Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

CHERRY HILL, NJ Bargain retailer Stein Mart announced its plans to shutter nearly 300 of its locations across the country on Wednesday, including the Cherry Hill store and all other New Jersey locations. The decision comes after the company previously filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In a statement, the 112-year-old company cited changing consumer spending habits (exacerbated by the global pandemic) and a new economic landscape that fails to provide the business with "sufficient liquidity to continue operating in the ordinary course of business."

The chain stated its intentions to close a "significant portion, if not all" of its nationwide locations. While closing dates will likely vary by store, liquidation sales are set to begin immediately.

The store in Cherry Hill is located in the Ellisburg Shopping Center, 1600 Kings Highway North, Suite 20. It also has stores in Holmdel, Ocean and Watchung.

Stein Mart first opened its doors in 1908 as a department store in Mississippi before expanding to 30 states. The company employs over 8,000 people at nearly 300 locations.

The discount retailer is not the first business to cave under the economic stress of the coronavirus pandemic: JCPenney, Men's Wearhouse, Pier 1 Imports, Sur La Table and Muji have all filed for bankruptcy as of late.

Earlier this year, Victoria's Secret's parent company, L Brands, announced that over 250 stores in North America would close permanently this year, including stores at The Grove in Shrewsbury.Tween retailer Justice's parent brand Ascena Retail Group has also announced plans to shutter hundreds of stores nationwide.

With reporting from Nicole Rosenthal, Patch Staff .

Originally posted here:
Stein Mart Expected To Close All NJ Stores, Including Cherry Hill - Cherry Hill, NJ Patch

NEW BEDFORD This summer, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is sharing samples of some of its gallery exhibitions, outside on its plaza at the corner of Johnny Cake Hill and William Street. The five-part series called "Inside Out!" runs through Oct. 15, with a new exhibition starting every two weeks. A curator talk is scheduled for each of the five exhibitions. "Inside Out!" is on display daily, Monday through Sunday, free of charge. The Whaling Museum galleries are open Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Details are available at http://www.whalingmuseum.org.

Photographs representing a sampling of the exhibition "Youth Voices for the Ocean" are on view through Aug. 19 as part of "Inside Out!" The exhibition features the student winners of the international Ocean Awareness Contest run by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs. The outdoor exhibition was curated by Robert Rocha, Director of Education and Science Programs at the Whaling Museum.

Next up for Inside Out! is "A City of Immigrants: The Standard Times Collection," running Aug. 20 through Sept. 5. The Standard Times Collection of photographs captures turn-of-the-century communities and individuals in Greater New Bedford.

Akeia de Barros Gomes, PhD, curator of Social History at the Whaling Museum, commented, New Bedford was, and is, a cosmopolitan city of incredible opportunity. Immigration shaped the landscape, culture, cuisine, and very character of the city. These captivating images from the Standard Times Collection help tell the stories of Polish, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Irish, Italian, Cape Verdean, Portuguese, Jewish, Greek, and other immigrant communities in the early 20th century.

A virtual curator talk with de Barros Gomes takes place online on Aug 20, 6 to 7 p.m. The event is free, but advance registration is required. Information on how to register is at http://www.whalingmuseum.org.

"A City of Immigrants: The Standard Times Collection" complements the Whaling Museums initiative Common Ground: A Community Mosaic, which is documenting the stories, memories, and lived experience of people and communities in Greater New Bedford. Both A City of Immigrants and Common Ground are curated by de Barros Gomes. Community members can contribute their own stories to the initiative at http://www.CommonGroundMosaic.com.

"Inside Out! A Moment in Time," showcasing images from the Whaling Museums photo archives, runs Sept. 3 through Sept. 16 and is curated by Emma Rocha, curatorial assistant. Each image has characteristics that makes it identifiable as being from a specific time period. Viewers will be invited to guess the year each photograph was taken. A curator talk date will be announced in the near future as will the remaining two Inside Out exhibitions.

About the New Bedford Whaling Museum

The New Bedford Whaling Museum ignites learning through explorations of art, history, science and culture rooted in the stories of people, the region and an international seaport. The cornerstone of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the Museum is located at 18 Johnny Cake Hill in the heart of the city's historic downtown. The Museum is operating on reduced hours due to the corona virus pandemic. Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Admission is free for Museum members and children ages three and under; adults $19, seniors (65+) $17, students (19+) $12, child and youth $9. For more information visit http://www.whalingmuseum.org.

