Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

A wildfire hazard property assessment class was held in Castle Valley Aug. 25 to train eight members of the Castle Valley Fire Department and several fire personnel from the State Division of Forest, Fire and State Lands.

The class was held to train students on assessing the fire risk by using several homes in Castle Valley as examples and used a point system to determine how likely they were to catch fire during a wildland blaze. The class was conducted by Grand County Fire Warden Bruce Jenkins and FFSL Wildland/Urban Interface Coordinator Duncan Fuchise.

When determining the assessment for each property, the evaluator looks at the road leading to the property to determine if the road and bridges are adequate for fire engines to enter. The roads in the town are mostly adequate, but some are steep with inadequate cul-de-sac space at the end of the road. The evaluator also looks at the driveway leading to the structure and whether access is restricted by gates, low overhanging limbs, inadequate culverts or bridges, or narrow passage with no turnarounds. There should also be a reflective noncombustible address sign that can be seen from the road.

The construction of the structure is also considered in the assessment. The chimney should be screened, the gutters should be made of noncombustible material and are clean, fences that are attached to the house should be of fire-resistant material, windows should be double or triple paned or tempered glass. The eaves of a house, the vents, roofing material, exterior siding, and decks and balconies are also considerations, not to mention the defensible space around the house.

Anyone can ask for a free assessment of their house and property by calling the fire department and leaving a message at 435-259-3655. One or two of the evaluators will visit your property to determine how firewise it is and make possible suggestions.

It is sad to report the death of our longtime neighbor, Hank Freeman, who died at home during the early morning hours of Friday, Aug. 28. Born Harris Brown Freeman on Dec. 12, 1938, he lived in Castle Valley for many years and worked at various occupations, including as surveyor and satellite television technician.

He was an avid ham radio operator, having many friends, and was in contact with fellow ham operators around the world. He was very intelligent and had a technical mind with interests in many technical fields and he was always friendly with a keen sense of humor.

Hank was proud of his service in the United States Air Force. As an airman first class, he served six years in the Strategic Air Command during the turbulent Cold War years after the Korean War. He spent time at a SAC base in Wichita, Kansas, serving in an armament and electronics squadron and traveled on many missions to SAC bases across the country.

He spent a lot of time in the air in those historic B-52 Stratofortress bombers. During those years of high alert, he told me once, SAC kept a third of their fleet in the air at all times.

One night earlier this month Hank was out in the yard after dark getting a photo of the comet NEOWISE that was visible at that time. He tripped in the tall grass and damaged the bone around the area of an earlier hip replacement. After an operation in Salt Lake City and a period of recuperation at Moab Regional Hospital, he returned home but a reoccurring lung illness finally took its toll and he died. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

It was also tragic to learn of the untimely death of one of our former Castle Valley young women. Deone Ehlers Rhorer, 54, died unexpectedly from heart failure Saturday, Aug. 22 in Ogden. Even though Deone, the daughter of the late Jerry Ehlers and JoAnna Stoddard of Castle Valley, hasnt lived in the valley for a long time, she will be remembered by people in Castle Valley and Moab as a beautiful, bright and happy young woman.

Her family moved to the valley when she was 10 years old and she attended elementary and high school in Moab along with her nine sisters and a brother. Deone was a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and a 30-year real estate professional who left this world as a successful contributor to society during her short life.

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Local firefighters trained in wildfire hazard lot assessment - The Times-Independent

You can't always get what you want something Brie Larson has discovered the hard way and on a lot of occasions.

The Oscar-winning actress posted a video to YouTube on Sept. 3 in which she lists off a battery of films that she auditioned for and didn't get, and the list is stunning.

From just 2008 to 2009, she said she missed out on"Sucker Punch," "Gulliver's Travels," "It's Kind of a Funny Story," "Mars Needs Moms," "Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief," "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," "The Book of Eli," "Get Him to the Greek," "The Descendants," "Jennifer's Body," "Legion," "The House on the Left," "Drive Angry" and "Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen."

After listing "Untitled Nancy Meyers Project," Brie said, "Not sure what that one was but I didn't get it!"

Similarly, she missed out on the "Untitled Wayans Brothers Project."

"Not sure what that is, but it didn't happen for me," she said.

She didn't get "Avatar" either, but she doesn't even remember auditioning for the film.

Ironically, Brie who went on to star in the blockbuster "Captain Marvel" didn't get cast in Marvel movies "Iron Man 2 or "Thor."

