sealed, often more than once during the initial installation.
Sealing can be rather tedious, so you may want to leave this to a professional. The sealing is a tedious process too, requiring two-three days perhaps.
A terracotta flooring is very easy to maintain and clean, once sealed. It can be used in just about every area of the home, owing to its versatility. Because it is highly water resistant and also resistant to the elements, it can be used outside, on patios and driveways.
Inside the home, terracotta tiles are used in kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and entryways. They are water, allergen and bacteria-resistant, a plus for most homeowners. As an added plus, terracotta tiles are very affordable.
n These tiles look better as they age.
Terracotta tile flooring is not as hard as other types of flooring, yet it is still durable. Additionally, it does not feel as cold under your feet. For these reasons, it is a favourite for use in kitchens and bathrooms.
Terracotta was widely used in the decorative arts of ancient China, perhaps most famously in the tombs of soldiers of the second century BCE emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Terracotta vases and other sculptures were known to have been found in ancient Egypt, the Mediterranean, the Middle-East, West Africa, and Central and North America. In fact, it was the terracotta pipe that was one of the oldest materials used in plumbing.
Though terracotta largely fell out of use in Europe during the Middle Ages, its use in building and sculpture was revived in the Renaissance Gothic style, and it has remained an important material even in the modern era.
Construction methods improved over the ages, as terracotta was once baked in the sun, later dried among ashes in the oven, and finally kiln-fired. While terracotta was used to make roof tiles and bricks in the ancient world, it became more versatile as a building material during the modern era.
Tiles with 15 mm thickness have some advantages such as lower shipping and installation costs. The installation is also possible on concrete or on old floors with ceramic tile adhesives. It is possible to cut the tiles using common ceramic tile cutting tools too. The one big downside is that it has no glaze on the surface and can pick up and store dirt and dust very quickly. So be ready to mop and clean as and when required. There are synthetic cleansers available in the market that can be effectively used to clean these tiles.
The colour varies slightly depending on the clay used. Terracotta may be glazed for extra durability or to provide colour. The best part about the tile is that it is waterproof and a sturdy material, which is why so many ancient terracotta sculptures are still in excellent shape.
A much-advanced form of terracotta tiles are flooring tiles with stunning patterns and a smooth finish. You can also check out some designer tiles for your home. Beautifully paved, the flooring tiles can be easily adapted to modern-day architecture and can lend a warm look to the interiors. Ceilings and wall claddings are other areas where you can use terracotta. Patterned tiles can make for an artistic wall or ceiling. Terracotta can help in controlling the indoor temperature thereby making it a weather friendly tiling option. It is definitely an aesthetic relief from the usual.
Terracotta tiling can also be used for lawns – it adapts naturally to the green environment and looks very much a part of the space. You can choose from handcrafted or machine-made tiles. These rustic tile pieces will surely add to the charm of any space. Gayathri Rao from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala decided to restore her ancestral house and did it all with terracotta tiles and antique furniture. “Terracotta has come in very handy in creating the warm traditional look,” she says. If not the complete flooring or walls, do add some glazed artistically done terracotta tiles to a blank wall or ceiling to bring it alive with colour and warmth.
Terracotta tiles are beautiful in their natural state. However, they are very porous. In order for them to be durable, they need to be sealed, often more than once during the initial installation.
Sealing can be rather tedious, so you may want to leave this to a professional. The sealing is a tedious process too, requiring two-three days perhaps.
A terracotta flooring is very easy to maintain and clean, once sealed. It can be used in just about every area of the home, owing to its versatility. Because it is highly water resistant and also resistant to the elements, it can be used outside, on patios and driveways.
Inside the home, terracotta tiles are used in kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms and entryways. They are water, allergen and bacteria-resistant, a plus for most homeowners. As an added plus, terracotta tiles are very affordable.
n These tiles look better as they age.
Terracotta tile flooring is not as hard as other types of flooring, yet it is still durable. Additionally, it does not feel as cold under your feet. For these reasons, it is a favourite for use in kitchens and bathrooms.
Terracotta was widely used in the decorative arts of ancient China, perhaps most famously in the tombs of soldiers of the second century BCE emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Terracotta vases and other sculptures were known to have been found in ancient Egypt, the Mediterranean, the Middle-East, West Africa, and Central and North America. In fact, it was the terracotta pipe that was one of the oldest materials used in plumbing.
