By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

Weve all seen the reality T.V. home remodeling shows. Half way through, theres what we call an HGTV moment when it happens, We just discovered this is a load-bearing wall. Thats going to be another hit to your budget so we have to take something else out of your remodel or increase your budget to cover the cost.

No-one wants to be in this position. Its not good for you, its not good for your home remodeler. The reality is any qualified and experienced home remodeler should have figured out if there is a load-bearing wall in play well before anyone comes near your home with a sledge hammer. Undoubtedly, removing a load-bearing wall adds cost to your home remodeling plans because it requires alternate suitable support, but a little careful exploration upfront should tell you at the outset of your remodel whats really going on with that wall between your kitchen and dining room.

Be prepared, your chosen or prospective home remodeler may have to poke a few holes in your drywall at the beginning of the process to see whats going on behind the scenes. This is normal practice but will require patching if you decide not to proceed with your home remodel.

So, what are the telltale signs that might indicate if a wall is load-bearing or not?

Disclaimer alert! ALWAYS get an experts opinion before you decide to remove ANY wall in your home!

Look at the Joists

Do the joists run parallel or perpendicular to the wall youre thinking of removing? In general, if the joists run perpendicular to the wall, its a sign it might be a load-bearing wall. In the example below, the red X shows what a load-bearing wall looks like behind the drywall. However, there are some instances when joists run parallel but the wall is load-bearing because the builder has aligned the wall under a single joist or the weight is being supported by blocking between two neighboring joists, so always get a professional opinion.

Got an Unfinished Basement or Crawl Space?

If you have an unfinished basement or crawl space below your kitchen (or other first floor room you want to remodel), take a peek in the ceiling at what is going beneath the room above. If there are any type of structures (such as columns, supports, beams, etc.) that follow the same path as the wall above, its a sign of support needed for a load-bearing wall.

Dont Make Assumptions About Knee-walls or Part Walls

Just because you have a partition wall, it doesnt mean its not load-bearing. Weve had this occur in quite a few home remodels over the years. A load-bearing beam or other structure may be hiding behind the drywall of a part wall or a knee-wall with a column between two rooms. If your remodeling goal is a more open concept, a load-bearing beam may be required when you remove a part or knee-wall, so due diligence up front will ensure you know exactly what youre dealing with before construction starts.

Case Study: A Reston Townhouse Transformation

This months featured remodel is the first floor remodel of a lake-fronted townhouse in Reston. The existing layout and finishes made the first floor feel dark, small and closed-in. Preferring a contemporary look and a more open concept, our clients were ready to make the changes needed to make the home their own and better reflect their design aesthetic.

However, the wall separating the dining room and kitchen was load-bearing. We removed it along with a non load-bearing faux painted pillar (seen on the left of the Before photo). This is a great example of how things were not as you might expect the column was decorative only so it was easily removed, but a load-bearing beam was required to replace the wall between the kitchen and dining room.

The result? With the wall and pillar gone, the energy of the whole first floor is now totally transformed. The spaces flow from one to the next and the entire area feels bigger. We also replaced the sliding doors to the deck and a picture window off a sunroom to make the most of the gorgeous water views from the rear of the house. Its now a modern and tranquil space with lots of room for the couple and their family and friends to enjoy.

Ready to start your hassle-free remodel with a company who can help you figure all of this out? Get in touch for your free, no obligation consultation about your home remodeling plans!

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Reno of the Month: How Do You Tell if a Wall is Load-bearing? - Reston Now

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

On the Market: A contemporary house in rustic Weston

WESTON The contemporary house at 132 Lords Highway in the Lower Weston neighborhood is more refined than it is rustic, yet it fits perfectly into its countrified Arcadian setting.

This particular location on a level and sloping property of just over three acres near the end of a cul-de-sac allows its owners to experience the best of indoor/outdoor living in the center of Weston. The private woodland oasis, nestled at the end of a scenic country road, abuts the 37-acre Grace Robinson Nature Sanctuary, which is managed cooperatively by the Connecticut Audubon Society and the Aspetuck Land Trust and offers hiking trails. Also close by is Lachat Town Farm and 1,756-acre Devils Den Nature Preserve, the latter containing 20 miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails, and it is part of the extended 70-mile Saugatuck Valley Trails System.

