Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

On a half-acre near downtown Littleton, a couple creates a retreat reminiscent of a quaint European garden.

In the late 1800s, an enterprising couple bought 720 acres of land on the east side of Littleton and developed it into a subdivision designed for city dwellers who also wanted country homes. These entrepreneurs carved out a home for themselves there and planted 75 acres of orchards, plus a nursery of peonies, roses, and grapevines.

It seems only fitting that more than 130 years later, the original farmhouse (remodeled on the inside but still showcasing its 19th-century charm) has a backyard oasis that pays tribute to a bygone era and the patina of time. Owners Ona and Craig Belk, who have lived in the farmhouse for more than 20 years, love to cook and entertain, and several years ago, they turned their attention to the half-acre of land outside their back doors. We wanted to create a space where we could hang out together with our children and their significant others and our grandchildren, Ona says. We call this place the happy house, and it was time to extend that love of hospitality to our outdoor area.

The couples friend and architect, David Robb, joined in their conversation about what the yard could become. Their chats began with ideas for expanding the indoor kitchen and dining space to a wraparound porch outside. A small outdoor cooking area would be nice, they agreed, and so would a water element beyond the porch. Then Robb and the Belks visited the War Memorial Rose Garden in Littleton, where a beautiful little fountain caught Onas imagination, so they dreamed up a poolbigger than a pond and smaller than a lap pool, Robb saysand a small adjacent spa. Theyd need a pump house for the pool, and the contractor, Jeff Slough of Eagle Alliances, mentioned that an outdoor fireplace would be an ideal addition to that structure, so Robb added a Rumford fireplacea tall, shallow design that distributes heat well.

Of course, the counterpoint to all these structures would be plantslots of them. I didnt want a Disneyland backyard with a huge pool and hard materials, says Ona, who has been an avid gardener for more than a decade. Landscape designer Kaylin Kittle of Ivy Street Design created a whimsical plan to give softness and Old-World charm to the yard. We wanted it to feel like a European garden that you just discover as you wander through the gate, Kittle says. To achieve that style, she chose buff flagstone stepping stones spaced in an organic way and surrounded by lush green groundcover to give the impression that nature had taken over the harsh surfaces. The flagstones carve out paths among the pool, fireplace, porch, and the large potager garden, where raised beds separated by gravel pathways feel quite French. There, the Belks grow varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, fennel, beets, herbs, and edible flowers such as calendula and pansies.

Beyond the garden, the entire yard is full of delectable plants: The Belks wanted a useful garden, Ona says, by which she means a plot of land filled not merely with ornamental vegetation, but with plants that they can use in cooking and in Onas homeopathic tinctures and salves. The landscape is dotted with red and black currants, gooseberries, hawthorn, elderberries, and raspberries, and in a side yard, a small orchard of fruit treesplum, peach, apple, and cherryoffers up a bounty of sweetness.

Three years after its completion, the yard has fulfilled its owners dreams for a warm, vibrant area to entertain and garden. My very favorite thing is to get out there first thing in the morning, with a cup of coffee, to see whats growing, whats blooming, and then to decide what Im going to harvest and make for the day, Ona says. And then, after working in the garden all morning, once the day gets really hot, we take a dip in the pool. Its justbetter than I could have ever imagined.

This recipe, a favorite at the Belks home in the warm months, is best made one day ahead so the flavors can mix well.

Lithuanian Cold Beet Soup (Saltibariai)Serves 8

3 hard-boiled eggs1 cup scallion greens, finely chopped2 cucumbers, peeled, quartered, and finely chopped6 tablespoons whole-milk Greek yogurt1 quart unsweetened kefir1 cup water3 medium red beets, cooked, peeled, and coarsely grated1 cup beet greens, finely chopped1 cup sorrel leaves, tightly packed1 bunch fresh dill (or more to taste), finely choppedEdible small garden flowers or petals(such as pansies or nasturtiums), optionalSalt to taste

Separate the egg yolks from the whites. Crush egg yolks with scallion greens and salt. Add cucumber, finely chopped egg whites, yogurt, kefir, water, beets, beet greens, sorrel leaves, and dill. Mix well. Refrigerate. Serve in individual bowls and sprinkle with dill and small edible garden flowers or petals.

Hilary Masell Oswald is the editor at large for 5280 Home and a 5280 contributor.

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The Backyard Oasis of Our Dreams - 5280 | The Denver Magazine

Goooooooooooooood morning, everyone. I hope your week has started strong youre all feeling right as rain on this Tuesday morning.

We can all breathe a sign of relief now that the team has officially announced the signing of Bryan Bulaga, Linval Joseph, Chris Harris, and Nick Vigil. With the recent reports of the Ravens not signing Michael Brockers and the Jaguars not signing Darqueze Dennard, I started to worry about at least one of these signings falling through for one reason or another.

Could you imagine if Bulaga bounced after failing a physical? There would be a riot. Thank goodness we dont have to deal with that.

Enjoy the links and have a great Tuesday.

https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-announce-free-agency-moves

The Los Angeles Chargers today agreed to terms with tackle Bryan Bulaga, cornerback Chris Harris Jr., defensive tackle Linval Joseph and linebacker Nick Vigil.

https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-kcbs-kcal-iheartradio-team-up-for-lausd-live-fundraiser

On Thursday, Apr. 2, the Los Angeles Chargers are joining CBS 2/KCAL 9 and iHeartRadio for a day-long fundraiser to help raise money, supplies and awareness for Los Angeles Unified School District students and their families who are struggling during this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis.

https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-sign-wide-receiver-darius-jennings

Jennings, a four-year NFL veteran, comes to the Chargers from the Tennessee Titans. Over the last two seasons with Tennessee, he returned 31 kickoffs for 894 yards, including a 94-yarder for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. In 2018, Jennings led the NFL with a 31.7-yard average, returning 22 kicks for 698 yards.

https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-mock-draft-tracker-6-0

The Chargers reportedly wont look for a QB in free agency, which means Tyrod Taylor is the man ... for now. But the team will have a decision to make at No. 6. Herbert had a solid 2019 season but improved his stock during the Senior Bowl and combine.

