WAILUKU, Maui Stacey Moniz already picked her bed out Tuesday evening at Women Helping Women Maui's newly renovated women's shelter.

"The room with the nice windows is mine," joked the organization's executive director.

After years of disrepair, the shelter has been updated with a brand new kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, flooring and a host of other upgrades that have transformed the formerly ailing shelter. About 100 people were invited to witness the renovated facility Tuesday. The event served as a "thank you" to the many volunteers and organizations that lent a hand in the project.

"It takes your breath away," Moniz told the Maui News. "We never could have done this, but because of the many people that really care about us in this community, that's how this came together. There's so many people in this community that want to make our shelter beautiful.

"It's stunning," she said. "It looks like a model home in Wailea."

The effort to repair the over-100-year-old structure began July 2, when a task force of volunteers was formed: Deeana Davis, Laks Abraham, Renee Ward, Lena Staton and Sandra Florence. Davis, who served as chairwoman, said the shelter received generous donations of furniture and other items, and initially planned to place them inside and "call it a day."

"But we came in and realized we can't just put a Band-Aid on it," she said. "We knew we got to do this. It has to happen. We need to have the women and children and staff of the shelter feel valued and heal. When you walked in before, it was so many years and years of wear and tear, so we gutted the entire shelter with new flooring, painting, lighting.

"You name it, we did it."

The seven-bedroom, two-story house had four of its five bathrooms completely renovated with new tile floors, mirrors and granite countertops. Bedrooms were bright and welcoming with new mattresses, bedsheets, lamps, ceiling fans and dressers.

More than 4,000 square feet of new flooring was installed and three offices were cleaned and updated: a counseling room, house manager office and 24-hour Crisis Hotline intake office. A children's play room also was redone and will now remain open at all times, unlike previous years.

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Shelter's renovations restore air of healing

Yanic Simard, Houzz Contributor

They say you never know what you had till its gone, and thats certainly true for windows. When dealing with a windowless room, you really start to miss the natural light and appreciate the openness they bring. But whether youre planning a little corrective construction or just a quick fix, there are plenty of ways to bring that same feeling to your basement, den, kitchen and more.

8 Cost-Effective Ways to Get a High-End Look

1. Mirrors. Adding a large mirror to your wall is one of the first ways to simulate the effect of a window, not just for bouncing some light but also for adding a sense of depth that breaks up claustrophobic wall planes. In a space with a low-ceiling, use as large a mirror as possible, reaching close to the ceiling (but not all the way up; stop 4 to 6 inches below) to distract from the ceiling line.

2. White walls. White (or very pale blue) walls help simulate the fresh, full-spectrum sparkle of natural sunlight, while subtly reflecting light from every source for the brightest look possible. Choosing one color for the walls and ceiling also helps the edges float away, so encroaching walls are not the focal point; rather, the items within earn the attention.

3. Large art. Similar to a mirror, a large art piece (especially one in a white or metallic frame with a lot of white background) breaks up walls like a window would and brings in a snap of lightness for those who dont like white as a floor-to-ceiling color.

Looking to Make a Statement? Find Stunning New Artwork

4. French doors. Adding windows to a doorway (by converting to French doors) also gives the eye that sense of peeking out into a space beyond, and lets a new ambient light source in, even if the adjacent room is simply a pantry. Add a few lights inside or a single ceiling fixture (with a cool fluorescent bulb), and the hint of light pouring out will give the illusion of daylight.

5. Hidden lights. Tucking a few lights where they cant be seen helps give your room a sense of an indirect glow that mimics light pouring in from a nearby window. Try placing lamps between beams, behind furniture (such as behind a sofa) or tucked next to a bookcase to make the light source more mysterious.

6. Transoms. Another architectural way to add a nonspecific light source is to add a window between a room and an adjacent space (especially if the next room over has natural light to share). Placed high enough, a transom window (technically, transom is the term for the piece of wall dividing a window and the door below) will open a space to new light without compromising privacy.

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11 Ways To Work With A Windowless Room

Moving the toilet off to the right allowed expanding the shower and tub fixtures in this remodel.

Our team worked with the homeowners of a Rancho Peasquitos home to transform their out-of-date bathroom into a bright, spalike retreat.

The existing bathroom was bland and outdated and featured an awkward layout. The original tub and shower were cramped in a dark corner of the bathroom. The shower was a small standard box with no feeling of luxury or style. Because we had to keep the same overall footprint and couldnt enlarge the space allocated for the bathroom, space planning was an essential element in creating the new master bathroom.

