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January 14, 2020 Jesper Just on recoding the body in his new video installation, Corporealits

Jesper Just distorts rituals of movement through video and performancetwo media he pairs in perverse combinations to destabilize museum architecture and to createplangent moving images that echo with anticipation and longing. His multichannel video workServitudesshot in 2015 at One World Trade Center on the occasion ofhis solo exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo in Parisbrims with a restrained yet intense kineticism as its two mobility-limited protagonists internalize the skyscrapers hauntedarchitecture. Last autumn and with seven performers from the American Ballet Theater, just made his newest video,Corporealits, at Perrotins New York gallery, wherethe video installation will be on displayfrom January 14, 2020, to February 15, 2020. He discusses the exhibitions genesis below.

WHEN I BEGAN TO RESEARCH THE BASEMENT of the Palais de Tokyo for my exhibition there in 2015, I discovered it contained a vacant space originally intended as a cinema theater. After one screening, it became apparent that the acoustics created an unusual echo. The venue was retired and sealed off for many years, and came to be known as The Dead Baby. I find this connection between the body and rejected architectures intriguing, as it prompts me to think about the kinds of bodies our built environment privileges. The Palais de Tokyo had a lot of mezzanines and many different floors, and, as is the case in most museums, wheelchair-bound visitors did not have the same experience as those who inhabit an environment built to accommodate their needs. I wanted to challenge the able-bodied, so everyone had to take the wheelchair ramp to view Servitudes. When I adapted the video for Lisbons Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) last summer, we again used ramps to obstruct the staircase that abled visitors use to navigate through the galleries. This restricted them to a single route, but also paid homage to Romantic English gardens, where paths open and close to offer alternate views, creating a narrative told through movement, rather than words. Shooting the film at One World Trade Center indexed a bygone architecture, a phantom limb in the skyline. One feels a similar lack while watching the ballet dancers at the Perrotin exhibition, where their most striking facultytheir mobilityis absent. Professional ballet dancers possess highly fetishized bodies, hyper-able to achieve contortions unattainable for most of us. The set-up entailed micromanaging bodies that are capable of something extraordinary, yet, in this case, were pacified until they were activated by electric impulses. In challenging the hyper-bodys capabilities, I hope to blur how all bodies are categorized and differentially valued.

When the Royal Danish Ballet invited me to collaborate on a performance called Interpassivities in 2017, I hadnt worked with dancers before, and I started to think about how to erase choreography. In Corporealits, we hacked the TENS unit, an electrical nerve-stimulation device commonly used by dancers to relieve muscle pain, and connected it to a MIDI keyboard version of Faurs Romantic pavane Op. 50, which was programmed to send electrical currents to the dancers muscles with electrode pads.

At Perrotin, fragmented images of these bodies are dispersed on five LED screens, including one that lies on the floor, creating a sense of spatial immersion. Each display plays a certain number of notes from Op. 50 that accumulate in a symphonic surround, while the fractured images align but never reveal a dancers complete posture. This distortion gives the film a disjointed physicality, and freestanding LED screenswhich use the same technology as Times Square billboardsoffer a different sensation than projection. Because the image comes from the light source, their internal mechanics are integrated into the spectacle. The circuits connecting to the dancers bodies in the videos find their counterpart in the cables connecting the LED panels in the gallery space. This adds a sculptural layer to moving-image work that projection cannot achieve. Video exhibitions generally try to erase the spacethe audience is confined to a black box. My effort to break from this limited mode of spectatorship has, over the years, resulted in the distortion of my films through architecture, most recently at MAAT, where Servitudes was projected across various surfaces of the museum.

