BEIRUT, Lebanon The scooter engines snorted out, and Sara el-Sayed swung herself down to the pavement outside the third damaged building she had visited that afternoon, two carpenters in tow.

Upstairs, a womans blown-apart doors needed fixing. Cigarettes and cellphone in one hand, pen and paper in the other, Ms. el-Sayed jotted down dimensions as the carpenters measured empty door frames and shattered windows.

She has taken this up as her job now: volunteering to hammer together as much of the splintered city as she can before leaving it hopefully for good.

Six days after the explosion that crushed much of Beirut, a Spanish masters degree program in interior design notified Ms. el-Sayed that she had been accepted, a long-held dream come true.

When she leaves, she will be done with all of this, she hopes: a government whose incompetence appears to have led to the blast; a corrupt political system young Lebanese blame for aborting their futures; a country where the middle class is sinking into poverty as the politicians slow-walk economic reforms, and where the only way to survive seems to be a second passport, a job or a graduate program somewhere else.

Many Lebanese were already looking for such escape hatches before the Aug. 4 explosion. An exodus now seems inevitable.

But Ms. el-Sayed cannot think about leaving quite yet.

Im not running away, said Ms. el-Sayed, 30, a Palestinian-Lebanese architect with a small custom furniture business who used to live in Gemmayzeh, one of the worst-hit neighborhoods. I want to at least have Beirut on its feet before I go.

As Beirut reckons with the destruction, thousands of Lebanese in their teens, 20s and 30s rather than government personnel have shown up to put the most damaged neighborhoods back in order, shoveling, sweeping, feeding, fixing.

Many of the volunteers have been protesting against the political system since last fall; if anyone believes Lebanon can change, it is them. Yet few say they want to stay to see whether it will. Since the explosion, countries like Canada have been hit by a wave of applications from young Lebanese seeking to emigrate, officials say.

I used to call people sissies for leaving the country, because youre afraid of doing the change and everything, said Mohammed Serhan, 30, a political organizer and cleanup volunteer who protested for months.

But the explosion had altered his calculus. Yesterday I woke up thinking, I can go to the airport immediately, tell them Im not coming to work. Go to the airport, fly to Turkey, see what happens.

He sighed. Its a little emotional. I still want to win this fight.

Ms. el-Sayed, who had just assessed Mr. Serhans damaged doors and windows, jumped in. Really, were fighting, she said.

They would both keep protesting, they agreed. But I dont have hope, Ms. el-Sayed said. Ive always wanted just to leave.

Like young people across the Arab world, their generation is well educated yet underemployed. While some of their friends and cousins left for masters degrees and jobs in Dubai and the West, volunteers like Ms. el-Sayed and Mr. Serhan stayed because they wanted to or had to, hoping to change their country even as it skidded toward economic ruin.

People who are outside love the country but dont want to come back in, and people who are inside hate the country but they dont want to leave, said Zein Freiha, 21, a college student who went door to door after the explosion with a plastic broom. We hope that we have a country to come back to. But the more we discuss it, were all just looking at each other like, OK, there really is no more hope.

For them, the cleanup is personal. Many of the volunteers used to live, work or socialize in the half-demolished neighborhoods of Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael, drawn to their cocktails, clubs, cafes, galleries and studios.

Their Beirut is now in ruins.

Ms. el-Sayeds former apartment was destroyed in the blast, along with friends homes, workplaces and cars. Doors around east Beirut were ripped from their frames. When looters slipped into the neighborhood, she began sealing off apartments. Nearly three weeks after the explosion, she had raised enough money via GoFundMe to replace about 90 doors.

One elderly couple had slept in their foyer with a heavy sewing machine pushed up against their splintered front door, fearing thieves. Others who called her had been quoted hundreds of dollars to replace their doors at a time when banks are rationing access to dollars and the Lebanese currency has lost 80 percent of its value.

Beyond fixing apartments and clearing broken glass and debris, the volunteers have assessed damaged buildings, searched for missing pets, delivered hot meals and diapers and even compiled what amounts to the incidents only centralized database of missing people. (The government has not released any official data on the missing.)

While civilian volunteers go to work, soldiers sit on street corners, rifles dangling from their shoulders and cigarettes from their lips. Only about two weeks after the explosion did government personnel begin distributing food boxes and assessing damages, residents said.

A day after the blast, Hussein Kazoun, 28, an organic farmer, took over an abandoned gas station in Geitawi and started handing out vegetables. A week later, the station, which he christened Nation Station, buzzed with about 200 young volunteers.

Its not my job to do this, said Josephine Abou Abdo, 29, an architect and designer-turned-volunteer who was coordinating food donations. But if I dont get up, people wont get fed.

Using the data volunteers collected from residents, Mr. Kazouns younger sister was mapping out the most underserved areas. Nearby sat 20 donated rolls of plastic, used to seal broken windows, that a comedian had shown up with a few days before.

As he and the volunteers have expanded Nation Stations scope, Mr. Kazoun has also tried to persuade people to stay.

We need you in this country, he said he was telling friends. If its left to the old generation, things will stay the same.

Ms. Abou Abdo listened with conflicting impulses. Sometimes I think, Enough, she said. I just want to live in a Scandinavian country and pay taxes and live my life, you know?

On the question of whether reform was even possible, she, like other volunteers, was caught between idealism and despair. Neither months of mass antigovernment protests nor the explosion appears to have greatly weakened the ruling class, whom many Lebanese still turn to for protection and patronage despite growing consensus that they bear responsibility for the countrys problems.

