By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

Theres nothing like the holidays and a house full of guests to make you re-evaluate the space in your home.

And nothing brings more festive cheer than one of your teenagers having to give up their room and double up with their younger sibling so Grandma and Grandpa have a place to sleep. If you are dreaming of a separate guest bedroom, bathroom or just a place for the family to hang out during the holidays, then read on.

One of the most frequently neglected spaces in a home is the basement. The beauty of a basement (especially one that has a guest bedroom) is that it provides separation of space (and therefore privacy) for your family and your guests. But, all too often, basements feel dark, unwelcoming and become a dumping ground for everything you no longer need but just cant bear to get rid of just yet (yes, Im talking about that drum kit you bought 10 years ago to relive your college heydays thats now just catching dust)

Nows the time to do something about it. With the New Year fast approaching, get your Marie Kondo on and start the clear out. Tackle it a little at a time: all too often it becomes too overwhelming to think about doing it all at once, so set small goals and start with one drawer, one cabinet, one closet and KEEP GOING! Schedule a pick up through Green Drop and theyll come straight to your front door to pick everything up. No excuse now!

Basements also dont have to be dark or feel cold. You dont have to undertake a large scale basement remodel if you have the right footprint already in place. Lighten up the color scheme and switch out the flooring so it becomes a more welcoming space. Dark wood will make a basement feel even darker, so think about white or neutral cabinets and paint colors to keep it feeling less, well, like a basement! Adding recessed light is another way to get a lot of bang for your buck and completely change the feeling of your basement.

If you have an unfinished basement, its a waste of square footage if all you are using it for is storage. Basements easily add value to your home when remodeled. Unfinished basements are like a blank canvas with lots of potential and, with the right creativity and vision, they can be turned into beautiful but functional spaces.

It might be hard to envision how an empty space can become a multi-room, multi-use level of your home, and thats where the professionals come in. Any reputable design-build firm in the area like Synergy should be able to provide you with design options for your basement remodel and what will work in your space.

This months featured project is a basement remodel right here in Reston. We transformed the unfinished and under-used basement of this lovely home to provide the family of five with family-friendly spaces to enjoy time together as well as creating a private guest bedroom and bathroom when out-of-town visitors come to stay. The finishing touch? A built-in office with room for two when working from home or for the kids to use as homework/crafting space.

Looking for more inspiration? See some of our other Before & After transformations or give us a call. Were always happy to chat about your remodeling needs.

Happy Holidays from the Synergy Team!

Originally posted here:
Reno of the Month: A Beautiful Basement IS Within Reach! - Reston Now

Split level homes, with their three staggered floors, began appearing in American suburbs in the 1950s and reached peak popularity in the late 60s before slowly falling out of favor. While layouts variedoccasionally even a fourth floor was addedthe most common design featured the kitchen, living room, and dining room on the main level. From there, a half stairway led to an upper level with bedrooms while a second half-stairway went to the basement level recreation room and a door that opened into the garage.

For the last few decades, split level homes were seen as drab and dated, but perhaps recent attention to the most famous split level of allthe exterior of The Brady Bunch housewill trigger a resurgence. (As fans well know, having seen the family assembled on the full set of interior stairs, the iconic home completely modernized by HGTV in A Very Brady Renovation was not a split level on the inside!) If youre thinking of buying a split level home or already reside in one, keep reading to find out the best and the worst this architectural design has to offer.

RELATED: These 9 Forgotten Home Trends are Suddenly Cool Again

After WWII, when the Baby Boom got into full swing, growing families started looking for houses with a minimum of three bedrooms. But lot sizes in many communities were still rather small, averaging around 50 to 75 feet wide and 100 to 150 feet deep. By staggering the floors, split level homes offered additional living space (vertically) without taking up more yard space. The garage was often located at grade (yard level) with the bedroom area located over the garage. This way, a house could have at least three bedrooms and still maintain ample backyard space for recreation. Two-story homes had always offered this benefit, but in the 60s, the split level design was fresh, and homebuyers were eager for a modern look.

While the design of split level homes can vary (some split in the front, others split in the back), a good number will feature a set of exterior stairs leading to the front door instead of a level sidewalk. The number of steps ranges from two to eight or more, each additional step meaning more of a challenge to remove snow and ice in winter. Exterior steps can also hamper visitors, especially elderly ones, and just carrying groceries into the house can become a physical workout. In some communities, owners of homes with exterior steps install a street-level mailbox so on-foot postal carriers neednt climb stairs to deliver the mail.

On rugged, hilly terrain, staggering the floors is often the best option for building a house. This allows the contractor to adjust the foundation to suit the lot rather than having to excavate through bedrock to construct an entire basement on a single level. Split level construction is still commonly seen today where its necessary to build a home on the side of a hill. In this case, the floor plan is often designed by an architect to fit the individual lot topography. The end effect can lend the appearance of the house being built into the hill.

No need to attend step aerobics class when you live in a split level! With the kitchen, dining room, and living room on the main level, family members must go up and down the stairs every time they want to use a different part of the house. This staggered floor plan usually isnt optimal for the elderly, so split level homes (like standard to two-story homes) are more apt to appeal to younger families who dont mind traversing all three levels repeatedly when cleaning, carrying laundry baskets (usually to appliances on the lowest level), and simply looking for other family members elsewhere on the premises.

