Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The Elsternwick House in Melbourne, Australia was a feat to build.

Although there are a multitude of reasons to build prefab and in particular modular construction, there are some circumstances that make it extremely difficult. Setting a house on the edge of a cliff can make it difficult to position a crane, needed to set the modules. If a house is at the end of a very narrow road, this can also pose a tremendous obstacle in getting the units to the property. If there are an abundance of trees on the lot, where the house will be set, it also may be difficult to set the house, unless many trees are sacrificed.

The 100-year-old Victorian house that previously sat on the property was too small for the new ... [+] owners was leaky and had unsteady flooring.

One modular house I came across had several obstacles to its construction but was set defying the odds. A 100-year-old Victorian house sat on a lot in Melbourne, Australia, that is just 24 feet 7 inches wide - presenting a very small space to set a new house.It was also a challenge to demolish the small house on the lot without disturbing the two houses that were so close by on either side. A third challenge were the many wires that crossed in front of the house, meaning the crane would have to lift the modules high up in order to clear the wires.

The module is carefully lifted high above the electrical wires.

Unlike many modular houses currently being constructed, this onee was almost completely built in the factory by Modscape. The plastering, painting, cabinets, tiling, lighting, hydronic heating system, water system, blinds, appliances, flooring, decking, pergola and all internal electrical wiring and plumbing fixtures were installed in the factory. An additional challenge was the staircase that was completed with two modules and had to meet seamlessly when set.

All of the cabinetry and doors were preinstalled before the house was set.

The only items that would be completed on site were the floorboards that sit directly above the join lines between the modules, cladding that covers module join locations, baseboards that run around the bottom edge to prevent rodents from getting in, and a few other minor items. Completely so many parts of a modular house in the factory is highly unusual.

It was a particular challenge to have the stairs meet to the millimeter which the installation set ... [+] crew was able to do.

In spite of all of these difficulties, the house was set with barely a hitch. It was set in two days with everything lined up perfectly and with no damage to the houses on either side of it.

This new house is 2,626 square feet and was built with a steel frame. And miraculously the house was completed in just three weeks, from demolition to move-in.

The rear of the house with exterior decking.

Read more:
Defying The Odds To Build A Modern Modular House - Forbes

This article is part of our latest special report on Design, which is about getting personal with customization.

All happy kitchen renovations are alike and they live mostly in our dreams. The existing space is tight and usually comes with restrictions, said Sami Haxhija, a contractor in New York City, ticking off the difficulties. You have unmovable and unleveled walls, pipes, gas lines and electrical work that often need to be relocated and upgraded according to new codes, and areas where only custom millwork will fit.

A decade ago, when I bought an apartment on the Upper East Side that looked like it hadnt been updated since the Eisenhower administration, I fearlessly set about modernizing the 95-square-foot kitchen. I thought I knew all the rules: arrange appliances in a triangle for easy choreography; build a mock island to make sure its the right size; specify three kinds of lighting: overhead, spot and accent.

Ultimately, the job involved three contractors and more mistakes than I thought possible. All the while I asked myself: How do you know what you dont know? And why doesnt anyone truly guide you through this horrific process.

Bolstered by expert advice, here are some lessons I learned along the painful, exhausting, disappointing and finally happily completed way.

Dont take a contractors previous work at face value. When my first contractor led me through an apartment that he said he was responsible for renovating, the owner wasnt present. Who is to say all the work was his? Perhaps he just painted. See at least three or four examples of a contractors work that you will specifically be hiring him for, especially when the owner is home, Mr. Haxhija advised. If youre doing a kitchen and he only shows you bathrooms, thats a concern. If he says the owners are away or not available to speak to, thats another.

Dont go it alone. My first contractor hired the designer and millworker. Never hand everything over to one contractor. Hire a professional kitchen designer who will design your kitchen, bring you samples and explain everything to you, said Hilary Farr, an interior designer and co-host of the television series Love It or List It. The designer is there to navigate the process and be the liaison between you, the general contractor and his trades, with your interests solely as a priority.

A signed contract is not enough. Nate Berkus, the interior designer and author, recommends that you ask the contractor for a list of every single decision you will need to make, and the names and contact information of the vendors, electrician and plumber theyll be using. Then research them. You should also request a timeline, schedule and list of items that wont be allowed in your building. If you live in a high rise you probably cant have a gas stove, Mr. Berkus noted. You should receive these before you hand over a check.

Design for you. Im a minimalist who rarely cooks. My first contractor insisted that additional cabinets and a hood over my stove were crucial for resale. Im glad I stood my ground and didnt sacrifice the clean, nonclaustrophobic look I wanted. The next owners, who may or may not be cookware hoarders, can easily build storage.

Dont forget the samples. Take home samples of everything you ordered from specific lots so you can make sure the items you ultimately receive are a match.

Stick to one appliance brand. This creates visual consistency, and if something breaks, an authorized repair person from the company can fix whats broken while assessing the rest of your machines.

