Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

NEW YORK - Here's how a 1932 guide to Manhattan describes the view of Central Park from the 43-story Essex House: "an unbroken vista - unequalled anywhere in the city. ... Few apartment buildings in the world are more ideally located."

Today, here's how visitors typically describe the park view from One57, an apartment building a block south of the Essex House and more than twice its height: "Wow!"

The same can be said of the building itself. One57 exemplifies a new type of skyscraper - very tall, improbably slender, ostentatiously opulent - that is reshaping a famous skyline composed mostly of bulky office buildings.

One such apartment tower under construction, 432 Park Avenue, will have a top floor higher than the Empire State Building observation deck. Another will have a top floor higher than any in One World Trade Center, which is officially (by virtue of its spire) the nation's tallest building.

The 432 Park penthouse has sold for $95 million; two duplex apartments at One57, now nearing completion, also are under contract, each for more than $90 million. Even a studio apartment on a lower floor at 432 Park (designed for staff - a maid or butler) costs $1.59 million.

What's most striking about these towers is their shape. The boxy old World Trade Center twin towers had a ratio of base width to height of 1-to-7 (209 feet-to-1,368 feet); an apartment house about to begin construction next to the Steinway piano showroom on 57th Street will be a feathery 1-to-23.

Such towers, also found in Hong Kong and Dubai, are shifting the focus of high-rise construction. Twenty years ago, only five of the world's 100 tallest buildings were at least partly residential, compared with 31 today. They include the Princess Tower in Dubai, at 1,358 feet the world's tallest apartment house.

Carol Willis, director of the Skyscraper Museum here, says this pencil-thin phase in American high rise building is dictated by "the logic of luxury."

These towers are built for a trans-national nouveau riche looking for a second (or third or fourth) home. Having made fortunes in nations less regulated economically and less stable politically than the USA, these buyers want a safe investment as much as, or more than, shelter. And they don't want to pay New York resident income taxes.

As a result, mansion-size apartments with 30-mile views will go unoccupied much or most of the time. Not since the Gilded Age, when Vanderbilts and Astors spent only a few months each summer at their marble Newport "cottages," will so much expensive space be so little inhabited.

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High-rise living, pricetags shoot for the stratosphere in NYC

SIDNEY, Ohio (WDTN) - Sidney fire officials said there may not have been working smoke detectors when an apartment building burned late Thursday night.

It happened around midnight at a four unit apartment building at 946 Port Jefferson Road and Clinton Avenue in Sidney.

2 NEWS was first on the scene as fire crews arrived.

They said fire engulfed a first floor apartment which they believe started near a kitchen area.

Three of the four units were occupied and those residents were quickly evacuated, forced out into the bitter cold along with their pets.

Several area fire departments assisted, relieving Sidney firefighters fighting the cold temperatures.

Investigators inside the smoldering building looked for signs of ignition.

Fire officials told 2 NEWS no one was hurt as all three residents were able to get out safely.

The Red Cross is assisting the displaced residents.

Cause and damage estimates have not been determined.

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Sidney fire leaves 3 homeless

NEW YORK - Here's how a 1932 guide to Manhattan describes the view of Central Park from the 43-story Essex House: "an unbroken vista - unequaled anywhere in the city. ... Few apartment buildings in the world are more ideally located."

Today, here's how visitors typically describe the park view from One57, an apartment building a block south of the Essex House and more than twice its height: "Wow!"

The same can be said of the building itself. One57 exemplifies a new type of skyscraper - very tall, improbably slender, ostentatiously opulent - that is reshaping a famous skyline composed mostly of bulky office buildings.

One such apartment tower under construction, 432 Park Avenue, will have a top floor higher than the Empire State Building's observation deck. Another will have a top floor higher than any in One World Trade Center, which is officially (by virtue of its spire) the nation's tallest building.

The 432 Park penthouse has sold for $95 million; two duplex apartments at One57, now nearing completion, also are under contract, each for more than $90 million. Even a studio apartment on a lower floor at 432 Park (designed for staff - a maid or butler) costs $1.59 million.

Such prices seem incongruous in a nation that has yet to recover from the 2008 financial crisis; that lost its lead in skyscraper construction decades ago; and that suffered a terrorist attack in 2001 that seemed to dampen enthusiasm for high-rise living.

And these mansion-size apartments with 30-mile views will go unoccupied much or most of the time. Not since the Gilded Age, when Vanderbilts and Astors spent only a few months each summer at their marble Newport "cottages," will so much expensive space be so little inhabited.