Working at home can be a challenge if your office is on the main floor where most of the activity takes place. Even if you close the door, youre likely to be distracted by voices or footsteps in the hallway. This is one area where split levels shine because you can set up a home office in either a vacant upper-floor bedroom or on the lower level (if the rec room isnt a constant source of racket); either way, youll have a buffer from the noise that commonly occurs on the main living level.

Few remodeling options are open to owners of split level homes because the layout isnt conducive to making changes. In a single floor ranch house, for instance, its fairly simple to switch the location of the bedrooms and the kitchen from one side to the other, but in a split level, each level was constructed with a pre-determined purposerecreation on the lower level, eating and entertaining on the main level, and sleeping on the upper levelleaving very little leeway for change.

For night shift workers who need to sleep during the day, or for parents of infants who are easily awakened by a noise, the split level can be beneficial. A sleeping family member is less likely to be awakened by the sounds of meal preparation in the kitchen or play activities in the basement recreation room.

Because split levels are still seen as unfashionable, theres a lower demand for them, and they usually sell for less than ranch-style homes of the same age and square footage. If you can get beyond the downsides explained above, you can often get a fully functional house at a discount price. This makes the split level a good starter home, but be aware that when youre ready to sell and move up, the same rule will likely apply, and the house will bring a lower price than others of a similar size and vintage.

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Split Level Homes and Their Pros and Cons - BobVila.com

The YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region announced an ambitious plan Wednesday to redevelop nearly an entire city block in downtown Colorado Springs, a project that officials of the nonprofit and community leaders predict will become a catalyst for additional development in downtown's core.

Under the plan, the YMCA's 47-year-old downtown facility at Nevada Avenue and Bijou Street would be torn down and replaced with a state-of-the-art recreation and wellness center on the northwest corner of the same block; the center would be topped by a multistory apartment building.

Future phases of the block's makeover call for two commercial buildings of at least 82,000 square feet and 37,000 square feet, whose uses might include stores, restaurants, offices, medical facilities and even a grocery store.

The project's total cost could approach $150 million.

"This may not have quite the magnitude of an Olympic Museum," YMCA board chairman Brian Risleysaid of that venue, which opens next year in southwest downtown. "But I think the YMCA by itself is an incredible anchor... and I think a new state-of-the-art YMCA with a housing component will continue to be a very momentous anchor for this part of downtown."

The redevelopment plan still preliminary and with unanswered questions, such as the apartment building's height was outlined during a news conference Wednesday by YMCA officials, city leaders and executives of White Lotus Group, an Omaha, Neb., developer that will partner with the YMCA on the project.

It follows the YMCA's announcement in early 2016 that it would seek to remodel and redevelop the downtown facility, on the southwest portion on a block bounded by Nevada and Platte avenues and Bijou and Weber streets. The YMCA owns or co-owns most of the block.

But after they studied converting their aging facility, which opened in 1972, YMCA officials decided a remodeling would be too costly, said Risley, president of a Springs architectural firm.

"The reality is, when you've got a building that's almost 50 years old, the amount of money that it would take to bring this up to current standards just, unfortunately, just doesnt seem to be making economic sense," Risley said in an interview before Wednesday's news conference.

Instead, YMCA officials have opted for a plan they say will create a venue that can adapt to a growing city with a focus on healthy living while continuing programs that assist schools, seniors and other community members. Combined with retail, medical and other uses, the block could become a "health campus," Boyd Williams, the YMCA's president and CEO, said in an interview.

"We dont want to just have a bunch of stand-alone, separate entities here," he said. "We think that there's a tie, whether it's health care, whether it's a healthy grocery store. Housing fits very well with the YMCA."

The project's initial phase calls for the demolition of a boarded-up former Texaco service station, which sits on the block's northwest corner and served as a backdrop to Wednesday's news conference.

In its place: a 75,000-square-foot YMCA building of two to three stories, which could grow to four stories if the YMCA moves its corporate offices there from its home at 316 N. Tejon St., Risley said.

On top of the new YMCA would be an apartment building with 100 to 200 units. A rendering Wednesday showed a building of at least eight stories, but YMCA and White Lotus officials said the buildings height hasnt been determined.

White Lotus has done several mixed-use, multifamily, hotel and other projects around the country involving renovations and new construction, said CEO Arun Agarwal.

He chairs Omaha's YMCA board and learned via his YMCA staff of plans for a new facility in downtown Colorado Springs, which led to the company being tabbed as a developer by the local YMCA, Williams and Risley said.

As planned, the YMCA would donate the northwest portion of the block to White Lotus. In turn, the YMCA would become a long-term tenant in the new facility, which White Lotus would finance along with the apartment component.

The new YMCA would be smaller than the more than 100,000-square-foot existing facility, which has underutilized space, Risley and Williams said.

Members' needs also have changed, they said. Thirty years ago, for example, many people played racquetball at the downtown YMCA; today, not so much.

A centerpiece of today's YMCAs is a healthy living center, where cardio workouts and strength training are staples.

The healthy living center at the YMCA's new First & Main facility on the Springs' east side is 12,000 to 13,000 square feet, Risley said. At the downtown YMCA, it's about 4,000 square feet and "buried" in the building's basement without a majestic view of the Front Range that other facilities enjoy, he said.

"Currently in this building, we have a very limited number of spaces where we can offer group exercise and personal training and high performance training and those kinds of things," he said. "In a new facility, all of those would be highlighted."

The apartment portion of the new building, meanwhile, would include what Risley and Williams called "workforce housing" for Colorado Springs employees lower-rent units for restaurant workers, teachers, firefighters, police officers and others earning more middle-income wages.

