Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Arturo Mazano unravels an extension cord as construction continues on phase two of Walnut Commons apartments at the intersection of East Third Street and Walnut Street. BY THE NUMBERS

95.1 Average percent occupancy of Chattanoogas apartment complexes surveyed as of mid-2013

30 Percent of apartment properties surveyed offering concessions to get new tenants

$37 Average monthly amount of concessions

Source: Rock Apartment Advisors

Michael VanSleen says hes tiring of apartment living and about ready to start looking for a house.

Id rather be in a house with a yard, he said outside his downtown Chattanooga apartment building. It would be nice to own a house.

Some people, such as VanSleen, who may have rented in the past because of tighter credit standards, bigger home down payments or personal financial uncertainty, are getting back into the single-family market or at least looking to do so.

The past year or so saw modest declines in both occupancy and rent from the prior 12-month period, indicating that the sizzling apartment market in the city has cooled off a little.

Still, Chattanoogas apartment market was extremely strong in 2013, and next year is shaping up as a healthy one as well, according to an industry expert.

See the article here:
Urban living: Chattanooga apartment market loses a bit of its sizzle

Faux granite/marble countertops
I used: 1. rustoleum countertop paint in canvas 2. 3 craft paints : negro, white, burnt orange color 3. paper towels, 4. duck feather all cost about $30 tops.

By: Alise Hill

Go here to see the original:
Faux granite/marble countertops - Video

Caesarstone Sdot Yam Ltd. (CSTE), the Israeli maker of kitchen countertops, is leading gains among the nations stocks traded in New York as the strongest U.S. housing market since 2007 bolsters the companys sales outlook.

Caesarstone has rallied 206 percent this year, putting the Bloomberg Israel-US Index on pace for its biggest annual advance since 2009. Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TARO) has more than doubled in 2013 while Alon Blue Square Israel Ltd. surged 77 percent.

Housing construction is picking up in the U.S., where Caesarstone gets 36 percent of its revenue, as builders broke ground on more homes in November than at any time in over five years. Analysts have boosted their 2014 sales forecast for the Sdot Yam, Israel-based company to $413 million from $348 million estimated for this year and $199 million in 2010, according to a Bloomberg survey.

Theyve shown tremendous growth potential, Josef Schuster, the founder of IPOX Schuster LLC, an IPO research firm, said in a telephone interview from Chicago Dec. 26. It turns out this is a great growth stock.

Caesarstone started trading on the Nasdaq stock market in March 2012 and had the second-best debut of any foreign company in the U.S. in 2012, after Chinese online retailer Vipshop Holdings Ltd. Shares of the company, whose quartz countertops are sold from Australia to the U.S., rose 0.1 percent last week, extending their quarterly gain to 5.7 percent.

Caesarstone is trading at 23 times estimated earnings, more than double its valuation at the beginning of the year and about 27 percent above the average of its global peers, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The U.S. represented Caesarstones largest and fastest growing market in the third quarter, with sales jumping 48 percent, Chief Executive Officer Yosef Shiran said on a Nov. 6 conference call with analysts.

Caesarstone didnt respond to a telephone and e-mailed request for comment made after Israeli business hours.

In May, Caesarstone was named the exclusive provider of non-laminate countertops for the U.S. unit of Ikea Group, the worlds biggest home-furnishings retailer. The company last month announced a one-time dividend of 58 cents, its first payment on record.

Home prices have increased across the U.S. as investors drain markets of inventory and improving employment brings in more buyers. U.S. homes gained $1.9 trillion in value this year, the biggest jump since 2005, as the real estate market rebounded from the recession, Zillow Inc. said earlier this month. The countrys housing stock lost $6.3 trillion in value from 2007 through 2011 and has recovered 44 percent of that, according to the Seattle-based property-data firm.

Continued here:
U.S. Housing Gains Spur 206% Caesarstone Rally: Israel Overnight

Life is full of surprises, activities and excitement, and Ledingham McAllister is keeping that in mind with Charland, its condominium development in Coquitlam.

"We took your whole lifestyle into account," says Manuela Mirecki, senior vice-president of marketing and design for Ledingham McAllister. "Life doesn't end at your front door."

