At a special Martinsburg-Berkeley County Parks and Recreation meeting, board members chose Martinsburg company W. Harley Miller Contracting Inc. to be the construction company for the upcoming South Berkeley Recreation Center.
Board members accepted the $2,159,000 bid proposal from W. Harley Miller, which Executive Director Steve Catlett said included all of the equipment for the gymnasium like the scoreboards, baskets and curtains.
After the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation approved an additional $600,000 for the project, a total of $2,100,000 is being given through the foundation and the Randy Smith Fund, leaving $59,000 to be collected through additional funding resources.
"We're selling sponsorships and stuff, so we'll make that up easily. That won't be a problem at all," Catlett said. "What we're trying to sell total is about $90,000 worth of sponsorships."
Additional money raised for the recreation center could be used for multiple additions to the building not included in the base bid, such as sound absorbing panels, exterior masonry or the instillation of ceramic tile.
The South Berkeley Parks and Recreation Center will be located in Inwood next to Musselman High School.
"It's going to have the main gymnasium, a double gymnasium with all the support stuff like administrative offices, restrooms lobby, concessions, whatever it takes. The structure we're building now, like we did (at the Berkeley 2000 Recreation Center) where we built an original structure and then expanded it several times, we will have room for expansion (at the South Berkeley location) as well," Catlett said.
Since board members just approved a construction company for the project, a beginning and completion date for the project won't be known until a meeting with W. Harley Miller, although Catlett hopes the center will be open to the community by winter 2013.
2012年4月4日星期三
2012年3月31日星期六
Buying Here: Wilkinsburg
Sometimes, buying a home means more than getting a place to live. It means putting down roots and investing in a community.
That opportunity is available to the buyer of 833 Holland Ave., Wilkinsburg. The property is being offered for $127,000 (with an assessed value of $23,400) through Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation and is part of a large-scale revitalization project in Hamnett Place, a National Register historic district.
Michael F. Sriprasert, president of Landmarks Community Capital Corp., has worked for more than three years on this project alongside David Farkas, director of Main Street Programs. Both have seen major improvements in the area -- a direct result of many stakeholders coming together.
The group initially got $8.6 million to restore the Crescent Apartments and the Wilson Apartments, which were identified as a cornerstone to the redevelopment. The single-family housing phase started with an investment of $802,000 for four houses, three on Jeanette Street and one on Holland Avenue. Those homes sold for prices ranging from $80,000 to $95,000.
Phase 2 features three houses that are all on the market now -- 517 Jeanette St., and 833 and 845 Holland Ave. All feature four bedrooms, 11/2 baths, central air conditioning and off-street parking.
Mr. Farkas says that the homes are practically maintenance-free.
"Residents are loving living in the homes. The scope of the renovation is so large. We deliver to a buyer a house in wonderful condition with lots of character and architectural elements in place."
The home at 833 Holland Ave. sits on a double lot and features a lovely white spindle-rail porch and a cheery color scheme of tan and soft green. A large tree is at the edge of the property near a two-car parking pad and lots of level space for kids to play or to have a family gathering.
Inside, the entry hall is dominated by a grand staircase whose woodwork has been kept intact. Ornate spindles and panels create interest while light floods the hall through a window and an overhead door transom.
To the left are the living room and dining room, each measuring roughly 12 by 13 feet. The color scheme is neutral, with light tan carpeting that runs throughout the home, cream walls and white trim.
Further down the hall, a quaint powder room has a vinyl floor with a white pedestal sink and matching commode. Another window lights the space.
The kitchen measures 19 by 10 feet and spans the width of the back of the home. It has a smart layout with the cabinets in a U-shape configuration and room for a table and chairs. Dark wood cabinets are contrasted by light solid-surface countertops and white appliances, including a gas stove and a dishwasher. A stainless-steel double-bowl sink rounds out the plan while durable vinyl flooring promises easy upkeep. The room also has an access door to the backyard and another to the basement.
On the second floor, the master bedroom is roughly 13 by 13, large enough to accommodate a queen bed. A little nook could handle a small desk. The second bedroom measures nearly 13 by 12 feet. Both have large closets and make use of a generous bathroom that measures 12 feet wide with a double-bowl vanity top, lots of storage, tile floors and a bathtub/shower combo with more ceramic tile.
The third floor is finished with a small center hallway flanked by a pair of bedrooms. The ceilings are sloped with tons of usable space that's perfect for solitude or rowdy kids.
The basement has a natural stone foundation, is clean and dry and houses the home's mechanicals. A white utility tub sits near a window.
The home down the street at 845 Holland is on the corner. It has a beautiful brick exterior with lots of rich details still intact, including arched window transoms, a double-paneled wood front door, interior pocket doors and decorative exterior brickwork. It sits on a single level lot perfect for someone who wants less yard work. It has 1,972 square feet of living space and is priced at $125,000.
The third home, at 517 Jeanette St., has the largest interior space, at 1,944 square feet. It has all of the amenities of the other homes and features a large pantry wall in the kitchen. It is priced at $125,000.
Mr. Sriprasert explains the special financing available. "Prospective homeowners have a sliding scale of generous maximum income limits. Then, a deferred $20,000 second mortgage is available. It is totally forgiven if the owner stays in the home for 15 years. If they decide to sell, they pay back a prorated portion."
The program has been a success in key Pittsburgh neighborhoods such as Manchester, South Side and Downtown. Mr. Sriprasert said that without both public and private investment, these initiatives would fail. He specifically credited the Allegheny County Economic Development office, county executives Rich Fitzgerald and Dan Onorato, various banks and Richard Mellon Scaife, who has given through both his own foundation and the Allegheny Foundation. He said Mr. Scaife, who has supported PHLF for decades, was also a lead funder on the three earlier city projects.
That opportunity is available to the buyer of 833 Holland Ave., Wilkinsburg. The property is being offered for $127,000 (with an assessed value of $23,400) through Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation and is part of a large-scale revitalization project in Hamnett Place, a National Register historic district.
Michael F. Sriprasert, president of Landmarks Community Capital Corp., has worked for more than three years on this project alongside David Farkas, director of Main Street Programs. Both have seen major improvements in the area -- a direct result of many stakeholders coming together.
The group initially got $8.6 million to restore the Crescent Apartments and the Wilson Apartments, which were identified as a cornerstone to the redevelopment. The single-family housing phase started with an investment of $802,000 for four houses, three on Jeanette Street and one on Holland Avenue. Those homes sold for prices ranging from $80,000 to $95,000.
Phase 2 features three houses that are all on the market now -- 517 Jeanette St., and 833 and 845 Holland Ave. All feature four bedrooms, 11/2 baths, central air conditioning and off-street parking.
Mr. Farkas says that the homes are practically maintenance-free.
"Residents are loving living in the homes. The scope of the renovation is so large. We deliver to a buyer a house in wonderful condition with lots of character and architectural elements in place."
The home at 833 Holland Ave. sits on a double lot and features a lovely white spindle-rail porch and a cheery color scheme of tan and soft green. A large tree is at the edge of the property near a two-car parking pad and lots of level space for kids to play or to have a family gathering.
Inside, the entry hall is dominated by a grand staircase whose woodwork has been kept intact. Ornate spindles and panels create interest while light floods the hall through a window and an overhead door transom.
To the left are the living room and dining room, each measuring roughly 12 by 13 feet. The color scheme is neutral, with light tan carpeting that runs throughout the home, cream walls and white trim.
Further down the hall, a quaint powder room has a vinyl floor with a white pedestal sink and matching commode. Another window lights the space.
The kitchen measures 19 by 10 feet and spans the width of the back of the home. It has a smart layout with the cabinets in a U-shape configuration and room for a table and chairs. Dark wood cabinets are contrasted by light solid-surface countertops and white appliances, including a gas stove and a dishwasher. A stainless-steel double-bowl sink rounds out the plan while durable vinyl flooring promises easy upkeep. The room also has an access door to the backyard and another to the basement.
On the second floor, the master bedroom is roughly 13 by 13, large enough to accommodate a queen bed. A little nook could handle a small desk. The second bedroom measures nearly 13 by 12 feet. Both have large closets and make use of a generous bathroom that measures 12 feet wide with a double-bowl vanity top, lots of storage, tile floors and a bathtub/shower combo with more ceramic tile.
The third floor is finished with a small center hallway flanked by a pair of bedrooms. The ceilings are sloped with tons of usable space that's perfect for solitude or rowdy kids.
The basement has a natural stone foundation, is clean and dry and houses the home's mechanicals. A white utility tub sits near a window.
The home down the street at 845 Holland is on the corner. It has a beautiful brick exterior with lots of rich details still intact, including arched window transoms, a double-paneled wood front door, interior pocket doors and decorative exterior brickwork. It sits on a single level lot perfect for someone who wants less yard work. It has 1,972 square feet of living space and is priced at $125,000.
The third home, at 517 Jeanette St., has the largest interior space, at 1,944 square feet. It has all of the amenities of the other homes and features a large pantry wall in the kitchen. It is priced at $125,000.
Mr. Sriprasert explains the special financing available. "Prospective homeowners have a sliding scale of generous maximum income limits. Then, a deferred $20,000 second mortgage is available. It is totally forgiven if the owner stays in the home for 15 years. If they decide to sell, they pay back a prorated portion."
The program has been a success in key Pittsburgh neighborhoods such as Manchester, South Side and Downtown. Mr. Sriprasert said that without both public and private investment, these initiatives would fail. He specifically credited the Allegheny County Economic Development office, county executives Rich Fitzgerald and Dan Onorato, various banks and Richard Mellon Scaife, who has given through both his own foundation and the Allegheny Foundation. He said Mr. Scaife, who has supported PHLF for decades, was also a lead funder on the three earlier city projects.
2012年3月30日星期五
Wow factor in custom-built home
“Wow!” is the word Realtor Don Weaver hears over and over again as he takes prospective buyers on a tour of 59 Donelle Way in Lancaster.
The wow factor is evident in every room of this stunning colonial designed by a professional builder as his personal dream house. Luxury, quality and style are apparent in every square foot.
“The owner/builder of this home took his 40 years of experience and attention to detail in building custom homes, and incorporated all the best amenities into this layout,” said Weaver, listing broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Northborough. “The architectural style and craftsmanship are truly unique and second to none.”
The approach to the five bedroom, 5.5-bath home at the end of a cul-de-sac is as dramatic as its architecture. A circular driveway with custom stone pavers leads to the dramatic front door topped by a Palladian window. The door was custom-designed for the owner and crafted in Mexico.
‘Luxurious’ is the word that comes to mind — after ‘Wow’ — upon entering the home.
The effect is stunning as the eye sweeps past a bridal staircase and a sumptuous dining room and to the stately in the living room with its view of a courtyard and gazebo through a bank of windows.
The gleaming black granite foyer floor shows the reflection of the front door and Palladian window as well as the sparkles from an Italian crystal chandelier so complex and delicate it appears to be made from thousands of diamonds.
The chandelier has a motorized support for easy cleaning.
Elegant columns frame the entrance to the living room and dining room.
“There are 96 pieces of wood in these pillars,” said Weaver. “Every little piece is custom made.”