Make sure the appliances are a standard-enough size. If you build your customized cabinets around, say, an ultranarrow refrigerator, and the appliance dies, you will want to be sure the space can accommodate a replacement. Mine does not.

Know whos installing the cabinets. The installation should be done by a representative of the manufacturer, whether its an IKEA installer, or a millworker employed by your contractor whose work you had an opportunity to see. The two subcontractors who installed my cabinets had nothing to do with their fabrication and thus made a hash of the job. They cut an important wall panel too short and used a wrong color piece of wood to correct the problem, later denying that there was any problem at all. Ultimately my third contractor painted the cabinet for a seamless match.

Cardboard should not be used to align a backsplash. Which is how my second contractors lead guy decided to proceed. The cardboard, which was sitting on the counter, wedged under the backsplash, couldnt be removed. The entire backsplash had to be chopped out and replaced.

You may have to halt the project if you instinctively know something isnt right, said Bryan Sebring, owner of Sebring Design Build outside of Chicago. Go online and research how a backsplash should be done. Watch YouTube videos. Bring in a second opinion after they have left for the day to assess the project.

Ask for a preview. When the kitchen tiles were laid, the grout color I chose was not what appeared on the floor after it dried. Oh right, the contractor said. The colors on the package and in-store sample are often misleading. If he had done a patch test with a few tiles and let me see the dried version first, we wouldnt have wasted days scraping out the first color and re-grouting the entire floor.

Inspect everything nightly, especially things you cant easily see. One morning I woke to find an inch of water covering the newly tiled floor and spilling into my office. The subcontractor had neglected to fully turn off the valve of a pipe that hadnt been attached to a sink. It was being used to supply water for the crew and slowly leaked all night. Part of the office floor had to be replaced along with many pieces of now-warped customized cabinets. Another tip: Place water alarms by all unfinished piping.

Take photographs and videos in real time. When my (second) granite countertop was mounted (the first had arrived damaged), the installers took two small chunks out of my freshly plastered and painted walls and deeply scratched the new appliances. If I hadnt documented this while it was happening, I would not have had the evidence that let me be reimbursed for the ruined work.

Ask for what you need as soon as you figure it out. When the new countertop arrived, the installers used white caulking, which contrasted with the black granite surface and my now-warm-gray walls. I asked if they had another color that would blend better and was told yes, just not with them that day.

Painting should come last. Start with a sample test; your wall color may look different once your lighting has been installed. This also gives the team time to clean and let dust settle before applying final coats. It sounds like common sense, but if the correct steps had been observed, my paint probably would not have peeled off the walls.

No one will ever be as passionate about the project as you. I thought I was being specific; my contractors and their teams considered me difficult and controlling. They insisted I was in the way and making the process take longer. Dont let anyone talk you out of being present, or making sure your vision is being executed correctly. That is your right.

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How to Renovate Your Kitchen and Not End Up in Tears - The New York Times

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Smart Thermostat Market by Type, Application and End Use: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to the report the global smart thermostat market size was valued at $1.36 billion in 2018, and is projected to reach $8.78 billion by 2026, to register a CAGR of 26.0% during the smart thermostat market forecast.

According to smart thermostat market trends, smart thermostats are installed with remote access software and programmed with artificial intelligence. This enables smart thermostats to get programmed for future schedules to control temperature as per the need of users. It also operates in a self-learning mode by the data its software collects over the period.

Infrared technology is the wireless connectivity used in smart thermostat to access it in the line of sight range using remote device. For instance, smart thermostat by Air Patrol that has integrated infrared floor sensors. Room Unit thermostat with infrared floor sensor makes sure that your bathroom floor is set to the ideal and that the more demanding floor surfaces are kept safe, which offers lucrative smart thermostat market opportunity globally.

According to the smart thermostat market analysis, latest smart thermostat is integrated with Wi-Fi technology which allows wireless connectivity from remote devices. For instance, Honeywell 7-DAY programmable thermostat provide the consumer with WiFi connectivity that enables the HVAC systems to be controlled through remote access.

Rapid adoption of smart infrastructure in residential and commercial infrastructure, penetration of IoT and AI based technologies, and in analysis creased use of smart technology in medical monitoring influences the smart thermostat market growth. However, high cost of products in developing countries hampers early adoption. Further, increased advancements and adoption of automated systems in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors are expected to provide lucrative smart thermostat market opportunity for the smart thermostat market growth during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific accommodates major population of the globe. The penetration of smart phones and adoption of smart electronic appliances in residential, commercial and industrial sector is expected to grow smart thermostat market. Owing to technological advancements, the appliances in residential buildings, such as washing machines, heating, and cooling equipment, and refrigerators, are increasingly going smart. This means that they can be connected to the internet.