Even with all this nature and solitude, there is also convenience. This house is only minutes from the towns award-winning schools, the public library, gas station and market; and for commuters, the Merritt Parkway is only about 12 minutes away. Metro-North Railroad train stations are accessible in Wiltons Cannondale area and the Saugatuck section of Westport.

The 3,940-square-foot house was built in 1978. It was first expanded in 2002 and has undergone continuous remodeling thereafter, according to the co-listing agents. As a contemporary house, it had an open floor plan to begin with but one that was improved upon with successive renovating projects. Today, the floor plan is not only open, it is flexible, which is important to todays home buyers.

A long, paved driveway opens up to provide ample parking for gatherings of friends and family, which can certainly be done safely on this spacious property. A slate path, lined by attractive shrubbery and perennial plantings, leads to the covered front porch. In the foyer there is a floating staircase. The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood-accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony and a door to a large sunroom. The sunroom accesses a large, raised wood deck.

The dining room also has a wood-accented ceiling and is open to the updated eat-in kitchen, which features soapstone counters, a center island, glass-front cabinetry with a breakfast bar for two, new appliances and a door to another raised wood deck. In the casual dining area there is built-in seating with storage.

There is a den, which is currently used as a music room, which has a fireplace. Between the den and the spacious family room, there is an office with a built-in desk area that would also work as a homework or distance learning station. In the family room, which could also be a play or recreation room, there are two built-in window seats, a wet bar and a full bath, making this area that could be converted into a fifth bedroom or an in-law or au pair suite, depending on the needs of this homes next family.

As currently arranged, this house has four bedrooms, all on the upper level. There is also another flexible use room on this floor, currently serving as a recreation room. The master suite has a walk-in closet and a luxurious bath with a contemporary double sink. One of the other bedrooms has a door to a private balcony.

For more information or to make an appointment to see the house, contact Laurie Crouse and Valerie Martins of Laurie Crouse & Associates and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage; Crouse at 203-984-8154 or lauriebcrouse@gmail.com, and Martins at 929-270-9393 or valmartins.ct@gmail.com.

STYLE: Contemporary

ADDRESS: 132 Lords Highway

PRICE: $839,000

ROOMS: 9

FEATURES: 3.01-acre level and sloping property, located on a cul-de-sac, two separate private decks, screened porch, wet bar, skylights, pre-wired for cable, flexible open floor plan; only minutes from Westons award-winning schools, Weston Center, Lachat Farm, Devils Den Nature Preserve, Grace Robinson Nature Sanctuary, Georgetown shopping district and the Cannondale train station; about 12 minutes from the Merritt Parkway, possible in-law or au pair suite, two fireplaces, lots of closets and storage, possible in-law or au pair suite, Westport beach rights, attached two-car garage, zoned central air conditioning and propane heat, mud room, attic, no basement, private well, septic system, room for a pool, four bedrooms, four full and one half updated baths

SCHOOLS: Hurlbutt Elementary, Weston Middle, Weston High

ASSESSMENT: $480,700

MILL RATE: 32.37 mills

TAXES: $15,560

HOA FEE: $140, paid annually (covers snow removal)

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On the Market: A contemporary house in rustic Weston - Westport News

Whether for your own personal enjoyment, to help your family spread out, or even if you're just thinking of increasing the value of your house, crafting a more permanent place of respite outdoors can be worth the investment it takes to do it right.

According to KV Harper, founder and principal of Kex Design + Build in New Orleans, the biggest considerations for a backyard renovation are how you plan to use it and what your budget is. The cost for a backyard remodel can vary greatly, with total spend averaging anywhere from a couple thousand dollars for basic landscaping to more than $40,000. For bigger budget projects that can creep into the $20,000 range, like adding an outdoor kitchen, consider a Discover personal loan (which allows for flexible repayment terms for all loan amounts of 36 to 84 months) to help cover the costs.

Getting inspired? Here are a few ideas to consider.

