Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

You've probably noticed it in clothing stores: racks and shelves full of high-waisted flares, rib-knit turtlenecks, acid green sweatshirts and disco ball metallics. It's that '70s and '80s show.

These two fashion trends have, as usual, worked their way into home decor as well.

"Right now, in home design, it feels like a total '70s takeover," says Apartment Therapy's Danielle Blundell. "This time period had two pretty distinct things going on boho hippie vibes and glam, glitzy disco feels. Which means you can probably find a way to work something '70s into your home no matter your aesthetic."

Watch for patchwork and peasant prints, fringe and earthy hues. Shaggy, textured woven rugs. Modernist wall art. Rattan etageres and side tables.

One of the hallmarks of the 1980s was Memphis style. Started by Austrian-born but Italian-raised architect Ettore Sottsass, it was characterized by squiggle and geometric pattern, mixing of pastels with black and brights, and an overall playful, whimsical approach. Sottsass and his team designed for Fiorucci, Alessi and Esprit among others, and Karl Lagerfeld and Bowie were collectors.

Designer Sasha Bikoff created a buzz-worthy Memphis-inspired staircase for the 2018 Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse in Manhattan. New Yorker Raquel Cayre manages an Instagram account dedicated to all things Sottsass, and even created a temporary space in Soho called Raquel's Dream House, chock full of Memphis themed interior dcor.

Memphis originals are pricey, but you can find referential decorative items that are affordable. Street brand Supreme offers clothing and skateboard decks; designer Ellen Van Dusen's Brooklyn-based eponymous company makes clothing and home goods featuring her own versions of Memphis pattern.

Surfaces

Imola Ceramica has the Pop collection of ceramic tile, with Roy Lichtenstein-inspired art comics printed on subway-style tile. Its Let It Bee collection features groovy, semi-circular, tone-on-tone designs in brick red, indigo, apple green and dark yellow.

Designer/architect Luca Andrisani has designed a collection for New York Cement Tile called Geometrika. Inspired by midcentury op art, there are retro hues, square and rectangular shapes, and eye-catching optical illusion patterns. Walker Zanger has Australian designer Pietta Donovan's hip new '70s-patterned tile collection.

At http://www.spoonflower.com you'll find several peel and stick wallpapers and fabric by the yard with Memphis style or leopard prints. Here as well are '70s-style florals in wallcoverings and fabric.

European bathware designers have been featuring pedestal sinks, toilets and tubs in colors like cranberry, moss, mustard, teal and pink colors that would have been destined for the bin a few years ago. Here in North America, eBay and salvage sites like Retro Renovation are good places to source vintage wares. For new products, Aquatica USA has roomy resin tubs in dark red or moss green with white interior, while Bella Stone's got a fun one in fire-engine red.

Accessories

Check out http://www.roostery.com for whimsical '70s-style fruit and vegetable prints, geometrics and paisleys in soft goods like napery and throw pillows.

Sometimes it's the little things that bring the look home. Atomic starburst knobs, for example; and http://www.zazzle.com has several patterns. Cabinet and doorknob backplates come in starry shapes at http://www.rejuvenation.com.

At http://www.dusendusen.com, find soft furnishings printed with bold check, dot, stripe, cutout and squiggle patterns. There are patterned pet beds, pillows and shower curtains, too.

Furniture

In a collaboration with London-based Soho Home, Anthropologie offers the Adriana chair; in a deep terracotta velvet, the chubby, channel-seamed silhouette echoes Italian postmodern design. Kardiel's curvy Miranda gold-velvet two-seater has an Austin Powers flair.

At Beam, you'll find simple yet stylish chairs and tables made of powder-coated steel, hardwood and performance fabrics, part of a collaboration between Gus*Modern and LUUM inspired by the Memphis Group's color palette.

ModShop has a treasure trove of options, including the Chubby 2 lounge chair that swivels on a brass-clad base, and the St. Germain side table and credenza, with an abstract, patterned front in poppy colors, perched on chunky acrylic legs.

Ball-shaped and half-dome lighting in matte and polished metallics reference the '70s, as do embossed ceramic bases and cane and rattan fixtures. Look for combinations of pyramids, squares and balls, as well as thick glass circle shapes in '80s-style fixtures. CB2, Urban Outfitters and All Modern have well-priced designs, while Chairish and 1stDibs are good places to hunt for vintage pieces.

See more here:
RIGHT AT HOME: Its that 70s (and 80s) show in home decor - Worcester Telegram

In 30 some years of writing up weddings, it takes a lot to make me pull out my handkerchief. For years, I kept a scrapbook of badly worded headlines. My favorite came from the newspaper in Laurel, Mississippi, now the subject of HGTVs hit show Home Town. Neighboring towns included Hot Coffee, Errata, Soso, and Tuckers Crossing. The headline read, Boy from Hot Coffee Marries Soso Girl.

So it was wildly out of character for me to tear up when church friends had their wedding reception at the Carousel Pavilion, the new attraction at the Childrens Museum of Memphis, in November. Our staff affectionately called it My Big Fat Gay Wedding in the days leading up to it. Our choirs gift to them was an arrangement of Theres a Place For Us from West Side Story. Well, I took to blubberin and didnt stop until somebody stuffed a piece of cake in my face.

Location is the most important decision one makes, says Warner Moore, wedding designer and interior decorator. Everything else radiates from that decision. People know their venue when they see it. Once it feels right to them, everything can proceed from there.

The more the couple can hone in on their preferences, the more accurate a map he can draw for them, Moore says. Even the cleverest wedding planner cannot turn a casual space into a formal one, or vice versa. You also have to match the space to the number of guests. Theres nothing worse than having a small wedding in a big place because it looks like no one came.

Myriad elements go into creating a sense of place: lighting, color, season, formality, and the personalities of the couple. The variables are endless. The paper save the date card is the first hint at the weddings personality.

Kat Gordon, owner of Muddys Bake Shop, sees a consistent effort to match food choices to the mood of the venue. At a barn or vineyard wedding, for example, the couple may want a pie bar for dessert. That feels very Southern and authentic, she says.

The multi-tiered formal confection with the obligatory cake-cutting moment is rarely the centerpiece of the reception anymore. People are thinking about the experience they want their guests to have more than a photo opportunity, Gordon says. They want food thats not just edible but really tasty and represents who we are in our city.

With a seated dinner, a cake per table has become a Muddys signature. An 8-inch layer cake at each table in chocolate, lemon, or strawberry adds color and variety.

Whats trending in flowers in 2020 is a little tweak on the traditional, says Eric Lee Milner of E.L.M. Designs. Couples are wanting traditional flowers, but in unique colors. Calla lilies are a basic, but I had an October bride who chose them in dark purple and deep maroon and added a pheasant feather.

Milner predicts more saturated color in bouquets, centerpieces, and altar flowers. Youre going to see more strong orange, lime-green, and fuschia, and less white, pink, and peach, he says.

Short of having Oprahs money, Milner recommends brides concentrate their budget on one statement piece in a high visibility spot. You can get more impact with one singular wow arrangement at the entry or in the middle of your reception area than you can with an abundance of flowers all over the place, he says. Whether its a big raised arrangement on a table right when you arrive or one big arrangement in the middle of the buffet, that gives you more impact and its more affordable than trying to address the whole room.

In the world of wedding gifts, the charcuterie board (methinks) may be to the 2020s what the fondue set was to the 1970s. Charcuterie boards are big, both in terms of size and in popularity, says Brooks Terry, owner of Babcock Gifts.

Since couples are marrying later in their 20s and most have lived together, many already have the household basics. With their registries, theyre trying to equip themselves for entertaining, also a regional phenomenon.

Our vendors love the South because we still register brides, Terry says. In California and on the East Coast, wedding gifts are usually cash or Venmo.

Sorry I fainted there for a second from shock and dismay. Okay, Im back.