Key Findings of the Smart Thermostat Market:

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Executive Summary

2.1. Key Findings

2.1.1. Top Impacting Factors

2.1.2. Top Investment Pockets

2.2. CXO Perspective

3. Market Overview

3.1. Market Definition And Scope

3.2. Key Forces Shaping Smart Thermostat Market

3.2.1. Moderate Bargaining Power of Suppliers

3.2.2. High Threat of New Entrants

3.2.3. Moderate Threat of Substitutes

3.2.4. Moderate Intensity of Rivalry

3.2.5. Moderate Bargaining Power of Buyers

3.3. Market Dynamics

3.3.1. Drivers

3.3.1.1. Rapid Adoption of Smart Infrastructure In Residential And Commercial

3.3.1.2. The Penetration of IoT And Ai Based Technologies

3.3.1.3. Increased Use of Smart Technology In Medical Monitoring

3.3.2. Restraints

3.3.2.1. High Cost of Products In Developing Countries Are The Barriers To Early Adoption

3.3.3. Opportunities

3.3.3.1. The Increasing Advancement And Adoption of Automated Systems

4. Smart Thermostat Market, By Technology

4.1. Overview

4.2. Wifi

4.3. Infrared

4.4. Bluetooth

4.5. Others

5. Smart Thermostat Market, By Application

5.1. Overview

5.2. Split Ac

5.3. Window Ac

5.4. Portable Ac

5.5. Other

6. Smart Thermostat Market, By End Use

6.1. Overview

6.2. Residential

6.3. Commercial

6.4. Industrial

6.5. Other

7. Smart Thermostat Market, By Region

7.1. Overview

7.2. North America

7.3. Europe

7.4. Asia-Pacific

7.5. LAMEA

8. Competitive Landscape

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Top Winning Strategies

8.2.1. Top Winning Strategies, By Year

8.2.2. Top Winning Strategies, By Development

8.2.3. Top Winning Strategies, By Company

8.3. Product Mapping of Top 10 Player

8.4. Competitive Dashboard

8.5. Competitive Heatmap

8.6. Key Developments

8.6.1. New Product Launches& Development

8.6.2. Other Developments

9. Company Profiles: Smart Thermostat

9.1. Emerson Electric Co.

9.1.1. Company Overview

9.1.2. Company Snapshot

9.1.3. Operating Business Segments

9.1.4. Product Portfolio

9.1.5. R&D Expenditure

9.1.6. Business Performance

9.1.7. Key Strategic Moves And Developments

9.2. Ecobee

9.3. Honeywell International Inc.

9.4. Johnson Controls

9.5. Nest Labs (Alphabet Inc.)

9.6. Netatmo (Legrand Sa)

9.7. Schneider Electric S.E.

9.8. Siemens Ag

9.9. Tado

9.10. Zen Ecosystems

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/eebamb

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Global Smart Thermostat Market by Type, Application and End Use: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

Wading into water quality, Stacy Levys Collected Watershed at Towson University

Susan Isaacs reviews Stavy Levy's exhibition Collected Watershed, which is currently installed at the Center for the Arts Gallery at Towson University. The display explores issues facing waterways during climate change. Though the gallery is currently closed due to COVID-19, the show's end date has been extended to April 25, 2020, and the show is presumed to re-open before then.

In a world of environmental crisis, Towson University addresses the issue of water quality this spring with a series of free events that are open to the public, including an exhibition by environmental artist Stacy Levy (full disclosure: I co-curated this exhibition along with Erin Lehman, Director of the Department of Art + Design Galleries). However, while planning the exhibition began the conversation, it gradually became only one element in a spring rich with programming, including an environmental conference to open April 16th with a keynote event: A Conversation with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician, professor, and public health advocate and author of the book What the Eyes Dont Seef, which tells the story of the Flint, Michigan water crisis. The New York Times named it as one of the 100 most notable books of 2018, and it was chosen as the Maryland One book of 2019.

Large universities, unlike museums, have access to and can take advantage of their own experts and departments, programs, and offices, resulting in rich interdisciplinary programming. In this instance, the College of Fine Arts and Communication (Departments of Music and Art + Design), the Jess & Mildred Fisher College of Science & Mathematics (Department of Biological Sciences), the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Civic Engagement & Social Responsibility, and Cook Library, collaborated to produce extensive programming around the issue of water. Scientists, curators, artists, musicians, librarians, and specialized program directors worked together to address the issue of water quality from their own perspectives.

Levy, who lives in rural Pennsylvania and who holds an MFA in sculpture from Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, and a BA in Sculpture with a Minor in Forestry from Yale University, is familiar with this kind of interdisciplinary approach as she often collaborates with scientists and landscape architects. She regularly creates works in the land and on the water to help mediate environmental problems. In 2018, she won the Henry Meigs Award for Environmental Leadership, and in 2019, the Penn Future Award for Women in Conservation. Readers can see a list of her commissions on her website, along with images of her many projects.

Levy writes: I am a sculptor with an urban forestry background whose interest in the natural world rests both in art and science. My art celebrates the often-unnoticed presence of the natural world in places we experience every day. I work with natural forces like wind, rain, erosion and climate change, plant growth, bird habitats and tides. I have explored the many aspects of urban waters, from the micro to the macro, and I have looked at water from many different angles: from puddles to watersheds.

