Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Introducing House Proud in Belmont. Interior Decorator Sue Morris, known as "The Design Coach," specializes in working with budget-minded clients. Morris, who has lived in Belmont with her family for 16 years, is a former textbook editor who returned to school in 2002, taking courses over a few years toward a Certificate in Decorative Arts.

The Design Coach was born during those years, as friends and friends-of-friends started asking Morris for help with their decorating dilemmas. She works in an informal but organized way as a consultant for clients who are looking for anything from a few paint colors to whole-house updates.

Visit wickedlocal.com/Belmont/blogs/houseproudinbelmont to learn more.

How did you get interested in decorating?

I think my interest in decorating started when I was very young and would create houses for my Barbies out of cardboard boxes! I spent a lot of time decorating those houses. Much later, when my husband and I bought out first house, I found that I really loved the decorating process. I truly enjoyed going to the paint store or the fabric store to pick out colors or fabrics. To me, drawing a floor plan is a good time. As I talked to other people, I realized that not everyone enjoyed the process... in fact, many of them found it painful.

What do you love most about decorating?

I love seeing how something as simple (and inexpensive) as a gallon of paint or a new light fixture can really transform a room. Since I have a home office, I spend a lot of time in my house, and I know how important it is to feel comfortable in your own home, and part of that is knowing that your home looks the way you want it to. That doesn't necessarily mean it looks like a home in a decorating magazine, but your home should reflect your taste and what feels comfortable to you. I love helping people realize that goal.

Was there a project you worked on that you are most proud of?

If so, what was it and why are you proud of it? My favorite project to date was actually my own home -- our summer cottage in RI. We practically rebuilt the whole house two years ago so I had to choose finishes -- from paint colors to light fixtures, tile, counters, and so on -- from a distance and often very quickly. I chose about 30 light fixtures over the course of one weekend. It was nerve wracking at times, and as with all construction projects, it went on much longer than we anticpated, but it was also very gratifying. Decorating a beach house is so fun because you tend to use a more whimsical approach and often choose materials and fixtures that you might not consider using in a full-time house. Our house ended up being featured in Builder and Architect magazine a year ago.

Why did you want to have a community blog?

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Introducing Wicked Local Belmont's newest community blogger

FRANKENLUST TOWNSHIP Robert Hardt grew sick and tired of picking up the remains of his mailbox after snowplows and snow knocked it loose.

So this winter he did something about it.

Before the snow started to fly, Hardt built wooden protectors for four of the mailboxes along southbound M-84 in Frankenlust Township.

"When you have snow being thrown, we used to have to replace two or three (mailboxes) a year," the 44-year-old Hardt said. "It's happened several times. I don't even keep track. We started putting (the protectors) together this year. We drill some holes and cement them down."

Hardt lives in one of the houses along M-84 with his family and rents out the other three houses next to his to tenants. With the new additions in front of the mailboxes, Hardt hasn't had to pick up his mailbox this year.

The line of four mailboxes along M-84 isn't the only place where the wooden protectors are being seen. They have dotted the area, whether done by professionals or at home in their own garage.

"It's getting to be more in popular demand," Hardt said. "I think some people just do it themselves. I see more and more of them put out, especially on highways such like this. If you travel along M-20 towards Mount Pleasant, I bet 50 percent of the people out there have them."

Hardt, who is the owner and works at Asphalt Bituminous Concrete, said that the wooden protectors for the mailboxes took him about 45 minutes to 1 hour to build and that all he needed was a few 2x6 wood boards, screws and some cement for the ground.

Hardt said that building it with gaps in the protector allows some of the snow to get through, but not enough to damage the mailbox.

"We've had a wet snow this year," Hardt said. "That's why there is a gap there. It let's some of it come through, but not all of it."

More:
Mail savers: Wooden mailbox protectors becoming new fad in Saginaw, Bay City region

HARRISBURG, IL (KFVS) -

Saturday kicks off a week-long effort to help get displaced storm victims started on repairing or replacing their homes.

A team of students and faculty from the SIU School of Architecture will be at the Harrisburg Public Library from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 10, and every day through March 17.