Another change is in the split between formal and informal dinnerware. The completion of a set of fine china was once the primary goal of every brides registry. Now the everyday set is the priority. Couples have gotten a little more casual, but they still like nice stuff, Terry says.

Going into 2020, Terry sees brides choosing a fine china as the dinner plate, but for the salad plate, theyll mix it up with some hand-thrown, artistic pottery. Three of the most popular lines are made nearby: Millers Mud comes from Dumas, Arkansas; McCarty Pottery is Merigold, Mississippis most famous export; and Potsalot is made on Magazine Street in New Orleans.

Judaica pieces like Seder plates, Shabbat candles, and menorahs sell well year-round, regardless of the couples wedding date, Terry says.

If you want to go rogue and choose a gift not on the registry, you can never go wrong with crystal, Terry says. No ones sending back a Baccarat vase or a Waterford salad bowl.

What do you get when you mix newlyweds, a popular fantasy series, and Downtowns newest ballroom?

Why, the Game of Thrones wedding reception at Central Station Hotel, of course. The first couple to marry at the new hotel wed there December 29th. They chose the venue in July when it was still under construction. Everyone was still in hard hats, but this couple saw the vision, says Helen Nelson, director of sales and marketing for Central Station Hotel.

The same could be said for McLean Wilson, the principal in the redevelopment of Central Station. Hes the grandson of Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inns, known to generations of travelers as the nations innkeeper. According to Nelson, Henry Turley first saw the potential of bringing a hotel to the South Main Arts District, and invited McLean to develop the concept.

Built in 1914, Central Station still serves rail passengers boarding Amtraks City of New Orleans, the historic 19-hour route from New Orleans to Chicago. Wilson reimagined the former offices of the Illinois Central Railroad, Amtraks predecessor, as hotel rooms.

But its the lobby and bar that bear the stamp of South Main. A tower of record albums overlooks the double turntable built into an antique organ housing. One wall holds speakers of all different shapes. Memphis music plays in the lobby and bar, and guests hear Isaac Hayes or Sam and Dave in the guest rooms.

At 6,600 square feet, the Grand Hall is 33 feet high. It was the original passenger waiting room for trains for 80 years (Some of the stations original benches can still be seen on a lower level). In the Grand Hall, Central Stations original arrival and departure board is outlined in neon lights. Hidden uplighting can be adjusted to customize the brides chosen colors.

Entering the hotel grounds requires driving a little south of the station on South Main and doubling back up the platform to the hotel entrance. Brides may have a challenge keeping people in the Grand Hall, because the lobby and bar have so many things to explore. Weve had inquiries about using the hotel lobby for receptions, Nelson says, but so far the answers been a hard no. We want that area to be for the neighborhood, not cordoned off for private events. We want it to feel like South Mains living room.

Marrying at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church puts you squarely in the 25 percent of couples who marry in church, down from 40 percent just ten years ago, according to weddingwire.com.

The foremost reason to marry at a church would be to honor your faith tradition, says the Rev. J. Lawrence Turner, senior pastor at The Blvd., as the church is known. My view of the Christian wedding ceremony is that it is more than a celebration of two people joining their lives together. Its of the God who joins them together. So a Christian wedding is ultimately a worship experience.

Turner officiates at 12 or 15 weddings a year, but there are other pastors on staff who solemnize vows. The Blvd. also has a full-time event planner on staff.

Marrying in the church matters less than the church being in the marriage. It is not so much where the wedding takes place or whether the church recognizes it, says Turner. Rather, I have found success in marriage depends on whether that couple honors Christian principles in their marriage such as unconditional love, mutual respect, honesty, fidelity, and grace.

When Bellevue Baptist vacated the sprawling campus at Jefferson and N. Bellevue in 1992, Mississippi Boulevard brought its ministries to the heart of Midtown. The Blvd. is home to dozens of ministries including meal distribution, wellness initiatives, Room In the Inn overnight housing for the unsheltered, pastoral care to shut-ins, and a college tour for high school seniors. Facility rental generates 11.5 percent of The Blvd.s $6.5 million annual budget.

We are certainly open to the public to be rented out for weddings, says Turner. Our space is memorable for not only being the place for many weddings for our congregation for the past 26 years weve owned this space, but also for the previous congregation that owned the building, Bellevue Baptist.

Soaring limestone columns support the broad portico leading to Mississippi Blvd.s two-story vestibule. Accommodating up to 3,000 guests, the sanctuary has seating on two levels. Contemporary stained-glass windows, including one depicting the Pyramid and the Hernando DeSoto Bridge, cast rose and blue highlights over the balcony.

Our chapel, which is where our smaller weddings take place, has beautiful natural light too, Turner says.

With 30 receptions already booked for the Carousel Pavilion in 2020, the bride who wants a merry-go-round wedding had best break out ahead of the pack. Like a jewel-under-glass on permanent exhibit, the historic carousel at the Childrens Museum of Memphis, located at Central and Hollywood, is the same one that thousands of us rode as children at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, later Libertyland.

Couples that are attracted to this degree of spectacle bring a lot of vision, says Melissa Latil, carousel events and operations manager. Theres not a lot of middle ground for this venue. People either say, Im in or rule it out quickly.

Brides may choose to make their entrance around the Carousel or through the sliding double doors. At a Disney-themed reception last month, a Tinkerbell pulled open the doors for the first look at the couple. The staff created a Mickey Mouse dance area with a round floor and two round tables to shape the ears. Guests watched a projection of the Happily Ever After fireworks spectacular from the Magic Kingdom.

While the Pavilion can accommodate up to 500 guests, Latil says the Carousel is ideal for weddings of about 150, which is slightly above average. According to weddingwire.com, the average guest list in 2019 included 126. Adjacent to the Carousel are a ballroom, lobby, catering kitchen, and separate dressing suites for brides and grooms. The Carousel Pavilion connects to the Childrens Museum of Memphis, formerly the National Guard Armory from 1943 until 1983.

With a four-hour wedding rental, the Carousel runs for 2 hours. Restoration of the 100-year-old merry-go-round carved by Gustav Dentzel began in 2015, and a team of woodworkers, painters, and machinists returned it to the museum in pristine condition for its debut in December 2017.

Of its 48 ponies, those on the two inner rings go up and down. The chariots were the first wheelchair accessible carousel seats installed in the U.S. In a three-minute ride, the guest makes 12 revolutions past scenes that evoke a Memphis of yesteryear: a paddlewheeler on the river, frontiersmen in canoes, mules plowing a farm, and deer pausing to drink from a stream. Cherubs keep watch over each rider while hundreds of Edison bulbs create a festive and photogenic vibe.

It doesnt get much more Memphis than marrying on the Mississippi. Two vessels, the Memphis Queen III and the Island Queen, have launched hundreds of couples into matrimony.

I have not had a single bridezilla, says Jodie Taube, director of marketing and events for Memphis Riverboats, Inc. Couples who book the riverboat for their rehearsal dinners or wedding receptions generally have a high sense of adventure and fun.

And just like in the movies, the captain of the boat can perform the ceremony. Captain James Gilmer is an ordained minister in the Church of God in Christ. He has officiated at 16 shipboard weddings. To his knowledge, hes the only African-American riverboat captain on the Mississippi.

With friends from all over the country in town for their October 12th wedding, Ginger and Josh Huckaby wanted their guests to have a quintessential Memphis experience. Josh owns the Green Beetle, the oldest tavern in Memphis, and Ginger moved here from Nashville to work as a nurse practitioner at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. Ginger says, The weather was perfect, the moon was full, it was Memphis to the T.

Of the two boats, the Memphis Queen III is the classic Victorian riverboat with gingerbread trim and twinkling lights. The Island Queen has a more nautical look, with an open section in the center for dancing. Both boats are 100 feet long, accommodate up to 300 guests, and are heated and air-conditioned as the season dictates.