See original here:
New Bedford Whaling Museum turns its exhibitions Inside Out! - Fall River Herald News

Harry Truman famously kept a sign on his desk in the Oval Office that said The Buck Stops Here. But last weekend, President Trump literally passed the buck to the states. His executive order on coronavirus relief forces the states to somehow find billions of dollars to fund unemployment benefits for jobless residents. It is the proverbial straw that may break the backs of the camels. In this case, the camels are the villages, towns, counties, and states suffering in the economic downturn amidst the pandemic.

The media is consumed by the current debate between Republicans and Democrats for the level of the weekly unemployment benefits in the next stimulus bill. But the real and overlooked economic story here is not over $400 or $600 for weekly unemployment benefits. It is the $900 billion in revenue losses related to the coronavirus in state and local governments over the next two years. The number is both ruinous and lasting.

State and local governments make up about 18 percent of gross domestic product and employ almost 22 million workers. You simply cannot prop up the nation by weakening one of its own legs. State and local governments also provide 80 percent of total spending on infrastructure at a time when Washington has effectively retreated from such key investments.

After the Great Recession, state and local investments in infrastructure fell 18 percent, according to the Volcker Alliance. It said this lack of spending has already left behind almost $1 trillion in deferred maintenance of roads, bridges, mass transportation facilities, schools, water and sewer systems, and other infrastructure, a number that is likely to grow significantly in the absence of direct federal support. Think about this the next time your car rattles over some potholes or your train to work shows up late.

This is not a Republican or a Democratic divide. Red states and blue states are reeling. The New York Times has cited the report by the Urban Institute that sales tax revenues were down 20 percent in the spring over the same period last year, according to data from 46 states. The $2 trillion stimulus deal in March had $150 billion for state and local governments.

The bandage has been washed away by the fiscal hemorrhaging. House Democrats allocated almost $1 trillion in state aid in the legislation they approved in May. Senate Republicans have included no more aid in their proposal. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana proposed around $500 billion several months ago, and some House Democrats seem to be coalescing around that number for the next round of legislation.

Meanwhile, instead of getting relief, governors in both parties got a bill for the extension of unemployment benefits. It is $4 billion in New York, more than $1 billion out in Kentucky, and $26 million weekly out in West Virginia. Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas said his state could pay, but it means taking money away from other areas of the budget.

The state of the states is horrific. The impact on their budgets is structural and lasting. It may fundamentally reshape the fabric and infrastructure for all our communities. Without federal assistance, the Rust Belt will become even rustier, and our landscape will include 21st century ghost towns that can no longer afford to give or pay for services for their residents.

That is why Congress should pass legislation to create a Commission on State and Local Government Finances that will diagnostically assess the problem and submit a report within six months on steps needed to solve it. Our governors, mayors, and experts must be recruited to serve. It may not be the sexiest topic. It may scintillate only municipal controllers and credit ratings analysts. But as Tip ONeill said, All politics is local.

Steve Israel represented New York in Congress for 16 years and was the chairman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2011 to 2015. He is now the director of the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs at Cornell University. You can find him on Twitter @RepSteveIsrael.

Continued here:
Congress must create commission on finances of states and localities | TheHill - The Hill

Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company in the Yorkshire Dales.

Jonathan has written his own book, the Dales 30 which details the highest mountains in the Dales.

He also runs one-day navigation courses for beginners and intermediates. Join his Learn a Skill, Climb a Hill weekends in the Dales.

To find out more details on any of the above visit his website, where2walk.co.uk

SOME of the best limestone in the country can be found between Settle and Malham and the Settle Loop (officially a bridleway) passes through some of the best.

From one of the two large car parks in the centre of Settle follow the road past the Co-op and in to Upper Settle and up a steep lane past the small wood.

This is the steepest part of the day so head down and get it over with.

After the gradient reduces it is only half a mile to a lane on your left, signed with the Pennine Bidleway/Settle Loop. The steep hillside to your left is Sugar Loaf Hill (Rye Loaf is further on to your right.)

Follow the farm track towards Stockdale Farm. This is sheep farming country, classical Dales with dry stone walls, exposed limestone scars and short cropped grasses.

Ignore the track cutting in to the farm itself, continue on the higher track.

The rocky track continues to climb until it reaches a high point passing through two gates. Carry on following the path as it descends towards another gate, Nappa Gate.

Follow the route to Langscar Gate in a north easterly direction through some lovely exposed limestone. It is here that the views over Malham Tarn may entice you down but it is an awfully long way back if you choose this route!

Keep the wall to your right initially and see if you can spot Nappa Cross and mine shaft just before it drops steeply east. Do not follow the wall but stick to the obvious path NE until it meets a further path heading west. This is the start of the return route.

