Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

OAKLAND -- Gregory Kloehn can turn just about anything into a home.

The Oakland artist spends his summers in Brooklyn living in a dumpster he outfitted with granite countertops, hardwood floors, a rooftop deck, plumbing and a barbecue grill.

But his proudest creations are even cozier structures that he gives to homeless people in his neighborhood.

Kloehn's "little homeless homes" are about the size of a sofa, but they come with a pitched roof to keep out the rain and wheels so recipients can roll them around town.

So far Kloehn has built 10 of the tiny houses using mostly illegally dumped trash that piles up on the streets in a semi-industrial section of West Oakland. The foundation is usually discarded wood pallets to which Kloehn will add accouterments such as windows, a mirror and a cup holder. Several homes are insulated with discarded pizza delivery bags.

Wonder, a homeless woman Kloehn has known for several years, parked her new house on the sidewalk next to her old home, which consisted primarily of a tarp draped over a couch.

"This is the best home I've had in five years," Wonder said as she opened the front door -- made from a discarded picnic table -- to reveal the pizza bag insulation. "It gets real hot in here," she said.

All the homes have gotten rave reviews. "They say this is just night and day, especially when it rains," Kloehn said. "Once your mattress gets wet, it's just terrible."

Kloehn, a 43-year-old transplant from Denver, is a sculptor who "got on a housing kick" after building his five-unit live-work condominium complex from scratch.

Inspired by the small home environmental movement, Kloehn started making fully functioning houses out of shipping containers. He soon moved on to dumpsters. "Then I just started grabbing garbage and making homes out of that," he said.

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Oakland artist turns trash into homes for the homeless

Just months after Kirstie Allsopp disclosed that her sister Sofie had undergone a double mastectomy to prevent breast cancer, their mother has succumbed to the disease.

Lady Hindlip, an interior decorator, died at their family home on Epiphany, at the age of 66. Fiona had suffered from breast cancer for 25 years.

Last year, Sofie, a 33-year-old television presenter, said she underwent the radical surgery because of fears that she would develop the disease which has afflicted her mother, grandmother and female relations going back generations.

I have spent my life watching my mother struggle with breast cancer, worried that I might lose her, she said at the time. So, for me, it was a very simple, logical decision to remove a part of my body which could potentially kill me.

Fiona married Lord Hindlip, 73, the Old Etonian former chairman of Christies, in 1968 and they have two other children: Henry, 40, an art dealer, and Natasha, 27.

Lady Hindlip was the granddaughter of Harry McGowan, the explosives tycoon given a hereditary peerage by Stanley Baldwin.

When her son Henry married Naomi Gummer in 2012, his godmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, attended the wedding, as well as David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt.

Lady Hindlip underwent treatment for cancer in 1987, which kept the disease in remission for seven years. She was treated again when the cancer returned, and nine years later was diagnosed with a secondary cancer.

Mum was always very discreet, stoic and amazingly brave, but we were aware of the impact it had on her, and it was hard for us to see her suffer. Kirstie said.

The funeral has already been held.

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Kirstie Allsopp loses brave mother to breast cancer

Just months after Kirstie Allsopp disclosed that her sister Sofie had undergone a double mastectomy to prevent breast cancer, their mother has succumbed to the disease.

Lady Hindlip, an interior decorator, died at their family home on Epiphany, at the age of 66. Fiona had suffered from breast cancer for 25 years.

Last year, Sofie, a 33-year-old television presenter, said she underwent the radical surgery because of fears that she would develop the disease which has afflicted her mother, grandmother and female relations going back generations.

I have spent my life watching my mother struggle with breast cancer, worried that I might lose her, she said at the time. So, for me, it was a very simple, logical decision to remove a part of my body which could potentially kill me.

Fiona married Lord Hindlip, 73, the Old Etonian former chairman of Christies, in 1968 and they have two other children: Henry, 40, an art dealer, and Natasha, 27.

Lady Hindlip was the granddaughter of Harry McGowan, the explosives tycoon given a hereditary peerage by Stanley Baldwin.