Watercourse is a large, graceful installation that demonstrates the interconnectedness of local watersheds by mapping them in three-dimensions onto the nearly 2, 500 square foot floor of the Center for the Arts Gallery at Towson University. Students, faculty, and staff accompanied the artist for many days of water collection. In the end, we collected nearly 200 buckets of water from the various waterways in Baltimore County, and their contents filled close to 8,000 recycled jars that form the corresponding waterways of the map. It was a herculean effort.

Levy feels it is important that people know their streams, their names and locations, in order to protect them. Thus, the map includes identifying text in blue-colored Times Romanemployed in official maps of creeks, streams, rivers, bays and other waterways. Today, many waterways underlie roads and suburban developments, but in the past, they were the roadways. The title of her lecture for the opening of the exhibition was Picturing Water: Art as A Verb. A film collaboration between the artist and her videographer, Jonathan Bojan, about the project can be viewed here.

Maryland is rich in bodies of water. They are the result of a large glacier melt beginning about 10,000 years ago. The Chesapeake Bay was formed from the increased size of the Susquehanna River and the eventual mixing of salt and fresh water.* While this exhibition looks at Maryland waterways, Pennsylvanias decisions on water pollution also affect the Chesapeake Bay. A recent report by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation concluded that Pennsylvanias proposal to combat water pollution was not adequate, prompting Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to send a letter expressing his concern to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.**

Information about the dissolved salts content (conductivity) and acid-base quality (pH) of stream waters collected by biologist Susan Gresens of Towson University and her students are included in the watershed map installation, on display through an aesthetic visual representation designed by Levy of jars filled with varying amounts of marbles to represent salt content. Gresens explains that conductivity measurements are a useful representation of the total amount of salts dissolved in the water. These salts represent different compounds, some natural from local bedrock, others introduced by humans. In watersheds with winter snow and ice, road salt is the major contributor to conductivity.

While these salts keep road surfaces safe for drivers, conductivity is also a fingerprint of urban development; the more roads there are, the more driving there is, the more road salt is used. Levy explains that just as we cannot drink salty ocean water, microorganisms and other life forms, like fish and salamanders, cannot tolerate an overly salty environment.

The artists map design also demonstrates her fascination with dendritic patterns (branch-like structures) found not only in waterways, but also throughout all life forms, including the human vascular system. Levy comments that This complex of streams and rivers create capillaries of life-giving fluid. To allow for more viewer space, vinyl dots mark some waterways in the installation, generally forming the tail end of a curving river or creek, completing a dendritic pattern. This exhibition is an excellent representation of how Stacy Levy brings together science and art to express visually one of the most profound issues of our time: water quality. Visitors see how art makes science accessible while the science makes the art, at least in this case, richer in meaning and purpose.

Stacy Levy: Collected WatershedCenter for the Arts Gallery, (GPS: 1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, Maryland)Towson, Maryland 21252Towson University MapsOn View January 31 April 25, 2020 (closed March 13 22)The University is currently closed through April 4 due to COVID-19Gallery Hours: Tues. Sat., 11 a.m. 8 p.m.

* James DiLisio, Maryland Geography (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014) 9.** Jenna Miller, Chesapeake Bay: Pennsylvania called weakest link by Bay Foundation. Maryland weighs in, The Daily Times May 30, 2019

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Wading into water quality, Stacy Levy's Collected Watershed at Towson University - theartblog.org

Feng shui may be a term youve heard thrown around every once in awhile, but do you know what it means? Well, Im here to give you the feng shui basics.

Feng shui is based on the idea that your environment (in this case, your apartment) has a force or energy known as chi. Its believed that a space with proper feng shui and natural flow brings good fortune, prosperity and harmonious relationships with the people in your life.

On the other hand, if your apartment is cluttered or has a disruptive flow, this could lead to negative results such as poor health or financial troubles. Im guessing those are two things you would like to avoid.

While feng shui sounds complicated, apartment decorating with using feng shui principles is simple, trust me. Heres how to achieve feng shui in your kitchen, bedroom and living room:

In order to create balance and positively influence health and prosperity, your kitchen should be bright, open and airy. Even the smallest of kitchens can appear larger with a few simple tricks.

If theres not a window in your kitchen, add a large mirror to the wall so light bounces around the room and so you can see whats going on around you. After all, nobody wants to stare at a wall as theyre cooking.

In addition to natural light flowing in through the windows, your kitchen should also have ample artificial light. Add layers of light to the space, including accent, ambient and task.

These three types of illumination will create a bright and cheery space for you and your guests to gather in. Keep in mind that a single overhead fluorescent light is not ideal, as it can cast a harsh glow that causes headaches and eyestrain.

The colors you use in your kitchen also contribute to the feng shui of the space. Start with an all-white color palette (usually pretty easy in a rental) to keep the kitchen bright and spacious. Add in accents of vibrant colors using decorative bowls of fruit, cooking accessories, curtains or dinnerware.