Corporealits is a loop without a backstory or conclusion. This subverts the imperatives of narrative cinema, which tend to view uncertainty as alarming. Art has potential to remain enigmatic. The stories ballet tells are typically strictly gendered, but visual fragmentation helps erase body paradigms. Theres also a sexual tension that is left fluid, as ambiguous, perhaps, as a soft electrical current suddenly felt on the skin. The dancers emotions and motivations are unresolved as they sit in passive, deadpan postures. I want these poses to conjure what Robert Pfaller and Slavoj iek have called interpassivity, or the potential within immobility. There is a paradox in how we are interactive today: We live in a full-speed world in which we are constantly tranquilized by technology. There are expectations about movement and choreography attached to the bodies of professional dancers, but Im interested in puncturing those expectations, as well as social conventions.

As told to Osman Can Yerebakan

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Jesper Just on recoding the body in his new video installation, Corporealits - Artforum

Window installation is underway at232 East 54thStreet, a topped-out residential building inMidtown East. Designed by Ismael Leyva Architects, the extruded square-shaped, reinforced concrete structure rises 420 feet tall and features asimple grid of windows on all four sides. Elk Investors was listed as the exclusive developer of the building, though ownership may have fully transferred to Mossanen Group and an LLC known as East 54th St. Properties, as per YIMBYs previous updates on the construction site.

Photos show the state of construction and the progress of the installation of the large windows. Meanwhile, more work on the crown has been completed since YIMBYs last update in August 2019.

232 East 54th Street. Photo by Michael Young

232 East 54th Street. Photo by Michael Young

232 East 54th Street. Photo by Michael Young

232 East 54th Street. Photo by Michael Young

232 East 54th Street. Photo by Michael Young

232 East 54th Street. Photo by Michael Young

232 East 54th Street. Photo by Michael Young

The development will contain 130 rental units atop ground-floor retail space along East 54th Street. Residential amenities include a fitness center, a shared rooftop terrace, an outdoor entertainment space, a laundry room, and a bicycle storage room. 232 East 54th Street was originally slated to only rise around 20 stories, but was later doubled to 40 stories. A rendering of the structure shown below depicts the nighttime appearance with an illuminated crown.

Rendering of 232 East 54th Street Ismael Leyva Architects

The closest transit options from 232 East 54th Street are the E and M trains, found to the west at the Lexington Avenue-53rd Street subway station by the Citigroup Center, aka 610 Lexington Avenue. Also nearby is the Lexington Avenue-59th Street station, servicing the N, R, and W trains.

A completion date for 232 West 54th Street has not been announced, though its possible that work could finish sometime before the end of the year.

Subscribeto YIMBYs daily e-mailFollowthe YIMBYgram for real-time photo updatesLikeYIMBY on FacebookFollowYIMBYs Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews

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Window Installation Progresses at 232 East 54th Street in Midtown East - New York YIMBY

Multiple stories are the norm for most residences, but this layout often includes a few inconveniences. The most obvious one is that you'll find yourself making regular trips up and down the stairs if you can't meet all of your needs on a single level.

The first floor typically features a kitchen and living room, along with a sitting room or other areas for relaxing or socializing. Doing laundry, by contrast, may require you to make repeatedly head into and out of the basement while hauling a basket of clothes. You may need to head to the second floor in order to use a bathroom or turn in for the night.

Turning a multistory home into a residence that supports single floor living offers several benefits. TruBuild Construction, a company based in the Twin Cities in Minnesota, says this type of layout provides better accessibility overall, and is particularly helpful for aging residents or those with disabilities.

This kind of renovation will also let you improve the overall look and function of the home. Alex Bravo, who runs the remodeling resource RemodelingImage.com, says changing the layout allows you to do additional work such as increasing the size of the kitchen or creating an open floor plan. Becky Harris, writing for the home design site Houzz, says you can also preserve guest bedrooms or other space on an upper story to accommodate visitors.

A single level design requires a bedroom and bathroom. TruBuild Construction says your washing machine and dryer should also be located on this floor. You may need to have improve access into the home as well, such as installing a zero step entryway.

Living on the first floor may require you to rearrange your home considerably. Harris, discussing the example of a three-bedroom, two-bathroom empty nester home that was renovated for single level residency, Harris noted how several rooms took on new purposes. For example, the living room was converted into a new kitchen while the former kitchen became a laundry room.