The moldings on the door casings are 9 inches wide and as finely crafted as the pillars. In fact, every piece of woodwork in this home, from the balusters on the staircase to the baseboards crown moldings and tray ceilings, are a beauty in their own right.
“Wherever you go in this house, it’s all quality,” said Weaver. “The broker/customer feedback on this home has been great. They all say it is an up-style home, yet very functional and easy to enjoy. The layout is so well thought out.”
The dining room, to the left of the foyer, has hardwood floors, accent lighting within a tray ceiling, built-in mirrored china cabinets, and a bay window. The dining room also boasts another exquisite Italian chandelier.
The wow factor is evident in every room of this stunning colonial designed by a professional builder as his personal dream house. Luxury, quality and style are apparent in every square foot.
“The owner/builder of this home took his 40 years of experience and attention to detail in building custom homes, and incorporated all the best amenities into this layout,” said Weaver, listing broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Northborough. “The architectural style and craftsmanship are truly unique and second to none.”
The approach to the five bedroom, 5.5-bath home at the end of a cul-de-sac is as dramatic as its architecture. A circular driveway with custom stone pavers leads to the dramatic front door topped by a Palladian window. The door was custom-designed for the owner and crafted in Mexico.
‘Luxurious’ is the word that comes to mind — after ‘Wow’ — upon entering the home.
The effect is stunning as the eye sweeps past a bridal staircase and a sumptuous dining room and to the stately in the living room with its view of a courtyard and gazebo through a bank of windows.
The gleaming black granite foyer floor shows the reflection of the front door and Palladian window as well as the sparkles from an Italian crystal chandelier so complex and delicate it appears to be made from thousands of diamonds.
The chandelier has a motorized support for easy cleaning.
Elegant columns frame the entrance to the living room and dining room.
“There are 96 pieces of wood in these pillars,” said Weaver. “Every little piece is custom made.”
The moldings on the door casings are 9 inches wide and as finely crafted as the pillars. In fact, every piece of woodwork in this home, from the balusters on the staircase to the baseboards crown moldings and tray ceilings, are a beauty in their own right.
“Wherever you go in this house, it’s all quality,” said Weaver. “The broker/customer feedback on this home has been great. They all say it is an up-style home, yet very functional and easy to enjoy. The layout is so well thought out.”
The dining room, to the left of the foyer, has hardwood floors, accent lighting within a tray ceiling, built-in mirrored china cabinets, and a bay window. The dining room also boasts another exquisite Italian chandelier.
2012年3月27日星期二
Island firefighter saves swimmer in Mexico
Joseph Larstanna, a lifelong Staten Islander, has been a firefighter with the FDNY for 20 years and is assigned to Ladder Co. 168 in the Bath Beach section of Brooklyn.
His colleague Giuseppe DiStefano reached out to us to publicize Joseph’s selfless act of bravery, knowing full well that Joseph would never toot his own horn.
Giuseppe says he and Joseph were vacationing at Live Aqua Resort in Cancun, Mexico, with Joseph’s wife, Giuseppe’s girlfriend and two other couples early last month. The Larstannas were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and another couple’s recent marriage. Plus, all simply needed to get away.
Two days into the vacation, Joseph went out for an early-afternoon swim while the others were lying on the sand soaking up the rays. Alerted by faint cries for help, one of the friends spotted a couple who had fallen prey to rip tides.
The vacationers yelled to get Joseph’s attention — they knew he’d been trained in water rescue.
Joseph, who had been on the point of leaving the water, dived right back in and swam toward the woman as the lifeguard on duty headed for the man.
“He reached for the female victim, turned her around and pulled her to shore,” said Giuseppe. Both husband and wife were saved.
Joseph was modest about his act of bravery, as are most firefighters. After all, it’s all in a day’s work.
Angels come in many forms — and the Russo family know it better than most.
While Teri’s House, a Pleasant Plains residence for young men with Down syndrome, continues to be a work in progress, Teri tells us her angels come in the form of an attorney and his family: Steve and Theresa Mandracchia, who not only donated to the effort financially but took on the role of liaison with all construction trades involved in the project.
Also to be acknowledged are the family of Brian and Helen Daly, who have financed more than 50 percent of the cost of building the home, in addition to neighbors like Anne and Brian Larsen, who showed up on weekends and worked diligently with the Russo boys behind the scenes. Teri says they even put up a Christmas tree and decorated the outside of the house when Damian Russo became a little depressed at holiday time.
Julio Rivera painted the entire interior of the house and took on many odd jobs to keep the endeavor moving along and helped the family move in time for the Christmas.
Thanks to folks in the building trade like Paul Toth, who has been carting debris away since day one; to Casa Concrete, which donated all the concrete, stone and block; Kevin Radigan of the Concrete Depot; to Alan Becker of Trades Construction, who took over the project when the original contractor failed; to Lenny Rampulla of Rampulla Architects, who donated not only the drawings but many hours of time; to Alexandria Fernandez of DNA design, who donated her time with the interior of the home; to Richmond Tile for their ceramic tile; to Pete Battista of Details Moulding for molding and trim; to JPR lighting for the high hats; to Shamrock Paints, which either discounted and/or donated paint; to Total Fire Protection for fire extinguishers and a complete first aid cabinet; to Duo Plumbing, to AJ Caruso Electric and to Staten Island Kitchen Cabinets, who continued working not knowing whether or not they would be compensated.
And although there’s still work to be done and funds needed to complete the project, Teri’s aware of several individuals and companies who planned to donate but couldn’t because of tough economic times.
Teri explains they are very grateful to all the angels who have gotten involved — and for the donations — both big and small — that made Teri’s House a reality.
“This house will be a home to many disabled adults long after all the Russos are gone,” says she, before adding, “It is a home where individuals with disabilities can grow old and live with dignity and have all their needs taken care of.”
His colleague Giuseppe DiStefano reached out to us to publicize Joseph’s selfless act of bravery, knowing full well that Joseph would never toot his own horn.
Giuseppe says he and Joseph were vacationing at Live Aqua Resort in Cancun, Mexico, with Joseph’s wife, Giuseppe’s girlfriend and two other couples early last month. The Larstannas were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary and another couple’s recent marriage. Plus, all simply needed to get away.
Two days into the vacation, Joseph went out for an early-afternoon swim while the others were lying on the sand soaking up the rays. Alerted by faint cries for help, one of the friends spotted a couple who had fallen prey to rip tides.
The vacationers yelled to get Joseph’s attention — they knew he’d been trained in water rescue.
Joseph, who had been on the point of leaving the water, dived right back in and swam toward the woman as the lifeguard on duty headed for the man.
“He reached for the female victim, turned her around and pulled her to shore,” said Giuseppe. Both husband and wife were saved.
Joseph was modest about his act of bravery, as are most firefighters. After all, it’s all in a day’s work.
Angels come in many forms — and the Russo family know it better than most.
While Teri’s House, a Pleasant Plains residence for young men with Down syndrome, continues to be a work in progress, Teri tells us her angels come in the form of an attorney and his family: Steve and Theresa Mandracchia, who not only donated to the effort financially but took on the role of liaison with all construction trades involved in the project.
Also to be acknowledged are the family of Brian and Helen Daly, who have financed more than 50 percent of the cost of building the home, in addition to neighbors like Anne and Brian Larsen, who showed up on weekends and worked diligently with the Russo boys behind the scenes. Teri says they even put up a Christmas tree and decorated the outside of the house when Damian Russo became a little depressed at holiday time.
Julio Rivera painted the entire interior of the house and took on many odd jobs to keep the endeavor moving along and helped the family move in time for the Christmas.
Thanks to folks in the building trade like Paul Toth, who has been carting debris away since day one; to Casa Concrete, which donated all the concrete, stone and block; Kevin Radigan of the Concrete Depot; to Alan Becker of Trades Construction, who took over the project when the original contractor failed; to Lenny Rampulla of Rampulla Architects, who donated not only the drawings but many hours of time; to Alexandria Fernandez of DNA design, who donated her time with the interior of the home; to Richmond Tile for their ceramic tile; to Pete Battista of Details Moulding for molding and trim; to JPR lighting for the high hats; to Shamrock Paints, which either discounted and/or donated paint; to Total Fire Protection for fire extinguishers and a complete first aid cabinet; to Duo Plumbing, to AJ Caruso Electric and to Staten Island Kitchen Cabinets, who continued working not knowing whether or not they would be compensated.
And although there’s still work to be done and funds needed to complete the project, Teri’s aware of several individuals and companies who planned to donate but couldn’t because of tough economic times.
Teri explains they are very grateful to all the angels who have gotten involved — and for the donations — both big and small — that made Teri’s House a reality.
“This house will be a home to many disabled adults long after all the Russos are gone,” says she, before adding, “It is a home where individuals with disabilities can grow old and live with dignity and have all their needs taken care of.”
2012年3月18日星期日
A picture-perfect Weston Cape
The opportunity for grand is a common theme in Weston. Buyers, more often than not, shop well into the seven-digit range. So it’s an uncommon opportunity when the price point dips south of the million-dollar mark. It’s even more uncommon when the property for sale is a picture-perfect, family-friendly home.
Located on Valley View Road, a popular and established neighborhood, this pleasant Cape Cod style home boasts a surprisingly spacious floor plan with nearly 3,000 square feet of living space and appealing updates. Those updates begin in the newly renovated 15-by-14 kitchen. While the space can be described as efficient, it’s an excellent use of square footage that features custom cherry cabinetry, granite counters and high-end stainless steel appliances that includes names such as Thermador and Bosch. An integrated island offers breakfast bar seating with ample prep space available to the cook. Oversized ceramic tile flooring is key to this kitchen makeover, the neutral tone choice resulting in a spacious visual. The kitchen also features a custom tile backsplash, designer light package and a built-in desk area for everyday household activities.
The property is a 1979 build, but it offers the livability of a modern floor plan as the kitchen opens into a sizable casual dining area that connects to the family room. Wide plank knotty pine flooring is found underfoot throughout both areas, adding a touch of rustic charm to this Weston Cape. A wood-burning stove with brick hearth, beamed ceiling and interior columns are also part of the motif. The eating area opens to a screened porch, perfect for seasonal dining and entertaining. A wooded and level backyard offers plenty of play space for the entire family.
Formal rooms are also part of the first-floor layout, including a 13-by-11 dining room. Painted in a mossy green hue, the dining room features chair rail, updated chandelier, hardwood flooring and a period built-in china cabinet. A front-to-back living room measures 27-by-13. This sun-filled spot boasts like-new hardwood flooring and a center-set brick hearth fireplace with millwork mantel and complementary sconces. Sliding glass doors open to a large deck, which connects to the screened porch at the opposite end of the footprint.
This traditional floor plan makes the most of its Cape Cod design with four large bedrooms. In fact, buyers who want a little flexibility in their future will be particularly pleased with the possibilities. In addition to the original master bedroom, which measures 26 by 13, and offers a small en suite bath, bedroom four also brings master suite potential. It measures 19 by 19, boasting two large closets, built-in and wide plank knotty pine flooring. The square footage already exists for ideas about adding an opulent private bath, transforming it into a new master suite. The current master bedroom features hardwood flooring, dual closets and the bonus perk of a Juliette balcony. Bedrooms two and three are also sizable, the larger measuring 16 by 12. It features a dormer niche and ample storage. A family bath with tile trim is located nearby.