Taking the long list of rejections in stride, the actress said was nearly cast in "Juno," "Thirteen," "Brink," "Smart House," "Tomorrowland," "Pitch Perfect," "Into the Woods," "Youth in Revolt" and "Peter Pan." Brie also made it to the final round of "Halt and Catch Fire" and "The Big Bang Theory" castings. Ultimately, she got none of them.

"It's a lot of heartbreak, folks," Brie said. "Here I am, still standing."

Brie noted that networks and studios actually passed on her for several projects, only to later offer her work. That's how she booked her gig on "United States of Tara."

In July, Brie said she also auditioned for "The Hunger Games," "Star Wars" and a "Terminator" film all of which she didn't get.

Brie's getting the last laugh now.

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Erin Andrews thinks Tyra Banks will 'nail' DWTS hosting gig - Wonderwall

Reportspedia announces a new report titled GlobalSwimming Pool Heaters Market, which outlines the rationale standpoint of the unpretentious forces of the market. It announces the addition of another new dimension to this industry explaining the performance of the major players. The Swimming Pool Heaters Market has also been segmented on the basis of the provincial players, out of which some are well established while some have newly entered the global market. These players have established actions such as research and development, determined to bring in new services that can efficiently compete with the other established players.

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DAVEYCIATElecro EngineeringLUXE PoolsMTHAqualux InternationalPahlen

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Solar Pool HeatingGas HeatingElectric Heat PumpsOthers

Swimming Pool Heaters Market Segment by Application:

ResidentialCommercialOthers

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Key Takeaways of the report

Some Points from Table of Contents

Global Swimming Pool Heaters Market Insight and Forecast to 2027

Chapter 1Swimming Pool Heaters Market Report Overview

Chapter 2Global Growth Trends

Chapter 3Market Competition by Manufacturers

Chapter 4Swimming Pool Heaters by Regions

Chapter 5Swimming Pool Heaters by Region

Chapter 6Swimming Pool Heaters Market by Type (2020-2027)

Chapter 7Swimming Pool Heaters Market by Application (2020-2027)

strong>Chapter 8Company Profiles and Key Figures in Swimming Pool Heaters Business

Chapter 9Production and Supply Forecast

Chapter 10 Marketing Channel, Distributors, and Customers

Chapter 11 Industry Trends and Advanced Strategy

Chapter 12Conclusions

Chapter 13Appendix

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Global Swimming Pool Heaters Market Is Likely To Experience a Tremendous Growth In Near Future | Know The Growth Factors and Future Scope - Scientect

The Movable Swimming Pool Floors Market globally is a standout amongst the most emergent and astoundingly approved sectors. This worldwide market has been developing at a higher pace with the development of imaginative frameworks and a developing end-client tendency.

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The worldwide Movable Swimming Pool Floors market is an enlarging field for top market players,

Segment by Type, the Movable Swimming Pool Floors market is segmented intoLiftHorizontal ExpansionFoldOther

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Regional and Country-level AnalysisThe Movable Swimming Pool Floors market is analysed and market size information is provided by regions (countries).The key regions covered in the Movable Swimming Pool Floors market report are North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. It also covers key regions (countries), viz, U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, etc.The report includes country-wise and region-wise market size for the period 2015-2026. It also includes market size and forecast by Type, and by Application segment in terms of sales and revenue for the period 2015-2026.Competitive Landscape and Movable Swimming Pool Floors Market Share AnalysisMovable Swimming Pool Floors market competitive landscape provides details and data information by players. The report offers comprehensive analysis and accurate statistics on revenue by the player for the period 2015-2020. It also offers detailed analysis supported by reliable statistics on revenue (global and regional level) by players for the period 2015-2020. Details included are company description, major business, company total revenue and the sales, revenue generated in Movable Swimming Pool Floors business, the date to enter into the Movable Swimming Pool Floors market, Movable Swimming Pool Floors product introduction, recent developments, etc.The major vendors covered:VARIOPOOLAqualiftEWAC MedicalLiftOHolland Aqua SightTWINSCAPEGUNCAST SWIMMING POOLSMyrtha PoolsAGOR Engineering Enterprises

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This Movable Swimming Pool Floors report begins with a basic overview of the market. The analysis highlights the opportunity and Movable Swimming Pool Floors industry trends that are impacted the market that is global. Players around various regions and analysis of each industry dimensions are covered under this report. The analysis also contains a crucial Movable Swimming Pool Floors insight regarding the things which are driving and affecting the earnings of the market. The Movable Swimming Pool Floors report comprises sections together side landscape which clarifies actions such as venture and acquisitions and mergers.

