Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The pendulum of photography swings back and forth and it seems to me that photographers have never had it so good. I can take a 35mm Delta 100 negative, scan it on my Imacon and with a couple of Nik plug-ins and a few clicks of the stylus, I can make a 16 inkjet print from the tiff that competes on quality with a traditional medium format darkroom wet print. The old rule book has been re-written and the true benefit is that I can use the film, lenses and cameras that I love to combine workflows and produce print output that exceeds traditional methods. Wild horses would not drag me back into a darkroom, I firmly left all that behind years ago but Ill continue to use film of several formats until the option is no longer viable.

I happened across this old, gnarled hawthorn tree during a days walking on Dartmoor. The Leica MP was loaded with a roll of Ilford Delta 100, which I love for its almost grain-free pictorial qualities, and the 90mm Elmarit-M f2.8 lens gave the subject the isolation I was planning for. Where granite tors are the perpetual guardians of Dartmoor, theses old hawthorns are the keepers of this living landscape. Find a hawthorn, sit down in its company, brew a mug of tea and enjoy the peace of Dartmoor!

Leica MP

Elmarit_M 90mm f2.8

Ilford Delta 100

Heliopan O22

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Steve Walton UK Landscape Photographer - UK Panoramics and ...

Janet Yellen, who was confirmed Monday by the U.S. Senate as the first woman to lead the Federal Reserve, will take the helm of a Federal Reserve facing a significantly different economic landscape from the one that dominated Ben Bernanke's tenure as chairman, confronting her with different decisions as well.

Bernanke's eight years leading the Fed were largely consumed with the recession and his efforts to cure it by pushing down interest rates and pumping cash into the economy.

Many economists think Yellen's big challenge will be deciding how to ease off some of those very policies, which Bernanke took with Yellen's support.

Here's a look at the Fed's new chairwoman and the challenges she faces.

- Birthplace: Brooklyn, N.Y. Age: 67

- Experience: Vice chairwoman, Federal Reserve, 2010-present; president, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, 2004-10; chairwoman, White House Council of Economic Advisers, 1997-99; member, Federal Reserve Board of Governors, 1994-97; faculty member, University of California, Berkeley, 1980-94 (on leave); lecturer at London School of Economics and Political Science, 1978-80; economist, Federal Reserve, 1977-78; assistant professor at Harvard University, 1971-76.

- Party lines: Nominated by President Barack Obama, Yellen was confirmed by a 56-26 Senate vote that included 45 Democrats and 11 Republicans.

- Under scrutiny: Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, warned that a continuation of the Fed's easy money policies "risks fueling an economic bubble and even hyperinflation," which he said could cause "real and lasting damage to our economy."

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New Fed chairwoman faces changing landscape

The Chanel designer is keeping himself very busy...

Karl Lagerfeld is designing to 'grand apartments' in the Hotel de Crillon

Rex

Karl Lagerfeld has swapped fashion for interiors, as he gets ready to design two luxurious suites for the historic Htel de Crillon in Paris.

The Chanel creative director has been tasked with designing two of the palatial hotel's most prestigious suites, which Karl has called 'grand apartments'.

The Crillon, which opened as a hotel in 1909, dates back to 1758. Situated on the Place de la Concorde, it is steeped in the culture and history of 18th century Paris. It has 103 rooms and 44 suites, which have hosted the world's most famous people.

Speaking to WWD, Radha Arora, president of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, said: 'No-one understands Paris or the heritage of the Crillon better than Mr. Lagerfeld.' Given the years the designer has spent living and working in Paris, we would have to agree.

But this won't be Mr Lagerfeld's first foray into the world of interiors the Chanel designer has also lent his design talents to the create the emblem for Sofitel So Singapore, and he also advised on the interiors of the Alma Schlosshotel in Berlin. If you happen to be travelling to the Hotel Metropole in Monte-Carlo, you'll see Karl's work in the restaurant and by the pool, too.

Karl, the interior decorator? We love it.

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Karl Lagerfeld Turns Interior Designer For Iconic Parisian Hotel

In our on-demand world, being connected to information and entertainment around the clock with is practically a given. To get that, youll need a high-tech home wiring system that can deliver the infrastructure youll need for a connected world.But how do you bring this 21st century convenience into a home from a completely different era?