Located on Valley View Road, a popular and established neighborhood, this pleasant Cape Cod style home boasts a surprisingly spacious floor plan with nearly 3,000 square feet of living space and appealing updates. Those updates begin in the newly renovated 15-by-14 kitchen. While the space can be described as efficient, it’s an excellent use of square footage that features custom cherry cabinetry, granite counters and high-end stainless steel appliances that includes names such as Thermador and Bosch. An integrated island offers breakfast bar seating with ample prep space available to the cook. Oversized ceramic tile flooring is key to this kitchen makeover, the neutral tone choice resulting in a spacious visual. The kitchen also features a custom tile backsplash, designer light package and a built-in desk area for everyday household activities.
The property is a 1979 build, but it offers the livability of a modern floor plan as the kitchen opens into a sizable casual dining area that connects to the family room. Wide plank knotty pine flooring is found underfoot throughout both areas, adding a touch of rustic charm to this Weston Cape. A wood-burning stove with brick hearth, beamed ceiling and interior columns are also part of the motif. The eating area opens to a screened porch, perfect for seasonal dining and entertaining. A wooded and level backyard offers plenty of play space for the entire family.
Formal rooms are also part of the first-floor layout, including a 13-by-11 dining room. Painted in a mossy green hue, the dining room features chair rail, updated chandelier, hardwood flooring and a period built-in china cabinet. A front-to-back living room measures 27-by-13. This sun-filled spot boasts like-new hardwood flooring and a center-set brick hearth fireplace with millwork mantel and complementary sconces. Sliding glass doors open to a large deck, which connects to the screened porch at the opposite end of the footprint.
This traditional floor plan makes the most of its Cape Cod design with four large bedrooms. In fact, buyers who want a little flexibility in their future will be particularly pleased with the possibilities. In addition to the original master bedroom, which measures 26 by 13, and offers a small en suite bath, bedroom four also brings master suite potential. It measures 19 by 19, boasting two large closets, built-in and wide plank knotty pine flooring. The square footage already exists for ideas about adding an opulent private bath, transforming it into a new master suite. The current master bedroom features hardwood flooring, dual closets and the bonus perk of a Juliette balcony. Bedrooms two and three are also sizable, the larger measuring 16 by 12. It features a dormer niche and ample storage. A family bath with tile trim is located nearby.
2012年3月12日星期一
Restoring a French farmhouse
Twelve years ago the interior designer Henri Fitzwilliam-Lay came across the house of her dreams in the south of France. Friends joked that she and her husband, Hugh, a venture capitalist, and their young daughters would leave London, never to be seen again. In reality the house had been sorely neglected and it would end up taking many years before its restoration was complete.
'It had been very unloved,’ Fitzwilliam-Lay says. There was glaringly white crazy paving in the car-park, and wild boar regularly dug up the garden. But she looked beyond the grotty decoration, pink pebbledash render and plastic chairs and started work bit by bit. Gradually the flooring was replaced with reclaimed paving stones and five of the 40 acres nearest the house were fenced to keep the boar out.
The family would visit during the summer months, and at the end of each holiday she would meet the builder to discuss what jobs could be done during the winter. It went on like this for nearly a decade. 'I don’t believe in fast design,’ she says. 'You can’t buy a life in a couple of months. Decorating takes time and consideration.’
The mas (Provencal farmhouse) sits high up in the hills above the beaches of St Tropez and has a winding drive that leads down to the entrance at the back of the property. Enter through floret-studded metal double doors, bought from a local chateau, to a hall busy with starburst mirrors (many of which were bought at Battersea Antiques Fair). 'I tend to go off on a theme,’ Fitzwilliam-Lay explains of the mirrored hall. Stone stairs lead up to five bedrooms on the first floor, including a master bedroom with en suite dressing-room and Carrara marble-tiled bathroom. From the entrance hall stairs also head down to an open-plan sitting- and dining-room and separate marble kitchen. Fitzwilliam-Lay didn’t really mess with the basic layout of the house, and maintained a warmth by using as much reclaimed material as possible. 'The tiles on the kitchen floor are reclaimed; we had to lay them out in the garden to see how they would work. All the doors are from a local salvage yard in Cogolin.’
Fitzwilliam-Lay has used an unorthodox approach to the interiors. 'I’m constantly fighting against falling into Provencal cliches,’ she says. 'And that’s hard because those cliches are so easy on the eye.’ There are no ochre walls, Louis-style furnishings or 'rustic’ French armoires. Although they are in a traditional style, the kitchen cupboards are painted black and the counter tops and splashbacks are slabs of Carrara marble. Bright white walls, decorative Moroccan tiles and a large industrial pendant light help make the breakfast room a bright and modern space. The colonial-style armchairs and deeply buttoned chesterfield sofas in the living-room are rather more west London than south of France.
When the work was nearly completed, she and the girls (Charlotte is now 14, Josephine, 12, Lucy, 10, and Edith, five) did spend a full year in the house. 'It was fantastic,’ Fitzwilliam-Lay recalls. 'Hugh had to do a lot of travelling because of work, but by being down there out of season we were able to feel like complete locals.’ The family still decamps to the house every summer, and friends have been invited to make good use of it. The property also has two guesthouses, each with two bedrooms.
During the summer months, family life is mostly outside, there are games of boules and tennis, and going to the beach. Baguette, cheese and rose wine lunches are enjoyed, often under a wisteria-covered iron pergola that runs alongside the house. 'In the summer it gives shade and in the winter it looks quite beautiful, all gnarled and knotted,’ Fitzwilliam-Lay says.
'It had been very unloved,’ Fitzwilliam-Lay says. There was glaringly white crazy paving in the car-park, and wild boar regularly dug up the garden. But she looked beyond the grotty decoration, pink pebbledash render and plastic chairs and started work bit by bit. Gradually the flooring was replaced with reclaimed paving stones and five of the 40 acres nearest the house were fenced to keep the boar out.
The family would visit during the summer months, and at the end of each holiday she would meet the builder to discuss what jobs could be done during the winter. It went on like this for nearly a decade. 'I don’t believe in fast design,’ she says. 'You can’t buy a life in a couple of months. Decorating takes time and consideration.’
The mas (Provencal farmhouse) sits high up in the hills above the beaches of St Tropez and has a winding drive that leads down to the entrance at the back of the property. Enter through floret-studded metal double doors, bought from a local chateau, to a hall busy with starburst mirrors (many of which were bought at Battersea Antiques Fair). 'I tend to go off on a theme,’ Fitzwilliam-Lay explains of the mirrored hall. Stone stairs lead up to five bedrooms on the first floor, including a master bedroom with en suite dressing-room and Carrara marble-tiled bathroom. From the entrance hall stairs also head down to an open-plan sitting- and dining-room and separate marble kitchen. Fitzwilliam-Lay didn’t really mess with the basic layout of the house, and maintained a warmth by using as much reclaimed material as possible. 'The tiles on the kitchen floor are reclaimed; we had to lay them out in the garden to see how they would work. All the doors are from a local salvage yard in Cogolin.’
Fitzwilliam-Lay has used an unorthodox approach to the interiors. 'I’m constantly fighting against falling into Provencal cliches,’ she says. 'And that’s hard because those cliches are so easy on the eye.’ There are no ochre walls, Louis-style furnishings or 'rustic’ French armoires. Although they are in a traditional style, the kitchen cupboards are painted black and the counter tops and splashbacks are slabs of Carrara marble. Bright white walls, decorative Moroccan tiles and a large industrial pendant light help make the breakfast room a bright and modern space. The colonial-style armchairs and deeply buttoned chesterfield sofas in the living-room are rather more west London than south of France.
When the work was nearly completed, she and the girls (Charlotte is now 14, Josephine, 12, Lucy, 10, and Edith, five) did spend a full year in the house. 'It was fantastic,’ Fitzwilliam-Lay recalls. 'Hugh had to do a lot of travelling because of work, but by being down there out of season we were able to feel like complete locals.’ The family still decamps to the house every summer, and friends have been invited to make good use of it. The property also has two guesthouses, each with two bedrooms.
During the summer months, family life is mostly outside, there are games of boules and tennis, and going to the beach. Baguette, cheese and rose wine lunches are enjoyed, often under a wisteria-covered iron pergola that runs alongside the house. 'In the summer it gives shade and in the winter it looks quite beautiful, all gnarled and knotted,’ Fitzwilliam-Lay says.
2012年2月28日星期二
Real estate maverick goes for sleek, simple spaces
Last Christmas marked realtor Gab Perez’s first year in his bachelor’s pad. His unit at Angelica Manor in San Antonio Village, Ortigas, Pasig City, is a testament to his success as a young entrepreneur.
At 23, and just two years out of college, he already runs Green Asia Real Estate and Development.
Angelica Manor was Green Asia’s first foray into the real estate business, and the soon-to-be-launched Privato Tower is his first venture in the condotel concept.
Perez maintains the flat at Angelica Manor as a bachelor’s pad where he entertains friends, although he did use it extensively during his Masteral classes at Ateneo Rockwell. It was closer to school than the Quezon City family home. But with the Perez residence now an empty nest, he finds himself living there most of the time to keep his parents company.
“I come from a tight-knit family, and I enjoy spending time with them,” he says. His flat reflects his aesthetic philosophy: it’s clean, stark and crisp.
White makes his unit look bigger than its 69-sq-m floor area. The furniture is apt—a white modular sofa on one side and an entertainment console right in front of it. The throw pillows are covered in black, while the center tabletop is also made of black Emperador marble. The flatscreen TV and DVD player enhance the immaculate display case.
On the other side of the room, a dining table for six delineates the dining area. Everything is spic-and-span. The table has a contemporary base in white, while all the seats are upholstered in white leather. Behind it is a mirrored sliding door opening to a cozy kitchen.
The unit has three rooms. The master’s bedroom has a queen-size bed and vanity side tables. A black, upholstered panel stretches from ceiling to floor, serving as the headboard. It breaks the room’s monochromatic look. Lighting comes from the panels behind the bed and the recessed ceiling.
Two other rooms serve as Perez’s mini-gym and spare room.
The space is small and the fixtures are sleek yet basic, but then how much furniture does a gentleman really need nowadays? By keeping clutter to a minimum and utilizing mirrored panels throughout the unit, Perez is able to create a sense of space.
Angelica Manor served as his crash course in real estate development. He wore a number of hats in this endeavor: developer, contractor, purchasing officer, interior planner, and even sales and marketing head. It was a one-man affair. “My dad wanted to guide me throughout the project’s duration,” he says. “But after three construction meetings, he felt that I had gotten the hang of it and decided to give me full control to work it all out.”
He didn’t feel like his dad abandoned him in the middle of the project, though. He says they were raised that way. His dad is a civil engineer and industrialist, while his mom is a pediatrician. His siblings have their own professions.
“We grew up tending to our own affairs,” he says. “That’s why I quickly adapted to working independently.”