The path west initially climbs and then is relatively flat for three miles, it is a lonely spot with birds and sheep only breaking the silence. After three miles arrive at a gate, do not go through it but take the path to the left to a small stile and a path that heads south with steep land to your left.

After 200 metres a sketchy path leads 100 metres uphill to Victoria Cave, well worth a detour.

Discovered in 1837 the cave has been both a historians and archaeologists dream. Past discoveries have included bones from hippos, rhinos and elephants when the climate was much warmer, a brown bear when it was colder.

Returning to the path next to the wall carry on south and through a stile where the land opens up. For a while. Drop down the path under Attermire Scar to a junction of paths at a gate. Take the right hand path through the gate and to a ladder stile (the ground can be wet here) before climbing alongside a wall to your left for 300 metres.

To your right a path leads to Attermire Cave (great shelter for past travellers) but return to the main path until it reaches its high point at a gate.

From here the views over Settle and Ribblesdale open up impressively, it is a fine spot.

Keep heading east on a path dropping steeply towards Settle/Giggleswick until you come to a wall.

Turn left, past a barn on your right, through a gate and into a lane taking you again steeply down in to the market town of Settle where the walk started.

Fact File:

Distance: Roughly 10.5 miles.

Height to Climb: 500m (1,640 feet)

Start: SD 818635. There are two car parks in Settle, one near the rugby ground, the other just to the west of the main square..

Difficulty: Medium. All on good tracks (except the short detour to Victoria Cave) and with a steep start and final descent above Settle.

Refreshments: Settle has a large choice of cafes, pubs and shops.

Be Prepared:

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL2) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass.

More:
Landscape is national highlight - Craven Herald

Lots of place names in our region stem from the great efforts of North American western expansion and early exploration. Early Spanish trekkers Dominguez and Escalante may have been the most notable foreign trekkers to make routes and notes of the rugged and unknown West. But the real mapping, especially of the Four Corners area, was done by the Hayden Survey of 1875, a subsequent project to an earlier Hayden survey.

The town of Hayden in west-central Colorado bears the name of Ferdinand V. Hayden, who led the survey. One can think that his efforts were centered there in the lush green meadows and alpine buttresses near Steamboat Springs, Colorado. But that was just one of his numerous stops. Many early explorers on that team, as perhaps a reward for their efforts, had a place named after them.

This is true of the La Sal Mountains, especially its tallest peak, Mt. Peale. Albert C. Peale was one of many scientists who charted this territory, some of the last to be mapped in the lower 48 states. (The Henry Mountains west of us was the last range to be mapped.)

Besides knowing very little about the terrain, white men didnt know much about the Native Americans who peopled the region. There were at times dangerous and deadly conflicts between Natives and newbies, some of which occurred on the eastern side of the La Sals, in the Two-mile area not far from Old La Sal and the route to what is now Buckeye Reservoir.

A fascinating book by Robert S. McPherson and Susan Rhoades Neel titled, Mapping the Four Corners, Narrating the Hayden Survey of 1875, provides a peek at some of our favorite and familiar places, and what might have occurred there when white outsiders showed up.

The book quotes a variety of voices who tell of their experiences.

The survey of 1875 included a team of cartographers, geologists and scientists who thought they would enjoy a summers revisit of the Four Corners following earlier mapping efforts. But, as the book tells, the voyagers found their trip to be more challenging than expected, as the review on the dust cover of the book explains. The travelers describe wrangling half-wild pack mules, trying to sleep in rain-soaked blankets, and making tea from muddy, alkaline water. Along the way, they encountered diverse peoples, evidence of prehistoric civilizations, and spectacular scenery, said the review.

Everyone they met was not glad to see them: In southeastern Utah surveyors fought and escaped a band of Utes and Paiutes, who recognized that the survey meant dispossession from their homeland.

The book is No. 83 in the American Exploration and Travel Series of books, published by University of Oklahoma Press.

Haydens team was accompanied by early photographer William Henry Jackson, who chronicled on film some of the locales.

Haydens trek has been described as an Anglo enterprise a scientific endeavor focused on geology, geographic description, cartographic accuracy, and even ethnography. But the search for economic potential was a significant underlying motive. Said the review, These pragmatic scientists were on the lookout for gold beneath every rock, grazing lands in every valley, and economic opportunity around each bend in the trail.

Some say the Hayden survey shaped the American imagination in contradictory ways, solidifying the idea of progressand government funding of its pursuitwhile also revealing, via Jacksons photographs, a landscape with a beauty hitherto unknown and imagined, wrote the reviewer.