The 2020 NFL Draft may set ratings records

No one can go outside. There are no sports events on television and there is nothing on the horizon. The country is essentially staying at home and there are only so many things to watch on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, or the streaming app of your choice. There is one respite, one light at the end of the tunnel, one major sporting event that gets great ratings and will absolutely dominate the sports landscape for the next month: the 2020 NFL Draft.

Chargers stack deck in Draft Wire's 4-round mock draft

The majority of the signings and trades have concluded. Now all thats left to the roster-building process for the Chargers and the rest of the teams in the league is the 2020 NFL Draft.

https://boltbeat.com/2020/03/30/la-chargers-great-sixth-nfl-draft/

This draft is likely going to yield the teams future plans for a franchise quarterback, which will impact at least the next half-decade and how successful the Chargers will be. You can afford a bust when you are picking a defensive tackle in the first round, it hurts more when it is a quarterback.

https://boltbeat.com/2020/03/30/la-chargers-draft-order-locations/

The LA Chargers have the sixth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and it will be the first time in franchise history that the team has selected sixth in the NFL Draft. We had all intentions of doing a greatest sixth overall picks in team history but that cannot be done without any history.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2883401-the-br-goat-sim-ranking-the-top-10-contenders#slide0

The B/R GOAT Sima 32-team Madden simulation tournament in which every NFL franchise will compete using rosters comprised of legendskicks off this week on Bleacher Reports Twitch.

https://247sports.com/Article/Tyrod-Taylor-provides-coronavirus-relief-to-hometown-LA-Chargers-Virginia-Tech-Hokies145556796/

On Monday, former Virginia Tech star Tyrod Taylor announced he would be donating $25,000 towards the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank via the Tyrod Taylor Foundation. The donation will go towards a truckload of food to help those economically impacted by the coronavirus in Taylors local community.

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Chargers Daily Links: Chargers make FA signings official, Tyrod gives back to the community - Bolts From The Blue

Sandra Schpoont and Steve Axelrod were outgrowing their summer home on the North Fork of Long Island and had been renting on the Vineyard for a number of summers. They haphazardly followed the real estate market and toured a few homes, but nothing clicked until the very house theyd rented for one month, in July 2014, a historic farmhouse on Middle Road in Chilmark, hit the market.

It was a summer house, we knew it needed a lot of work, said Schpoont in a brand-new kitchen. We didnt know it would be a complete re-haul.

Axelrod, a psychologist, and Schpoont, a New Yorkbased attorney, enlisted Island architect Chuck Sullivan, of Sullivan + Associates Architects in Oak Bluffs, and husband and wife design team Keren and Thomas Richter, of White Arrow in Brooklyn, to realize their dream of a thoughtfully preserved Island home with a modern flair. I love design, Schpoont said. I didnt want a Cape Cod type of house. I wanted something cool.

The house sits at the bottom of a steep ridge with sweeping southerly views. From a sunny sitting room that was once a makeshift post office, a row of windows showcases the agrarian magic of Keith Farm across the street: cows graze, birds flock, and, a little farther, waves crash. Save for the occasional car traveling Middle Road, it could easily be another time in Island history.

Its a recognizable property for anyone whos spent time traversing up-Island, and its not uncommon for dog walkers and joggers to stop on their way past. If Schpoont or Axelrod are in the yard, someone might let them know that they appreciate the preservation work they did. But for all the preserved glory of the exterior, what those passersby cant see from the road is that the interior is a modern showpiece, curated to meet the needs of a professional couple.

The original layout was choppy, with lots of little rooms and not much in the way of flow. There was no proper entryway or gathering space. It was a classic New England house, architect Sullivan explained. It was added onto over time. So we reconfigured what was there first and then added on.

Though Chilmark does not have a designated historic district, the project was reviewed by the towns zoning board of appeals and the historical commission. We really had to reassure the town that we would maintain the integrity of the house and that it wouldnt look brand new, explained Schpoont. In no small feat of architecture, the addition on the back, built by Jared Kent and Thomas Van Hollebeke, of Kent & Van Hollebeke Construction, is barely visible to the road yet provides the extra first floor living space a master bedroom, pantry, office the couple wanted.

The main entryway once two separate rooms with doors off the original kitchen now leads to an oversized mudroom, a bathroom, and an entry porch carved out of the interior space. Black herringbone tile and white clapboard walls signal a design theme that continues throughout the interior. Its a study in contrasts: old and new, dark and light, functional and fanciful. The bathroom features stunningly bold wallpaper that is both tropical and moody. The white granite sink, set in a surprisingly industrial base, is just minimalist enough to let the wallpaper be the main event. In the living room, meanwhile, there is something to look at in every corner. Interesting furnishings in unexpected hues draw you in: a shin-height coffee table, an indigo-dyed canvas couch, and a vintage Moroccan tuareg rug.

Months before the sofa was placed just so on that vintage rug, designer Keren was in Brooklyn visualizing the project. Her goals, she said, included achieving a space that was refreshing and warm, intuitive and embracing. She imagined a modern dialogue in which the history of the home was still visible through a contemporary lens. Together with her husband Thomas she found a mix of unusual fixtures that were chosen to make the space feel fresh: a chic Bert Frank pendant light in the kitchen, a canopy bed in the master, an aqua velvet sofa in the office. The Richters stayed in the house for a mini vacation once it was finished and they relished the opportunity to see the space at different times of day.

The way the light hits in the evening is magic, Keren said. Everything glows. It came out really, really beautiful.

A kitchen, now relocated to an area of the house that was once used as closed-off living space, has been opened up to capture beautiful Island light. White subway tiles as a backdrop to the Lacanche range provide just a slight sparkly diversion from the white clapboard that continues from the mudroom. Butternut wood countertops are as attractive as they are functional, and a white/gray marble island roots the room in a gathering space.

