Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Michele Lerner -- Boston.com correspondent

February 20, 2020 12:00 pm

Replacing your garage door doesnt seem like the most exciting home improvement task, but if youre looking to get the most bang for your buck, youll get a 106 percent return on your investment for that project in Boston, according to the 33dannual 2020 Cost vs. Value Report by Hanley Wood in Remodeling magazine.

Nationally, nine of the top 10 investments homeowners can make are exterior home improvements, with a minor kitchen remodel the only interior improvement on the list. The report surveyed nearly 1,400 full-time real estate professionals, each with a network of more than 100 consumers, about returns for 22 home improvement projects in 100-plus US markets.

If youre selling your home, you want every dollar spent on improving your home to count, but most sellers and buyers think first about the kitchen and bathroom. So where should you invest your time and money?

Thats really a determination that must be made on a case-by-case basis, said Charlene Frary, a real estate agent with Realty Executives Boston West in Framingham. If the exterior is OK, but the kitchen is really outdated, definitely spend the money on the kitchen. If theres something very off-putting about the curb appeal, such as dead vegetation or a wildly unpopular house color, then curb appeal would take precedence.

The 10 home improvements with the highest return on investment in Boston include:

Project type

Job cost

Cost recouped

$3,984

106%

$10,222

97%

$2,196

90%

$18,864

80%

$22,353

79%

$19,666

78%

$23,953

71%

$18,000

69%

$27,882

67%

$24,274

65%

Curb appeal takes precedence over everything since first impressions linger, said Julie Horvath-dAmico, a real estate agent with Century 21 Adams KC in Arlington.

Front doors, porticoes, walkways, attractive exterior lighting, landscaping, perennials, and mature plantings all enhance a propertys value, Horvath said. Any type of outdoor space such as a deck, a balcony, or a small patio is sought after, especially in the city, where lots are smaller. Sellers who invest in these are sure to see a higher return on investment.

On the other hand, a careful kitchen update can help sell a house, particularly if you choose one important aspect such as upgrading the appliances, said Amy Gworek, a real estate agent with William Raveis Real Estate in Needham.

A new kitchen can certainly help sell a house, but its expensive and a sellers taste may not appeal to all buyers, said Helen Tarantino, a real estate broker with William Raveis in Brookline. Your dark cabinet choice wont appeal to a buyer who likes the farmhouse look.

Christine McCarron, a real estate agent with RE/Max Unlimited in Brookline, said she advises most of her sellers to tackle the kitchen strategically.

Its the rare buyer whod rather do a kitchen remodel than plant flowers, McCarron said.

If money is an issue, Tarantino said, a $50 can of paint and free labor by the sellers would certainly be recouped on any sale.

While overspending on presale improvements can be a problem, so can underspending, Gworek said.

Sellers presume that the cost of what they do not choose to do is only the cost of the work itself, Gworek said. Unfortunately, this doesnt hold true. Typically, theres a higher deduction in price as it requires time and effort from the buyer.

Replacing big-ticket items such as the roof or the heating system rarely pays off for sellers, McCarron said.

The bottom line: If it doesnt wow, dont bother, said McCarron.

Michele Lerner can be reached atmvlerner@comcast.net. Subscribe to the Globes free real estate newsletter our weekly digest on buying, selling, and design atpages.email.bostonglobe.com/AddressSignUp. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter@globehomes.

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Report: These renovations offer the best return on your investment - Home Improvement - Boston.com

Dublin, Feb. 21, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Smart Lighting Market by Offering, Connectivity, Technology, Lighting, Technology, and Industry Vertical: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The report projects that the global smart lighting market size is estimated to reach $38.68 billion by 2026.

Drivers

Restraints

Opportunities

In 2019, North America dominated the market, contributing more than a 33% share of the overall revenue, followed by Europe. Emerging advancements in smart lighting; rapid adoption of residential, commercial, and industrial automation; and rise in penetration of smart infrastructure fuel the global smart lighting market growth.

Smart lighting is designed to manage luminance remotely. It ensures energy efficiency and includes automated controls and highly efficient fixtures that can adjust depending on conditions, such as occupancy and external lighting. Lighting is an intentional use of light to add practical and aesthetic effect to a space. Furthermore, these systems include general, accent, and task lighting. Besides this, smart lighting systems ensure lower energy usage and high cost savings.