Of the fractious altercations between Natives and the exploration team, there are several descriptions. A report in the New York Times dated Sept. 9, 1875 was called The Hayden Survey: What the Sierra La Sal Indians did for It. A number of voices tell harrowing tales of avoiding gunshots, hiding out in the sagebrush plane east of the south side of the La Sals or somewhat near there.

The scouts animals were tired and thirsty, but the Anglo explorers knew they were easy targets for the natives holding watch from the forested foothills above. Wrote James Gardner in an Aug. 15, 1875 journal, No sooner had the rearguard passed the brow than the Indians commenced firing from behind it. He said two members of the Hayden party came very near being killed, bullets striking the ground close to them. Being in the advance I rode at once to the rear, recalled Gardner. The boys begged to be allowed to charge the Indians, but I considered it unadvisable, considering that they were protected by a hill and mounted on swift horses, and we on tired, slow mules, I therefore ordered the train forward in a trot to get out of range of the hill behind.

An image of the Native Americans who might have been protecting their stand is in the H.S. Poley Collection stored at the Denver Public Librarys Western History Collection. It depicts a number of Ute warriors astride horses, examining their rifles. They were skilled trackers and implacable foes when operating in their homeland, according to the McPherson/Neal book. The image shows the Indians carrying Winchester rifles, which were favorites because of their magazine capacity of 15 rounds, their rapid-fire capability, and their maneuverability on horseback, read the book. Their maximum effective range, however, was only about 200 yards.

Both sides set up round-the-clock guards to hold their spots. Even at 700 or 800 yards, not one of those valiant Indians would come out and shoot openly, wrote Hayden party member Cuthbert Mills in an Aug. 15, 1875 entry that was later published in the New York Times on Sept. 9, 1875. Pickets were placed at points about 50 to 75 yards distant from the barricade, and the reliefs arranged for the night.

A.C. Peale told of the fortifications happening in the trekkers camp: We made a barricade of our cargo and our aparejos [packs saddles and rigging] with the mules on both sides. We then put out three pickets [guards stationed to keep watch]. I kept guard in camp. We had a lunch of bread and cold ham. The Indians kept firing until midnight.

Peale said the guards were able to keep the opponents from advancing, but it wasnt without some chaos. Several times the mules got tangled up, wrote Peale, being in want of both feed and water. Once while we were out a shot struck Polly, the bell [lead] mare, above our heads and we tumbled into the barricade promiscuously. My foot got caught in a rope and I went in head first. None of the balls struck in the barricade, but went whizzing over our heads.

Mills told of similar uncalm: It was certainly not a pleasant night we spent. The unanimous opinion of those who knew most about Indian methods of fighting was that the band was an advanced guard thrown out to delay us till reinforcements should come up, and that at daylight the worst attack might be looked for that dusk being their favorite hour for surprises. They would probably be quiet for the night, preparing for the morning, wrote Mills.

This story will be continued next week, telling of how the explorers made it out with their hides intact or did they?

Continued here:
Hayden Survey of 1875 meant dispossession of homeland to Native peoples - The Times-Independent

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

Weve all seen the reality T.V. home remodeling shows. Half way through, theres what we call an HGTV moment when it happens, We just discovered this is a load-bearing wall. Thats going to be another hit to your budget so we have to take something else out of your remodel or increase your budget to cover the cost.

No-one wants to be in this position. Its not good for you, its not good for your home remodeler. The reality is any qualified and experienced home remodeler should have figured out if there is a load-bearing wall in play well before anyone comes near your home with a sledge hammer. Undoubtedly, removing a load-bearing wall adds cost to your home remodeling plans because it requires alternate suitable support, but a little careful exploration upfront should tell you at the outset of your remodel whats really going on with that wall between your kitchen and dining room.

Be prepared, your chosen or prospective home remodeler may have to poke a few holes in your drywall at the beginning of the process to see whats going on behind the scenes. This is normal practice but will require patching if you decide not to proceed with your home remodel.

So, what are the telltale signs that might indicate if a wall is load-bearing or not?

Disclaimer alert! ALWAYS get an experts opinion before you decide to remove ANY wall in your home!

Look at the Joists

Do the joists run parallel or perpendicular to the wall youre thinking of removing? In general, if the joists run perpendicular to the wall, its a sign it might be a load-bearing wall. In the example below, the red X shows what a load-bearing wall looks like behind the drywall. However, there are some instances when joists run parallel but the wall is load-bearing because the builder has aligned the wall under a single joist or the weight is being supported by blocking between two neighboring joists, so always get a professional opinion.