Perez found himself in the real estate business by accident. Learning that his parents had no immediate plan for the empty lot that the family owned, he developed his own plan for a mid-rise property. Although he did internship work for Discovery Suites and Sta. Lucia Realty, none of these stints completely prepared him for the actual nitty-gritty of the industry.
While he was not formally trained in construction, he would look at showrooms and display units to see what was in vogue in real estate design. This gave him an idea of the treatments and fixtures to use if and when he finally had his own building. The construction part of the business was what he learned on the job.
At 23, and just two years out of college, he already runs Green Asia Real Estate and Development.
Angelica Manor was Green Asia’s first foray into the real estate business, and the soon-to-be-launched Privato Tower is his first venture in the condotel concept.
Perez maintains the flat at Angelica Manor as a bachelor’s pad where he entertains friends, although he did use it extensively during his Masteral classes at Ateneo Rockwell. It was closer to school than the Quezon City family home. But with the Perez residence now an empty nest, he finds himself living there most of the time to keep his parents company.
“I come from a tight-knit family, and I enjoy spending time with them,” he says. His flat reflects his aesthetic philosophy: it’s clean, stark and crisp.
White makes his unit look bigger than its 69-sq-m floor area. The furniture is apt—a white modular sofa on one side and an entertainment console right in front of it. The throw pillows are covered in black, while the center tabletop is also made of black Emperador marble. The flatscreen TV and DVD player enhance the immaculate display case.
On the other side of the room, a dining table for six delineates the dining area. Everything is spic-and-span. The table has a contemporary base in white, while all the seats are upholstered in white leather. Behind it is a mirrored sliding door opening to a cozy kitchen.
The unit has three rooms. The master’s bedroom has a queen-size bed and vanity side tables. A black, upholstered panel stretches from ceiling to floor, serving as the headboard. It breaks the room’s monochromatic look. Lighting comes from the panels behind the bed and the recessed ceiling.
Two other rooms serve as Perez’s mini-gym and spare room.
The space is small and the fixtures are sleek yet basic, but then how much furniture does a gentleman really need nowadays? By keeping clutter to a minimum and utilizing mirrored panels throughout the unit, Perez is able to create a sense of space.
Angelica Manor served as his crash course in real estate development. He wore a number of hats in this endeavor: developer, contractor, purchasing officer, interior planner, and even sales and marketing head. It was a one-man affair. “My dad wanted to guide me throughout the project’s duration,” he says. “But after three construction meetings, he felt that I had gotten the hang of it and decided to give me full control to work it all out.”
He didn’t feel like his dad abandoned him in the middle of the project, though. He says they were raised that way. His dad is a civil engineer and industrialist, while his mom is a pediatrician. His siblings have their own professions.
“We grew up tending to our own affairs,” he says. “That’s why I quickly adapted to working independently.”
Perez found himself in the real estate business by accident. Learning that his parents had no immediate plan for the empty lot that the family owned, he developed his own plan for a mid-rise property. Although he did internship work for Discovery Suites and Sta. Lucia Realty, none of these stints completely prepared him for the actual nitty-gritty of the industry.
While he was not formally trained in construction, he would look at showrooms and display units to see what was in vogue in real estate design. This gave him an idea of the treatments and fixtures to use if and when he finally had his own building. The construction part of the business was what he learned on the job.
2012年2月16日星期四
Officials Say in Manslaughter Case Against Architect
An $11 million mansion in Hollywood Hills was a deathtrap, officials are contending in an unusual criminal case brought against its architect after the death of a Los Angeles firefighter.
Despite the home's hefty pricetag, the fireplaces in place at the time of the blaze did not meet building standards and presented an "extreme immediate and imminent hazard," according to an affidavit attached to an article in the L.A. Now blog of the Los Angeles Times.
Architect Gerhard Albert Becker, 48, was arrested over the weekend when he arrived at the Los Angeles airport from Spain and initially held without bail. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment yesterday in the involuntary manslaughter case, and his bail was set at $2 million, the Associated Press reports.
Court documents (PDF) linked to the newspaper article include a search warrant and affidavit that describe the alleged cause of the Feb. 16, 2011 fire and say Becker was both the owner and designer of the home.
He told fire investigators he is licensed as an architect in Germany and Spain and planned and built the fireplaces himself because he wanted to be sure the job was done right, the affidavit says. According to officials, the home had no fireplaces when a building inspection was performed and Becker said at that time he didn't intend to install any, although plans called for a standard gas fireplace.
The affidavit says a building inspector determined that the fireplaces in the home were not constructed in a typical manner, which would have involved the use of noncombustible materials such as brick or stone, liner material that was resistant to high temperatures and an angled design intended to help vent heat and ash through a flue leading out of the building.
In the Hollywood Hills home, by contrast, the fireplaces were built of wood framing and lined on the bottom, sides and top with combustible drywall that ordinarily is used for standard walls, according to the document. Ceramic tile or slate was glued to the drywall.
Among other ways in which the building inspector found that the construction "fails to meet any standards for approved fireplaces," the affidavit says, one of the fireplaces was vented into the interior of the mansion. It appears from the affidavit that all of the fireplaces were gas, rather than wood-burning, and allegedly were manufactured for use outdoors rather than indoors.
Becker allegedly told investigators that he considered his installations architectural or decorative features, rather than fireplaces.
Glenn Allen, a Los Angeles firefighter, was buried in debris after the ceiling of the home collapsed during the fire, the affidavit says. Unconscious and not breathing when he was rescued several minutes later, he died in a hospital two days after the fire. An autopsy determined the cause to be mechanical asphyxiation.
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said that the fire started as a result of gross negligence, the AP article reports. As far as he is aware, the case against Becker may be the only one in which alleged building defects resulted in an involuntary manslaughter charge.
Despite the home's hefty pricetag, the fireplaces in place at the time of the blaze did not meet building standards and presented an "extreme immediate and imminent hazard," according to an affidavit attached to an article in the L.A. Now blog of the Los Angeles Times.
Architect Gerhard Albert Becker, 48, was arrested over the weekend when he arrived at the Los Angeles airport from Spain and initially held without bail. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment yesterday in the involuntary manslaughter case, and his bail was set at $2 million, the Associated Press reports.
Court documents (PDF) linked to the newspaper article include a search warrant and affidavit that describe the alleged cause of the Feb. 16, 2011 fire and say Becker was both the owner and designer of the home.
He told fire investigators he is licensed as an architect in Germany and Spain and planned and built the fireplaces himself because he wanted to be sure the job was done right, the affidavit says. According to officials, the home had no fireplaces when a building inspection was performed and Becker said at that time he didn't intend to install any, although plans called for a standard gas fireplace.
The affidavit says a building inspector determined that the fireplaces in the home were not constructed in a typical manner, which would have involved the use of noncombustible materials such as brick or stone, liner material that was resistant to high temperatures and an angled design intended to help vent heat and ash through a flue leading out of the building.
In the Hollywood Hills home, by contrast, the fireplaces were built of wood framing and lined on the bottom, sides and top with combustible drywall that ordinarily is used for standard walls, according to the document. Ceramic tile or slate was glued to the drywall.
Among other ways in which the building inspector found that the construction "fails to meet any standards for approved fireplaces," the affidavit says, one of the fireplaces was vented into the interior of the mansion. It appears from the affidavit that all of the fireplaces were gas, rather than wood-burning, and allegedly were manufactured for use outdoors rather than indoors.
Becker allegedly told investigators that he considered his installations architectural or decorative features, rather than fireplaces.
Glenn Allen, a Los Angeles firefighter, was buried in debris after the ceiling of the home collapsed during the fire, the affidavit says. Unconscious and not breathing when he was rescued several minutes later, he died in a hospital two days after the fire. An autopsy determined the cause to be mechanical asphyxiation.
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said that the fire started as a result of gross negligence, the AP article reports. As far as he is aware, the case against Becker may be the only one in which alleged building defects resulted in an involuntary manslaughter charge.
2012年1月31日星期二
Time to update preparing, cooking, baking, eating area
Ken and Deb Lasher acknowledged they were not getting any younger.
Neither was their kitchen.
When their refrigerator stopped working, the Morningside couple decided it was time to update their preparing, cooking, baking and eating area.
"We had talked about remodeling prior to the refrigerator breaking down," Deb Lasher said. "Once that happened, we moved up our planning dramatically."
They were practically forced into refurbishing as other things seemed to no longer work in the kitchen following the refrigerator's demise.
"It just seemed like nothing was handy anymore or nothing was comfortable for me," Lasher said.
The decision was made to pull out all the stops, including the drywall in the kitchen and start from the floorboards up.
"I started to research kitchens at the large retail home improvement stores to get some ideas," Lasher explained. "I also went online."
That's where she discovered Bryan Wise of Le Mars, Iowa, who calls himself the Kitchen Design Guy.
"I contacted Bryan and he came out and did measurements and talked to us about what we wanted," Lasher said.
Thus, began the collaboration on the modest kitchen area, measuring about 18 feet long by 12 feet wide. Like most women, Lasher wanted more storage, more counter space.
"We had soffits above the original cabinets, wasted space literally," she pointed out. "Now, the cabinets reach to the ceiling and we even added a floor-to-ceiling pantry with several cabinets and drawers."
The cabinets from Heartwood Cabinetry in Le Mars are oak, stained in a medium brown, with silver hardware. The drawers have dovetailed corners made of hardwood with full extension drawer guides and soft close features.
"It's just so handy," Lasher said, demonstrating the gliding in and out. "It's particularly great where I have my pots and pans, so I no longer have to creep and crawl on a knee and dig to get something out."
The Lashers wanted to be creative in having the space reflect their lifestyle -- empty nesters with grandchildren who visit.
"We considered granite," Deb admitted. "But for a tenth of the cost, we decided to go with a Wilson HD laminate and I love it. I'd say the new countertops were the best part of the kitchen. Before we had two-inch ceramic tile with grout for countertops. It was very hard to keep clean and very impractical."
Counter space was freed up when the microwave was moved off the counter and installed on a wall. The Lashers decided to go with stainless steel appliances.
"I had white and it was dated," Deb said. "I'm so glad we went with the stainless steel."
Most of the colors are rich in tone, but the backsplash has brighter browns and ivories.
"That was deliberate," Deb confessed. "I like bling and I wanted that backsplash to sparkle. It does!"
The floor has an unusual checkered pattern in various tones of light brown.
"That was another conscious choice," Deb noted. "We went with a laminate on the floor," rather than wood or tile.
The focal point of the kitchen is a rectangular island, complete with drawers and cabinets, and two chairs.
"I wanted an island for more counter space," Deb said. "But what I really like is Brian made wheels for the island so it can be moved anyplace. And because he remembered I like bling, he found wheels that look like crystals."
The large patio doors that open out onto a deck provide natural light, but on cloudy days, the kitchen is illuminated with recessed lights which add to the comfort of the cozy area.
An interesting addition, found at Lowe's, is a retractable fan inside an overhead light with clear ceiling blades.
"This is way fun," Deb said, demonstrating how the fan works with a remote. "And, because it retracts when it's not running, you don't have to dust it."