Our team strategized to develop the best approach to the layout and decided to move the toilet area, expanding the shower into its former space. By adding a pony wall to the side of the shower, we were able to tuck the toilet area into a cozy and private alcove. To incorporate our clients desire for a spalike experience, we selected a heated toilet with a bidet function.

The roomy new shower and tub are carefully positioned in the space for a clean, modern presentation. Viewed from the shower or the tub, the room is peaceful and full of light. Clean, straight lines are paramount. A new, modern, white quartz tub was under-mounted to align cleanly with the cabinetry. Innovative placement allowed for a significantly larger tub than in the original bathroom. A wall of gray porcelain 12-by-24-inch textured tile delineates the space, while a new window treatment lets natural light flood into the room.

For the cabinetry, we chose bamboo with a reddish stain to convey an elegant feel. We also added a vanity area providing ample storage with easy access to extra towels, emphasizing the home spa feel. The color palette of subdued grays and clean white was selected to fortify a sense of calm retreat.

A trough sink was our teams solution to fitting two sinks into a limited space. At 48 inches long, the sink provides plenty of room for sharing while keeping a low visual profile. Simple modern fixtures underline the serene mood of the room.

The bathroom floor is Italian Ergon engineered stone, noted for its resemblance to wood flooring while also being a green-friendly material.

With cool neutral colors and natural light filling the space, this new master bath is the perfect place for homeowners to leave their worries and stress at the door.

Todd Jackson is the Founder and CEO of Jackson Design and Remodeling. He can be reached at (619) 442-6125, info@jacksondesignandremodeling.com; http://www.jacksondesignandremodeling.com

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Remodeled bath is relaxing retreat

A Hempfield man is accused of setting a Dumpster full of wood paneling ablaze to make room for roofing shingles, then failing to call for help when flames shot 6 to 8 feet above the metal trash container.

James Artman, 28, of Johnston Lane, is charged by Washington Township police with risking a catastrophe, failure to report a dangerous fire, dangerous burning, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Police charged Artman with two counts of reckless endangerment for allegedly endangering the lives of two firefighters who extinguished the blaze outside a house on Louise Street.

Artman, who police said was remodeling the house, was on the roof removing shingles when a police officer arrived at 2:12 p.m. Dec. 29 to find the Dumpster on fire in the driveway, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Two firefighters put out the blaze, which Artman told police might have started when he dumped in trash containing a cigarette.

The Dumpster's owner, Joseph Eori of Big's Sanitation in Belle Vernon, told police the rented container was full to capacity earlier in the day. Eori told police Artman didn't have money to rent another one and believes Artman purposely set the fire in the Dumpster to have extra room.

Artman denied putting the shingles into the Dumpster, but a firefighter found some inside. A witness reported seeing two men shovel shingles from the roof into the container, police said.

Charges were filed with Star Junction District Judge Richard Kasunic II. A preliminary hearing date has not been set.

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Hempfield man accused of setting Dumpster ablaze in Fayette County

Carol Crotta, Houzz Contributor

Americans have been blessed with a steady supply of clean water, and its a privilege we often take for granted. But with much of the western United States in a severe, years-long drought, attention is turning to water use and abuse.

Although agriculture and business account for a large portion of U.S. water consumption, residential usage is substantial. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that the average American family of four uses about 400 gallons of water a day. Efficient appliances and fixtures can help, but a little care and common sense go a long way toward minimizing waste. Here are 11 tips for reducing water consumption at home.

How to Be More Water-Wise at Home

1. Turn off faucets. Start saving by breaking a bad habit: Never let faucet water run needlessly as you wash or rinse dishes, wash your hands or face, brush your teeth or shave. Bathroom faucets run at about 2 gallons of water a minute, according to the EPA. Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth and shave, and you can save hundreds of gallons a month.

Tip: Be sure to fix leaks. A slow drip from a leaking faucet can waste as much as 20 gallons of water a day. A leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons a day.

2. Use every drop. Learn to repurpose water. One easy way is to capture under your colander the potable water you use to rinse fruits and veggies, and deposit it in the garden. Do the same while you wait for your hot water to come in.

3. Double-dip dishes. Take a page from the past and make smart use of dual sinks. Instead of letting the water run while you wash dishes, fill one sink with hot, soapy water for washing, and the other with cool, clear water for rinsing. Youll use half the water you otherwise would, according to the EPA. If your sink is a single model, use two large bowls for washing and rinsing.