Recent years have witnessed fast adoption of Zigbee wireless technology in the IoT market. Most smart devices used for residential and commercial purposes are equipped with Zigbee technology. It offers consumers easy-to-use control over installed LED light bulbs, LED fixtures, switches, and remotes, which creates lucrative smart lighting market opportunity globally.

According to smart lighting market, DALI has a major adoption in buildings as it provides manufacturers with reliable low-cost solutions. In addition, benefits of reconfiguration, switching of individual lights as per the need of illumination, and other remote access features drives the demand for DALI system in large space premises.

Among various regions, North America was the highest revenue generator in 2018 and maintain its dominance in the future. This is attributed to the rise in adoption of automation, which creates lucrative opportunities for smart lighting market forecast.

Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at the fastest rate throughout the smart lighting market analysis period, China in this region witnessed the highest demand for smart lighting in 2018, due to wide adoption of autonomous infrastructure and stringent government regulations associated with sustainable development. Moreover, enhancement in industrial autonomy and increase in expenditure in emerging markets such as Latin America and the Middle East to meet the demand for exponentially growing economies in these countries have strengthened the smart lighting market.

The smart lighting market is segmented on the basis of offering, connectivity technology, lighting technology, application, and industrial vertical. On the basis of offering, it is bifurcated into hardware and software. By connectivity technology, it is categorized into Bluetooth, Zigbee, WiFi, and DALI. On the basis of lighting technology, it is classified into LED, halogen, incandescent, Fluorescent, and CFL. The applications covered in the study includes indoor and outdoor lighting. By industrial vertical it is divided into commercial, residential, industrial, automotive and others. Region wise, it is analyzed as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and LAMEA.

Key Findings

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$38+ Bn Smart Lighting Market by Offering, Connectivity, Technology, Lighting, Technology, Industry Vertical and Region - Forecast to 2026 -...

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS Steamboat Springs City Council approved a new 20-year franchise agreement with Yampa Valley Electric Association after a lengthy negotiation process that began last July.

For a fee, the agreement allows YVEA to use city-owned streets, alleys, right-of-ways and other easements and property to provide electric service to their customers.

According to the city charter, the agreement must cover a term not exceeding 20 years.

Negotiations involved dozens of meetings over nearly nine months and two extensions, during which the document grew from 19 to 40 pages, City Manager Gary Suiter said.

The agreement was approved in a 6-0 vote at the councils Feb. 11 meeting. Council member Sonja Macys, who serves on the YVEA board, abstained from voting.

In part, the process was lengthy because of the technical and legal nature of many of the issues included in the agreement and the fact that it involved planning 20 years into the future.

Theres a lot to think about, Suiter said.

City staff worked hard to make the agreement clear, he said, approaching it while asking questions like, How is this going to work when none of us are here anymore? and What is electric generation and distribution going to look like in 20 years?

Portions of the prior agreement, approved in 1999, remained the same but with added clarification. There were also a number of updates and new provisions.

And there were some contentious issues that led to longer than expected negotiations, Suiter said.

At the Feb. 11 meeting, City Attorney Dan Foote told council about two highlight issues on which compromises were reached.

The first relates to YVEAs agreement to refrain from requiring its customers to provide private utility easements outside of setback areas.

In an effort to protect private property owners, developers and property value, Suiter said the city reached an agreement with YVEA that the utility would not exceed the existing setbacks already established under community development and land codes.

Another point of contention was about the number of outdoor lighting fixture options available in YVEAs inventory. The city wanted more than the three that existed, Suiter said, while YVEA wanted to keep its maintenance and supply requirements minimal. He said the city gets frequent requests from developers for different designs and was looking for a little more flexibility.

YVEA agreed to add two more options, he said, and the city agreed to pay for the fixtures and insulation if used. And if they arent tied into an existing meter, the city agreed to pay a tariff.

Council discussed the franchise fee a 4% additional charge listed on every electricity bill that is a cost YVEA passes onto customers.

That 4% fee remains the same under the new agreement; however, the city has the ability to raise it, though not by more than 0.008% during a five-year window.

The city collects approximately $2,200 per day through the franchise fee. Suiter said a 3% to 4% fee is in line with what other cities collect.

Of the 4% franchise fee, 1% is dedicated to undergrounding the moving of overhead lines underground. The city recently completed a major undergrounding project on Yampa Street using the franchise fees. Council President Jason Lacy said that project used the entirely of the undergrounding that had built up over many years to over $1 million.