The finished product with a fresh, modern look, which took about two months from choice to completion, provides the Lashers with easy movement around the kitchen to reach storage, food preparation, cooking and eating.
"I'm within 10 feet or less of everything in the kitchen," Deb said, as she walked from sink to counter to stove to island. "I like to bake and Ken likes to cook, so this has really suited us well."
Neither was their kitchen.
When their refrigerator stopped working, the Morningside couple decided it was time to update their preparing, cooking, baking and eating area.
"We had talked about remodeling prior to the refrigerator breaking down," Deb Lasher said. "Once that happened, we moved up our planning dramatically."
They were practically forced into refurbishing as other things seemed to no longer work in the kitchen following the refrigerator's demise.
"It just seemed like nothing was handy anymore or nothing was comfortable for me," Lasher said.
The decision was made to pull out all the stops, including the drywall in the kitchen and start from the floorboards up.
"I started to research kitchens at the large retail home improvement stores to get some ideas," Lasher explained. "I also went online."
That's where she discovered Bryan Wise of Le Mars, Iowa, who calls himself the Kitchen Design Guy.
"I contacted Bryan and he came out and did measurements and talked to us about what we wanted," Lasher said.
Thus, began the collaboration on the modest kitchen area, measuring about 18 feet long by 12 feet wide. Like most women, Lasher wanted more storage, more counter space.
"We had soffits above the original cabinets, wasted space literally," she pointed out. "Now, the cabinets reach to the ceiling and we even added a floor-to-ceiling pantry with several cabinets and drawers."
The cabinets from Heartwood Cabinetry in Le Mars are oak, stained in a medium brown, with silver hardware. The drawers have dovetailed corners made of hardwood with full extension drawer guides and soft close features.
"It's just so handy," Lasher said, demonstrating the gliding in and out. "It's particularly great where I have my pots and pans, so I no longer have to creep and crawl on a knee and dig to get something out."
The Lashers wanted to be creative in having the space reflect their lifestyle -- empty nesters with grandchildren who visit.
"We considered granite," Deb admitted. "But for a tenth of the cost, we decided to go with a Wilson HD laminate and I love it. I'd say the new countertops were the best part of the kitchen. Before we had two-inch ceramic tile with grout for countertops. It was very hard to keep clean and very impractical."
Counter space was freed up when the microwave was moved off the counter and installed on a wall. The Lashers decided to go with stainless steel appliances.
"I had white and it was dated," Deb said. "I'm so glad we went with the stainless steel."
Most of the colors are rich in tone, but the backsplash has brighter browns and ivories.
"That was deliberate," Deb confessed. "I like bling and I wanted that backsplash to sparkle. It does!"
The floor has an unusual checkered pattern in various tones of light brown.
"That was another conscious choice," Deb noted. "We went with a laminate on the floor," rather than wood or tile.
The focal point of the kitchen is a rectangular island, complete with drawers and cabinets, and two chairs.
"I wanted an island for more counter space," Deb said. "But what I really like is Brian made wheels for the island so it can be moved anyplace. And because he remembered I like bling, he found wheels that look like crystals."
The large patio doors that open out onto a deck provide natural light, but on cloudy days, the kitchen is illuminated with recessed lights which add to the comfort of the cozy area.
An interesting addition, found at Lowe's, is a retractable fan inside an overhead light with clear ceiling blades.
"This is way fun," Deb said, demonstrating how the fan works with a remote. "And, because it retracts when it's not running, you don't have to dust it."
The finished product with a fresh, modern look, which took about two months from choice to completion, provides the Lashers with easy movement around the kitchen to reach storage, food preparation, cooking and eating.
"I'm within 10 feet or less of everything in the kitchen," Deb said, as she walked from sink to counter to stove to island. "I like to bake and Ken likes to cook, so this has really suited us well."
2012年1月11日星期三
Camarillo school celebrates 10-year anniversary
The unveiling of a colorful mural marked the 10th anniversary of La Mariposa Elementary School in Camarillo on Monday.
Pupils, staff members and parents decorated 424 ceramic tiles for the mural. The tiles were joined together to create an 8-foot by 14-foot installation on the side of a building facing the playground at the school, which serves the Mission Oaks neighborhood.
"I was really amazed at the creativity you showed," Principal Jay Greenlinger said in his remarks to pupils, staff members, parents and Pleasant Valley School District officials. "Each tile is unique, and when you look at them together, it's pretty great."
The bright tiles have decorations such as rainbows, flowers, teddy bears, stripes and patterns, and the names of those who made them.
"It was a group idea, with teachers and parents wanting to do something permanent to mark the anniversary," Greenlinger said. "I think the most notable part of our school is the community that we've built, and that's what this really is able to communicate because it's a lot of little pieces coming together."
Camille Fisher, 4, whose sisters Brinley, 10, and Anna, 7, attend La Mariposa, was excited to see the tile she painted on the wall.
"There's two butterflies and one bumblebee and four flowers, and there's some grass," she said as her mother, Michelle Fisher, held her up to look.
"When you put it all together, it makes a really great picture, and that's kind of how La Mariposa is," Fisher said. "There's such great parent involvement, and the teachers here are so great, and the students love coming here, and I think that this just shows how much everyone loves being part of this school."
Patti Stouch has two children at the school and another who will be attending when she's old enough. Each of Stouch's children decorated tiles.
"My kids will permanently be here. It's very cool," she said.
Dianne Quimby-Anders, the school's first principal, described the very first day, at the start of the 2002-03 school year, as "the most exciting day."
"I'll never forget it," she said after Monday's ceremony. "The school has grown, but so many things are still the way we started with them, and each principal has built on that, and it's become a very strong school."
After the first year at the school and 30 years with the school district, Quimby-Anders retired. Pamela Gonzalez took over as principal, staying for five years.
"This is just a very special school. It's a wonderful place to learn. The staff is just terrific," said Gonzalez, now principal of Las Colinas Middle School.
"It started because there was a need for another school to accommodate the population of Camarillo. So this school was built, and it was full when it opened. Over time, it just developed and became a California Distinguished School. There are just lots and lots of things to celebrate here."
Of the original staff, 16 teachers are still at the school, along with office manager Nancy Thompson.
And people still talk of the day the bear came to visit.
"A bear wandered up out of the ravine, and it was wandering in the neighborhood, and we had to do one of those calls to everybody to stay home until the bear had been captured," said Gonzalez, who was principal at the time. "It was a funny thing to happen."
Pupils, staff members and parents decorated 424 ceramic tiles for the mural. The tiles were joined together to create an 8-foot by 14-foot installation on the side of a building facing the playground at the school, which serves the Mission Oaks neighborhood.
"I was really amazed at the creativity you showed," Principal Jay Greenlinger said in his remarks to pupils, staff members, parents and Pleasant Valley School District officials. "Each tile is unique, and when you look at them together, it's pretty great."
The bright tiles have decorations such as rainbows, flowers, teddy bears, stripes and patterns, and the names of those who made them.
"It was a group idea, with teachers and parents wanting to do something permanent to mark the anniversary," Greenlinger said. "I think the most notable part of our school is the community that we've built, and that's what this really is able to communicate because it's a lot of little pieces coming together."
Camille Fisher, 4, whose sisters Brinley, 10, and Anna, 7, attend La Mariposa, was excited to see the tile she painted on the wall.
"There's two butterflies and one bumblebee and four flowers, and there's some grass," she said as her mother, Michelle Fisher, held her up to look.
"When you put it all together, it makes a really great picture, and that's kind of how La Mariposa is," Fisher said. "There's such great parent involvement, and the teachers here are so great, and the students love coming here, and I think that this just shows how much everyone loves being part of this school."
Patti Stouch has two children at the school and another who will be attending when she's old enough. Each of Stouch's children decorated tiles.
"My kids will permanently be here. It's very cool," she said.
Dianne Quimby-Anders, the school's first principal, described the very first day, at the start of the 2002-03 school year, as "the most exciting day."
"I'll never forget it," she said after Monday's ceremony. "The school has grown, but so many things are still the way we started with them, and each principal has built on that, and it's become a very strong school."
After the first year at the school and 30 years with the school district, Quimby-Anders retired. Pamela Gonzalez took over as principal, staying for five years.
"This is just a very special school. It's a wonderful place to learn. The staff is just terrific," said Gonzalez, now principal of Las Colinas Middle School.
"It started because there was a need for another school to accommodate the population of Camarillo. So this school was built, and it was full when it opened. Over time, it just developed and became a California Distinguished School. There are just lots and lots of things to celebrate here."
Of the original staff, 16 teachers are still at the school, along with office manager Nancy Thompson.
And people still talk of the day the bear came to visit.
"A bear wandered up out of the ravine, and it was wandering in the neighborhood, and we had to do one of those calls to everybody to stay home until the bear had been captured," said Gonzalez, who was principal at the time. "It was a funny thing to happen."
2011年12月25日星期日
When it comes to flooring, it’s comfort vs. cost
Watch any episode of HGTV’s House Hunters and it’s clear that hardwood floors provide the ‘wow’ factor for those in pursuit of a new home.
Local flooring salespeople agree, saying that hardwood floors, or their look-a-like laminates, are top sellers.
Real hardwood floors are still big in newly constructed homes, said Vicki Crook, office manager at Valley Carpet in Bay City.
But homeowners that are remodeling and upgrading floors prefer laminates, Crook said.
Laminate floors look like real wood, are one-half-inch thick or less, and with their floating, tongue-in-groove, snap-in construction, can be easily installed overtop of existing floors.
But their best feature may be that they are scratch and dent resistant, making them ideal for families with children, pets, or both.
“The only thing more durable than a laminate is ceramic tile,” Crook said.
A home may have an existing wood floor that has been carpeted for many years and is in poor condition. Covering the floor with a laminate is often easier and not nearly as messy as tearing the floor out or sanding it down.
Laminate floors cost less, too, Crook said.
“They’re less expensive than real wood, which has to be nailed, stapled or glued,” she said.
Don Grubb, owner of D & R Floor Covering, 515 Vance Road, said that while he sells a lot of wood laminate floors, the real deal is the first choice for his customers.
“It’s a good value,” Grubb said. “It’s something that is pretty much a permanent floor for the home, as compared to carpeting or vinyl, which would be more temporary. Wood also has a natural beauty and warmth that you can’t get with vinyl.”
But vinyl has become a more popular option over the last year or so, Crook said. Vinyl is less expensive, is durable and easy to maintain, she said. Another reason for its comeback may be that in an uncertain economy people often will go back to something they know and trust, she said.
Engineered wood flooring is made by pressing and gluing several layers of plastic laminate veneer and real wood together. It is different from a laminate floor in that laminate does not contain any real wood.
It’s advantage is that it has the beauty of a solid wood floor, but is more stable in areas where there is high humidity, Grubb said. It is perfect for homes that are located next to lakes, he said, and can be used in basements.
But it’s not necessarily less expensive, he said.
“It really takes more of a manufacturing process to create them,” he said.
When buying engineered flooring, look for a surface layer that is at least two millimeters thick, he said.
Whether installing a hardwood, laminate or engineered floor, a homeowner will have to decide what color to use. In general, light-colored woods may be more stylish in casual rooms, while darker stains may look better in more formal rooms. But, as with most decorating choices, a homeowner’s budget and personal style are what matter most.