The most popular wedding package allows a half-hour for guests to board; a half-hour for the ceremony; and then two hours for cruising. The vessel departs from Beale Street Landing and heads south under the light show on the Harahan Bridge. Turning back upriver, guests can then enjoy the Memphis skyline. Then Capt. Gilmer takes the party under the light shows on the I-40 bridge, cruises past Harbortown, and returns to the landing.

Riverboat weddings are available all year, but March, April, June, September, and October are the most sought-after months. Taube steers brides away from the weekends during Memphis in May because the closing of Riverside Drive limits access to parking and raises the level of difficulty in bringing decorations aboard. The temperate months also afford nicer views of each bank.

Capt. Gilmer has been on the river 36 years. One of his favorite pranks is to tell Tennessee couples that its not too late to change their minds about matrimony. He says, I can just carry them across the river to the Arkansas side and it wont count.

Just a plain and simple chapel where humble people go to pray may have been okay in 1960, but couples in 2020 want something a little more photogenic and upscale.

When Elvis recorded Crying in the Chapel, most couples married in church. The etiquette-bound formal wedding performed in a religious setting was the bread and butter of the wedding industry, explains Vicki Howard in her book Brides, Inc: American Weddings and the Business of Tradition.

In September, British actress Michelle Hardwick married soap producer Kate Brooks at Graceland in Memphis, according to the Daily Mail.

Youve got to be progressive in 2020, says Christian Ross, Gracelands marketing specialist.

More than 2,000 couples have married or renewed their vows at Graceland. The original chapel was tucked behind the mansion for 18 years, but in 2018, Graceland unveiled the Chapel in the Woods, which seats about 100.

And not all the couples are Elvis fans. Many just want an intimate venue in a woodsy, but still accessible, setting. A bride might choose to have a family ceremony in the Chapel, but she can still invite more guests to a reception in the ballroom.

Most recently, the chapel was featured in the Hallmark Channels Wedding at Graceland, released last year. That movie was the follow-up to 2018s Christmas at Graceland, which was Hallmarks fourth highest rated and most watched original movie in network history. Priscilla Presley had a cameo role in Wedding.

Elvis and Priscilla Presley married on May 1, 1967, at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. Ten days later, they came home to Memphis and put on their wedding attire for a belated reception at Graceland.

Weddings in barns, meadows, and vineyards have been all the rage in the magazines for the last decade, but people dont realize that rustic simplicity comes at a price.

Sure, you have a beautiful spot, but every piece of that party must be brought in so you can look out over a meadow, says Warner Moore, Memphis decorator and wedding designer. When you have to import virtually everything lighting, chairs, tables it gets expensive.

Unless you want people standing up the whole time, youre basically building an infrastructure, Moore explains.

A viable country in the city alternative is the FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms Park. More than 60 couples have tied the knot there since it opened three years ago, says Kate Phillips, account executive with the Park.

You feel youre immersed in nature, but youre connected to the city, she says. We get the benefit of beautiful views, and we still have air-conditioning.

The event center faces west with floor-to-ceiling windows affording views of sunsets over the 80-acre lake. Natural cedar planks adorn the ceiling and look as if they might have been milled on-site. Stacked stone walls further connect the event center to the natural surroundings.

A grassy berm hides the view of Walnut Grove Road just a few hundred feet away. At night, the only reminder of the city is the light from Clark Tower to the southwest. A tree-lined field next to the center can be set for an outdoor ceremony in fair weather.

Since 2007, the Shelby Farms Park Conservancy has managed the county-owned land that is five times the size of New Yorks Central Park. The group needed a revenue generator like the event center, Phillips says, because the conservancy has 4,500 acres, a dozen lakes, a herd of buffalo, and the Greenline to maintain. Early this month, Starry Nights just completed its tenth year as the parks primary fund-raiser.

Long-time Memphians remember the property as the penal farm from the decades (1930s to early 60s) when inmates of the Shelby Count Corrections Center worked the acreage to provide food for inmates and staff. Situated at the geographic center of Shelby County, the Heart of the Park is just one exit away from the interstate, making it an easy drive for out-of-town wedding guests cooped up in hotels.

Original post:
There's a Place for Us: Six Extraordinary Bluff City Wedding Venues - Memphis Magazine

IKEA is excited about Classic Blue releasing a full line of new products including the STOCKHOLM sofa.

Pantone Colour of the Year reflects on the past while looking ahead

Uncertain times call for stable measures. Thats the message from the Pantone Colour Institute in selecting Classic Blue as 2020 Colour of the Year, a colour that can do no wrong, says interior decorator Liz Ditomaso, owner of Elegant Living Decorating based in the Niagara region.Classic blue is a grounding colour, says Ditomaso, who likens the shade to the classic blue business suit or navy pump often associated with wealth. Its a very sophisticated colour, a very powerful colour and it speaks to everyone, she says.According to the Institute, Classic Blue offers reassurance, confidence and connection that people might be searching for in an uncertain global milieu. It brings the colour forecast world full circle as a reminder of Cerulean, the blue hue chosen as the first Color of the Year in 1999 when uneasiness about Y2K was widespread.The versatile colour is both regal and edgy, conservative and unusual. How it manifests in your home dcor ultimately depends on you, says Ditomaso.I dont think theres any colour that doesnt go with it, she said, noting that clients have paired deep blue with yellow, black, chocolate brown, rose gold pink, black and even other shades of blue, like aqua. Classic Blue pairs well with modern greys and whites, she adds, and is an ideal complement to gold fixtures and hardware, or any wood grain.It can go warm against creams, brown or beige and then it can go on the other side against your cooler whites and cooler greys, she added.Early adopters of the 2020 colour gravitated towards a blue Christmas this season. Ditomaso adorned several white flocked trees with rich, glistening gold and blue balls, and hints of silver, and NOMA actually released a flocked blue tinsel tree. Heading into the new year, she expects to see the deep shade show up in kitchens and baths where it is a top contender for islands and backsplashes, home accents such as throws, cushions and chairs, and even as the backdrop for a stunning feature wall for those who really want to be out there and live it up a bit, she says.As the year progresses, expect Classic Blue to continue to show up in fashion, food, scents and cars. The team at IKEA is excited about Classic Blue, releasing its trend report in December to inspire home dcor enthusiasts, with items ranging from chairs, throws and lamps to the BILLY Bookcase with glass doors or the STOCKHOLM sofa.Paint guru and colour expert Annie Sloan says the Classic Blue shade perfectly matches her Napoleonic Blue paint colour, which is reminiscent of the ultramarine and cobalt blue pigments used in neoclassical interiors, yet still looks fresh and modern. Sloan adds that blue is one of her personal favourites because of its calming qualities.My bedroom at home is Aubusson Blue and it sends me into a dreamy sleep every night, she says.

See original here:
Tis the season for Classic Blue - The London Free Press

Elizabeth Sellars, the stage and screen actress, who has died aged 98, made her name on the postwar West End stage in Tea and Sympathy. Set in a New England boys boarding school, Robert Andersons drama created something of a sensation in an era still subject to official stage censorship: it showed the wife of a housemaster seducing a pupil branded as homosexual.

For such a subject to form the theme of a West End play in 1957, without mutilation from the censor, the theatre itself had to be turned into a club. For the run of the play, and of others in a season including Arthur Millers A View from the Bridge, the Comedy Theatre in Panton Street became the New Watergate Theatre Club. As a place of private entertainment with a nominal subscription for members, it escaped the need for the Lord Chamberlains licence.

Not that the seduction of the boy by the housemasters wife was undertaken without the greatest theatrical tact. Nor did the rumour of the adolescents homosexuality prove other than unfounded.

To explain the impropriety of the wifes conduct, she was shown to have been not only a former actress, but also unhappily married to a negligent and insensitive husband, while the persecuted young object of her sympathy strikingly resembled her first, dead husband.