From here, the tour of the original house ends and the addition begins, starting with an immaculate pantry of glass jars and porcelain bowls. The sunshine-filled hallway ends with three tiny steps to the master suite, which includes a his-and-hers office space, dressing room, and, finally, a bedroom. Vaulted ceilings in the bedroom let in more light and create a breezy, roomy feel. To rein in that openness and add more intimacy, the canopy bed creates a space in and of itself. In the study, richer, darker tones create a homey space where Axelrod and Schpoont can work, read, or kick back and watch a movie on the velvet sofa. Upstairs, guest rooms are clean and sparse with rugs that Schpoont brought home from a trip to Morocco.

Equal attention was paid to the landscape, which had its own challenges. After walking the property, getting to know the curves and hillsides, dips and peaks, designer Barbara Lampson of Tisbury said she approached the landscape design with four considerations the architecture (a farmhouse with modern sensibilities), the genius loci (spirit of the place), Axelrod and Schpoonts taste (lush but no fuss), and the views (rural and sea). It helped that Lampson grew up nearby in Chilmark and has long admired the property.

Steve and Sandra bought that house because they love Chilmark and the informal feel of Chilmark, Lampson said. We wanted to keep it historic and natural feeling.

She was thrilled to have access to the historic stone on the property, some of which she used to create a new walkway from the parking area to the entry. And while she usually aims to keep her landscapes consistent throughouta property, in this case she kept the visible front of the house simple: ancient crab apple trees, a stone pathway, native plants in keeping with the historic character of Middle Road. In the back, on the other hand, she moderned it up with a patio and herb garden in close proximity to Axelrods pizza oven.

Sandy is really the garden person, said Lampson.

She didnt want anything high maintenance, but she does love to garden, cut herbs, and pick blueberries.

Behind the house, fieldstone steps lead to the peak of the property where a deck awaits, perfect for coffee in the morning or wine and snacks in the evening. From the deck the visibility expands. If the view from the old post office sitting room with the Nakashima coffee table is enjoyable and cozy, this is breathtaking and perspective altering. The quiet is palpable from that deck; its a place to sit, chat, maybe read, but nothing more.

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Oh, Yeah, and it Has a View, Too. - Martha's Vineyard Magazine

Wilderness spaces across the country arelike so much elsein crisis. Last weekend, Cleveland National Forest, outside San Diego, set usage records at two trails. The superlative is bittersweet: on the one hand, its encouraging that Americans seem to be reconnecting with their local landscapes. On the other hand, the crowds caused rampant illegal parking,park officials tweeted, noting that several visitors had to be airlifted out for unspecified reasons.

Those trails are now closed, as are other park systemsup anddownCalifornia. This weeka spate of national parks, from Yellowstone to Hawaii Volcanoes to Great Smoky Mountains, also closed, following the guidance of national and local officials aiming to halt the spread of COVID-19.

Yes, nature is pleasurable, and being outside is necessary relief. But by now, amid this pandemic, the ethics of wilderness travel should be clear: dont goat least not to the crowded trails and parks. You are putting yourself and others in danger of infection. You are putting pressure on already-strapped medical resources in remote gateway towns.

But dont think of this as a prison sentence. Instead, it could be the chance for the reset we need. A chance to remember that we are always in the wilderness, which deserves our care everywhere.

Hikers in Yellowstone, in pre-pandemic times (Photo: Farsai Chaikulngamdee/Unsplash)

What is wilderness? According toU.S. law, at least, its an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man.

Bill Cronons seminal essay The Trouble with Wildernesswhich this year marks its 25th anniversary of rankling outdoors lovershelped upend that definition, at least among historians. When white settlers first arrived on this continent, untrammeled land was a waste,a missed opportunity to, as the Bible commanded, subdue the earth. Not until after the Civil War, as cities grew crowded, did the community of life become something worth admiring. Wealthy Americans began to buy up Adirondack camps and pay for guided hunts through the Rocky Mountains. In 1916, the elites desire to find pristinelandscapes outside the city led to the creation of a system of carefully protected national parks. Thus, the modern idea of wilderness was born.

Of course, the North American wilderness was never untrammeled. Native people had already lived here for thousands of yearsand had always consciously shaped the flora and fauna. In our wilderness parks, the landscape we regard as pristine and timeless is really just a snapshot of what white people saw when they showed up. And once land became wilderness, it could only remain so through vigilance. Human beings, at least the ones not on vacation, had to be kept out. (John Muir, the naturalist whose writings helped sparkthe wilderness movement, wanted Nativesout of his beloved Yosemite. More recently,many outdoorspeople have claimed that immigration might lead to overpopulationand therefore despoiled lands.) Other species had to be sustained or evicted, depending on their provenance, which is why today the wilderness is actually filled with technology: radio collars tracking bears, microphones recording birdsong, chemicals killing off unwanted plantsallattempts to restore the landscape back to the moment of its original discovery, an arbitrary standardat best.

Venturing deep into the woods is, for many, a spiritual, transformative experiencewhich is partlywhy the closure of our beloved parks hits so hard. But science suggests that if youre seeking the health benefits of nature, you dont need awe-inspiring or pristine landscapes. Sunshine, natural stimuli like plants and trees, and movement will do. So its OKto call these parks what they are: playgrounds, dressed up to resemble a certain nostalgic ideal. Wilderness, meanwhile, is all around.

Historian Roderick Nashhas traced the roots of the word wild to the idea of will.So the wild is anything with its own willanything that grows and changes without human control. That includes the weeds in the street and the masses of bacteria inside us that keep us alive.

The greenest patch near my house in New Orleans is a man-made pile of earth, a publicly owned levee with a trail on top, squeezed between the Mississippi River and a canal, that serves as a de facto city park. When I walk there I see ibis and herons (and unleashed dogs and men catching catfish). This is what finding wildness looks like in much of America, far from the carefully preserved state and national parks out west: its in the tattered edges andthe culverts where trash accumulatesbut where plants grow fierce and feral, too.