New homes offer the best opportunity for integrating high-tech home wiring systems, but many manufacturers offer smart products to retrofit existing homes. As a result, you can now improve your homes automation, security, and value with options ranging from in-room conveniences to household-wide systems easily controlled from a single touch screen.

Heres a sampling of solutions to mix and match in the creation of your very own high-tech wired home.

Entertainment on demand:If youre entranced by your HDTV/DVR combination or cant go a day without your personal MP3 playlist, there are ways to add even more convenience to their entertaining delivery. Whole-house high-tech wiring systems allow you to centralize all audio and video delivery equipment, load up your favorite music and movies, and then enjoy them from any connected point in the home any time. Zoned controls also mean that different folks can enjoy a range of entertainment simultaneously: jazz can serenade a casual gathering on the patio while a childrens movie entertains in the living room and a vacation slide show rolls in the kitchen.

Lighting for mood, effect and safety:The advent of wireless home lighting control systems has made it easier than ever to integrate convenience, luxury and security into a homescape. Without tearing down walls for wiring or rerunning electrical wires, RF technology can make use of existing 110-volt home wiring for a retrofit as brilliant as the custom designs built into new homes. Convenient features for setting the scene include one-button vacation/alert, all on/all off and soft on/soft off modes, and security can be enhanced by setting indoor and outdoor lights to go on and off automatically. Even better, you can save money with dimming and overload detection that extend bulb life and conserves energy.

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Home Network Wiring | High-Tech Home Wiring System | The Money Pit

Knob and tube wiring (sometimes abbreviated K&T) was an early standardized method of electrical wiring in buildings, in common use in North America from about 1880 to the 1930s.[1][2] It consisted of single-insulated copper conductors run within wall or ceiling cavities, passing through joist and stud drill-holes via protective porcelain insulating tubes, and supported along their length on nailed-down porcelain knob insulators. Where conductors entered a wiring device such as a lamp or switch, or were pulled into a wall, they were protected by flexible cloth insulating sleeving called loom. The first insulation was asphalt-saturated cotton cloth, then rubber became common. Wire splices in such installations were twisted together for good mechanical strength, then soldered and wrapped with rubber insulating tape and friction tape (asphalt saturated cloth), or made inside metal junction boxes.

Knob and tube wiring was eventually displaced from interior wiring systems because of the high cost of installation compared with use of power cables, which combined both power conductors of a circuit in one run (and which later included grounding conductors).

At present, new knob and tube installations are permitted in the US only in a few very specific situations listed in the National Electrical Code, such as certain industrial and agricultural environments.

Ceramic knobs were cylindrical and generally nailed directly into the wall studs or floor joists. Most had a circular groove running around their circumference, although some were constructed in two pieces with pass-through grooves on each side of the nail in the middle. A leather washer often cushioned the ceramic, to reduce breakage during installation.

By wrapping electrical wires around the knob, and securing them with tie wires, the knob securely and permanently anchored the wire. The knobs separated the wire from potentially combustible framework, facilitated changes in direction, and ensured that wires were not subject to excessive tension. Because the wires were suspended in air, they could dissipate heat well.

Ceramic tubes were inserted into holes bored in wall studs or floor joists, and the wires were directed through them. This kept the wires from coming into contact with the wood framing members and from being compressed by the wood as the house settled. Ceramic tubes were sometimes also used when wires crossed over each other, for protection in case the upper wire were to break and fall on the lower conductor.

Ceramic cleats, which were block-shaped pieces, served a purpose similar to that of the knobs. Not all knob and tube installations utilized cleats.

Ceramic bushings protected each wire entering a metal device box, when such an enclosure was used.

Loom, a woven flexible insulating sleeve, was slipped over insulated wire to provide additional protection whenever a wire passed over or under another wire, when a wire entered a metal device enclosure, and in other situations prescribed by code.

Other ceramic pieces would typically be used as a junction point between the wiring system proper, and the more flexible cloth-clad wiring found in light fixtures or other permanent, hard-wired devices. When a generic power outlet was desired, the wiring could run directly into the junction box through a tube of protective loom and a ceramic bushing.