Williams said the city has a shortage of such apartments, especially in downtown. It's tough for young people and families to live downtown "in an affordable manner," he said. Downtown apartments that have opened the last few years command rents from roughly $1,500 a month to more than $2,000, their websites show.

White Lotus' Agarwal said the project will be designed to serve a mix of employee income levels, though some units would fetch market-rate rents.

It hasnt been determined how many apartments would be set aside as so-called workforce housing or what rents would be.

"What we are aiming to do is to earmark specific sets of units for different tiers of income levels to make sure that our teachers, our nurses, our service industries can afford the units and live in the same community in which they work," Agarwal said.

The YMCA and White Lotus plan to seek city regulatory approvals over the next year for the first phase, Williams said. Groundbreaking could come in the fourth quarter of 2020, with an opening of the new YMCA and apartments in mid-2022.

Once the new YMCA is open, the old one would be torn down. White Lotus then would develop its 82,000-square-foot mixed-use building possibly topped with a restaurant on the old YMCA site. The 37,000-square-foot building would go up on the block's northeast corner, just east of Borriello Brothers pizza.

The YMCA doesn't own the Borriello Brothers site, but has been in "healthy conversations" for nearly two years with the owners and those talks continue, Williams said. Borriello Brothers' owners couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

The YMCA co-owns a parking garage on the block with First Presbyterian Church. The structure was designed so that it could be increased by two levels, although Williams said its future hasn't been determined.

Another major question will be the height of the apartment tower.

Ryan Tefertiller, urban planning manager for the citys Planning and Development Department, said the maximum height in that part of downtown is six stories.

But the citys form-based zoning code that regulates downtowncould allow up to 10 stories for structures that add housing, use sustainable building practices or have structured parking, among other components, Tefertiller said.

YMCA and White Lotus officials say they're mindful of designing a building that takes into account neighboring land uses, includingAcacia Park and First Presbyterian.

"We certainly don't want to design this kind of looming tower that's going to hang over Acacia Park," Risley said. "So, we don't know right now how many stories in total we're talking, but thats to be determined."

A rendering shows a new YMCA building in downtown Colorado Springs, topped by a multistory apartment building. The YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region on Wednesday announced plans to redevelop much of the property it owns on a downtown block bounded by Nevada and Platte avenues and Bijou and Weber streets.

Boyd Williams, president and CEO of the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region, speaks during a press conference in which a new plans were unveiled for the YMCA in downtown Colorado Springs on Wednesday, December 11, 2019. The press conference was held in front of an old boarded up gas station next to the current YMCA. The old eyesore will be torn down for the new building, which will include affordable apartments. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

The exercise equipment workout room at the downtown YMCA is in a dark basement room with equipment crowded into the small space. Deanna Sanders works out on the tightly packed equipment on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2019. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

One of the renderings that shows the affordable apartments and outdoor pool that will be built where the current downtown YMCA is located. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

The rest is here:
Downtown Colorado Springs YMCA to be razed in favor of new facility topped by apartment tower - Colorado Springs Gazette

After years of litigation, the Idaho Transportation Department is moving forward with plans to expand U.S. Highway 95 to two lanes in each direction from Thorncreek Road to Moscow. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of ITD and the Federal Highway Administration during the latest appeal of the highways expansion.

2014 Five years ago today

As the temperatures drop, crimes of opportunity diminish, but the stress of the winter may cause spikes in other crimes and situations. Police in both Latah and Whitman counties report there is typically a rise in anxiety and alcohol-related incidents during the long winter months. Lt. Brannon Jordan, public information officer for the Latah County Sheriffs Office, said the winter is just a stressful time of year for many people. Down stone-colored steps in a well-lit Pullman basement, the scientists in their matching shirts are hard at work. The six are surrounded by diagrams, toolboxes, presentation boards and models in numerous stages of completion. This is the completely un-dreary laboratory of EAWACK, a local Lego-Robotics team that recently learned it would be competing at the state level. An exciting prospect for many scientists, but for these six team members, even more so, since they are between the ages of 10 and 12 and in their first few months of competition.

Karen and Ken White have lived in Moscow for more than 25 years but say they still occasionally discover something new about their town. The couple were among hundreds of residents who attended Buy Local Moscows third annual Winterfest event Wednesday evening at the 1912 Center. The Whites are familiar with most of what Moscow has to offer, but said the event was a good way to discover something new.

Its been about three months since Debby LeBlanc corraled a fresh group of trigonometry-born and chemistry-bred high schoolers and began turning them into marketable commodities. Not for college recruiters, though, but for job recruiters, and for life. So when LeBlanc took those eight students from her Troy High School Business Technology class to Walmart, it was to hone the skills she had imparted up to this point in the semester. Asbestos removal has put a glitch in Latah Countys goal of having the courthouse remodeling completed by Christmas. In what used to be the location of the vehicle and drivers licensing office before it moved to the Eastside Marketplace, replacement of the carpet in the empty office distrubed some of the underlying tiles, presenting an asbestos hazard.

Read more here:
Back Issues: From the pages of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News - Moscow-Pullman Daily News

Today is #GivingTuesday, the day when nonprofits around the world encourage their supporters to donate via the power of social media.

Weve collected the responses from organizations that sent us information about their efforts, and combed through the Twitter #GivingTuesday hashtag to identify local nonprofits, big and small, that were actively doing outreach via that social media platform.