4. Consider a smaller dishwasher. Todays modern, efficient dishwashers can save a great deal of water. Scrape dishes instead of rinsing them before loading, and youll save up to 10 gallons a load.

You should run only full loads. If you generally have small loads to wash, consider buying a double-drawer model, such as the Fisher Paykel one shown here. The drawers, which use less than 2 gallons of water each, work independently, saving water, energy and detergent.

The rest is here:
11 Ways To Save Water At Home

CINCINNATI -- The story passed down through previous owners about Beth McDaniels and Clint Woods Mount Auburn house is that it had the first telephone in the neighborhood and William Howard Taft used to walk five blocks up Auburn Avenue to use it.

Flash forward 125 years or so and that once treasured landline is out of operation, made obsolete by the cellular technology of our digital world.Yet what has survived in the house that Superior Court of Cincinnati Judge Hiram David Peck had built in 1886 is phenomenal:

There are south-facing, Art Nouveau stained glass windows in the front door and living room. Hardwood oak flooring with inlaid walnut trim in the entry hall, dining and living rooms interlocks in the corners in a different pattern in each room.

There are massive pocket doors between the entry hall and living room, wood window trim throughout and a structurally solid wood staircase.

Five fireplaces add warmth. The two downstairs feature glossy Victorian tiles with figureheads under the corner of the mantels. Two on the second floor are faux-painted in marble with Art Nouveau line designs and made of iron and stone. The fifth features plainly colored ceramic tiles.

A collection of Pecks law books are on the first-floor librarys built-in shelves, as well as the original property warranty and deed from 1885.

Isnt it really great that the past owners kept these things and passed them on, said Beth.

Plans to Renovate and Restore

Read more here:
Home Tour: House built by judge being restored

Provided by Networx.com

What's big in 2015 is an area of your home that is actually very, very small. Fabulous and functional laundry rooms are hot right now. Makeover what you have, or create a dedicated space out of a few square feet of your home. The important thing is that your laundry room should be a pleasant place to work at an often unpleasant chore.

Creating a Laundry Room

All you need is a teeny slice of space to build a beautiful laundry. Steal an extra powder room or even an unused corner of a bedroom or mudroom, if you have to. By the way, the opposite is possible, too -- if you are short on ahem facilities in your home, add an extra toilet (and a door latch) to your laundry room.

If you are simply revamping your existing laundry room, it's a very doable DIY project. The moment you start thinking about adding a laundry sink or moving fixtures, pipes, and appliances out of their former configuration, however, you are going to need a good remodeling plumber.

Your Washer and Dryer

"Tuck them away," proclaims one school of thought. Conceal your washing machine and dryer behind charmingly patterned fabric (which complements the curtains at your window, if you're lucky enough to have one in your laundry room) or inexpensive IKEA cabinet doors, stained or painted to your taste. "Put them on display," advise others. Today's laundry machines are handsome enough to show off, in sleek stainless steel, candy apple red, or luxe black. Is a new washer not in your budget right now? Rev up the one you already own with a coat of paint and some sealant. Stack the washer and dryer to clear out much-needed space, but check first with the manufacturer to make sure it's okay.

The "Other" Basics

In addition to your washer and dryer, there are a few other "must haves" that you'll need to make up a functional laundry room. Those are a sink for hand washing and spot treatments, good task lighting, a laundry basket or two, storage shelves, plus space for hanging delicates. Additional handy accessories: a folding counter (much easier on your back than folding on a bed); wall hooks; an ironing board; and an upright cupboard for stashing brooms, mops, and the like. A laundry chute or hamper on wheels will help you deal with one of the most complicated aspects of home laundry -- actually getting the dirty clothes to the laundry room, rather than the bedroom floors.

Maintenance

The rest is here:
Spotlight on laundry rooms

The Miami Valley Veterans Museum has a whole lot of stories to tell.

The museum opened in 2010 in one room at the former Stouder Memorial Hospital. It reopened its doors recently following a remodeling in its home since 2011 on the second floor of the Masonic Building on West Main Street.

It all history. We would like people never to forget whats happened in the past, said Mitch Fogle, museum executive director and a Navy veteran.

Mannequins dressed in military uniforms and military and other flags such as the POW flag, greet visitors as they head down the main hallway to the museum.

The displays in each room are done by themes from the Early War Room, to the World War I and II rooms, a Vietnam Room and a Modern War Room.

In between are other offerings such as a library; the Home Front Room, with an old time radio and articles and photos of the World War II canteen girls; a display of wartime mess kits and K-rations; and an artifact from the World Trade Center received in 2011, among others.