A small DIY pathway or patio can be constructed for less than $1,000 with materials from a big box retailer. Professional installation adds $5 to $15 per square foot, and higher-end materials, such as flagstone will also bump up the cost. Pea gravel or a similar material is the most cost-efficient. I really like crushed granite as an inexpensive hardscape that can provide a nice clean backdrop for furniture, Harper says.

If you have children or pets and dont want to deal with mowing the lawn, artificial turf is an option, though it can be expensive, at $5 to $20 per square foot, compared to $0.90 to $2 for sod.

Sheds are often under-utilized. Instead of using it as a place where rusty garden tools and old bicycles go to die, transform it into useful real estate. A small shed can easily accommodate an art studio, a reading lounge, a playroom, or even a daybed for overnight guests. There are literally thousands of models on the market, many designed to look like miniature houses, complete with porches.

A small shed can easily accommodate an art studio, a reading lounge, a playroom, or even a daybed.

If you aren't wiring for electricity, or concerned about climate control, the only real cost is buying a shed that comes with at least one window to let in light. These can be found at home improvement retailers and big box stores for a couple thousand dollars.

Running electricity and insulating the shed so that you can use it when the weather is hot or cold adds a few hundred dollars to the budget. The average cost of installing insulation is $0.64 - $1.19, so for a 100-square-foot shed, it would be around $120. Hiring an electrician is $50 to $100 an hour.

Dining al fresco on warm evenings is the best part of summer. Adding an outdoor kitchen and dining room can be a dream come true for many home cooks, but they can be expensive, costing up to $21,000 (or much more for a luxury setup).

Maintenance and weather should be key considerations when thinking about the design. One of the first things to consider for an outdoor kitchen is the weather, notes Harper. Outdoor kitchens can get hot, so you want to design to accommodate shading either naturally or with a pergola.

Maintenance and weather should be key considerations when thinking about outdoor kitchen design.

For the grill, Harper recommends gas over charcoal because it is easier to maintain and clean. She adds that you will want a durable heat-resistant stone for the flooring and countertops. Natural stone is one of the priciest materials you can choose, at $25 to $45 per square foot, but will hold up much better than cheaper options like stucco or manufactured stone.

Other add-ons that can increase your budget include plumbing for a sink, a built-in grill, refrigeration, or special features, such as a pizza oven or fireplace.

Add native plants and grasses around a sauna or hot tub for ambiance and privacy, or consider a pergola with curtains for an even more secluded escape. If either is too much of a commitment, you can achieve spa vibes by adding a small fire pit or chiminea, a water feature, and fragrant flowering vines or shrubs such as lavender.

I think the easiest way to transform a small yard is to create a design that maximizes space by using built-in seating or dining, she says, which is something she did in her own backyard. I recently added a small deck to replace the stairs from our kitchen to the backyard. It was less expensive than doing a wide deck, and now the deck functions as stairs and a place to relax.

She adds that light landscaping with hardscape materials is another inexpensive way to transform a yard. Think a pea gravel and paver patio combined with native plants that will thrive in the existing condition. In other words, if your yard only gets a few hours of sun, dont waste space trying to grow a vegetable garden.

A design that maximizes small spaces? Built-in seating or dining, says Harper.

For any backyard transformation, be sure to budget for furniture. A small patio can be outfitted for less than $1,000, but a full outdoor living and dining room set up will be significantly more. Harper recommends waiting until prices drop to invest in new pieces. I know its hard, but try to buy outdoor furniture at the end of the season when it goes on sale. Most big box retailers put outdoor furniture on sale at a deep discount around the first week of August, she says.

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The Real Costs to Build 5 Different Backyard Retreats - HouseBeautiful.com

To many, RV living doesnt exactly scream "glam." But Cortni Armstrong is changing that perception one ugly RV at a time, with the help of her mom and business partner Patti Armstrong. Theyre the mother-daughter duo behind The Flipping Nomada RV renovation business thats essentially the Chip and Joanna Gianes of RV remodelingand one look at the interiors of their RV renos will make you want to ditch your stationary residence and move in immediately.