At one apartment that volunteers were sweeping up, Hala Youssef, 49, who lived there, said she had waited 11 days after the explosion for government aid before giving up and accepting volunteer help.

Nobody even came to say Thank God for your safety, she said of the government, using the phrase Beirutis greeted each other with in the days after the blast.

At the Nation Station recently, Joe Youssef, 39, dropped off his daily donation, a truckload of vegetables and fruits that several young women were sorting into plastic bags. Mr. Youssef said he preferred donating to Nation Station over an aid group, he said, because like many Lebanese, he was suspicious of anything that might be tainted by the countrys favor-bartering class of sectarian political leaders.

We dont trust anyone in this country, he said. They could be tied to some gang.

Disgusted with Lebanons corruption and seeing no future at home, he moved years ago to Dubai, where he worked in sales before returning on vacation last month.

But, he said, When I saw the people, the crowd not the government, not the police or anything Im proud to be Lebanese now, to be honest.

New improvements had materialized at the gas station over the course of the day. Someone had welded together a metal rack to dispense the plastic rolls. Two tons of fresh vegetables had been distributed.

Sarah Barakat, 21, an architecture student overseeing the vegetables, said that she, too, planned to leave Lebanon for graduate studies.

But Im coming back as soon as I finish my masters, she said. Who else is going to rebuild this city?

More here:
Desperate to Leave Beirut, Young Lebanese Are Also the Ones Fixing It - The New York Times

A main idea in modern design is eliminating excess clutter or extra items. And with more folks spending time at home amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, you may find yourself sorting and purging some unneeded items from your space.

One of the key beliefs behind the modern design movement is the idea that form follows function, according to the Spruce. In other words, the design of all furnishings and decorative objects should reflect its intended purpose, and if a furnishing, decor or decorating detail does not have a practical purpose, then it can be eliminated.

When adding modern design touches to your space, there are some pillars of the style to consider. First and foremost, its all about the neutral colors and natural materials. Modern design also tends to favor open-concept floor plans, the website House Beautiful notes.

Basically, you want as few walls as possible. Furniture, instead, should differentiate spaces, like a kitchen counter providing a visual distinction from a living or dining room. Abundant natural light is also necessary to help a space feel more airy and open, so windows are kept unadorned, according to House Beautiful.

However, you can also make your modern design dreams come true without taking down walls. Integrating functional materials and eliminating excess is a good place to start.

Clean lines over curves. Neutral colors and natural materials over bold hues and synthetic materials and patterns, interior designer, Natalie Myers, told House Beautiful.

Original post:
Dreaming of modern design? Heres where to start - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Christies announced today that it will sell the wide-ranging collection of the late philanthropist and billionaire Jerry Perenchio, the former chairman and CEO of Univision, the US-based, Spanish-language media company.

The multi-faceted collection features European furniture and ceramics, prints, Old Master drawings, sculptures, silver, carpets, memorabilia, Chinese ceramics and works of art.

The items will be offered across two sales, with prices ranging from $500 to $100,000.

In 2014, Perenchio pledged almost 50 major European works to LACMA.

I never put my name on anything, he said at the time.In this case, Ive decided that its worth a temporary step into the spotlight to encourage other collectors to give to LACMA and support the fundraising.

His gift will anchor LACMAs new permanent building, slated for completion in 2023.Los Angeles helped make my career possible, the collector said.

Perenchios Bel Air estate, Chartwell. Image courtesy Christies

This marks the second time Christies will sell works from the collection. InNovember 2018, a year after his death, it offered 44 Impressionist and Modern works. Meanwhile, that same year, Sothebys sold his wine collection over two sales.

Perenchio created Chartwell, his estate in Bel-Air, through a close five-year collaboration with star French interior designer Henri Samuel.The estate was inspired by California architect Sumner Spauldings 1930s French style Chateau.

The interiors of Chartwell, built around Perenchios Impressionist and Modern art collection, were was filled with Louis XV and Louis XVI French furniture, lighting, and Chinese and European carpets.

The decorative objects were assembled to enhance the world-class quality fine art later bequeathed to LACMA, according to a statement from Christies.

Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Mouling Rouge. Image courtesy Christies.

The fine-art highlights include prints by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, photographs by Man Ray, a George Bellows lithograph titledA Stag at Sharkeys, and an oversized Taschen book by Jeff Koons, G.O.A.T.Greatest of All Time: Tribute to Muhammad Ali, signed by the artist and boxer.

A small group of Winston Churchill memorabilia reflects Perenchios admiration for the British Prime Minister.

Other highlights include signature Henri Samuel soft furnishings and tables by Marco de Gueltzl. The spirit of 18th-century collecting is embodied in ormolu-mounted Chinese porcelain and a rare pair of early 19th-century Chinese cloisonn enamel censers, according to Christies.

Proceeds of the Christies sales will benefit Perenchios eponymous foundation. The overlapping online sales will run from September 1 to 16, and September 1 to 17.

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Christies Will Mount Two Major Sales to Auction Off the Estate of the Late Spanish-Language TV Tycoon Jerry Perenchio - artnet News

A hot topic among designers across the world is how hospitality will overcome the new challenges hotels face in the time of COVID-19. Here, some of the top architects in hospitality share their thoughts on how hotel design may evolve going forward.

Inside the soon-to-open Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi.

