SPRING FORECAST: Increasing sun and warmth, no matter whats happening in the news. And we also forecast that you'll be spending alotof time at home this season. That means now more than ever you want your home to be good-looking, inviting and safe.

Spring home improvement is always a spirit lifter. And since coronavirus-related social distancing and shelter in place began,Lowes has seen an increase in sales of home project supplies. But keep a few tips in mind if youre considering do-it-yourself right now:

- Just say "no" to overly challenging DIY, especially involving electricity,plumbing, yourroof or power tools. You do NOT want to land in a hospital emergency room at the moment. Theyre hotbeds of infection, and brave medical personnel are already stretched way beyond their limits.- Think twice about large scale projects that require pulling a permit and passing inspection. Local building authorities are working at less than full capacity and likely will be for a while.- If you hire a contractor, try to focus on projects outside your main living area: lawn and garden, outdoor A/C unit, garage and basement. (When you do need to bring a service pro into your home - say your air conditioner goes kablooey - follow social distancing precautions.)

That being said, lets look at seven home improvement projects, both DIY and pro, that will refresh your spirit this spring.

Renew art on front door, mantel and wallsRemove whatever currently adorns your mantel and front door (evergreen branches, pinecones, burlap, anything dark or heavy). Then refresh your space with bright, airy decor. The local dollar store isnt a resource for craft materials this year, so shop your closet or junk drawer for silk flowers, bits of ribbon and so on (or your garden, if youre lucky enough to have blooms by now).

For wall art, the sky (or should we say, "the ceiling")s the limit. Engage kids by collecting a collage of family photos. Encourage older offspring to embellish images with digital special effects and their younger siblings to cut pix (printed on inexpensive printer paper) into fun shapes. Then show off the results in a floor-to-ceiling display.

Kid friendly:Can be adapted for any age.

PaintNow the weathers warmer, get that long-delayed house painting done. A relatively fast and easy project is painting your entry door. If youre more ambitious (and have someone to keep the children busy elsewhere while you work), redo the living room or a bedroom or two in an adventurous shade like rich gold or deep aqua.

Social distancing friendly:Hire a painter to update your homes exterior.

Build a paver patioWhether or not its still necessary to shelter in place come summer, a new patio is something the whole family will enjoy under any circumstances. And unlike a deck, a patio does not usually require pulling a permit because its built less than 30 inches above grade. A patio constructed of concrete pavers wont need a pourpermiteither.

Social distancing friendly: Find a landscaper to build your paver patio.

Create an interactive gardenEven when youre limiting your human visitors because of social distancing, you can still welcome butterflies to yourgarden. Choose flower species these winged creatures love, such as the aptly named butterfly bush, from an online plant supplier. Depending on how far springs come along where you live, this may be either a planting project or a planning project for now.

Kid friendly: Good for about age 7 and up.Refresh your drivewayHave your driveway repaved or resealed for a harder-wearing and/or better-looking surface. Options range from concrete resurfacing for problems such as driveway spalling, all the way to elegantdecorativetechniques like stamped concrete.

Social distancing friendly:Look for a concrete pro with expertise in these specialized techniques. NOTE: To repave the part of your driveway on the municipal right-of-way, you may need apermit.

Upgrade your garage doorsWhen you have an attached garage out front, your garage doors are super visible, so its important to keep them looking their best. If your garage doors just need a slight touch of refreshment, you can apply some stain or add faux windows.

Social distancing friendly:For garage doors seriously past their prime (20 years old or more),hire a professionalto replace them, for safety as well as aesthetic reasons.

Spring clean upSpring cleaning does great things for your spirit once its finished, rather than while its a work in progress ... but since youre stuck at home anyway, why not go for it? Just take it easy on thedeclutteringthis year, because selling or donating castoffs is not much of an option at the moment. Focus on the area of your choice - yard, gutters, indoors are all good.

Kid friendly:With some smooth talking, you may be able to convince younger kids thatcleaningis fun. Once they get taller and/or smarter than you, all bets are off. However, they may be so bored by now that they'll actually be willing to help.

Laura Firszt writes fornetworx.com.

