Over the past few weeks the Australian bushfires have reached catasphrophic levels, causing devastation too much of the country - but one confectioner is doing its bit to help.

Cadbury Australia has pledged to donate proceeds from its animal chocolates to help wildlife affected by the bushfires.

The sweet treats involved in the campaign are Cadburys Caramello Koala, Freddo Frog, and Furry Friends.

On Friday, the confectionery company announced its Freddo and Friends for Bushfire Relief.

The chocolate giant posted a picture on Instagram of Caramello Koala and Freddo Frog holding hands, to kick-start the initiative.

The caption read, To help Freddo and his friends, 100 per cent of our proceeds from Cadbury Freddo, Caramello Koala and Furry Friends products sold over the next seven days will help save wildlife impacted by the devastating bushfires.

Cadburyhas pledged to donate a minimum of $500,000 (264,000) to support wildlife rescue, treatment and habitat restoration projects.

The confectioner has named Zoos Victoria, Taronga Zoo Sydney and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park as some of the organisations that will receive money.

Its estimated that around a billion animals have been killed in the fires, so far.

Many chocolate lovers were quick to praise the companys initiative on Instagram.

One happy follower commented, Legends, dont need a excuse to buy your chocolate but this gives me another reason to stock up! Great work Cadbury.

Another replied, This is a great reason to eat more chocolate.

While someone else simply said,Bravo Cadbury.

But its not just animals that the company has pledged to help.

Cadbury Australia has said it will be donating food supplies to Foodbank Australia and the emergency services.

In a statement, the company said, Our hearts go out to all that have been affected by the devastating bushfires.

The impact on families, homes and the environment is truly devastating. Like all that have been affected, our precious and much-loved native wildlife has suffered incredibly.

Well done Cadbury hopefully other companies will follow suit.

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Cadbury to donate proceeds from animal chocolates to help wildlife in Australia - woman&home

Social media platform Instagram carries a lot of stigma when it comes to its portrayal of real life.

Filtered pictures, celebrities with washboard abs and immaculate postcard scenes are just some of the images its users come across.

Some would say it encourages a false representation of the world we live in.

But for mum-of-two Karen Friend, her life was transformed by the platform when she used it to document the restoration of a newly bought house two years ago in Folkestone.

The young people quitting alcohol for January - and why

Mrs Friend, a businesswoman best known for starting up Emporium Parties back in 1999, said she wanted somewhere to look back on before and after pictures of her home.

With a lack of trust in storing her images on the computer, she thought the social media platform would serve two purposes - to give her instant access and to allow others to follow the progress.

But when Karen's home account exploded with followers, she started to realise just how many people were interested in her journey.

Some people eventually became her friends.

Now the 46-year-old, who helps run BDI Furniture in Park Farm Road with her husband, is an Instagram influencer with up to 50,000 followers.

She now works with big name household brands, whose products she reviews.

These range from Proctor and Gamble, Zoflora, Oak Furniture Land and Dunelm and she is also a brand ambassador for luxury soft furnishing company, Christy.

The companies also take the job seriously and some invite their influencers to London where they hold conferences aimed at educating people about how certain products work.

And she now makes the platform work for her business and has a home accessories page where people such as Mrs Hinch feature her products.

She said she prides herself on "keeping it real" and says she's only just about able to respond to everyone who comments on her content.

Speaking to KentLive, she said: "I don't want to be a large account, I just about able to keep on top of replying to people and posts.

"If someone has taken the time to comment it is only fair to do that back to them."

Instead of merely posting polished images of her nearly-finished six bedroom home, Karen said she tries hard to document the good and the bad.

From moments of her radiator exploding, to speaking about her everyday life - Karen feels this is how she's been able to retain a reputable following, with zero trolls.

"I got to know a lot of people through Instagram, I have two friends that come and stay with me who I met on the platform," she added.

"I have learnt lots about how it works and how it knows whose posts to show.

"I saw people had lots of followers and thought 'I want loads of followers' but I never knew anything about Instagram influencing.

"Then I was approached by a floor cleaning company and they asked if they could gift me a floor cleaner in return for exposure.

"I now work with a number of different businesses."

The biggest item Karen has been gifted was a 1,600 sofa, in return for posts on her account.

Influencing is commonly associated with celebrities who are gifted items to showcase on their accounts.

But now many brands are reaching out to people with a wide following over a range of different areas.

Karen added: "There is a lot of stigma about social media influencing, people think it is just about free items you get given.

"But you end up styling, staging and you can spend hours trying to get the right video or picture for that company.

"Everything I am gifted, if I don't like it I won't promote it. I wouldn't be happy to promote something I wouldn't use myself.

"I'm not just out to get free items - but it is nice to work with other businesses."

For those who would like to try their hand at expanding their account, the mum said it's not as easy as it may seem on the surface.

She said the task of keeping her page fresh and engaging could end up being a full time job in itself.

"My account would be bigger if I didn't work," she added.

"I know some people with home accounts who have got double the amount of followers, but they are on it in the day.

"You'd need to spend the time on it.

"You can post one picture, and that can get you either five or 500 followers - it is so hit and miss.

"I have some that love it, and some that unfollow - I'm lucky as I have lots of rooms to picture."

When asked about how her family feel about her social media following, she said her husband and sons are on board with it.

"They find it quite good, my husband used to say about me being on my phone a lot, but then when he realised I was working for our house, his attitude changed."

Press here follow Karen's account @cherryoakmanor.

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From mum to thriving Instagram influencer - meet the Folkestone businesswoman with 50k followers - Kent Live

Sometimes I'll survey my living space and recall Will Smith's advice to farm housewife Beatrice in "Men in Black":

"Hire a decorator to come in here fast because ... damn!"Even if you don't share Beatrice's love of 1940s wallpaper and stuffed deer heads, there's a good chance your living room, or kitchen, or dining room could use a fresh look.

Before you redesign your living room, kitchen or bedroom, check out the gallery above for what's hot and what's not for 2020.Maybe there's too much stuff for the space. Or it's awkwardly shaped, which makes furniture placement a challenge. Or your last update was sponge-painting the walls right before Y2K. Or there are knickknacks everywhere.

The new year is the perfect time to make some changes. For starters, see what's trending. We compiled the above gallery of what's in and out for 2020, according to several design firms.

Interior decorators and designers work with homeowners or renters to come up with a decor plan that fits their style. Decorators focus on aesthetics and furnishings of existing spaces, while interior designers must have formal training. Each conducts an analysis of how the current space is being used and then recommend fundamental changes for a redesign, such as a new floor plan.

One advantage of hiring a decorator or designer is that customers can give immediate feedback on whether their ideas suit the space. For many people, there's no substitute for face-to-face collaboration with a seasoned pro.

But the typical range for an interior decorator job ranges from $2,000 to $11,300, according to Home Advisor. That might be too steep for some budgets.

One alternative is to hire an online design firm such as Modsy, which offers professional advice via your computer screen to help you create your design at a modest price.

Modsy queries customers on their style preferences and needs and uses their photos of the living space to create custom design plans in 3D. Their experts then revise the schemes until you are satisfied with the final design.