But what's most striking about these towers is their shape. The boxy old World Trade Center twin towers had a ratio of base width to height of 1-to-7 (209 feet-to-1,368 feet); an apartment house about to begin construction next to the Steinway piano showroom on 57th Street will be a feathery 1-to-23.

That kind of skinniness, also found in skyscrapers in Hong Kong and Dubai, is shifting the focus of high-rise construction. Twenty years ago, only five of the world's 100 tallest buildings were at least partly residential, compared with 31 today. They include the Princess Tower in Dubai, at 1,358 feet the world's tallest apartment house.

These towers are shaped by their clientele: a transnational nouveau riche looking for a second (or third or fourth) home. Having made fortunes in nations less regulated economically and less stable politically than the USA, these buyers want a safe investment as much as, or more than, shelter. And they don't want to pay New York resident income taxes.

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Sky's the limit: New towers for the rich soar in New York

South Bend, Ind. The housing boom continues in Downtown South Bend.

A site sale approved Thursday will result in the construction of a brand new four story building at the intersection of Hill and Colfax in the East Bank Village.

The $2.9 million project will add 13 apartment units to the mix. The developers are set to break ground in the spring.

We're not a loft but we would have some of that type of feel higher ceilings, stainless steel open floor plan to really attract that young professional demographic so it will seem high scale but our pricing and what we're looking to do for market rental rates will be feasible for that demographic, says Audra Sieradzki from Colfax at Hill.

The ground floor of the apartment building will be leased as commercial space. The city owns the development site, but Thursday agreed to sell it for $20,000.

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New apartment building is approved at Hill and Colfax

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Every year between January and July, termites swarm different areas of the country. They start in Florida and work there way up. During these first few months termites are active. But between the months of March to mid June these insects come out in severe swarms. All states are affected to an extent but the farthest northern states like north and South Dakota and Wisconsin do not have any severe swarming. These swarms can be determined by hot weather and rainfall in each individual area.

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They also cause the most damage. They like to eat wood, Dr. Potter said, and they dont differentiate between the wood outside and the wood in your house.

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"Termites are swarming big time this year," said Michael F. Potter, a professor of urban entomology at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington. "Swarming is the way new termite colonies are formed. Thousands of winged insects are vented from an existing colony, they land, their wings fall off, they pair up, excavate a cell in the ground and start making a new colony."

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"The plumbing and the electrical systems were also outdated," he said.

Five years ago, Mr. Zappulla turned those findings over to the Stewarts, who got the seller to make the needed repairs which cost nearly $30,000 before they bought the house for the list price of $305,000.

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Termite Inspection: Find a termite inspection service near you.

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Canada Power Washing Services | Industrial, Rail and Mobile ...

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Commercial Property Power Washing | Commercial Window Cleaning ...

13 December 2013| last updated at 11:47PM

KUANTAN: TENGKU Mahkota Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah wants all relevant agencies to speed up the cleaning of flood-stricken areas in the state to prevent the spread of diseases.

"Since the floodwaters have receded in most areas, I hope the residents will also step up measures to keep their vicinities clean, including clearing clogged drains and disposing rubbish in garbage bags.

"People must look out against infectious diseases and I believe a clean neighbourhood will keep rats and cockroaches away. I want the authorities to take a more proactive role in addressing issues involving cleanliness," he said after a briefing by Kuantan Municipal Council president Datuk Zulkifli Yaakob here yesterday.

The Public Services Department's (PSD) newly-formed JPA4U volunteers hit the ground yesterday to help victims clean their homes and distribute aid.

Led by PSD director-general Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal, about 60 members took part in various chores, including helping to distribute food and washing homes at Cenderawasih here.

He said JPA4U had about 300 members and they hoped to encourage more youngsters from the department's agencies to participate in humanitarian activities.

In Pekan, Sultanah of Pahang Sultanah Kalsom, who is also the patron of the Sultan Ahmad Shah Environment Trust, handed personal hygiene items, including toothbrush, soap and blankets, to 153 families who were sheltering in SM Sains Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah.

In Seremban, Energy, Green Technology and Water Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said power supply to affected areas in Pahang was expected to be fully restored in the next four days.

As of yesterday, there were still areas without power supply.

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'Hasten flood clean-up activities'

When the holiday season rolled around, Holly Joe, interior decorator, said that she could not resist decorating a Christmas mantel as part of Van Millworks Mantels and Mistletoe Holiday Showcase.

A full-scale interior designer by trade, Joe often mixes classic design with modern twists. In her piece for the exhibit, Joe decorated the library, which she said was a mahogany paneled room with bookcases and corner cabinets.

