Build This Dreamy Sunroom Addition And Take Advantage Of Life

When you build a sunroom addition this big,it gives you the opportunity to cash in on maximum resale value in the future. This particular design is one of our favorite home extension plans. We like it because the outside rendering came out really well and the interior 3D rendering is also beautiful.

This ultra-spacious sunroom features 9 massive windows with tempered glass, so that the windows themselves can be almost as large as the ceiling height in the room.

In addition to the huge windows, you also have a gorgeous double French door which completes this well designed sunroom. The flooring for this sunroom plan was chosen to be tile and if you look at the interior rendering you will notice two love seats, one rocking chair, one chaise lounge, one recliner, two end tables, one ottoman, and an electric guitar. The only reason we mentioned all the furniture in the room is because we want you to really notice how much more stuff you could put into this sun room addition.

This large sunroom was factored with the extension of HVAC ductwork, which would run underneath in the crawl space foundation. All these factors are in the estimated cost to build below.

Read more:
Premier Four Seasons Sunroom Addition 20 x 18

An addition to the back of their Keswick home brings year-round enjoyment for the whole family

Every morning, you'll find Sandra and Joe Da Costa perched on a bar stool, enjoying a freshly brewed cup of coffee and taking in the panoramic landscape. The stunning view is new for them and is all thanks to their brand new sunroom addition and its dramatically large windows on three sides of the space.

The idea for the sunroom began about 18 months ago with the couple contemplating a three-season addition. During the planning stages, it changed to become a room that they could enjoy the entire year, with heating, air conditioning and a stunning floor-to-ceiling gas fireplace.

Although handy, the Da Costas knew they wanted to hire someone to complete this ambitious plan and found Alair Homes Aurora a premium custom-home builder in York Region. With Alairs expertise and attention to detail, the Da Costas idea quickly started to take shape, and in four months the sunroom project was complete.

Now that the paint has dried, the windows have all been installed and the heated floor is turned on, the Da Costas have added approximately 350 square feet to their home and have successfully turned their old deck into a bright, contemporary space that their whole family can enjoy.

Link:
Family enjoys year-round addition to the back of their Keswick home - YorkRegion.com

A tasty salad of tender pea shoots. Handfuls of fragrant herbs for the stew. Snack veggies for lunch boxes.

Keeping a fresh supply of greens and herbs on hand can be challenging as the growing season winds down, or if you dont have a garden. But now you can plop a planter anywhere in your house, set a few timers, and in about 10 days youll be nibbling greens like a contented rabbit. All year round.

There are a variety of indoor grow gardens on the market that come with everything you need: planter, planting medium, seeds, fertilizer and a high-intensity grow light. Smart tech and remote controls adjust lighting and moisture levels, so even if your thumbs not the greenest, you can still find success.

Linnea and Tarren Wolfe of Vancouver, British Columbia, decided to design a home grower after watching their kids gobble up sunflower and pea-shoot microgreens like potato chips.

Their Urban Cultivator looks like a wine fridge. It comes as a free-standing unit, topped with a butcher block, or it can be installed under the counter and hooked up like a dishwasher. The company offers an extensive seed selection, but anything from your local garden center will grow. (www.urbancultivator.net)

Linnea Wolfe advises home gardeners to do some research into the benefits of the edible, immature greens known as microgreens.

Most of them only take about 7 to 10 days to grow, she says. You can mass-consume them, and the health benefits are extraordinary.

The indoor garden trend is part of a, well, growing movement, says New York landscape architect Janice Parker.

The technology of these kits simplifies hydroponic gardening at its best, and makes it available to all, she says. You dont need a yard, or favorable weather.

What a pleasure to have fresh herbs, flowers and vegetables, and experience a connection to nature no matter where you are, says Parker.

She thinks these kits shouldnt just be relegated to the kitchen.

Id put them anywhere dining room tables and coffee tables come to mind. Or in dead spaces that have no light or interest, she says.

She recommends growing plants with both flavor and flair: Chives, dill, rosemary, fennel, basil and nasturtiums all have gorgeous flowers and beautiful foliage.