"Our customers love that they have a dedicated designer who works with them through the entire process who carefully selects the products and layouts that are fully customized to their style, budgets and lifestyle all set within a realistic 3D model of their exact home," Modsy founder and CEO Shanna Tellerman said in an email. "Modsy is the best of interior design without the hassle, putting customers in the drivers seat while also providing the design support they need along the way."

The company said the furnishings their designers recommend are from well-known retailers and are never marked up. Some items are even discounted.

The base cost for a one-room redesign is $79; a premium package goes for $149. Other similar online design companies include Havenly and Decorist.

RELATED: 12 ways to maximize a small living room

Don't want to spend any money? Numerous free apps are available for do-it-yourselfers. They typically offer design inspiration and limited visualization tools, but not expert consultation from professionals. Last January, U.S. News and World listed its choices for best free interior design apps:

Houzz, for connecting with professionals.Wayfair, best marketplace.ColorSmart by Behr, for choosing paint colors.IKEA Place, for experimenting with room design.magicplan, floor plan creation.Hutch, for designing for fun (currently not available for iPhone).

Another free app, Homestyler, invites users to snap photos of their space and switch to a 360-degree panorama perspective. You can pick color schemes, floor plans and furnishings, and plug them into layouts for living rooms, kitchens or bathrooms.

Mike Moffitt is an SFGATE Digital Reporter. Email: moffitt@sfgate.com. Twitter: @Mike_at_SFGate

See original here:
Is your living space ugly or out of date? Here's how to redesign it without spending a fortune - Albany Times Union

This news is definitely not what dreams are made of.

Terri Minsky, the original creator and showrunner of Lizzie McGuire, has exited the reboot coming to Disney+,E! News has confirmed, though the series is still in production at the streaming service.

"Fans have a sentimental attachment to Lizzie McGuire and high expectations for a new series. After filming two episodes, we concluded that we need to move in a different creative direction and are putting a new lens on the series," a Disney spokesperson said in a statement.

Variety was first to report the news.

Hilary Duff is reprising her role as Lizzie in the new show, which finds her living in New York, working as an assistant to an interior decorator, and about to turn 30. Duff herself announced the news late last summer, and also announced the news that best friend Gordo (Adam Lamberg) will be back too. The new series will also include Lizzie's family, played by Hallie Todd, Robert Carradine, and Jake Thomas.

Also returning is Lizzie's still-13 year-old animated alter ego, who popped into the original series to offer her thoughts and opinions on whatever was happening. You can keep up with everything we know about the series so far, at least until the "new lens" is revealed.

Lizzie McGuire is apparently coming to Disney+ sometime in 2020.

More here:
Lizzie McGuire Reboot Loses Original Creator and Showrunner - E! NEWS

You've probably noticed it in clothing stores: racks and shelves full of high-waisted flares, rib-knit turtlenecks, acid green sweatshirts and disco ball metallics. It's that '70s -- and '80s -- show.

These two fashion trends have, as usual, worked their way into home decor as well.

"Right now, in home design, it feels like a total '70s takeover," says Apartment Therapy's Danielle Blundell. "This time period had two pretty distinct things going on -- boho hippie vibes and glam, glitzy disco feels. Which means you can probably find a way to work something '70s into your home no matter your aesthetic."

Watch for patchwork and peasant prints, fringe and earthy hues. Shaggy, textured woven rugs. Modernist wall art. Rattan etageres and side tables.

One of the hallmarks of the 1980s was Memphis style. Started by Austrian-born but Italian-raised architect Ettore Sottsass, it was characterized by squiggle and geometric pattern, mixing of pastels with black and brights, and an overall playful, whimsical approach. Sottsass and his team designed for Fiorucci, Alessi and Esprit among others, and Karl Lagerfeld and Bowie were collectors.

New York-based designer Sasha Bikoff created the exuberant showstopper of a staircase for 2018's Kip's Bay Showhouse in Manhattan. Using Memphis Milano designers Ettore Sottsass and Alessandro Mendinii as her inspiration, the space was filled with brights and pastels, mirrors, and a riot of pattern.- Genevieve Garrupo/Courtesy of Sasha Bikoff

Designer Sasha Bikoff created a buzzworthy Memphis-inspired staircase for the 2018 Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse in Manhattan. New Yorker Raquel Cayre manages an Instagram account dedicated to all things Sottsass, and even created a temporary space in Soho called Raquel's Dream House, chock full of Memphis themed interior decor.

Memphis originals are pricey, but you can find referential decorative items that are affordable. Street brand Supreme offers clothing and skateboard decks; designer Ellen Van Dusen's Brooklyn-based eponymous company makes clothing and home goods featuring her own versions of Memphis pattern.

Imola Ceramica has the Pop collection of ceramic tile, with Roy Lichtenstein-inspired art comics printed on subway-style tile. Their Let It Bee collection features groovy, semicircular, tone-on-tone designs in brick red, indigo, apple green and dark yellow.

Designer/architect Luca Andrisani has designed a collection for New York Cement Tile called Geometrika. Inspired by midcentury op art, there are retro hues, square and rectangular shapes, and eye-catching optical illusion patterns. Walker Zanger has Australian designer Pietta Donovan's hip new '70s-patterned tile collection.

A selection from Imola Ceramica's Let It Bee tile collection, which features half moon and circle patterns in vibrant midcentury colors, reflects the swingy artistic flair of the era.- Courtesy of Ceramics of Italy

At http://www.spoonflower.com you'll find several peel and stick wallpapers and fabric by the yard with Memphis style or leopard prints. Here as well are '70s-style florals in wallcoverings and fabric.

European bathware designers have been featuring pedestal sinks, toilets and tubs in colors like cranberry, moss, mustard, teal and pink -- colors that would have been destined for the bin a few years ago. Here in North America, eBay and salvage sites like Retro Renovation are good places to source vintage wares. For new products, Aquatica USA has roomy resin tubs in dark red or moss green with white interior, while Bella Stone's got a fun one in fire-engine red.

Check out http://www.roostery.com for whimsical '70s-style fruit and vegetable prints, geometrics and paisleys in softgoods like napery and throw pillows.

Sometimes it's the little things that bring the look home. Atomic starburst knobs, for example; and http://www.zazzle.com has several patterns. Cabinet and doorknob backplates come in starry shapes at http://www.rejuvenation.com.

At http://www.dusendusen.com, find soft furnishings printed with bold check, dot, stripe, cutout and squiggle patterns. There are patterned pet beds, pillows and shower curtains, too.

In a collaboration with London-based Soho Home, Anthropologie offers the Adriana chair; in a deep terra cotta velvet, the chubby, channel-seamed silhouette echoes Italian postmodern design. Kardiel's curvy Miranda gold-velvet two-seater has an Austin Powers flair.

At Beam, you'll find simple yet stylish chairs and tables made of powder-coated steel, hardwood and performance fabrics, part of a collaboration between Gus* Modern and LUUM inspired by the Memphis Group's color palette.