When her son Henry married Naomi Gummer in 2012, his godmother, the Duchess of Cornwall, attended the wedding, as well as David Cameron and Jeremy Hunt.

Lady Hindlip underwent treatment for cancer in 1987, which kept the disease in remission for seven years. She was treated again when the cancer returned, and nine years later was diagnosed with a secondary cancer.

Mum was always very discreet, stoic and amazingly brave, but we were aware of the impact it had on her, and it was hard for us to see her suffer. Kirstie said.

The funeral has already been held.

Originally posted here:
Television presenter Kirstie Allsopp loses brave mother to breast cancer

By: Mark J. Donovan

A garage addition plan starts with making initial sketches of the garage addition concept and evaluating how it will tie in with the existing home structure.

Though most homeowners prefer a large garage, it is very important during this phase to consider proportions between the existing home and the new garage addition.

To aesthetically look appealing from the road the garage addition length should not exceed two-thirds the length of the existing home. Otherwise the garage addition could overwhelm the existing home structure. The depth or width of the garage addition is less critical from an aesthetic standpoint, as it is usually less visible from the road.

Once the initial sketches have been completed, detailed garage addition building plans should be generated. Depending on the complexity of the garage addition either the homeowner or an architect can develop the actual garage addition building plans. In either case, the plans will need to include scaled drawings with dimensions, and cross-sectional construction views with constructional materials specified.

The cross-sectional views should include from the concrete footings all the way to the peak of the roof. Each new transition from the footings up should be carefully drawn.

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Garage Addition Building Plan | Building Garage Addition ...

The property, a former machine shop, would be renovated for the new use that Childs said aims to be welcoming, warm, and family friendly.

Were all about best in class and providing an amenity, Childs said.

With 30-foot high ceilings and an open dining room, the restaurant would hold close to 250 seats, in addition to an outdoor patio space, Childs said. The project also includes the addition of a 20 car parking lot.

Childs said the eatery aims to provide farm to table cuisine thats affordable.

The restaurant would be approximately 7,000 square feet, with 3,900 square feet dedicated to the main commissary/kitchen.

The indoor space is also expected to incorporate two food trucks, which would supplement the main menu and provide space for cooking competitions and other events.

The roof of the restaurant would hold a rooftop garden, with the vegetables from the garden being used in the restaurant's dishes.

During the day the restaurant would have a more caf feel to it, with coffee drinks, prepared meals, and small, less intensive lunchtime dishes.

During the evening the space would be converted into a more traditional restaurant, with table service and full menu. The cuisine is expected to be American comfort food.

The hours of the restaurant have not been determined, but Childs hes interested in a 2 a.m. closing.

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New restaurant pitched for West 3rd Street

Wednesday, January 8, 2014 - 4:19pm

Tyler, Texas (KETK) The Tyler Fire Department responded to a two-alarm structure fire Wednesady mornign at 1217 South Glenwood.

The initial call was received at 10:42 a.m., and the caller reported seeing smoke coming from the house. The first unit saw heavy smoke coming from the attic when they arrived on scene and called for a second alarm. Five engines and one Ladder Company, along with a District Chief and an Investigator, responded to the scene.

Fire investigators with the Tyler Fire Marshals Office have indicated that the fire originated in the kitchen area of the home. Investigators believe that the fire burned for an extended period of time in the wall space before it gained access to the attic area. Initial findings indicate that the cause is electrical in origin and may have involved one of the homes appliances.

Citizens are reminded to be cautious and keep safety in mind when dealing with electricity in the home. Remember to call a qualified electrician or your landlord if you notice any of the following conditions:

Based on recent data between 2003 and 2005, the United States Fire Administration reports that over 28,000 residential building electrical fires occurred annually. This accounted for approximately $995 million in property loss, 1000 injuries, and 360 deaths. Additional safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association include:

Citizens are also encouraged to have an adequate number of smoke alarms installed throughout their home. For more information about fire prevention and safety in the home or workplace, please contact the Tyler Fire Marshals Office at 903-535-0005.