Miracle Gros line of Aerogarden indoor planters includes the Sprout, which is about the size of a coffee maker and suitable for herbs, as well as a larger model in which you could grow just about anything. Pre-packaged seed pods like lettuces, cherry tomatoes, herb blends and petunias come ready to pop in the planter. An LCD control panel helps adjust lighting and watering needs. (www.miraclegro.com)

Click & Grows planter is compact. It has room for three plants, and an integrated LED light pole and special lightweight soil are included. The planter comes in white, gray or beige. Theres a walnut wood case available for the herb model. (www.clickandgrow.com)

LA Urban Farms vertical garden would make a vibrant addition to a sunny kitchen or sunroom. A circulating pump brings a soothing burble of water up and through the tower-shaped planter.

So what to grow in it, if youre a novice?

Leafy greens such as arugula, kale and butter lettuce, and herbs such as parsley, cilantro, thyme and oregano prove to be easiest for indoor growing, says LA Urban Farms founder, Wendy Coleman, of Los Angeles. These plants require less light, have an easy germination process and typically grow more quickly than other produce.

See original here:
Indoor grow gardens bring your gardening inside - Uniontown Herald Standard

By KEN LAHMERSReporter

AURORA The citys landmark commission on Aug. 17 granted certificates of appropriateness, which will allow renovations at three historic district homes.

One of the homes is known by many longtime Aurorans as"the Green Monster." It is the large Queen Anne-style home at 50 S. Chillicothe Road, which has a new owner. It acquired its nickname because of its exterior green paint.

The other structures are located at 432 Eggleston Road and 270 S. Chillicothe Road.

"The Green Monster" eventually might not be green anymore, since new owner Helen Peterson announced she is considering repainting it a blue-gray color with white trim.

The home was built in 1898 and was owned by Willis J. Eldridge, a cheese merchant, in its early years. More recently, it was owned by former City Councilwoman Marcia Colombo and her husband Donald.

Architect George Clemens outlined plans to convert a screened porch in the back into a sunroom, replace some windows and add some railings around the front porch to closer match the houses original look.

Meanwhile, exterior alterations and additions were approved for the Eggleston Road home now owned by Robert and Charlotte Emrick and historically known as the Chauncey Eggleston house. He was one of Auroras early settlers.

Eggleston, a member of the Ohio Senate from 1830-33, built the federal-style brick and stone house in 1831 after he moved to Aurora from Connecticut in 1807. It sets on a 14-acre parcel.

The Emricks plan an addition to the existing garage, adding a breezeway between the house and existing garage and a dormer and building a detached barn/workshop behind the house and garage.

Landmark panel chairman Jeff Clark commended the Emricks for their desire to improve the historic property.

The third certificate of appropriateness was granted to Isaac Pennock for his South Chillicothe Road home. He plans to replace 13 of 21 windows in the house because they are deteriorating.

In another matter, panelist John Kudley, president of the Aurora Historical Society, announced the dedication of an Ohio Historic Marker focusing on the Geauga Lake area will be Sept. 17 at 3 p.m. at the Geauga Lake Improvement Associations lakeside property on Route 43 across from East Boulevard.

The public is welcome to attend the dedication.

Email: klahmers@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-541-9400 ext. 4189

Read the original:
Renovations eyed to historic homes in Aurora - Columbus Alive

A tasty salad of tender pea shoots. Handfuls of fragrant herbs for the stew. Snack veggies for lunch boxes.

Keeping a fresh supply of greens and herbs on hand can be challenging as the growing season winds down, or if you don't have a garden. But now you can plop a planter anywhere in your house, set a few timers, and in about 10 days you'll be nibbling greens like a contented rabbit. All year round.

There are a variety of indoor grow gardens on the market that come with everything you need: planter, planting medium, seeds, fertilizer and a high-intensity grow light. Smart tech and remote controls adjust lighting and moisture levels, so even if your thumb's not the greenest, you can still find success.

Linnea and Tarren Wolfe of Vancouver, B.C., decided to design a home grower after watching their kids gobble up sunflower and pea-shoot microgreens "like potato chips."

Their Urban Cultivator looks like a wine fridge. It comes as a free-standing unit, topped with a butcher block, or it can be installed under the counter and hooked up like a dishwasher. The company offers an extensive seed selection, but anything from your local garden center will grow. (www.urbancultivator.net)

Linnea Wolfe advises home gardeners to do some research into the benefits of the edible, immature greens known as microgreens.

"Most of them only take about 7 to 10 days to grow," she says. "You can mass-consume them, and the health benefits are extraordinary."