The Flipping Nomad was born out of a dark period in Cortnis life: About six years ago, she had to take over her fathers two businesses after he had a stroke. They werent doing well, and there was hardly enough money to pay herself. At the same time, Cortini's lease renewal was coming up on a house she shared with three roommates. She discovered her roommates had made other housing plans that didnt involve her. Left hanging, she turned to a family friend who managed a campground. He said there was a fifth wheel for sale. The owner would finance it, and all she would have to do is pay for the RV. The electricity, internet, and other expenses would be covered if she took a job at the front desk. She agreed and moved in three days later.

I felt borderline homeless, and I was really embarrassed about it, Cortni tells House Beautiful. I was in my mid-20s at the time and a recent college grad, so all of my college friends are in their careers and buying houses and cars, and here I am in this trailer park.

A year into RV living, her perspective shifted. She loved the genuine people she met and how freeing it was to only live in 350 square feet sans clutter. I started falling in love with the lifestyle but wanted a rig that was laid out a little bit different, she says. She obsessively searched for something that was appropriate for a mid-20s bachelorette pad but realized what she wanted didnt exist. So she found a rig with the floor plan she wanted and decided to renovate it herself.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

I kept coming back to my buying experience and thought maybe other people don't like these interiors too, and there's business to be had here, Cortni says.

At first, Cortni was buying RVs, cleaning them super well, and then selling them. When she combined that with renovating, she did custom renovationseven taking on RVs people had already owned. Her mom joined the business about two and a half years ago when she also decided to move into an RV herself. Together, they buy RVs, renovate them, and sell them out of a shop they own on 66 acres of land in Emmett, Idaho. The shop is big enough to fit three RVs with plenty of room to park other rigs outside. They typically keep their own RVs on the land, too.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

The duo now focuses exclusively on designing RVs. We figured out that to do customization work it takes us about 50 percent longer than it does to buy it, renovate it, and sell it as is, Cortni says. I know it sounds counterintuitive but in an effort to service more clients, we stopped servicing clients.

Before Cortni and Patti ever buy an RV, they do a field inspection on it that involves getting up on the roof, checking for signs of water damage, the age of the tires, and warning signs for tank cracks. Once it passes that, they take it back to the shop and do a PDI (pre-delivery inspection) where they check the electricAC, outlets, fridgeand fill the tank with water to ensure everything is working properly. When they confirm the structure of the rig is good, they renovate it.

For the interiors, they try to go with popular design schemes. Farmhouse is so hot right now, and everybody wants something that looks like Joanna Gaines did it, Cortni says. I also want every rig to have its own personality, so I switch it up a bit with each one.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

The rigs they sell are typically furnished with items including couches, love seats, and chairs. In Cortnis experience, most people prefer to bring their own mattress. The detailsthrow pillows, rugs, blankets, table settingsare included on a case-by-case basis. Some clients really enjoy shopping for their own rig and putting their own personal taste on it and other clients are intimidated by it, she says.

Her favorite furniture brand to use is Home Reserve. The Indiana-based company offers modular pieces with storage in the seats. Cortni says multifunctional pieces are essential in such a tiny space. Plus, all of the companys made-in-America pieces have removable and washable fabric, so you can easily clean it or swap out colors.

Being able to flex her creative muscles and reimagine a small space is Cortnis favorite part of the job. Oh, and the demolition phase of course. You go in, rip stuff apart, chuck stuff out the door, and we have music playing, she says.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

So far, The Flipping Nomad has done about 15 full renos and worked on around 45 RVsincluding partial renos and cleaningsince its inception. The price varies based on the model and staging among other factors, but the minimum budget required is $50,000 for a fifth wheel or $30,000 for a travel trailer.

Theres currently a huge waitlist to snag one of The Flipping Nomads renovated RVs. Their typical clientele is first-time home buyers in their 20s and 30s with a mix of couples and couples with kids. That came as a surprise to Cortni who thought her clients were going to be retirees who have disposable income and have been saving up for the RV lifestyle for years.

The completion time varies for each RV renovation. If you want less of a wait or dont want to go all in on a renovated RV, The Flipping Nomad sells non renovated RVs that you can enjoy as is or renovate yourself. They also offer RV lifestyle and renovation coaching.