This process often creates more open space by removing walls. Bravo says you'll need to make sure you keep load-bearing walls in place, or put in a pillar or other feature to maintain structural stability. The process of establishing a new function in a room may also require you to put in new plumbing or wiring.

Assess the rooms on your first floor to see which ones are the best candidates for repurposing. TruBuild Construction says you may have a space such as a formal dining room or sitting room which is infrequently used.

It can be more difficult to cut out more useful areas, such as pantries or other storage spaces. You might be able to reduce the disruption by limiting your laundry space to a stackable washer-dryer unit, which can fit in a closet while preserving some shelves.

If you are reluctant to work within your existing space, you can add new features on the first floor by putting on an addition. Bravo says any addition should complement the look of your home, and can easily allow you to add features such as an extra bedroom and bathroom. However, an addition will also come at considerable expense due to foundation work and other construction costs.

Any work to renovate your home to keep essential facilities on the first floor should have the necessary permits. If you have a homeowners association, you should check with them to make sure the work abides by the bylaws.

Assessing the property on your own will let you contemplate a few ideas for single level living, but you should also meet with a professional to get their take. TruBuild Construction says an architect, contractor, or design-build firm can be helpful.

If you are converting the home to single level living in order to age in place, take the opportunity to incorporate other features that will assist this goal. These may include a curbless shower, taller toilet, or grab bars.

While it's convenient to be able to reside on one floor of the home, you shouldn't neglect the rest of the property. Periodically visit those rooms to keep them clean and to keep an eye out for any leaks or other issues that can cause serious damage if not addressed promptly.

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Converting your home to single floor living - News from southeastern Connecticut - theday.com

Thursday, January 16, 2020

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KINGSTON, Jamaica Over 300 new seats have been installed at the historic Ward Theatre in Kingston, the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has reported.

The 305 seats are the latest upgrade at the cultural landmark, KSAMC said.

Noting that seating on the ground floor has been completed, the corporation said 152 new seats for the first floor will be done shortly.

Since 2017, KSAMC, under the leadership of the Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams, said it has been working assiduously to have the Ward Theatre operational by December of this year.

The KSAMC is deeply conscious of the value the theatre holds to Jamaica's, and by extension the Caribbean's creative culture, and as such has made it a priority to complete the project. Standing proudly as the largest performing arts theatre within the English-speaking Caribbean, it is of utmost importance that it is not allowed to fall to ruin and is restored to its former grandeur, the corporation said in a press release.

KSAMC said the project has progressed so far with many key elements such as renovation of changing rooms, roofing, plumbing and doors, among others, already in place.

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaperlive

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New seats installed at Ward Theatre - Jamaica Observer

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is kicking off 2020 at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS), in Las Vegas, Jan.21-23, with a special pop-up dedicated to infusing health and wellness into design. The installation will be located in the South Hall Lobby, Booth SL002. With human-centric design at the exhibits core, the Society aims to encourage a healthy trade show experience for its visitors and guests.

Explains Randy Fiser, Hon. FASID, ASID CEO, The kitchen and bath are two of the spaces that most directly impact our day to day wellness. Were hoping that our KBIS installation will inspire attendees to incorporate human and health-centric design philosophies into their practices, proving the power of design to directly affect peoples lives.

The ASID installation will serve as a respite from the hustle and bustle of the tradeshow floor thanks to its location in the South Lobby. Anchoring the space will be a green wall incorporating plant life into the booth. In addition to adding aesthetic value, plants have been shown to improve spatial air quality. The ASID booth will also have a pop-up to offer healthy snacks to attendees throughout the show. The space will showcase the Societys offerings for its members and industry partners and will highlight its resources, researchand programming that inspires the industry throughout the year.

