It began with the classic 1980s look: low, dropped ceilings and soffits, white countertops and a separated, closed-off layout. Led by owners Jim and Susan Todd, general contractor Jack Bowers of InnerSpace and Joe Wozniak of Fine Line Wood Products brought the kitchen into the 21st century.

View this kitchen gallery here.

We started by opening the space, said Susan Todd. By opening up the space and taking down the walls, we could optimize the high ceilings.

While eliminating and moving several walls and soffits, including expanding the laundry room, the space opened up to the living room. The larger laundry room, now a prep area, reuses the previous kitchen cabinets.

Where do guests always congregate? In the kitchen, added Todd. I wanted to have a big work, serving and bar area and a comfortable environment for my guests.

Completely flipping the style of the previous kitchen, the owners opted for a modern design. The design aesthetic was to have a floating kitchen look, explained Bowers. The use of mirrors on the island and on the backsplashes helped with the visual floating design.

Wrapped in glass, a cantilevered bar adds a formal touch that also ties into the contemporary theme. Mirrors scream contemporary, explained Todd. It definitely opens up an area and is a clean look, and it is easy to keep clean.

The mirrored backsplash lies behind acrylic-paneled cabinetry. Finished with high gloss, the cabinets pop with ruby red for the uppers and wired mercury for the bases. I think mixing the red and gray cabinets with the glass and mirrors and the high-polished countertops gives a real wow factor from any vantage point, said Bowers.

Topped with high-polished Carrera granite, the countertops balance the colorful cabinets with simple black and gray veining. This granite has a gray base color, which matched very well with the gray cabinets and helped with the floating look, explained Bowers. Gray-honed stone tiles complete the palette.

Three small, chrome black pendants over the prep area match one large black pendant over the bar. Suspended from thin metal wires and finished with a glossy surface, the lights complement the high-gloss cabinets and the floating appeal. The fixtures also go with a sphere exhaust unit over the cooktop, which brings an unconventional twist into the space.

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Open to Modernity

Basement Remodeling by HB Services -- The Finished Product
HB Services remodeled a basement to repair extensive water damage but also installed a new bathroom, improved lighting and created an updated, open living ar...

By: HB Services, LLC

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Basement Remodeling by HB Services -- The Finished Product - Video

Arlington Heights, IL, June 03, 2014 --(PR.com)-- An award-winning basement finishing firm has just arrived in New England, promising to beat up moisture and water damage with their innovative waterproof wall and subflooring system.

Matrix Basement Systems of New England - an offshoot of their Illinois-based headquarters - will be stationed at a new office in Hopedale, Mass. Recently named as one of the Big50 Remodelers by Hanley Wood and Remodeling Magazine, the company is geared up to help homeowners fight basement water problems in areas of Boston, MA and Providence, RI.

Nick Richmond, President at Matrix Basement Systems said: Over the years weve had a great number of inquiries from the New England area, especially with regards to our waterproof wall panels. New England is unique in that waterproofing is paramount for basement projects - the ground retains a lot of moisture and without proper attention this can cause a big headache for homeowners. Now we have a local office, were perfectly placed to ensure basements are not only a convenient and useful space, but dry and comfortable. After all, thats the number one priority for any underground space - it needs to be usable above all else.

Matrix Basement Systems of New England will be installing the Matrix Basement Finishing System a Basement SIP (Structurally Insulated Wall Panel) and Raised Subflooring System - which is designed to protect basements from flooding or damage to drywall products due to water. Mold, mildew and structural damage are all potential side-effects of groundwater; which is why the firm has worked to provide a product that can protect against this. The company guarantees the product is 100% waterproof, mold proof, and mildew proof with other added benefits like thermal insulation too.

Vice President and Co-Founder Brian Barrick said: Waterproofing and preventing moisture from impacting a basement is the biggest concern of every homeowner - and rightly so. It can cause considerable damage to a basement space; some of which is irreparable. But what makes our product so groundbreaking is the attention to other finer details. The Matrix product is eco-friendly, non-toxic and energy-efficient. That means that homeowners have the ultimate peace of mind that it will not only do the job, but tick every desirable box as well. With our product, your basement will stay cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and save on energy bills. Its seamless and paintable too - so the final decorative touches are far superior to drywall. Matrix Basement Systems is the largest basement finishing contractor in the Midwest, with offices in Illinois, Michigan and New England. Their Boston office is now fully operational.