ModShop has a treasure trove of options, including the Chubby 2 lounge chair that swivels on a brass-clad base, and the St. Germain side table and credenza, with an abstract, patterned front in poppy colors, perched on chunky acrylic legs.

Ball-shaped and half-dome lighting in matte and polished metallics reference the '70s, as do embossed ceramic bases and cane and rattan fixtures. Look for combinations of pyramids, squares and balls, as well as thick glass circle shapes in '80s-style fixtures. CB2, Urban Outfitters and All Modern have well-priced designs, while Chairish and 1stDibs are good places to hunt for vintage pieces.

Link:
It's that '70s (and '80s) show in home decor - Chicago Daily Herald

You've probably noticed it in clothing stores: racks and shelves full of high-waisted flares, rib-knit turtlenecks, acid green sweatshirts and disco ball metallics. It's that '70s and '80s show.

These two fashion trends have, as usual, worked their way into home decor as well.

"Right now, in home design, it feels like a total '70s takeover," says Apartment Therapy's Danielle Blundell. "This time period had two pretty distinct things going on boho hippie vibes and glam, glitzy disco feels. Which means you can probably find a way to work something '70s into your home no matter your aesthetic."

Watch for patchwork and peasant prints, fringe and earthy hues. Shaggy, textured woven rugs. Modernist wall art. Rattan etageres and side tables.

One of the hallmarks of the 1980s was Memphis style. Started by Austrian-born but Italian-raised architect Ettore Sottsass, it was characterized by squiggle and geometric pattern, mixing of pastels with black and brights, and an overall playful, whimsical approach. Sottsass and his team designed for Fiorucci, Alessi and Esprit among others, and Karl Lagerfeld and Bowie were collectors.

Designer Sasha Bikoff created a buzz-worthy Memphis-inspired staircase for the 2018 Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse in Manhattan. New Yorker Raquel Cayre manages an Instagram account dedicated to all things Sottsass, and even created a temporary space in Soho called Raquel's Dream House, chock full of Memphis themed interior dcor.

Memphis originals are pricey, but you can find referential decorative items that are affordable. Street brand Supreme offers clothing and skateboard decks; designer Ellen Van Dusen's Brooklyn-based eponymous company makes clothing and home goods featuring her own versions of Memphis pattern.

Surfaces

Imola Ceramica has the Pop collection of ceramic tile, with Roy Lichtenstein-inspired art comics printed on subway-style tile. Its Let It Bee collection features groovy, semi-circular, tone-on-tone designs in brick red, indigo, apple green and dark yellow.

Designer/architect Luca Andrisani has designed a collection for New York Cement Tile called Geometrika. Inspired by midcentury op art, there are retro hues, square and rectangular shapes, and eye-catching optical illusion patterns. Walker Zanger has Australian designer Pietta Donovan's hip new '70s-patterned tile collection.

At http://www.spoonflower.com you'll find several peel and stick wallpapers and fabric by the yard with Memphis style or leopard prints. Here as well are '70s-style florals in wallcoverings and fabric.

European bathware designers have been featuring pedestal sinks, toilets and tubs in colors like cranberry, moss, mustard, teal and pink colors that would have been destined for the bin a few years ago. Here in North America, eBay and salvage sites like Retro Renovation are good places to source vintage wares. For new products, Aquatica USA has roomy resin tubs in dark red or moss green with white interior, while Bella Stone's got a fun one in fire-engine red.

Accessories

Check out http://www.roostery.com for whimsical '70s-style fruit and vegetable prints, geometrics and paisleys in soft goods like napery and throw pillows.

Sometimes it's the little things that bring the look home. Atomic starburst knobs, for example; and http://www.zazzle.com has several patterns. Cabinet and doorknob backplates come in starry shapes at http://www.rejuvenation.com.

At http://www.dusendusen.com, find soft furnishings printed with bold check, dot, stripe, cutout and squiggle patterns. There are patterned pet beds, pillows and shower curtains, too.

Furniture

In a collaboration with London-based Soho Home, Anthropologie offers the Adriana chair; in a deep terracotta velvet, the chubby, channel-seamed silhouette echoes Italian postmodern design. Kardiel's curvy Miranda gold-velvet two-seater has an Austin Powers flair.

At Beam, you'll find simple yet stylish chairs and tables made of powder-coated steel, hardwood and performance fabrics, part of a collaboration between Gus*Modern and LUUM inspired by the Memphis Group's color palette.

ModShop has a treasure trove of options, including the Chubby 2 lounge chair that swivels on a brass-clad base, and the St. Germain side table and credenza, with an abstract, patterned front in poppy colors, perched on chunky acrylic legs.

Ball-shaped and half-dome lighting in matte and polished metallics reference the '70s, as do embossed ceramic bases and cane and rattan fixtures. Look for combinations of pyramids, squares and balls, as well as thick glass circle shapes in '80s-style fixtures. CB2, Urban Outfitters and All Modern have well-priced designs, while Chairish and 1stDibs are good places to hunt for vintage pieces.

See more here:
RIGHT AT HOME: Its that 70s (and 80s) show in home decor - Worcester Telegram

In 30 some years of writing up weddings, it takes a lot to make me pull out my handkerchief. For years, I kept a scrapbook of badly worded headlines. My favorite came from the newspaper in Laurel, Mississippi, now the subject of HGTVs hit show Home Town. Neighboring towns included Hot Coffee, Errata, Soso, and Tuckers Crossing. The headline read, Boy from Hot Coffee Marries Soso Girl.

So it was wildly out of character for me to tear up when church friends had their wedding reception at the Carousel Pavilion, the new attraction at the Childrens Museum of Memphis, in November. Our staff affectionately called it My Big Fat Gay Wedding in the days leading up to it. Our choirs gift to them was an arrangement of Theres a Place For Us from West Side Story. Well, I took to blubberin and didnt stop until somebody stuffed a piece of cake in my face.

Location is the most important decision one makes, says Warner Moore, wedding designer and interior decorator. Everything else radiates from that decision. People know their venue when they see it. Once it feels right to them, everything can proceed from there.

The more the couple can hone in on their preferences, the more accurate a map he can draw for them, Moore says. Even the cleverest wedding planner cannot turn a casual space into a formal one, or vice versa. You also have to match the space to the number of guests. Theres nothing worse than having a small wedding in a big place because it looks like no one came.

Myriad elements go into creating a sense of place: lighting, color, season, formality, and the personalities of the couple. The variables are endless. The paper save the date card is the first hint at the weddings personality.

Kat Gordon, owner of Muddys Bake Shop, sees a consistent effort to match food choices to the mood of the venue. At a barn or vineyard wedding, for example, the couple may want a pie bar for dessert. That feels very Southern and authentic, she says.

The multi-tiered formal confection with the obligatory cake-cutting moment is rarely the centerpiece of the reception anymore. People are thinking about the experience they want their guests to have more than a photo opportunity, Gordon says. They want food thats not just edible but really tasty and represents who we are in our city.

With a seated dinner, a cake per table has become a Muddys signature. An 8-inch layer cake at each table in chocolate, lemon, or strawberry adds color and variety.