Though terracotta largely fell out of use in Europe during the Middle Ages, its use in building and sculpture was revived in the Renaissance Gothic style, and it has remained an important material even in the modern era.
Construction methods improved over the ages, as terracotta was once baked in the sun, later dried among ashes in the oven, and finally kiln-fired. While terracotta was used to make roof tiles and bricks in the ancient world, it became more versatile as a building material during the modern era.
Tiles with 15 mm thickness have some advantages such as lower shipping and installation costs. The installation is also possible on concrete or on old floors with ceramic tile adhesives. It is possible to cut the tiles using common ceramic tile cutting tools too. The one big downside is that it has no glaze on the surface and can pick up and store dirt and dust very quickly. So be ready to mop and clean as and when required. There are synthetic cleansers available in the market that can be effectively used to clean these tiles.
2011年11月2日星期三
House of the Week
This five-bedroom, three-storey home is located in the heart of a prosperous and hip west-end community. Solidly built in 1910, it has undergone a complete renovation, adding to its appeal.
“I have sold many homes in the area and this one represents great value and offers a unique blend of old architectural charm with new modern updates,” says listing agent Bill Mohan. “Many older homes in the area still have knob and tube wiring, but along with the newly designed kitchen and baths, the electrical aspects have all been updated.”
Mohan explain that the home was built in the era when Toronto homes were constructed with finishes like high ceilings, beautiful woodwork and detailed finishings such as stained glass and ornate fireplaces.
“It was typical in grander homes of this period to have sliding pocket or French doors between the parlour and the dining room. Expansive wainscotting was often used in the more expensive homes, along with a grand staircase, high baseboards and crown mouldings. One of my favourite features of the home is the original butler’s pantry,” he adds.
The long driveway can park up to seven cars and there is a detached double car garage.
The front door opens to a bright enclosed porch. From there an oversized oak door opens to the main hall that features arched headers over the passageway, crown moulding, a picket stairway, a mirrored closet, stained glass window and a closed fireplace that can easily be opened or converted to a gas.
The living room boasts a French door entrance from the hallway, two stained glass windows, a bow window, hardwood floors and a closed-off marble fireplace.
Adjacent is the spacious formal dining room with a beamed ceiling, French doors, hardwood, a large bow window with a seating area beneath and pocket doors.
The renovated kitchen features pot lights, granite counters, ceramic floor, ceramic tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances, including a wine fridge.
The kitchen opens to a sunroom, which can also be entered from the dining room. It has broadloom and a sliding glass door to the backyard.
There is a large three-panelled stained glass window on the stair landing between the first and second floors.
The master bedroom is large with a bay window, hardwood and a fireplace. The second bedroom has a fireplace place and a bay window. There is a third bedroom with hardwood, a laundry room, four-piece bathroom and a three-piece bathroom with a glass shower stall.
On the third floor are two more bedrooms with hardwood and a skylight in the hall.
Highlights of the finished basement include a separate entrance, a carpeted recreation room and an in law suite with an office or bedroom, kitchen with a ceramic tile floor and three-piece bathroom. There is another laundry room in the basement and storage space.
The backyard is fenced and the home is walking distance to the subway, shops, eateries and schools, including French immersion schools.
“I have sold many homes in the area and this one represents great value and offers a unique blend of old architectural charm with new modern updates,” says listing agent Bill Mohan. “Many older homes in the area still have knob and tube wiring, but along with the newly designed kitchen and baths, the electrical aspects have all been updated.”
Mohan explain that the home was built in the era when Toronto homes were constructed with finishes like high ceilings, beautiful woodwork and detailed finishings such as stained glass and ornate fireplaces.
“It was typical in grander homes of this period to have sliding pocket or French doors between the parlour and the dining room. Expansive wainscotting was often used in the more expensive homes, along with a grand staircase, high baseboards and crown mouldings. One of my favourite features of the home is the original butler’s pantry,” he adds.
The long driveway can park up to seven cars and there is a detached double car garage.
The front door opens to a bright enclosed porch. From there an oversized oak door opens to the main hall that features arched headers over the passageway, crown moulding, a picket stairway, a mirrored closet, stained glass window and a closed fireplace that can easily be opened or converted to a gas.