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ASID Brings Health-Centric Installation to KBIS 2020 - Furniture Lighting & Decor

Water management is arguably the most important part for us builders to get right, but many are still struggling with the details, especially on more complicated projects. Im really looking forward to bringing these best practices to life for a live audience." - Jake Bruton

NEWTOWN, Conn. (PRWEB) January 16, 2020

Fine Homebuilding, the leading trade media brand for construction professionals, has partnered with Huber Engineered Woods LLC, leading manufacturer of quality construction products, including ZIP System TM building enclosures and AdvanTech Subfloor Assembly, to conduct live window-installation demos at the International Builders Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hosted by Fine Homebuilding brand ambassadors Benjamin Bogie and Jake Bruton, the two Fine Homebuilding live, how-to-style demosInstalling a window using ZIP System TM flashing tapes and Installing a window using ZIP System TM Liquid Flashare designed to show two different installation methods for nail-fin windows. Benjamin Bogie and Jake Bruton will demonstrate their personal approaches to using these products, adding details on technique to the information already included in the manufacturers instructions. The demos are designed to have an interactive approach, and Bogie and Bruton will take questions from the audience. They will also interact with each other, creating a friendly and fun rivalry around whose installation is better.

Justin Fink, editorial director of Fine Homebuilding, explains the draw behind doing live, interactive, how-to-style demos right on the show floor: You can learn a lot via social media and YouTube videos, but theres still nothing like watching a live demo and having a chance to ask questions and actually talk to the presenters. Thats why were thrilled to be able to partner with ZIP System products to bring such an important series of building best practices to life for such a large audience.

Jake Bruton, Fine Homebuilding brand ambassador and one of the hosts of the live demos, adds: Water management is arguably the most important part for us builders to get right, but many are still struggling with the details, especially on more complicated projects. Im really looking forward to bringing these best practices to life for a live audience, and one that includes faces that might not be using social media for learning.

IBS attendees are encouraged to attend the Fine Homebuilding live window-installation demos, which will take place at Huber Engineered Woods outdoor Prove it Tour Stage (Booth #P27) at IBS. The two demos, Installing a window using ZIP System TM flashing tapes, and Installing a window using ZIP System TM Liquid Flash, will run back to back starting on Tuesday, January 21, from 1:00-3:00pm PST. The same two demos will be repeated Wednesday, January 22, from 10:00am-12:00pm PST to maximize IBS attendees ability to attend one of the sessions.

Were proud to partner with Fine Homebuilding and their brand ambassadors Jake and Ben, says Tracy Collins, event marketing manager for Huber Engineered Woods. Each brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Being from the Midwest and Northeast, respectively, they differ in their window-installation approaches and are passionate about the ZIP System sealing solutions that work best for them. Everyone will walk away with tips and tricks to improve the window installation on their next job.

For more information about attending the LIVE demos at IBS, please visit: http://www.finehomebuilding.com/2020/01/09/live-window-flashing-demos-on-the-prove-it-tour-stage-at-ibs-2020

About Fine Homebuilding

Fine Homebuilding is the most trusted and authoritative resource for the residential construction and remodeling community. We uniquely source our content from the job sites and design offices of the most qualified and talented builders and designers in the industry to empower a global workforce with the ability to create the most advanced homes possible. Driven by the ethos that exceptional homes are possible, and that craftsmanship is an honorable and worthy pursuit, Fine Homebuilding has become the brand for skilled practitioners, deeply knowledgeable enthusiasts, industry influencers, and forward-thinking companies who are collectively committed to shaping the way we build. http://www.finehomebuilding.com

About Huber Engineered Woods

Building products innovator Huber Engineered Woods LLC has a reputation built on consistent product performance and commitment to people. Fueled by on-the-jobsite analysis and building science principles, AdvanTech subflooring and ZIP System building enclosure product solutions have changed the way construction teams build better buildings. AdvanTech and ZIP System products streamline installation, while providing dependable performance as critical components of quiet, stiff floors and weather-resistant, tight building envelopes. With headquarters inCharlotte, NC; manufacturing facilities in Maine, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma; and a national sales team of over 100 members; Huber Engineered Woods provides specialty building materials to residential, multifamily, and light commercial projects nationwide, through a national network of lumberyard and distribution partners.Visit http://www.huberwood.com to learn more.