The way in which furniture is arranged in your living room can either make or break the spaces feng shui. Furniture should keep with the natural flow of the room and work with the existing traffic pattern.

Lets start with the sofa: Ideally, it should be placed against the wall furthest from the rooms entry point. Make sure to leave a few inches between the wall and the couch. Having a wall behind your sofa is said to add comfort and security to the room.

If you dont have an available wall for your couch, put a long table or a few smaller tables behind your sofa. Place a few lamps on the tables to illuminate your couch and provide a sense of protection.

As a general rule, the way your chairs and couches are arranged should be conducive to conversation. Its going to be super awkward to talk to your guests if youre both at opposite ends of the room or if youre facing away from each other.

Its also important to include a balance of shapes. Consider adding a round coffee table to the center of your living room to allow energy to freely flow throughout the space. Pair that with square or rectangular side tables or ottomans.

Squares represent the Earth, while rectangles symbolize wood, and circles represent metal. All of these combined elements help give your home a balanced feel.

The bedroom is where you should feel the most relaxed and de-stressed to help you prepare for a good nights sleep. The first step to creating this environment is to remove all the clutter from your room, keeping only the things you absolutely need out in the open (e.g., an alarm clock, a lamp or a book on your nightstand). The goal is to live minimally.

Next, remove anything youre storing from underneath your bed. Apparently doing this can create negative energy. Your bed should only serve one purpose: sleep. If you can, try to find another location for whatever might be kept under your bed. You may find that you dont even need what youve been keeping under there for so long!

And finally, turn off your phone and laptop and store them both away from where you sleep. I know; this seems difficult, but you can do it. If you use your phone as an alarm, put it on sleep mode so youre not interrupted by a late-night text or Facebook notification, only the sound of your alarm in the morning.

The bright screens on your phone and laptop dont exactly help to lull you to sleepin fact, they do quite the opposite. Instead, keep a good book on your nightstand, which will help relax you and prepare you to get some good shut eye.

Now, do you feel that positivity flowing through your apartment?

Continued here:
Feng Shui Basics for Beginners - Rent Blog

Unit 1 Introduction to Feng Shui

In this introductory Unit, you'll learn the actual definition of Feng Shui as well as its history. You will also get introduced to a number of differ-ent schools of Feng Shui, such as Form, BTB, Compass and more.

Because Form School is the oldest school, we discuss it in full and you get to meet the four celestial animals. And, you will be introduced to Vastu, which is a form of Feng Shui that did originate in China.

Get to understand what really is Ch'i and how important it is in our space and lives. Learn to identify favorable Ch'i as opposed to unfavor-able Ch'i.

You will also learn about the Yin Yang Theory. Get to know it's symbol and learn its true meaning. Then you will begin to be able to see its presence in a space and how it can be useful in interior design.

Next, learn all the aspects of clutter and how affects us in such a detri-mental way. And if clutter is a problem for you, you'll get ideas how to overcome it.

Unit 2 Principles of Feng Shui

In Unit 2 you will learn about the Five Element Theory and its cycles. Get to know the qualities of Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. See how appear in a space and how they interact with each other. Then, learn how you can use them for a better Feng Shui experience.

Get to understand how Yin Yang appears within the Five Elements and how that can help make more concise Feng Shui adjustments and cre-ate a better balance.

In addition, get introduced to two very important astrology systems that are based on the Five Elements: Four Pillars and 9 Star Ki. They add a very important layer to Feng Shui. You will learn how they work.

Then, meet the family of Trigrams ... the building blocks of the Bagua. Get know what they stand for and how they create the Bagua. See how the Bagua correlates with the Five Element. Hopefully, you will start seeing the big picture.

Learn how to place the Bagua over a space for both BTB and Compass schools. Please note, though, that throughout this course if you are ask to place on a space, it should be based on the BTB approach.

Unit 3 Feng Shui Essentials

In this Unit you will start learning Feng Shui details. You will be intro-duced to specific remedies, learn how intention plays an important part in Feng Shui, and what cultural interpretations can be helpful. Get to really understand color. Learn what specific colors mean and how they relate to the Bagua and the Five Element Theory. And, begin to see how fabrics can be use from a Feng Shui perspective.

Learn about how architectural details affect space. Door, window, stairs placement can really make a difference as does so much more. And, let's not forget about our front door ... a very special door. It needs a lot of attention and special love and care.

Also, in this Unit you will get introduced to your fictions client, Sophia Taylor. You will be working with her and submitting your projects for you along with you Unit Assignments. Let the fun begin!

Unit 4 Feng Shui Room by Room

In this Unit we will look a individual rooms and how to handle them from a Feng Shui perspective. You will learn the best layouts for kitch-ens and dining rooms, living and family rooms, bedrooms and bath-rooms. You will learn how to approach designing a home office and making it as auspicious as possible.

And, you will continue working on your projects for your client, Sophia Taylor, as well as continuing to work on your own Presentation Room.