In order to cater to that, Charland includes thoughtful touches such as a bicycle repair station, bike-sized storage lockers and storage for kayaks and paddles, making the development perfect for outdoor enthusiasts.

It also has the perfect location, just blocks from the Vancouver Golf Club and Blue Mountain Park, as well as shopping, dining and schools.

"It's all about location, location, location," says Mirecki. "There are mountain bike trails galore around here, and it's incredibly green."

Charland is joining the well-established Austin Heights neighbourhood, and will take advantage of some of the amazing views in the area.

"The views of Mount Baker and the golf course are absolutely beautiful," Mirecki says.

Charland is equally beautiful, with its Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired exterior architecture, bamboo garden with its own seating area, infinity-pool water feature and rooftop terrace.

"There's a real sense of pride in the outside," says Mirecki.

Inside, the 88 spacious one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans range from approximately 604 to 1,003 square feet, with a large balcony or patio in every home.

See original here:
Life doesn't end at your front door at Charland

PATTI Austin VIDEOGRAB FROM THE VOICE

MANILA, PhilippinesThe Philippines is one of the places American singer-songwriter Patti Austin holds dear to her heart. Having been to the country numerous times since 1973, Austin described the Philippines as her home away from home. She then mused that, for some reason, Filipinos have always been part of her life.

The first time I had enough money for an interior decorator, it was a Filipino designer who used to work at Bloomingdales who did my apartment. And when my mom fell ill after suffering a major stroke, two Filipino caregivers helped me take care of her, Austin told reporters in an interview on Saturday afternoon at the M Studio in Makati City.

She continued: My makeup artist and hairdresser are from the Philippines. So is one of my dearest friends, Marguerite Lhuillier, who designs and builds furniture in her factory in Cebu.

The last time Austin held a concert in Manila was just last September. And the experience, the 63-year-old music artist said, was mind-blowing. This time shes back in town for a worthy cause. As her way of giving back to the Filipinos who have given her so much support, Austin will be holding two benefit fundraising shows for the survivors of Supertyphoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

The Grammy Award-winning jazz and R&B artist said she hoped to help build new homes for the calamity survivors through Habitat for Humanity. I will try visit the hard hit cities; I would really like to do that, related Austin, who plans to stay in the country until Jan. 6. Its been really rough for everyone, but I know that if we move forward, things will be better. And I want to be a part in lifting up the peoples spirits.

Tonight, Austin will perform with special guests Lea Salonga, Richard Merk and Martin Nievera in a show titled Brand New Day at the Solaire Resort and Casino in Paraaque City. On December 31, she will go onstage at Fairmont Makati for the New Years Eve show One Heart, One Voice again with Merk, plus Emcy Corteza, and the Sticky Band.

Tickets are available at TicketWorld; call 891-9999.

Excerpts from our interview:

What went through your mind when you heard about the devastation in the Philippines?

See the rest here:
Patti Austin back in PH to help build homes for ‘Yolanda’ victims

Architects UK - These Colours Don #39;t Run (Guitar Cover HD)

By: XTheSeanLifeX

Excerpt from:
Architects UK - These Colours Don't Run (Guitar Cover HD) - Video

A building is a man-made structure with a roof and walls standing more or less permanently in one place. Buildings come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and functions, and have been adapted throughout history for a wide number of factors, from building materials available, to weather conditions, to land prices, ground conditions, specific uses and aesthetic reasons. To better understand the term building compare the list of nonbuilding structures.

Buildings serve several needs of society primarily as shelter from weather, security, living space, privacy, to store belongings, and to comfortably live and work. A building as a shelter represents a physical division of the human habitat (a place of comfort and safety) and the outside (a place that at times may be harsh and harmful).

Ever since the first cave paintings, buildings have also become objects or canvasess of artistic expression. In recent years, interest in sustainable planning and building practices has also become an intentional part of the design process of many new buildings.

The word building is both a noun and a verb: the structure itself and the act of making it.