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Quantifiable data:-

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Movable Swimming Pool Floors Market Potential Growth, Share and Demand-Analysis of Key Players- Research Forecasts to 2024 - Bulletin Line

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Guangzhou JunJueBrunswickAlexs Billiard MechanicsPredatorImperialRiley SnookerCYCLOPDiamond BilliardsBalabushka CueJOY billiardsLangyan BilliardsFURYBeach BilliardsKing BilliardsADAMXingpai BilliardShanghai JUSShenderTrademark Global

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Segment by Type

Snooker billiards table blanketAmerican style billiard table blanketFancy nine ball table blanket

Segment by Application:

CompetitionLeisure And EntertainmentOther

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Pool Table Blanket Market Report Structure:

Report Highlights:

The report has 150 tables and figures browse the report description and TOC:

Table of Contents

1 Pool Table Blanket Market Study Coverage

1.1 Pool Table Blanket Product

1.2 Key Market Segments in This Pool Table Blanket Study

1.3 Key Manufacturers Covered

1.4 Pool Table Blanket Market by Type

1.4.1 Global Pool Table Blanket Market Size Growth Rate by Type

1.5 Pool Table Blanket Market by Application

1.5.1 Global Pool Table Blanket Size Growth Rate by Application

2 Executive Summary

2.1 Global Pool Table Blanket Market Size

2.1.1 Global Pool Table Blanket Revenue 2014-2026

2.1.2 Global Pool Table Blanket Production 2014-2026

2.2 Pool Table Blanket Growth Rate (CAGR) 2020-2026

2.3 Pool Table Blanket Market Analysis of Modest Landscape

2.3.1 Manufacturers Market Concentration Ratio

2.3.2 Key Pool Table Blanket Manufacturers

2.3.2.1 Pool Table Blanket Manufacturing Base Distribution, Headquarters

2.3.2.2 Pool Table Blanket Product Offered

2.3.2.3 Date of Manufacturers in Pool Table Blanket Market

2.4 Key Trends for Pool Table Blanket Markets & Products

3 Market Size by Manufacturers

3.1 Pool Table Blanket Production by Manufacturers

3.1.1 Pool Table Blanket Production by Manufacturers

3.1.2 Pool Table Blanket Production Market Share by Manufacturers

3.2 Pool Table Blanket Revenue by Manufacturers

3.2.1 Pool Table Blanket Revenue by Manufacturers (2020-2026)

3.2.2 Pool Table Blanket Revenue Share by Manufacturers (2020-2026)

3.3 Pool Table Blanket Price by Manufacturers

3.4 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans

More Information.

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Global Pool Table Blanket Market 2020: Size, share, COVID-19 impact analysis, Global Industry Trends, Growth Drivers, Demands, Business Opportunities...

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Phototherapy Equipment Industry 2020 Includes The Major Application Segments And Size In The Global Market To 2026 - The Daily Chronicle

When Kelly and Kevin McGauley walked their dogs, they often chose a route along White Bear Lake, past some vacant land where two homes had burned to the ground several years earlier.

Sometimes they talked about buying one of the lots if they ever came up for sale. But Kelly, owner of Leona Rose Interiors, wasnt sure she wanted to build.

As an interior designer, I never had a desire to build my own house, she said. I couldnt see creating something I wanted to live in long-term and putting so much energy into it. Its a little different decorating for yourself.

But the lure of the lake was too strong. When the property came up for sale, the Mahtomedi couple contacted the builder/owner, BCD Homes, and bought one of the lots.

Kelly had a strong vision for their new home. I wanted California contemporary style, she said, including a flat roof. I know enough to know that not every builder is capable of building that. So I asked, Will you? Can you? The builder assured them he could.

To design the home, the builder directed the McGauleys to PLAAD (Practice of Lasting Art, Architecture & Design), where architects Mark Stankey and Matt Byers have experience designing modern homes for Minnesotas harsh climate.

They also shared Kellys vision for what a lake home could be not just a home on a lake but a home designed to embrace the lake completely, while maximizing the width of a somewhat narrow lot that had been subdivided to accommodate two houses.

The overall goal with the architecture was to maximize the connection to the lake, said Stankey. Thats the main reason they built the house.

The connection to the lake begins as you approach the home. A glass cube flanked by concrete masses topped with clerestory windows and metal banding serves as the entry, with the door set to the left rather than center. You see right through the living room to the lake, said Stankey.

The one-level street front is quiet and restrained, according to Stankey, with less important spaces in the front of the house, including the garage and closet in the owners suite. Inside, the home opens up to the main living spaces, which offer sweeping views and access to the lake.