Its an expensive process, noted Council President Jason Lacy, though its something the city would love to do more of downtown.

Reasons for undergrounding are primarily aesthetic, with safety another consideration, Lacy said. Suiter noted that overhead lines are typically considered safer to maintain from a utility companys perspective.

YVEA is not required to underground any of their lines, Foote said, though there is a provision in the agreement that allows the city to request that the company relocate lines underground. In that case, it would have to be a project that met YVEAs requirements, and the city would pay the difference in cost.

Council member Kathi Meyer questioned the process around the agreement. She expressed concern about the recommendation from the city staff against tabling or rejecting the ordinance, saying that re-opening negotiations may not be fruitful and would require significant commitment of senior staff time. Negotiations could continue without a franchise agreement but would likely result in YVEA not collecting and the city not receiving a franchise fee.

Meyer said after nine months of negotiating, she felt four days was not sufficient time for council members to think about impacts for the next 20 years.

After the meeting, Suiter acknowledged he could have done a better job giving council regular updates throughout the process.

To reach Kari Dequine Harden, call 970-871-4205, email kharden@SteamboatPilot.com or follow her on Twitter @kariharden.

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Franchise agreement between city and YVEA approved for next 20 years - Steamboat Pilot & Today

Market Scenario

Global LED Driver Market was valued US$ 9 Bn in 2017 and is anticipated to reach US$ 24Bn by 2026 at a CAGR of about 13.25 % during a forecast.

The report segment of Global LED Driver Market based on luminaire type, driving type, application and region. Based on luminaire type, the global LED Driver Market can be classified into Type A-Lamps, Reflectors, Decorative Lamps, Integral LED Modules, T-Lamps. By driving method, global LED driving market is divided into Constant Current LED Driver and Constant Voltage LED Driver. In terms of application, the global LED Driver Market can be fragmented into general lighting, residential lighting, backlighting, outdoor lighting, and automotive lighting. By region Global LED Driver Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia

Request for Report sample : https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/10987

Pacific, Middle East & Africa and Latin America.Evolution to UV LED from UV lamp is the latest trend in LED driver market. Escalating demand of LED in array of lighting applications such as retail vents, office complexes and street lights is set to boost the LED driver market. Promptly growing usage indoors the households in residential lighting applications is one of the major promoters for the enlargement of the LED driver market. LED tech is to diagnose the gap between advantage and price by the user.

Global LED Driver Market

By driving method, constant current LED driver is estimated to witness the highest growth in the LED driver market owing to its capability to provide constant brightness with lower power consumption and growing demand in general lighting applications.

Based on the application, Backlighting application segment is expected to dominate the Global LED Driver Marketowing to it is predominantly used in mobile computing devices such as smartphones and tablets. Smartphones with progressive features such as backlight and flexible displays will additional donate to the growth of backlight segment in the Global LED Driver Market. Display used in mobile computing increases demand for an LED driver to control the current or voltage levels. Furthermore, general lighting segment is estimated to grow Global LED Driver Market owing to snowballing demand for energy-efficient products in residential and commercial lighting.

In terms of region, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness the highest growth in LED driver market the during the forecast period owing to growing permeation of LED lighting in the building & construction and automotive industries. China hold the highest share growth in Global LED Driver Market by Production and ingesting of LED lighting in this region. Upgrading of infrastructure is expected to boost the demand for lighting products in Asia-Pacific region.

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Key profiled and analysed in the Global LED driver market:

Koninklijke Philips N.V., Lutron Electronics Co., Macroblock Inc., AC Electronics, Atmel Corporation, Cree, Inc., General Electric Company, Harvard Technology Ltd.,., Maxim Integrated Products, Inc., NXP Semiconductor N.V., On Semiconductor Corporation, Osram GmbH, ROHM Semiconductors and STMicroelectronics N.V. Manufacturers, Osram GmbH, Texas Instruments

Scope of the Global LED Driver Market

Global LED Driver Market, by luminaire type

Type A-Lamps Reflectors Decorative Lamps Integral LED Modules T-LampsGlobal LED Driver Market, by Driving Method

Constant Current LED Driver Constant Voltage LED DriverGlobal LED Driver Market, by Application

General lighting Residential lighting Backlighting Outdoor lighting Automotive lighting Others

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Global LED Driver Market, by region

North America Europe Asia-Pacific Latin America Middle East AfricaKey players in Global LED Driver Market