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Spring refresh: Home improvement that will refresh your spirit - Columbia Daily Herald

Therma-Tru has been named the "Brand Used Most" in the entry doors category, marking more than 20 consecutive years receiving this distinction. In the 2020 Builder Brand Use Study conducted by Hanley Wood, Therma-Tru ranked first in "Brand Used Most" and "Brand Used Most in the Past Two Years," and also ranked first for "Highest Quality."

"Were proud to have earned and kept builders trust for more than two decades," said Fenton Challgren, president of Therma-Tru Corp. "Knowing they choose Therma-Tru twice as often as any other entry door brand shows our commitment to our builder partners."

To show its continued support for builders, the company offers a model home and design center program. Builders can enhance their design centers and model home elevations with stylish and durable entry door options at a discount. The doors are designed to complement a wide variety of home architectural trends.

"Having high-quality products that meet the styles homeowners are drawn to is key," said Mark Ayers, senior vice president of marketing and product development at Therma-Tru Corp. "We make it a priority to offer those looks along with sales tools and marketing support to help our builder partners succeed."

The 2020 Builder Brand Use Study, presented by Builder magazine, was conducted online by The Farnsworth Group and included Hanley Wood subscribers classified as "Builders, Builders-Developers or General Contractors." The data was collected from more than 1,000 qualified responses. The study originated in 1998 and includes a nationwide survey of builders on their preferences related to a wide variety of products and brands. Full results of the survey appear at BuilderOnline.com.

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About Therma-Tru

Therma-Tru is the leading entry door brand most preferred by building professionals. Founded in 1962, Therma-Tru pioneered the fiberglass entry door industry, and today offers a complete portfolio of entry and patio door system solutions, including decorative glass doorlites, sidelites and transoms, and door system components. The company is headquartered in Maumee, Ohio and also offers low-maintenance Fypon polyurethane and PVC products. For more information and product warranty details, visit http://www.thermatru.com, http://www.fypon.com or call 800-537-8827.

Therma-Tru is part of the Doors & Security division of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS), which creates products and services that fulfill the dreams of homeowners and help people feel more secure. FBHS's operating divisions are Plumbing, Cabinets and Doors & Security. Its trusted brands include Moen, Perrin & Rowe, Riobel, Rohl, Shaws and Victoria + Albert under the Global Plumbing Group (GPG); more than a dozen core brands under MasterBrand Cabinets; Therma-Tru entry door systems; Fiberon composite decking and railing products; and Master Lock and SentrySafe security products under The Master Lock Company. Fortune Brands holds market leadership positions in all of its divisions. Fortune Brands is part of the S&P 500 Index. For more information, please visit http://www.fbhs.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200409005509/en/

Contacts

Kevin Metz312.507.9690kevinmetz@upshotmail.com

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Therma-Tru Named #1 Brand Used Most and #1 in Quality for 2020 - Yahoo Finance

If you have been looking for the best in every way - quality, value, features, the whole package...here it is! There's a beautiful addition consisting of a vaulted family room, office and versatile "away" room - use it for crafts, study, peace and quiet. There are reclaimed and white pine hardwood floors, T stair has antique treads and risers and wrought iron railings. Kitchen is fabulous, custom everything, upscale appliances, a wonderful space whether you cook up a storm or boil water! Master bath totally redone -you can watch TV in the mirror from the air jetted tub, hall bath also renovated. Everywhere you turn, from light fixtures to cabinet hardware to doorknobs, this is home is exquisite. Screened porch and patio overlook a beautiful private yard. Doors, windows, roof, soffit/fascia. fence, zoned HVAC, roof, garage door, landscaping. Everything is not just updated, it's upscaled! Walkable Wildwood with access to miles of trails, top rated Lafayette HS. Do not miss this one!

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15 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in the Park Hills Area - Daily Journal Online

Malibu | $749,000A manufactured house built in 1962, with one bedroom and one bathroom, on a 0.03-acre lot

Centered around an especially lovely stretch of beach in Malibu, Paradise Cove is a gated neighborhood made up of around 250 manufactured homes. Since the 1960s, it has been a popular home base for beach lovers of all stripes competitive surfers and Academy Award-winners included. The community is tight-knit, and residents regularly hold group cookouts, holiday events and golf-cart parades (the primary mode of transportation in the neighborhood).

Paradise Cove has expanded twice since its inception, and this home is in the original section, about 300 yards from the semiprivate beach that serves as a backyard to those who live here.