Now, as cabin fever sends my neighbors out on daily walks, that levee feels as crowded as a California trail. So Im off in search of other islands, places where I can find nature and still maintain my six feet of distance.

What does that entail? For meit means walking along quieter patches of industrial riverfrontor biking to empty lots where trees are taking root. Im trying to look with the eyes of a child, for whom a flower is something to marvel at, wherever it grows. You can do this, too, even if you live in an apartment in Manhattan. Go find an overgrown lot and count the different kinds of leaves you see.

It means getting down on my knees to pick the trash out of my front-yard shrubbery. It means setting plastic pots in the backyard to house the peppers gifted to me by my neighbor. Their presence has made me attentive to the kinds of nature I ignored before: Where is there sunlight, and where is there shade?

My partner went online to look up topographical data, examining how water drains through the yard, so when the time comes to put the plantsin the ground, well know the best spot. (You could also, as the science writer Emma Marris suggested to me, trace the larger contours of your watershed: If you pour a glass of water into the street in front of your home, what path does it follow to the ocean?) This attention has yielded delicious benefits. Ive lived here for two years yetnever realized that the tangled tree at the back of the lot is a blackberry bushor that the creeping vine along the fence is a neglected fig tree. Even if you dont have a yard, you can go find dandelions, the perfect beginnings for a foraged salad or a cup of tea.

Ive been reading up on how to recognize my backyard birds. Even hearing the birds is a breakthrough, to be honest. My partner and I, in an effort to make our house arrest feel more like a cabin-camping excursion, have kept the doors and windows open as much as possible.

None of this is to say that we should stop protecting large tracts of nature. Indeed, the emergence of COVID-19 gives new urgency to their preservation: scientists believe thathabitat loss is a key contributor to the spread of infectious disease;as human beings and wild animals encroach on one anothers spaces, theres an increased exchange of zoonoses. But there is a difference between sustaining wildlife habitats and romanticizing humanless nature.

A genre of tweets has begun to circulate amid the pandemic: photos of dolphins swimming in boat-free waters, deer returning to empty parks to eat the flowers. We are the virus, these tweets declare. This is wilderness misanthropy at its worst. (Some of the posts, including the dolphins, are also fake news.) Emma Marris is the author of Rambunctious Garden, a book about the new science of conservation thats emerging as we rethink old notions of the wild. She pointed out to me that these tweets depend on an absurd binary. They declare that humans, despite being animals, are entirely split from nature. If this is the case, it seems we have two options: we can pollute the world, or we can die.

There is another option, of course. We can rethink nature. Its not a touristic destination that you go to and then look at as a pretty piece of entertainmentlike Netflix, except outside, Marris says to me. This is an opportunity to set up more interactive, mutually positive relationships with other species near your house.

Yes, our economic system has damaged the planet. But no moral person could believe that the cure should be an epidemic that may leave millions dead. Many cultures and peoplesoften the same people who have been evicted from our wildernesshave managed to live alongside other species productively. We can do the same. But in order to get there, we have to recognize that, in every moment of our lives, we are interfacing with the wild.

I had planned on biking along the Gulf Coast this weekendand spending the night in a small resort town. A little lockdown escape. Butthe possibility of bringing the virus, and contributing tooverwhelming a small-town hospital,felt irresponsible. So my partner and I settled on a new plan: a dinner of local produce and a tent pitched in the yard. We will wake up with that wilderness feeling, having slept beyond the boundary of walls. What birds or insects will be singing at midnight? I have no idea, but Ill learn.

There will also be the honk of late-night traffic and the clatter of passing trains. These signs of humanwill alongside the self-willed can feel like interruptions. But they can also be a reminder that nature persists, everywhere, and that nature is fragile, everywhere. We can be, and should be, inspired by nature and worried about it at once.

If you want to think of wilderness as the place without peopleor, really, without other peoplethen in this moment weve all found ourselves in the wild. We have become a nation of locked-down, solitarysix-foot bubbles. Its not a place I want to stay long.

Of course, this is the wrong way to think about wilderness. The only way out of this viral outbreak is to embrace the noblest idea embedded within the love of wilderness:Preservation, at its best, is an act of submission. It is a recognition that we are all connectedto one another, to nonhuman natureand those connections are worth, in certain times and in certain places, keeping ourselves inside the lines. As you stay there, pay attention. You might find that there is more to wildness than you knew.

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Read more:
Parks Are Closingbut Wilderness Is All Around You - Outside

WESTON, Wis. (WSAW)- Schools across the area are doing their part to make sure that families in their communities don't go hungry, but one in particular is going above and beyond on that front.

As part of a remodeling project at D.C. Everest, a grow room was added for their agriscience program. They started a hydroponic farm, meaning there's no soil used to grow crops, around Christmas. Just three months later, it's paying major dividends already.

"We like to call it Evergreen farm.'"

At the meeting where D.C. Everest decided to shut down a few weeks ago, agriscience teacher John Glynn had a bad feeling about the future of the school's hydroponic farm.

"The principal said to me, when our faculty meeting is over, we're having another meeting, you and I, said Glynn. I thought for sure he was going to tell me to shut the system down."

Instead?

"He said the superintendent was wondering if I'd be able to oversee the operation of this system to produce produce for our families here at Everest."

The school's hydroponic, vertical, zip farm put them in a unique position to help the community.

"The zip farm setup is actually fairly cutting edge, said Glynn. In fact there's only three of these setups in the state of Wisconsin, and we're the only school that has one."

From the LED lights, to the nutrients supplied, to the amount of water used, efficiency is the name of the game at Evergreen farm, and the amount of food they can produce reflects that.

"In our very small setup we can grow over 4,000 lettuce plants at a time."

Glynn is the only one in the grow room right now, but before the shutdown, the impressive setup caught the eye of students throughout the school.

"The attention from the student body was unbelievable, Glynn said. Instant and over the top. Students we're coming in here every hour of the day."

Whenever students are allowed back, Evergreen Farm will have made a massive difference for Everest families, because Glynn is just getting started.