About Matrix Based in Arlington Heights, Illinois, Matrix Basement Systems, Inc. is the largest basement finishing contractor in the Midwest. Founded in 2009, Matrix has provided homeowners with a non-toxic, energy-efficient, waterproof, mold proof, paintable wall system that is quickly and easily installed, and protects basements from water and moisture damage for years to come. Matrix has brought dry basement environments and great basement design services to more than 1,000 homes across the Chicagoland, Detroit, and New England areas. The innovation of successful entrepreneurs Nick Richmond and Brian Barrick has not only impacted residential construction, but their recent launch of Matrix Manufacturing, USA is the Midwests biggest producer of Basement SIPS, MgO-Board, Tyroc Subflooring, and Panel Lamination services. With more than 100 employees spread across multiple locations in Illinois and Michigan, Matrix Basement Systems is a leader in the basement remodeling industry and will continue to be an innovator in green building and home performance materials.

Contact Information: Anne La Francis Matrix Basement Systems, Inc. 847-290-8000 1435 E. Algonquin Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60005

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Basement Finishing Experts Arrive in New England

June 03, 2014 // Paul Buckley

Digital Lumens is forming a strategic partnership with Xicato to bring wireless intelligent solutions to professional indoor applications, drive adoption, and lower the cost of ownership of energy efficient, smart lighting.

By combining Xicatos XIM Intelligent Modules that integrate driver, dimming and diagnostic electronics within the light source, and Digital Lumens Digital Light Agent (DLA) wireless sensing and control modules, luminaire manufacturers can now offer intelligent lighting via LightRules, Digital Lumens energy and intelligence software platform. The LightRules-based software system will wirelessly manage lighting and gather key data about the operating environment, while delivering Digital Lumens signature efficiency, flexibility and control.

Retail and hospitality segments offer a tremendous growth opportunity for smart lighting. The Xicato-Digital Lumens solution enables the lighting and facilities communities to improve operations and business with wireless intelligent solutions, said Menko de Roos, CEO of Xicato. Together we deliver smart lighting that improves efficiencies, lowers ownership costs and makes sense for the professional indoor lighting community.

Tom Pincince, President and CEO of Digital Lumens, said: Our joint approach makes it quick, easy and cost-effective to connect the XIM to the DLA and LightRules, and provides new levels of value in any environment.

Related articles and links:

http://www.digitallumens.com

http://www.xicato.com

News articles:

Using the cloud to make lighting smarter

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Digital Lumens partners Xicato to develop intelligent lighting

The five shortlisted designs, submitted anonymously, will now go before a jury including members of Gothenberg's city planning department and the project's development company

Five architects have been shortlisted to design what will be Scandinavia's tallest building. The Karlavagnstornet skyscraper is to be built in Gothenberg, Sweden, with current design brief giving it an eventual minimum height of 202 m (663 ft). The winning design will be announced on June 17.

The participants on the final design shortlist are Ian Simpson Architects, Manuelle Gautrand Architects, Skidmore Owings & Merrill (with Entasis), Wingrdhs Arkitektkontor and Zaha Hadid Architects. Each finalist will be awarded 500,000 SEK (US$75,000) and the winning design will be selected by a jury which includes members of Gothenberg's city planning department and the project's development company Serneke.

Serneke (formerly Sefa) has been working on the Karlavagnstornet project for around ten years with input from the City of Gothenburg and the River Bank Development. The site at Karlavagnsgrnd Square is already developed by the company and will host fifteen blocks of residential, office, retail and service space when the project is complete.

The designs entered into the contest, which was originally organized by the Swedish Association of Architects, were submitted anonymously. They are the 214 m (703 ft) Ursa tower, the 231 m (758 ft) Svall tower, the 202.1 m (663 ft) Glasklart, the 230 m (755 ft) Polstjrnan tower and the 215 m (705 ft) Kyssen tower.

"It feels absolutely incredible to be able to present exciting and spectacular proposals such as these," said Ola Serneke, founder and CEO of Serneke Group.

Source: Serneke

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Scandinavia's tallest building design shortlist announced

County Commissioners Court on Monday selected MNK Architects from El Paso to determine whether the 30-year-old Downtown jail can be fixed or has to be replaced.