Unit 5 Putting It All Together

This Unit contains case studies from professional Feng Shui practition-ers. Reading there reports will give you a true idea how to approach a consultation. It is also will give you an idea what to include in a written report. It is very common for practitioners to provide a written report for the client that includes an overview of the analysis and a list of rec-ommendations.

Then for your Unit Assignment you will continue working on Sophia Taylor's Floor Plans. You will also complete your Room Plan Worksheet where you list all the adjustments that you will implement for your Presentation Room.

Unit 6 Personal and Professional Pathways

Just as the others, this Unit is a very important one. We start out, though, on a lighter matter by giving some insight how to use Feng Shui principles in a garden ... how to make something so beautiful more beautiful. Then we get a little more serious by introducing you to Space Clearing ... a subject matter that every Feng Shui practitioner should know about.

Lastly, the two remaining lessons are dedicated to preparing you to treat Feng Shui as a business. They will teach you how to start your business, how to market it, how to get clients and how to act with cli-ents. Even if you are not planning to make this a professional goal, the-se two lesson host a wealth of information worth reading.

This Unit assignment will include you submitting your Final Presenta-tion Room Design. What an accomplishment!

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Feng Shui Classes & Courses | Outline | NYIAD

You might be wondering who this company FSL is? How did they become focused on Backlighting. Whats their story?

FSL was born out of the idea of bringing together two powerful sets of principles that our founder, was passionate about Feng Shui and Lighting Design. He knew the powerful difference that good lighting design could make in a space. The built environment could be enhanced and literally enlightened by the proper and good application of light. As a student of Feng Shui, he knew the impact on a building or space that could be made by applying the principles of Feng Shui. People would feel more at home and comfortable. Things would seem to flow better. The design intent of the space would be fulfilled.

So he set out to combine these two schools of thought by bringing the principles of good Lighting Design to the world of Feng Shuiand the principles of good Feng Shui design to the practice Lighting Design. At first, we sought to apply Feng Shui aesthetic guidelines to the lighting design idea of lighting the vertical. And Feng Shui Lighting was born.

What started out as a collection of small sconces has grown into a full menu of fixtures and complete solutions to light the vertical. But instead of using traditional fixtures to light the vertical from the front, we have chosen to have the Vertical actually Be the light source. And while we still offer some modestly sized fixtures, our offering has literally grown to allow us to assist specifiers in creating complete glowing walls, illuminated ceilings, and luminous design elements.

While were still asked to create bespoke decorative lighting fixtures or clean simple geometric shade lights, were best known for our Flat Surface Lighting.

Weve been lighting people almost all of our lives. We grew up in the industry. We love what we do. Wed love to collaborate with you.

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Feng Shui Lighting - FSL - Backlighting Solutions

Traders' bad luck turns worse

Police are looking for a fake fortune teller who preyed upon Pattaya traders, promising to realign the feng shui of their outlets and improve their fortunes before making off with 2.3 million baht worth of vehicles they let him borrow.

Half a dozen victims of the conman, identified as Jeerawat Rojmaneekorn, 50, complained last week to Nong Prue police in Chon Buri when they realised they had been duped.

Jeerawat managed to con victims out of 17 motorcycles and one car, mostly on loan. Soon after getting his hands on the vehicles, Jeerawat would flee with them, leaving the owners with the burden of repaying the financing debt. Reports say total damages come to 2.3 million baht.

Reports say Jeerawat, who dresses in red and gold to convey the image of a Chinese expert in horoscopes and has the gift of the gab, would make contact with victims, some of them Pattaya bar owners, and strike up a rapport.

Some victims were struggling with poor sales at the time, and fell for his line that their outlet's feng shui was wrong. He would offer to realign it, perform a ceremony adorned with fake gold and food offerings to the gods, and later seize the chance to persuade the owners to part with vehicles.

One victim, Charoenrat, says Jeerawat conned him out of a Mazda 3 worth 1.1 million baht. He said he set up a spririt house at his home and asked Jeerawat to check its feng shui. Jeerawat performed a ceremony for his place and said he should transfer his name onto the title deed. He also asked to sleep at the house for three nights to seek the spirits' forgiveness.

Later, Charoenrat disclosed he wanted to buy a car as a gift for his son, who was finishing his studies. Jeerawat said he knew of a caryard in Bangkok and offered to make contact for him. In September, he said he would need a down payment of 50,000 baht for the Mazda, and had him sign over authoriity to pick it up.

"A week later, he drove the car to my place, but said he had no vehicle of his own and asked to borrow it. I agreed. In December he said the Mazda had been in a scrape and took it in for repairs. Later, when I asked after the vehicle, he said someone had made off with it. On March 4, he disappeared, and I was left with back payments of 14,000 baht a month and no car," Charoenrat said.

Another victim, Kittiya, said she bought a bike worth 160,000 baht last August. Jeerawat claimed the red and black colours of her bike were unlucky and he would get the vehicle inscribed with Chinese lettering to ward off danger. When she went to retrieve the bike, he asked to borrow it and take over repayments. She let him, as she had many other bikes, and he had offered to fix her beer bar's feng shui, which he claimed was acting as a drag on sales.