Whats trending in flowers in 2020 is a little tweak on the traditional, says Eric Lee Milner of E.L.M. Designs. Couples are wanting traditional flowers, but in unique colors. Calla lilies are a basic, but I had an October bride who chose them in dark purple and deep maroon and added a pheasant feather.

Milner predicts more saturated color in bouquets, centerpieces, and altar flowers. Youre going to see more strong orange, lime-green, and fuschia, and less white, pink, and peach, he says.

Short of having Oprahs money, Milner recommends brides concentrate their budget on one statement piece in a high visibility spot. You can get more impact with one singular wow arrangement at the entry or in the middle of your reception area than you can with an abundance of flowers all over the place, he says. Whether its a big raised arrangement on a table right when you arrive or one big arrangement in the middle of the buffet, that gives you more impact and its more affordable than trying to address the whole room.

In the world of wedding gifts, the charcuterie board (methinks) may be to the 2020s what the fondue set was to the 1970s. Charcuterie boards are big, both in terms of size and in popularity, says Brooks Terry, owner of Babcock Gifts.

Since couples are marrying later in their 20s and most have lived together, many already have the household basics. With their registries, theyre trying to equip themselves for entertaining, also a regional phenomenon.

Our vendors love the South because we still register brides, Terry says. In California and on the East Coast, wedding gifts are usually cash or Venmo.

Sorry I fainted there for a second from shock and dismay. Okay, Im back.

Another change is in the split between formal and informal dinnerware. The completion of a set of fine china was once the primary goal of every brides registry. Now the everyday set is the priority. Couples have gotten a little more casual, but they still like nice stuff, Terry says.

Going into 2020, Terry sees brides choosing a fine china as the dinner plate, but for the salad plate, theyll mix it up with some hand-thrown, artistic pottery. Three of the most popular lines are made nearby: Millers Mud comes from Dumas, Arkansas; McCarty Pottery is Merigold, Mississippis most famous export; and Potsalot is made on Magazine Street in New Orleans.

Judaica pieces like Seder plates, Shabbat candles, and menorahs sell well year-round, regardless of the couples wedding date, Terry says.

If you want to go rogue and choose a gift not on the registry, you can never go wrong with crystal, Terry says. No ones sending back a Baccarat vase or a Waterford salad bowl.

What do you get when you mix newlyweds, a popular fantasy series, and Downtowns newest ballroom?

Why, the Game of Thrones wedding reception at Central Station Hotel, of course. The first couple to marry at the new hotel wed there December 29th. They chose the venue in July when it was still under construction. Everyone was still in hard hats, but this couple saw the vision, says Helen Nelson, director of sales and marketing for Central Station Hotel.

The same could be said for McLean Wilson, the principal in the redevelopment of Central Station. Hes the grandson of Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inns, known to generations of travelers as the nations innkeeper. According to Nelson, Henry Turley first saw the potential of bringing a hotel to the South Main Arts District, and invited McLean to develop the concept.

Built in 1914, Central Station still serves rail passengers boarding Amtraks City of New Orleans, the historic 19-hour route from New Orleans to Chicago. Wilson reimagined the former offices of the Illinois Central Railroad, Amtraks predecessor, as hotel rooms.

But its the lobby and bar that bear the stamp of South Main. A tower of record albums overlooks the double turntable built into an antique organ housing. One wall holds speakers of all different shapes. Memphis music plays in the lobby and bar, and guests hear Isaac Hayes or Sam and Dave in the guest rooms.

At 6,600 square feet, the Grand Hall is 33 feet high. It was the original passenger waiting room for trains for 80 years (Some of the stations original benches can still be seen on a lower level). In the Grand Hall, Central Stations original arrival and departure board is outlined in neon lights. Hidden uplighting can be adjusted to customize the brides chosen colors.

Entering the hotel grounds requires driving a little south of the station on South Main and doubling back up the platform to the hotel entrance. Brides may have a challenge keeping people in the Grand Hall, because the lobby and bar have so many things to explore. Weve had inquiries about using the hotel lobby for receptions, Nelson says, but so far the answers been a hard no. We want that area to be for the neighborhood, not cordoned off for private events. We want it to feel like South Mains living room.

Marrying at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church puts you squarely in the 25 percent of couples who marry in church, down from 40 percent just ten years ago, according to weddingwire.com.

The foremost reason to marry at a church would be to honor your faith tradition, says the Rev. J. Lawrence Turner, senior pastor at The Blvd., as the church is known. My view of the Christian wedding ceremony is that it is more than a celebration of two people joining their lives together. Its of the God who joins them together. So a Christian wedding is ultimately a worship experience.

Turner officiates at 12 or 15 weddings a year, but there are other pastors on staff who solemnize vows. The Blvd. also has a full-time event planner on staff.

Marrying in the church matters less than the church being in the marriage. It is not so much where the wedding takes place or whether the church recognizes it, says Turner. Rather, I have found success in marriage depends on whether that couple honors Christian principles in their marriage such as unconditional love, mutual respect, honesty, fidelity, and grace.

When Bellevue Baptist vacated the sprawling campus at Jefferson and N. Bellevue in 1992, Mississippi Boulevard brought its ministries to the heart of Midtown. The Blvd. is home to dozens of ministries including meal distribution, wellness initiatives, Room In the Inn overnight housing for the unsheltered, pastoral care to shut-ins, and a college tour for high school seniors. Facility rental generates 11.5 percent of The Blvd.s $6.5 million annual budget.

We are certainly open to the public to be rented out for weddings, says Turner. Our space is memorable for not only being the place for many weddings for our congregation for the past 26 years weve owned this space, but also for the previous congregation that owned the building, Bellevue Baptist.

Soaring limestone columns support the broad portico leading to Mississippi Blvd.s two-story vestibule. Accommodating up to 3,000 guests, the sanctuary has seating on two levels. Contemporary stained-glass windows, including one depicting the Pyramid and the Hernando DeSoto Bridge, cast rose and blue highlights over the balcony.

Our chapel, which is where our smaller weddings take place, has beautiful natural light too, Turner says.

With 30 receptions already booked for the Carousel Pavilion in 2020, the bride who wants a merry-go-round wedding had best break out ahead of the pack. Like a jewel-under-glass on permanent exhibit, the historic carousel at the Childrens Museum of Memphis, located at Central and Hollywood, is the same one that thousands of us rode as children at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, later Libertyland.

Couples that are attracted to this degree of spectacle bring a lot of vision, says Melissa Latil, carousel events and operations manager. Theres not a lot of middle ground for this venue. People either say, Im in or rule it out quickly.

Brides may choose to make their entrance around the Carousel or through the sliding double doors. At a Disney-themed reception last month, a Tinkerbell pulled open the doors for the first look at the couple. The staff created a Mickey Mouse dance area with a round floor and two round tables to shape the ears. Guests watched a projection of the Happily Ever After fireworks spectacular from the Magic Kingdom.