So, of course, this listing will, by its very nature, be woefully incomplete. We encourage you to explore the hashtag on your favorite social media platform to see other organizations participating in #GivingTuesday. But more, we encourage you to give generously to our local nonprofits that work so hard to make life in Philadelphia better in every way.

And, while Generocity is not a nonprofit, if you believe there is value in our journalism and events centered on social impact, wed love to see some contributions to our journalism fund. Were lucky to have a small but spirited corps of volunteers nearly as diverse as our city and a contribution to the journalism fund enables us to continue to deploy them to do even more wide-ranging and in-depth work of interest to the nonprofit, mission-driven and social impact folks who are our community.

Without further delay, then, here are the 60 nonprofits that made our round-up this year:

Data Lab staff, 2018.

All online donations to ALSF on Giving Tuesday will be matched by Power Home Remodeling for twice the impact! Donations to ALSF support much needed childhood cancer research.

Share the magic of The Snow Queen with more kids in our community!

Now through Giving Tuesday, all new or increased gifts will be matched to share the magic of live theatre. For only $14 you can send two students to The Snow Queen thanks to a generous matching gift challenge by the Hamilton Family Charitable Trust. Share the magic of live theatre with more kids than ever before with a donation.

As a part of #GivingTuesday, Bethesda Project is raising money to support our guests and residents experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia and to find and care for the abandoned poor and to be family with those who have none.

Your contribution will make an impact, whether you donate $5 or $500. Every little bit helps. Thank you for your support. Ive included information about Bethesda Project below.

At 8:00 am EST (5:00 am PST) on December 3, 2019, Facebook will match donations (up to 100K! per org) and $7 million dollars total. Their match will go live, matching dollar for dollar on a first-come, first-served basis until $7M in eligible donations are matched. If you make your donation on that day, early in the day (starting at 8am), your donation will DOUBLE thanks to Facebook!

Our vision is for young adults to be financially empowered, active in society, socially engaged and emotionally healthy as they pursue their highest potential.

CSFP provides children from underserved Philadelphia families with access to quality, safe K-8th grade tuition-based schools to increase their long-term economic and social success by awarding scholarships through a random lottery. With the help of volunteers, Young Friends, and CSFP Parent Ambassadors, our goal this year is to raise $3,800 on Giving Tuesday enough for two scholarships for next school year. We are fortunate to have a donor willing to match these funds for one more scholarship, so if we reach our goal, CSFP can surprise three additional families with scholarships at Lottery Day on Thursday, December 5.

We are raising funds for cinSPEAK to launch a weekly film and community-rooted conversation series in West Philadelphia in Spring 2020. I hope that you will take a moment to learn more about our past/present/future work and what your contribution, whether $5 or $500, directly impacts this vital mission.

cinSPEAK is a Philadelphia-based organization that engages diverse audiences through our independent, repertory and foreign film programming, creating space and centering the stories of individuals and communities that are often underrepresented in mainstream cinema. cinSPEAK promotes community togetherness and global understanding by engaging film enthusiasts while cultivating the next generation of discerning moviegoers, encouraging people to demand social justice both on-screen and throughout society.

After six + years as a mobile cinema, in Spring 2020, we will begin the first phase of our long-term goal of operating a year-round independent microcinema, through the launch of a weekly film series in the soon-to-be-renovated black box arts space in the basement of the historic Calvary Center for Culture and Community, located at 48th Street on the bustling commercial corridor of Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia. We will use any/all funds raised to cover our rental fees and film licensing fees associated with this new and exciting initiative. Throughout 2020, we will be working to raise enough money to honor the labor of our currently all-volunteer team, as well as, individual and institutional program collaborators and future projects.

We are actively seeking to engage individuals, businesses and institutional partners that would like to participate deeper in our vision through financial and labor contributions.

City Year Philadelphia partners with schools in communities challenged by persistent inequities in our education system to create learning environments where students can build on their strengths and fully engage in learning. At City Year Philly, were striving to raise $6,000 to support our work in schools. As alumni, board members, and supporters donate, five fearless staffers have volunteered to get pied in the face (live on social media!) when we reach different giving levels along the way! Donate today to #pieforprogress and follow us on Instagram to catch all the pie action.

This wall of 139 skulls is among the Mtter Museums collection of 20,000 medical anomalies and curiosities, historic medical instruments and anatomical pathologies. (Photo by Bob Krist for GPTMC)

70 years ago, iron lungs lined hospital wards at the height of polio outbreaks and provided temporary and permanent breathing support for people suffering paralysis of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.

This Giving Tesday the Mtter Museum needs your help to get one of our largest objects in our collection restored and back on display for visitors to see! Gifts will be doubled thanks to a generous match from our generous Board of Trustees!

This #GivingTuesday, were rising to the challenge of matching a generous $120,000 donation by the end of 2019. Last month, Eastern State broke ground on phase one of construction on our planned visitor center. Were upgrading our infrastructure (plumbing, electricity, and storm water management) to set the stage for future construction in the years to come. We also hope to build a new tour launch point. But to get there, we need to raise an additional $120,000 by December 31. If we succeed, come spring 2020, well have a new sheltered area for visitors at the start of the tour route, with seating, a water bottle refilling station, and protection from inclement weather.

A new home. (Photo via facebook.com/habitatphiladelphia)

With your financial support, families can build strength, stability and independence with Habitat for Humanity by building a safe and secure place to call home.

Families who partner with Habitat build their own homes alongside volunteers, pay an affordable mortgage and are grateful for your help.