As a noun, a building is 'a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place';[1] "there was a three-storey building on the corner"; "it was an imposing edifice" In the broadest interpretation a fence or wall is a building[2] However, the word structure is used more broadly than building including natural and man-made formations[3] and does not necessarily have walls and this term is more likely to be used for a fence. The definition of a low-rise vs. a high-rise building is a matter of debate, but generally three storeys or less is considered low-rise.[4]

As a verb Sturgis' Dictionary included that "the term differs from Architecture [sic] in excluding all idea of artistic treatment; and it differs from Construction [sic] in the idea of excluding scientific or highly skilful [sic] treatment."[5]Structural height in technical usage is the height to the highest architectural detail on building from street-level. Depending on how they are classified, spires and masts may or may not be included in this height. Spires and masts used as antennas are not generally included.

The first shelter on Earth constructed by a relatively close ancestor to humans is believed to be built 500,000 years ago by an early ancestor of humans, Homo erectus.[6]

Residential buildings are called houses or homes, though buildings containing large numbers of separate dwelling units are often called apartment buildings or apartment blocks to differentiate them from 'individual' houses. Houses may also be built in pairs (semi-detached), in terraces where all but two of the houses have others either side; apartments may be built round courtyards or as rectangular blocks surrounded by a piece of ground of varying sizes. Houses which were built as a single dwelling may later be divided into apartments or bedsitters; they may also be converted to another use e.g. an office or a shop.

Building types may range from one-room wood-framed, masonry, or adobe dwellings to multi-million dollar high-rise buildings able to house thousands of people. Increasing settlement density in buildings (and smaller distances between buildings) is usually a response to high ground prices resulting from many people wanting to live close to work or similar attractors. Other common building materials are brick, concrete or combinations of either of these with stone.

A Multi-Storey is a building that has multiple floors above ground in the building.

See the original post here:
Building - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's taken a little time, but Keystone Custom Homes' Worthington at Township Square neighborhood is quickly taking shape, with its residential and commercial/retail areas complementing each other.

There's a lot going on in the community, including a new model home and work on the apartment phase of the subdivision, said Janette Hawkins, vice president of marketing and information technology at Keystone.

The Manheim Township smart-growth development will feature 259 houses 196 singles, 33 duplexes and 30 townhomes along with rentals above the commercial space.

The model house is a 3,197-square-foot Manchester with traditional elevation, including a wraparound front porch, a stone front and three reverse gables with pent roofs.

"We beefed up the details in the architecture," she said.

The home isn't currently for sale, but the floor plan starts at $287,625 including Keystone's 21 percent anniversary discount and the base square footage is 2,953.

Hawkins said the Manchester is a new design "that's very open and ... flows very well."

The staircase "is tucked away toward the rear of the house," she said, while the kitchen, breakfast area and family room open to each other.

"It's a great space for entertaining."

The two-story family room boasts a bowed wall of windows, and the formal dining room is sizable, Hawkins said. A study is situated off the family room.

Here is the original post:
Construction of apartments underway in live/work Worthington neighborhood

Ledge is being excavated and retaining walls added to create a site for a retail building and parking lot on this 1.1-acre lot across the street from the Sports Center of Connecticut.

A stop-work order has been lifted by the Shelton Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) on the construction of the retail project at 781-785 River Road (Route 110), across the street from the Sports Center of Connecticut.

The developer now can move forward with footing and foundation work for the 5,800-square-foot structure being built. However, work on some of the excavation and grading will have to wait until the P&Z can act on the developers request to modify its previously approved site plan.

A view of the ledges vertical drop from the Turner Road house to the Route 110 road level, where a retail building and parking lot will be built.

A public hearing on the developers request has been scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22.

The developer is Bishop Management of Shelton, which includes principal Howard Soffan, owner of the Sports Center.

Work at the 1.1-acre site has been controversial because of how close the excavation is to at least one neighbor, whose Turner Road property abuts the development parcel to the north.

The excavation work has created a significant ledge drop-off near this neighbors property line.

Richard Schultz, city P&Z administrator, said having the developer put up an eight-foot-high chain-link fence to separate the excavated ledge from the Turner Road property owners land is a high priority.

Thats a safety issue, Schultz said.

See the original post:
River Road retail project: Some work can continue as developer seeks changes

Taylor Construction and Nally roofing.
Need help, had this roof and gutters installed awhile back and having problems. Still not fixed.

By: David Sisung

Follow this link:
Taylor Construction and Nally roofing. - Video