While the Pavilion can accommodate up to 500 guests, Latil says the Carousel is ideal for weddings of about 150, which is slightly above average. According to weddingwire.com, the average guest list in 2019 included 126. Adjacent to the Carousel are a ballroom, lobby, catering kitchen, and separate dressing suites for brides and grooms. The Carousel Pavilion connects to the Childrens Museum of Memphis, formerly the National Guard Armory from 1943 until 1983.

With a four-hour wedding rental, the Carousel runs for 2 hours. Restoration of the 100-year-old merry-go-round carved by Gustav Dentzel began in 2015, and a team of woodworkers, painters, and machinists returned it to the museum in pristine condition for its debut in December 2017.

Of its 48 ponies, those on the two inner rings go up and down. The chariots were the first wheelchair accessible carousel seats installed in the U.S. In a three-minute ride, the guest makes 12 revolutions past scenes that evoke a Memphis of yesteryear: a paddlewheeler on the river, frontiersmen in canoes, mules plowing a farm, and deer pausing to drink from a stream. Cherubs keep watch over each rider while hundreds of Edison bulbs create a festive and photogenic vibe.

It doesnt get much more Memphis than marrying on the Mississippi. Two vessels, the Memphis Queen III and the Island Queen, have launched hundreds of couples into matrimony.

I have not had a single bridezilla, says Jodie Taube, director of marketing and events for Memphis Riverboats, Inc. Couples who book the riverboat for their rehearsal dinners or wedding receptions generally have a high sense of adventure and fun.

And just like in the movies, the captain of the boat can perform the ceremony. Captain James Gilmer is an ordained minister in the Church of God in Christ. He has officiated at 16 shipboard weddings. To his knowledge, hes the only African-American riverboat captain on the Mississippi.

With friends from all over the country in town for their October 12th wedding, Ginger and Josh Huckaby wanted their guests to have a quintessential Memphis experience. Josh owns the Green Beetle, the oldest tavern in Memphis, and Ginger moved here from Nashville to work as a nurse practitioner at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. Ginger says, The weather was perfect, the moon was full, it was Memphis to the T.

Of the two boats, the Memphis Queen III is the classic Victorian riverboat with gingerbread trim and twinkling lights. The Island Queen has a more nautical look, with an open section in the center for dancing. Both boats are 100 feet long, accommodate up to 300 guests, and are heated and air-conditioned as the season dictates.

The most popular wedding package allows a half-hour for guests to board; a half-hour for the ceremony; and then two hours for cruising. The vessel departs from Beale Street Landing and heads south under the light show on the Harahan Bridge. Turning back upriver, guests can then enjoy the Memphis skyline. Then Capt. Gilmer takes the party under the light shows on the I-40 bridge, cruises past Harbortown, and returns to the landing.

Riverboat weddings are available all year, but March, April, June, September, and October are the most sought-after months. Taube steers brides away from the weekends during Memphis in May because the closing of Riverside Drive limits access to parking and raises the level of difficulty in bringing decorations aboard. The temperate months also afford nicer views of each bank.

Capt. Gilmer has been on the river 36 years. One of his favorite pranks is to tell Tennessee couples that its not too late to change their minds about matrimony. He says, I can just carry them across the river to the Arkansas side and it wont count.

Just a plain and simple chapel where humble people go to pray may have been okay in 1960, but couples in 2020 want something a little more photogenic and upscale.

When Elvis recorded Crying in the Chapel, most couples married in church. The etiquette-bound formal wedding performed in a religious setting was the bread and butter of the wedding industry, explains Vicki Howard in her book Brides, Inc: American Weddings and the Business of Tradition.

In September, British actress Michelle Hardwick married soap producer Kate Brooks at Graceland in Memphis, according to the Daily Mail.

Youve got to be progressive in 2020, says Christian Ross, Gracelands marketing specialist.

More than 2,000 couples have married or renewed their vows at Graceland. The original chapel was tucked behind the mansion for 18 years, but in 2018, Graceland unveiled the Chapel in the Woods, which seats about 100.

And not all the couples are Elvis fans. Many just want an intimate venue in a woodsy, but still accessible, setting. A bride might choose to have a family ceremony in the Chapel, but she can still invite more guests to a reception in the ballroom.

Most recently, the chapel was featured in the Hallmark Channels Wedding at Graceland, released last year. That movie was the follow-up to 2018s Christmas at Graceland, which was Hallmarks fourth highest rated and most watched original movie in network history. Priscilla Presley had a cameo role in Wedding.

Elvis and Priscilla Presley married on May 1, 1967, at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. Ten days later, they came home to Memphis and put on their wedding attire for a belated reception at Graceland.

Weddings in barns, meadows, and vineyards have been all the rage in the magazines for the last decade, but people dont realize that rustic simplicity comes at a price.

Sure, you have a beautiful spot, but every piece of that party must be brought in so you can look out over a meadow, says Warner Moore, Memphis decorator and wedding designer. When you have to import virtually everything lighting, chairs, tables it gets expensive.

Unless you want people standing up the whole time, youre basically building an infrastructure, Moore explains.

A viable country in the city alternative is the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms Park. More than 60 couples have tied the knot there since it opened three years ago, says Kate Phillips, account executive with the Park.

You feel youre immersed in nature, but youre connected to the city, she says. We get the benefit of beautiful views, and we still have air-conditioning.

The event center faces west with floor-to-ceiling windows affording views of sunsets over the 80-acre lake. Natural cedar planks adorn the ceiling and look as if they might have been milled on-site. Stacked stone walls further connect the event center to the natural surroundings.

A grassy berm hides the view of Walnut Grove Road just a few hundred feet away. At night, the only reminder of the city is the light from Clark Tower to the southwest. A tree-lined field next to the center can be set for an outdoor ceremony in fair weather.

Since 2007, the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy has managed the county-owned land that is five times the size of New Yorks Central Park. The group needed a revenue generator like the event center, Phillips says, because the conservancy has 4,500 acres, a dozen lakes, a herd of buffalo, and the Greenline to maintain. Early this month, Starry Nights just completed its tenth year as the parks primary fund-raiser.

Long-time Memphians remember the property as the penal farm from the decades (1930s to early 60s) when inmates of the Shelby Count Corrections Center worked the acreage to provide food for inmates and staff. Situated at the geographic center of Shelby County, the Heart of the Park is just one exit away from the interstate, making it an easy drive for out-of-town wedding guests cooped up in hotels.

Original post:
There's a Place for Us: Six Extraordinary Bluff City Wedding Venues - Memphis Magazine

IKEA is excited about Classic Blue releasing a full line of new products including the STOCKHOLM sofa.