View post:
Elizabeth Sellars, Glasgow-born actress who shot to stardom on the London stage in the scandalous Tea and Sympathy obituary - Telegraph.co.uk

While it may not have the sheer amount of accessories available as its competitors, Apple's HomeKit smart home platform provides users with an unmatched mix of privacy and convenience. With a limited selection of accessories and manufacturers to choose from, CES is one of the few times a year where HomeKit fans get to join in on all of the smart home fun.

No accessory category sums up the lack of options in the world of HomeKit better than cameras. Whether it's traditional indoor/outdoor cameras or video doorbells, there are only a handful currently available. Thankfully, this looks like it could be changing soon as this year's CES seems to be all about connected HomeKit cameras. Here are all of the accessories that could become part of your scenes and automations before the year's end.

The Abode Smart Indoor/Outdoor Camera is a clever take on the traditional connected camera. This versatile accessory can protect your home while sitting on a shelf, mounted on a wall, or as a replacement for a doorbell. Abode's camera can see it all with its wide-angle lens, and it features IP65 weather resistance, making it a great option both indoors and out.

If you own one of the Abode's security alarm systems, the camera will slot right alongside your other accessories, ready to keep an eye on your home in-tandem with the various sensors that you may already have in your home. Don't worry if you don't have an Abode system already though, this camera can work completely on its own, allowing you to get a taste of the company's hardware without making a full-blown commitment to an alarm.

August is releasing a new version of its smart lock that retains its same iconic design, but shrinks things down by quite a bit. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45% smaller in total volume, and 20% slimmer, allowing it to be installed on doors with tight accents such as large windows with trim.

The latest smart lock also simplifies connectivity to all of the voice assistants, including HomeKit, by housing all of the necessary hardware inside of the lock, ditching the need for a separate hub. August hasn't provided exact pricing or shipping as of yet, other than it is coming at some point in 2020.

ADT's DIY smart home line Blue is launching a suite of security cameras that will support HomeKit after the initial launch. The company's Smart Doorbell includes all of the connected ringer essentials such as 2-way audio, weather resistance, motion zones, and notifications.

Even though it falls under the ADT umbrella, a subscription is not required for this hardwired doorbell. Of course, ADT does offer additional cloud storage if needed. The company also has a companion doorbell chime that works not only as a way to give you an audible clue that someone is at your door, but it also extends the doorbell's wireless range.

$199 at Blue

The Blue By ADT Outdoor Camera packs in the same weather resistance as the company's doorbell, but does so in a more conventional package. This camera looks just like any other, however, it is completely wireless, running on an internal rechargeable battery.

Video resolution is listed as 1080p HD, which should offer clear and crisp visuals from its 130-degree wide-angle lens. Just like with the Blue by ADT doorbell, cloud storage subscriptions are available, however, the company provides 24 hours of storage for free, and it can save videos locally onto an SD card.

$199 at Blue

Rounding out Blue by ADT's offering is an indoor camera that functions just like you would expect of an indoor camera, giving you eyes on your home from anywhere around the world. While it records video in 1080p and has 2-way audio, the real star of the show is the stuff that you can't see.

The Blue by ADT Indoor Camera can listen in for additional alarms in your home, sending you notifications if your smoke detector is activated. Even if the power goes out in your home, you can still be covered, as there is also a small back-up battery housed inside, keeping things running for a short time.

$199 at Blue

Bosch has been one of HomeKit's biggest holdouts since the introduction of the smart home platform, but things will be changing this year. The global appliance giant announced at CES that it is opening up its Bosch Smart Home System to support select partners, including HomeKit.

Specific accessories for HomeKit have not yet been announced, but we suspect that we will see cameras, thermostats, and lighting hit our homes first. It remains to be seen whether or not the company's range of appliances such as ovens will be brought over, but HomeKit does not currently support these types of categories so it may be a while before that happens.

Eve has been one of Apple's oldest HomeKit partners, with the company's original Eve Energy smart plug being one of the first such device for the platform. While the original Eve Energy can still perform all of the same functions as newer smart plugs, the company's first entry was rather bulky, preventing it from being used in scenarios with another device plugged into the same outlet.

Eve is correcting this design flaw with its newest Eve Energy smart plug. The new compact Eve Energy still sports the classic all-white plastic design and uses a local Bluetooth only connection to your HomeKit hub. The updated model also includes energy monitoring within the Eve for HomeKit app.

$40 at Amazon

As it's name implies, the Eve Water Guard monitors any area that you place it in for potential leaks. The Water Guard works using a 6 and a half foot wire sensor cable that is placed on the surface around potential hot spots such as water heater. This allows the actual brains of the unit to sit far away from liquid, and is plugged into a standard electrical outlet.

If water is detected by the cable, a notification will be sent from either the Eve for HomeKit app, or the Home app installed on your phone. If that wasn't enough, the Water Guard also includes a powerful 100 decibel siren and indicator light to ensure that you are always aware even without your phone.

$80 at Eve

Seeing that Eve is one of the most recognizable HomeKit accessory manufacturers, it was only a matter of time until they jumped into the world of security cameras. The Eve Cam, coming this April, continues the company's focus on providing privacy-centric connected accessories.

The Eve Cam is the first HomeKit camera built explicitly for Apple's HomeKit Secure Video feature in mind. This allows the camera to work without any cloud servers being involved, as video comes in locally through your HomeKit hub. Eve also touts that the camera does not require any kind of account or registration at all, and your video never touches the cloud in any way.

Legrand is bringing HomeKit to your home's electrical panel with the introduction of the Drivia system in partnership with Netatmo. Yep, you read that right, this HomeKit accessory installs directly into your circuit breaker box, which almost definitely requires a call to an electrician.

The Drivia system is comprised of 6 units, including a contactor, relay, gateway and more. Being installed directly at your home's panel allows it to monitor energy consumption for everything that is plugged in around the house. The Drivia also enables owners to toggle power to a complete leg of electrical power to your home, which could be useful if you forgot to turn something off, but don't have it on a smart plug.

Not to be outdone by Sony, LG has also announced its new lineup of 8K capable televisions. LG's offerings include OLED panels that go all the way up to a massive 88 inches wide, and of course support HomeKit, allowing them to work within your scenes and automations.

Along with HomeKit controls, these TV's support AirPlay 2, enabling them to work in tandem with other speakers in your home. This makes creating a surround sound setup as easy as a few taps in Control Center, putting every one of your AirPlay 2 speakers in sync.

LIFX's recently released color candelabra style bulb was their first bulb in the smaller form factor that is usually found in ceiling fans and chandeliers. However, even though it was its first candelabra size bulb, it featured a unique candlelight effect through its "Polychrome technology".

Polychrome technology splits the LEDs inside of the bulb into separate zones, offering a way to display multiple colors at a time. With its newly unveiled white version of the bulb, the company is using the same tech although this time it will glow between different shades of white.

LIFX has jumped on the filament style light bulb craze with its latest white light bulb. The faux filament bulb is completely dimmable, but only provides one color temperature which is a warm white at 2700K.

While LIFX has only shown off one particular style of filament bulb, they do say that other shapes are in the works. The filament bulb will retail for $30 when they hit stores in the spring.

Along with filament style LED bulbs, bias lighting seems to have hit the mainstream market, so naturally, LIFX wants to provide their take on the category. LIFX has introduced two light strip kits, both of which are designed to attach directly to the back of your screens.

The LIFX Z-TV 360 and Z-Gamer Light Strips look like your typical strip light, but these have a clever touch that should make them much simpler to install. Instead of fumbling with cutting strips down to length and purchasing third party connectors that may or may not work, LIFX's strips are pre-cut to TV sizes and come with neat corner pieces that make 90 degree angles much cleaner.

Everyone that has followed LIFX has pretty much known that the company would eventually make its way into the connected light switch market at some point. So it is of no surprise that the LIFX Switch was announced as coming soon at CES this year.

Instead of replacing a single switch like most options on the market, the company's first offering is designed to replace the larger 4-gang switch boxes in your wall. Since it is replacing 4 switches, the price is a little steep, coming in at $120 later this year.