Later, he claimed he had given her bike to a caryard which leased the vehicle out to foreigners. He made one repayment of 4,000 baht in December before disappearing with the bike.

Krissana, another victim, said she lost a Honda Click worth 77,000 baht to Jeerawat's cunning. He made just five repayments, leaving her with another 24 payments of 2,570 a month.

In a moment of unusual candour, Jeerawat said he couldn't buy a vehicle himself as he was once arrested for robbery. She took it out for him, and is now saddled with the debt burden and no bike. She did not believe her life has improved since he fixed her stars.

Another victim, Auna, who said she met Jeerawat at a time when sales from her business were slow, said she lost a motorcycle worth 130,000 baht. She said Jeerawat claimed the registration of her bike was unlucky as it contained a zero. He took the bike to get the registration changed to include an "8" and inscribed with Chinese lettering.

He asked to borrow the bike to order goods he would need for a religious ceremony but failed to return it. "Finally he claimed the vehicle was involved in an accident and took it in for repairs but later disappeared," she said.

Another victim, Worapoj "Aun" Weerapan, 35, says Jeerawat faked leasehold papers for his beer bar and with them borrowed 90,000 baht from underground lenders. He found out about the debt when collectors turned up at his bar. His bar in Pattaya was in trouble, and he placed an ad on Facebook offering to lease it. He said Jeerawat made contact with him on FB and offered to perform a ceremony to improve its feng shui. Later, he took off with the ownership papers. He also ran up a 20,000 baht bill for alcohol in his name.

Nong Prue police chief Pol Col Chiddecha Songhong said police are preparing to seek an arrest warrant for Jeerawat, whom he said has an outstanding warrant for fraud in Nong Khai from several years ago.

Sleepy shop hosts scared robber

Netizens are marvelling at how a novice gold shop robber managed to walk unchallenged into a gold shop in Trat wearing a motorcycle helmet, seconds before threatening a staff member with a homemade gun.

Security footage taken from inside the Yaowarat Gold Shop in Muang district on Tuesday shows the young thief pulling up on a motorcycle outside the shop, and calmly entering with his helmet still on. A staff member is shown slowly rising to her feet as if to serve him. Seconds later the thief pulls out a gun and demands she hand over the gold.

Off-camera, an alert staff member runs into the back room and sounds an alarm linked to the local police station. The alarm sets off an ear-splitting siren, which sends the young man into a panic.

He is shown scrambling out the shop, stumbling and almost putting his head through the glass door as he does so. News reports say he wet himself in his panic and slipped on his own urine trail.

The footage shows the young man, who left empty-handed, making off on his bike, later found abandoned on a forest road. Police say it had no registration plate and had recently been spray-painted red to disguise its real colour. The robber's gloves, shoes and jacket were in the under-seat compartment.

The next day, having seen publicity of the failed robbery, relatives of the young man brought him in to the police. They charged Nareunat "Paeb" Kaemnum, 23, from Samran beach district, with attempted robbery. He told them he was stressed after recently losing his job. He borrowed the bike for the robbery from his girlfriend's elder sister; the gun, which he abandoned near his rental home, was his own.

Security footage taken from inside the Yaowarat Gold Shop in Muang, Trat.

On the internet, netizens asked why the staff member did not immediately ask the young man to take off his helmet. Others suggested gold shops should instal automatic doors which can be locked by staff inside at the first sign of trouble.

"The woman behind counter looks too cool to be true. If it was me and I saw someone enter with a motorcycle helmet on, I'd know he was there to steal the gold," one wrote.

The staff member told the media she thought he was an ordinary customer, although she wondered why he kept his helmet on. He also wore a sanitary mask underneath, though it was pulled to one side.

On a more humorous note, netizens suggested the young man go back to "robbery school" so he can learn how it's done. "He was bold enough to rob a gold shop, but fled when the siren went off?" one asked. "Unbelievable." Others said his lack of skill gave all gold shop robbers a bad name.

'Python' gets new lease on life

Sek Loso's former live-in lover, model Apisaya "Eve" Pattanaworasap, has stepped up her legal action against the rocker's ex-wife and her former sideckick, after they forced her out of Sek's home last year.

Apisaya 'Eve' Pattanaworasap and inset, Sek Loso

Eve last week visited the Criminal Court in Min Buri to pursue one of a handful of defamation cases she is taking against Sek's ex-wife Wiphakorn "Kan" Sukpimai, mother to his three oldest children, and Sek's second wife, Paphada "Sandwich" Chotikawanitch.

Kan and former Channel 7 actress Sandwich, who have since fallen out -- just as Kan fell out with model Eve before her -- ganged up to force Eve from Sek's home last August, broadcasting the eviction on Facebook live. Kan initially declared that she and Sandwich would live together with Sek, helping the ailling rocker revive his sagging career after a battle with bipolar disorder.