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Fine Homebuilding and Zip System Building Enclosures Partner To Perform Live Shop ClassStyle Window-Installation Demos At NAHB International Builders'...

Floor & Decor Holdings Inc (NYSE:FND) saw some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Stock traders acquired 1,637 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 1,150% compared to the typical daily volume of 131 call options.

In related news, Director Peter Starrett sold 33,000 shares of Floor & Decor stock in a transaction on Monday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.65, for a total transaction of $1,671,450.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 38,128 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,931,183.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, major shareholder Corporate Opportunities F. Ares sold 7,105,728 shares of Floor & Decor stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.80, for a total transaction of $311,230,886.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 7,244,980 shares of company stock worth $317,685,243. 7.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in Floor & Decor by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 66,100 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,381,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its holdings in Floor & Decor by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 80,304 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,108,000 after purchasing an additional 462 shares during the last quarter. First Mercantile Trust Co. grew its holdings in Floor & Decor by 10.9% during the 2nd quarter. First Mercantile Trust Co. now owns 4,920 shares of the companys stock valued at $206,000 after purchasing an additional 485 shares during the last quarter. Fenimore Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Floor & Decor by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Fenimore Asset Management Inc. now owns 190,543 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,681,000 after purchasing an additional 613 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY grew its holdings in Floor & Decor by 15.7% during the 3rd quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 4,971 shares of the companys stock valued at $254,000 after purchasing an additional 675 shares during the last quarter.

Several brokerages have commented on FND. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their price target on shares of Floor & Decor from $52.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 6th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Floor & Decor from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Piper Jaffray Companies set a $49.00 price target on shares of Floor & Decor and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Raymond James began coverage on shares of Floor & Decor in a research note on Monday, October 7th. They issued a strong-buy rating and a $70.00 price target on the stock. Finally, ValuEngine upgraded shares of Floor & Decor from a strong sell rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, October 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, seven have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $48.61.

Shares of NYSE FND opened at $48.87 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $49.26 and its 200-day moving average price is $46.23. The company has a current ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 50.38, a P/E/G ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.88. Floor & Decor has a 12-month low of $29.03 and a 12-month high of $53.00.

Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND) last announced its earnings results on Friday, November 1st. The company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.26 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $521.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $524.00 million. Floor & Decor had a net margin of 6.81% and a return on equity of 17.58%. The businesss revenue was up 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.24 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Floor & Decor will post 1.1 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Floor & Decor Company Profile

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer of hard surface flooring and related accessories. The company's stores offer tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative and installation accessories. It serves professional installers, commercial businesses, and do it yourself customers.

See Also: How to interpret the current ratio

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Floor & Decor Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:FND) - Riverton Roll

Its rare that a 100-plus year old house located in a neighborhood that has seen plenty of bad times remains as unscathed as Kym Ricketts-Morris and Eric Morris home in resurgent Beacon Hill.

Built in 1910, the home was never abandoned, never vandalized and never sectioned into apartments. Instead it was for the most part well taken care of by a succession of owners who appreciated and protected its architectural integrity save for the occasional shag carpet.

And as the homes latest custodians, the couple hopes to continue that tradition.

The fact that the house is still here 110 years later is amazing, said Morris, who is retired from the Army and is now a social worker with the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless. And we do feel the responsibility to try to ensure that that continues, no matter how long we live here.

When the couple moved to San Antonio two years ago, they initially thought they wanted to live in King William, but quickly discovered homes there were out of their price range.

So we started looking around, and when we drove up to this one we said, Thats our house, said Ricketts-Morris, a master sergeant and Army combat medic at Joint Base San Antonio.

The five-bedroom, 2 -bathroom house has two stories with porches on both floors and a handsome gabled roof.