The indoor garden trend is part of a, well, growing movement, says New York landscape architect Janice Parker.

"The technology of these kits simplifies hydroponic gardening at its best, and makes it available to all," she says. You don't need a yard, or favorable weather.

"What a pleasure to have fresh herbs, flowers and vegetables, and experience a connection to nature no matter where you are," says Parker.

She thinks these kits shouldn't just be relegated to the kitchen.

"I'd put them anywhere - dining room tables and coffee tables come to mind. Or in 'dead' spaces that have no light or interest," she says.

She recommends growing plants with both flavor and flair: "Chives, dill, rosemary, fennel, basil and nasturtiums all have gorgeous flowers and beautiful foliage."

Miracle Gro's line of Aerogarden indoor planters includes the Sprout, which is about the size of a coffee maker and suitable for herbs, as well as a larger model in which you could grow just about anything. Pre-packaged seed pods like lettuces, cherry tomatoes, herb blends and petunias come ready to pop in the planter. An LCD control panel helps adjust lighting and watering needs. (www.miraclegro.com)

Click & Grow's planter is compact. It has room for three plants, and an integrated LED light pole and special lightweight soil are included. The planter comes in white, gray or beige. There's a walnut wood case available for the herb model. (www.clickandgrow.com)

LA Urban Farms' vertical garden would make a vibrant addition to a sunny kitchen or sunroom. A circulating pump brings a soothing burble of water up and through the tower-shaped planter.

So what to grow in it, if you're a novice?

"Leafy greens such as arugula, kale and butter lettuce, and herbs such as parsley, cilantro, thyme and oregano prove to be easiest for indoor growing," says LA Urban Farms' founder, Wendy Coleman of Los Angeles. "These plants require less light, have an easy germination process and typically grow more quickly than other produce."

View post:
Is it time to bring your garden indoors? - Lewiston Morning Tribune (subscription)

This weeks open house column is sponsored by Kate McDonough

About 54 properties available for your viewing pleasure in the Greater Baristaville area this Sunday.

32 Dodd Street, Montclair

List Price: $539,000Taxes: $15,084Acreage: 0.13BRM/BTH: 4/2

Colonial near NYC bus, train, shops and restaurants at Watchung Plaza and Walnut Street. Easy access to Brookdale Park and Farmers Market. First floor includes living room, sunroom and dining room all with inlay ribbon hardwood floors and original wood trim plus updated kitchen with marble backsplash. Three bedrooms and updated bath on second floor and en-suite master bedroom on third floor. Finished recreation space and storage in basement. Backyard with one-car garage, mature plantings and tree house. Freshly painted inside and out. Open 1-4 p.m.

153 Highland Avenue, Montclair

List Price: $1,250,000Taxes: $28,643Acreage: 0.47BRM/BTH: 7/4.1

Ninety-year-old Colonial featuring large, eat-in kitchen with Viking stove and stainless steel appliances, family room, living room with French doors leading to garden with view of New York City. First floor also features dining room and powder room. Home has large master bedroom with with walk-in closet. Basement ready to be finished by the new owner, features laundry room, full bath and entrance to two-car garage. Home sold As Is, Home Owners Warranty Included. Open 2-4 p.m.

137 Forest St, Montclair

List Price: $600,000Taxes: $13,035Acreage: 0.08BRM/BTH: 3/2.2

Newer Colonial built in 2005/2006 is close to Walnut Street and Downtown Montclair and features a basement office that can be converted to mother/daughter space. Each of the three bedrooms on the top level are a good size and the master has its own en-suite bathroom. In addition to the open kitchen, there is a pantry area, formal dining room, additional home office space, a back deck, large powder room and a living room with balcony. Open 1-4 p.m.

756 Broad Street, Bloomfield

List Price: $294,000Taxes: $8,464Acreage: Not AvailableBRM/BTH: 2/1.1

Cape Cod style two bedroom in Brookdale section with NYC bus directly across street. Hardwood floors throughout. Eat in kitchen offering breakfast bar and granite countertops. Main level features three-season Florida room, two bedrooms, full bath and large living room/dining room combo. Unfinished attic has potential. Natural sunlight fill the rooms. Partially finished basement has large family room, laundry room, storage and powder room. Open 2-4 p.m.