Large, stackable sliding windows on the back of the house maximize the connection to the lake. You can make the walls disappear in summer, said Stankey. You can blur and dissolve the boundary between inside and outside.

Theres even a glass-walled powder room. Its unexpected and really beautiful, said Kelly.

Wish list

Kelly also had a strong vision of the staircase she wanted to connect the main level to the walkout lower level, with its media room and bar.

One of my big wants was a floating metal and wood staircase, she said. And she wanted it without a stringer, a visible metal support mechanism. The team found a way to support the staircase through the walls. The media room has a glass-and-steel enclosure that frames and shows off the staircase. Its one of my favorite aesthetic features of the house, said Kelly.

In keeping with their clean-lined modern aesthetic, the McGauleys also wanted no trim throughout the house and doors that were flush with walls, with concealed hinges. Its really difficult to accomplish but executed to perfection, Kelly said.

The owners suite is on the main floor, right off the main living area, behind double doors. Both McGauleys work from home, so there are two offices, one on the lower level, lake side, for Kevin; one on the main floor in the laundry room for Kelly.

As a designer, I need lots of work surface, she said. So the countertop was extended over the washer and dryer. She can also pull a drape to hide the appliances.

In addition to the owners suite, there are three guest bedrooms on the lower level for the couples four young adult children, ages 20 to 23. We are a blended family, said Kelly. I have two sons, and my husband has two girls. The younger three are in college and live with the McGauleys part time, while the eldest has moved out.

They are always welcome, said Kelly. But none has their own bedroom. Last summer, when all four were living at home, she put a twin bed in a large closet to accommodate everyone. I came up with a schedule each one had 22 days in the hole.

The three guest bedrooms are themed. One is the Urban Retreat, with black walls and concrete floors. Its industrial and masculine, said Kelly. The Loft is white on white, with an airy, lofty feel, while the Library Retreat has a built-in twin bed with a trundle below and a rolling ladder to access bookshelves containing childhood memorabilia. We hope to have grandchildren, said Kelly.

Adding warmth and texture

Within the open floor plan on the main level, different ceiling heights and finishes were used to define spaces, said Stankey. Clean, modern walls are juxtaposed with stucco masonry that mimics concrete, adding tactile texture.

California contemporary can be cold, sleek and uninviting, said Kelly. My goal was to have it very warm, comfortable, relaxing and inviting.

The flooring on the main level is oak in boards of random widths with an oiled finish. The kitchen cabinets are walnut with a dark stain. The island base is metal, and the countertops are soapstone.

With our family, we need finishes we can live with, said Kelly. Soapstone and oiled wood floors are living finishes that develop a patina, as opposed to hard, polished surfaces that she considers more off-putting. When recommending such finishes to clients, she says, It tells the story of your life. Its perfectly imperfect.

Having a kitchen she loves has resulted in Kelly spending a lot more time there, even before the pandemic. When we built it, I said, I dont cook. We go out. Now I cook all the time. I bought cookbooks. Being here in this house, you dont want to leave. Its like youre at an amazing resort every day.

Her favorite thing about their home is the way it makes her feel. I feel welcomed, home and relaxed, she said. They love sharing their modern home and lake life with family and friends. Its built for people to enjoy. Even hard-core traditionalists love being in the house.

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Modern lake home in Mahtomedi blurs the boundary between indoors and outdoors - Minneapolis Star Tribune

The 50 States Project is a yearlong series of candid conversations with interior designers, state by state, about how theyve built their businesses. Today, were chatting with Fargo, North Dakotabased Lindsey Christie, who founded Lindsey Grace Interiors three years ago after moving back to her hometown and realizing that her dream job didnt exist. She tells us about the importance of on-the-job learning, why e-design hasnt taken off for her firm, and how she focuses on the value of saving time when shes pitching her services to clients.

Did you always know that you wanted to be a designer?I did. I dont know why I wanted to become an interior designerI didnt have any interior designers around me when I was growing upbut I think it stemmed from watching HGTV and thinking that was really cool. I had no idea what the career was, though, I just knew that I wanted to do it. I went to school and got my four-year degree at North Dakota State University. Once I signed up for the interior design program [and got the course list], that was the first time I actually learned what the career would truly look like. It was like, Whoa, do I actually want to do this? It was a lot more work than I thought it would be.

What made you have that initial reaction?When you first start, they spend an entire weekend going over what the different careers look like [within the design industry] and what you can do with them. They showed us that you can do residential, but you can also do commercial. You can do health care, you can design prisonstheres an interior designer for everything out there. And that was a little bit overwhelming.

