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This announcement is hereby issued for International Tender for the Architectural Design of the First Projects in Shenzhen Park of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center), and excellent design agencies at home and abroad are invited to join. We desire to solicit the most creative design scheme with the international vision and high standards.

I. Project Name:International Tender for the Architectural Design of the First Projects in Shenzhen Park of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone (Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center)

II. Project Location:Shenzhen Futian Free Trade Zone

III. Time:Deadline for submission of pre-qualification application materials: Feb. 10, 2020 (by 17: 00) 3.1 Bidders must register information on the website below before submitting prequalification documents:https://www.szjsjy.com.cn:8001/jy-toubiao/czindex.html (If the bidder is a joint group, all members must register).

3.2 Pre-qualification application documents and Electronic files are sealed in a sealed bag indicated with "project name" and "bidder's name". (The name of the bidder shall be the same as the name of the company registered in Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre). The seal of the sealed bag shall be sealed and stamped with the official seal or legal person signature of the bidder (if the bidder is a joint group, the domestic firm shall be affixed with the official seal and legal person signature, and the foreign firm shall be affixed with the official seal or legal person signature).

3.3 The bidder shall send the required information to the second floor window of Design Building, No. 8 Zhenhua Road, Futian District, Shenzhen before the deadline for submission of bidding document in the bidding announcement of Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre (http://zjj.sz.gov.cn/jsjy/) (no mail or express delivery is acceptable, documents must be submitted on site). The tenderee will not accept pre-qualification application documents submitted after the deadline.

3.4 When submitting the prequalification application documents, the bidder shall present a certificate of legal person and letter of authorization of legal person, so that the staff of Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre can verify the identity of the submitting staff when accepting the prequalification application documents.

IV. Tenderee: Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone Development Co., Ltd.Contact Persons: Mr. Tang, Mr. YangContact phones: 0755-23912284, 18503009314Email: sgck_02@163.com, competition@ehow.net.cn

V. Organizing Agent(s) and their Contact Information:Tendering Agency: Shenzhen International Tendering Co., LtdContact Persons: Chen Shuhuan, Li Jiachan, Wan ZhuoContact phones: 0755-22965605, 83500322, 83500113,18603013345, 15989469552, 13316523090

VI. Project Overview:Located in Futian Free Trade Zone, west wing of Shenzhen Park of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center is a window for image display and transport gateway of the free trade zone, which is inside the customs fence. On the east side of the project are Futian Free Trade Zone Central Park and Changping Business Building, on the north side is Fuyuan Garden, on the west side is Turbo Logistics Building, on the south side are HGST (Shenzhen) Co., LTD and Changfu Jinmao Building. The commercial area of the project is 8118.1, the cultural and sports facilities area is 3000, and the rail transit (metro entrance) area is 249.5.

The total floor area of commercial office plot (plot 01) included into FAR calculation is 89569.70 . The commercial office area is 75110 , the public supporting facilities area is 8600 (including public supporting housing, community health service center and police room), the tower height is up to 200m, no less than 312 underground parking spaces, and the underground public passageway area is about 530.

The total area of the land for cultural and sports facilities (lot 02) included into FAR calculation is about 6,400 . The basement has no more than three floors. The distance between the boundary line of commercial office basement and the boundary line of office & commercial plot is zero. The commercial office basement is connected with the office & commercial plot above the ground.

This project is designed to limit the design, construction and installation of commercial office plot (plot 01) total cost should be controlled within RMB 713.22 million, total cultural and sports facilities (lot 02) construction and installation costs should be controlled within RMB 120.00 million.(See the Design Brief for details)

VII. Design Contents:7.1 Scope of Tender:The whole process design is for the integrated design of office and commercial (plot 01) and cultural and sports facilities (plot 02) of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center. The work contents in the bidding stage include but are not limited to (see "Design Brief" for details) :

7.2The winning bidder shall complete the following contents in the form of design general contracting and meet the corresponding requirements:7.2.1 All design and design services related to this project such as early-stage design coordination (such as coordination of land-use-related procedures), overall urban design, general drawing design within the construction land area, outdoor engineering design, building and structure design, underground engineering design, planning design and single design, including scheme design and scheme deepening design (including investment estimation), design development (including design development budget estimate), construction drawing design, construction cooperation and completion acceptance, preparation of as-built drawings.