Cortni now lives in an RV called the Ultimate Montana, which she teamed up with Keystone RV Company to build. Its similar to a concept car in that it is very impractical, very much a show piece, but we wanted to push the limits on everything and see whats possible, she says. The rig has a freestanding bathtub, three fireplaces, pizza oven, TV projector, and bar.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

As if The Flipping Nomad's renos weren't stunning enough, Cortni's current RV is sure to make any apartment renter or homeowner envious in some way. Glam RVs are the right-under-our-nose tiny homes we didn't know we needed.

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This Mother-Daughter Duo Turns RVs Into Stunning Tiny Homes - HouseBeautiful.com

idk what this is yet but I had an idea.

Thats how game developer @davemakes started a Twitter thread last January, sharing a GIF of colorful tiles floating through a diagonal game space. Follow Daves thread, though, and youll see how they develop this single idea over the months into a fully fledged rhythm and puzzle game called Mixolumia, available to buy on Itch.io as of last weekend.

The game itself looks extremely fun, pairing a simple and bold art style with immersive music and sound effects, and gameplay that looks to be a cross between Tetris and Puyo-Puyo. Whats really fascinating about the thread, though, is how it offers a look into the often opaque world of game development, tracking Daves work and experiments.

Follow the thread, and you can see how Dave adds new features over time, testing out certain mechanics. One early question is how should the tile-blocks move when they hit another point-on-point? Should they break in half? Should they slide down alternate directions? Or should they zig-zag down the screen to avoid this problem altogether?

As you can see, Dave eventually solves the problem by having the blocks move in the direction they were last pushed. As they note, that makes it easier for players to direct the tiles, adding more depth and strategy to the gameplay in turn.

We wont recap the whole thread here, but click on that first tweet, and you can watch as Dave adds particle effects, previews of where each block will land, a scoring and level system, different gameplay modes, and more. Its fascinating to see the title take shape, and it feels like watching a time-lapse of a painter turning out a fresh landscape.

What starts as a game in simple primary shades gets colorful when new palettes are added:

Then, the musical elements of the game evolve. Dave starts with their own dynamic music effects but collaborates with musician Josie Brechner to build out a more complex soundscape. I particularly love the example track below, named Summer Shower, which features rain noises that build in intensity as you play through a level.

Throughout the games development, Dave takes the title to Tokyo Indies (a monthly gathering for game developers), starts a Patreon to support development, and is eventually able to launch the title as a full game, complete with customizable color palettes and music effects. You can buy Mixolumia right now for Mac and PC for $9 (10 percent off the regular price).

Its amazing to see what happens when you have a single idea in your head and simply... follow through.

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Watch an indie puzzle game get built, tile by tile, in this fascinating Twitter thread - The Verge

#AmericanWindWeek 2020: AWEA recognizes 16 wind champions for clean energy leadership

Welcome to day three of American Wind Week! Dont forget to visit AmericanWindWeek.org for more information, follow #AmericanWindWeek and #WindBuildsTheFuture on social media, and check out AWEAs social press kit.

Today were recognizing our Wind Champions: elected officials whose leadership makes it possible for wind to build a strong economy and clean future through their support for policies that strengthen American wind power. Champions on both sides of the aisle understand how important wind is to the constituents they serve, our economy, and our environment. This year we are recognizing the following elected officials with awards:

Members of Congress

State Governors

Weve chosen this highly selective group of lawmakers to thank and acknowledge for their wind advocacy. By championing legislation that includes higher clean energy standards, support for offshore wind, and support for the production and investment tax credits and more, these elected officials helped ensure wind can build a clean energy future for our country that includes both a thriving economy, and healthy communities.

On to more #AmericanWindWeek highlights!

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#AmericanWindWeek 2020: AWEA recognizes 16 wind champions for clean energy leadership Into the Wind - Into the Wind - The AWEA Blog

In Civilization 6, there is a new tile improvement from the Sanguine Pact that players can use called the Vampire Castle, but what does it do?