And the subtext there is, Were going to teach you to do all of those things, right?Oh, yesand they definitely do. Our program focused more on the commercial side of things because they feel like if you know how to do that, you can really do anything within residential.

I love having interns, and thats because I had really great mentors myself and learned so much from them. I really push to my interns, and to young designers in general, that if you want to grow quickly in this industry, you need to get your schooling, but you also need to start working right away. I started working in the actual industry sophomore year and never stopped. I am pretty youngIve owned my business now for three years and Im not even 30 yetand the reason Ive been able to do that is because Ive had such lovely and amazing mentors. I interned under James Rixner in New York; after graduation, I went to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and worked under Bria Hammel while she grew her company.

A pair of brass pendant lights add shimmer to a bright white kitchen.Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

Whats some of the on-the-job stuff that you just cant learn in design school that was so helpful to you?How to talk to clients. That was the earliest thingsitting back and shadowing, learning how to talk to clients and run a design meeting. In New York, the other biggest lesson was all of the product that is out there and available to us as designers. Working alongside Bria, it was how to actually run a businesshow you sell the product, how you provide services for builders in order to have the new construction side of it.

I still keep in touch with all of my mentors. Running a business, theres always some new challengeI mean, Im three years in and I finally feel like, OK, this ship is not going to sink. I used to feel that way every day; now its maybe once a week. Its [so helpful] that I can still reach out to these amazing designers and ask them questions.

What made you want to launch your own firm?I moved back to Fargo to be with my husband, who has a career here. I was not planning on starting my own company, but I did a lot of interviews, and I quickly realized my dream job did not exist here. There are other designers in Fargo that do something similar to what I do, but I can truly say that none of them provide the same full-service decorating and new construction services, and I saw that and I saw that our market really needed that. I told my husband, Theres nothing out there that I want to do, and Im not going to settle. So I created my own business.

What exactly is your niche, and why was that so needed in Fargo?New construction here is booming. When I came in three years ago, it was extremely busy. One thing that I knew right away was that I wanted to build a relationship with local builders. I wanted to be the clients go-to, but I also wanted to be the builders go-to to have on the team to make it a really fun and easy process, you know?

Pale oak cabinetry in a serene master bathroom.Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

A soft patterned tile enlivens the shower floor.Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

Left: Pale oak cabinetry in a serene master bathroom. Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors | Right: A soft patterned tile enlivens the shower floor. Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

How did you pitch yourself to builders?I met up with a lot of builders when I first got here, and I saw that they were all sending their clients to the showrooms and then expecting the showrooms to communicate all the selections back to them. Some of the builders were even going to the showrooms with the clients! I was like, How are you building the houses and doing all the design work? So I really had to introduce the entire concept of full-service interior design and what that would look like to the market and to the community and how much of an asset it would be to everybody.

Were they receptive initially?No, it took a lot of convincing on the builder side of it.

Has that changed?Honestly, there is still a lot of educating consumers on what they should expect from an interior designer and the value that we bring. I work with business and marketing coaches to figure out how to really educate them on what to expect. Its gotten easier now as I [get new clients] through referrals.

The dreamy, light-filled master bath.Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

How has the firm grown in the past three years, and how did you build your team?I officially hired an operations manager last month, I have an intern, and we opened our brand-new studio space this month! Its our own personal office space in a shared building in Fargo, close to a lot of the homes I work on. Its actually one minute away from one of our big remodels right now! That wasnt the deciding factor, but itll be very convenient this year. I had been working out of my home, and I wanted a nice place to host my clients. Ill never do the retail aspect, but itll be a great way to showcase my personal brand.

Ive brought a lot of amazing furniture lines to Fargo, but up until this point, clients havent had anything to sit onthey just order it with a lot of trust in me. Now, well have a little seating area in the studio where clients can touch and feel. Itll all still be custom-ordered, but they can experience the different lines that we carry. Thats been another aspect of educating our market, is talking about the different quality of frames and what you can truly expect out of high-quality furniture.

How did you know what roles to hire for to build out your team?Ive been taking on a much larger workload, and I never want my client experience to waver from what it has been. So adding an operations manager will create more time for me to keep designing [by taking on] the pricing, order tracking and receiving. I also have interns, and one thing they have been really good at is the drawings. Thats extremely helpful as an asset to our company.

You mentioned that youve brought a lot of lines to Fargo, but in general, what kind of resources are available? How and where do you source?For commercial projects or finishes, we have great showroomsthe tile, countertop and cabinetry providers here are amazing, and I source all of that locally. And if they dont have what I want, I dont go to the cities. Instead, Ill ask them to bring in the product that Im looking for. We are really, really big on supporting local here.