The main entrance to Paradise Cove is off the Pacific Coast Highway, the states most prominent scenic byway. The Malibu Country Mart, an outdoor shopping and dining complex, is about 15 minutes away by car, and the restaurants and nightlife of busier Santa Monica are about half an hour to the south.

Size: 620 square feet

Price per square foot: $1,208

Indoors: Built by Flamingo Homes in 1962, this house has new wide-plank wood floors throughout the main living spaces.

A set of glass double doors opens to the open-plan living area. To the left is a seating nook large enough to hold a sectional sofa. The wall on this side of the space is papered with a detailed map of the world.

To the right is a small dining area that extends into an open kitchen, where a gray marble bar offers additional counter space and seating. The kitchen has marble countertops and new stainless steel appliances, plus a mint-green Smeg refrigerator.

Beyond the main space is a bathroom that has a large walk-in shower with a glass door, slate tiles and a pebbled floor. At the rear of the house is a bedroom large enough to hold a queen-size bed. This room also has a wall of built-in shelving.

Outdoor space: A side door leads from the living area to a patio paved with concrete. This space is large enough for a barbecue and dining set, plus additional play equipment and surfboard storage. Parking for two cars plus a golf cart is included with this home. Residents also have access to various facilities, including tennis courts, basketball courts, a playground and the semiprivate beach.

Taxes: $2,562 annual land-lease fee (includes water, garbage removal and general maintenance), plus a yearly registration fee (akin to car registration)

A small community in the northern part of San Diego County, Fallbrook is known for its quaint Main Street and bountiful avocado trees. Each spring, the area holds an avocado festival, with nearly 70,000 people coming to watch events like the Best Decorated Avocado and Largest Avocado contests.

This house is about five minutes from the center of the community, and about 10 minutes from the base of the Santa Margarita River Trail, a five-mile loop popular with hikers and horseback riders. Camp Pendleton, the largest military base in California, is 20 minutes away by car. Downtown San Diego and San Diego International Airport are about an hours drive to the south.

Size: 2,680 square feet

Price per square foot: $280

Indoors: A winding driveway leads to the front door, which opens to a foyer and part of the main living area.

Laid out in a semi-open style, the living room is centered around a double-sided fireplace in floor-to-ceiling white-painted brick. On the left side of the fireplace is room for a small seating area and a dining table. Windows overlook the front yard, and the space is brightened by a wrought-iron pendant light. Exposed wood beams extend across the space, as do distressed wood floors.

On the other side of the fireplace, a second seating area is open to the kitchen, which has a marble-topped island with storage. A 2017 remodel included the installation of Fisher Paykel appliances and a brick-and-tile backsplash.

To the right of the kitchen, a hallway leads to two guest rooms large enough to hold queen-size beds and a guest bathroom with painted tile and a combination tub and shower.

At the end of the hallway is the master bedroom, which has its own patio, as well as wooden barn-style doors along one wall that open to the closet. The en suite bathroom has a double vanity with copper sinks and Spanish-tile floors.

An office, with its own half bathroom, is attached to the main house and accessible through a separate entrance.

Outdoor space: Sliding-glass doors lead from the living area to a California room with a ceiling fan and a Spanish-tile floor. This space flows into a partially covered patio.

A lawn extends from the front of the house to the side yard, which has a decorative stone fountain. The grounds are planted with fruit-bearing trees, including lemon and avocado. The attached garage holds two cars.

Taxes: $7,874 (estimated)

Contact: Greg Goodell, Redfin Corporation, 760-576-1700; redfin.com

Situated near the shores of Lake Tahoe and several popular ski resorts, Truckee is an ideal base for year-round activity in this part of the state. It has been a popular resort destination since the early 20th century, where tourists and year-round residents take advantage of the skiing, boating and hiking spots within 20 minutes of downtown.

This house is in a neighborhood at Northstar California Resort, about 15 minutes from the center of town. A shuttle carries passengers from homes in the area to the resorts ski lifts in about five minutes, and to the Village at Northstar for casual dining and coffee options.

Kings Beach, a community with family-friendly restaurants and locally owned boutiques on the banks of Lake Tahoe, is about 15 minutes away by car; Reno, Nev., is about 35 minutes away.