Jean-Michel Gathy

Belgian-born architect Jean-Michel Gathy is the principle designer of the award-winning Malaysia-based hospitality design firm, Denniston. Having carried out extensive hospitality projects for prominent brands such as Aman Resorts, Cheval Blanc, St. Regis, Mandarin Oriental and Four Seasons, the designer is recognised across the world for the significant contribution hes made to hotel design. Among his latest projects is the newly completed Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, which opens September 2020, and upcoming Aman New York.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, we as architects have to be more health sensitive in every detail. New systems will be installed for social distancing, therell be more glass in front of cooking stations, preparation space will be highly sanitised and layouts will change to allow more space. The buffet will progressively disappear or be redesigned to be served from inside and the number of seats in restaurants will change with increased distance between tables. Instead of having three restaurants, there may be five with fewer seats.

Architect Jean-Michel Gathy is the principle designer for hospitality design firm, Denniston.

Inside the rooms, there is likely to be a totally different approach to using materials that are more resilient to viruses and sanitising surfaces you cant avoid touching. The public areas are a major issue: we need to look again in detail at filtration systems, air-conditioning will have to be readdressed and the water in swimming pools will need to be recycled more often.

All this will be a part of our lives, so people are now thinking about what needs to change while also developing new products. Fundamentally, I think this pandemic will allow properties to be greener and healthier.

Monica Armani's latest project is Morning Breeze, a one-off designer villa in the Costa Blanca for ... [+] Somium Properties.

Monica Armani

Drawing on her design DNAwith early influence from her father, the internationally renowned architect Marcello Armanithe Italian architect and interior designer Monica Armani realises contemporary architectural projects with a Bauhaus design sensibility. The architects latest project is Morning Breeze, a one-off designer villa at Las Colinas Golf and Country Club in the Costa Blanca for Somium Properties.

I believe that hotel design will have to focus more on creating larger private spaces and welcoming lobbies that are closer to a domestic environment in being very flexible spaces. In locations that allow it, this hospitality model will become the norm as guests look to use spaces for a moment to recharge, an opportunity to see things from a new perspective. With the awareness that our jobs can now be done in many ways and that creativity is increasingly becoming a powerful driver for the productivity of our future, this may be an opportunity to be seized for the hotelier.

Architect and interior designer Monica Armani is known for her Bauhaus design sensibility.

I think that in general people will move less frenetically thanks to new styles of work and vacation. We will probably stay in hotels less often but for slightly longer periods and will expect more from hotel services. Hotels should aim to create an experience by telling as much as possible the stories and excellence of the area where the hotel is based. In other words, hotels must go beyond the concept of hospitality alone to become a driving force, a landmark for the place where they were built.

Partner of HBA EMEA, architect David TKint.

David TKint

Now partner of the recently formed HBA EMEA by leading hospitality design firm HBA, architect David TKint has overseen high-profile hospitality projects across the world. HBA EMEAs first project to reach completion was the December 2019 opened Great Scotland Yard Hotel in London.

At the moment, Im working on a renovation of a historic hotel in Cairo. Owing to everything thats happened over the last few months, were now talking about how we can enlarge the spaces and sculpt the space to accommodate groups while still allowing for social distancing.

In the rooms, one of the most important aspects will be the selection of materials. More than ever, we need to specify finishes that are easy to maintain. If you potentially have a different guest in a room every night, you need to be able to clean its surfaces easily. Materials like engraved wood are much harder to do this with. Thats not only going to be important for hygiene but also the perception of hygiene. The sense of wellbeing will become even more important than it was before as that health and safety label means guests can feel safe staying there.

Inside Great Scotland Yard Hotel, one of the hospitality projects involving HBA EMEA

When COVID-19 first broke out, we thought hotels would have to go away from buffet counters. Economically though, it would be difficult for hotels to walk away from them entirely. Now what theyre doing instead is either having a full buffet where the staff serves you, a reduced buffet with more items a la carte or keeping the buffet going while bringing back the concept of having food carts.

David Archer

Having worked for firms such as Hopkins Architects and on the design of hospitality projects such as the Delano Hotel in Miami, David Archer established Archer Humphryes Architects with fellow architect Julie Ann Humphryes in 2002. The design firms portfolio of lifestyle spaces for eating, drinking and sleeping now includes Londons Great Northern Hotel and The Beach Samui, with major ongoing projects including contributing to the transformation of London landmark Admiralty Arch.

David Archer established Archer Humphryes Architects with fellow architect Julie Ann Humphryes.

The retrenchment of ever increasing travel and accessibility requires a significant adjustment on behalf of the hospitality industry. Ideas of success and a good time have radically changed and so the aspirations of recent years of packed bars and excitement in hotel public areas have been replaced with an emphasis on family and friends, safety and responsibility. This places an increased importance on the hotel room experience being at the core of the offering.

This trend could lower room density in hotels where smaller rooms have often encouraged guests to use public areas. In this way, traditional ideals of hotel life being an escape from home and a special occasion regain greater currency. The challenge is to find the correct language in regards to both service and design to meet these new emotions and behavioural patterns while maintaining the highest standards of openness and inclusivity.

David Archer is among the architects and designers working on the transformation of London's ... [+] Admiralty Arch.

Many aspects of service will be amended to meet sanitary and social distancing requirements, however the tenets of hospitality friendliness, quality of service, comfort and styleremain timeless. A new hotel has to embody many attributes to become a success. At Admiralty Arch these attributes include history, royal association, location and beauty to name a few. However, a hotels reputation ultimately depends on the message it sends to its guests and attention to all aspects of health and wellbeing is a must.