Civilization 6, one of the civilization simulation games has a new tile called the Vampire Castle from the Sanguine Pact. While this may seem a bit silly from the basis of looking at how to conquer the earth as the perfect civilization, there are many strange and secret things about all sorts of societies. The Vampire Castle is a tile improvement that players can use within their own civilizations, but how does it help them build up their settlements to defeat others?

Related:Civilization 6: How to Survive the New Apocalypse Game Mode

The Vampire Castle tiles can be accessed in the Secret Societies game mode. This game mode is a recent addition as of July, which allows players to align themselves with different secret societies and cults. This update is part of the New Frontier Pass and requires either the Rise and Fall or The Gathering Storm expansion pack. Once this is added to the game the player, in this mode, can only join one society. Players should make sure to pick the vampires if Vampire Castles will satiate their sanguinary palates.

Before a player can even start thinking up how they will play as a vampire civilization, they must first meet and take part in the Sanguine Pact, one of four secret societies currently available in the game. This pact is focused on the militarization of civilization and is bloodthirsty. Once the player has accepted this group as a part of their society, they will have to go through some initiations to access Vampire Castles and other upgrades.The first part of taking on the Sanguine Pact is gaining the Vampire Governor who is a main part of the pact and what gives the players access to Governor Titles within the pact. To access Vampire Castles, players will need to get up to the second level of titles within the pact called, Ritual. This title can be accessed as early as the Medieval Era.To gain this title, the player must go through the Initiation title, which requires them to destroy a barbarian camp. Once done this will give them access to Vampire units, and will automatically spawn one at the player's capital. The Ritual title will be received once the player has reached the Medieval Era within the pact. At this point, they will be able to charge their vampire units with constructing a Vampire Castle.Vampire Castles cannot be sat directly next to each other, and each empire can only house two castles. Once built, these castles duplicate their adjacent tiles production and give them to the capital. The vampire unit within is granted a plus-four to their defense strength, and two rounds of fortification once in battle. Later on, if the player progresses through the Indoctrination and Master Plan titles, they will be able to build up to four of these castles.This building is much like any other fort improvement available in the game but has additional purposes that make them much more useful. It gives an economic boost to the player's capital and gives the Vampire units a place to retreat outside of the capital to once they are down to one hit point in the battle. As Vampire units aren't usually killed in battle and can return home to heal, this is extremely useful.

Next:Civilization 6: How to Acquire a Pantheon Belief ( And Which One to Choose)

Civilization 6 is available for PC, Linux, Classic Mac OS, Mac OS, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

How Carrion Does John Carpenter Horror Better Than The Thing

India MacGregor is a writer, illustrator and gamer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is a Full Sail graduate with her bachelor's degree in Creative Writing for Entertainment. As a connoisseur of high fantasy and post-apocalyptic media, she prides herself on digging up lore.

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Civilization 6: Vampire Castles Guide (What They Are & How They Work) - Screen Rant

The Sims 4 finally got ladders in the base game before the release of the Eco Living expansion pack. These have been very useful for crafty space-saving builders. But the ladders have also made it possible to build a more realistic-looking split level loft.

Builders who have been around for a while will know that this split level trick is not new.

It is the same method used to build the sunken rooms. But its also another crafty way to cheat or get around the tile restriction in the Tiny Living Stuff Pack.

Please do not lecture us on the morals of cheating the restriction, were not here to judge anyone. Were just the sharers of this valuable information. Thats why we say cheat. Some call it cheating, others will call it being resourceful.

We have previously shared a tutorial on how to cheat the tile restriction by using the A-frame roof, but this method is a bit less finicky.

We have given the build in this tutorial a very quick playtest and there was no angry and frustrated stomping from the Sim we used, so there shouldnt be any problems as long as you make sure your flooring is level.

Well upload the house to the gallery in a few days (Origin ID: mspr1nt) partially furnished, so you can grab it play around with it yourself.

By the way, ifyou would like to get a weekly newsletterfeaturing our Sims 4 CC picks along with other Sims-related goodies,sign up to our Sims 4 newsletter over here.

Right, lets get to that tutorial.

Start by placing a square on the lot youre building. Then increase the foundation height to roughly the height of the short walls.