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Knob and tube wiring - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have a junction box in my house where all the coaxial cables come in and go out. Most of it is pretty straight forward. There is one cable that comes in from the dish and connects to a 4-way green splitter. One port of the splitter goes out to the PI and the H24 receiver, another port goes out to the DECA BB and the last used port goes out to a DECA and my HR23. There are several other cables in the cabinet that are not connected that go to various other rooms in my house. The thing that has me confused is that there is a cable that comes in and is hooked to a 2-way splitter with a white label, used because I believe the CSR didn't have a better connector, that has another cable hooked to one of the out ports that then leaves the box. I have no idea what either end of those cables are hooked to. Can anyone give me an idea of what that connection is for? I only have two receivers that are connected for Whole-Home-DVR. I'm pretty sure that was done when the CSR came to hook up my WHDVR system. My father-in-law appears to have the same sort of connection in his box and he only has one receiver.

Thanks

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House wiring question | DIRECTV Technical Forums

A motorist may have saved two lives when he alerted residents that their East Hempfield Township home was on fire late Tuesday night, fire officials said.

The 11:36 p.m. fire struck a home at 39 Bimini Drive, near Manheim Pike and Lititz Road, just north of East Petersburg, said Trooper Dustin Shireman, a state police fire marshal.

The home is owned by 79-year-old Jacqueline Ditzler. She and her 40-year-old grandson, Christopher Axe, may have been sleeping at the time of the fire, officials said.

Flames were going through the roof, but they safely got out after a motorist pulled in front of the home and blew his car horn, alerting them something was wrong, said East Petersburg Fire Company Chief James Rohrer Jr. He did not know the motorist's name.

"The people heard (the horn) and got out," Rohrer said. "If he wouldn't have stopped, the outcome could have been a loss of life."

"The fire was burning above them and they didn't even know it," he said. Ditzler and Axe had gone to bed. He didn't know if they were asleep.

A neighbor also went to the home to help, but the occupants walked out on their own, Rohrer said.

About 65 firefighters from area companies fought the fire, but couldn't save the home from being destroyed.

They attacked the fire in the attic for about 15 minutes, but were unable to extinguish it, Rohrer said. They were ordered to evacuate and then fought an exterior attack, including using an aerial ladder truck to stream water onto the fire.

When the blaze was mostly extinguished, firefighters went back inside with a hand line and finished the job, Rohrer said. It all took them about 45 minutes.

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Fire destroys home near East Petersburg

By MartinasSteketee485 | April 18, 2012

Home wiring is not something to fool around with. It is literally a life and death matter. Poor wiring can lead to personal injury and electrically caused fires, both of which you want to avoid at all costs. In order to ensure your home wiring is done correctly, there are a few basics that you need to be aware of.

No Power = No Trouble The key to safe basic house wiring is always keeping in mind that electricity packs a big, and deadly, punch. Even the most trained professional takes their life in their hands if they dont follow basic safety procedure. The best preventative measure you can take, whether youre installing basic electrical wiring, or just examining the wiring you do have, is to always make sure the power is turned off from the get go. Whether youre re-wiring your entire home or just replacing a faulty outlet, be sure to take a trip to the control panel and cut the power to the area youre working on.

Know Your Electrical Code With electrical work there is never an excuse not to follow rules and regulations. As mentioned before, electricity can be a dangerous animal if it isnt treated properly. Your localitys codes and regulations regarding residential wiring have been put in place for a reason: to protect you, the homeowner. Anytime you are working with basic house wiring, study up on standard procedures so you dont put your family or yourself in jeopardy. And if youre undertaking a major home wiring project, get familiar with your local inspector. Dont view them as a hurdle to overcome, but as a valuable resource you can draw on to get the job done right.

Components of Basic Electrical Wiring Besides safety considerations and regulations, the other thing you want to familiarize yourself with is the make up of your home wiring. It boils down to three basic components:

Call in an Electrician With most home improvement jobs you can do it yourself with a little elbow grease and patience. Electrical work is one of the exceptions. Unless youre experienced in home wiring, you dont want to do this job yourself. The safety risks are just too great. Add to that the need to meet local rules and regulations, and its a good idea to hire someone who is experienced in basic house wiring to tackle this job for you. It will mean youll have to jump through fewer hoops before your work is approved, and you can rest easy knowing all your basic electrical wiring has been done with your safety in mind.