On ExpressNews.com: 1927 Alta Vista home gets modern addition in San Antonio

Its super comfortable and warm and welcoming, Ricketts-Morris explained as their youngest son, 6-year-old Luke, buzzed about. We do a lot of entertaining, and the house is nicely set up for that.

Theres still a lot about the house that remains a mystery, however.

They suspect, for example, that it was a kit house, sold by mail order and shipped by railroad to San Antonio for assembly.

Weve been in some other homes in the neighborhood, and they also have things like this, said Ricketts-Morris, gesturing to the built-in serving buffet in the dining room thats topped with a gorgeous stained glass window. The stained glass has different patterns, but apparently this was a popular option in these kit houses.

Other details they believe are original to the house or that have been there so long they might as well be include the Mission-style front and side doors, the wooden beams in the dining and living room ceilings, the wood flooring both upstairs and down and the pocket door between the foyer and the living room.

Sometimes it seems like the only thing not original is the plumbing and wiring, Morris said with a grin.

One of the previous owners, real estate broker Marcos Zertuche, lived there with his wife Lulu from 1995 to 2000. They did most of the restoration work, including removing plywood from the walls to expose the shiplap underneath before plastering over it. They also replaced the plumbing and made the updated the kitchen by adding modern appliances such as a dishwasher.

On ExpressNews.com: Monte Vista Home Tour features homes of Trinity University

The downstairs floors were covered by this red shag carpet, he said. When we pulled it up, there was this beautiful oak flooring underneath. Upstairs it was long-leaf pine. It was all still in very good shape, so all we had to do was refinish it.

Today the home is mostly furnished with many of the French and German antiques the couple collected during their postings in Europe.

We found a lot of it in old barns and in estate sales, Ricketts-Morris said. Actually, it looks better here than it did in our European home, which was much more modern.

The dining room table, for example, came from Spain where it had been in a home that had been vacant for 15 years. The bench seats look like small church pews, with intricate carvings along the top rails and seats that lift up for storage.

Upstairs theres a hand-painted dresser they found in a barn in Germany that they bought for about 50 euros ($55) that was insured for 10,000 euros (more than $11,000).

We dont know when it was made, Morris said, but you can tell it was pre-industrial because the only metal is the hinges. There arent any nails or screws, so the wood was assembled like a jigsaw puzzle.

Often in an old home like this, the treasures are hidden by later additions installed by previous owners. When fixing a roof leak, for example,the ceiling tiles were removed.

On ExpressNews.com: Moticello Park home went from overgrown to over the moon

What was revealed was the original ceiling made of wooden boards decorated with thumb and palm prints left by the workers who installed it back when William Howard Taft was president. Theyve since decided to keep the ceiling uncovered, hand prints and all.

Kitchens and baths in old homes are rarely original few modern-day homeowners have the patience to use the same appliances and fixtures their grandmothers did and the West Mulberry home is no exception. One of the previous owners, redid the upstairs bathroom, but decades ago, it seems, adding a pedestal sink and pink-and-white tile floor.

Its got more of a 1950s feel instead of a 1910 feel, said Ricketts-Morris, who did her best to make the room a bit more historically accurate by adding an ornately decorated wood fireplace mantle they found on the side of a road when they lived in Washington, D.C.

And when they learned that the previous owners had sold an historically accurate stove that had been in the kitchen, replacing it with a modern appliance, they found an old Hot Point model with a similar look to replace it.

Its doesnt work, so instead they use the inside of the oven to store their alcohol and mixers.

If not hot historically accurate, at least its efficient.

Richard A. Marini is a features writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini

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Preserved 1910 home in San Antonios Beacon Hill might have been a mail-order kit house - San Antonio Express-News

Nudist swimmers have complained they were booted out of a leisure centre after a renovation will see the installation of floor to ceiling windows.

Alton Sports Centre used to host once-a-month sessions for swimmers who wanted to strip off.

The naturist group says it has been holding the sessions since the 1990s, and that 34 people regularly attend to swim naked.