On the more soft goods, furnishings side, what resources are available?I create my own resources. I brought a lot of the lines that I grew to love while working with James and Bria to Fargo, and everybodys really been loving it. Obviously, when I was in New York, I had amazing showrooms and I was really able to get my hands on a lot of great materials; when I worked with Bria, we would go to market [to meet with vendors]. She was in the early stages of starting her furniture line [Brooke & Lou], so you get to know the pieces really, really well.

How do your clients find you right now?We have a really great local publication, Midwest Nest, where I place print ads. They do a really great job locally. Thats something that I noticed was extremely different from Minneapolis. There, they have The Scout Guide that a lot of people will look at. But here, every single month, my mom, my aunts, my clients, everybody grabs an issue of Midwest Nest at the grocery store and throws it on their coffee table.

Thats amazing.Its so crazy, but it was huge for my business. I started running print ads there and people think, Oh, shes being featured. Thats what I did right away. I also really focused on my social media.

An ethereal bedroom in shades of white and pale blue.Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

What has your angle been for getting that right?I would say just being authentic and approachable. And also understanding that it is secondaryI dont expect my clients to find me on social media, but once they see my print ads in Midwest Nest and want to get to know a little bit more about me as a person, I try and have my social media showcase what they can expect the tone of our relationship to be and also get a really good visual sense of my aesthetic. I want to elevate our market and show that the Midwest can have amazing design.

When you talk about services, your site highlights new construction, decorating and e-design. How big is each of these categories for you?I would say its 50-50 between new construction and full-service decorating, but they happen within different phases of the year. In the summer, we are very focused on new construction, and then we phase into more decorating in the winter.

Has e-design been a big piece of the business ever?It hasnt. My clients want that in-person connection, not just the service.

How do you approach the client management piece of the business?I typically become the third person in their marriage! No, Im joking, but I think it works because people trust me, and they trust me because I am super authentic. I always want them to truly know that I am there every step of the way. Home building is a very emotional, expensive, exciting process, and I think that I bring a lot of value to my clients by just knowing that no matter what comes up throughout the process, its normal, Ive usually dealt with it before, and Ill be there to take care of it. For most people, building a home is probably the most money theyll ever spend on anything in their lives, and for it to be a miserable process that nobody ever wants to do againthat isn't good for our industry or the consumer, so I want my clients to feel like its a fun experience. It really should be!

The bedroom.Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

A set of caned dining chairs take center stage in the breakfast room.Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

Left: The bedroom. Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors | Right: A set of caned dining chairs take center stage in the breakfast room. Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

You touched on a topic Im super interested in at the moment, which is that sense of value. How do you talk about that? How do you help the client understand the value that youre bringing to the project?I talk about their time. I ask them, How much do you value your time? And then I walk them through what it would be like if I wasnt involved in the process versus if I were to be. Whether youre making a sandwich or planning a trip, everything is always better when its done by somebody else. Thats how I look at the home-building process, and especially the decorating process.

You mentioned age earlier. Have you experienced moments where you felt that being younger held you back or made it harder to do the job?Because I dont have kids, people sometimes think I dont know how to design for families with children, but I usually nip that in the bud in the first design meeting. Ive actually studied children and what they needreally, what everybody needs from their home. Thats what makes me a good designer.

Who is your client? Is it the young family with kids?It is! We do design for a lot of families with kids. Our ideal clients are people that just dont have time.

How have you established how you want to bill for your services? Right now, I offer flat rate fees for builders and industry professionals, and then every other project is hourly. I had to look to what my previous experiences taught me and then I felt out what was right. Thats something I tell my interns: Thats something that just takes experience, and its not going to be the same for each market. Along the way, if I felt that I needed to re-evaluate and make a little bit of a change due to the entire market, I would do that, but I have never changed [how I charge] based on how the client thought that they wanted to do it. I definitely think standing your ground and saying, This is how we run it, and its in the best interest of you and methats so important.

Pale cabinetry offers a subtle contrast against crisp white countertops and subway tile.Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

When you say for buildersis that a house with no homeowners yet?Yes, exactly. And after working with them [on a few projects], a lot of my builders now refuse to do a house without me. They realize the time they save by having me be a part of the project, so they dont even give the clients the option to not have me a part of the job. In those cases, the builder is essentially hiring me as a staff member.