Got an Unfinished Basement or Crawl Space?

If you have an unfinished basement or crawl space below your kitchen (or other first floor room you want to remodel), take a peek in the ceiling at what is going beneath the room above. If there are any type of structures (such as columns, supports, beams, etc.) that follow the same path as the wall above, its a sign of support needed for a load-bearing wall.

Dont Make Assumptions About Knee-walls or Part Walls

Just because you have a partition wall, it doesnt mean its not load-bearing. Weve had this occur in quite a few home remodels over the years. A load-bearing beam or other structure may be hiding behind the drywall of a part wall or a knee-wall with a column between two rooms. If your remodeling goal is a more open concept, a load-bearing beam may be required when you remove a part or knee-wall, so due diligence up front will ensure you know exactly what youre dealing with before construction starts.

Case Study: A Reston Townhouse Transformation

This months featured remodel is the first floor remodel of a lake-fronted townhouse in Reston. The existing layout and finishes made the first floor feel dark, small and closed-in. Preferring a contemporary look and a more open concept, our clients were ready to make the changes needed to make the home their own and better reflect their design aesthetic.

However, the wall separating the dining room and kitchen was load-bearing. We removed it along with a non load-bearing faux painted pillar (seen on the left of the Before photo). This is a great example of how things were not as you might expect the column was decorative only so it was easily removed, but a load-bearing beam was required to replace the wall between the kitchen and dining room.

The result? With the wall and pillar gone, the energy of the whole first floor is now totally transformed. The spaces flow from one to the next and the entire area feels bigger. We also replaced the sliding doors to the deck and a picture window off a sunroom to make the most of the gorgeous water views from the rear of the house. Its now a modern and tranquil space with lots of room for the couple and their family and friends to enjoy.

Ready to start your hassle-free remodel with a company who can help you figure all of this out? Get in touch for your free, no obligation consultation about your home remodeling plans!

More here:
Reno of the Month: How Do You Tell if a Wall is Load-bearing? - Reston Now

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony, and a door to a large sunroom.

On the Market: A contemporary house in rustic Weston

WESTON The contemporary house at 132 Lords Highway in the Lower Weston neighborhood is more refined than it is rustic, yet it fits perfectly into its countrified Arcadian setting.

This particular location on a level and sloping property of just over three acres near the end of a cul-de-sac allows its owners to experience the best of indoor/outdoor living in the center of Weston. The private woodland oasis, nestled at the end of a scenic country road, abuts the 37-acre Grace Robinson Nature Sanctuary, which is managed cooperatively by the Connecticut Audubon Society and the Aspetuck Land Trust and offers hiking trails. Also close by is Lachat Town Farm and 1,756-acre Devils Den Nature Preserve, the latter containing 20 miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails, and it is part of the extended 70-mile Saugatuck Valley Trails System.

Even with all this nature and solitude, there is also convenience. This house is only minutes from the towns award-winning schools, the public library, gas station and market; and for commuters, the Merritt Parkway is only about 12 minutes away. Metro-North Railroad train stations are accessible in Wiltons Cannondale area and the Saugatuck section of Westport.

The 3,940-square-foot house was built in 1978. It was first expanded in 2002 and has undergone continuous remodeling thereafter, according to the co-listing agents. As a contemporary house, it had an open floor plan to begin with but one that was improved upon with successive renovating projects. Today, the floor plan is not only open, it is flexible, which is important to todays home buyers.

A long, paved driveway opens up to provide ample parking for gatherings of friends and family, which can certainly be done safely on this spacious property. A slate path, lined by attractive shrubbery and perennial plantings, leads to the covered front porch. In the foyer there is a floating staircase. The sizable two-story living room features a wall of stone housing a fireplace, skylights, a wood-accented vaulted ceiling, interior balcony and a door to a large sunroom. The sunroom accesses a large, raised wood deck.

The dining room also has a wood-accented ceiling and is open to the updated eat-in kitchen, which features soapstone counters, a center island, glass-front cabinetry with a breakfast bar for two, new appliances and a door to another raised wood deck. In the casual dining area there is built-in seating with storage.

There is a den, which is currently used as a music room, which has a fireplace. Between the den and the spacious family room, there is an office with a built-in desk area that would also work as a homework or distance learning station. In the family room, which could also be a play or recreation room, there are two built-in window seats, a wet bar and a full bath, making this area that could be converted into a fifth bedroom or an in-law or au pair suite, depending on the needs of this homes next family.