Plans for the new building include asubstantial amount of glazing and floor to ceilingwindows along two sides of the main pool, making it visible from the cafe, reception, climbing and soft play areas.

One aggrieved nudist, Julian, who did not give his last name, told the BBC thatthose who had attended the final session on Sunday "were very dismayed indeed" by the decision.

He accused the centre's management of "not engaging with or discussing the issue in any way with the naturist users of the sports centre during the construction of the replacement building".

East Hampshire District Council said: "Whilst we haven't consulted with the naturist group directly, they were given the opportunity to share their views during the planning process.

"We held a number of public forums during the consultation which the general public and local clubs were invited to attend."

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Nudist swimmers complain they have been kicked out of leisure centre after floor to ceiling windows set to be installed - The Telegraph

Microsoft's support forWindows 7is officially over, so if you're still running a PC on it, you're doing it at your own risk. You can upgrade to Windows 10and, if you're currently running a licensed and activated copy of Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 Home or Pro, here's how to do it for free.

But, in my own experience making the switch from Windows 7 to Windows 10, my laptop's performance became frustratingly slow. It was a low-end laptop to begin with and, although it met Win 10's system requirements, it just wasn't a great experience. I ended up turning that into a Chromebook for my kids and moving on to a laptop built for what Windows 10 offers.

The end of Windows 7 support is as good a time as any to make the jump to Microsoft's current OS or consider a switch to Mac or Chrome, or even get a laptop with Linux preinstalled. But if you're not sure where to start right now, here are five easy picks to help steer you on your search. You can also head straight to our list of best laptops and desktops; also, here are ourbest gaming laptops,15-inch laptops,two-in-onesandChromebooks, as well as thebest choices for college students,creativesandMacBook Pro alternativesfor the Windows set. Plus, if you just want pure power or battery life, our rankings ofbattery lifeandperformanceare for you.

Acer knows how to put together a solid budget-friendly laptop, and the Aspire 5 is a fine example. A remarkable deal for simple tasks like email, word processing and the like, it's also thin and relatively light for a 15.6-inch laptop. It's available in a variety of configurations starting as low as $400, but can go up to $650 if you wantentry-level discrete graphics for basic gaming and content creation. Our $530 version ably balances performance and affordability. Read our Acer Aspire 5 (2019) review.

This is our go-to recommendation for those in search of a MacOS laptop for everyday basic use. The Air was updated earlier in the year withApple's True Tone display, new processors and a $100 price drop. As Apple's most affordable laptop starting at $1,099, it's not exactly a bargain and you can get a lot morecomputerfor your money if you go with Windows. Regardless, the Air remains one of the best laptops available for battery life, performance and design. Read more.

Though it's relatively thin and light, this 15.6-inch Chromebook is better suited for life around the house. The extra screen real estate not only makes it easier to get work done, but also makes it more enjoyable for entertainment. And if the full-HD display isn't enough for you, there are USB-C ports (one on each side) that support video out, so you can also connect an external display. Read our HP Chromebook 15 (2019) review.

A lot has changed in the world of gaming laptops since Windows 7 was the OS of choice. They've gotten thin and lighter for sure, but they're also more powerful at lower prices, with good entry-level models available for $800 or less. The midrange G5 15 hits this mark with an excellent price-to-performance ratio, build quality and design. Dell's G-series gaming laptops are cheaper than those from its Alienware division, but still capable of playing the latest AAA titles. Read our Dell G5 15 5590 review.

A detachable two-in-one like Microsoft's Surface Pro takes advantage of Windows 10's ability to shift from a desktop to mobile operating system. It hits all the right notes, too, if you're looking for a do-it-all Windows tablet that doubles as a Windows laptop. These powerful laptops feature an eighth-gen Intel Core processor and long-lasting battery life. And becauseMicrosoft released the updated Pro 7, the Surface Pro is available at lower prices, and you can find it bundled with its excellent keyboard and pen. Read our Microsoft Surface Pro 6 review.

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Windows 7 support is over. Here are 5 mainstream laptops to replace your old one - CNET