Pantone Colour of the Year reflects on the past while looking ahead

Uncertain times call for stable measures. Thats the message from the Pantone Colour Institute in selecting Classic Blue as 2020 Colour of the Year, a colour that can do no wrong, says interior decorator Liz Ditomaso, owner of Elegant Living Decorating based in the Niagara region.Classic blue is a grounding colour, says Ditomaso, who likens the shade to the classic blue business suit or navy pump often associated with wealth. Its a very sophisticated colour, a very powerful colour and it speaks to everyone, she says.According to the Institute, Classic Blue offers reassurance, confidence and connection that people might be searching for in an uncertain global milieu. It brings the colour forecast world full circle as a reminder of Cerulean, the blue hue chosen as the first Color of the Year in 1999 when uneasiness about Y2K was widespread.The versatile colour is both regal and edgy, conservative and unusual. How it manifests in your home dcor ultimately depends on you, says Ditomaso.I dont think theres any colour that doesnt go with it, she said, noting that clients have paired deep blue with yellow, black, chocolate brown, rose gold pink, black and even other shades of blue, like aqua. Classic Blue pairs well with modern greys and whites, she adds, and is an ideal complement to gold fixtures and hardware, or any wood grain.It can go warm against creams, brown or beige and then it can go on the other side against your cooler whites and cooler greys, she added.Early adopters of the 2020 colour gravitated towards a blue Christmas this season. Ditomaso adorned several white flocked trees with rich, glistening gold and blue balls, and hints of silver, and NOMA actually released a flocked blue tinsel tree. Heading into the new year, she expects to see the deep shade show up in kitchens and baths where it is a top contender for islands and backsplashes, home accents such as throws, cushions and chairs, and even as the backdrop for a stunning feature wall for those who really want to be out there and live it up a bit, she says.As the year progresses, expect Classic Blue to continue to show up in fashion, food, scents and cars. The team at IKEA is excited about Classic Blue, releasing its trend report in December to inspire home dcor enthusiasts, with items ranging from chairs, throws and lamps to the BILLY Bookcase with glass doors or the STOCKHOLM sofa.Paint guru and colour expert Annie Sloan says the Classic Blue shade perfectly matches her Napoleonic Blue paint colour, which is reminiscent of the ultramarine and cobalt blue pigments used in neoclassical interiors, yet still looks fresh and modern. Sloan adds that blue is one of her personal favourites because of its calming qualities.My bedroom at home is Aubusson Blue and it sends me into a dreamy sleep every night, she says.

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Tis the season for Classic Blue - The London Free Press

Elizabeth Sellars, the stage and screen actress, who has died aged 98, made her name on the postwar West End stage in Tea and Sympathy. Set in a New England boys boarding school, Robert Andersons drama created something of a sensation in an era still subject to official stage censorship: it showed the wife of a housemaster seducing a pupil branded as homosexual.

For such a subject to form the theme of a West End play in 1957, without mutilation from the censor, the theatre itself had to be turned into a club. For the run of the play, and of others in a season including Arthur Millers A View from the Bridge, the Comedy Theatre in Panton Street became the New Watergate Theatre Club. As a place of private entertainment with a nominal subscription for members, it escaped the need for the Lord Chamberlains licence.

Not that the seduction of the boy by the housemasters wife was undertaken without the greatest theatrical tact. Nor did the rumour of the adolescents homosexuality prove other than unfounded.

To explain the impropriety of the wifes conduct, she was shown to have been not only a former actress, but also unhappily married to a negligent and insensitive husband, while the persecuted young object of her sympathy strikingly resembled her first, dead husband.

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Elizabeth Sellars, Glasgow-born actress who shot to stardom on the London stage in the scandalous Tea and Sympathy obituary - Telegraph.co.uk

While it may not have the sheer amount of accessories available as its competitors, Apple's HomeKit smart home platform provides users with an unmatched mix of privacy and convenience. With a limited selection of accessories and manufacturers to choose from, CES is one of the few times a year where HomeKit fans get to join in on all of the smart home fun.

No accessory category sums up the lack of options in the world of HomeKit better than cameras. Whether it's traditional indoor/outdoor cameras or video doorbells, there are only a handful currently available. Thankfully, this looks like it could be changing soon as this year's CES seems to be all about connected HomeKit cameras. Here are all of the accessories that could become part of your scenes and automations before the year's end.

The Abode Smart Indoor/Outdoor Camera is a clever take on the traditional connected camera. This versatile accessory can protect your home while sitting on a shelf, mounted on a wall, or as a replacement for a doorbell. Abode's camera can see it all with its wide-angle lens, and it features IP65 weather resistance, making it a great option both indoors and out.

If you own one of the Abode's security alarm systems, the camera will slot right alongside your other accessories, ready to keep an eye on your home in-tandem with the various sensors that you may already have in your home. Don't worry if you don't have an Abode system already though, this camera can work completely on its own, allowing you to get a taste of the company's hardware without making a full-blown commitment to an alarm.

August is releasing a new version of its smart lock that retains its same iconic design, but shrinks things down by quite a bit. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45% smaller in total volume, and 20% slimmer, allowing it to be installed on doors with tight accents such as large windows with trim.

The latest smart lock also simplifies connectivity to all of the voice assistants, including HomeKit, by housing all of the necessary hardware inside of the lock, ditching the need for a separate hub. August hasn't provided exact pricing or shipping as of yet, other than it is coming at some point in 2020.

ADT's DIY smart home line Blue is launching a suite of security cameras that will support HomeKit after the initial launch. The company's Smart Doorbell includes all of the connected ringer essentials such as 2-way audio, weather resistance, motion zones, and notifications.

Even though it falls under the ADT umbrella, a subscription is not required for this hardwired doorbell. Of course, ADT does offer additional cloud storage if needed. The company also has a companion doorbell chime that works not only as a way to give you an audible clue that someone is at your door, but it also extends the doorbell's wireless range.

$199 at Blue

The Blue By ADT Outdoor Camera packs in the same weather resistance as the company's doorbell, but does so in a more conventional package. This camera looks just like any other, however, it is completely wireless, running on an internal rechargeable battery.

Video resolution is listed as 1080p HD, which should offer clear and crisp visuals from its 130-degree wide-angle lens. Just like with the Blue by ADT doorbell, cloud storage subscriptions are available, however, the company provides 24 hours of storage for free, and it can save videos locally onto an SD card.

$199 at Blue

Rounding out Blue by ADT's offering is an indoor camera that functions just like you would expect of an indoor camera, giving you eyes on your home from anywhere around the world. While it records video in 1080p and has 2-way audio, the real star of the show is the stuff that you can't see.

The Blue by ADT Indoor Camera can listen in for additional alarms in your home, sending you notifications if your smoke detector is activated. Even if the power goes out in your home, you can still be covered, as there is also a small back-up battery housed inside, keeping things running for a short time.

$199 at Blue

Bosch has been one of HomeKit's biggest holdouts since the introduction of the smart home platform, but things will be changing this year. The global appliance giant announced at CES that it is opening up its Bosch Smart Home System to support select partners, including HomeKit.

Specific accessories for HomeKit have not yet been announced, but we suspect that we will see cameras, thermostats, and lighting hit our homes first. It remains to be seen whether or not the company's range of appliances such as ovens will be brought over, but HomeKit does not currently support these types of categories so it may be a while before that happens.

Eve has been one of Apple's oldest HomeKit partners, with the company's original Eve Energy smart plug being one of the first such device for the platform. While the original Eve Energy can still perform all of the same functions as newer smart plugs, the company's first entry was rather bulky, preventing it from being used in scenarios with another device plugged into the same outlet.