The hardness of the wood is also important, with Brazilian cherry being one of the most durable flooring woods, according to the Janka system, which assigns a rating based on how much force is needed to embed a steel ball into the wood.
Flooring is also graded on things such as color, grain and markings. Wood that is harder and more consistent in grain and color tends to be more expensive.
While hardwood and laminate floors remain the No. 1 choice for homeowners, carpeting also remains a top seller, Crook said, especially in bedrooms.
“People like the warm and fuzzy under their feet when they get up in the morning,” she said.
Rubber floors made from recycled tires and floors made from cork are also being used in more homes, Crook said. Both eco-friendly choices are attractive, are easy to clean and maintain and feel warm, offering some insulation.
Local flooring salespeople agree, saying that hardwood floors, or their look-a-like laminates, are top sellers.
Real hardwood floors are still big in newly constructed homes, said Vicki Crook, office manager at Valley Carpet in Bay City.
But homeowners that are remodeling and upgrading floors prefer laminates, Crook said.
Laminate floors look like real wood, are one-half-inch thick or less, and with their floating, tongue-in-groove, snap-in construction, can be easily installed overtop of existing floors.
But their best feature may be that they are scratch and dent resistant, making them ideal for families with children, pets, or both.
“The only thing more durable than a laminate is ceramic tile,” Crook said.
A home may have an existing wood floor that has been carpeted for many years and is in poor condition. Covering the floor with a laminate is often easier and not nearly as messy as tearing the floor out or sanding it down.
Laminate floors cost less, too, Crook said.
“They’re less expensive than real wood, which has to be nailed, stapled or glued,” she said.
Don Grubb, owner of D & R Floor Covering, 515 Vance Road, said that while he sells a lot of wood laminate floors, the real deal is the first choice for his customers.
“It’s a good value,” Grubb said. “It’s something that is pretty much a permanent floor for the home, as compared to carpeting or vinyl, which would be more temporary. Wood also has a natural beauty and warmth that you can’t get with vinyl.”
But vinyl has become a more popular option over the last year or so, Crook said. Vinyl is less expensive, is durable and easy to maintain, she said. Another reason for its comeback may be that in an uncertain economy people often will go back to something they know and trust, she said.
Engineered wood flooring is made by pressing and gluing several layers of plastic laminate veneer and real wood together. It is different from a laminate floor in that laminate does not contain any real wood.
It’s advantage is that it has the beauty of a solid wood floor, but is more stable in areas where there is high humidity, Grubb said. It is perfect for homes that are located next to lakes, he said, and can be used in basements.
But it’s not necessarily less expensive, he said.
“It really takes more of a manufacturing process to create them,” he said.
When buying engineered flooring, look for a surface layer that is at least two millimeters thick, he said.
Whether installing a hardwood, laminate or engineered floor, a homeowner will have to decide what color to use. In general, light-colored woods may be more stylish in casual rooms, while darker stains may look better in more formal rooms. But, as with most decorating choices, a homeowner’s budget and personal style are what matter most.
The hardness of the wood is also important, with Brazilian cherry being one of the most durable flooring woods, according to the Janka system, which assigns a rating based on how much force is needed to embed a steel ball into the wood.
Flooring is also graded on things such as color, grain and markings. Wood that is harder and more consistent in grain and color tends to be more expensive.
While hardwood and laminate floors remain the No. 1 choice for homeowners, carpeting also remains a top seller, Crook said, especially in bedrooms.
“People like the warm and fuzzy under their feet when they get up in the morning,” she said.
Rubber floors made from recycled tires and floors made from cork are also being used in more homes, Crook said. Both eco-friendly choices are attractive, are easy to clean and maintain and feel warm, offering some insulation.
2011年12月21日星期三
"Survivor South Pacific" Finale Recap And Final Thoughts
After 39 days of close challenges, blindsides, dumb moves, and a whole lot of Bible-thumping, we finally have our winner for "Survivor: South Pacific." We have two hours of events to talk about so let's get right into it.
We start with Brandon arriving at Redemption Island and explaining his dumb move in the last episode. Ozzy notes that Brandon wasn't playing a game built around loyalty, but rather around blind faith, and that blind faith was not in God but in people that wanted to win a million dollars way more than he did.
Over at Te Tuna, the remaining Upolus try to gather themselves after a very turbulent Tribal Council, and Albert angers Coach when he says he had no idea that Brandon was going home. This, of course, is not true, since Coach and Albert had discussed who they were going to vote out at that Tribal Council and Coach had told Albert in no uncertain terms that he was targeting Brandon no matter what. Coach then goes off on a rant about how he is sick of people "being holier-than-thou" and not owning up to their deception, and he yells at Albert for not being straight with him. The entire discussion can be summed up like this:
The next day, Ozzy and Brandon receive tree mail telling them that they are about to compete in the final Redemption Duel. They head over to the arena where Jeff Probst explains that the challenge is a simple endurance test: cling onto a pole for as long as you can. They will start at the top of the pole, and there are several notches along the pole for them to slide down onto in case they lose their footing. Last person standing gets back in the game. After 45 minutes, both players were struggling to hang on, but Brandon fell down first and became the seventh juror, while Ozzy returned to the game for a second time.
Brandon left the game saying he forgives the people that backstabbed him and will leave the game with his head held high. After all the emotional turmoil he experienced in this game, I hope Brandon will be able to take this and become a better person, but let's face it: until he made that final dumb move, he made for horrible television. Hopefully this will convince the casting team to stop being lazy and picking people based on nepotism. I don't want another Hantz on this show, and neither do a lot of people.
With Ozzy back at the Te Tuna camp, Coach immediately sits down with him and reaffirms the final three deal he made with Ozzy on Redemption Island. He tells Ozzy that if he wins the next immunity, he will give him his hidden immunity idol and keep him safe. Ozzy nods his head through the whole discussion, but in an confessional he admits he does not buy anything Coach says. Coach thinks it is his game to lose because everyone wants to take him to the final three. Did it ever occur to him that the reason everyone is sticking with him is that, one, he has the idol and therefore no one dares to target him, and two, the jury probably doesn't like him because of his honor speeches?
Now it's time for the first of two immunity challenges. In this challenge, the players must use their left arm to pull down on a pulley that will level out a balancing board. Then, using their right hand, they must use wooden tiles to create a tower tall enough to pass a red marker. They each have a limited number of tiles, and if they do not keep the pulley steady, the board will tilt and the tower will fall over. First player to create a tower tall enough to reach the required height wins immunity.
The game starts, and Coach, Sophie, and Ozzy pull away from Albert and Rick. Then, Coach's tower falls over while Ozzy and Sophie run out of tiles to use, forcing them to take apart some of their tower and find a new approach. In the process of rebuilding, both Ozzy and Sophie lose some tiles as they fall to the ground and out of their reach. Sophie asks Albert to drop his stack and help her by picking up her tiles. Albert refuses and Sophie begins yelling at him until Probst reminds her that this is an individual challenge and no one is allowed to help each other. "If you want Ozzy out of this game," he says, "Beat him."
Eventually, Sophie's tower falls again, leaving it race between Ozzy and Coach, and in a season filled with close, riveting challenges, this one was incredibly fun to watch. You can see the sweat pouring down both of the vets' faces as they slowly place more tiles on their stacks. After a long, tense struggle, Ozzy finishes his stack first, and with a victorious punch to destroy his stack, celebrates another challenge victory while the Upolus prepare to do some scrambling.
Back at camp, Coach and Albert discuss voting out Rick, since both of them feel that the jury would vote for him because they like him and his work ethic. Ozzy, however, isn't going to let it be that easy, and he plans to sow seeds of discontent amongst his competitors. He proposes to Albert that they vote out Sophie because she is a brat, and he uses her behavior at the challenge as an example. He then tells Albert about his final three deal with Ozzy. When Albert confronts Coach with this information, Coach simply responds by saying that he can't wait to get Ozzy out of the game.
At Tribal Council, everything is put out on the table, including the Coach/Ozzy deal and Ozzy's belief that Sophie is a brat. The latter especially hurts Sophie, as Ozzy tells her that while he was on Redemption Island, every person that talked with him called her arrogant, spoiled, and childish. That was a little brow-raising for me. I never saw Sophie that way, but it could be because I was too focused on people like Brandon and Cochran to notice. Sophie breaks down and says this is the first time she has ever been called such things, and that it is really hard to hear Ozzy make such personal statements.
We start with Brandon arriving at Redemption Island and explaining his dumb move in the last episode. Ozzy notes that Brandon wasn't playing a game built around loyalty, but rather around blind faith, and that blind faith was not in God but in people that wanted to win a million dollars way more than he did.
Over at Te Tuna, the remaining Upolus try to gather themselves after a very turbulent Tribal Council, and Albert angers Coach when he says he had no idea that Brandon was going home. This, of course, is not true, since Coach and Albert had discussed who they were going to vote out at that Tribal Council and Coach had told Albert in no uncertain terms that he was targeting Brandon no matter what. Coach then goes off on a rant about how he is sick of people "being holier-than-thou" and not owning up to their deception, and he yells at Albert for not being straight with him. The entire discussion can be summed up like this:
The next day, Ozzy and Brandon receive tree mail telling them that they are about to compete in the final Redemption Duel. They head over to the arena where Jeff Probst explains that the challenge is a simple endurance test: cling onto a pole for as long as you can. They will start at the top of the pole, and there are several notches along the pole for them to slide down onto in case they lose their footing. Last person standing gets back in the game. After 45 minutes, both players were struggling to hang on, but Brandon fell down first and became the seventh juror, while Ozzy returned to the game for a second time.
Brandon left the game saying he forgives the people that backstabbed him and will leave the game with his head held high. After all the emotional turmoil he experienced in this game, I hope Brandon will be able to take this and become a better person, but let's face it: until he made that final dumb move, he made for horrible television. Hopefully this will convince the casting team to stop being lazy and picking people based on nepotism. I don't want another Hantz on this show, and neither do a lot of people.
With Ozzy back at the Te Tuna camp, Coach immediately sits down with him and reaffirms the final three deal he made with Ozzy on Redemption Island. He tells Ozzy that if he wins the next immunity, he will give him his hidden immunity idol and keep him safe. Ozzy nods his head through the whole discussion, but in an confessional he admits he does not buy anything Coach says. Coach thinks it is his game to lose because everyone wants to take him to the final three. Did it ever occur to him that the reason everyone is sticking with him is that, one, he has the idol and therefore no one dares to target him, and two, the jury probably doesn't like him because of his honor speeches?
Now it's time for the first of two immunity challenges. In this challenge, the players must use their left arm to pull down on a pulley that will level out a balancing board. Then, using their right hand, they must use wooden tiles to create a tower tall enough to pass a red marker. They each have a limited number of tiles, and if they do not keep the pulley steady, the board will tilt and the tower will fall over. First player to create a tower tall enough to reach the required height wins immunity.