All donations over $50 to Juntos on Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3) will receive a gift from us. Consider it our way of saying Thank You for supporting Juntos fight against unjust immigration laws and deportations as well as our long-standing leadership development work that allows our community, those most impacted, to be in the lead of the fight for our liberation.

New Leash on Life USA is a Pennsylvania 501(c) (3) non-profit, prison-dog training program, dedicated to improving the life of inmates and saving the lives of dogs.

New Leash On Life USA is one of the countrys most unique prison-dog training programs. We save the lives of at-risk shelter dogs by training prison inmates to care for, and socialize them to enhance their adoptability. Inmates attend workshops on life skills and job readiness, and many receive opportunities for paid internships in the animal care field when they are paroled.

Previously unadoptable shelter dogs, many at the brink of death, now find loving forever homes. Additionally, inmates who have been in and out of prison most of their adulthood now have a skill they can use to gain productive employment.

Improving the life of inmates and saving the lives of dogs. New Leash on Life USA believes everyone deserves a second chance.

Make a difference in the lives of 4,300 homeless and low-income children, women and families from throughout Greater Philadelphia by donating to PathWays PA!

Your donation this Giving Tuesday will help provide shelter services for homeless mothers, children, and teen girls; help families get back on their feet through education and job placement assistance; and help children stay out of the foster care system during the holidays and throughout the year.

The holidays are often a time of celebration with families. But, for homeless families, the holidays can be a stark reminder of the challenges they face as they try to make the holidays special for their children. With your help, PathWays PA can give the families in our care a warm and welcoming holiday season, a safe place to call home and hope for the future.

The Philadelphia Bar Foundation is the only foundation in our city that is dedicated to strengthening the delivery of civil legal aid. We sustain and support our legal services community by providing unrestricted grants and other support to nearly 40 legal aid nonprofits in Philadelphia. Our nonprofit partners represent the full range of vital services for people in need, and the unrestricted grants are critical in their ability to sustain their operations and daily work. You can find more information about the Bar Foundation here.

PCA will join other nonprofits this year with its annual GivingTuesday campaign. Donors can contribute to PCAs Philadelphia Fund for Seniors, which helps PCA continue the tradition of serving older adults in their homes and communities. Donors also have the option to contribute to the Emergency Fund for Older Philadelphians ahead of its busiest season winter. The Fund helps to alleviate extreme hardship felt by seniors who may struggle to pay rent, utilities, buy food or life-saving medication. Last year, assistance with heating oil made up the majority of the requests, accounting for 55% of the nearly $190,000 total funds distributed.

Our recent independent financial review confirmed that over 86% of our funding is spent on client and program service, and we have long had a Gold Seal rating from GuideStar. We count on your support to continue the work that we do.

This year, between now and December 31, 2019, JPMorgan Chase & Co. will match all gifts to PYN up to $15,000. On Giving Tuesday were setting up a phone back in the afternoon with our board members to call people who have donated and just personally thank them for their support.

Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN) is a solutions-builder forging together significant players to alleviate a root cause of poverty by preparing 12-24-year-olds to become productive working adults. Our work is grounded in the understanding that young people need access to both education and employment, proven factors in being prepared for a career. With a track record of increasing impact, PYN funds and brokers action with the right partners to collectively address barriers. PYN constructs systems to create change, while innovating to meet evolving needs. Together with our partners, PYN dramatically changes the trajectory of individuals lives by giving voice to underserved youth, and ultimately creating a pipeline for an educated, engaged workforce.

This #GivingTuesday, help ensure kids get the childhood they deserve. Playworks is building a culture of play that enables kids to find their voice, make friends, feel included, and learn to lead. Join our #GivingTuesday challenge, lend your support and double your investment. We have a group of supporters who will match every donation up to $7,500!

For 50 years, we have used the law to make sure that people facing discrimination and poverty can obtain the fundamental resources they need to build their lives, resources like a quality public education. We are currently preparing for a trial set for next year in a lawsuit challenging Pennsylvanias school funding system, which skews the resources schools receive based on local wealth. In support of this lawsuit, the first $25,000 raised on GivingTuesday will be matched dollar-for-dollar by an anonymous donor.

Rebel Ventures is a youth-run nonprofit that creates healthy deliciousness with and for kids in Philadelphia. Our core objectives are to increase access to healthy and nutritious food for children in inner-city communities and to engage high school students in meaningful job experiences, using entrepreneurship as a strategy for positive youth development. We are the creators of Rebel Crumbles, a whole grain and fruit-filled breakfast product served to all schools in the School District of Philadelphia, which was created and developed by high school students.

Currently, we are actively raising funds for the start-up of Philadelphias first youth powered and fresh food-filled corner store. The corner store will have a variety of healthy foods created by high school students. We are working to raise $25,000 by December 31st to apply toward the stores expenses. We have launched a Gofundme campaign, dedicated ourselves to contacting partners, friends, and family, and our entire crew has committed to donating one hours wage to this project. [Your donation on #GivingTuesday] will help us achieve our goal of $25,000 for the market.

This school year, Spark is engaging 400 Philadelphia middle-school students in career exploration and self-discovery opportunities. Each fall, students visit a variety of professional spaces and participate in workshops alongside company volunteers. In the spring, each student is matched with a mentor and over the course of 13 weeks they create a Career Interest Project together. This program model works: 86% of Spark students grew in social emotional skills and 91% of Spark students agree that they learned about jobs & careers they didnt know about before Spark. So far, Spark has reached over 1,000 students with this impactful programming.