The Caseta Wireless line from Lutron is one of our favorite lighting accessories thanks to its rock-solid reliability and lighting quick response times. We love the system so much, that we wished that the company branched out to other product categories, which just so happens to be what Lutron announced at this year's CES.

As its name suggests, Lutron's Caseta Wireless Smart Motion Sensor acts as a hands-free way to toggle on and off our lights based on activity within a room. Lutron states that their sensor is up to 3 times faster than competing sensors, and can pick up motion up to 60 feet away. The best part though? this motion sensor also works with the company's HomeKit enabled Serena window shades.

Announced at CES a year ago, Nanoleaf's Unified Hexagon light panels are finally set for release in the spring of 2020. The 6 sided hexagon design provides more opportunities for panel placement than its predecessors, allowing them to function as both a piece of art, and just as neat decorative lighting.

As with Nanoleaf's Canvas line of light panels, each Unified Hexagon tile reacts completely to touch. And while not specifically mentioned, this could mean that each tile could act as a HomeKit button either at launch or down the road, giving owners a crazy amount of options when picking up a set.

Nanoleaf's Smart Learning Series is a suite of accessories that the company claims reacts to each other using various sensors and algorithms to learn from your preferences and needs. While specifics are scarce at the moment, potential accessories in the line include a smart light switch, light bulbs, buttons, and what looks to be a motion sensor.

All of these accessories seem to be standards within the smart home world, but Nanoleaf is positioning its latest technology as being the "anti-smart bulb" as they feel that current methods are not truly smart.

Netatmo's Smart Door Lock is a sleek lock that not only looks good, but it also houses some serious smarts. This door lock uses Bluetooth and NFC for a strictly local connection that doesn't connect to the cloud, but with the power of HomeKit, you can still access it remotely if needed.

Included with the lock are "smart keys" which look somewhat like a traditional barrel type key, however, they are not "keyed" for a specific lock and all have the same design. The magic behind this is built-in NFC, which allows the keys to activate any door lock that it is assigned to. This means you can keep the same key and use it for all of the locks that you may have around the house.

OneLife has introduced an air purifier that according to the company "removes more harmful substances including the smallest PM 1.0 particles than any other air purifier". The purifier has a clean modern design to go along with the ability to work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.

Features include a sleep mode for quiet operation at night, as well as an automatic mode that ramps up or down according to the amount of particulates in the air. The included filter can be rinsed out when needed, and even can survive trips through a dishwasher for easy cleaning. Like most CES announcements, pricing and availability have not yet been disclosed.

Even though the Resonate light come in a rectangular form factor, these outdoor lights actually create triangles of light. What's more is that the light from them comes out both the top and bottom creating a distinct look.

The Hue Resonate will be available in both a black and stainless steel finish when released later this month. The only downside? They will only be available in European markets.

Just like the Resonate, the Hue Appear projects beams of triangular light from both sides of the outdoor fixture. The Appear however takes on a skinnier cylindrical frame and will only be available in black.

The Appear will be available starting in late January in Europe with a suggested retail price of 139. This light will also make its way to North America starting in mid-March.

Another Europe exclusive is the Hue Attract which features a classic downlight design. This outdoor light has an open glass shade which provides an "arc of light" against the wall that it is mounted to.

The attract will be available at the end of the month, and will have a retail price of 149.

An updated version of the popular outdoor spot light, the Lily XL has also been announced. This larger version include a more powerful spotlight, creating a dramatic effect wherever it is aimed at.

The Lily XL will be available in Europe first, launching in late January, and a North American release will follow in mid-March.

Coming at the end of January, the Hue Daylo is a circular outdoor fixture that comes in both black and stainless steel options. These lights mount directly to a wall which gives it a truly unique look.

Another European exclusive, these lights will start at 114 and 119 depending on the finish.

The newest Philips Hue Impress model features the same design as before, however, this time it comes in a low-voltage option.

Going the low-voltage route allows the Impress to be installed simply by plugging it in, forgoing wiring or a call to an electrician. Look for these in European markets starting later this month.

The Hue Nyro outdoor light comes in both wall mounted and pedestal options, each sharing an all-black angular downlight design.

Both Nyro variants will be available at the end of April, but again, is only being marketed within Europe at this time. Pricing starts at 119 for the wall light, and 149 for the pedestal.

A North America exclusive path light, dubbed the Hue Econic Pedestal, brings the smarts to one of the outdoor staples. These low voltage lights are smaller than the original but still retain the lantern like design.

Available starting in mid-March, the Econic Pedestal will come in a base kit for $149, and an extension kit for $129, but the company did not actually specify the exact number of lights are included in each.

While HomeKit already has quite the line up of lighting products available, the addition of Sengled to the mix adds in quality accessories that are affordably priced. Sengled's smart LED lighting has been around for a while now, and a new HomeKit enabled hub can bring them all into the Home app.

The Sengled 3rd generation hub utilizes ZigBee for fast, reliable connections to light bulbs, light strips, and plugs without bogging down your Wi-Fi network. Although specifics regarding its release date were not announced, the latest update to the company's smart home app details how to set everything up with HomeKit, suggesting it may come sooner rather than later.

Sony's latest high-end OLED televisions crank things up to the glory that is known as 8K. Even more impressive though, is that Sony is making OLED available in a smaller size, all the way down to 48 inches, which for some reason seems to be one of the hardest things to do for TV manufacturers.

As good as the visuals can be on these sets, the star of the show for us is HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support. This enables possibilities such as telling Siri to turn up the volume or to change the channel with just a shout to a HomePod or an iOS device.

TandemLED CES debut came with several lighting products that play well with HomeKit through a connection to a Philips Hue hub. The company's tape light comes in the longest size that we have seen for the category, 16.4 feet.

The adjustable part of the light strip refers to its white color temperature which ranges from 2700K to 500K. This light strip also features an IP65 water resistant coating, as well as customizable sizing with sections that can be cut every inch.

$134 at TandemLED

TandemLED's Lux Puck Lights are a compact option for shelves and under-cabinet installations which come in both white and silver finishes. Like TandemLED's light strip, these lights have adjustable white color temperatures, and can provide up to 300 lumens of brightness.

The Lux Puck Lights will be offered in jut one size, 2.57 inches, and will be available starting on January 15th for around $40 each.

$40 at TandemLED

The AC Smart Receiver from TandemLED can give your existing lighting a smart assistant upgrade. This tiny receiver installed behind your wall outlets, giving them the smarts without a bulky plug hanging from it.

This design also allows the receiver to work in outdoor settings, powering devices up to 100 watts. Look for this clever solution starting in mid-January.

$119 at TandemLED

The Votion Smart Outlet, offers convenient control over any device that is plugged into it. The plug utilizes Wi-Fi for a direct connection to your home network, enabling it to work with HomeKit scenes and automations.

The plug also features energy monitoring capabilities as well as a status indicator ring and manual toggle button on the front of the unit.

These switches cover both 1 and 2-way installations, but dimming may not be along for the ride. Like the company's smart outlet, they connect to all of the voice assistants, including HomeKit, using Wi-Fi without a hub.

Both light switches can also utilize NFC, which is built-in, allowing users to pair them with a simple tap of their phone. Pricing and availability has not yet been announced.

Details surrounding Votion's LED Light Strip Controller are scarce, but it looks to be more of a traditional light strip and not a box that you connect to an existing device.

The company mentions colorful scenes and automations but important specs such as brightness and potential weather resistance are not available.

Votion's Door and Window sensor is a standard 2 piece contact sensor that attaches directly to a door or window. The sensor uses magnets to determine whether or not things are open or closed and will notify users if an event occurs.

The sensor runs on 2 AA batteries and uses Bluetooth 5 to connect to HomeKit for a secure local connection.

This motion sensor from Votion is a surface mountable compact unit that keeps an eye on its surroundings. If motion occurs, it can put automations into place that can light up the area, or send a notification.