You can go higher if you want. After that, use the terrain tool to increase the terrain height around the foundation so that the bits that stick out are covered up a bit more.

Use the room tool to add your loft level to the foundation and remove the floor. Leave some space for your entryway to the side. Dont worry about getting this 100% perfect, you can still adjust it later.

You can add your roof at this stage or leave it for later. Or add it now it change it later.

There are was to better hide the foundation, but that will require a tutorial on its own. Debug cheats will be your friend here.

You can also add your foundation now. The foundation is one of the more challenging parts of using this build method to cheat the Tiny Living tile restriction quite simply because the options are quite limited if you do not use custom content. Oh for the ability to pain the foundation to match the walls.

Once you have refined the terrain outside your build, you can start adding the finishing touches. Firstly, you will need to level the terrain where you removed the floor inside.

You also need to add some stairs to the entryway. This might take a bit of trial and error, but angular stairs work best.

Fill in the floor of your build by painting the terrain with your floor tile of choice. This wont add to the Tiny Living restrictions.

Add furnishings and use the split level for any rooms (like a bathroom) you want to keep completely private. Pop a ladder and a fence down around the bedroom area for the super loft like feel.

One of the challenges with using this split level method is that it can be quite dark. Using a glass roof in part and adding hanging ceiling lamps makes all the difference though.

Furnishing the lower level of this split-level loft in The Sims 4 can be a bit challenging. Objects will sometimes snap to the grid above it so keep an eye on your placings to avoid angry Sims.

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Sims 4 build tutorial: Split level loft and Tiny Living tile restriction cheat - Extra Time Media

5 min read282 views and 100 shares Posted August 12, 2020

Progressive Playground is the latest area in the city of Lebanon to get a new look via public art. Installation of a mosaic mural at the playground located at 350 N. First St. was completed at the end of July.

The wall now sparkles with beautifully colored tiles, and the mural conveys the message of unity.

The theme of were all in this together reflects the time were in. It not only references the COVID-19 pandemic, but it also alludes to the community and unity, said artist Michaelanne Helms. The design also incorporates a basketball since there are basketball courts at the park.

All photos by Will Trostel.

Although she continues to create more traditional artwork, Helms is also community artist. She said the spark for community art was lit when she took a workshop in the early 2000s with Philadelphia mural artist Isaiah Zagar.

What I like about his style is that he has a way of involving many people in one project. As a community-based artist, I work with groups of people to design and create together, she said.

The concept of community art is that the public art gives voice to concerns, values and aesthetics of the community, explained Sharon Zook, Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts president. Public art exists to serve the public, improve the atmosphere of public space and provide enjoyment, inspiration, and hope for the public who uses the space. As time changes, and the public is no longer served by the art in their space, we see art being removed, and at some point, new voices rising through art. Art reflects life in the community, empowering the voices of those who contribute to the art.

This marks Helms third playground project in Lebanon. Her first collaborative mosaic mural project in Lebanon can be seen at the playground at 6th and Elm streets, and she completed a collaborative mosaic mural in July 2019 at Beautex Park, 129 Van Buren St.

Zook explained that before each public mosaic mural was installed, content was gleaned through survey research. She said themes are gleaned from those responses, and imagery comes from the concepts in the surveys.

For the latest project at Progressive Playground, as with previous mosaic mural projects in Lebanon, Helms collaborated with participants in a two-week summer camp hosted by the council.

Zook said the wall selected for this years mosaic mural was suggested by Jandi Goshert, who grew up at the Progressive Playground.

She mentioned that site to Michaelanne a year ago, so we explored the possibility of placing the mosaic there, Zook said. From time to time, people suggest walls throughout the city, so we keep a mental list identifying walls where people would like to see public art.

Typically, during the first week of camp, the class canvases the neighborhood, gathering research and inviting neighbors to participate in the installation. Because some of the data is collected that week, the design can only be completed during the camp.

That gives everyone including the mayor only a day of turn-around time for approvals so the installation can be completed in a week, she said, Mayor Capello has been very workable and cooperative with giving permission for the project, and handing over the keys literally and figuratively before the design is ready for approval.