Koninklijke Philips N.V. Lutron Electronics Co. Macroblock Inc. AC Electronics Atmel Corporation Cree, Inc. General Electric Company Harvard Technology Ltd. Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. NXP Semiconductor N.V. On Semiconductor Corporation Osram GmbH ROHM Semiconductors STMicroelectronics N.V. Manufacturers Texas Instruments. Toshiba Atmel Corp Fulham Company Group

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LED Driver Market 2018 Global Trend, Segmentation and Opportunities, Forecast 2026 - Instant Tech News

Outdoor Downlights Market 2024: Outdoor DownlightsMarket Synopsis of the Outdoor Downlights Market: The research demonstrates an in-depth analysis of the Outdoor Downlights market size as well as current trends with future estimations to interpret the approaching investment pockets.

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The extensive analysis of all regions is given to determine the prevailing Outdoor Downlights market opportunity.

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The company profile of the top companies in the Outdoor Downlights industry provides an in-depth analysis of the business description and corporate strategy. Profiling also provides a competitive SWOT analysis of the leading companies in the business segments that operate across the regions. The analysis will cooperate with the stakeholders in understanding the competitive strength and strategies of the company to sustain and gain higher shares in the markets where it is operating.

The profiles and growth strategies of leading players are deeply analyzed to understand the competitive outlook and global Outdoor Downlights market growth

The manufacturers are covered in this report, with sales, revenue, and market share for each company: , BUZZI & BUZZI, SG LIGHTING, Targetti Sankey, Delta Light, Astel Lighting, Platek, Castaldi Lighting, Prebit, Troll, Nimbus

Product type: , Recessed, Surface Mounted, Pendant

Applications: , Commercial, Home

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Outdoor Downlights market size by region: Americas (North America and Latin America), Europe (Western Europe and Eastern Europe), Asia- Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and Rest of APAC) and Middle East & Africa (the Middle East and Africa)

Outdoor Downlights Market Competitive Analysis: The Outdoor Downlights Industry is most lucrative due to the presence of several established players and their constant evolving marketing strategies to excel in their market share. The vendors present in the market emphasized on price, product differentiation, quality, brand, and product portfolio. The vendors are increasingly intensifying product customization through customer interrelationship.

Market Segmentation: global Outdoor Downlights industries

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Outdoor Downlights Market size with global investment, top companies analysis, new business developments and forecast 2024 - Keep Reading

BC Hydro may begin installing thousands of light emitting diode (LED) street lights across the province this summer.

The utility currently owns and maintains approximately 95,000 streetlights around the province, roughly 30 per cent of all streetlights in British Columbia. Most of the ones attached to BC Hydro's electricity poles are high pressure sodium (HPS) lights.

LED lights are known to last longer, are brighter and render colours significantly better than HPS lights.

The transition to the energy-saving technology could lead to cost savings of 50 to 70 per cent for the smaller communities who rely on the utility's public lighting, according to the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM).

A resolution supported by the UBCM last year encouraged the provincial government to require BC Hydro to quickly replace streetlights with LEDsor provide smaller municipalities who depend on them with the financial resources to continue paying for BC Hydro's energy "inefficient" fleet of streetlights.

According to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, the utility's board of directors will make a decision on the plan later this month. If approved, the transition to LED would start this summer with an expected timeline of two to three years. Communities will be given advance notice for when the work will take place.

The ministry said details of new street lighting rates are not yet known.BC Hydro still has to propose newrates to the B.C. utilities commission for approval.

When reached for comment, BC Hydro said it could provide no details on the estimatedcost ahead of the board's decision.

For years, environmental advocacy groups have pushed governments to adopt LEDs.

And in recent years, several Metro Vancouver municipalities have begun making the switch.

Burnaby, which completely converted to LED last spring, saidstreetlight consumption dropped by about 60 per cent.

Meanwhile, Richmond and Surrey have both replaced a significant number of older streetlights with the more efficient alternative.

Vancouver also plans to convert all streetlights to LED. This past December, 17 locations in the city already featured the bright lights, resulting in a 40 per cent reduction in collisions at those sites, according to city hall.

In 2015, the Climate Group, a non-profit organization based in the United Kingdom, said indoor and outdoor lighting accounted for roughly 19 per cent of the world's electricity usage.

If all of the world's lights were replaced with LED, global electricity consumption for lighting would decline by more than 52 per cent, said the group that same year.