Sek Loso

However, Sandwich later moved out with her young son, Leon, after Kan challenged the actress to get the child's DNA tested amid doubts over whether Sek is the father.

Critics say Kan is manoeuvering herself back into pole position as Sek's main caregiver and spouse. The rocker has said little about the dispute.

Meanwhile, Eve said she turned up at the court last week to press defamation claims stemming from her eviction, in which Kan made unflattering comments about her on FB and later turned her remarks during the drama into a satirical song.

She said she welcomed the court's decision to accept the case in its entirety, which will now proceed to a hearing on April 9 in which both Kan and Sandwich will have to testify. Only one, Sandwich, turned up last week. She emerged from the courthouse looking unhappy and refused to talk to the media.

Eve's cases against the pair will unfold in various courts. On May 18 the Criminal Court in Ratchada will examine a defamation case stemming from Kan's song, which Eve says defames her. Then, on June 11 and 12, the court will hear a case over remarks in which Kan referred to Eve as a lazy python, living off Sek's riches. Kan, who has previously shrugged off her mounting legal troubles, has yet to comment.

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Feng shui conman thrives, newbie robber wets self, Eve in court - Bangkok Post

You go to bed, you fall asleep and you wake up in the middle of the night. You try to go back to sleep but you find it hard. You check your clock and it is 4:00 AM. Every night, the same time. This is a common problem faced by thousands of people every night.

Sleep is essential to your physical and mental health and thats why you spend one third of your life sleeping. The body takes its time to rest and heal so if you dont get uninterrupted and quality sleep for several days in a row, you will be grumpy and exhausted.

Biological, also know as circadian, clock is your inner clock. It is unique and it regulates your sleeping and waking up times which depend on age, among other factors.

According to Feng Shui, waking up at a certain time of the night is a sign from your body about something going wrong. Different hours are associated with different body organs anddifferent emotional states, so if you wake up at the same time every night, it may mean that there is a problem. So lets see what Feng Shui suggests.

Cant fall sleep from 9 PM to 11 PM

Do you find it hard to fall asleep around these times? It may be because you havent relaxed yet and your mind is full of stress. If thats the case, try some meditation and breathing exercises and have some chamomile tea before bed. It may also be related to an underactive thyroid gland so make sure you check it.

Waking up between 11 PM and 1 AM

This period of time is associated to your gall bladder. Gall bladder issues are also linked to bitterness and disappointment so something may be in your mind that makes you nervous. Remember that it is not enough to forgive others. You also need to forgive yourself. We all make mistakes so dont be harsh on yourself.

Waking up between 1 AM and 3 AM

These hours are associated with you liver. According to FengShui, the liver is associated with emotional garbage, that is negativeemotions, such as anger, that you need to expel away. Remember to drink enoughwater and decrease your alcohol and caffeine consumption.

Waking up between 3 AM and 5 AM

Waking up between these hours is associated with your lungs and it is also linked to sadness and loss. Have you recently experienced a loss (person, job, thing) and you are still trying to cope? Have a little faith and things will get better.

Waking up between 5 AM and 7 AM

You looked at the clock and it is certainly not the time you need to wake up? There may be something wrong with your large intestine. Otherwise it may be that you are emotionally blocked. You need to reassess certain situations and relationships, stop insisting and move on.

Waking up between 7 AM and 10 AM

Waking up during these hours is associated to your stomach and spleen or it may mean that you are anxious and stressed over something. Take care of yourself and if you need help to cope with something, make sure you talk to a coach.

How can I sleep with no interruptions?

If you wake up in the middle ofthe night and feel tired over the course of each day, try to identify why thisis happening. Think of your diet, your habits, your emotional state and try tounderstand what is causing this so you can fix it and get some proper rest.

You may also have the associated body parts checked because better safe than sorry! Also, try some breathing exercises while in bed, before you fall asleep, go to bed around the same time every night and wake up at the same time every day, decrease your alcohol and caffeine consumption, dont nap for more than 30 minutes. Think positive, talk to someone you trust or a coach and everything will be better!

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Waking Up at the Same Time Every Night? - Thrive Global

Hillary Diane reports what happened when she went to the Mass. General emergency room yesterday with flu-like symptoms and she was brought up to the hospital's Covid-19 clinic and then tested negative on a flu test:

So when my influenza test came back negative, the doctor admitted that he thinks it's possible that I have Covid-19, and really wants to test me, but he can't - even though I have symptoms and potential exposure, *they have no testing kits at this time*. They even called up the chain to Biothreats/DPH, to ask if they could test me anyway even though I don't strictly fit the State criteria, and they said no.

I asked about Quest and LabCorp, as I recently read that they were taking samples and could test. But as of about an hour ago (6:30pm on Wed March 11th) the doctor said they have been calling those labs and more, but they actually *can't* do it... He said that what the media is reporting about that isn't true (yet). He said he thinks it will be a week or two before testing capability actually ramps up.

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Did the woman in 'strict isolation' at the hospital with a bad respiratory infection have coronavirus? Who knows - the hospital didn't have enough...