Helms added that during the first week, the class, which this year had seven teens, also learns the fundamentals of mosaics. Toward the end of the first week of camp, the design is completed and sent for approval. Meanwhile, the tiles are prepared based on the design being approved because there isnt any time to lose.

Helms said tiles that are shiny and glossy are perfect for outdoor mosaics.

Zook related that they were running out of white tiles, so she visited the local tile graveyard at Weavers Carpet in Tile in Lebanon.

Its a treasure trove of all the misfits, overstock, discontinued, and rejects from decades of being in business, she said. Last year, in a frantic last-minute search calling around the area for blue tile, I hit the jackpot at Weavers.

Zook was able to find array of skin tones for the mosaic.

We wanted a pallet of skin tones so that anyone visiting the mural could identify themselves with one of the clasping hands.

She said the council also accepts tile from local stores getting rid of sample boards or from people who have leftovers in their basement.

The one color tone on the hands came from a couple in Hershey who recently moved to their new home, and their dishes no longer fit the color theme of the new kitchen, Zook said. The brown glazing on the bottom side of their old scratched stoneware plates was the perfect color.

According to Zook, due to COVID-19 precautions, the indoor instruction time this year was reduced, so the class that trained did not create key pieces in the studio prior to the installation. All the technical elements were done right on the wall.

In addition to the seven teens from the class, several volunteers from the Progressive Playground neighborhood helped create the mosaic. Tiles were applied to the wall, and then grout was mixed and applied.

Helms said she used a special formula for the grout that she learned from Zagar. After letting the completed artwork weather for about a week, she returned and applied some of the lettering.

Working with kids and community members is fulfilling to me, Helms said. Designing and creating the art is a collaborative process. It crosses generations, races and economic levels. Everyone can learn from one another and share ideas.

Funding for the mosaic mural was provided by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts through Millersville Universitys South Central PaARTners program and the Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

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Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts installs mosaic at Progressive Playground - LebTown

Ochsendorf

ELKINS Elkins native and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Dr. John Ochsendorf has been appointed to the Davis & Elkins College Board of Trustees.

Welcoming Dr. Ochsendorf to the D&E Board of Trustees is also welcoming him home, said Davis & Elkins College President Chris A. Wood. Raised in Elkins, John has distinguished himself as a scholar and makes all of us in his hometown very proud. As a member of our Board of Trustees, John will bring unique experience and perspective that will enhance the academic offerings of this College. We are honored to welcome him to the Board.

Ochsendorf currently serves as the Class of 1942 Professor of Architecture and Engineering at MIT, where he has taught since 2002. He recently completed a three-year term as the 23rd director of the American Academy in Rome. His work with AAR began when he was awarded the Rome Prize Fellowship in Historic Preservation in 2007-2008 for a project on the study of masonry vaulting. The study resulted in Ochsendorf writing the monograph Guastavino Vaulting: The Art of Structural Tile (Princeton Architectural Press, 2010). The work led to Palaces for the People: Guastavino and Americas Great Public Spaces, a traveling exhibit curated by Ochsendorf and sponsored by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

An expert on the mechanics and behavior of masonry structures, Ochsendorf collaborates with art historians, architects and engineers on the study and structural assessment of historic monuments around the world. In 2008, he was named a MacArthur Fellow for his pioneering work using comparative cultural and historical studies to explore pre-industrial engineering traditions.

I really look forward to joining the Board and to working to strengthen the College however possible, Ochsendorf said.

Ochsendorfs ties to D&E date back to his childhood when he grew up near the campus and marveled at its historic architecture. His father, Gene Ochsendorf, previously worked for the D&E Veterans Upward Bound Program and his mother, Nancy Howland, graduated from D&E in 2000 with a degree in psychology. In 2017, Ochsendorf delivered the commencement address to D&Es 108th graduating class and received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree.

Ochsendorf earned his Ph.D. in engineering from Cambridge University in 2002, his Master of Science in engineering from Princeton University in 1998 and his Bachelor of Science in engineering from Cornell University in 1996. He also is a 1992 graduate of Elkins High School.

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Ochsendorf named to D&E Board of Trustees | News, Sports, Jobs - The Inter-Mountain