As currently arranged, this house has four bedrooms, all on the upper level. There is also another flexible use room on this floor, currently serving as a recreation room. The master suite has a walk-in closet and a luxurious bath with a contemporary double sink. One of the other bedrooms has a door to a private balcony.

For more information or to make an appointment to see the house, contact Laurie Crouse and Valerie Martins of Laurie Crouse & Associates and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage; Crouse at 203-984-8154 or lauriebcrouse@gmail.com, and Martins at 929-270-9393 or valmartins.ct@gmail.com.

STYLE: Contemporary

ADDRESS: 132 Lords Highway

PRICE: $839,000

ROOMS: 9

FEATURES: 3.01-acre level and sloping property, located on a cul-de-sac, two separate private decks, screened porch, wet bar, skylights, pre-wired for cable, flexible open floor plan; only minutes from Westons award-winning schools, Weston Center, Lachat Farm, Devils Den Nature Preserve, Grace Robinson Nature Sanctuary, Georgetown shopping district and the Cannondale train station; about 12 minutes from the Merritt Parkway, possible in-law or au pair suite, two fireplaces, lots of closets and storage, possible in-law or au pair suite, Westport beach rights, attached two-car garage, zoned central air conditioning and propane heat, mud room, attic, no basement, private well, septic system, room for a pool, four bedrooms, four full and one half updated baths

SCHOOLS: Hurlbutt Elementary, Weston Middle, Weston High

ASSESSMENT: $480,700

MILL RATE: 32.37 mills

TAXES: $15,560

HOA FEE: $140, paid annually (covers snow removal)

Go here to read the rest:
On the Market: A contemporary house in rustic Weston - Westport News

Whether for your own personal enjoyment, to help your family spread out, or even if you're just thinking of increasing the value of your house, crafting a more permanent place of respite outdoors can be worth the investment it takes to do it right.

According to KV Harper, founder and principal of Kex Design + Build in New Orleans, the biggest considerations for a backyard renovation are how you plan to use it and what your budget is. The cost for a backyard remodel can vary greatly, with total spend averaging anywhere from a couple thousand dollars for basic landscaping to more than $40,000. For bigger budget projects that can creep into the $20,000 range, like adding an outdoor kitchen, consider a Discover personal loan (which allows for flexible repayment terms for all loan amounts of 36 to 84 months) to help cover the costs.

Getting inspired? Here are a few ideas to consider.

A small DIY pathway or patio can be constructed for less than $1,000 with materials from a big box retailer. Professional installation adds $5 to $15 per square foot, and higher-end materials, such as flagstone will also bump up the cost. Pea gravel or a similar material is the most cost-efficient. I really like crushed granite as an inexpensive hardscape that can provide a nice clean backdrop for furniture, Harper says.

If you have children or pets and dont want to deal with mowing the lawn, artificial turf is an option, though it can be expensive, at $5 to $20 per square foot, compared to $0.90 to $2 for sod.

Sheds are often under-utilized. Instead of using it as a place where rusty garden tools and old bicycles go to die, transform it into useful real estate. A small shed can easily accommodate an art studio, a reading lounge, a playroom, or even a daybed for overnight guests. There are literally thousands of models on the market, many designed to look like miniature houses, complete with porches.

A small shed can easily accommodate an art studio, a reading lounge, a playroom, or even a daybed.

If you aren't wiring for electricity, or concerned about climate control, the only real cost is buying a shed that comes with at least one window to let in light. These can be found at home improvement retailers and big box stores for a couple thousand dollars.

Running electricity and insulating the shed so that you can use it when the weather is hot or cold adds a few hundred dollars to the budget. The average cost of installing insulation is $0.64 - $1.19, so for a 100-square-foot shed, it would be around $120. Hiring an electrician is $50 to $100 an hour.

Dining al fresco on warm evenings is the best part of summer. Adding an outdoor kitchen and dining room can be a dream come true for many home cooks, but they can be expensive, costing up to $21,000 (or much more for a luxury setup).

Maintenance and weather should be key considerations when thinking about the design. One of the first things to consider for an outdoor kitchen is the weather, notes Harper. Outdoor kitchens can get hot, so you want to design to accommodate shading either naturally or with a pergola.

Maintenance and weather should be key considerations when thinking about outdoor kitchen design.

For the grill, Harper recommends gas over charcoal because it is easier to maintain and clean. She adds that you will want a durable heat-resistant stone for the flooring and countertops. Natural stone is one of the priciest materials you can choose, at $25 to $45 per square foot, but will hold up much better than cheaper options like stucco or manufactured stone.