"We're going to ramp it up until we're full, says Glynn. So we're going to ramp it up to four thousand-plus plants, and make sure that our community doesn't run short of the produce that we can produce them."

See more here:
DC Everest hydroponic farm pays big dividends in wake of COVID-19 - WSAW

Everyone is working from home.

In September 2019, the Bureau Of Labor Statisticsreportedthat 29 percent of Americans worked from home. Since the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic that number has increased substantially. As if this situation isnt difficult enough for everyone personally and economically, working from home has its own challenges, especially if there isnt a dedicated home office space. This is particularly true in New York City, where most of the population lives in smaller apartments.

Since most of the nation is likely working from home for the next couple of months, its essential to establish a dedicated home office space whether its located within a larger room, a closet or even a nook with a tiny footprint. Heres are the best ways to convert any space into a home office.

Setting Up A Home Office In The Bedroom Or Guest Room

A home office in a bedroom.

While it isnt ideal to work and sleep in the same room, the advantage of having an office in your bedroom is that unless you live in a loft or studio apartment, every home has a bedroom with a door that closes. Interior designer Alexis Rogers ofHome With Alexissuggests most bedrooms can accommodate a workspace with one of three configurations.

If you have a closet that can be sacrificed, you can remove the doors of the closet and convert the closet space into an office nook, she says. Even if its a shallow closet, having the desk in that nook creates a purposeful workspace while also giving it a separate feel from the rest of the bedroom.

If youre only going to be working from home temporarily, this might be a smart idea because you can put clothing into storage and then re-attach the doors when you return to your regular office. Not sure where to store the doors? Try under the bed.

Another option Rodgers recommends is swapping out an end table for a desk, if you have room to do so. This will work out better if you can keep your desk tidy, or if you just need a dedicated place to sit and work on your laptop thats away from the noise and activities of the rest of the house, she explains.

A third choice is either adding a desk to the existing bedroom furniture configuration or switching out a dresser for a desk. If your closet has extra drawers and shelves and you can edit the contents of your dresser into those drawers and shelves, or if your closet has room for the dresser itself and youd prefer to keep your desk in a main area of the bedroom, use the dressers former location for your desk, she says.

Then bring in desk accessories. Add a stylish chair, lamp, and beautiful piece of art above the desk. Create a little work sanctuary, and when its not in use, it still looks beautiful.

Turn A Living Room Into A Working Room

A home office space in the living room.

The next most obvious choice for a workspace is the living room. Under the best circumstances, to turn your living room into a home office, consider purchasing a desk and then creating a small work corner.Then consider using a room divider. This can be particularly helpful if you have children because it sets a physical boundary. They also make excellent backgrounds for Zoom calls.

But if there isnt a space for that, Sara Ianniciello, who is the director of design atWhitehall Interiorshas some strategies for working on the sofa, if you must. Make sure to keep proper ergonomic heights with the placement of your laptop, especially if you are working on a couch and coffee table, she says. This can be done with items that you already have in your home, like setting your laptop on a thick book or box to avoid neck strain.

In most homes, miscellaneous objects tend to find their way into living rooms. Clutter can really hinder productivity, so Ianniciello suggests decluttering as often as possible. This is something easy that you can do in any room of the house that makes a big difference. A clean workspace will help you stay organized and focus better, she says.

Then bring in decor intentionally. Candles, plants, picture frames, and art are great accessories to have at or near your workspace, even in the living room. Consider adding things like this or a table or task lamp during working hours and reverting back to normal when you are done for the day. This will help put you in work mode, says Ianniciello.

Cook Up Productivity By Turning A Kitchen Into A Home Office

Bring new meaning to working in the kitchen.

Yuna Megre ofMegre Interiorssuggests starting by de-cluttering your entire kitchen. Clean out your kitchen cabinets, organize them and move anything you can from surfaces into the closets, she says. This is vital not only providing you with extra space, but in decluttering your thoughts. If there is a lack of space in your kitchen, grab a box, and put anything you don't use on a daily basis and move the boxes to another room.

Then strategize the best way to use the space you have. Don't forget your vertical surfacesyour walls, windows, cabinets, and fridge. These can all be spaces for Post-Its, notes, drawing, and putting up documents you need in front of you when you work, she says.

But then the question is where to establish your workspace in the kitchen. The best-case scenario is having an eat-in kitchen without an attached family room, explains Raf Howery, CEO ofKukun. Kukun is a recently launched app that allows users to estimate and compare costs of home remodeling, which is something many people will likely be doing once the pandemic ends. If you have an eat-in kitchen and you don't have an attached family room, he says, Use your kitchen table, moving it so that it backs to a wall. You can move it back for meals. Avoid frying during that time.

Its always possible to use the kitchen island as a desk. However, Kukun cautions this setup can be uncomfortable for your back.

If that is the only choice in terms of set-up, Alexis Sheinman ofPembrooke and Ivesproposes a few ways to work around this. Whether at a bar-height counter, dining table or kitchen island, clear the surface off and match the table height with the most comfortable work chair you can find. If you have a wood or metal chair, bring a cushion [or pillow] along, she says.

Accessories are also key to establishing the space. Consider buying a desk lamp. Light can make or break the ambiance and brightness and is key to productivity. If your kitchen doesnt get enough natural light, bring a table or floor lamp. Then, adjust the light level throughout the day according to the weather and time of day, Sheinman says.

From there, you can accessorize to improve the aesthetic. Make it pretty - a small vase with flowers, a pretty table cloth, mason jars with pencils and pens, etc can make your workspace super fun, shares Megre.

Convert A Playroom Into A Home Office

Getting serious work done in a playroom.

Remember when you thought it would be great to turn that extra room or basement into a playroom for the kids? Are you now regretting that decision? Turning the space into your office might be a great lesson in sharing for them. Luckily, this doesnt require major construction and is simple enough to DIY using The Container Stores entirely customizableElfa Closet System.