Chad Oppenheim of Oppenheim Architecture

Chad Oppenheim

Principle designer for Oppenheim Architecture, the Miami-based architect Chad Oppenheim leads large-scale projects, including the creation of hotels and resorts, across the world. Establishing a reputation for socially and environmentally conscious architecture, the practice is behind projects such as The Wadi Rum Resort in Jordan and has just completed the design for Lago Maggiore Retreat in Ticino, southern Switzerland.

Our global hospitality work inherently embraces many of the broader notions brought to light by the pandemic: the need for healthy, sustainable environments; the emphasis on both physical and mental wellness; and the craving to connect with nature.

A part of Oppenheim Architecture's design for Lago Maggiore Retreat.

We cant forget why people may be compelled to travel in the first place, especially under such challenging circumstances - for a unique experience, to create a memory and for a bit of escapism. Our design lens will continue to focus on the sense of place and experiences. That wont change.The pandemic does, however, call upon us to seamlessly incorporate top-notch, evolving cleanliness and safety requirements so that these concerns essentially fade into the overall guest experience.It is now more important than ever to make sure these requirements remain part of a project until final execution.

At Oppenheim Architecture, we have been fortunate that the desire for healthy buildings in the hospitality space has coincided with our innate design philosophies and years of experience implementing these standards effectively, efficiently and elegantly.

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Five Top Architects On How Hotels Can Adapt To The New Normal - Forbes

Across the world, designers craft rooms that send the viewer's eye on a rapid-fire journey, darting around a cacophony of color and pattern and chaotic whimsy. At first sight, these rooms may feel bold or exciting, but they often miss a crucial aspect of interior design that sits at the core of every home: the person living inside it. At Ore Studiosa Seattle-based interior design studiothe eye is given a welcome break; instead, they curate soothing, calm spaces that feel more like a retreat. In lieu of that design rollercoaster, each room feels lived-in, but modernist.

For the studio's latest project, a three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom home in the La Conner neighborhood of Skagit County, Washingtonjust an hour north of Seattlefirm principal Andy Beers employed contrasting color palettes and natural materials to create a home that allows for some much needed peace and serenity. "My aesthetic tends towards a warm modernism, but is highly dependent on client and context," Beers says. "We like to do what is right for the building, the place, as well as the client."

Studio Ore took charge of both the interior design and decorating process, as well as the more constructive architectural elements of the homeallowing the team to take full creative control from start to finish. "In terms of the interior, we wanted to make something that felt warm, bright, and clean. The house is meant to feel intensely comfortable, and not take away from the gorgeous site and views," continues Beers. "This translated to a very tight palette of finishes, and we relied on a lot of texture and contrast to make things feel distinguished and special while remaining quiet."

Here, the great room, complete with exposed beams and heavily contrasted windows, anchors the house with an organic, but modern edge. Ahead, a full tour of the space, from the moody dining room and cozy office to the textural main bedroom.

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Modern Lines and Natural Materials Created a Calm, Tailored Atmosphere in This Washington Home - Yahoo Lifestyle

The Kissing Booth movie franchise on Netflix has taken the world by storm, premiering its sequel, The Kissing Booth 2, on July 24. If youre just as obsessed as the rest of us, youll know that South African actress Bianca Bosch is certainly one to watch.

Bianca Bosch plays Olivia in the teen movie series, the most popular girl at school and leading member of The OMGs. Though shes a supporting character to Joey Kings Elle Evans and Jacob Elordis Noah Flynn, Olivia is quite the scene-stealer.

The 24-year-old actress will be appearing in the upcoming third installment, and Netflix Life got the chance to catch up with her to talk all things Kissing Booth, her experience with acting so far, and the company shes started.

Read on to learn more about Bianca Bosch and her career on the rise!

Netflix Life:Growing up you were focused mostly on dancing, correct? Was there any defining moment when you wanted to get into acting? Or was that always something you were interested in?

Bianca:It was always an interest of mine. I was always performing for my parents, and for family members, and I would always tell everyone, Im going to be an actress when Im older. But the defining moment of when I really found passion in the actual craft itself is when I auditioned for the musical Evita, and I got the role of the Mistress.

Through that audition process and being in the musical, I realized that theres so much more than just dancing, and I wanted to explore acting as well as singing. I auditioned, actually, to study overseas in London for musical theater, but while I was there, there was something in me that was like, no, I just want to do a short course, and act and perform before I commit to a three-year program.

Funny enough, that was it. I changed my mind and went directly into acting, and here we are!

Netflix Life:How did the audition for The Kissing Booth come about? Were you actively looking for roles at the time?

Bianca:It was so crazy. It was my first-ever audition. I had just finished studying in America and I came home for the Christmas holiday, and I thought, well, Im in Cape Town and its season in Cape Town, so I might as well get an agent. My agent gave me a brief of The Kissing Booth, and I thought, oh, okay this looks cool, not knowing how big or small it was.

I went there completely naive, but in hindsight looking back, I think because I was just in the moment, and enjoying it as a new experience, and living truthfully in that moment and not preempting how I would get the role or not, or how big of an opportunity it was in front of me, is kind of why I think I booked it.

It was my first audition and it was quite tedious. We went through about four rounds of auditions over four months, but it was worth it in the end.

Netflix Life: Your character Olivia is definitely a memorable one. I would say shes a very bold and confident person, as well as funny. How similar are you in real life to her?