Other add-ons that can increase your budget include plumbing for a sink, a built-in grill, refrigeration, or special features, such as a pizza oven or fireplace.

Add native plants and grasses around a sauna or hot tub for ambiance and privacy, or consider a pergola with curtains for an even more secluded escape. If either is too much of a commitment, you can achieve spa vibes by adding a small fire pit or chiminea, a water feature, and fragrant flowering vines or shrubs such as lavender.

I think the easiest way to transform a small yard is to create a design that maximizes space by using built-in seating or dining, she says, which is something she did in her own backyard. I recently added a small deck to replace the stairs from our kitchen to the backyard. It was less expensive than doing a wide deck, and now the deck functions as stairs and a place to relax.

She adds that light landscaping with hardscape materials is another inexpensive way to transform a yard. Think a pea gravel and paver patio combined with native plants that will thrive in the existing condition. In other words, if your yard only gets a few hours of sun, dont waste space trying to grow a vegetable garden.

A design that maximizes small spaces? Built-in seating or dining, says Harper.

For any backyard transformation, be sure to budget for furniture. A small patio can be outfitted for less than $1,000, but a full outdoor living and dining room set up will be significantly more. Harper recommends waiting until prices drop to invest in new pieces. I know its hard, but try to buy outdoor furniture at the end of the season when it goes on sale. Most big box retailers put outdoor furniture on sale at a deep discount around the first week of August, she says.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.

Original post:
The Real Costs to Build 5 Different Backyard Retreats - HouseBeautiful.com

To many, RV living doesnt exactly scream "glam." But Cortni Armstrong is changing that perception one ugly RV at a time, with the help of her mom and business partner Patti Armstrong. Theyre the mother-daughter duo behind The Flipping Nomada RV renovation business thats essentially the Chip and Joanna Gianes of RV remodelingand one look at the interiors of their RV renos will make you want to ditch your stationary residence and move in immediately.

The Flipping Nomad was born out of a dark period in Cortnis life: About six years ago, she had to take over her fathers two businesses after he had a stroke. They werent doing well, and there was hardly enough money to pay herself. At the same time, Cortini's lease renewal was coming up on a house she shared with three roommates. She discovered her roommates had made other housing plans that didnt involve her. Left hanging, she turned to a family friend who managed a campground. He said there was a fifth wheel for sale. The owner would finance it, and all she would have to do is pay for the RV. The electricity, internet, and other expenses would be covered if she took a job at the front desk. She agreed and moved in three days later.

I felt borderline homeless, and I was really embarrassed about it, Cortni tells House Beautiful. I was in my mid-20s at the time and a recent college grad, so all of my college friends are in their careers and buying houses and cars, and here I am in this trailer park.

A year into RV living, her perspective shifted. She loved the genuine people she met and how freeing it was to only live in 350 square feet sans clutter. I started falling in love with the lifestyle but wanted a rig that was laid out a little bit different, she says. She obsessively searched for something that was appropriate for a mid-20s bachelorette pad but realized what she wanted didnt exist. So she found a rig with the floor plan she wanted and decided to renovate it herself.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

I kept coming back to my buying experience and thought maybe other people don't like these interiors too, and there's business to be had here, Cortni says.

At first, Cortni was buying RVs, cleaning them super well, and then selling them. When she combined that with renovating, she did custom renovationseven taking on RVs people had already owned. Her mom joined the business about two and a half years ago when she also decided to move into an RV herself. Together, they buy RVs, renovate them, and sell them out of a shop they own on 66 acres of land in Emmett, Idaho. The shop is big enough to fit three RVs with plenty of room to park other rigs outside. They typically keep their own RVs on the land, too.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

The duo now focuses exclusively on designing RVs. We figured out that to do customization work it takes us about 50 percent longer than it does to buy it, renovate it, and sell it as is, Cortni says. I know it sounds counterintuitive but in an effort to service more clients, we stopped servicing clients.

Before Cortni and Patti ever buy an RV, they do a field inspection on it that involves getting up on the roof, checking for signs of water damage, the age of the tires, and warning signs for tank cracks. Once it passes that, they take it back to the shop and do a PDI (pre-delivery inspection) where they check the electricAC, outlets, fridgeand fill the tank with water to ensure everything is working properly. When they confirm the structure of the rig is good, they renovate it.