Eve is correcting this design flaw with its newest Eve Energy smart plug. The new compact Eve Energy still sports the classic all-white plastic design and uses a local Bluetooth only connection to your HomeKit hub. The updated model also includes energy monitoring within the Eve for HomeKit app.

$40 at Amazon

As it's name implies, the Eve Water Guard monitors any area that you place it in for potential leaks. The Water Guard works using a 6 and a half foot wire sensor cable that is placed on the surface around potential hot spots such as water heater. This allows the actual brains of the unit to sit far away from liquid, and is plugged into a standard electrical outlet.

If water is detected by the cable, a notification will be sent from either the Eve for HomeKit app, or the Home app installed on your phone. If that wasn't enough, the Water Guard also includes a powerful 100 decibel siren and indicator light to ensure that you are always aware even without your phone.

$80 at Eve

Seeing that Eve is one of the most recognizable HomeKit accessory manufacturers, it was only a matter of time until they jumped into the world of security cameras. The Eve Cam, coming this April, continues the company's focus on providing privacy-centric connected accessories.

The Eve Cam is the first HomeKit camera built explicitly for Apple's HomeKit Secure Video feature in mind. This allows the camera to work without any cloud servers being involved, as video comes in locally through your HomeKit hub. Eve also touts that the camera does not require any kind of account or registration at all, and your video never touches the cloud in any way.

Legrand is bringing HomeKit to your home's electrical panel with the introduction of the Drivia system in partnership with Netatmo. Yep, you read that right, this HomeKit accessory installs directly into your circuit breaker box, which almost definitely requires a call to an electrician.

The Drivia system is comprised of 6 units, including a contactor, relay, gateway and more. Being installed directly at your home's panel allows it to monitor energy consumption for everything that is plugged in around the house. The Drivia also enables owners to toggle power to a complete leg of electrical power to your home, which could be useful if you forgot to turn something off, but don't have it on a smart plug.

Not to be outdone by Sony, LG has also announced its new lineup of 8K capable televisions. LG's offerings include OLED panels that go all the way up to a massive 88 inches wide, and of course support HomeKit, allowing them to work within your scenes and automations.

Along with HomeKit controls, these TV's support AirPlay 2, enabling them to work in tandem with other speakers in your home. This makes creating a surround sound setup as easy as a few taps in Control Center, putting every one of your AirPlay 2 speakers in sync.

LIFX's recently released color candelabra style bulb was their first bulb in the smaller form factor that is usually found in ceiling fans and chandeliers. However, even though it was its first candelabra size bulb, it featured a unique candlelight effect through its "Polychrome technology".

Polychrome technology splits the LEDs inside of the bulb into separate zones, offering a way to display multiple colors at a time. With its newly unveiled white version of the bulb, the company is using the same tech although this time it will glow between different shades of white.

LIFX has jumped on the filament style light bulb craze with its latest white light bulb. The faux filament bulb is completely dimmable, but only provides one color temperature which is a warm white at 2700K.

While LIFX has only shown off one particular style of filament bulb, they do say that other shapes are in the works. The filament bulb will retail for $30 when they hit stores in the spring.

Along with filament style LED bulbs, bias lighting seems to have hit the mainstream market, so naturally, LIFX wants to provide their take on the category. LIFX has introduced two light strip kits, both of which are designed to attach directly to the back of your screens.

The LIFX Z-TV 360 and Z-Gamer Light Strips look like your typical strip light, but these have a clever touch that should make them much simpler to install. Instead of fumbling with cutting strips down to length and purchasing third party connectors that may or may not work, LIFX's strips are pre-cut to TV sizes and come with neat corner pieces that make 90 degree angles much cleaner.

Everyone that has followed LIFX has pretty much known that the company would eventually make its way into the connected light switch market at some point. So it is of no surprise that the LIFX Switch was announced as coming soon at CES this year.

Instead of replacing a single switch like most options on the market, the company's first offering is designed to replace the larger 4-gang switch boxes in your wall. Since it is replacing 4 switches, the price is a little steep, coming in at $120 later this year.

The Caseta Wireless line from Lutron is one of our favorite lighting accessories thanks to its rock-solid reliability and lighting quick response times. We love the system so much, that we wished that the company branched out to other product categories, which just so happens to be what Lutron announced at this year's CES.

As its name suggests, Lutron's Caseta Wireless Smart Motion Sensor acts as a hands-free way to toggle on and off our lights based on activity within a room. Lutron states that their sensor is up to 3 times faster than competing sensors, and can pick up motion up to 60 feet away. The best part though? this motion sensor also works with the company's HomeKit enabled Serena window shades.

Announced at CES a year ago, Nanoleaf's Unified Hexagon light panels are finally set for release in the spring of 2020. The 6 sided hexagon design provides more opportunities for panel placement than its predecessors, allowing them to function as both a piece of art, and just as neat decorative lighting.

As with Nanoleaf's Canvas line of light panels, each Unified Hexagon tile reacts completely to touch. And while not specifically mentioned, this could mean that each tile could act as a HomeKit button either at launch or down the road, giving owners a crazy amount of options when picking up a set.

Nanoleaf's Smart Learning Series is a suite of accessories that the company claims reacts to each other using various sensors and algorithms to learn from your preferences and needs. While specifics are scarce at the moment, potential accessories in the line include a smart light switch, light bulbs, buttons, and what looks to be a motion sensor.

All of these accessories seem to be standards within the smart home world, but Nanoleaf is positioning its latest technology as being the "anti-smart bulb" as they feel that current methods are not truly smart.

Netatmo's Smart Door Lock is a sleek lock that not only looks good, but it also houses some serious smarts. This door lock uses Bluetooth and NFC for a strictly local connection that doesn't connect to the cloud, but with the power of HomeKit, you can still access it remotely if needed.

Included with the lock are "smart keys" which look somewhat like a traditional barrel type key, however, they are not "keyed" for a specific lock and all have the same design. The magic behind this is built-in NFC, which allows the keys to activate any door lock that it is assigned to. This means you can keep the same key and use it for all of the locks that you may have around the house.

OneLife has introduced an air purifier that according to the company "removes more harmful substances including the smallest PM 1.0 particles than any other air purifier". The purifier has a clean modern design to go along with the ability to work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.

Features include a sleep mode for quiet operation at night, as well as an automatic mode that ramps up or down according to the amount of particulates in the air. The included filter can be rinsed out when needed, and even can survive trips through a dishwasher for easy cleaning. Like most CES announcements, pricing and availability have not yet been disclosed.

Even though the Resonate light come in a rectangular form factor, these outdoor lights actually create triangles of light. What's more is that the light from them comes out both the top and bottom creating a distinct look.

The Hue Resonate will be available in both a black and stainless steel finish when released later this month. The only downside? They will only be available in European markets.

Just like the Resonate, the Hue Appear projects beams of triangular light from both sides of the outdoor fixture. The Appear however takes on a skinnier cylindrical frame and will only be available in black.

The Appear will be available starting in late January in Europe with a suggested retail price of 139. This light will also make its way to North America starting in mid-March.