Commissioners Court voted 4-0 to start negotiating a contract with MNK Architects. County Judge Veronica Escobar was absent. Commissioners Court has allocated $250,000 to pay for the study, which will compare the cost of building a new jail to the cost of remodeling the existing facility.

MNK Architects was competing for the contract against the company Wiginton Hooker Jeffry from Plano, Texas. Both companies were the finalists as their proposals were rated as equal by the county's evaluation committee. The evaluation did not include the county's provision that gives points to local contractors. The local preference only applies to goods and supplies, not services, said county purchasing agent Kennie Downing.

Commissioners said they supported MNK Architects mainly because it's a local company and because it participated in the construction of the jail. Although Escobar was not at the meeting, she also supported the hiring of the company in a written statement. She said MNK's involvement in the construction of the Downtown Jail would be beneficial to the county.

MNK representatives have said they are the best firm to perform the study because they are familiar with the Downtown jail and the city's building code. Monday's decision came after both companies made their pitches to the commissioners on May 19. MNK will work with GSBS Architects, a firm with offices in Salt Lake City and Fort Worth, on the project.

MNK and GSBS together have worked on more than 115 jail projects. Their team includes companies such as Latta Tech, which specializes in security consulting, and AB&P Engineering from El Paso.

Commissioner Carlos Leon said the evaluation of the two companies did not take into consideration whether they were local companies.

"They do have a tremendous reputation and they do have the background and history that should help as we move forward," Commissioner Carlos Leon said of MNK Architects.

In addition to being local, Commissioners Pat Abeln and Vince Perez said MNK provided a more detailed presentation with a plan of action.

Abeln said MNK's proposal was superior.

Read more:
El Paso firm selected for Downtown El Paso jail study

BRISTOL, Va. Construction of retail stores and restaurants at The Falls could be closer to starting following approval Monday of land subdivision details by the citys Planning Commission.

A final plat was unanimously approved by the board and will be considered by the City Council at its June 10 meeting, according to commission member and Mayor Guy Odum.

Interstate Commercial Real Estate Services applied to planners for final clearance on the land proposal, which would subdivide 44 acres into 13 separate parcels, including seven parcels that are already earmarked for commercial development, according to city documents.

Odum said Mondays decision and a final council vote will turn the parcels over to the Industrial Development Authority and then to the respective companies so they can begin construction.

The city is developing the giant retail center in the Exit 5 area of Interstate 81. Workers are already placing final touches on the building pad for Cabelas, the outdoor sporting goods retailer that has agreed to place its first Virginia store in Bristol.

Mondays vote will assist already announced tenants who will occupy up to 1 million square feet of retail space. Restaurant chain Zaxbys, Tennessee-based Calhouns and Smoky Mountain Brewery, and the Sheetz convenience store chain are among other retailers that have been announced as tenants. Lowes Home Improvement warehouse also is expected to open a new store there.

Odum said the move for final plat approval had been delayed because of a closer look at an easement issue conducted by Bristol Virginia Utilities that has been resolved.

Everyone is getting their piece of the pie today, Odum said.

Financiers with the commercial center are currently out selling bonds to help finance the estimated $200 million cost of development.

The project got much needed support from Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who penned legislation, approved by the Virginia General Assembly, which will allow the city to being collecting tax revenues as soon as each store or restaurant is operational. The governor signed the bill in April, during a stop at The Falls.

The rest is here:
The Falls lots are divied up to deliver to retailers, restaurants

Fourth Street in Mission Bay has been billed as the emerging neighborhood's answer to Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights or Clement Street in the Richmond.

But five years after the first residential tower opened at 1201 Fourth St., residents of the new San Francisco neighborhood still have no place to buy an apple, a pair of socks or a half-gallon of milk - never mind a steak or a bottle of Pinot Noir.

Retail specialists say it's the old chicken-before-the-egg conundrum. Few savvy retailers - except the sort of national chains that nobody in the neighborhood wants there - have the patience and money needed to build businesses before the neighborhood fills out.

But as residents grab new units in Mission Bay as quickly as they become available, some are starting to question whether Fourth Street will ever offer the eclectic mix of working, living and shopping that animates a city neighborhood - while others see a brighter future.

"I'm concerned about" Fourth Street, said Retail West Partner Matt Holmes, who represents retailers ranging from startups to Whole Foods. "I see retail spaces sitting in the shadow of these large buildings, without difference or distinction. They look like office buildings that have drooped down to the street."