The Home Edits collaboration with The Container Store on ahomework stationis a versatile workspace setup that can be used as a home office now and then for homework likely in the fall. Its worth noting that this set up can work in any room that has a free wall.

First, measure the wall and then install anEasy Hang, which is available in a range of finishes. From there, choose a shelf to function as the desktop. Then build up with shelves and choose organizers depending on your needs. Utilizing the wall is essential if you dont have a large footprint to work with.

Products like theElfa Utility Boardcan help keep accessories neat and the desk clutter-free. Color coordinate everything in true Home Edit style for a whimsical look that both kids and adults can appreciate.

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Working From Home? Heres How To Create A Stylish Home Office In Any Room - Forbes

Having backgrounds in the health care industry, Silas and Micky Patel said they followed intently the spread of the coronavirus long before it reached pandemic proportions in New York.

They sawthe devastation in China and then in Italy, and how communities reacted.

Then they began to see how the pandemic was impacting their livelihood. As husband and wife owners of two hotels on Monroe Avenue in Brightonthe Clarion Pointe and the Hotel on Monroethey depend on guest reservations. The spread of COVID-19 cases brought an abrupt end to check-ins.

So when they went from a fully booked Clarion Pointe for the weekend of March 13-14 to completely empty because of cancellations, the Patels decided to be proactive and do their part in the fight to flatten the curve.

They offered full use of the Clarion Pointe at 2729 Monroe Ave. to the Monroe County Health Department, and by March 18 had agreed to surrender control for at least two months.

We understand health care, and in order to solve this problem, everyone has to contribute and this was our way to help, said Silas Patel, who has a masters degree in health care finance. His wife works part-time as a nurse at Genesee Valley OB/GYN.

The county announced over the weekend that the Clarion Pointe would provide lodging for Monroe County residents who are not able to isolate at home, perhaps because they live with someone who is immunocompromised or is at risk for other reasons.

As we find ways to help people during this difficult and uncertain time, it is reassuring to know that so many businesses in our community are eager to step up and do the right thing, Deputy Monroe County Executive Jeffery McCann said in a news release. I am so grateful to Clarion Pointe Rochester and all of our partners throughout the county who are providing critical services and supplies.

Three Clarion Pointe employees will continue working at the hotel for the county. Others had a chance to stay on but, because of the potential risk of working near people possibly infected with COVID-19, they opted not to stay on during the quarantine process, the Patels said.

There are 43 rooms at the hotel for use by the county. Persons quarantined will not be allowed to leave their room for 14 days. Meals will be delivered three times a day and the health of the people under quarantine will be monitored for the duration of the stay.

The Patels said they made sure room amenities like the entertainment system, mini fridge and microwave were fully functional.

The Clarion Pointe works well, Silas Patel said, because its a single building with just three entrances/exits, so iteasily can be locked down.

During a remodeling and rebranding last springfrom a Comfort Inn to the newest brand line in the Choice Hotel chaincarpeting was replaced by hypoallergenic stone flooring and drapes were replaced by blinds. Those elements lessen the potential spread of the coronavirus.

The Patels expect to dispose of all bedding and towels once the hotel is returned to them. It also will be thoroughly sanitized, they said.

The county has not yet said how much they will pay to use the hotel. Our motivation was not money, Silas Patel said. This virus is going to cross the globe and this is the right decision for the time were in.

He said other hoteliers in the Rochester area have also offered to help the county if the need arises.

The Patels continue to operate the 23-room Hotel on Monroe, which is the renovated Towpath Motel. Three current guests are in town because family members are in the health care profession and need help with household duties or babysitting.

The couple said theyre not concerned that future guests may shy away because the hotel was used as a quarantine facility.

You wouldnt not go to the hospital because there are sick people there, Micky Patel reasoned.

koklobzija@bridgetowermedia.com/(585) 653-4020

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Lending hotel was their way of helping flatten the curve - Rochester Business Journal

By RaeAnn Slaybaugh

For Tulsas Memorial Drive Church of Christ, connecting as a church family was never a problem but the facilities told a less inspiring story.

Built in 1963, this mid-century modern church features a tent-like parabolic roof, with additions in 1973 and 1977. While the church design surely had its admirers from afar, it left a lot to be desired up close.

For long-time member Laura McCall, the discouragement began in 2014 with the state of the nursing mothers room. Meanwhile, it was common for a leaky roof to invade Sunday morning classes.

Even so, Memorial was her home. I love this place, Laura said. I love these people.

Five years later, she took matters into her own hands, intent on redecorating the cry room. Her first call was to Sheila Cheatham, interior decorator and wife of elder Larry Cheatham. They were in full agreement and so was Sheilas husband, who was nearby when they spoke.

Shortly after, the elders held potluck meetings with the congregation, from Millennials to lifelong members. Overall, they were in favor of remodeling, Larry said. But, many were also worried about how the church would pay for this work.

Though funding was undetermined, Laura got the elders permission to call similar churches, ask questions about the remodeling process, and get professional recommendations. She also came across an article about Millennial-friendly church design, which resonated with her in a way nothing else had.

Laura was surprised and delighted when one church called her back and recommended none other than the articles author: Rodney James, a pastor whod transitioned into church building. In fact, Rodney President & Founder of Masters Plan Church Design & Construction had been that churchs pastor.

So, her next call was to Rodney himself. He was out of town speaking at a conference, but he called her back that afternoon.

As we spoke, I could feel the spirit moving through our words and hearts, she said.

Laura recommended an introduction with the elders. By days end, a lunch meeting was planned. When they met, both Laura and Larry said Rodney struck them as experienced, knowledgeable, passionate and compassionate.

His years spent pastoring a church allow him to see the whole picture, Laura said.

Gods hand has been all over this.

Before parting ways, Rodney mentioned a local news story airing the following Thursday. Hed been interviewed about designing space to help churches better minister to families who have children and adults with special needs. Memorial has a very large ministry to these families.

On the following Wednesday July 24, 2019 Memorial caught fire, burning for hours and rendering the entire 50,000-square-foot building uninhabitable.