For the interiors, they try to go with popular design schemes. Farmhouse is so hot right now, and everybody wants something that looks like Joanna Gaines did it, Cortni says. I also want every rig to have its own personality, so I switch it up a bit with each one.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

The rigs they sell are typically furnished with items including couches, love seats, and chairs. In Cortnis experience, most people prefer to bring their own mattress. The detailsthrow pillows, rugs, blankets, table settingsare included on a case-by-case basis. Some clients really enjoy shopping for their own rig and putting their own personal taste on it and other clients are intimidated by it, she says.

Her favorite furniture brand to use is Home Reserve. The Indiana-based company offers modular pieces with storage in the seats. Cortni says multifunctional pieces are essential in such a tiny space. Plus, all of the companys made-in-America pieces have removable and washable fabric, so you can easily clean it or swap out colors.

Being able to flex her creative muscles and reimagine a small space is Cortnis favorite part of the job. Oh, and the demolition phase of course. You go in, rip stuff apart, chuck stuff out the door, and we have music playing, she says.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

So far, The Flipping Nomad has done about 15 full renos and worked on around 45 RVsincluding partial renos and cleaningsince its inception. The price varies based on the model and staging among other factors, but the minimum budget required is $50,000 for a fifth wheel or $30,000 for a travel trailer.

Theres currently a huge waitlist to snag one of The Flipping Nomads renovated RVs. Their typical clientele is first-time home buyers in their 20s and 30s with a mix of couples and couples with kids. That came as a surprise to Cortni who thought her clients were going to be retirees who have disposable income and have been saving up for the RV lifestyle for years.

The completion time varies for each RV renovation. If you want less of a wait or dont want to go all in on a renovated RV, The Flipping Nomad sells non renovated RVs that you can enjoy as is or renovate yourself. They also offer RV lifestyle and renovation coaching.

Cortni now lives in an RV called the Ultimate Montana, which she teamed up with Keystone RV Company to build. Its similar to a concept car in that it is very impractical, very much a show piece, but we wanted to push the limits on everything and see whats possible, she says. The rig has a freestanding bathtub, three fireplaces, pizza oven, TV projector, and bar.

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

Courtesy of Cortni Armstrong

As if The Flipping Nomad's renos weren't stunning enough, Cortni's current RV is sure to make any apartment renter or homeowner envious in some way. Glam RVs are the right-under-our-nose tiny homes we didn't know we needed.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.

See the article here:
This Mother-Daughter Duo Turns RVs Into Stunning Tiny Homes - HouseBeautiful.com

idk what this is yet but I had an idea.

Thats how game developer @davemakes started a Twitter thread last January, sharing a GIF of colorful tiles floating through a diagonal game space. Follow Daves thread, though, and youll see how they develop this single idea over the months into a fully fledged rhythm and puzzle game called Mixolumia, available to buy on Itch.io as of last weekend.

The game itself looks extremely fun, pairing a simple and bold art style with immersive music and sound effects, and gameplay that looks to be a cross between Tetris and Puyo-Puyo. Whats really fascinating about the thread, though, is how it offers a look into the often opaque world of game development, tracking Daves work and experiments.

Follow the thread, and you can see how Dave adds new features over time, testing out certain mechanics. One early question is how should the tile-blocks move when they hit another point-on-point? Should they break in half? Should they slide down alternate directions? Or should they zig-zag down the screen to avoid this problem altogether?

As you can see, Dave eventually solves the problem by having the blocks move in the direction they were last pushed. As they note, that makes it easier for players to direct the tiles, adding more depth and strategy to the gameplay in turn.

We wont recap the whole thread here, but click on that first tweet, and you can watch as Dave adds particle effects, previews of where each block will land, a scoring and level system, different gameplay modes, and more. Its fascinating to see the title take shape, and it feels like watching a time-lapse of a painter turning out a fresh landscape.

What starts as a game in simple primary shades gets colorful when new palettes are added:

Then, the musical elements of the game evolve. Dave starts with their own dynamic music effects but collaborates with musician Josie Brechner to build out a more complex soundscape. I particularly love the example track below, named Summer Shower, which features rain noises that build in intensity as you play through a level.

Throughout the games development, Dave takes the title to Tokyo Indies (a monthly gathering for game developers), starts a Patreon to support development, and is eventually able to launch the title as a full game, complete with customizable color palettes and music effects. You can buy Mixolumia right now for Mac and PC for $9 (10 percent off the regular price).

Its amazing to see what happens when you have a single idea in your head and simply... follow through.

Here is the original post:
Watch an indie puzzle game get built, tile by tile, in this fascinating Twitter thread - The Verge