Mission Bay South - a neighborhood bordered by Mission Creek to the north, 16th Street to the south, the bay to the east and the Caltrain tracks to the west - now has 1,497 completed housing units. About 90 percent of these are occupied. There are 575 rental units, 491 condos and 431 UCSF student housing units. An additional 1,045 units are under construction, including 149 affordable units, 263 condominiums and 633 market-rate rentals.

It's likely that within the next 12 months Mission Bay South will have between 4,000 and 5,000 residents. That is in addition to a $1.6 billion UCSF hospital, opening in 2015, and a corporate roster that includes Old Navy, FibroGen and Cisco.

But retailer brokers say some relief may be on the way.

Los Angeles-based Primo Hospitality Group is moving ahead with a 7,500-square-foot cafe and marketplace in Channel Mission Bay, a 315-unit apartment community being built at the corner of Channel and Fourth Street.

Primo operates two cafes in Los Angeles, one in Hollywood and one downtown. Both offer an extensive menu: salads, pizzas, gelatos, wraps, frittatas, crepes, rice bowls and smoothies.

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Without retail Mission Bay missing neighborhood feel

Wellington's commercial property market has improved during the last six months as the city begins to feel the positive effects of a growing economy, reports CBRE.

Prime CBD office space remains in strong demand and this has been reflected by increasing rents in the past six months.

The limited pool of prime office stock has also seen tenant and investor interest in seismically acceptable secondary CBD office space.

Despite an increase in CBD shop vacancies, demand for quality well-located retail space remains high.

But secondary CBD retail property faces a difficult year as a number of leases are about to expire, with a reduction in the number of potential tenants.

Prime industrial stock saw a slight increase in rents as the sector continues to rebound from weak conditions in late 2012 and early 2013.

The agency's latest Marketview report says 2014 is likely to see an increase in investment activity.

A number of CBD office buildings are already on the market and several more potential listings are understood to be in the pipeline.

"Growing confidence in the Wellington economy, coupled with the ongoing appeal of New Zealand commercial property yields to overseas investors, means that investment conditions in the city remain favourable."

Low interest rates and continued strong growth in New Zealand's construction sector had been key drivers in the country's economic recovery.

See the article here:
Positive CBD property outlook

Fourth Street in Mission Bay has been billed as the emerging neighborhood's answer to Cortland Avenue in Bernal Heights or Clement Street in the Richmond.

But five years after the first residential tower opened at 1201 Fourth St., residents of the new San Francisco neighborhood still have no place to buy an apple, a pair of socks or a half-gallon of milk - never mind a steak or a bottle of Pinot Noir.

Retail specialists say it's the old chicken-before-the-egg conundrum. Few savvy retailers - except the sort of national chains that nobody in the neighborhood wants there - have the patience and money needed to build businesses before the neighborhood fills out.

But as residents grab new units in Mission Bay as quickly as they become available, some are starting to question whether Fourth Street will ever offer the eclectic mix of working, living and shopping that animates a city neighborhood - while others see a brighter future.

"I'm concerned about" Fourth Street, said Retail West Partner Matt Holmes, who represents retailers ranging from startups to Whole Foods. "I see retail spaces sitting in the shadow of these large buildings, without difference or distinction. They look like office buildings that have drooped down to the street."

Mission Bay South - a neighborhood bordered by Mission Creek to the north, 16th Street to the south, the bay to the east and the Caltrain tracks to the west - now has 1,497 completed housing units. About 90 percent of these are occupied. There are 575 rental units, 491 condos and 431 UCSF student housing units. An additional 1,045 units are under construction, including 149 affordable units, 263 condominiums and 633 market-rate rentals.

It's likely that within the next 12 months Mission Bay South will have between 4,000 and 5,000 residents. That is in addition to a $1.6 billion UCSF hospital, opening in 2015, and a corporate roster that includes Old Navy, FibroGen and Cisco.

But retailer brokers say some relief may be on the way.

Los Angeles-based Primo Hospitality Group is moving ahead with a 7,500-square-foot cafe and marketplace in Channel Mission Bay, a 315-unit apartment community being built at the corner of Channel and Fourth Street.

Primo operates two cafes in Los Angeles, one in Hollywood and one downtown. Both offer an extensive menu: salads, pizzas, gelatos, wraps, frittatas, crepes, rice bowls and smoothies.

Excerpt from:
Mission Bay still missing neighborhood feel