While the church family mourned the loss of their facilities, Laura said that having Rodney already in their corner seemed like a blessing directly from God.

On that day, story after story on the church fire aired on local news but so did the story in which Rodney spoke about creating space to help families with children with special needs worship.

The timing was weird, Laura remembers. And we watch for God in the weird.

Picking up the pieces

The day of the fire, Cheatham felt perplexed and fearful. He didnt know how to respond to members questions. It helped immensely when the elders and the ministers met that night to pray and ensure the upcoming Sunday morning worship went on uninterrupted. Thankfully, earlier that day, the nearby Eastside Christian Church called to offer its building (for sale at the time) as a temporary worship and Bible classes space. Memorial continues to lease the building.

To house operations staff, office space was offered up by a member / business owner and his business partner.

At the individual ministry level, each leader found alternative places to host their events. Some didnt even have to look; a number of faith-based organizations called right away to volunteer their buildings. Except for the food pantry, every ministry continued as if the fire never happened. It wasnt long before a partner of many years, Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, helped in finding the food pantry a home, as well.

For the long term, elders organized a building committee for which Larry is the chair and a building finance committee. They are working with Rodney and his team on preliminary plans for a remodeled / replacement physical home. Each ministry leader has been interviewed, and their input is reflected in a schematic floor plan.

Though official plans are on hold pending the churchs insurance settlement, one option is to retain the space under the tell-tale parabolic roof, if the structure is deemed safe by the engineer and insurer. If a complete tear-down is required, the committee will aim to incorporate some of the old structures elements into the new building as an homage to the churchs history.

But Larry and the rest of the church know that the outcome isnt entirely in their hands.

Were focused on waiting for God to lead us, he said. All of us look forward to moving into a new home here in Tulsa, and to the opportunities God is preparing for us to meet.

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Out of the ashes - Church Executive Magazine

Whether their vantage point is home building and design, technology, or health and longevity, those whose careers intersect with residential architecture agree that this pandemic will likely change how our homes look and function in the years to come.

Heres the perspective of eight thought leaders on whats likely to shift in the places that we and our children will call home in the future whether were buying, building or remodeling them. Listed alphabetically, they are:

How will the classic American home change after the COVID-19 pandemic?

HEALTHIER SPACES AND MATERIALS

Tim Costello: I dont think you will see any perceptible change in construction soon. However, on the design side, you may see builders add or highlight new design features. In particular, you may see changes that further differentiate a newly built home vs. a used home. Options that could be deployed faster than changes to architecture [include] UV air treatment, indoor air quality monitoring, viral-resistant surfaces and health monitoring systems for homeowners. Changes like these that greatly benefit homeowners and that respond to learnings from COVID-19 could make their way into product offerings very quickly.

Veronika Miller-Eagleson: Germ-resistant counter tops and flooring will likely see an upswing. It would be good to see improved options for carpeting too. Self-sanitizing door handles actually exist. There could be a huge demand if these systems can be made available. Smart filtration systems for air and water will be a must-have. Smart toilets will be the biggest Christmas gift for 2020 and beyond! Home builders must plan for these now with electrical pre-wiring near the toilet.

Jennifer Quail: There was already an increasing interest in healthy materials, and I expect consumers will make an even bigger move in that direction, especially when products like antimicrobial surfaces are so readily available. There is a peace-of-mind connection to those decisions that will provide even more comfort than before we all had to shelter-in-place.

Veronica Schreibeis Smith: Our homes must be seen as a sanctuary. Too often they meet basic shelter needs and minimum code requirements that don't give us clean air or pure water.

The use of healthier home materials will increase in future design and construction.

PANDEMIC PROTECTION

Alex Capecelatro: Consider how many hands touch the elevator button in your building, the doorknob in your home, your TV remote or light switches. We're hearing a greater demand for voice control and to be able to control more devices during this pandemic. With more people working from home, the need to feel grounded, healthy and alert with the help of circadian rhythm lighting, nature sounds, and other smart home technologies will rise.

Sarah Susanka: Even before the pandemic, Ive been aware that we currently have a missing place for a new functionpackage deliveryand today it is even more critical. We need to design in an area for package drop-off that is accessible by delivery people, but not accessible by thieves.It should be a small room with a door to the outside [and] be able to receive drone deliveries. This room should also include a pass-through to the recycling bin so that unpacking can happen there before the contents are brought into the house.

Peter Chapman: All those bonus spaces developed in the heyday of big building might better be considered as isolation rooms now. Even with couples living alone, there may be a need for separate facilities for each in case one or the other is exposed.

Eagleson: A greater need to store non-perishables and frozen foods may come back with bulk goods storage and smarter pantries. Wine and beer storage may become a more common kitchen feature too.

Voice control technology will reduce shared surfaces and germ spread.

MORE NATURE CONNECTIONS

Dan Buettner:Gardening is a common activity of centenarians because it combines so many elements that contribute to longer life. Sunlight (vitamin D), fresh air, fresh veggies, purpose, and regular natural movement. It's making a comeback in the Statesand we hope this continues. Planting a kitchen garden or even a container garden reaps many benefits. There are houseplants that naturally clean the air and add greenery, which has been proven to reduce stress in people.

Eagleson: Biophilia will move from trendy to necessary, from indoor plant schemes (including lighting) to green walls, to indoor vegetable gardens, to integrated screens/monitors for nature sounds/visuals throughout the house. Increasing usability and improving design of outdoor spaces will likely see a lot of new development as well.

Homes will be designed with more space and technology to support indoor and outdoor plant life.

INCREASED SOCIAL CONNECTION

Buettner: One thing that is key to Blue Zones is face-to-face connections. However, that's not possible now. But one thing I recommend based on my research is front porches or front balconies. I love to see what's happening in Italy and Spain neighbors on their own front porches to connect, many feet apart, with each other during this uncertain time.