They'll be offering free residential design services to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed.

The architects and architects-in-training will visit the home sites, take pictures and collect information about the location. Then they'll evaluate what remains of the home. Based on interviews with the families, they'll create working drawings to repair or replace the homes.

"They'll design new homes at no cost to homeowners to walk them through the entire process of putting their homes back together," said Harrisburg Mayor Eric Gregg. "Those are things you don't think about on day one, but you definitely think about it going forward because that's a huge need. There are hundreds of homes that have been damaged and if you've got people who are experts willing to come in and help us, we're going to greet them with our arms wide open."

SIU organizers say the goal is to offer a valuable service to families at this early stage, to help them plan and begin preparing for the future as well as offer students valuable hands-on learning experience.

Homeowners are encouraged to bring in photographs of their home before the tornado to help with the design.

Copyright 2012 KFVS. All rights reserved.

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SIU architects to help Harrisburg tornado victims redesign homes

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson was disappointed with his team's performance in the 3-1 defeat to in-form Reading.

Mikele Leigertwood gave put the Royals ahead after 15 minutes before Jason Roberts and Simon Church scored late on to wrap up the points, meaning Neil Danns' injury-time goal was only a consolation.

Pearson said: "Reading are good team in a rich vein of form but we contributed to our own downfall.

"We need to start games better. The annoying thing is that we have caused problems by not applying ourselves in the right way in the first half. I will have to consider making changes.

"To make the play-offs now is a massive task. We have had two games this week where we have contributed massively to our own downfall. I am unhappy about the way we have gone about the game.

"There's a lot of hard work to be done because that was not good enough and I will be demanding a reaction in our next game against Birmingham."

See original here:
Pearson: Architects of our own downfall

LOWELL -- The roofing and siding company from New York that performed work at Westminster Village has been penalized by the state for operating without a valid workers-compensation policy in place.

In late December, the state Department of Industrial Accidents issued a "Stop Work Order" to the roofing and siding contractor after officials determined the company did not have a valid workers' compensation policy for work at the complex on Pawtucket Boulevard.

Since then, the state has fined Upstate Roofing and Siding of Monroe, N.Y., $700 and has debarred the company from bidding or participating on any public contracts in the state for the next three years, said Greg Freed, a spokesman for the state Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

"If a company fails to carry workers' compensation insurance coverage and injuries occur, injured workers are left to fend for themselves," said Philip Hillman, the director of the Department of Industrial Accidents. "Workers' compensation insurance pays for necessary medical treatment and offsets lost wages associated with injuries or illnesses incurred on the job."

The company was permitted to resume work after providing proof of workers' compensation insurance and paying the fine, Freed said.

Also in late December, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an "Imminent Danger" notice to Upstate Roofing and Siding.

Inspectors from OSHA's Andover office observed

OSHA's inspection of the site is continuing, said OSHA spokesman Edmund Fitzgerald.

Upstate Roofing and Siding's office was closed yesterday and a voicemail left was not returned.

Prior to the roofing problems, electrical contractors closed up walls after doing wiring work in about 100 units and before calling for city electrical inspections of the work.

Read more from the original source:
State fines roof firm at Lowell complex

CONCORD, N.C. --

CONCORD, N.C. -- In an effort to be more competitive with other utility providers, Concord will now offer rebates for customers who install high efficiency heat pumps in their homes.

Concord City Council members approved the rebate program unanimously at their meeting on Thursday, following some debate over the programs merits. Concord will offer a rebate of $400 per unit for efficient heat pumps installed in new or existing homes.

The cost of power has been going up, said Electric Systems Director Bob Pate. People have been seeing increases. Were not unlike Duke and co-ops and Electricities. They have heat pump programs.

The program rebate resembles what Power Agency cities such as Monroe, High Point, and Gastonia are offering their customers, according to Concord officials. Union Power does not offer a rebate but they offer to finance the total replacement cost of a more energy efficient heat pump. Duke Energy offers a rebate program for higher efficiency heating and cooling equipment.