The game starts, and Coach, Sophie, and Ozzy pull away from Albert and Rick. Then, Coach's tower falls over while Ozzy and Sophie run out of tiles to use, forcing them to take apart some of their tower and find a new approach. In the process of rebuilding, both Ozzy and Sophie lose some tiles as they fall to the ground and out of their reach. Sophie asks Albert to drop his stack and help her by picking up her tiles. Albert refuses and Sophie begins yelling at him until Probst reminds her that this is an individual challenge and no one is allowed to help each other. "If you want Ozzy out of this game," he says, "Beat him."
Eventually, Sophie's tower falls again, leaving it race between Ozzy and Coach, and in a season filled with close, riveting challenges, this one was incredibly fun to watch. You can see the sweat pouring down both of the vets' faces as they slowly place more tiles on their stacks. After a long, tense struggle, Ozzy finishes his stack first, and with a victorious punch to destroy his stack, celebrates another challenge victory while the Upolus prepare to do some scrambling.
Back at camp, Coach and Albert discuss voting out Rick, since both of them feel that the jury would vote for him because they like him and his work ethic. Ozzy, however, isn't going to let it be that easy, and he plans to sow seeds of discontent amongst his competitors. He proposes to Albert that they vote out Sophie because she is a brat, and he uses her behavior at the challenge as an example. He then tells Albert about his final three deal with Ozzy. When Albert confronts Coach with this information, Coach simply responds by saying that he can't wait to get Ozzy out of the game.
At Tribal Council, everything is put out on the table, including the Coach/Ozzy deal and Ozzy's belief that Sophie is a brat. The latter especially hurts Sophie, as Ozzy tells her that while he was on Redemption Island, every person that talked with him called her arrogant, spoiled, and childish. That was a little brow-raising for me. I never saw Sophie that way, but it could be because I was too focused on people like Brandon and Cochran to notice. Sophie breaks down and says this is the first time she has ever been called such things, and that it is really hard to hear Ozzy make such personal statements.
2011年12月12日星期一
Closure, takeover force redundancies
A UNIQUE Brighouse business has shut its doors and another company has been taken over amid fears of job losses.
Sagar Marine Ltd built luxury barges for almost 40 years at its base in Wharf Street next to Brighouse Marina.
The company, established in 1975 by Stephen and Wendy Sagar, had a high reputation for the quality of its craftsmanship and unique Dutch barges.
But over the last 12 months the economic climate had meant a drop in business for the family firm which has now gone into voluntary liquidation.
Director Stephen Sagar said the reluctant decision had been taken due to a downturn in trade.
“Over the last 12 months the lack of business has just got worse due to the economic climate,” he said. “We decided to go into voluntary liquidation so all the suppliers and customers have been paid and no-one has been left out of pocket.
“I am more disappointed about the five redundancies we made as most of them had been with the company for at least 25 years.”
Working alongside their sons Jonathan and Andrew, the Sagars built up a reputation in the waterways world and were awarded the coveted John Beardsmore award for excellence for their type of craft.
When the Sagars started, they were virtually the only boat builders of their type in the area and one of only a handful in the country. They did everything themselves from building the original steel hull to carpentry and upholstery work.
Initially specialising in traditional and semi-traditional narrow boats, they built their first Dutch-style barge in 1991 and introduced their Mini-Luxe, designed specially for use on UK canals in 1993.
A second Brighouse business which started as a cottage industry and became one of the fastest growing companies in the north of England has been bought out.
Ceramic Prints Ltd, which has a factory at George Street, has been bought by British Ceramic Tile (BCT) of Devon for an undisclosed sum.
News of the take-over comes with a warning that jobs may have to go as part of efforts to streamline the two operations.
BCT has about 300 employees and Ceramic Prints has about 130. It is not yet known where the jobs will be lost but BCT chief executive Matthew Gazzard said the firm envisaged there would be fewer than 100 redundancies from among the 430 staff of the combined businesses.
A 30-day period of consultation with employee representatives is now underway.
Tony Taylor, who started Ceramic Prints in his garage in Birkby in 1983, will stay on as commercial director with British Ceramic Tiles which will become one of the largest tile companies in the UK.
Sagar Marine Ltd built luxury barges for almost 40 years at its base in Wharf Street next to Brighouse Marina.
The company, established in 1975 by Stephen and Wendy Sagar, had a high reputation for the quality of its craftsmanship and unique Dutch barges.
But over the last 12 months the economic climate had meant a drop in business for the family firm which has now gone into voluntary liquidation.
Director Stephen Sagar said the reluctant decision had been taken due to a downturn in trade.
“Over the last 12 months the lack of business has just got worse due to the economic climate,” he said. “We decided to go into voluntary liquidation so all the suppliers and customers have been paid and no-one has been left out of pocket.
“I am more disappointed about the five redundancies we made as most of them had been with the company for at least 25 years.”
Working alongside their sons Jonathan and Andrew, the Sagars built up a reputation in the waterways world and were awarded the coveted John Beardsmore award for excellence for their type of craft.
When the Sagars started, they were virtually the only boat builders of their type in the area and one of only a handful in the country. They did everything themselves from building the original steel hull to carpentry and upholstery work.
Initially specialising in traditional and semi-traditional narrow boats, they built their first Dutch-style barge in 1991 and introduced their Mini-Luxe, designed specially for use on UK canals in 1993.
A second Brighouse business which started as a cottage industry and became one of the fastest growing companies in the north of England has been bought out.
Ceramic Prints Ltd, which has a factory at George Street, has been bought by British Ceramic Tile (BCT) of Devon for an undisclosed sum.
News of the take-over comes with a warning that jobs may have to go as part of efforts to streamline the two operations.
BCT has about 300 employees and Ceramic Prints has about 130. It is not yet known where the jobs will be lost but BCT chief executive Matthew Gazzard said the firm envisaged there would be fewer than 100 redundancies from among the 430 staff of the combined businesses.
A 30-day period of consultation with employee representatives is now underway.
Tony Taylor, who started Ceramic Prints in his garage in Birkby in 1983, will stay on as commercial director with British Ceramic Tiles which will become one of the largest tile companies in the UK.
2011年12月1日星期四
Resale of the week: Four-level NW charmer
Since 1924, the stately home at 4331 Cathedral Ave. NW in Wesley Heights has presided over this quiet street from within its private setting.
While the home has been meticulously renovated and enlarged over its 87-year history, the elegance of its architecture has never faded. Stone steps lead from the sidewalk to the covered front door, which is flanked by tall windows with shutters. The quadruple window at the top of the house offers an enticing suggestion of the delightful rooms to be found on the attic level.
The pale-gray-painted shingle exterior is complemented by a glass-enclosed porch on each side of the main level, and the home is encircled by lawns, mature trees and low-maintenance plantings. The terraced rear yard provides a deck, a flagstone patio with a corner fountain and pond, plus a level lawn perfect for a children’s play area. Stone steps lead from the deck to the top of the terraces, where a gate opens onto a two-car parking area with a row of enclosed storage sheds.
On the market for $1,995,000, this home has four finished levels with approximately 4,250 finished square feet. A fire damaged the upper levels in 2001 but also gave the owners an opportunity to replace the electrical systems in the home, add a new roof and remodel the two top floors of the house.
Architectural elements such as crown molding and deep trim around the baseboards, doorways and windows provide continuity in the older and new sections of the residence, along with hardwood flooring throughout the main and upper levels. Recessed lighting has been installed throughout the home, and the kitchen and all five bathrooms have been remodeled.
Perhaps the biggest change during the home remodeling was the addition of living space on either side of the home. While all the rooms in this home have oversized windows that let in plenty of natural light, the two enclosed porches are wrapped in windows on three sides, with transoms above for even more daylight.
One of the enclosed porches functions as the family room, with a wall of built-in bookcases and cabinets, floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass-paneled door leading to the deck. On the opposite side of the house, the other enclosed porch has floor-to-ceiling windows, French doors leading to the terrace, an exposed stone wall and a pocket door leading into the living room. This room currently functions as a home office but can be used a sunroom.
The wide center-hall entrance retains its traditional design and is filled with natural light that flows through a fanlight above the front door and sidelights.
To the right of the center hall is the generously proportioned formal living room, which stretches from the front of the house to the back. French doors open onto the front garden at one end, while a second set of French doors opens onto the deck. Built-in bookcases and cabinets flank the French doors, while a wood-burning fireplace with a carved Federal-style mantel adds warmth to the room. A side window frames a view of the patio, with a glimpse of the corner fountain and pond.
Across the foyer from the living room is the formal dining room, which has crown and chair-rail molding, French doors opening onto the front garden, a pocket door to the family room, and a swing door into the kitchen.
The kitchen and breakfast area have been renovated and include two walls of windows framing views of the deck and the terraced backyard. The focal point for the kitchen is the oversized center island, which has plenty of space for guests to gather and an abundance of open shelving and pull-out drawers and cabinets on all sides.
The kitchen includes granite counters; extensive wood and glass-paneled cabinets, including a pantry; undercabinet lighting; stainless steel appliances; ceramic tile flooring; and distinctive pendant lights. Nearby are a powder room and two double-door coat closets.
A hardwood staircase with a window seat on the landing leads to the first of two upper levels, which has a master suite with a spacious and charming sitting area with oversized windows on two sides. The suite includes a walk-in closet with custom-designed cabinets and a luxurious master bath with a whirlpool tub set under a window, a glass-enclosed shower, marble flooring and a double-sink vanity.
This level has two spacious secondary bedrooms, each with windows on two sides and a double-door closet. These two bedrooms share a renovated hall bath with beadboard walls, tile flooring and a pedestal sink.
On the attic level, a long window seat flanked by built-in bookcases and cabinets provides extra seating in a charming sky-level sitting room. The adjacent bedroom includes a gently sloping ceiling, a wall of built-in drawers, a closet and access to attic storage.
While the home has been meticulously renovated and enlarged over its 87-year history, the elegance of its architecture has never faded. Stone steps lead from the sidewalk to the covered front door, which is flanked by tall windows with shutters. The quadruple window at the top of the house offers an enticing suggestion of the delightful rooms to be found on the attic level.
The pale-gray-painted shingle exterior is complemented by a glass-enclosed porch on each side of the main level, and the home is encircled by lawns, mature trees and low-maintenance plantings. The terraced rear yard provides a deck, a flagstone patio with a corner fountain and pond, plus a level lawn perfect for a children’s play area. Stone steps lead from the deck to the top of the terraces, where a gate opens onto a two-car parking area with a row of enclosed storage sheds.
On the market for $1,995,000, this home has four finished levels with approximately 4,250 finished square feet. A fire damaged the upper levels in 2001 but also gave the owners an opportunity to replace the electrical systems in the home, add a new roof and remodel the two top floors of the house.
Architectural elements such as crown molding and deep trim around the baseboards, doorways and windows provide continuity in the older and new sections of the residence, along with hardwood flooring throughout the main and upper levels. Recessed lighting has been installed throughout the home, and the kitchen and all five bathrooms have been remodeled.
Perhaps the biggest change during the home remodeling was the addition of living space on either side of the home. While all the rooms in this home have oversized windows that let in plenty of natural light, the two enclosed porches are wrapped in windows on three sides, with transoms above for even more daylight.