How did you set that up?I reached out to all the builders and asked them how their current process was going and what their pain points were. I explained to them that by simply just adding me to their team, its going to make the experience look like this versus how it looks nowand they really couldnt say no, because it works! Having the clients taken care of during the build process and truly adding the value of my services, it was a no-brainer for everybody.

If you have a builder who has a client, does that tend to lead to more client work?Any client that they get, I will for sure get for this upcoming year. These builders are going to build at least three to four houses, so I will have three to four new builds with this one builder. It ensures that my pipeline is full, and then it leads to more work if that client decides to sign on for decorating services.

So when you are working on the builder side, its much more like the hard surfaces and the fixtures and things like that?Yes. I help the relationship, too, because if I have a client come to me first, I know each builders processes and how they operate, and Im able to then pair up the client with the builder that I feel would work best for them. That saves time on the builders end, having to interview clients that may or may not work out.

Christie placed a shelf for artwork over the sink.Courtesy of Lindsey Grace Interiors

How many projects do you have in the works at any given time? Its anywhere usually from nine to 14.

And youve been doing it by yourself until this month?Yes.

Do you see that number growing as you grow your team a little bit?I think so, though I dont know that [doubling the team] means Ill maintain double the projects Im working on. My goal is to maintain the customer and client experience. Making them feel the way that they do when they walk into their homes at the end of the process is definitely something that makes me want to keep doing it.

What is the biggest thing you wish you knew when you were launching the firm?Probably that youre never going to please everybody.

In terms of clients?Yes, theres just some people that, no matter what you do, theyre not going to be happy. So we probably shouldnt have got in there [and taken that job]thats been the biggest lesson. The other thing was just learning how to navigate every situation that is thrown my way. Everything is always new, and I think just recognizing that is something thatI had to recognize that Ill never always have it all the way figured out, and be open to growing and changing.

To learn more about Lindsey Christie, visit her website or find her on Instagram.

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How this North Dakota designer made the most of relationships with builders - Business of Home

Without warning last spring, millions of parents found themselves working from home while their kids attempted to do schoolwork under the same roof. The changes happened so quickly that families especially those short on space could only make the best of it with hastily arranged solutions.

Nearly six months later, many interior designers are helping clients make more considered decorating changes, big and small, to serve the whole family during the new school year.

Interior designer Everick Brown says a priority for his clients in the suburbs outside New York City has been finding enough quiet space and privacy to effectively work, study and take Zoom calls.

We all used to want a room with a view, says Brown. "Now everybody's just searching for a room with a door."

He's also focusing on health and wellness: A portable standing desk can easily be moved from room to room so family members can share it when one needs a break from sitting.

There are also desktop risers that turn any desk or even the kitchen table into a standing desk for part of the day.

This undated photo provided by interior designer Everick Brown shows a home office space designed by Brown in Harrison, N.Y. As families plan out space for handling school and work from home this fall, it's valuable to have plenty of natural light while working and an appealing backdrop beyond your computer screen for occasional breaks, as seen in this home workspace here. (Johnathan Bishop/Everick Brown Design via AP)

For families with younger kids, New Jersey-based interior designer Linda Kitson suggests finding a work table and chair scaled to a child's size, just as elementary school would have. Properly sized seating lets kids sit with their feet on the floor, which may help them concentrate and stay on task.

If a low table and small chair aren't available, try placing a stool or sturdy box under the table to create a solid resting place for little feet.

For adults, too, ergonomics matters: Be sure to use a desk or table and chair at the right height, so your feet can rest solidly on the floor and your back is supported.

Sometimes the answer is using a room in a completely new way.

Kitson has a client with two daughters who each had their own bedroom. They've now moved the two kids into one room letting them choose a new paint color together to make the space feel like it belongs to both of them and put desks in the other bedroom to create a shared classroom.

It's a temporary shift that can easily be undone if normal schooling resumes soon. In the meantime, it allows both girls to spend their school day in a space with plenty of natural light and a view out a window, rather than tucked away in a basement playroom.

And even if an entire room can't be repurposed, there are ways to give each family member a workspace that serves them. It doesn't have to be large: "48 inches wide by 24 inches deep is about all you need to accommodate notes and a pencil, and your laptop or iPad, and then a desk light," Brown says. "What we're really looking at is basically a 4-foot-by-4-foot space."

Some families might find that working near one another, rather than in separate rooms, is better -- especially those with young kids who may need some assistance with technology during the day.

"A lot of times when kids are left to their own devices or in their own room, they get distracted really easily," says New York-based interior designer Jenny Dina Kirschner. "So sometimes it is nice to have that communal working space."