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BC Hydro considers replacing thousands of old streetlights with brighter, more energy-efficient LEDs - CBC.ca

Upgraded facilities at Morrison Bay Park in Putney have been officially opened with a special three on -three community basketball event held on the weekend.

WNBL star player Brittany Smart was on hand for the official opening along with members of theSydney Thunder cricket team and Inner West Bulls bas ketball team.

The extensive upgrades include a number of new and improved outdoor recreation facilities, such as.

A new two -thirds basketball courtAdditional cricket netsOutdoor fitness equipmentNew pedestrian footpathsNew p edestrian lightingNew access ramps to and from the existing footbridge

The upgrades were undertaken by the City of Ryde, with funding assistance from the StateGovernments Stronger Communities Fund.

City of Ryde Mayor, Clr Jerome Laxale, said the new and improved facilities were part of the City ofRydes commitment to provide more outdoor recreational opportunities for the entire community.

The upgrades mean Morrison Bay Park now has first -class outdoor equipment and sportinginfrastructure that is supported by a 1.3 kilometre fitness trail. In addition, the new pedestrian lightingalong the existing foreshore and eastern footpaths will encourage more people to use the park duringthe evening, Clr Laxale said.

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New facilities officially opened at Morrison Bay Park - Mirage News

A woman must have, Virginia Woolf famously wrote, money and a room of her own. But when youve got a house full of kids, you work from home or you share a flat, itcan be hard to carve out your ownspace. Which is why women areincreasingly colonising what has, traditionally, been an exclusively male domain: the garden shed.

There are a range of monikers, fromthe fairly awful-sounding she shed, which has nearly 110,000 posts on Instagram (a number which has grown20per cent in the past six months), to the no better fem-den. But whatever you call it, a shed that has been transformed with the feminine touch, rather than being just a space to store tools or shelter a chap listening to his wireless and avoiding chores, is growing in popularity.

The rise in the number of women wanting to transform their sheds is certainly gaining interest and popularity, with platforms such as Pinterest and Instagram providing inspiration, says Marcus Eyles, horticultural director atDobbies Garden Centres.

More and more, we are seeing that the garden is being considered a fifth room and an extension of our living space, and so more thought and planning is going into designs, styling and accessories.

Kirsty Wark, the broadcaster and author, is among those who retire to hershed (although she describes it as a summerhouse, really). She has posted a picture on Instagram of her shed at her Glasgow home, styled with a striped deck chair and a table lamp made from an upcycled Harris Gin bottle, calling it a luxury.

Its a quite separate space from the house, but beside it, she says. It affords a quite different view of the garden, which is endlessly fascinating. I read and write in there, and sit in the evening with a drink. Its the combination of a work and meditative and conversation place.

Similarly, Farrah Storr, the glamorous editor of Elle magazine, put a picture of her beautiful sky-blue painted shed at the bottom of her garden in Kent on social media, with its pair of matching bay trees flanking the door. It is, she says, a place she goes to write in peace.

Storr and Wark are not the only oneslooking for a touch of luxury atthe bottom of the garden. We are finding that more and more of our female clients are asking us to design cosy covered seating areas, summerhouses and she sheds that enable theirgarden to be used all year, says landscape gardener Victoria Wade.

If youre looking for an instant fix,there are a number of ready-made options on the market. Inspired by the idea of a space to read in peace, I spent a morning putting up a snug Dobbies shed with a lean-to for the logs for my non-existent wood burner.

But there are fancier options with more significant price tags. Take the National Trusts Crane Blickling sheds, inspired by outbuildings on Trust land in East Anglia and made by craftspeople in Norfolk, which start from 2,699, or the Gardener modular shed from The Posh Shed Company, from 970.

For something really spectacular, and when the budget is limitless, lookto Lady Anne Fields specially commissioned artists studio at her Grade II listed country home in southDevon. The wooden structure was designed by architects Mark Hoare and Charles Morris to blend into the estates landscape.

How you incorporate your shed into the garden matters, as you might be looking at it every day from the kitchen window. Some buildings are best recessive and tucked away, background buildings, whereas others might want to be focal and centre of attention, Hoare explains.

Its important to think about how it will be used, and where a new structure should sit in terms ofahierarchy of other buildings inthegarden landscape. Materialswhich weather and mellow over time will naturally settle into a garden setting and so are usually safe bets.

Almost any structure can be made tolook more polished with a lick of paint. You can be a little more creative in colours and styles than you may be in the main house, Eyles advises.