Bianca:When people meet me at first at face value, they always think, oh shes the ditzy, dramatic blonde. They dont anticipate my intellectual aptitude, and when they get to know me they realize, oh my gosh shes actually laid back, and she values a great sense of humor, and shes easy going, and shes not her exterior at all.

With Olivia, it was interesting because I got to portray my exterior to the greatest potential. So on one hand, Im very much like her, but I think I would say theres depth to both of us that is not at face value.

Netflix Life:Based on Instagram posts and behind-the-scenes videos, it seems like the whole Kissing Booth cast is super close. Do you all keep in touch when youre not filming?

Bianca:We really do. That is no lie. I am very, very close with a lot of the cast members and its amazing because this is my first job. I came into Cape Town being employed and with a brand new family.

Especially during lockdown, we all kept in touch, and I think you really realize who is super important in your life during that time, and who you want to keep in touch with, and its been them, which has been amazing.

Netflix Life:Of course we know you cant give too much away, but what can fans expect to see from Olivia in The Kissing Booth 3?

Bianca:A lot of cool dancing, actually!

Netflix Life:These movies are such good, classic teen romantic comedies, I love it. Are there other genres youre planning to explore next?

Bianca:I mean, I would love to explore all genres. Obviously with COVID-19, at the moment everythings kind of on hold, but exploring them in my own time and making sure Im ready for when the industry is ready to open back up is my goal at the moment. But definitely, I would love to explore other genres.

Netflix Life:Do you have any favorite memories from filming either movie?

Bianca:There are so many! Funny enough, a few of the greatest memories were always off set, either happening in the green room or when the camera was not rolling, but leading up to it. I remember in the first movie we got to experience the OMG girls arriving in a limo to prom. I had never been in one before, but they had rented out a very, very fancy limo and we got to drive around the block, and they filmed us walking out and arriving all glamorous to prom. That was really cool.

Also in the second movieboth of these scenes were actually cut, funnily enoughwe got a grand entrance to the Halloween party, and we actually arrived in a Cadillac that was previously owned by Sylvester Stallone. The Ruperts in South Africa have since bought the vehicle and its displayed in their motor museum. It was so cool that I was sitting in a car that had so much history, and we were on a Netflix film set. It was insane.

Netflix Life: Pivoting from The Kissing Booth real quick, I do want to hear all about your lighting business Moodmakers. What exactly is the brand and how did it come about?

Bianca:Im so glad you asked me! So, in South Africa we have these rolling blackouts that are called load shedding, and I kind of thought of the idea that we need a stylish solution. Coming from a family of interior designers, I have always been involved, and my dads always been teaching me about it. I studied interior design for two years.

So I decided to take it upon myself to import designer portable, rechargeable light, and thats where the brand started. Its called Moodmakers because we have to set the mood, and interior design lighting is essential, you know, it creates an emotion in a space. Its hopefully going to fix the problem, and so far weve been doing really, really well. I really have been enjoying it.

Netflix Life: Since were a site that covers all things Netflix, I want to ask: If you could join the cast of any Netflix show, which would it be and why?

Bianca:Oooh, that is tricky. Funny enough, I watched Work It last night, and thats a Netflix original. So maybe I would want to be alongside Sabrina [Carpenter] dancing in Work It. But I mean, I couldnt pick one, I really do enjoy Netflix originals. Thank goodness for them!

Make sure to look out for Bianca Bosch inThe Kissing Booth 3, premiering on Netflix sometime in 2021!

See the original post here:
The Kissing Booths Bianca Bosch talks the third movie, her foray into entrepreneurship, and more - Netflix Life

Lisa Harrison Rivas, Staff Writer

A touch of black could be the perfect color to liven up your bathroom.

A touch of black could be the perfect color to liven up your bathroom.

Photo: San Antonio Board Of Realtors

A touch of black could be the perfect color to liven up your bathroom.

A touch of black could be the perfect color to liven up your bathroom.

Go beyond the basic bathroom

These days with more of us spending a lot more time at home, homeowners are opting to give their homes a makeover. Home offices are being revamped or created, and people are also updating their outdoor spaces. New flooring and kitchen countertops are often at the top of the list when it comes to giving a house a new look. But don't forget the bathroom. Bathrooms, half or full, provide opportunities for creative renovations.

Bathrooms don't have to be boring. Why not apply many of the decorating trends used in other rooms of the house to the bathroom.

San Antonio interior designer Lee Ann Kramer said wallpaper is coming back in a big way. Imagine wallpaper in a variety of wild patterns, metallic or grass cloth. Kramer said natural elements and black are also trending, but so are colors such as green, mustard, and ocher. And she said velvets in all colors are very popular too.

So, whether you hire a contractor or do it yourself, why not add a little pizzazz to your powder room or make the master bathroom unique. Here are a few examples of homes that are now or were recently on the market in San Antonio and surrounding areas that have done just that.

Lisa.harrison@express-news.net

Read more:
Go beyond the basic bathroom - mySA

Marshfield (OnFocus) The prospect of tackling a new landscaping project can be daunting, but fortunately local business Beaver Creek Landscaping is ready to help with just about any project a property owner can imagine.

Getting professional help when starting a project can really help you make sure you get the end product you really want, said Jeff Barth, owner. Improving your homes landscaping is a great way to potentially add value to your property and increase your curb appeal!

When embarking on a new project, Barth advises developing a reasonable budget and being realistic when determining comfort level about doing the work.