Votion's sensor also includes an onboard LED light which sounds like a handy way to add some path lighting around the home. The sensor is completely wireless running on just 3 AAA batteries.

Another one of Votion's accessories include a water leak sensor that works just like it sounds. Simply place this compact little accessory near a potential hot spot and you will get notified if water touches it.

This tiny sensor talks to HomeKit over Bluetooth 5, and since it is powered by batteries, you can toss it just about anywhere to get a little extra peace of mind.

Not much is known about this sensor, other than it attaches directly to glass doors to keep them safe and secure. If it somehow is able to work its magic on sliding doors, then it could potentially solve one of the bigger problems for the smart home.

We will definitely be keeping our eyes on this one for any other details that come our way.

As its name implies, the Votion Smart Breaker Switch installs directly into your electrical or "breaker" panel. Once installed, the switch gives you the power to turn off parts of your home remotely, and not just one specific plug.

The Smart Breaker Switch could also help with energy savings, helping to isolate parts of the home to track down a large consumer.

Votion's Smart Water Valve attaches directly to a standard hose or spigot to give you control over your watering needs.

Since it uses a pretty universal hose connector, you can attach sprinklers and irrigation lines that can work with any automations or scenes that you build with HomeKit.

This smart sensor installs directly into any spot in your lawn or garden to give you a better idea of when to water. We are not quite sure how HomeKit handles this type of sensor so it will be interesting to see when it is released.

Let's just hope that it can somehow work with the company's water valve though. Having your water needs taken care of completely autonomouosly would just be all sorts of cool.

The Waciao Smart Gateway is the brains that connects some of the company's low powered accessories to HomeKit. The gateway utilizes ZigBee wireless connectivity which is known for providing fast response times and high levels of reliability.

The gateway has an operating distance of around 400 feet and plugs either directly into a home router, or via Wi-Fi.

Waciao's Smart Air Quality Monitor works in combination with the company's gateway to report on the air within the home. The front of the monitor has a small display, providing glanceable information.

Although exact measurement capabilities have not yet been announced, we expect to see the ability to ask Siri for a generalized reading of the situation, which should reply with terms such as "fair" or "unhealthy".

View original post here:
Every new HomeKit-supported device announced at CES 2020 - iMore

A smattering of power outages happened at the start of a winter storm that Consumers Power officials predicted could be "devastating." As of 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, nearly 750 Byron Township customers were without power, an outage near Spring Lake Township had been repaired, and nearly 1,000 customers living in Muskegon's Lakeside area, south of Muskegon Lake, were in the dark. In all, Consumers' crews were dealing with 44 outages affecting just over 2,500 customers.

Saturday, January 11, 2020 4:19 a.m. EST by Peg McNichol

Editor's note: This story will be updated as the storm progresses. For area cancellations -- and a few beyond this area -- visit whtc.com/cancellations.

HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) -- A smattering of power outages happened at the start of a winter storm that Consumers Power officials predicted could be "devastating." As of 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, nearly 750 Byron Township customers were without power, an outage near Spring Lake Township had been repaired, and nearly 1,000 customers living in Muskegon's Lakeside area, south of Muskegon Lake, were in the dark. In all, Consumers' crews were dealing with 44 outages affecting just over 2,500 customers.

Police and emergency managers, and Homeland Security officials across the state were on alert, too, ready for the affects of rain, ice, snow, travel issues, and power outages. Michigan State Police emailed a statement to media, quoting Gov. Getchen Whitmer, who said keeping Michiganders safe during severe weather is one of her top priorities.

"My office, along with state departments, will be closely monitoring weather conditions as they develop and proactively coordinating with emergency managers to support local response efforts as appropriate," she said. "We are also encouraging Michiganders to be safe and take precautions during these extreme weather conditions that are being predicted this weekend.

The National Weather Service meteorologists out of Grand Rapids predicted 2 to 4 inches of rain, with a transtion to freezing rain and sleet, and snow by late Saturday afternoon.

That makes flooding in low-lying areas likely, continued erosion along the Lakeshore, with the ice creating dangerous travel conditions and power outages.

Tips from the MSP statement include:

During a power outage

To stay safe during a winter storm

Safe winter driving tips

Preparing for a flood

Driving in a flood

Michigan weather is unpredictable any time of year, but especially during the winter months. If you are stranded in a winter storm, do not leave your vehicle. Stay with the vehicle and wait for help.

Motorists are encouraged to check travel conditions and weather reports before driving at http://www.michigan.gov/roadconditions. Major road closures can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/drive. The MSP/EMHSD asks that you tune into local news and/or view these websites rather than calling your local MSP post or 911 for travel conditions.

For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit http://www.michigan.gov/miready or follow MSP/EMHSD on Twitter at @MichEMHS.

See the original post:
Greater Holland Area Power Outages, Cancellations | News | 1450 99.7 WHTC - WHTC News

We have not started a new decade. I repeat, we have not started a new decade.

This truth will not affect lazy sports talk show or entertainment show hosts so obsessed with Best of the Decade programs. Seeing the number 20 in the year just drives people bonkers. I can only hope my industry editorial colleagues show some restraint. Nevertheless, we are still in the decade of the 2010s. Do the math, and youll see.

So until this 10th year reaches its completion at midnight, December 31, 2020, you have another year to put a ribbon on this decade of the 10s.

Start by attending the 2020 AHR Expo, Feb. 3-5 in Orlando. Always a great event with which to begin the HVACR industrys new year, this show brings the entire industry together for three days of product news, educational sessions, networking and for this year, you will enjoy the beautiful weather of sunny Florida.

Positive Outlook, Challenges NotedThe International Exposition Company and the AHR Expo management team has again released an industry outlook in advance of the show. And again we see you picked a great industry of which to be a part.

This Annual Economic Outlook Survey of HVACR manufacturers and attendees provides a snapshot actually, it's more like an expansive pan shot of their opinions of the HVACR industry's business opportunities and hurdles to clear as the new year begins.

We all know the economy has been strong, and that's reflected here. Seventy-five percent of the 1,418 total respondents said they expect business to increase; 25% said they expect business to increase by more than 10 percent. Seventy-nine percent said 2020 prospects for business are expected to be good or excellent.

Segment-wise, light commercial, hospital and residential market segment respondents have a "good" or "excellent" outlook, 72%, 67% and 64% respectively. Respondents said the best prospects for 2020 growth are in maintenance/replacement (72%); retrofit/renovation (67%); and new construction (64%).

Opportunities/Issues/Concerns

When asked to list areas of most concern and greatest perceived opportunities, responses were right in line with what we've heard over the past year or two:

Tariffs

Energy efficiency & DOE regulations

Low GWP refrigerants and R22 phase out

Growth of data centers

Regulatory compliance and new standards

Lack of skilled workforce and opportunities to grow the trades

Automation and self- diagnostic controls

Energy considerations

Modularization

Deregulation and implications to competition

Growth of big box retailers

Global market

Short-term implications of a trade war

Consolidation of manufacturers

SEER regulations

IoT, IIoT and system protocols

Digitalization

Outcome of the 2020 Election and resulting economy

Indoor Air Quality and consumer considerations

New Technologies VRF, mini-splits, geothermal, tankless, VRV, green initiatives, etc.

New Product ConsiderationsAmong both show attendees and exhibitors surveyed, both groups named RELIABILITY as the most important consideration when choosing a product, followed by:

For Attendees First Costs Comfort Energy Efficiency Maintenance Indoor Air Quality Sustainability

For ExhibitorsEnergy EfficiencyIndoor Air QualityFirst CostsMaintenanceComfortSustainability

FIND THE ENTIRE SURVEY ON THE AHR SHOW NEWSROOM.