The program is a way to help lower the customers cost with an added benefit of helping to lower the citys peak demand during the summer, city officials said.

Approximately 56 percent of the energy use in a typical American home can be attributed to heating and cooling, making it the largest energy expense in the home, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Heat pumps are considered a good energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners for climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, according to the Department of Energy.

Heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space into a warm, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer.

They move heat rather than generate it. The most common type of heat pump is an air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. Households that heat with electricity can reduce their electricity use by 30 to 40 percent by using a heat pump, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. High efficiency pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, lowering energy use while increasing cooling.

Read the rest here:
Concord rebate plan turns up heat on utility competitors

Theres an old saying that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It serves not only as a place to cook and eat, but also as a place to gather. A place where homework gets done and mail is sorted. A desirable kitchen can raise the value of your home and make the time you spend in it more productive and enjoyable. Kitchen renovation can easily get out of hand, but there are ways to revamp your cooking space without emptying your wallet. Before you do anything related to finances, decide if you are going to do a small-scale or large-scale kitchen renovation. This will help you make smarter choices throughout the process.

Budgeting When you have a clear vision of how far you want to take your kitchen renovation, figure out exactly how much you can afford to spend and draw up a budget. DIYLife.com suggests building extra cash into your budget for the inevitable surprises that pop up as you go. The website also says you should write up a list of renovation priorities. This way, you know what to eliminate if your start running low on funds. If you are having trouble determining a ballpark estimate for how much your kitchen transformation will cost, CraftsmenNetwork.com has a handy kitchen remodeling calculator that factors in area and time constraints.

Where did the money you are planning to use for your kitchen remodeling come from? Is it from a stash you set aside for a rainy day, or did you get a loan specifically for the renovation? This will make a difference. Remember to include fees that come along with borrowing and how much you will have to pay in interest when drawing up your budget.

If you want a large-scale kitchen renovation, be aware that you may have to leave your house during the project. If you cant stay with a friend or relative, you will have to spend money renting a room or apartment. Even if you decide to stay, you will be going about your daily life without a kitchen for a period of time, which means more restaurant bills and take out tabs. Think about your options and factor these extra costs into your budget.

Keep track of your finances as you go. This will help you stay on budget and see how much wiggle room you have. If you wait until the project is almost complete to fill in your spreadsheet, you may discover you have strayed far away from your original budget. Small-scale remodeling Instead of gutting the whole kitchen and replacing everything but the kitchen sink (and maybe that too), you have the option of improving your kitchen and giving it a noticeable makeover by making small changes. You can reface your old cabinets and drawers with veneer instead of getting all new doors.

Selecting the right color paint can make all the difference in a room, and you can save money by doing the painting yourself. A word of caution: you might want to stay away from trendy kitchen colors, as these may make your kitchen undesirable when you go to sell your house. Getting new and improved light fixtures can help brighten up your kitchen, not to mention make it more ecofriendly.

Internal changes can also help transform your kitchen. Cut some of that cabinet clutter by investing in organizers. These can open up more storage place while saving you the time and frustration that goes along with rummaging through your cabinets. Something as simple as that can make you feel better about your kitchen and save you thousands of dollars.

Read more from the original source:
Kitchen Fixes on a Budget

The rain on Friday stopped just in time for Johnson County leaders and officials to hold the ceremonial groundbreaking for the countys new adult probation building.

The new building will cost about $4.6 million and will relocate the adult probation departments employees primarily into one location.

Officials have said the building is long overdue and when completed, it will create a more efficient adult probation department thats divided into three buildings, Adult Probation Director Toby Ross said.

Ross said hes waited a long time for the county to finally approve the building, but he said he knows theres still more work to be done.

Weve waited for this for years, but its not over, yet, he said.

About 80 people showed up for the groundbreaking, including each county commissioner, state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, Cleburne Mayor Justin Hewlett, county commissioner candidates and several probation office employees.

Im happy about the progress and what weve been able to do, said 413th District Judge William Bosworth, who helped lead the charge for the new building as the countys administrative judge.

Bosworths role as administrative judge allowed him to be a liaison between the county and its department, making sure everything ran smoothly.