34 Sommer Avenue, Glen Ridge

List Price: $389,000Taxes: $11,258Acreage: .09BRM/BTH: 3/1

Stone-front Colonial located in Carteret Park neighborhood. First floor features hardwood floors, wood-burning fireplace in living room, a formal dining room, updated kitchen and an enclosed front porch. The second floor has three bedrooms with ample closet space and updated main bathroom. The backyard patio is good for BBQs. Home has two-car garage. Jitney service to the train station. Open 1-4 p.m.

54 Avon Drive, Essex Fells

List Price: $749,000Taxes: $15,045Acreage: .73BRM/BTH: 4/3

Four-bedroom ranch on quiet street on almost three-quarters of an acre features slate foyer with Dutch door entrance, formal living room with large bay window and fireplace, formal dining room, eat-in kitchen, lower-level family room with fireplace, attached 2-car garage and hardwood floors throughout. Walk-up full-sized attic offers potential for even more finished space. Home features new furnace from 2013, updated electrical service done in 2013, new hot water heater installed in 2013 and new central air in 2015. Open 2-4 p.m.

More:
Baristaville Open Houses: Sunday, Aug. 20 - Baristanet

When termites returned to a Maryland couples home, they reached out to the pest control company with which they had a 10-year warranty, but that company had been sold to another company that doesnt do termites.

Christopher and Meredith Clarke had their Huntingtown home treated for termites last year.

They treated the entire house, all around the perimeter, drilling holes in the garage, the whole thing, Christopher Clarke said.

They wanted the insects gone for good, so they bought a 10-year warranty, agreeing to pay $95 per year for yearly inspections, which included any additional treatment if termites returned.

So just about a year after we had the treatment done, we started to notice some wings on the floor that looked like a recurrence of termites, Clarke said.

They called the company to return, but no one responded.

We were unable to connect to anybody, Clarke said.

They learned TruGreen bought out the pest control company with which they had a warranty. But TruGreen doesnt do termites and had no record of them, the Clarkes said.

They said they paid another company $1,320 to treat their home.

I was very upset about it, Clarke said. Thats quite a bit of money for a retired couple to lose.

The couple said TruGreen never acknowledged them as customers.

TruGreen told NBC4 Responds "the Clarkes were not on the transfer customers list," but the company immediately cut a check to reimburse their claim.

The Clarkes say they are termite free, and they've signed up for annual inspections with another company.

TruGreen said it is in litigation with the former company it took over and looking for any customers who are in a similar situation as the Clarkes.

Published at 5:16 PM EDT on Aug 23, 2017 | Updated at 8:22 PM EDT on Aug 23, 2017

More:
Md. Couple's Termite Warranty Fails After Their Pest Control Company Is Bought Out - NBC4 Washington

Little Fire Ant HUI, a citizen group advocating for increased public awareness and control of the little fire ant (LFA) in Hawaii County, is holding a one-time, free training event exclusively for all Big Island Pest Control Operators (PCOs).

The workshop will be presented by Hawaii Ant Lab, world experts on LFA, at the Kona Sheraton on Thursday, Sept.7, 2017, from 1 to 5 p.m.

The PCOs who receive the training will be able to provide LFA control service to homeowners islandwide.

PCOs will receive 4.0 credits approved by the HDOA Pesticide Branch.

Little Fire Ant HUI, founded by Holualoa resident Carolyn Dillon, promotes LFA training events for Hawaii Ant Lab and Big Island Invasive Species Committee.

What began as a grassroots effort to combat the spread of LFA in neighborhoods has become a countywide effort. The coalition has expanded to include state and county officials and department heads, industry leaders and private citizens in collaboration to expand community awareness and resources for increased LFA control.

More here:
Little Fire Ant HUI Offers Training to Big Island Pest Control Operators - Big Island Now

KINGSTOWNE, VA Fairfax County regularly conducts health inspections for local restaurants. The frequency of inspections on the type of food served and how it is prepared.

In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations, states the Virginia Department of Healths website.

Here are some of the violations from recent Kingstowne and Springfield inspections in August. Among the violations was an insect control device placed over food prep and storage areas at Maggiano's Little Italy. This was a repeat violation.

Also included is a restaurant with no violations. Reports are typically posted five to seven days after the inspections. Full reports are available on the health departments website. Click on the violations to see each restaurant's results.