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By GiffenGuilbault255 | April 17, 2012

Increasingly homeowners are becoming aware that remodeling or renovation goes beyond structural alterations. Changing the look of your home often means youll need to take a new look at the furniture that adorns it as well. If you desire, custom furniture artisans can be hired to work carefully with your interior designer, interior decorator, or general contractor, to create furniture that compliments the other improvements youre making to your home.

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Home Restoration :: Made Easy!

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla., Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Florida's SUN COAST -- A family-owned firm specializing in traditional and geothermal pool heating and air conditioning equipment and service, is promoting its competitive suite of services for commercial, government, and household customers, announced Alex and Amy Machado, owners of Alex's Pool Heating and Air Conditioning based in Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, Naples and Sarasota, Fla.

Alex's Pool Heating and Air Conditioning, situated at the top of Angie's List ratings for the Southwest Florida region, offers free second opinions, no-hassle estimates, and maintenance-service without contracts, said Alex.

"We don't handle sales calls the way that many people have experienced," Alex said. "We analyze the equipment, the operating environment, and the cooling or heating needs in order to honestly inform the pool owner or householder about each unique situation. Customers get the benefit of a decision-making environment that they can trust to result in an optimum repair or the most efficient, cost-effective installation for heating a pool or cooling a home," he said.

The foundation of the company's success has been its unflagging commitment to a high level of integrity - a quality that often seems lacking in some service companies: for example, in pay-up-front maintenance contracts.

"When a client pays hundreds of dollars in advance for annual inspections," said Amy, "the arrangement is fraught with opportunities for slack or non-existent service." She is referring to all-too-common ghost-inspections and worse: companies that exploit their access in order to frighten or pressure homeowners into paying for expensive and unnecessary repairs.

Alex's Pool Heating and Air Conditioning does it differently. The firm's experienced, trained technicians deliver the peace of mind and reassurance every homeowner wants because they are trained to problem solve and repair, not to sell parts on commission.

Another benefit customers enjoy is Alex's technical savvy and expertise. His company is committed to delivering the most cost-effective pool-heating and home-cooling systems, even when that means recommending an inexpensive repair instead of a costly replacement. "Alex has nearly 20 years in the field decades of local, hands-on experience that our clients see in his analytical, problem-solving ability," Amy said.

Alex Machado, a leading geothermal systems expert in the region, is the Machado pro's pro. "Maximizing your geothermal pool heating system is a precision operation. No two installations are exactly alike," he said. "Flow pressure, direction, and volume in underground water fields requires extremely accurate assessments, faultless design, and precision engineering if the system is going to deliver maximum heat transfer and optimum efficiency," he said.

As a result of his expertise, Alex's Pool Heating and Air Conditioning has thrived on word-of-mouth and repeat recommendations. Fully 80 percent of their daily calls are "regulars:" satisfied pool-owners, including commercial and large-scale condo and homeowner associations that rely on geothermal efficiency; public community and municipal pools that rely on safe and cost-effective systems; and hundreds of private installations in homes and backyards up and down Florida's Sun Coast where Alex's colorful trucks are a familiar and welcome sight.

Alex Pool Heating and Air Conditioning

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Geothermal Pool Heating Company Offers Home and Commercial Clients a New Suite of Free Services

GIRARD, Ohio (WKBN) - Area repairmen are busy in this cold weather thanks to freezing pipes and broken furnaces.

Furnaces have been working overtime to keep up with the dropping temperature. The owner of Price Heating and Cooling in Girard said they had more than 40 repair calls since Monday night and most of their workers were out all night.

To prevent costly repairs, make sure the furnace is serviced regularly and change the filters. Owner Chris McKernan said it's true that furnaces break down on the coldest day of the year because that's when they tend to run the longest.

"There is something wrong. The furnace isn't keeping up. It's just common to see because the furnaces are not sized for this weather. It's 10 below. Normally, we don't see that. Furnaces are struggling right now," McKernan said.

When it comes to plumbing, make sure pipes in unheated areas are insulated or wrapped in heat tape. In case of a burst pipe or to prevent plumbing from freezing up during a power outage, always know where the main shutoff valve is.

"If your pipes aren't exposed, it's always good to maybe, especially your kitchen with an outside wall, keep your doors open, that little bit of heat will serve it," said Al Sauline, area manager for Aqua Ohio.

When temperatures remain near 10 degrees, customers may want to leave a thin stream of water running from the tap farthest from the meter, which costs less than repairs.

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Experts offer heating, plumbing advice