7.2.2The work contents and scope include but are not limited to the following: architecture, structure, building electricity, water supply and drainage, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, gas (the design contents of relevant specialties included in the above-mentioned construction projects include general layout and vertical design), design of fine decoration of model rooms for public areas and office demonstration zones (all public spaces in office, commercial and other functional spaces), design of prefabricated building, design of indoor and outdoor garden landscape and greening, outdoor general drawings, various pipe networks and roads and their integrated design; municipal supporting facilities within the boundary line and interface design of municipal pipelines outside the boundary line; deepening design of height limit, civil air defense, fire protection, anti-seismic support and hangers, reserved holes, energy conservation, water conservation, flood control, traffic, metro impact assessment, environmental assessment, geological disaster, traffic impact assessment, road opening, metro impact assessment, green building, lightning protection, floodlighting, marking system (including above-ground and basement traffic marking), intelligence, design of prefabricated building, window washer design, elevator and escalator engineering, BIM design, external wall and roof cleaning and maintenance system engineering, curtain wall, steel structure and grid structure, etc.; prepare all the special reports, including but not limited to project application report, environmental impact assessment report, Soil testing, soil and water conservation report, geological disaster report, green building, sponge city, seismic safety assessment, wind tunnel test and traffic impact assessment report, and connection of municipal pipeline network, etc.; relevant documents such as technical requirements and descriptions required for project bidding; all special consultation, special design, special research and special review (including communicating with the metro company and submitting the design at all stages to the metro company for approval) required by Party A meeting the requirements of relevant government departments for review, review materials for application and approval, meeting affairs and coordination with relevant government departments. The design of the systems, specialties, other special projects and projects included in the investment plan that are not listed above but are essential to the project.

7.2.3The winning bidder shall also cooperate with the tenderee to complete the following work during the design and project implementation: cooperation in construction start application; cooperation in secondary deepening design and review of relevant secondary deepening drawings; all the cooperation related to project implementation (such as subway connection design coordination, engineering foundation survey coordination, foundation pit design and pile foundation engineering bidding coordination, project general contracting bidding coordination);

7.2.4Other design work related to the project.

7.2.5If the winning bidder has no corresponding special design qualification, or the work that requires the cooperation of other professional companies (such as curtain wall design, interior design, mechanical and electrical consulting, structural consulting)it shall entrust a unit with corresponding qualification and strength to undertake the project. For projects requiring intensive design by professional companies, including but not limited to those described in (1-4) above, the design depth must meet the design depth requirements of construction drawings. The design results shall be reviewed and approved by the winning bidder.

7.2.6Participate in and accept the necessary and special reviews in the design process, such as over-limit reviews, accept the drawing review of third-party consulting companies entrusted by the bidder and the drawing review agencies and fine drawing review agencies, and negotiate with them to modify their opinions until the approval of the review.

VIII. Requirements for Registration:8.1 The bidder must be an architectural design company with legal operation qualification, and the bidding contents of this project are one of its main business scope, and the application of individuals and combinations of individuals is not accepted.

8.2The bidder (or the leading member of the joint group) shall have Grade A qualification for construction industry (construction engineering) or comprehensive engineering design issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the Peoples Republic of China, The expiry date of the qualification certificate shall not be earlier than the cut-off date. If it expires before the cut-off date, a renewal certificate provided by the competent government department shall be provided.

8.3This tender accepts agencies to form a joint group for tendering. The overseas bidder shall be a legal person registered independently or a member of the local construction industry association, and shall team up with domestic bidders to form a joint group for registration and tendering. The joint group shall have no more than two members. The domestic bidder shall be the leading member of the joint group, and shall meet the requirements of Articles 1 and 2 of the application conditions. The leading member of the joint group shall bear all legal liabilities and obligations to be assumed in the bidding and performance of the contract, and other members of the joint group shall bear joint and several liabilities. For units bidding in the form of a joint group, each member of the joint group shall not participate in the bidding in its own name alone or in a joint group formed with another design unit.

8.4The person in charge of the project must be the staff of a domestic bidder and have the qualification of first-grade registered architect issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of the Peoples Republic of China.

IX. Competition Rules (including schedule):9.1 The tender is divided into three stages, separately, Stage 1 Application &Qualification, Stage 2 Design bidding, and Stage 3 Determination of Winning bidder. Design schemes will be collected at the first stage where bidders shall submit the corresponding application documents and conceptual proposal according to the tender rules and design brief, and 5 bidders will be pre-qualified to enter the second stage, with another 2 alternative bidders (sequenced).

9.2Tender Schedule

This schedule is for the convenience of the bidders to understand the general process of the project. All dates and time listed are Beijing time, which shall be subject to the actual events and time of each stage of the project (dynamic announcement by Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre) (dynamically announced by Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre). The tenderee reserves the right to adjust the schedule.

X. Bidding Compensation10.1 This tender will select the top two winning candidates, from which the award committee will determine one winning bidder. The winning bidder will obtain the design contract of the project, and the other candidate will receive a design compensation of RMB800,000(including tax).

10.2 Other shortlisted bidders who have entered the design bidding process and whose schemes have been approved by the review committee will receive a design compensation of RMB 600,000(including tax).