It can be fun to try and tackle a project by yourself, but many times a project ends up being much more work than anticipated, said Barth. Thats where having a professional is invaluable.

For more than two decades, Beaver Creek has provided Central Wisconsin with professional lawn and garden maintenance, landscaping services, power washing, lawn mowing, and more.

We love what we do and we love helping people get the yard theyve always wanted, said Barth.

We welcome your stories! Contact us at [emailprotected]!

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How to Get Started with Your Next Landscaping Project - OnFocus

This press release was orginally distributed by SBWire

Houston, TX -- (SBWIRE) -- 08/27/2020 -- Public places like educational facility buildings, company and corporation buildings, medical offices and other buildings can be a chore to clean as a result of the large size, coupled with the fact that different people access those places for one thing or the other. No doubt, it is essential that these public buildings have professional cleaning services that would come handy to make them clean and inviting to people who visit from all walks of life. This is because a clean atmosphere adds to the positive perception of people about those organizations, which contributes largely to patronage and other business engagements. Thus, janitorial services are a necessity. In Houston, Texas, Better Choice Cleaning, a cleaning company, offers the best janitorial and general cleaning services.

Answering a query, Better Choice Cleaning's spokesperson commented, "A janitorial service provides you with more than just a person to clean your facility, regardless of its size. At Better Choice Cleaning, we can provide you with a strong and ever ready team that has all the right equipment to accomplish the goals you set out with, and make your business and organization look beautiful and inviting to your customers and employees. We are fully equipped with carpet cleaners, power washers, buffers, burnishers, and other equipment to get you a clean environment. You need not worry about purchasing or maintaining new equipment, as we have them ready to get the job done, while you focus on making your customers happy."

Better Choice Cleaning is the Best Janitorial Services in Houston TX. Quality is their watchword, and with the right tools and materials, and an in-depth knowledge of when, why, and how to use them, their janitorial service helps to make commercial buildings neat, clean, and also make the brand standout amongst the comity of brands. With a number of janitorial options, they afford businesses and organizations with the needed expertise to secure and maintain a clean and inviting environment. Hiring a janitorial service such as Better Choice Cleaning is beneficial for everyday cleaning and maintenance of organizations in different industries.

The spokesperson further added, "We are the only cleaning contractor you will ever need to make your premises inviting, alluring, and to keep customers calling back every time they need your services. In addition to day porters and evening janitorial services, BC Cleaning also specializes in floor care services including but not limited to stripping and waxing, scrubbing and recoating and buffing. We also provide services which include, but not limited to carpet cleaning, window cleaning, power washing, and we can also handle your repairing needs. We do not stop there: we also offer paper products and cleaning supplies used to maintain your facilities, and to keep it in top form."

At Better Choice Cleaning, it is believed that to deliver a quality backed cleaning service, the right people, doing the right things, and using the right equipment on a consistent basis, are enough to get things done. They use a team approach based on total quality, and this helps to get the premises of different organizations ready for both their customers and their employees. Their Cleaning Services in Houston Texas is done professionally and in a very effective manner.

About Better Choice CleaningBetter Choice Cleaning is a cleaning company based in Houston. Clients in need of the Best Cleaning Services in Houston TX can consult Better Choice Cleaning for this service.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/better-choice-cleaning-offers-the-best-janitorial-and-general-cleaning-services-in-houston-1301668.htm

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Better Choice Cleaning Offers the Best Janitorial and General Cleaning Services in Houston - Press Release - Digital Journal

Hurricane Laura made landfall as a powerful category 4 storm at about 1 a.m. Thursday morning.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Texas This article contains ongoing updates on Tropical StormLaura, including weather-related closures and event cancellations and updates on evacuation orders. Here are some key updates for Thursday, August 27, 2020, as well as the previous day, August 26, 2020. You can find more details by scrolling through the story, which we are updating throughout the day and night. The newest items will be at the top.

Laura made landfall as a strong category 4 hurricane along the Texas-Louisiana border. Here's the latest forecast from the 12News StormTrackers team.

Thursday

Aug. 27, 9:58 p.m. Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD will remain closed for the week of August 31 through September 4 due to 'significant damage' during Hurricane Laura. "With many staff and students without electricity we will not move to a virtual learning platform at this time," the district said in a Facebook post.

Aug. 27, 8:15 p.m. West Orange-Cove CISD has announced plans to remain closed through September 4 'due to city utilities being out.'

Aug. 27, 4:56 p.m. The Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management says its office "has just spoken with the office of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and there is NO cause for concern regarding the Bio - Lab Chemical Plant Fire in Lake Charles."

Aug. 27, 4:47 p.m. Victims of Hurricane Laura can get water, snacks and cleaning supplies while supplies last by stopping atOrange Church of God, located at 1911 N 16th Street until 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 27. The American Red Cross will be there distributing those items. You do have to wear a mask if you'll be going to pick up these supplies.

Aug. 27, 3:49 p.m. Newton County Judge Kenneth Weeks announced Thursday afternoon that the mandatory evacuation order has been lifted and a curfew order is now in place. Residents will need to be inside from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. until the mandatory curfew is lifted.

Aug. 27, 3:30 p.m. The City of Port Neches has issued a boil water notice for residents on Thursday.

Water should be boiled before use or consumption.The city is in the process of turning water back on across the entire system according to its website. The work will take several hours, and tests need to be performed as required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality before the boil notice is lifted. If you need more information on how to boil water, click here.