One of the enclosed porches functions as the family room, with a wall of built-in bookcases and cabinets, floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass-paneled door leading to the deck. On the opposite side of the house, the other enclosed porch has floor-to-ceiling windows, French doors leading to the terrace, an exposed stone wall and a pocket door leading into the living room. This room currently functions as a home office but can be used a sunroom.
The wide center-hall entrance retains its traditional design and is filled with natural light that flows through a fanlight above the front door and sidelights.
To the right of the center hall is the generously proportioned formal living room, which stretches from the front of the house to the back. French doors open onto the front garden at one end, while a second set of French doors opens onto the deck. Built-in bookcases and cabinets flank the French doors, while a wood-burning fireplace with a carved Federal-style mantel adds warmth to the room. A side window frames a view of the patio, with a glimpse of the corner fountain and pond.
Across the foyer from the living room is the formal dining room, which has crown and chair-rail molding, French doors opening onto the front garden, a pocket door to the family room, and a swing door into the kitchen.
The kitchen and breakfast area have been renovated and include two walls of windows framing views of the deck and the terraced backyard. The focal point for the kitchen is the oversized center island, which has plenty of space for guests to gather and an abundance of open shelving and pull-out drawers and cabinets on all sides.
The kitchen includes granite counters; extensive wood and glass-paneled cabinets, including a pantry; undercabinet lighting; stainless steel appliances; ceramic tile flooring; and distinctive pendant lights. Nearby are a powder room and two double-door coat closets.
A hardwood staircase with a window seat on the landing leads to the first of two upper levels, which has a master suite with a spacious and charming sitting area with oversized windows on two sides. The suite includes a walk-in closet with custom-designed cabinets and a luxurious master bath with a whirlpool tub set under a window, a glass-enclosed shower, marble flooring and a double-sink vanity.
This level has two spacious secondary bedrooms, each with windows on two sides and a double-door closet. These two bedrooms share a renovated hall bath with beadboard walls, tile flooring and a pedestal sink.
On the attic level, a long window seat flanked by built-in bookcases and cabinets provides extra seating in a charming sky-level sitting room. The adjacent bedroom includes a gently sloping ceiling, a wall of built-in drawers, a closet and access to attic storage.
2011年10月30日星期日
Buildings relevelled with Uretek’s expanding structural resin injections
Uretek used their patented resin injection system to successfully re-level office buildings in Sydney to bring them back to their original position.
Four of these office stairwell towers at Huntingwood in Sydney had rotated outwards from the main building, moving by as much as 60mm at the top.
Uretek’s injections of expanding structural resins underneath the furthest-out base sections brought the towers back into correct position in just two days.
Relevelling buildings using conventional techniques can be difficult, messy and time-consuming. Uretek’s expanding resin injection method on the other hand, is a quick process, does not involve excavation or mess and does not require the building’s occupants to temporarily move out.
Uretek carries out building relevelling work from outside the building. The resin injection is done through small, 16mm diameter holes or 12mm tubes. Even smaller 6mm tubes can be used in slab-lifting, so that the penetrations are not visible in inside environments, especially with carpet, parquetry or ceramic tile floors.
Uretek’s expanding resins raise building footings and floors back to their correct levels with the results being seen in reduced wall cracks as well as functional windows and doors.
Uretek’s expanding resin technology is ideal for relevelling offices, homes, factories and warehouses among others.
Four of these office stairwell towers at Huntingwood in Sydney had rotated outwards from the main building, moving by as much as 60mm at the top.
Uretek’s injections of expanding structural resins underneath the furthest-out base sections brought the towers back into correct position in just two days.
Relevelling buildings using conventional techniques can be difficult, messy and time-consuming. Uretek’s expanding resin injection method on the other hand, is a quick process, does not involve excavation or mess and does not require the building’s occupants to temporarily move out.
Uretek carries out building relevelling work from outside the building. The resin injection is done through small, 16mm diameter holes or 12mm tubes. Even smaller 6mm tubes can be used in slab-lifting, so that the penetrations are not visible in inside environments, especially with carpet, parquetry or ceramic tile floors.
Uretek’s expanding resins raise building footings and floors back to their correct levels with the results being seen in reduced wall cracks as well as functional windows and doors.
Uretek’s expanding resin technology is ideal for relevelling offices, homes, factories and warehouses among others.
2011年9月18日星期日
Clydesdale pupils design International Children’s Games murals
Pupils from Clydesdale primary schools have produced a lasting legacy of the 2011 International Children’s Games – designing four large tile murals which will be placed in four different Clydesdale locations.
Biggar, Blackwood, Lanark and Woodpark Primary Schools won a competition, run by South Lanarkshire Council, to design the mural, which would encapsulate the feelings that hosting the Games evoked for the children.
The lucky winners then worked with Biggar ceramic artist Stacey Roberts, who transformed the winning designs from A4 paper to a full scale mural.
The murals have now been installed in Biggar High School community wing, Lesmahagow High community wing and the Lifestyles Centres in both Carluke and Lanark for everyone to enjoy.
For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.
Biggar, Blackwood, Lanark and Woodpark Primary Schools won a competition, run by South Lanarkshire Council, to design the mural, which would encapsulate the feelings that hosting the Games evoked for the children.
The lucky winners then worked with Biggar ceramic artist Stacey Roberts, who transformed the winning designs from A4 paper to a full scale mural.
The murals have now been installed in Biggar High School community wing, Lesmahagow High community wing and the Lifestyles Centres in both Carluke and Lanark for everyone to enjoy.
For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.
2011年5月18日星期三
Lustig eyes U.S. Open
The field of nearly 60 golfers hopeful of qualifying for a chance to play in the U.S. Open was like a "Who's Who" of Pennsylvania's top professional players at Quicksilver Golf Club.
There was Oakmont Country Club pro Bob Ford. There was touring pro Bob Friend. Also in the field were current pros Mike Van Sickle and Robert Rohanna.
But when the last putt was holed on the soggy, 7,100-yard course, only four people qualified for the last step to playing in the U.S. Open — a 36-hole sectional at either Columbus, Ohio, or Rockville, Md., on June 6.
One of them is Belle Vernon Area senior Bo Lustig.
Lustig, 18, shot an even-par 72 through miserable conditions and finished in a three-way tie for the lead with Matt Hoffman and William Miller, college standouts at Illinois and Georgia Tech, respectively.
Getting the fourth spot one stroke back with a 73 was long drive competitor Justin Moose.
Dennis Munko of Leechburg and Pittsburgh's David Brown both shot 74, then survived a sudden-death playoff with Gordon Vietmeier to earn the two alternate spots for the sectional.
Lustig, the 2010 WPIAL golf champion, said the wicked weather conditions did not bother him. In fact, he said, the rain was an ally.
"The rain actually helped me," Lustig said. "I carry the ball a long way and my drives weren't hurt by the rain because of the carry. I probably was driving the ball 300-320 yards out there and was a lot longer than a lot of the other players."
"Other than 18, the casual water wasn't too bad," added Lustig, who shot a 2-under 34 on the front. "This was probably one of my best rounds under these kinds of conditions."
Miller, a senior at Georgia Tech, wasn't as long. But he was steady in getting around the front nine with a 1-under 35 and a 1-over 37 on the inward nine.
"It was a pretty solid round," said Miller, who had four birdies. "The greens didn't affect my putting and my ball striking was solid, but I struggled a little bit with my wedge."
Lustig said he was pleased with his round, noting, "I thought I played great today. I probably left a few strokes out there with putts, but I made a couple long putts to make up for that. I played solid all day."
Lustig, erased many of his mistakes with clutch putts. He rolled in a 15-footer on the 401-yard, par-4 third hole. He followed with 10- and 20-foot birdie putts on 9 and 10 before stumbling with a double-bogey on 11 and a bogey on 12.
"The conditions were rough, especially because I fly most of my tee shots," said Lustig, who will attend Robert Morris. "The ball was plugging even with my 2-iron (off 12). I kept the ball straight all day."
Lustig barely escaped a big number on the 540-yard, par-5 17th when he buried his tee shot in the deep rough. Just as Lustig was prepared to hit three off the tee, a friend spotted his ball.
"They probably should have sent me back to the tee, but my friend found it and that saved me," said Lustig, who finished second in the state championships this past season. "I probably would have made seven or eight if he hadn't found it."
Lustig said he will continue practicing to get ready for the June 6 event. In the meantime, he said he will be playing in one other tournament at Hannastown Country Club before then.
The U.S. Open will be held June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.
There was Oakmont Country Club pro Bob Ford. There was touring pro Bob Friend. Also in the field were current pros Mike Van Sickle and Robert Rohanna.
But when the last putt was holed on the soggy, 7,100-yard course, only four people qualified for the last step to playing in the U.S. Open — a 36-hole sectional at either Columbus, Ohio, or Rockville, Md., on June 6.
One of them is Belle Vernon Area senior Bo Lustig.
Lustig, 18, shot an even-par 72 through miserable conditions and finished in a three-way tie for the lead with Matt Hoffman and William Miller, college standouts at Illinois and Georgia Tech, respectively.
Getting the fourth spot one stroke back with a 73 was long drive competitor Justin Moose.
Dennis Munko of Leechburg and Pittsburgh's David Brown both shot 74, then survived a sudden-death playoff with Gordon Vietmeier to earn the two alternate spots for the sectional.
Lustig, the 2010 WPIAL golf champion, said the wicked weather conditions did not bother him. In fact, he said, the rain was an ally.
"The rain actually helped me," Lustig said. "I carry the ball a long way and my drives weren't hurt by the rain because of the carry. I probably was driving the ball 300-320 yards out there and was a lot longer than a lot of the other players."
"Other than 18, the casual water wasn't too bad," added Lustig, who shot a 2-under 34 on the front. "This was probably one of my best rounds under these kinds of conditions."
Miller, a senior at Georgia Tech, wasn't as long. But he was steady in getting around the front nine with a 1-under 35 and a 1-over 37 on the inward nine.
"It was a pretty solid round," said Miller, who had four birdies. "The greens didn't affect my putting and my ball striking was solid, but I struggled a little bit with my wedge."
Lustig said he was pleased with his round, noting, "I thought I played great today. I probably left a few strokes out there with putts, but I made a couple long putts to make up for that. I played solid all day."
Lustig, erased many of his mistakes with clutch putts. He rolled in a 15-footer on the 401-yard, par-4 third hole. He followed with 10- and 20-foot birdie putts on 9 and 10 before stumbling with a double-bogey on 11 and a bogey on 12.
"The conditions were rough, especially because I fly most of my tee shots," said Lustig, who will attend Robert Morris. "The ball was plugging even with my 2-iron (off 12). I kept the ball straight all day."
Lustig barely escaped a big number on the 540-yard, par-5 17th when he buried his tee shot in the deep rough. Just as Lustig was prepared to hit three off the tee, a friend spotted his ball.
"They probably should have sent me back to the tee, but my friend found it and that saved me," said Lustig, who finished second in the state championships this past season. "I probably would have made seven or eight if he hadn't found it."
Lustig said he will continue practicing to get ready for the June 6 event. In the meantime, he said he will be playing in one other tournament at Hannastown Country Club before then.
The U.S. Open will be held June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.
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