10.3 Payment of design compensation: the design compensation for this tender shall be paid in RMB, including tax. The bidders that have obtained the design compensation fee shall sign the substandard compensation agreement and provide the payment request information within one month after the conclusion of the bid-winning publicity (without objection). The tenderee shall go through the payment formalities after the bid-winning publicity (without objection). The payment agreement and the payment request information will be published in the tender documents.

XI. Design Fee:The shortlisted bidders shall make a quotation for the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Integrated Service Center according to the design scheme, and submit the quotation together with the design tender outcome document.

The total contract price for the design of commercial office plot (plot 01) shall not exceed RMB 32.69 million (tax included). The total price of the design fee is inclusive. Units bidding for 01 plots are quoted at the total price.

The design contract design cost of the cultural and sports facilities plot (Plot 02) is tentatively set at RMB5.2664 million.Units bidding for Plot 02 shall quote at a unit price, and thebid price shall not exceed RMB 487.63/m2 (including tax). The area is based on the total floorarea in the Construction Engineering Planning Permit. The design fee is a fixed unit price. The cultural and sports facilities plot is contribution land. After the planned funds are allocated, they will be paid according to the relevant contents of the fund supervision agreement in the administrative measures for the agent construction system of investment projects of Futian District Government.

The fees paid by the tenderee shall include tax. The winning bidder shall provide the tax payment invoice in China. Design fee payees must be domestic (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) companies.

XII. Special Prompts:12.1 Please download the Pre-Qualification Document via the link to the announcement released by the Construction Project Transaction Service Centre:https://www.szjsjy.com.cn:8001/jyw/jyw/zbGongGao_View.do?ggguid=2c9e8ac26ef99c70016f3b2a0a45450e

12.2 Bidders (including leaders and members of consortiums) must handle the online enterprise information registration in advance according to requirements of the follow-up procedures of Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service Centre.Shenzhen Construction Project Transaction Service CentreOnline handling address: https://www.szjsjy.com.cn:8001/jy-toubiao/Enquiry hotline: +86-0755-83785155; +86-0755-83787822

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Call for Entries: International Tender for the Architectural Design of the First Projects in Shenzhen Park of Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and...

About Town

Best Art Gallery

A Gallery Fine Art.(Photo: The Desert Sun file photo)

A Gallery Fine Art

Sophistication, impeccable taste, knowledge and understanding have come together at A Gallery Fine Art on El Paseo for two decades, featuring a vast collection of contemporary paintings, sculpture, functional art, jewelry and glass art to Palm Desert collectors and art admirers. Currently highlighting the creations of more than 30 glass artists from around the world, the gallery is showcasing the effervescent works of both established and emerging artists in memorable exhibits.

73956 El Paseo B, Palm Desert

http://www.agalleryfineart.com

Finalist:

Galleria Marconi Palm Springs

2668 Cherokee Way, Palm Springs, CA 92264

http://www.galleriamarconips.com/

Palm Springs Art Museum

101 N Museum Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

https://www.psmuseum.org/

Best Auto Dealer

Fiesta Ford.(Photo: Courtesy of Fiesta Ford)

Fiesta Ford, Inc.

This family-owned and operated dealer in Indio is one of the largest full-service dealerships in the country, and you dont need to drive a Ford to make full use of their services. Both the Body Shop and Quick Lane services offer customers convenient complete car care on all makes and models, making it the reliable go-to drop-off for desert drivers.

78990 Varner Rd, Indio, CA 92203

http://www.fiestafordinc.com

Finalist:

BMW of Palm Springs

3737 E Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92264

https://www.bmwpalmsprings.com/

Honda of the Desert

68-025 Kyle Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234

https://www.hondaofthedesert.com/

Best Boutique Hotel (100 rooms or less)

The pool area at Arrive Hotel in Palm Springs.(Photo: Desert Sun file photo.)

ARRIVE Palm Springs

The first posh property to launch under the ARRIVE brand,this 32-room boutique hotel in Palm Springs Uptown Design District features a striking landmark design that honors the citys rich modernist legacy. Founded by Chris Pardo and Peter Karpinski, who met while working at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in the late 1990s, the hotel is anchored by unique and locally oriented restaurants, bars, retail outlets and public spaces, and immerses visitors and locals in the style, tastes and lifestyle that define this desert playground.

1551 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs

http://www.arrivehotels.com

Finalist:

Holiday House Palm Springs

200 W Arenas Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Intro

Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel

100 W Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

https://www.rowanpalmsprings.com/

Best Cannabis Delivery

Flower Market Cannabis Delivery.(Photo: Courtesy of Flower Market Cannabis Delivery)

Flower Market Cannabis Delivery

Flower Market sprouts a curated selection of the best cannabis brands and products in the industry in order to offer a seamless shopping experience that ties into an on-demand delivery service. Order hand-picked selections to any location whether on vacation or coming home from work, shop the online menu and coordinate a delivery when its convenient for you.