Aug. 27, 1:30 p.m. Entergy Texas said the company is being forced to begin periodic power outages as a last resort to prevent a more extensive, prolonged power outage which would affect the power grid's reliability.

Entergy said Hurricane Laura caused extensive damage to the transmission system in East Texas and West Louisiana and they anticipate high demand due to summer heat. Hurricane Laura damaged key transmission lines, conductors and transmission towers that bring power from the east.

The company is working with its operator to restore the system to normal as soon as a power shortfall would not threaten the integrity of the rest of the power system.

Entergy is also asking customers in the northwest part of Houston to voluntarily reduce their electricity usage.

You can reduce your electricity usage by:

Aug. 27, 1:45 p.m. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said an aerial survey of southeast Texas showed the state's worst damage from Hurricane Laura was in Orange. While Hurricane Laura made landfall overnight as a Category 4 storm, Abbott said the storm surge in Texas was about 3 feet, much lower than anticipated. See his full statement here.

Aug. 27, 11:00 a.m. The Emergency Rooms at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth ER is now back to normal operations.

Aug. 27, 10:00 a.m. Orange County officials want to notify residents that water is in the process of being turned back on in the area. Once the water is available, officials are asking residents to boil the water before consumption.

"To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria, water for drinking, cooking, and for making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the water District officials will notify you that the water is safe for consumption."

Aug. 27, 9:50 a.m. Texas Governor Greg Abbott will be visiting Orange County Thursday morning to survey from Hurricane Laura as well as meet with local officials according to a news release from the governor's office.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Senator John Cornyn will be joining the governor.

Abbott is scheduled to hold a news conference from Orange County at 12:30 p.m. which 12News will livestream.

Aug. 27, 9:45 a.m. H-E-B stores in stores in Southeast Texas remain closed until further notice as the company assesses each store. They are working to reopen as soon as possible according to a news release.

Aug. 27, 9:30 a.m. Hardin County will be terminating it's mandatory evacuation order as of noon Thursday according to a news release from Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel.

More than 10,300 Hardin County residents and businesses are currently without power with no ETA on restoral he noted in the release.

Many gas stations and most grocery, convenience and other businesses in the county are also still closed at this time he said.

Hardin County offices will remain closed through 5 p.m. Thursday with normal business hours to resume after that.

Aug. 27, 9:25 a.m. Hurricane Laura has dropped to a category 1 storm as it moves north over Southwest Louisiana.

In its 9 a.m. update Thursday, the National Hurricane Center said the eyewall of Laura over northwest Louisiana with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph.

The storm, currently 65 miles south-southeast of SHreveport, is moving north at 15 mph and is expected to become a tropical storm later Thursday.

Laura will move across southwestern Louisiana this morning and then continue northward across the state through this afternoon. Louisiana recently reported a decreased wind gust of 70 mph as hurricane conditions spread more inland.

Aug. 27, 8:45 a.m. Louisiana's Governor John Bel Edwards said hes received a report of the first fatality from Hurricane Laura in Louisiana, a 14-year-old girl who died when a tree fell on her home. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is crediting the evacuations of thousands of people for preventing deaths in Texas. Edwards says they are only beginning to assess the damage.

Aug. 27, 8:15 a.m. Hurricane Laura is located about 80 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana, as a category 2 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Aug. 27, 7:30 a.m. Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick terminates mandatory evacuation order for the county. Residents can head back to the county starting at 10 a.m., according to a Facebook post from the Jefferson County Texas Office of Emergency Management.

Aug. 27, 7 a.m. The National Hurricane Center reported that Hurricane Laura was about 20 miles north of Fort Polk, Louisiana, as a category 2 hurricane. A storm surge warning is in effect for High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River and a tropical storm warning is in effect for High Island, Texas, to the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Aug 27, 5 a.m. Laura weakened to a category 2 hurricane with 110 mile per hour winds. The storm continued moving north at about 15 miles per hour as of a 5 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.

Aug. 27, 4 a.m.About two hours after Hurricane Laura made landfall in Southwest Louisiana more than 70,000 Entergy customers had lost power in Southeast Texas.

Aug. 27, 1:12 a.m. More than 15,500 homes and businesses are now in the dark due to power outages across Jefferson County. Orange County has seen 9,666 outages so far.

Aug. 27, 1:00 a.m. The extreme wind warning has been extended for parts of Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. It's set to last until 3 a.m. This includes Lake Charles, LA, Sulphur LA, and Orange due to "extremely dangerous hurricane winds."

Aug. 27, 12:15 a.m. Power outages have already started across the Golden Triangle as Laura makes landfall. Jefferson County has already seen more than 5,000 homes and businesses lose power, while nearly 3,000 are without power in Orange County. Several dozen are without power in Hardin County as well.

Wednesday's Headlines:

Aug. 26, 11:45 p.m. According to TxDOT, the Rainbow and Veterans Bridge access points in Port Arthur and Orange are now closed due to unsafe wind speeds.

Aug. 26, 10:57 p.m. Beaumont, Port Arthur, Nederland and Lake Charles, Louisiana, are under an 'extreme wind warning' until 1 a.m. due to 'extremely dangerous hurricane winds.The National Weather Service says people need to treat this as "imminent extreme winds as if a tornado was approaching and move immediately to an interior room or shelter NOW!"

Aug. 26, 9:36 p.m."They're thinking Cameron Parish is going to look like an extension of the Gulf of Mexico for a couple of days," Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said Wednesday ahead of Hurricane Laura's landfall.