The room exudes warmth from the mirrored sconces and gilded chandelier, she said. I decided to play up the gold by introducing silver. Mixing metal tones is an on-trend decorating style that I knew would work in this traditional space.

The library suite that Joe has decorated for the exhibit is one of nine individual suites that represent different styles and architectural periods. For Mantels and Mistletoe, different area designers decorate each of the suites in a holiday theme. The display is open to the public through Dec. 20 in the Van Millwork Needham Showroom. The event, which is free to attend, but suggests an unwrapped toy or article of clothing to donate, benefits Horizons for Homeless Children, Cradles to Crayons, and The Italian Home for Children.

I got involved with Van Millwork's Mantels and Mistletoe event because I believe in giving back to help a good cause, well, three good causes, Joe said. As a full-scale interior designer, I normally work on single rooms and complete houses, but I couldn't resist decorating a mantel for Christmas.

In order to decorate her space, Joe said that she began by clearing the room of accessories and then began to organize the pieces that would add a modern flair to the traditional appearance of the Library.

After clearing the room of accessories, I laid down an evergreen garland on the mantel and around the chandelier. I brought in gold-dusted silver evergreen boughs and cut them apart to add sparkle and dimension to the mantel, she said. Next came the mercury candleholders with battery-operated candles and a round gilded mirror.My design philosophy is all about symmetry, so I took out the bookcase shelves and placed a 4-foot lighted Christmas tree in both spaces. The trees are decorated with silver, platinum and white ornaments intermixed with glittered snowflakes. This cozy library also includes a small chesterfield sofa that I've decorated with gold and silver pillows and a faux mink throw. To keep the space from becoming too formal, I added a little whimsy in the form of a large greyhound statue complete with gold and silver bow.

By mixing metals with the traditional wood paneling, Joe said that she was able to brighten the room and bring hints of sparkle. Joe added her work as a designer was reflected in her mantel in the sense she believes in putting a modern twist on traditional design. She said that New England architecture contains a lot of history and tradition, but adding an unexpected color or space can turn a house into a cozy and inviting home.

Though this exhibit is for display to the public, Joe said that making design choices for the home is based strongly on personal preferences.

The most important aspect of design is to be true to yourself, she said. Cultivate a collection and decorate with accessories you love and colors that make you happy. Your home should be a collection of treasures you found, no matter their provenance.

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Westwood resident decorates mantel for exhibit

(PRWEB UK) 13 December 2013

Ashley Flooring, the leading carpet and wood flooring specialist in the South East of England, is pleased to announce that they have a wide range of services lined up for 2014. While the firm will still offer an extensive range of traditional and classic carpet and wood flooring options, they are extremely excited about the new products for 2014. Anyone looking to style their home with a modern and contemporary feel will be delighted with what the company has to offer in the weeks and months ahead.

One of the most integral components of the Ashley Flooring success story lies with the friendly level of service the company offers. All of the team members employed by the firm receives comprehensive training in the products offered by the company. This means the firm welcomes any questions or requests for guidance that a customer may have. With site visits available for commercial and domestic clients, any client looking for flooring advice will get all the help they need from Ashley Flooring.

The company offers flooring solutions for all rooms, all property sizes and for all budgets. This is why the firm is recognised as offering the most comprehensive range of flooring Chertsey has to offer. Whether a client is looking for a carpet, vinyl flooring or natural wood flooring, there will be a suitable solution on offer. A great looking room starts from the floor up, and it is essential that homeowners or businesses do not compromise on what they are looking for with respect to flooring.

With full installation and maintenance services on offer, Ashley Flooring is able to provide the most comprehensive service for flooring in Staines in 2014. Sometimes maintaining the quality and condition of a carpet or wood floor is the biggest issue for a client but help is always at hand. Ashley Flooring provides all customers with a handy guide for flooring maintenance and the firm can attend at properties at any time to evaluate and repair carpets or wooden floors. The firm is keen to ensure that clients get exceptional value from their flooring solutions, which means providing a complete service package for all customers. Anyone that wants to ensure they enjoy their carpet, vinyl or wood flooring for many years to come should choose Ashley Flooring in 2014.

About Ashley Flooring: With close to fifteen years worth of experience in the flooring industry, Ashley Flooring is regarded as being the specialist flooring experts in Staines and Chertsey. The company offers a comprehensive range of flooring products as well as providing a comprehensive range of service options for all floors. The firm is happy to provide consultation at clients premises and offers a full fitting service. Ashley Flooring will even remove the old carpets from a clients property if required. For a complete carpet and wooden flooring service in the South East of England, be sure to contact Ashley Flooring.

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Ashley Flooring Will Transform Homes In 2014