Size: 1,832 square feet

Price per square foot: $409

Indoors: A long driveway leads from the street to this house, on the twelfth fairway of the Northstar resorts golf course.

A set of steps leads to the front door, which opens to an entry hall that ends with a bench built over furnace vents to warm ski boots. Turning left leads to a small landing area that connects to a set of stairs and another hallway.

The hallway leads to three guest rooms, one large enough to hold a queen-size bed and the other two equipped with built-in bunk beds. These bedrooms share a bathroom with a combination tub and shower.

Up the short flight of stairs is the main living area, laid out in open-plan style. This space gets plenty of natural sunlight thanks to wide windows facing the golf course. In the sitting area, built-in bookcases flank a fireplace, which has a new rock mantel installed by the owners. Exposed wood ceilings continue into the dining area, which has a wooden wall adjacent to sliding-glass doors that open to a patio.

A wooden breakfast bar separates the dining area from the kitchen, which has stainless steel appliances, wood cabinets and granite countertops. A yellow door opens to a spacious walk-in pantry illuminated by colorful pendant lights.

From the living room, stairs lead up to a full-floor master suite with walls lined in the same wood that appears throughout the house and sliding-glass doors that open to a private Juliet balcony. The master bathroom has a walk-in shower with a new frosted-glass door.

Outdoor space: Off the dining room is a large patio overlooking the golf course, with room for a full dining set and barbecue. A one-car garage is attached to the house. A short shuttle ride from the house are community amenities, including a clubhouse with its own arcade, a fitness center and a swimming pool.

Taxes: $8,925 (estimated), plus a $100 monthly homeowner association fee

Contact: Christy Mond, Carr Long Real Estate, 530-562-1100; carrlong.com

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$750,000 Homes in California - The New York Times

For the first time since 1978, family-owned business Stover Hearth and Patio on Baltimore National Pike closed its doors and did not re-open them the next day.

Christie Stover, co-owner, couldnt bring herself to shut down the store last Monday, after Gov. Larry Hogan ordered all non-essential businesses to close by 5 p.m. Instead, she asked an employee to lock up the building.

And it was very strange to come down around 5:30 and see the showroom completely empty and shuttered, Stover said.

Stover and her husband have been running the business as its second generation since 2013, when Stovers father-in-law fell sick. In the past, the store, which specializes in furniture, has only been closed for a day at a time to account for blizzards. But now, it looks like the store will be closed indefinitely.

Thats what bothers Stover the most: the uncertainty of it all.

We cant plan for anything because of this massive cloud of uncertainty that hangs over not just us but the whole country, and all small businesses, Stover said. We dont want them to lift the mandatory closure order before its absolutely safe.

In the meantime, the owners are trying to cut costs in any way they can. Theyve turned the heat, air conditioning and electricity off and have stopped paying themselves. They havent laid off any of their seven employees, although they have volunteered to cut their own hours to keep the business afloat.

Stover said that the businesss revenue has already fallen by 83 percent since the closure.

Katie Stover, Christies daughter, said that the store has been a constant her entire life. Its where she and her brother would go after school to wait for their parents to get out of work, where she would work on the weekends growing up and occasionally full-time.

While she works at a marketing agency now, and she said that her parents have never made her feel like she is expected or obligated to take over the family business, Katie always figured it was a matter of when, not if.

Its always been there in the future at some point, Katie said.

Now, its starting to feel like an if.

The business is currently operating in the only way it really can: virtually. Christie and the employees have created tours of the showroom to post online and are taking orders over the phone. They can offer contactless curbside pickup or delivery, which Christies husband does himself.

After the Stovers had to close their doors, they received a Facebook message from a customer saying that she knows they can get through this time and is supporting them.

It was at that moment that I realized, were closed physically but were united virtually, Christie Stover said. It made us all feel better.

Christie came up with the hashtag #ClosedPhysicallyUnitedVirtually to share on social media to promote the idea that businesses might be forced to close their doors, but will still remain connected to their communities.

I dont think most people realize that small businesses are like the thread that runs through the fabric that binds all of us in the community together, Christie said. You know, its not just us, its all the small businesses.

The Stovers applied for a $10,000 small business grant, but were later told by the State of Maryland that they are still processing the thousands of applications and have no idea when the money will actually come in.