The living room boasts a French door entrance from the hallway, two stained glass windows, a bow window, hardwood floors and a closed-off marble fireplace.
Adjacent is the spacious formal dining room with a beamed ceiling, French doors, hardwood, a large bow window with a seating area beneath and pocket doors.
The renovated kitchen features pot lights, granite counters, ceramic floor, ceramic tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances, including a wine fridge.
The kitchen opens to a sunroom, which can also be entered from the dining room. It has broadloom and a sliding glass door to the backyard.
There is a large three-panelled stained glass window on the stair landing between the first and second floors.
The master bedroom is large with a bay window, hardwood and a fireplace. The second bedroom has a fireplace place and a bay window. There is a third bedroom with hardwood, a laundry room, four-piece bathroom and a three-piece bathroom with a glass shower stall.
On the third floor are two more bedrooms with hardwood and a skylight in the hall.
Highlights of the finished basement include a separate entrance, a carpeted recreation room and an in law suite with an office or bedroom, kitchen with a ceramic tile floor and three-piece bathroom. There is another laundry room in the basement and storage space.
The backyard is fenced and the home is walking distance to the subway, shops, eateries and schools, including French immersion schools.
2011年11月1日星期二
Cheap kitchen tiles and incorporating kitchen tiles in kitchen design
Marble tiles have an air of sophistication whether your kitchen area is small or large and the range of styles available is huge, there are many variations of marble tiles in the form of marble mosaic tiles, larger marble slabs and standard sized tiles. The choice is largely yours and the size of your budget will play a part in the wall tiles you choose.
Marble tiles are not really the cheapest of tile options but this doesn’t mean that they cannot be used in some way or another within the kitchen area. Marble tiles can be used in small areas, as border tiles and in dark insignificant areas that need brightening up.
Marble tiles work well with other cheap wall tile options and ceramic tiles are a great wall tile material to incorporate with marble tiles. Ceramic wall tiles are considered one of the cheap tile solutions but they are not compromised at all in the way of style, design and choice and they are the most versatile and durable tile you can have in the kitchen area. They are also ideal as floor tiles and if the area you are tiling is particularly large, ceramic floor tiles are a great solution for home owners.
Marble tiles come in many variations and colour styles and home owners need to give some thought to the style they are trying to create. The kitchen may have a contemporary style that reflects the trend of today and there are some real sophisticated marble tiles on the market that work well for contemporary styles. Marble tiles can be used as border tiles around other wall tiles and they make great solutions for countertop tiles again as a border tile. Marble tiles can also be used and incorporated in the backsplash design in the form of marble mosaic tiles in various colours. Glass tiles can also be used together with glass tiles to create a really fantastic contemporary design style.
If the kitchen area is traditional, marble tiles are also great and they come in some really great earthy tones that will suit a traditional design beautifully. Marble mosaic tiles can also be used across a wall space to really create a focal point and there are some really earthy tones out there in soft beiges and crèmes which will really bring the natural into the home.
Marble tiles are not really the cheapest of tile options but this doesn’t mean that they cannot be used in some way or another within the kitchen area. Marble tiles can be used in small areas, as border tiles and in dark insignificant areas that need brightening up.
Marble tiles work well with other cheap wall tile options and ceramic tiles are a great wall tile material to incorporate with marble tiles. Ceramic wall tiles are considered one of the cheap tile solutions but they are not compromised at all in the way of style, design and choice and they are the most versatile and durable tile you can have in the kitchen area. They are also ideal as floor tiles and if the area you are tiling is particularly large, ceramic floor tiles are a great solution for home owners.
Marble tiles come in many variations and colour styles and home owners need to give some thought to the style they are trying to create. The kitchen may have a contemporary style that reflects the trend of today and there are some real sophisticated marble tiles on the market that work well for contemporary styles. Marble tiles can be used as border tiles around other wall tiles and they make great solutions for countertop tiles again as a border tile. Marble tiles can also be used and incorporated in the backsplash design in the form of marble mosaic tiles in various colours. Glass tiles can also be used together with glass tiles to create a really fantastic contemporary design style.
If the kitchen area is traditional, marble tiles are also great and they come in some really great earthy tones that will suit a traditional design beautifully. Marble mosaic tiles can also be used across a wall space to really create a focal point and there are some really earthy tones out there in soft beiges and crèmes which will really bring the natural into the home.
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