SVdPs mission is to help neighbors in need, regardless of religious affiliation and without any proselytizing with whatever they may need including housing, home visitation, food, clothing, transportation or emotional support.

The Spruce Foundation is an all-volunteer, next-gen led organization redefining philanthropy through community giving and grant-making in support of Philadelphias youth. Spruce promotes giving and engagement among millennial Philadelphians, and leverage the collective power of these young philanthropists to award grants to local nonprofits in four program areas: Education, Arts, Health & Wellness, and LGBTQ Youth. Keeping their focus locally on Philadelphia ensures that they are consistent with their main goal: supporting programs that empower, educate, and enrich the citys best resource its kids.

Support Center for Child Advocates (aka Child Advocates) is the nations oldest and largest nonprofit agency providing legal and social services advocacy for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. On #GivingTuesday, Child Advocates staff, board members, donors and friends will gather to kick off toy drive season of giving. Guests are encouraged to bring a toy and join us for refreshments throughout the day. Child Advocates has set a lofty goal for #GivingTuesday hoping to raise $20,000 for Philadelphia children who have been abused or neglected.

The mission of Women Against Abuse is to provide quality, compassionate, and nonjudgmental services in a manner that fosters self-respect and independence in persons experiencing intimate partner violence and to lead the struggle to end domestic violence through advocacy and community education.

The rest is here:
Today is #GivingTuesday! Here are 60 local nonprofit campaigns for you to support - Generocity

In modern homes, game room are starting to become an essential part of the house. The modern basement game room shown in the image above with mood lighting make this area look just like a high end nightclub. Gorgeous cone pendant lights over the pool table are ideal for a focused lighting which are perfect for the game. A stylish hideout for the man of the house and his friends.

By definition, the Basement is the lowest habitable level of a building or a residential house which is usually below ground level. Thanks to interior designers, these basements are now being transformed and remodeled from a dark, damp and dreary place of the house into a functional living spaces which can be enjoyed by the whole family.

The size of the basement doesnt matter whether it is a full basement, half, walkout or cellar type. Basement remodeling could enhance the value of the home since it expands the square footage of the house, thus creating an additional, usable space and efficient storage when renovated. A finished basement can also be a good investment.

It is very important to first think about how you want your basement to function.

Open Floor Plan allows you to incorporate several smaller working areas and different zones for various activities in one well-designed space.

Stairwell it is best to open the stairwell and install a banister for a more open feel. Another idea is to incorporate storage space with the stairs.

Flooring it is very important to select suitable flooring which will be durable and appropriate for all types of weather and withstand fluctuations in moisture levels.

Lighting create well-lighted basement using track lighting, recessed lighting as well as incorporating other types of lighting fixtures for more dramatic effect. Allowing natural light into the basement is a big challenge; and the best solution is installing window wells. Make sure you install window wells where you could make them as wide and deep as possible to bring much needed sunlight into the basement.

Colors when renovating or remodeling basements, note that colors do play an important role in each design concept you want to achieve. Choosing the right colors will make your basement stand out and create a cozy ambiance.

Sound Proofing noise from the basement can travel up to the main house, it is advisable to choose an engineered drywall to dampen the noise coming from the basement.

Find inspiration for your basement makeover with our featured design and decorating ideas. Below are concepts and popular choices for different functions and activities for a basement renovation.

Basement spaces have abundant remodeling ideas and design possibilities that would cater any purposes and activities. Our gallery of cool basement design ideas will surely impress and excite you to create your own basement living space where everyone will love to hang out.

Whether your basement is for a game room, man cave, yoga retreat, or movie room, this room has the potential to be the best room in the house. What color you chose depends on a few things, the most important being what is the tone that you want to set for the room? Followed closely by how the room will be used and who will be using it most. The color is really going to set the stage for this space so you want to make sure you have the right color before you commit it to your walls.

Before you even consider color, you want to have lighting in the space figured out. If you dont have any natural light, how are you going to brighten up the space? Will you use pot lights or track lighting, will you supplement with floor and table lamps? Your paint will look worlds different if you change your lighting after you paint, so try to sort out your lighting needs first.

If you are going for a movie screening room, then go with a dark neutral, or simply go dark. You want the walls to recede and you dont want a lot of glare from your projection equipment or tv. Make sure to use a flat paint and paint the ceiling in a dark neutral to prevent light from bouncing around and creating glares. For a classic, old world move theater feeling, go with a rich burgundy or deep navy.

If you want a more contemporary feel, a gunmetal grey or lighter silvery grey would be perfect. Bold, dark colors arent the only choice though, if you arent a fan of saturated color, simply chose a dark neutral in tones of grey or brown.

For a playroom, keep it cheerful and bright. A lovely lemon-curd yellow is a great choice provided you have ample lighting. Any yellow tone will look muddy in a dimply lit room, so keep that in mind when selecting paint colors. If you want to be really adventurous, purple is perfect for a basement playroom. Purple inspires creativity and energy and is great for the playroom that will double as a creative space.

If serenity is what you are after, think watery blues with undertones of green. Blue can read differently in different light levels, what looks relaxing on the sample strip can look downright neon covering an entire wall, choosing a blue with green undertones will help prevent that electric blue look. These beautiful, watery colors will make your basement guest room feel light and airy. It will also provide a relaxing, outdoors vibe to a yoga or meditation retreat.

Finally, go bold. If you are going to be using your basement as a sports hangout on game day, why not paint at least one wall your favorite teams color? Yes, it is outrageous, but your basement is your playground, dont be afraid to be bold and go a little crazy.