Violations

Bertucci's Brick Oven Pizza: 6525 Frontier Dr, Springfield, VA 22150, last inspection: Aug. 11

violations: marinara sauce not reheated to proper temperature, foods cold holding at improper temperatures (both corrected), some coolers not operating properly

Jenny's Deli: 7664-B Fullerton Road, Springfield, VA 22153, last inspection: Aug. 13

violations: employee did not wash hands or change gloves after handling raw food, employee handling bread without gloves

KFC: 5890 Kingstowne Centre 160, Alexandria, VA 22315, last inspection: Aug. 16

violations: shredded cheese, pico de gallo and guacamole cold holding at improper temperatures

Maggiano's Little Italy: 6500 Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA 22150, last inspection: Aug. 14

violations: meat sauce, mashed potatoes cold holding at improper temperatures, foods cold holding at improper temperatures, two coolers not operating properly, food processor, slicer, some utensils in need of cleaning, insect control device located over food prep, storage areas

Nando's Peri Peri: 6802 Springfield Mall 6802, Springfield, VA 22150, last inspection: Aug. 11

violation: food containers cracked, melted, discolored

Rice and Spice Thai: 6466 Landsdowne Ctr, Alexandria, VA 22315, last inspection: Aug. 10

violation: employee did not wash hands or change gloves after handling raw food (corrected)

Zinburger Wine and Burger Bar: 6795 Springfield Mall, SPRINGFIELD, VA 22150, last inspection: Aug. 14

violations: foods cold holding at improper temperatures, one prep cooler not operating properly, concentration of sanitizer too low, dishes not observed being sanitized

No Violations

Panera Bread: 5926 Kingstowne Towne Ctr, #130, Kingstowne, VA 22315, last inspection: Aug. 16

violations: none

Image via Shutterstock

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Originally published August 23, 2017.

See original here:
Pest Control Device Over Food Prep Area: Kingstowne Area ... - Patch - Patch.com

Published: Thu, August 24, 2017 @ 12:00 a.m.

By Eric Barrett

OSU Ext. educator

When working with farmers and gardeners and in general conversation with the public, I get lots of questions about insect control, disease issues and frustrations with weeds. They are all of the things we dont want. Whether its a stinkbug, aphid, thistle or fungus we generally refer to them all as pests.

Thus, we practice integrated pest management when controlling these pests. IPM is a systematic approach to reducing these pests while maintaining our production of everything from asparagus to zinnias.

IPM starts with using best practices in growing crops, gardens or flowers. Its the spacing of plants apart at proper distances, providing as much sun as possible for fruits and most vegetables, and providing shade for hostas and bigleaf hydrangeas. It is doing a soil test and providing the proper pH and nutrients for our plants so they are healthy. Healthy plants are less likely to be affected by pests in the garden.

The first step is identifying the pest. What is it? Is it good, or is it bad? Sometimes this is easy to do if we see a few hundred aphids affecting our tomatoes. Other times, we think we are doing good by sparing the life of the praying mantis, only to see it feasting on a hummingbird the next week. Many times, we miss the lady beetle (ladybug) larvae that look like little black and orange alligators or we think they might be bad. The reality is they are eating hundreds of bad aphids each day! Know your insects or bring them to our clinic for identification.

Once the pest is identified and known to be having an impact, the next step is determining the threshold for control. This includes knowing the life cycle of the pest, how many there are, and the stage of development of the plant being threatened.

After weve identified the bad insect, weed or disease infecting our plants, the next step is a series of controls to get rid of the issue. First is cultural and mechanical controls, including prevention and exclusion of the bad pests. This can be done using screens and barriers to keep bad insects out, using newspapers to conserve moisture and keep weeds down, trapping the bad insects, or even removing leaves to increase air flow around the plant. Next are biological controls such as using beneficial insects to get rid of the problem insects.

Finally, chemical controls are the last option when other options have been exhausted. Chemicals include organic and conventional products that are used in a safe manner to control the bad insect, while protecting the good insects. Chemicals can be misused, for example using a brand name dish detergent instead of insecticidal soap. The dish detergent can burn leaves and cause plant damage. Thus, no matter your choice of product, be sure to use the product based on the label instructions.

To learn more about IPM and how it can help you in the home and garden, go to http://go.osu.edu/ipm.

Continue reading here:
Practicing integrated pest management - Youngstown Vindicator