The probation building has needed more room for a long time, Bosworth said.

One of the probation offices in downtown Cleburne has been overcrowded for a few years, Johnson County Judge Roger Harmon said.

More here:
New probation building to begin construction soon

Post-Gazette

This five-bedroom home in Bell Acres has Victorian-style features, including a grand turret, high ceilings and a wrap-around porch.

There are lots of reasons to love Victorian style -- high ceilings, wrap-around porches and cozy turrets to name a few -- but the maintenance that usually comes with these classic beauties can be daunting. Fortunately, there is lovely home at 165 Summerlawn Drive in Bell Acres that has all of the belles and none of the alarming whistles.

The five-bedroom, 51/2-bath house (MLS No. 900843) is on the market for the first time for $465,000 with Realtor Carroll Ferguson of Howard Hanna Real Estate (412-741-2200 or http://www.howardhanna.com).

The 13 years-young home is picture-perfect, with a grand turret, lots of windows and a wrap-around porch that urges you grab a seat and take in the view. Hugged by lots of natural landscaping, the entryway is made more inviting by pair of evergreens that flank the low stairs.

BELL ACRES

Website: http://www.bellacresborough.org

Size: 5.38 square miles

Population: 1,388 (2000 census)

School district: Quaker Valley (www.qvsd.org)

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Buying Here: Bell Acres

By Penny Stine Friday, March 9, 2012

We have been remodeling our master bathroom for about a month. When I say we, I should clarify: It doesnt include me. Although I did go with the tile guy to choose the tile, I havent done much beyond that. Not only am I totally unqualified to do anything remotely handy, Im having a hard time getting excited about bathroom choices.

At the home improvement store, I had to admit to my husband that I didnt care about the light fixtures. That doesnt mean Im not grateful that were doing the remodel or indifferent to the process, it just means that I have no strong preference regarding toilets, lights or cabinetry.

Our bathroom was at the point where anything would have been an improvement. Seriously. ANYTHING. There was no one feature that was terribly wrong with the room, but there wasnt anything right about it, either. Our house was built in the 1970s, and although the 70s are known for good music and weird clothing, it wasnt an era in which they were building classic homes. When we bought the house, it came with avocado fixtures in one bathroom, blue fixtures in another and off-white carpet in both.

We replaced the avocado toilet years ago, along with the carpeting in bathrooms frequented by teenage boys. Replacing the blue toilet and carpeting in the master bathroom never seemed like an urgent priority. Then we noticed the faucet in the shower had a permanent drip, the carpet had turned from off-white to grungy-gray and we realized the bathroom had outlived its useful service life.

Plus, our master bath included a 32-inch shower, which is pretty roomy if youre one of the seven dwarfs. Not so spacious if youre an average-sized adult. The room was too small for a tub-and-shower combination and the placement of the window made expanding the shower tricky. So we brought in an expert tile guy, who took one look and gave us an option that neither my husband nor I had considered.

The bathroom remodel hasnt been a major inconvenience because we have three bathrooms in the house and only three people currently live there. Were rarely home at the same time, let alone trying to shower and get ready for work at the same time.

It has, however, thrown Howie the dog for a big-time loop. As a former shelter mutt whos probably got some red heeler and dingo in his blood, Howie is a fiercely protective herding dog. Some people would say hes a maniac with issues, but he only acts that way when someone tries to invade his castle or mess with his herd.

Having the tile guy and his helper working in the house for a week was an invasion only second to Normandy. Fortunately, Howies a smart dog and eventually agreed to a truce, at least until the bathrooms finished.

Howie also likes to keep track of his herd at all times, which means he follows us around from room to room. Our house is a tri-level, and during the bathroom remodel, Ive been schlepping around with my toiletries in a basket as I alternate between using the downstairs bathroom and the upstairs bathroom. I should have just invaded one of our other bathrooms during the duration, but a bathroom invasion by me is more like an Occupy Wall Street event, and I couldnt do that to my family.

Read the original here:
Call off the hounds. Bathroom remodel is almost complete