For one client in Brooklyn, Kirschner carved out an open workspace within a living room by placing a desk along the back of the sofa. With ample shelving and closed storage along the wall behind the desk, this section of the living room becomes a micro-office that blends with the decor of the rest of the room.

While kitchen tables can be practical workspaces, there can be a downside to this solution.

"When it becomes somebody's command center, then they need to pick up and move that stuff every day. And you're sitting with somebody else's work staring at you, and they might be thinking, 'Oh, I need to go back to work after dinner,'" Kitson says.

This undated photo provided by Everick Brown Design shows a room designed by interior designer Everick Brown in Yorktown Heights, N.Y. Although writing desks or small tables in living rooms may have served a mainly decorative purpose in the past, Brown says they can be easily repurposed as an extra home workspace for kids or parents this fall, as seen here. (Everick Brown/Everick Brown Design via AP)

Managing that work/life balance is just as important as managing space, she says. We don't just need to work and study at home this year. We need to have fun, too.

New Jersey-based interior designer Terri Fiori says allowing a child to choose beautiful but calming colors for their bedroom can help create a workspace the student is excited about.

If your home has a window seat, she says, you can let kids spend part of the day studying there (or use it yourself). A view of the outdoors can help focus and boost everyone's mood.

Kitson even helped one client create a mini-parkour, or obstacle course, that their two young boys can use for fun, physical breaks from their school day. For daily exercise, these brothers will skip to a doorway, jump up to ring a bell, then use a 2-by-4 installed in the hallway as a balance beam. Hopping off of it, they'll crawl through nylon hoops, then climb over the back of a slip-covered sofa and crawl back to their school desks.

"They'll have all the endorphins of exercise," Kitson says, and hopefully return to their desks ready to focus on another hour of school, while their parents are working.

Link:
A room with a view? We're looking for one with a door. - The Oakland Press

When Indiana cities shut down due to the pandemic earlier this year, an Indiana University Bloomington student found a different way to experience his favorite cities through a virtual game.

Matthew Harrison, a junior from Carmel studying interior design in the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design, spent his quarantine virtually creating downtown Indianapolis and Bloomington using the building simulation video game, "Cities: Skylines."

"I have since finished Indianapolis as well as Bloomington and have moved up north to the Gary-Chicago area," he said.

In the video game, the building assets are already made by the game's developers. It's a matter of laying down each road and placing the individual buildings of each city.

"You build and maintain your own cities and grow them," Harrison said. "There's really no end to it. The end comes when you're either bored or you've achieved all goals set by yourself or the game's developers."

To begin a city, Harrison starts off by looking at Google Maps and focuses on iconography over accuracy. Bankers Life is placed where Victory Field is supposed to be, for instance; the field provided by the developers was too big for Harrison's layout. But although everything is "guesswork," as he calls it, a gamer can still come to the conclusion that the city is Indianapolis.

Harrison has logged 121 hours constructing Indianapolis and Bloomington. He said he works for about two to three hours a day, sometimes spending five hours on a day when he has more time. A simple mistake can take hours to fix.

Harrison said he accidentally made Lake Monroe a little too big, which cut off parts of Bloomington. However, he finds ways to make do with the tools he has and works around the mistakes.

Harrison said he takes breaks when things become too monotonous or if the game developers are updating the game. His current Indiana cities project takes credit for the most time he's ever put into a single project.

In the past, Harrison has worked on projects based off of San Francisco, various European cities, New York City, small towns in the middle of nowhere and more, he said.

"I've had projects come and go in this game, and I figured, why not do something that I would know personally?" Harrison said. "I've been to these places, I've lived in these places, and it just made more sense than trying to re-create a place I've never been to."

As a child, Harrison would play video games and build elaborate Lego creations. He and his dad once built a huge Harry Potter Lego setup mixed with different buildings from Spiderman and Star Wars. This basement creation was complete with a train track circulating around the buildings.

Harrison isn't the only designer in his family. His grandma and mom both do ceramics, and his mom also spends her time scrapbooking and landscaping the yard. She used over 200 rocks to create an aesthetic outdoor environment for the Harrison home.

While Harrison works, he likes to throw on some rock music such as Pink Floyd and AC/DC or podcasts for some background noise.

"I know I love working with buildings and designing them," Harrison said. "Something I would like to do eventually is get my master's in landscape architecture at the IU campus in Columbus."

But for now, he has a Reddit account where he posts updates on his building progress when he has time, now that he's back at IU for the remainder of his undergraduate studies.

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Virtual skylines: Student re-creates Indianapolis and Bloomington through video game - IU Newsroom