THIS YEAR'S pre-show survey included for the first time commentary from some industry endorsing organizations. Among their detailed comments:

ASHRAE: "Human wellness within the built environment is an area of significant opportunity. ASHRAE's leadership role will expand in IEQ to support the growing interest in wellness and operational success in buildings by incorporatingobjectives into ASHRAE technical activities and working with other organizations to link the built environment to operational excellence." Darryl Boyce, President, ASHRAE

AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute: "Our industry continues its steady commitment to increased energy efficiency, environmental performance, convenience and comfort for its products, equipment, and customers." "One of the biggest opportunities is the industry industry coming together to lobby for and get legislation passed that would establish a national phase down schedule for HFCs. This could provide some certainty for manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and others with respect to when equipment using alternative refrigerants will need to be available." Steve Yurek, AHRI President & CEOBACnet:"There is a growing understanding in the industry that the Internet of Things is driving a host of technologies that can improve building controls but the business models and products in consumer IoT do not meet commercial building owner needs.This has led to a broad consensus on the need for a focus on commercial building IoT (BloT) to leverage technologies like cloud analytics and big data without compromising the requirements of building owners." Andy McMillan, BACnet President

CABA (Continental Automated Buildings Association): "The market has seen some cost incentives for the adoption of intelligent buildings technologies in HVACR and this is an encouraging development. Cost incentives recognize that more intelligent and responsive systems are better equipped to support peak demand reduction programs and energy savings during high consumption periods for heating and cooling. For example, advanced occupancy and lighting sensors that work with lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Ron Zimmer, CABA President & CEO

HVI (Home Ventilating Institute: "There are more code-driven initiatives being operationalized as we complete 2019 and move into 2020. California's Title 24 is prompting questions on how to adequately meet the code. California's energy code is designed to reduce wasteful and unnecessary energy consumption in newly constructed and existing buildings." "New codes being adopted are causing confusion for the designers and installers of HVAC equipment. Education is going to be paramount as manufacturers market their products in different regions of the country." Jacki Donner, HVI Executive Director & CEO

HI (Hydraulic Institute): "With lighting incentives fading out in 2020, building and system owners will find new pump related incentive programs that many utilities are now launching to meet their energy efficiency goals." "2020 will bring an important new regulation requiring energy efficient pumps. In January 2020, approximately 25 percent of clean water pumps between 2-200 hp will no longer be on the market." Michael Michaud, HI Executive Director

NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association: "NADCA is in the final stages of the first round of an Energy Study. Led by Dan Stradford, NADCA Vice President, in partnership with Dr. Mark Hernandez of the University of Colorado at Boulder, this study was formulated to determine if any statistically significant changes in energy usage was associated with systematic HVAC duct and and heat-transfer equipment cleaning. The executive summary of this study is in review, and will be released in early Spring." Jodi Araujo, NADCA Chief Staff Executive

SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association):"Our members are interested in seeing virtual design advances along with new construction concepts and applications. They are eager to see what tools and applications make significant improvements in fabrication and installation processes." Thomas Soles, SMACNA Executive Director, Market Sectors

WHVACR (Women in HVACR): "The possibility of Uberization in HVAC,like Yellow Taxi is a potential wake up call for thousands of HVAC companies nationwide. Today, its more important than ever to continue to build strong and loyal relationships with your customer base. We can tie more loyalty between customers and service providers to maintain a relationship even if big box stores start providing home services like Uber." Danielle Putnam, President, WHVACRSo, is the HVACR industry alive with change, innovation and challenging issues? Yes.

Will you attend the 2020 AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida? Only you can answer that.

Continued here:
10 ways to work on your business in 2020 - Contracting Business

In my last column, I wrote about governments resolving to be better prepared to deal with disasters. Today, I propose some timely resolutions any of us can make to help create a better world.

I suggest we resolve to tread more lightly on the face of the earth, leaving as small and shallow a footprint as possible. Do not destroy natural habitat without good reason. Do not litter or pollute the air, water or soil. Conserve all natural resources such as water, soil and natural beauty. Avoid needless waste. Instead, when given the opportunity, we should undo all the damage that has been done.

Pull or otherwise remove invasive weeds that are not native to the area, pick up litter and see that its properly disposed of. Plant more trees and other suitable plants to improve the soil, add beauty and gain cleaner air. Lets not waste any resource reuse, recycle, reduce usage and repurpose. Be careful not to pollute streams or soil. Read labels and follow directions.

I suggest making a plan that at regular intervals we help someone less fortunate, whether directly or through agencies that provide that help. This could include giving unwanted clothing items to a thrift shop or charity, giving to a food bank or joining a group such as the Gleaners who pick fruit from abandoned trees or fruit from privately owned trees with the owners permission.

Be an advocate for those agencies, private or governmental, that work to help those in need. Volunteer your labor to take care of animals at the Humane Society. Speak out at regular meetings of the city council, county commissioners as an advocate for your cause. Write your legislators, congressmen and congresswomen.

Vow, at regular intervals, to do something nice for friends who are ill, disabled or lonely. Take them flowers from your garden, take them baked goodies if they can have them, take them out to lunch or for a ride in the countryside or just visit them. Offer services such as grocery shopping, babysitting, errand running, lawn mowing or snow shoveling, or whatever is needed such as general yard cleanup to friends or neighbors in need of these services.

Tackle your weaknesses. Mine will be to not be such a champion procrastinator. How happy Id be to finally catch up on routine chores and occasionally have a house that has been thoroughly clean all at once instead of the piecemeal approach. I remember one of our high school class reunions when one of the gals came sporting a big button that said just duit. Instead of procrastinating, just do it. I find I need lots of reminding. Its easy to forget how good it feels right after you just dun it.

Another resolution Ill be making is to tackle my piling system to make it really workable. When I dont get to the bottom of each pile soon enough Im often embarrassed by failure to act in a timely manner. I should also resolve to talk less and more softly.

I spent a good bit of my life not practicing that, but eventually managed to rein myself in and modulate my voice until my husband lost a good bit of his hearing. Then all my efforts came to naught. Im sure there are some people who wish Id try again. These days, most of my conversations are at the pool where everyone needs to talk over the noise of screaming kids and the PA systems loud music. I think the main thing to remember if you forget or backslide, you can always start over. One slip doesnt negate the whole year. Also remember, when you remember and keep your resolutions, pat yourself on the back and reward yourself with a special treat.

Lenna Harding lived her first 20 and past 43 years in Pullman. A longtime League of Women Voters member, she served on the Gladish Community and Cultural Center board.

Visit link:
Her View: More resolutions to make our world a better place - Moscow-Pullman Daily News

BRANSON, Mo. (Edited News Release) -- After 70 years of compassionate care in the community, the mission that drives Cox Branson remains as strong as the bricks that built it: To improve the health of those it serves.

While the original brick hospital is still the pillar of the medical centers campus, new expansions have nestled in beside it to accommodate seven decades of growth seeing Branson bloom from rural town to booming tourist destination.

That old building may seem smaller now but, in 1950, the grand structure was the talk of the town. Rumblings to build it began a few years earlier when local businessman M.B. Skaggs, the founder of Safeway stores, witnessed a child die before she could be transferred to Springfield for treatment. M.B. and his wife Estella knew in that moment that Branson needed a hospital and they began rounding up support to build one.

Mr. Skaggs challenged local residents to donate as much money as they could to pay for a community hospital and he promised to match the funds. Nineteen business leaders chipped in for the construction, making way for Skaggs Community Hospital to be built for approximately $250,000.

The completed building was given to the community as a gift with citizens asked to equip and furnish the facility. The Skaggs family contributed another $50,000 to get the hospital ready for patients. On January 8, 1950, the hospital opened its doors with 25 beds, five physicians and six nurses aides.

More than 1,500 locals toured the hospital on opening day. An article written for the White River Leader that weekend described the facility as the best modern construction engineers can provide stocked with the best medical equipment that can be used. The Skaggs family had seen their dream come true and were excited for people in the area to have access to quality health care in their hometown.