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Tyler Fire Department releases fire safety tips after Wednesday morning fire

Dear Angie: Can I save money by finishing my basement piecemeal rather than hiring a general contractor? Jennifer M., Alpharetta, Ga.

Dear Jennifer: It depends. There are risks and rewards if you act as your own general contractor on a large project.

Our researchers found that general contractors who hire and supervise subcontractors such as plumbers, electricians and carpenters typically mark up labor and material costs by as much as 20 percent. A 20 percent markup on a $15,000 remodel, for example, would be $3,000. Thats money you could pocket if you supervise all aspects of the project.

But weigh your options carefully before deciding whats best for your situation. Unless you have experience in the building trades or house construction, as well as a flexible schedule with significant free time, youre probably not ready to act as your own general contractor. Orchestrating a full remodeling of your basement can be a monumental task for an inexperienced homeowner.

You could end up paying more if the job is done incorrectly by the subcontractors you hire or if scheduling conflicts arise. Highly rated general contractors tell our team that they sometimes are brought in to fix problems created by workers homeowners hired on the cheap.

A general contractor is responsible for fixing problems with the job. If things go wrong on your watch, youll be paying.

Also, keep in mind that an experienced and qualified general contractor will handle getting all necessary permits, and making sure subcontractors are appropriately insured and licensed. A good general contractor also will ensure that work meets local building codes, comes in on budget and maintains high quality standards.

But if you have the experience and the time to be your own general contractor, you may save money as well as stay on top of all details.

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Being your own contractor carries some risks

Growing cannabis indoors requires lots of light: Firm buds glistening with resin require a stronger light source than your average house plant.

Lighting for plants is nutrition; it's very much like fertilizer, except it's absorbed in wavelengths through the leaves. Think of a rainbow: each color is like a different nutrient for your pot plants. Each color is important, but various types of plants use nutrients differently; they also use different amounts during different times of the year. For example, in thevegetative state, plants prefer more blue light, while in bud they do better with more red light.

There used to be very few choices available for indoor growers -- today, there are many. HID (high intensity discharge) lighting is the standard for more serious indoor growers, and High Output fluorescents are a great choice for a smaller-scale hobbyist or outdoor growers looking to raise transplants indoors before the season starts.

Over the past several years there have been improvements to industry standards in regards to crop lighting, including digital ballasts (that drive the lamps) and a wider range of horticultural lamps.

While there have been strides forward, it's still the same technology. One of the reasons growers find HID lighting so reliable is because it is standardized.

For some, that's just fine; especially as declining prices make good lighting more affordable. Some growers, however, are looking to push the envelope of what is possible with cannabis harvests, and as a result, other light sources that are becoming important and becoming more accessible in pricing as well.

Light Emitting Diode (LED), Induction Lighting and Light Emitting Plasma (LEP) are increasingly being adopted for growing indoors by savvy medicinal bud farmers.

Alternative lighting sources may be able to do what HID lighting can't -- and in a variety of areas. It's common practice to discard HID lamps after a year of operation because they aren't as bright after long use. This is costly, and more than in dollars and cents. The arc tubes contain elements like mercury and lead in very pure forms -- so discarding them is terrible for the environment.

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Indoor Grow: Alternative Lighting | High Times

FARMINGDALE, N.J. -- Dialight (LSE: DIA.L), the global leader in LED lighting technology, today unveiled the new Vigilant() LED High Bay with industry-leading efficiency for maximum return on investment and lower total cost of ownership. At 125 lumens per watt (LPW), the Vigilant LED High Bay is among Dialight's most groundbreaking innovations providing up to 26,500 delivered fixture lumens and backed by Dialight's industry-leading 10-year full-performance warranty for more than a decade of reliable, worry-free performance in the world's harshest industrial environments.

Featuring Dialight's world class in-house designed power supply, next generation LED technology and advanced optical design, the new Vigilant LED High Bay marks a major step forward in the future of energy efficiency for industrial environments. Since launching their first LED high bay in 2009, Dialight has sold hundreds of thousands of LED high bay fixtures, setting the highest standard for fixture design and reliability around the world.