There are no hard and fast rules about wall color in a basement, but there are ways to make your color look its best in a space that often has no natural light. Ensure that your lighting is in place and adequate before deciding on a color, determine what the space will be used for, and consider the tone that you want to set for the space. Your basement is one of the few truly personal spaces in a home, make it yours!

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47 Cool Finished Basement Ideas (Design Pictures ...

Gretta Wong

Cyrus Construction finished our basement in a most professional and timely manner. My wife and I are totally satisfied with the design, multiple revisions due to the many challenges for an unfinished basement, and the execution by the various teams. Thus, we highly recommend Cyrus for your basement finishing or remodeling. I would begin with the initial design. Since I was away, my wife and the manager, Russell Blake, initially surveyed and came up with a very complete plan. We underwent multiple revisions to perfect the design due to the relocation of the bathroom rough-in. The team did an outstanding job! Consequently, the bath was nicely relocated with the basement having an overall open and spacious floor plan. Further, the bathroom, unlike the rest of the bathrooms, was finished with tiles and glass shower. It has become the best modern and my favorite bathroom of the house! The construction processes were well organized, with team members rotating depending on the stage of the project. They were most courteous and on-time. At the end of each working day, the team members left the house in good order. The manager in charge was very responsive and responsible. The passage ways down to the basement was well protected. After 5 short weeks, we are totally delighted with highly quality the finished basement in every way workmanship, paint, carpeting, lighting, and again, the modern bathroom. Again, Russell Blake did an outstanding job! We would probably have Cyrus for our future bathroom and kitchen updates. We highly recommend Cyrus Construction. From two totally satisfied customers!

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Basement Remodeling | Geeneral Remodeling Class A Builder

1. Waterproof

It's been said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and when it comes to keeping your basement dry, that saying is even more true.

Michigan basements are notorious for flooding during the spring and summer months which can lead to costly mold removal and foundation repairs. The good news is its much less painful on your wallet to bite the bullet and get your basement waterproofed than it is to pay for the after the damage has been done.

2. Winterize

As a Livonia based construction company, we know all about the harsh Michigan winters and how to keep the cold air outside where it belongs.

The key to keeping your house warm throughout the year (and lowering your energy bills) is having good insulation and sealing any air leaks in your basement.

3. Install Good Lighting

The right lighting setup can transform your basement from a dark, uninviting room to a place that everybody enjoys (and the kids won't be afraid of).

We recommend a combination of ambient, task and accent lighting to help brighten things up and create a warm atmosphere.

4. Review Your City's Code Requirements

Whether you choose to DIY or hire a finished basement remodeling contractor, you want to be clear on your city's code specifications before beginning any construction. If you do hire a contractor, you'll also want to make certain the company has the required licensing and insurance to safely and legally handle your job.

Otherwise, seemingly minor violations like failing to pull the proper permit or building a room without an egress window can lead to expensive repairs down the road.

5. Build In Storage

If you're considering a remodel but still want plenty of storage space, make sure to plan for closets, shelves and room under the stairway. This way, even if your basement becomes a "catch-all" space for unused items, it won't look crowded or unorganized.

6. Appropriate Flooring

In Michigan, theres two main concerns to keep in mind for your basement flooring The likelihood of flooding and the side effects from both cold and dry weather.

For areas such as bathrooms and laundry rooms where moisture is more prevalent, it's best to use a tile floor. Whereas, carpet is often an ideal choice fio areas that will be used for playing games or lounging.

7. Choose The Right Contractor

Whether you want to completely finish your basement or simply update the existing layout, hiring a qualified remodeling contractor is a necessity.

At Pachota Construction, we possess the extensive knowledge required to remodel your basement so it's both functional and aesthetically pleasing. With the expertise of our trained contractors, we can transform your unfinished basement into whatever you want, whether its a room for entertaining, working out or a large office.

If you're interested in scheduling a free in-home consultation with our construction team, call us today at (734) 953-9465 or visit our online form to request a free estimate.

100% Craftsmanship Guarantee

We offer a 12-month guarantee on our work. If you believe our labor is unacceptable, you can feel confident knowing we will send a contractor back to make corrections.

Properly Licensed & Insured

By hiring Pachota Construction, you get the piece of mind that comes with knowing your contractor has the right credentials to safely and legally complete your job.

A+ Better Business Rating

For the past 29 years, we've worked hard to earn respect as an honest and dependable Livonia construction company. We're proud to say we've held an A+ BBB Rating since 1993.

Detailed Quotes & Proposals

Before each step in your renovation, we always make time to clearly communicate the scope of work, deliverables, timeframe, cost, materials and suppliers with you.

Longstanding Reputation

Because of our customer centered approach, we've established a reputation as one of the most recommended contractors in Livonia and Metro Detroit, Michigan.

Job Site Cleanup Every Day

We treat your house with the same care and pride as if it were our own. Each day, your home and yard will be cleared of large debris and dangerous materials by our crew.

29+ Years Experience

With nearly three decades of experience, you can rest assured that we know what we're doing and that you'll receive the benefits that only years of expertise can offer.

On-time & Within Budget

From start to finish, our goal is to meet and exceed your expectations without cutting corners. This means your project will be delivered on time and within your budget.

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Finished Basement Remodeling Contractors In Livonia, MI

This article was crafted with the help of Bryan Sebring from Sebring Services

Tackling a basement remodeling project can be a huge undertakingwhether you simply want to make the space more livable or design a more elaborate room that allows your basement to blend in with the rest of your home.