Branson mayor Edd Akers fondly remembers being only 8 years old watching the hospital go up. By the time he was 11, he was an unofficial employee working hard to keep the facilitys lawn in shape. My brother and I had two little push mowers and wed mow the entire grounds for 25 bucks. It took us about two days to finish and by the time we got done, it was almost time to mow again, he says with a chuckle. Dad would take us to the dime store and wed spend our money on wooden airplanes and passes to the city pool. I feel so blessed to remember that story.

Akers loyalty to the hospital continued long after his lawn mowing days were done. He went on to serve on the Board of Directors in the 1990s. Today, as mayor, he realizes the historical significance of Branson getting a hospital, saying a city with good schools and quality health care is vital to attract new residents. Getting this hospital was a game-changer for our community, he says. Reflecting on how folks came together to make it happen just shows the true spirit of Branson.

That same spirit helped shape the culture among staff through the years. Jan Harper, the nurse who pioneered the current cardiac rehab program, reflects on those early days. In the 1970s, there would be one RN on duty at night covering the medical floor, labor and delivery and the ER, she says. We even answered the police phone if the officer was out making rounds.

Harper says even though the staff was small, their commitment to patients never wavered, even when the weather got bad. Wed all stay the night at the hospital if it snowed or got icy, she says. And the doctor would ride a horse to town to check on patients. We just had ways of making it work.

Long-time employees like Harper have witnessed quite the evolution in medical advances through the years. The changes have been incredible. I started teaching CPR and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) and helped open the first Intensive Care Unit in 1972, Harper recalls. Before that unit opened, there were three of us working doubles to care for critical patients. We were blessed to witness the hospital grow from its early roots to its modern day medical center. In a way, its the house that built me.

While the hospital continued to advance in all areas of diagnostics and treatment, as decades went by, some growing pains became apparent. Skaggs Community Hospital was struggling to meet growing needs due to decreased revenue and lack of other funding sources. In January 2012, Skaggs President William Mahoney approached the board with an idea to keep the hospital relevant in changing times and keep quality health care in Branson by finding a strategic partner.

After an 8-month search, the board narrowed 12 potential partners down to two and, in a 96-0 decision, trustees voted to join CoxHealth. CoxHealth, which is headquartered in Springfield, planned to invest $100 million in the hospital, including building and equipment upgrades.

Just one year after the agreement was signed, the hospital broke ground on a 63,000-square-foot expansion of the Emergency Department and Critical Care Unit, presenting a $30 million investment in the community. In addition, CoxHealth made a $25 million investment in the Skaggs Foundation to improve the health and wellness of residents in Taney and Stone counties. The remaining funds were invested into capital equipment needs over the first five years of the agreement. Under the partnership agreement, Skaggs Regional Hospital officially became Cox Medical Center Branson on January 1, 2013.

Even though the future of rural health care in America stands on shaky ground, Cox Branson continues to thrive and expand in the community.

Community hospitals all over America are closing, says Lynne Yaggy, chief nursing officer and VP of Clinical Services. But here we are, growing and providing the most innovative care for those who need us without losing that hometown hospitality. Thats a legacy I know that Skaggs family would be proud of.

The hospital prides itself on a culture it says cant be matched that feeling that every employee and patient is family. My hope for our future is to continue to fulfill our mission and keep that culture strong so all who come here feel the difference in our care, says President William Mahoney. Our hospital is not just an economic engine for our community. It is and has been for 70 years a safety net and house of healing for those in need. When everything is breaking down around you, you can still come to us and be comforted, protected and uplifted. That legacy is possible because the Skaggs familys dream created such a strong foundation for all of us now and into the future.

More:
'The House that Built Me': Branson hospital celebrates 70 years - KY3

Homeowners do a lot to keep their home looking clean and fresh. Mowing the lawn, shoveling the walkway, power washing the deck and siding, repainting, and more.

But something that many homeowners forget about is roof cleaning.

Your roof and gutters might be less of an aesthetic factor when it comes to keeping your home clean and sleek, but that doesn't mean it's any less important to keep clean. In fact, it's one of the most important areas of the home to maintain. Unlike lots of aesthetic upgrades homeowners can worry about sometimes, cleaning your roof can help you avoid costly damage.

We know that not everyone is a roofing expert, which is where we can help. We're going to go over 4 things to know about the importance of roof cleaning services so you can get started before you end up needing a roof repair.

Ice dams are ridges of ice that form at the edge of your roof during the winter. These can form as a result of not cleaning the snow and/or debris off of your roof after snowfall or after a storm.

As the snow melts and runs off the roof, it can freeze at the edge of the roof forming a large wall of ice known as an ice dam. This prevents water from draining off the roof, which makes the problem progressively worse over time.

Ice dams can cause serious damage to your roof and to your home. They can lead to leaks, shingle and roof damage, dangerous icicle formation, gutter damage, and more.

There's a very simple fix to preventing ice dam formation: roof and gutter cleaning.

Cleaning your roof and clearing off any snow and debris on it can prevent the formation of ice dams. It's important to either do this very carefully or hire a roofing professional to clean the roof as inexperience can lead to further roof damage, gutter damage, or physical injury.

Read more about ice dam prevention here.

The roof over your head protects you and your family from the weather, the elements, and nature in general. That means that it's exposed to all of those things 24/7, which, in turn, means that dirt, water, leaves, plants, and more all find their way onto the roof at some point.

The problem is that rain and snow can often make your roof appear clean when there's actually dirt, moss, lichen, and algae existing all over the roof (especially on the side that gets less sun).

Just because these things can appear invisible doesn't mean that they aren't a problem for you and your home. They can also cause aesthetic problems: these things can make your roof appear blotchy and stained with dark blue and green splotches on various parts of the roof.

Algae, moss, and lichens on your roof can greatly decrease your roof's lifespan and increase the likelihood you'll need a roof replacement sooner. They can lead to gutter and shingle damage as well.

Not only that, but these things can also harbor mold spores, which can lead to mold growth. Mold can cause various negative health consequences throughout your home.

Roof cleaning services can get rid of, and prevent, algae, moss, and lichen growth on your roof. Cleaning after you notice any of this growth can reduce any potential damage it causes.

Failing to clean your roof can lead to shingle damage as a result of ice dams, falling debris, and the algae/moss/lichen growth. Damaged or missing roof shingles can lead to serious problems with your roof including:

Shingle damage in the winter is especially damaging. Debris, snow, and ice can easily damage or remove shingles if they are not cleaned properly. This can allow water to seep into your roof, walls, and more.

When that water freezes, it can lead to cracks in your roof, walls, and home's structure. Not only is this very expensive to fix, it's also extremely dangerous for your home's structural integrity.

Cleaning your roof consistently, or having it cleaned by a professional, can reduce the chance of shingle damage.

Moss and algae as well as ice dams and shingle damage can lead to excess water seeping into your roof.

This leads to increased chances that you'll get a leaky roof, freezing water damage, and wood rot. Water getting into the wood of your roof and home can lead to serious rotting damage that can be very expensive to have repaired. If the damage is extensive, you might need a roof replacement.

You're better off properly cleaning and maintaining your roof to prevent this from happening. Wood rot can often go undetected by homeowners, so you might not always know it's happening. That's another reason why consistent roof cleanings are essential for the health and longevity of your roof.

Roof cleaning is an important part of maintaining your roof. Clearing off snow, debris, dirt, and other natural elements can extend your roof's lifespan and reduce any potential damage caused to both your roof and your home.

However, it's easy to neglect cleaning, forget about it, or not understand the importance, which is where professional roof repair comes in. At Farina Roofing, we understand the importance of roof cleaning services and how it can affect repairs.

We take care of everything and can make sure that your roof is clean and repaired after storms, neglect, or damage. Contact us today to get an inspection and our professional opinion on what you need.

This post is an advertorial piece contributed by a Patch Community Partner, a local sponsor. The views expressed in this post are the author's own.

For more about Community Partner, click here.

See the article here:
4 Things to Know About the Importance of Roof Cleaning - Patch.com