Another Europe exclusive is the Hue Attract which features a classic downlight design. This outdoor light has an open glass shade which provides an "arc of light" against the wall that it is mounted to.

The attract will be available at the end of the month, and will have a retail price of 149.

An updated version of the popular outdoor spot light, the Lily XL has also been announced. This larger version include a more powerful spotlight, creating a dramatic effect wherever it is aimed at.

The Lily XL will be available in Europe first, launching in late January, and a North American release will follow in mid-March.

Coming at the end of January, the Hue Daylo is a circular outdoor fixture that comes in both black and stainless steel options. These lights mount directly to a wall which gives it a truly unique look.

Another European exclusive, these lights will start at 114 and 119 depending on the finish.

The newest Philips Hue Impress model features the same design as before, however, this time it comes in a low-voltage option.

Going the low-voltage route allows the Impress to be installed simply by plugging it in, forgoing wiring or a call to an electrician. Look for these in European markets starting later this month.

The Hue Nyro outdoor light comes in both wall mounted and pedestal options, each sharing an all-black angular downlight design.

Both Nyro variants will be available at the end of April, but again, is only being marketed within Europe at this time. Pricing starts at 119 for the wall light, and 149 for the pedestal.

A North America exclusive path light, dubbed the Hue Econic Pedestal, brings the smarts to one of the outdoor staples. These low voltage lights are smaller than the original but still retain the lantern like design.

Available starting in mid-March, the Econic Pedestal will come in a base kit for $149, and an extension kit for $129, but the company did not actually specify the exact number of lights are included in each.

While HomeKit already has quite the line up of lighting products available, the addition of Sengled to the mix adds in quality accessories that are affordably priced. Sengled's smart LED lighting has been around for a while now, and a new HomeKit enabled hub can bring them all into the Home app.

The Sengled 3rd generation hub utilizes ZigBee for fast, reliable connections to light bulbs, light strips, and plugs without bogging down your Wi-Fi network. Although specifics regarding its release date were not announced, the latest update to the company's smart home app details how to set everything up with HomeKit, suggesting it may come sooner rather than later.

Sony's latest high-end OLED televisions crank things up to the glory that is known as 8K. Even more impressive though, is that Sony is making OLED available in a smaller size, all the way down to 48 inches, which for some reason seems to be one of the hardest things to do for TV manufacturers.

As good as the visuals can be on these sets, the star of the show for us is HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support. This enables possibilities such as telling Siri to turn up the volume or to change the channel with just a shout to a HomePod or an iOS device.

TandemLED CES debut came with several lighting products that play well with HomeKit through a connection to a Philips Hue hub. The company's tape light comes in the longest size that we have seen for the category, 16.4 feet.

The adjustable part of the light strip refers to its white color temperature which ranges from 2700K to 500K. This light strip also features an IP65 water resistant coating, as well as customizable sizing with sections that can be cut every inch.

$134 at TandemLED

TandemLED's Lux Puck Lights are a compact option for shelves and under-cabinet installations which come in both white and silver finishes. Like TandemLED's light strip, these lights have adjustable white color temperatures, and can provide up to 300 lumens of brightness.

The Lux Puck Lights will be offered in jut one size, 2.57 inches, and will be available starting on January 15th for around $40 each.

$40 at TandemLED

The AC Smart Receiver from TandemLED can give your existing lighting a smart assistant upgrade. This tiny receiver installed behind your wall outlets, giving them the smarts without a bulky plug hanging from it.

This design also allows the receiver to work in outdoor settings, powering devices up to 100 watts. Look for this clever solution starting in mid-January.

$119 at TandemLED

The Votion Smart Outlet, offers convenient control over any device that is plugged into it. The plug utilizes Wi-Fi for a direct connection to your home network, enabling it to work with HomeKit scenes and automations.

The plug also features energy monitoring capabilities as well as a status indicator ring and manual toggle button on the front of the unit.

These switches cover both 1 and 2-way installations, but dimming may not be along for the ride. Like the company's smart outlet, they connect to all of the voice assistants, including HomeKit, using Wi-Fi without a hub.

Both light switches can also utilize NFC, which is built-in, allowing users to pair them with a simple tap of their phone. Pricing and availability has not yet been announced.

Details surrounding Votion's LED Light Strip Controller are scarce, but it looks to be more of a traditional light strip and not a box that you connect to an existing device.

The company mentions colorful scenes and automations but important specs such as brightness and potential weather resistance are not available.

Votion's Door and Window sensor is a standard 2 piece contact sensor that attaches directly to a door or window. The sensor uses magnets to determine whether or not things are open or closed and will notify users if an event occurs.

The sensor runs on 2 AA batteries and uses Bluetooth 5 to connect to HomeKit for a secure local connection.

This motion sensor from Votion is a surface mountable compact unit that keeps an eye on its surroundings. If motion occurs, it can put automations into place that can light up the area, or send a notification.

Votion's sensor also includes an onboard LED light which sounds like a handy way to add some path lighting around the home. The sensor is completely wireless running on just 3 AAA batteries.

Another one of Votion's accessories include a water leak sensor that works just like it sounds. Simply place this compact little accessory near a potential hot spot and you will get notified if water touches it.

This tiny sensor talks to HomeKit over Bluetooth 5, and since it is powered by batteries, you can toss it just about anywhere to get a little extra peace of mind.

Not much is known about this sensor, other than it attaches directly to glass doors to keep them safe and secure. If it somehow is able to work its magic on sliding doors, then it could potentially solve one of the bigger problems for the smart home.

We will definitely be keeping our eyes on this one for any other details that come our way.

As its name implies, the Votion Smart Breaker Switch installs directly into your electrical or "breaker" panel. Once installed, the switch gives you the power to turn off parts of your home remotely, and not just one specific plug.

The Smart Breaker Switch could also help with energy savings, helping to isolate parts of the home to track down a large consumer.

Votion's Smart Water Valve attaches directly to a standard hose or spigot to give you control over your watering needs.

Since it uses a pretty universal hose connector, you can attach sprinklers and irrigation lines that can work with any automations or scenes that you build with HomeKit.

This smart sensor installs directly into any spot in your lawn or garden to give you a better idea of when to water. We are not quite sure how HomeKit handles this type of sensor so it will be interesting to see when it is released.

Let's just hope that it can somehow work with the company's water valve though. Having your water needs taken care of completely autonomouosly would just be all sorts of cool.

The Waciao Smart Gateway is the brains that connects some of the company's low powered accessories to HomeKit. The gateway utilizes ZigBee wireless connectivity which is known for providing fast response times and high levels of reliability.

The gateway has an operating distance of around 400 feet and plugs either directly into a home router, or via Wi-Fi.

Waciao's Smart Air Quality Monitor works in combination with the company's gateway to report on the air within the home. The front of the monitor has a small display, providing glanceable information.

Although exact measurement capabilities have not yet been announced, we expect to see the ability to ask Siri for a generalized reading of the situation, which should reply with terms such as "fair" or "unhealthy".

View original post here:
Every new HomeKit-supported device announced at CES 2020 - iMore