Eagleson: Possible solutions that will manifest during and after this crisis [include] easy-to-use tech, especially for seniors to never have to feel so isolated again. Addressing isolation side effects: Always-on communication options like Zoom, Facebook Portal, and in-home/virtual exercise products like Peloton, Mirror Gym, Echelon, etc. with dedicated spaces.

Front porches and balconies foster social connection between neighbors.

IMPROVED HOME OFFICES SPACES AND TECHNOLOGY

Chapman: Weve been moving away from discrete spaces within the home to a more open plan, but its clear that we will need to reconsider the need for more isolated spaces if (and when) these pandemic outbreaks become more frequent. Its ironic that a while back we were proclaiming the end of the home office, as we all had the capability to work from anywhere any time. Now it seems were all thrust back into the 1990s and 2000s as we strive to continue our jobs from home.

Capecelatro: I think the need for video calls will only rise, and with them the need to design rooms specifically optimized for quiet work sessions. I also think this time at home with increased devices pulling on the network, as entire families stream video and audio content, only exemplifies the need for a world class network highly optimized for the data rates we require today.

Eagleson: To work efficiently, a home office cant be the dining table or the den; it has to encourage productivity and minimize distractions. Designers have a huge opportunity to think about creating spaces that are designed for teleconferencing, removed from the rest of home to minimize household distractions, including noise control and physical separation.

Quail: I also believe well see a return to a dedicated workstation in the home. The emergence of laptops, tablets, and smart devices led homeowners away from that business station in the home where the desktop computer used to live but, after two weeks or possibly months of living and working in the same place, the need for a dedicated space for professional hours and a clear separation between working at home and actually being at home becomes much more necessary.

The need to work from home will spur the creation of more quiet, separate, tech-friendly office ... [+] spaces.

Originally posted here:
8 Thought Leaders On How The COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change The American Home - Forbes

Can you hear them? asked Tracy Medenwaldt of Hankinson. My kids are yelling at each other.

To each other, at each other, its the same noise. Today, Medenwaldt is both mom and teacher, joining thousands of parents across North Dakota thrust into this role after Gov. Doug Burgum closed public schools indefinitely because of coronavirus.

While trying to talk on the phone, she sent her kids outside to jump on the trampoline and get rid of their excess energy. I have to mark down on a sheet of paper they have their physical education in for the week, she said. Im so glad they can go outside.

Home schooling could last a few weeks or the rest of the school year. Medenwaldt is betting this virus isnt giving up any time soon and her children will be homebound until the end of the school year.

She and her husband Aaron have seven children five are pre-school and up. Her oldest, Hunter, 17, is a high school senior, while youngest, Rhubee, is one, almost two. The newest Medenwaldt is days away from coming into the world as she is pregnant and will be induced this week.

There are events her children are missing out on because of coronavirus Hunter may finish his high school career at the kitchen counter if schools dont reopen, so graduation ceremonies are still an unknown. Oaklee is completing his confirmation, another ceremony put on hold because of COVID-19, while birth of baby No. 8 wont have the typical fanfare with visits from family and friends, or even a big baptism since churches put mass gatherings on hold during this global pandemic.

Even the Medenwaldt children cant see their new sibling until he/she comes home since children are not allowed to visit in hospitals.

Medenwaldt said shes saddened by how much her children are missing, especially her oldest son.

I want Hunter to be able to finish off his senior year, to walk through the halls of Hankinson High School one more time, to say goodbye. I am hoping they get to walk through graduation, even if its June or July. They need to have their big ceremony. Its a big accomplishment for these seniors, and for the parents weve been waiting to watch our kids, we have been waiting for this moment, she said.

The Medenwaldts are trying to do their part during this period of uncertainty. She has to make more frequent runs to the grocery store since her children are home and they are going through more milk than normal. This provided a unique opportunity.

The elderly are told to remain isolated since they are at more risk for developing severe symptoms from coronavirus, so Medenwaldt and her daughters put care packages together for about 10 senior citizens in the Hankinson community.

These care packages included paper towels, toilet paper, small packets of coffee, word book games, anything they could think of to make this time more bearable, she said. Medenwaldt hopes her children are learning to take care of the people around them, she said, that something good will come from this moment in time.

The restaurant industry in North Dakota has been severely impacted by coronavirus after the governor shut down everything other than curbside, take out or delivery.

Many restaurants laid off staff. Greg Paulson owns Hotcakes Cafe and Lodging in Hankinson. He opted to keep staff and change his business plan, he said.

Once the word came down, I talked to my staff. Do you want to keep your hours? Should we stay open? What do you want to do? he said.

The vote was to stay open. Instead of competing with the other restaurants in Hankinson, Hotcakes, EDJ and Docs Pub decided instead to create a schedule throughout the month in which one restaurants menu is being featured each day.

Docs Pub was up first Monday, March 23, followed by Hotcakes on Tuesday. Paulson offered fried chicken and already had six orders by mid-day.

He planned to stay open three hours at night. Typically, Hotcakes was open for breakfast and lunch, but since the restaurant closure went into effect, his mornings have been slow. Thats where hes taken the biggest financial hit, he said. Paulson figures people are more apt to make their own breakfasts, so hes offering expansive items like omelets or specialized breakfast sandwiches.

Paulson and staff also are deep cleaning the restaurant to remain virus-free. This time also gives him a chance to remodel since he hadnt wanted to close Hotcakes for remodeling. That isnt a problem now since the dining room is closed.

Business wise, we have the opportunity to refocus. Weve decided to do more take outs with soups and salads. Why werent we doing this in the first place? Paulson asked.

Hotcakes offers homemade food and is selling items like quarts of fresh soup for $7. Tuesday morning, they had a big batch of potato salad, all made from scratch, Paulson said.

He is worried about how coronavirus is going to affect his business. When all is said and done, will he still have a business? My fear is whenever the doors do open and everything is back to normal, what will happen then? Paulson asked.

The News Monitor will continue to cover this public health threat. Look to the coronavirus section on our website for more information.

Original post:
Plea from a mother: 'I want Hunter to be able to walk the halls one more time' - Wahpeton Daily News