Its wonderful to talk about all this aid and all this help thats out there in the news media, but the reality on the ground for us is there is no help, there is no aid financially, for the most part, Christie Stover said.

But the Stovers feel supported by their customers and the community around them, and hope to support other Frederick businesses as well.

We know all the small business owners, and its were all in this together, and we cant go see one another so were reaching out virtually and trying to reassure each other anyway we can, Christie Stover said.

Katie thinks about the small businesses as her neighbors, and where someone might go to get a sponsor for their high school football team or a host for a fundraiser.

Thats all coming from small businesses and your neighbors and the people who are there for you and make it a fun place to be and a fun place to live, Katie Stover said. I think right now were really at risk of losing a lot of what makes a community right now.

Follow Erika Riley on Twitter: @ej_riley

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Family-owned small business sees closure for the first time in years - Frederick News Post

The views at the top were certainly beautiful the blue of Lake Michigan stretching out forever. However, nothing compared to what was at the bottom of the hill, which took my breath away. Windows shattered, paint peeling, roof caving in, doors flung open to rooms with mattresses torn apart and water dripping. I was looking at what used to be the most popular ski destination in the Midwest Sugarloaf Mountain. When the resort was at its prime it attracted up to4,000 skiers a day. This past Wednesday, 20 years after its closure, I was the only one there.

Within the resort, the atmosphere only became more apocalyptic. It felt like an ideal setting for a horror movie. There was one picture hanging on the wall that hadnt been broken. The date on the bottom of the frame read 1972. The picture was of what looked like an aprs-ski party the outdoor patio crowded with people in multicolored retro snowsuits, laughing and holding drinks. I then looked out at what was left of the back patio, all of the chairs broken and the wood deck rotting. It felt surreal to see the photo of how vibrant this place used to be and compare that to the lifeless scene in front of me.

The eeriness of this abandoned resort gave me the same chills I felt scrolling throughphotos by The New York Times of deserted places around the world during this pandemic. The photos included the Eiffel Tower, Times Square, the streets of Rome and the Sydney Opera House emptiness spreading globally like the virus. This is a virus that does not recognize borders. Across the world, the most popular destinations are completely abandoned. There are public spaces, places built for humans, but no humans.

The desolation is evident on campus. On March 10, I was weaving around other students, trying to make it on time to my morning lecture. Two weeks later, the only signs of life on the Diag are the squirrels fighting over nuts, a sight all too reminiscent of the shoppers I witnessed at Meijer bickering over the last rolls of toilet paper. Our lives changed abruptly with no indication of when things will get better.

COVID-19 has rightfully been the only thing in the news recently. Ive heard stay six feet apart and wash your hands hundreds of times. We are reshaping our lives around this virus. It feels as though this is only the beginning of a timeless, emotional, medical pandemic and financial recession.

We are currently a part of something that will be known as an infamous historical event. Twenty years from now, previously lively spaces like Sugarloaf in the 1970s, could look very different. As a result of the coronavirus, jobs will be lost, businesses will close, buildings will be boarded up and places will be abandoned.

The eeriness of abandonment is already evident in airports, national parks, subways, wedding venues, concert halls, schools, churches, travel destinations, stadiums, etc. What is the cost of these places being closed? The source of income that previously circulated through these places is all of a sudden inaccessible, cooped up in their homes under shelter in place orders.

Realistically, if businesses cannot innovate and reinvent themselves virtually many may not survive. Wuhan, China, where the virus first emerged, has been in lockdown for almosttwo months. Many businesses in the United States could have to endure two months without income. It is hard to believe that the economy is going to all bounce back and its going to bounce back very big, as PresidentDonald Trump claims, when so many people are risking unemployment.

Within this pandemic we can still find hope. The emptiness around the world does not instill eeriness alone. There are hints of aspiration and realization. Aspirations for things we often took for granted, like social connection. When you are restricted to FaceTime, the value of in-person conversation becomes evident. There is also a realization that places are only worth the people in them. Many of the currently abandoned spaces around the world have beauty in themselves, but the actual beauty is the presence of others within these spaces.

For right now we can empathize, accept and look ahead. Empathize with those most vulnerable during this pandemic, accept that things are not going to be normal and look ahead to when places will be full of people, instead of abandoned.

Emily Ulrich can be reached at emulrich@umich.edu.