"Dialight continues to manufacture the most advanced LED lighting solutions for industrial and hazardous location applications worldwide," said Roy Burton, Dialight's Group Chief Executive. "Our customers can now benefit from an additional 25% energy savings, making the conversion to LED technology an even smarter business decision with highly attractive payback periods for their facility upgrades."

The Vigilant LED High Bay fixture is currently certified to UL1598/A and CSA 22 #250 for both indoor and outdoor applications, and will soon be available with CE compliance, UL844 and ATEX/IECEx for hazardous locations as well as other international certifications. At 18 lbs, the 100-277VAC Vigilant LED High Bay ships standard with 6kV surge protection and is IP66/NEMA4X rated to operate in ambient temperatures ranging from -40 degrees C to +65 degrees C.

To learn more about Vigilant LED High Bay please visit http://www.dialight.com/125LPW.

About Dialight Dialight (LSE: DIA.L) is leading the energy efficient LED lighting revolution around the world for industrial and hazardous areas as well as transportation and infrastructure applications. For 40 years it has been committed to the development of LED lighting solutions that enable organizations to vastly reduce energy use and maintenance needs, improve safety, ease disposal and reduce CO2 emissions. The company is headquartered in the UK with operations in the USA, UK, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and Mexico. http://www.dialight.com

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LED High Bay Fixture achieves 125 lm/W efficiency.

Kingspan Solar Thermal and Commercial Rainwater Harvesting systems help Architects, Engineers and Designers boost LEED points at 2014 AHR Expo

JESSUP, Maryland The U.S. Green Building Council promotes cost-efficient, energy-saving building practices via a global LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, points program for Architects, Engineers, Designers and Property Owners engaged in green activities. Kingspan Environmental is set to score big points of its own among those stakeholders by demystifying the LEED project certification and points-accrual process at the 2014 AHR Expo in New York City.

"The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Expo is a great place for us to meet face-to-face with Architects, Engineers, Designers and others interested in reducing costs and safeguarding resources through sustainable building technologies," says Seamus Cussen, commercial director for Kingspan in Jessup, Md "We're very excited to show our solar thermal solutions as well as the rainwater harvesting systems which will be launched at the Expo!"

"The commercial rainwater harvesting systems alone earn property owners LEED points in multiple credit areas," explains Cussen. "In addition, they provide as much as 85 percent of the water needed to run high-performance buildings efficiently and effectively with maintenance and run costs so low that most clients experience radical savings."

Cussen says the company's rainwater harvesting systems fit seamlessly into existing pipe work and suit a wide variety of applications which include, but are not limited to: universities, hospitals, airports, sports arenas, shopping centers and hotels.

The Expo will be held Jan. 21-23, 2014, at the Javits Center on Manhattan's west side. The center itself has undergone major renovation in recent years, complete with a green roof that is said to be "the largest in the Northeast". Representatives from Kingspan Environmental will engage attendees at booth # 6002 and be on hand to explain:

Why LEED certification and credits matter to Architects, Engineers, Designers, etc. How Kingspan Environmental helps fill LEED requirements in USGBC Sustainable Site, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere and Innovation in Design categories The built-in economic/environmental benefits of Kingspan Solar Thermal Systems and Commercial Rainwater Harvesting Systems

Kingspan Environmental, a division of Kingspan Group, is one of the world's largest and most experienced providers of sustainable building technologies. The company has a proven track record of success and offers a comprehensive range of solutions which produce results across any application.

Architects, Engineers, Designers and others interested in learning more about LEED certification, credits and Kingspan's full line of sustainable building technologies should call Seamus Cussen directly at (410) 799-6602 or visit KinspanEnviro.com.

Kingspan Environmental 7510 Montevideo Road Jessup, MD 20794 United States

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Architects, Engineers Score More LEED® Points with Kingspan at NYC 2014 AHR Expo