In an attempt to make my shedlookmore like Derek Jarmans Prospect Cottage in Dungeness, Kent, Ive painted it black (I recommend Sandtex 10-year exterior paint, which only needs one coat).

One easy hack that designers use as a flourish is to paint the window frames and doors a contrasting colour to the body of the shed in tonal shades. Try shades such as Acorn and Windmill Lane exterior paints from Little Greene, two muted and complementary shades of green.

Hoare adds that encouraging plants to climb over buildings also helps to soften their impact and blur the lines between hard and soft. Wark strung up outdoor lights around her roof edge, and they are intertwined with clematis.

Slapping some paint on inside, too, helps a shed feel like a retreat rather than just a storage space; Wark painted the walls and ceiling of hers with some leftover white paint from an interiors project, so I followed suit.

Depending on the sheds intended function, youll need furniture: either a big table or work bench for creative endeavours or comfy chairs for relaxing and reading.

Wark says she added in two striped steamer chairs I brought home from our place in Mallorca, and installed an oil radiator that looks quite vintage (although its actually from B&Q). To cover the floor, Wark fitted a piece of artificial turf. Alternatively, you can try an outdoor rug; look for ones made from recycled plastic bottles, such as from Weaver Green.

Running electricity from your house to your shed can be quite easy, Ive found, but armoured cabling is key. This means you can play around with lighting: a table lamp will set a cosy tone. If you can fit a log-burning stove in your shed, youll barely need to leave. The British company Vesta Stoves has a wood burner called the Log Cabin Stove designed for just such a small space, for 1,100.

Once the feminine atmosphere is set, it might be time to let the men back in to show them what theyre missing out on. Wark says that her husband, Alan is welcome to join her for conversations, as well as to smoke the odd cigar. But I think I might keep mine to myself.

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Forget the 'man cave', this is the year women are taking over garden sheds - Telegraph.co.uk

Check out this gorgeous, LUXURY MODEL HOME in the North Gate Development of The Gates of Saint John, brought to you by TG Development! The beauty is in the DETAILS. This model home features 4 beds, 2.5 baths, and 2400 square feet with a full unfinished basement. The grand entry offers tall ceilings, custom wood beams, beautiful wainscoting, and a high-end lighting fixture which leads into the grand, OPEN CONCEPT Kitchen/Living/Dining area. The kitchen offers a MASSIVE island, floor-to-ceiling white cabinetry, SS appliances, stainless farm style sink, oiled rubbed bronze hardware, LUXURY granite counters, and much more. There is also an in-eat in dining area. The great room features a gorgeous fireplace, amazing BUILT-INS, and double trey ceiling. The MASTER SUITE offers double walk-ins, and a HIGH END PRIVATE BATH. The bath has a double vanity, white marble finishes, FREE STANDING TUB, and glass shower. There are too many features of this home to mention. It is a MUST SEE.

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19 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in Northwest Indiana - nwitimes.com

A trio of Kamloops companies are finalists in the Canadian Home Builders Association National Awards of Excellence.

WD Wedgewood Developments Inc., along with Custom Spaces by Cristalee and Motivo Design Group Inc., are finalists for the project Devils in the Detail in the category of Detached Homes, Custom, 2,500 to 3,500 square feet.

The Kamloops trio is up against Alloy Homes Incorporated of Calgary, Archia Development Ltd. of West Vancouver, Artista Homes of Oak Bluff, Man. and Vancouver Development of Vancouver.

The Canadian Home Builders Association National Awards of Excellence recognize the best in Canadian new homes, home renovations, community development and marketing. More than 700 entries were received from coast to coast, from small towns and large urban areas. Nearly 200 judges reviewed images, floor plans and project description before narrowing down the field.

Winners in 42 categories will be announced at the April 3 gala in Banff, Alta.

When you look at these finalists, its amazing to see the variety of architectural styles being incorporated into residential housing in Canada today, CHBA CEO Kevin Lee said. Whether a home is built by a developer in a thriving new community or is a custom renovation done by a small family-run business, these projects showcase the pride we have in our industry.

Categories represent the full spectrum of Canadian homes: low-rise houses, high-rise apartments and homes built for ownership or rental purposes.

This year, a new category was added: the Entry-Level Home Affordability Award.

More information is online at chba.ca.

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Three Kamloops firms eye national award - Kamloops This Week