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Emily Ulrich: Abandoning life as we know it - The Michigan Daily

The property sits in mature landscaped gardens of up to nearly an acre with extensive views over the countryside

There's something quite charming about a thatched roof cottage which makes you feel like you've stepped back in time.

This unique period farmhouse on Mill Lane, in Legbourne, near Louth offers a truly idyllic escape to countryside.

Entering the grounds via wrought iron gates and the sweeping gravel driveway, the main solid timber door has beautiful stained glass windows to each side.

Once inside, there are timber beams to the ceiling and a truly stunning ornate Elizabethan staircase and balustrade to the galleried landing.

Timber is the dominant feature of this delightful cottage, with latch doors and beamed ceilings in many of the sizeable rooms.

The reception room offers the best space, perfect for entertaining all year round; with French doors opening out onto patio seating areas.

Each of the decent-sized five bedrooms has a part sloping ceiling with some having decorative leaded windows.

The property sits in mature landscaped gardens of up to nearly an acre, with extensive views over the countryside and has a wealth of space both inside and outside.

Finally there's a triple brick garage with two electric remote controlled doors and one manual.

To find out more about this Louth property, on the market for 730,000 - contact Hunters Turner Evans Stevens Estate Agents, or why not view our dedicated property channel on GrimsbyLive for further inspiration.

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This thatched-roof cottage has a stunning Elizabethan staircase - Grimsby Live

WATCH: Play up your home's Autumn garden colours to boost sale appeal.

You dont need a home stylist to increase your property appeal. In fact, the features that most impress potential buyers might surprise you.

According to Rated Peoples recent Home Improvement Trends Report, six of the top 15 features that make buyers more likely to buy a property are external, with a garden lawn, security system, paved patio, outdoor lights, bi-fold doors and decking all working to increase the number of potential buyers for a property.

And inside? The big buyer attractions are functional additions like a downstairs toilet, built-in storage, a separate shower cubicle and underfloor heating.

Who'd have thought clever storage solutions could sell your house?

Getty

The floor plan de jour for the past few years has moved towards open plan, but interestingly, the survey reveals that having separate living spaces is more popular with prospective buyers.

Forget open plan. Buyers are looking for separate living spaces now.

Getty

Adrienne Minster, CEO of Rated People, says although some of the most attractive home improvements may look like bigger, more costly jobs to complete, there are clever and cost-effective ways to achieve similar looks, which could in turn increase the value of your home. When it comes to selling, its a good idea to stay up to date with the features that buyers are looking for because the trends that were adding value just two to three years ago might now be devaluing properties.

The research is taken from a wider study into renovation and interior design trends and other surprising buyer turnoffs.

Outdoor lighting and lawned gardens are a big selling point.

Getty

Here, the top 15 home improvements that attract the most buyers are:

(Rated People Home Improvement Trends Report: 2020 ranked by the percentage of homeowners who said each feature would make them more likely to buy a property).

You might also like:

15 interior trends that devalue your home

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15 Features that will sell your home - Better Homes and Gardens

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PUBLISHED: 15:31 29 March 2020 | UPDATED: 15:32 29 March 2020

Sarah Burgess

Andy performs for residents behind glass doors. PHOTO: Park House Care Home

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One of Park Houses favourite entertainers, Andrew John Hayes, has been using his one hour daily outing to maintain residents routine as social distancing measures are tightened.

By pitching himself on the patio on the other side of the glass windows, complete with amp, microphone and guitar, residents are able to have their regular entertainment from the safety of their armchairs.

Park House manager Sara Pearce said: Andy has been coming to sing at Park House for a number of years. He usually comes on a Friday.

Over the years he has grown very fond of the residents and has been deeply saddened when we have unfortunately lost any of our Park family.

He is especially fond of a lady called Olive, and helped us to plan her 104th birthday, coming in to sing for her on her big day,

He brought his drum kit so that she could play it, as drumming is one of her favourite things to do when music is playing.

He was devastated to learn that the pandemic was going to affect his time with the residents - so weve worked it out in a way that means he can still come and residents can still enjoy their time with him.

Olive said the through-the-window performance was brilliant and that Andy was her trusted friend.

Another resident, Joyce, said: It was such a lovely thing to do in these difficult times, I do prefer it when you can see him with no window though.