The museum covers veterans in a general area from Columbus to the east and the Indiana border to the west, Cincinnati to the south and Lima to the north.

Weve gotten stuff from all over. A lot of people in those outlying areas dont know about us. We need more exposure, Fogle said.

Work continues to provide more signs and labels on each item on display whether in a case or stand alone. There is more labeling than before, which makes it more pleasurable for the people who come up, Fogle said.

The remodeling is complete, but improvements to the museum and its collection are never done.

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Museum tells veterans stories

Seattle Spider, a division of SafeWorks, LLC, recently provided a unique material lifting solution for faade remodeling work on the new LINQ Hotel in Las Vegas.

During the $223-million transformation of the former Imperial Palace into Caesars Entertainments newest 2,256-room hotel and casino, the LINQ, the removal of 3,250 cement guardrail barriers from the structures exterior balconies was required. The massive concrete pieces varied in size from 11 ft to 15 ft and in weight from 1,300 lbs to 2,000 lbs.

In order to minimize disruption to the hotels operations, customer NorthStar Contracting Group Inc. (formerly LVI Environment of Nevada, Inc.) turned to Spider for a material lifting solution that would safely and efficiently remove the cement barriers from the faade to ground level. Spider engineered a custom monorail system that spanned 120 ft and was equipped with two Beta Max Leo VFD wireless material hoists. With a maximum lifting capacity of 2,000 lbs each, this solution was capable of transporting even the largest one-ton cement pieces while maintaining safety regulations.

Since the hotel remained in operation, cranes were not allowed on-site. Alternatively, Spider provided two additional Beta Max hoists on scaffolding and trolley beams on the buildings rooftop to initially lift the equipment into position.

Spider rigged the system and provided on-site user training to ensure the NorthStar crew could safely and efficiently operate the equipment throughout the projects 8-month duration. The system was used continuously, often non-stop through multiple shifts, without failure.

Combining the unique material handling expertise of Beta Max products with Spiders trusted engineering and powered access experience enabled us to develop a unique, one-stop application for this particular challenge, commented John Sotiroff, Vice President Spider Sales and Distribution.

Spider also provided fourteen swingstages and fall protection equipment for roof and repainting work, and stage rigging for the LINQs parking garage.

About Spider: Founded in 1947, Spider, a division of SafeWorks, created the powered suspended access business by introducing the wellknown Spider basket. Since then, our product and service offering has expanded greatly to serve the needs of an ever-growing marketplace. Spider is the largest manufacturer and distributor of access and safety solutions in North America, serving more customers from more locations with a wider variety of products and services than any other company. From baskets, traction hoist and platform rental, to safety and training, to specialty-engineered products - Spider has a strong team of professionals, along with a national network of sales, service and support capabilities to provide you with the most reliable access solutions available.

Spider, a division of SafeWorks 365 Upland Drive Seattle, WA 98188 Telephone: 877-774-3370 Fax: 206-575-6240 Email: spider@spiderstaging.com

Media Contact: Heidi Krueger Marketing Specialist Heidi.Krueger@SafeWorks.com

Continued here:
Spider Provides Material Lifting Solution for LINQ Hotel

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March 22nd, 2015 9:00 am by Jeff Bobo

(Scroll Down for a video and photo gallery. The shots showing faulty workmanship were taken by Lewis Kilgore.)

MOUNT CARMEL Two area building contractors are now the subject of a criminal investigation after allegedly building a $30,000 room addition so poorly in Mount Carmel late last year that it literally had to be torn down before it fell down and hurt someone.

When Lewis and Ada Kilgore decided to add on to a second story room at the rear of their home, Lewis went to the Lowes Home Improvement store on W. Stone Drive in Kingsport seeking advice about contractors.

But, Lowes no longer recommends contractors. Lowes advertises a Seattle based website called Porch.com which is supposed to provide the names of reputable licensed and insured contractors for any building project.

The Kilgores wanted a room expanded off the back of their house on S. Sheerbrooke Circle so there would be more space for grandchildren to play during holidays and family get-togethers.

They said Porch.com recommended Lee Sturgill of Lees Construction Services, which lists an address of 5613 Memorial Boulevard in Kingsport. Sturgills business card states, If youre not happy, then Im not happy.

The Kilgores arent happy.

If a Mount Carmel Police Department investigation results in criminal charges, Sturgill and his partner wont be happy either.

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This has been a nightmare.': Botched room addition results in criminal investigation