Aug. 26, 9:00 p.m. I-10 is now closed in southwest Louisiana as Laura closes in on the coast. See alternate routes.

Aug. 26, 3:54 p.m. Hardin County officials have put a curfew in place for residents. This means people will be required to stay inside their homes between 8 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. There are some exceptions. Read theorder here.

Aug. 26, 4:12 p.m. According to the City of Port Arthur, transportation for evacuation and the civic center 'are reopened only until 6 p.m.' If you need to evacuate, report to the Bob Bowers Civic Center.

Aug. 26, 4:00 p.m. Port Arthur Police and the Port Arthur Fire Department will not respond to any calls for service once 'sustained tropical storm force winds reach the city.' Citizens are being told to stay inside and stay safe as the hurricane passes. Regular operations will resume once weather conditions allow.

Aug. 26, 2:35 p.m.Buses are running again for evacuees in Port Arthur until 3 p.m. but no more residents will be able to catch them after 3 p.m.

Aug. 26, 2:20 p.m.Two C-130 aircraft have been sent to Jack Brooks Regional Airport to provide a "last chance" to evacuate for 80 residents. The planes are not equipped for those with medical needs and only take 40 passengers each due to COVID-19 guidelines.

Once loaded the planes will fly to evacuees to the DFW area but will not be making a return trip.

The planes are on the ground now and awaiting passengers.

The planes are set to leave by 4 p.m. and may stop before that based on wind conditions.

Aug. 26, 1:20 p.m.Bus evacuation transportation has halted and the Bob Bowers Civic Center is now closed according to the City of Port Arthur.

Aug. 26, 12:15 p.m.911 calls will continue to be answered throughout the storm, however some landline prefixes may experience trouble getting through according to the Southeast Texas Alerting Network, STAN.Those prefixes are:

Aug. 26, 11 a.m. Port Arthur Mayor Bartie issues a curfew order effectivetoday, August 26, 2020. ...It shall be unlawful for any person to remain, walk, run, stand, drive or ride upon any public place in the city between the hours of 8 PM and 6 AM during this state of emergency, according to the Port Arthur Police Department.

Aug. 26, 10:30 a.m.Port Neches residents are under curfew starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday. "Mandatory curfew order for the City of Port Neches goes into effect at 10:00 p.m. tonight. It will remain in effect until rescinded," a statement from the city's Facebook page said.

Aug. 26, 10 a.m. Tyler County issues mandatory curfew order between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. until further notice. Read more here.

Aug. 26, 10 a.m.Vidor has issued a curfew order for city residents beginning Wednesday between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. each day, and continuing until further orders are issued or this order is terminated. Any violation of this Order shall be punishable as a Class C misdemeanor, according to officials.

Aug. 26, 10 a.m.The Cities of Orange, West Orange, and Pinehurst have issued a curfew from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. beginning Tuesday, August 25, 2020 until revoked. "This is for the safety of our citizens and to protect our communities in dealing with Hurricane Laura," officials said.

Aug. 26, 10 a.m.City of Beaumont issued dusk to dawn curfew ahead of Hurricane Laura's landfall, which is expected Wednesday evening through Thursday morning.

Aug. 26, 9 a.m.Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick issues mandatory curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. effective at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

Aug. 26, 9 a.m. The floodgates on Highway 365 will be closing at 11 a.m., Wednesday, according to the Jefferson County Office of Emergency Management.

Aug. 26, 8:15 a.m. Evacuations by bus in Beaumont will be shut down at 10:30 a.m. Those need transportation out of the are must be at one of the assembly sites or at Westbrook High School by 10:30 a.m.

Evacuation bus assembly sites

Aug. 26, 8:15 a.m. All residents needing bus rides out of the Port Arthur Area must be registered at the Bob Bowers Civic Center by noon to catch the last busses out of the area.

Aug. 26, 8 a.m. Home Depot in Beaumont and Orange will be closing today a 12 p.m. and will re-open as soon as it is safe to do so.

Aug. 26, 5:30 a.m.Hardin County Judge Wayne McDaniel urged residents in Southeast Texas to evacuate as Hurricane Laura continues to rapidly intensify and is now predicted to be a catastrophic category 4 hurricane at landfall along the Texas Louisiana state line.

"If you are still here, theres still time to leave and you must do so now," McDaniel said in a Facebook post early Wednesday morning.

Hardin County officials will have buses at Silsbee Middle School for anyone who is unable to evacuate and has no other way to leave, but you must arrive between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Buses are first come, first serve with preference for those who registered in advance. Residents can also bring a pet that can ride in a carrier in your lap.

"Buses will take you to a congregate shelter well out of harms way and will bring you back when its safe to do so," McDaniel said. "I cannot predict when that will be at this time. Please have someone drop you off at the school campus. Any vehicles left in the parking will be left there at your own risk."

"It appears many have chosen to stay and ride it out," he said. "I dont blame you! However, seeing the new forecast this morning and the fact that it continues to look worse for us with each update, that is definitely not a good decision and waiting any longer could be a deadly choice for you and your family. Food, water, emergency services and other life safety resources will not be available to you for at least days. Electricity, water, sewer and other utilities will be out for weeks in many areas.

"We will once again recover and rebuild, but it will take a long time."

Aug. 26, 4 a.m.Hurricane Laura is expected to be a category 4 storm when it makes landfall overnight Wednesday, according to NOAA.

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