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Coronavirus in Norfolk: Care home residents entertained with 'through-the-window' live performance | Latest Norfolk and Suffolk News - Eastern Daily...

Oliver Leech Architects, a young specialist studio based in Wandsworth, has transformed a wisteria-clad mid-terrace Victorian house in Camberwell with ground-floor, side and rear extensions, using a palette of raw, natural materials exposed brickwork, timber and concrete that respect the patina of the original house, creating a sympathetic relationship between old and new.

The light-filled ground-floor extension stretches into the garden, blending indoor and outdoor space.

Here a scrappy, paved patch has been turned into a trellis-lined, urban oasis, set with a garden bench and planters of lavender.

To be honest, Im not hugely green-fingered, admits the owner, Max Taylor, an advertising executive. But it looks and smells great and it is low-maintenance.

When Max bought the two-storey house in 2015, it was in poor condition, with little natural light and a cramped kitchen.

I was looking for something with character that I could do up in a few years time. Dad gave me some good advice. He said, You should live in a house for all seasons before doing work to it, to see where the light catches and what spots you want to be in.

After living in the property for three years, Max knew he wanted to redesign the house to provide new cooking and eating spaces facing out on to the garden.

I noticed the old side return got amazing light in the summer, so when I was speaking to Oliver, I said, When we build the kitchen extension, we must keep this area open to catch the evening sun.

He also wanted to maximise open-plan living to provide more usable space and a calm atmosphere. Work began in September 2018.

Max moved out for six months while the house was stripped back to a shell, extended and internally rebuilt.

Leechs aim was to maximise the height of the new extensions and introduce large glazed openings.

Natural light is a very easy and inexpensive thing to make the most of, he says.

Light-filled: pitched skylights in the side extension let the evening sun pour in (Juliet Murphy)

The side extension provides extra width to the previously narrow kitchen, with pitched skylights overhead.

White oiled Douglas fir was combined with pale buff bricks to provide a subtle contrast with the existing London brickwork.

A rear extension with a high ceiling projects slightly further into the garden, framing a set of white-oiled Douglas fir bi-folding doors across a low-height window seat that has pull-out drawers for extra storage.

The bespoke seat, formed in cast stone, is flexible, in that the bi-fold doors fully retract and you can sit facing the kitchen, or with your legs lolling into the garden.

The bespoke-built kitchen, designed by the architects, continues the use of exposed raw materials, with a polished concrete countertop and sink to match the grey microcement kitchen floor.

Domestic touches warm up the pared-back design. No true whites have been used on walls and ceilings. Rich green units with circular handle detail run along the left side of the kitchen.

The green band of the planting in the garden continues through the kitchen, says Leech.

Theres underfloor heating, while Tala pendant lights hang over the long wooden table in the side extension.

The materials used for the extension continue through into the patio, with buff clay pavers laid in herringbone bond, surrounded by white-oiled timber boundary screens.

We got rid of the steps to the garden and made it all one level, says Max.

In the reception areas at the front of the house, original timber floors have been sanded back and oiled, and a muted colour palette employed on walls and ceilings.

The dark, narrow hallway has been opened up to expose the original wall structures, which creates extra light.

We kept the old timber studwork to retain some of the history of the house, says Leech.

An urban oasis: the trellis-lined, low-maintenance garden is planted with lavender(Juliet Murphy)

The front room has been turned into a chill-out space, with sofas, rugs and a film projector to screen movies. This leads into Maxs reading room.

Max told us he wanted a space to hand-write letters, says Leech.

Upstairs there are new windows in Maxs bedroom. In the bathroom, he now has a cast-iron bath in front of the window and a walk-in shower.

Plastered walls were left exposed and sealed to create a textural finish.

Maxs brief was that he wanted a contemporary home, but he didnt want to lose any sense of comfort and warmth, says Leech, who founded his studio, specialising in small to medium-scale residential architecture, in 2016.

Max says he loves living with the seasons.

You hardly need the lights on in this room, even at 10pm. I enjoy just sitting in silence in the space thats been created.

He has hung photos and artworks, but at certain times of the day the sunlight creates beautiful graphic patterns on the wall.

The way the light hits the timber beams in the kitchen, and then refracts around the extended kitchen is amazing.

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How to maximise light:inside a London terrace house after total overhaul led by the changing light of every season - Homes and Property