We enlisted the help of one of our Best Picks, owner Bryan Sebring of Sebring Services, Inc., Residential Remodeling in Naperville, IL, to answer some of the questions you may have concerning the basement renovation process.

There are many reasons why homeowners may want to transform their basement into a usable space, but Bryan says that one of the most common motivations for a basement remodel lies with having children.

Parents may have young kids and are sick of tripping over toys in the dining room or family room. For those customers, we typically create a playroom and TV room. Parents with teenagers often want their kids to have a fun basement to hang out ina place where they can watch TV or play games.

While the majority of Bryans projects are kid-focused, some homeowners want adult areas that may include a bar, pool table, and TV area for football season.

The basement could also be transformed into an additional bedroom for guests, in-laws, or a live-in nanny. Bryan cautions that if you are adding a bedroom to your basement, you have to make sure that you have an escape window, and most houses built before 2002 dont have the correct egress or escape window.

Basement windows in older homes usually require you to lift the whole window out to escape during an emergency. To meet current codes, homeowners need normal-use windows that lift or slide open easily.

To add the right window to an older house, the company has to cut the concrete and dig the window wells out deeper, which will cost the homeowner more.

Bryan says that exercise rooms are also a popular renovation for the basement. When creating an exercise room, you want to make sure that its not too small because you wont use the room if it is.

The standard ceiling height in a house is eight feet; in most basements, youll probably have below thatcloser to seven feet. For an exercise room, though, you have to make sure you have good ceiling height, especially with treadmills, says Bryan.

You want to be able to step on a treadmill and use the incline without touching the ceiling. Bryan recommends adding large double doors to open up the space while working out. Sometimes well add glass panes to the double doors so that you can see through to more space.

The biggest thing with basements, in general, is to give the illusion that the space is grand, big, and open, not confined.

As stated before, basements can be a challenging remodel because they often have lower ceilings than the rest of the house and lack natural light. However, a good contractor will be able to overcome the challenges basements present.

Were really conscious about making the spacein the basement feel bigger. Thats why we use ambient lighting such as track lighting or overhead recessed lightingwe add a lot of ambient lighting, which helps brighten up the basement and points your eye away from the ceiling.

Lamps that point your eyes up toward the ceiling are best for rooms with cathedral ceilings where you want to show how grand the space is, says Bryan. In basements, you want to point your eyes down. Because the bulb in ambient lighting points down, your eyes are going to naturally look down.

Another way to distract the eye from a low ceiling is to add wainscoting instead of crown molding. We advise against adding crown molding unless the ceiling is at least eight feet high.

Crown molding will draw attention to how low the ceilings are, explains Bryan. Instead, well do wainscoting, which is a trim that is about three feet up from the floor; it helps keep you from noticing how low the ceiling is.

Dark paint can make many rooms feel cozier, but in a basement, it can make everything appear dark and smaller. I always suggest that homeowners paint their doors and trim white over staining them, says Bryan.

When you stain your wood doors and trim, it gives the basement a darker look. But white paint really helps to keep the space bright.

As mentioned earlier, egress or escape windows are required for basements that have a bedroom. Egress windows can also help to bring natural light into the basement, but Bryan advises against adding windows if its not required.

Its great to add a window to your space, but its very expensive, and it can add significant costs to your overall project, he says. If youre on a budget, I wouldnt suggest it. If you dont plan on using the space for sleeping, an egress window is not necessary.

We will return tomorrow with more basement remodeling tips from Bryan Sebring, owner of Naperville, IL, Best Pick company Sebring Services. He gives advice on how to remodel on a budget, how to remodel an older home, and what other information you should know before hiring a remodeling contractor.

Click Here to View Your Local Best Pick Basement Remodeling & Additions Contractors

This spotlight article was crafted by Sebring Services, a Best Pick in Basement Remodeling & Additions in Chicago. While we strive to provide relevant information to all homeowners, some of the material we publish may not pertain to every area. Please contact your local Best Pick companies for any further area-specific advice.

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Explore Basement Remodeling Ideas with a Best Pick (Part 1 ...

Finishing, renovating, or remodeling a basement is a popularrenovation project, and for good reason. It adds additional living space, therefore improving the quality of life for you and your family. It also substantially increases your resalevalue.Since a basement renovation is less expensive than an addition, its a more cost-effective way to the additional square footage you want.

At Monks, we can take a completely unfinished and uninviting space, and turn it into a functional extension of your home. If you have a finished basement but it needs a makeover, we can renovate, reconfigure, add a bathroom, bedroom or bar. In either scenario, adding an egress window can also bring in light and provide safety. We offer a variety of services to renovate your basement space as you wish.

Our customers have many reasons for finishing their basement, such as creating a

Weve delivered finished basements for all of these needs.Similarly, our team of skilled craftsmen and diligent project managers work closely with you to create the ideal basement space for you.

The basement below started out as a huge, unfinished space. We created a full kitchen, bathroom, dining room, exercise room, bedroom, and seating area.

Here are a few additional basement projects completed by Monks.

This basement project involved a lot of carpentry. We constructed built-ins, put up board-and-batten wainscoting, added crown molding and trimmed the columns.

This basement project involved adding a new full bathroom, a kitchenette, and separate areas for the parents and kids.

A completely unfinished basement when we started. We finished the space,as well as added an egress window so the homeowners could market the home with an additional bedroom.

Whatever your basement renovation plans, Monks is ready to deliver a completed project youll love.

Contact us today at 973-635-7900 to get started.

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