19021 Ruppert St, Palm Springs

http://www.flowermarket.delivery

Finalist:

Atomic Budz

68415 Perez Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234

https://cathedralcity.atomicbudz.com/

Leaf El Paseo

73740 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260

https://www.leafelpaseo.com/

Best Cannabis Dispensary

Joy of Life Wellness Center.(Photo: Courtesy of Joy of Life Wellness Center)

Joy of Life Wellness Center

For what crystals and tuning forks cant cure, the owners of Palm Springs Crystal Fantasy offer something a little stronger: cannabis. At this family-owned, multigenerational dispensary, expert staff curate high-quality strains of specialty cannabis for both medical and recreational use, as well as offer guidance to each customer to help them find what buds are best suited for their needs.

142 W Oasis Rd, Palm Springs

http://www.joyfulifewellnesscenter.com

Finalist:

Leaf El Paseo

73740 El Paseo, Palm Desert, CA 92260

https://www.leafelpaseo.com/

Atomic Budz

68415 Perez Rd, Cathedral City, CA 92234

https://cathedralcity.atomicbudz.com/

Best Carpet Cleaning Company

Smiths Carpet, Tile & Upholstery Cleaning.(Photo: Courtesy of Smiths Carpet, Tile & Upholstery Cleaning)

Smiths Carpet, Tile & Upholstery Cleaning

Locally owned and operated, Smith's Carpet, Tile & Upholstery Cleaningis a IICRC Certified Firm with more than 20 years of servicing the Coachella Valley. As a WoolSafe USA service provider, they guarantee that area rugs are treated with the utmost care and provide customers with a healthier living environment through cleaning all fiber types for carpet and upholstery, as well as a four-step cleaning process for tiles that leaves grout and stone looking like new.

31735 Thelma Ave. Thousand Palms

http://www.smithscarpet.com

Finalist:

Sunny Hills Chem-Dry

74804 Joni Dr Ste 9A, Palm Desert, CA 92260

https://sunnyhillschemdry.com/

Rapid Dry Restoration

43695 Jackson Street, Indio, CA 92201

https://rapiddryinc.com/

Best Caterer

The patio dining area at Spencer's Restaurant in downtown Palm Springs, owned and operated by Harold Matzner.(Photo: Courtesy of Spencer's Restaurant)

Spencer's Restaurant

When you need to host a party, you want award-winning cuisine and an awe-inspiring ambiance. Check, check. This four-star establishment caters to the best, in one of the valleys best locations. Tucked in a quiet Palm Springs neighborhood, Spencers offers an innovative menu and can accommodate large parties in multiple settingseach accented by beautiful gardens or mountain views.

701 W Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, CA 92262

https://www.spencersrestaurant.com/

Finalist:

Eight4Nine Restaurant & Lounge

849 N Palm Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

http://eight4nine.com/

Cork & Fork

47875 Caleo Bay Dr, La Quinta, CA 92253

https://corkandforkwinebar.com/

Best Charity

Continued here:
Best of the Valley 2020 winners - Desert Sun

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL December 30, 2019 Zacks Equity Research Shares of Spotify SPOT as the Bull of the Day, Apogee Enterprises APOG asthe Bear of the Day. In addition, Zacks Equity Research provides analysis on Costco COST, Tesla TSLA and Microsoft MSFT.

Here is a synopsis of all five stocks:

Bull of the Day:

Shares of Spotify have surged 35% in the last three months and it crushed Q3 Wall Street estimates, posting surprise positive earnings. Spotify has also continued to expand its paid subscriber base in a crowded streaming music market and focused on new ways to grow.

Spotifys Playlist

Spotify helped jump start the paid streaming music space back in 2008 that has helped reinvigorate a music industry that long feared illegal downloads would take over. In fact, streaming represents roughly 80% of recorded music sales, according to industry reports, and Spotify is the worlds largest streaming music company.

Spotify beat Q3 2019 top and bottom line estimates at the end of October and reported adjusted earnings of +$0.41 per share, which destroyed our Zacks estimate that called for a loss of -$0.40 per share.

The streaming music powerhouse also posted its 8th consecutive quarter of positive free cash flow. And SPOT saw its total monthly active users jump 30% to 248 million, which outpaced the high end of its own guidance.

More importantly, the companys vital Premium Subscriberswho pay monthly fees for ad-free musicsurged 31% to 113 million. The growth was driven by the continued success of its $14.99 a month Family Plan and the $4.99/month Student Plans. This user expansion has helped curb some of Wall Streets worries that Spotifys much larger tech titan peers would make things far harder on the much smaller firm.

Tech Giant Competition

Apple Music has grown in popularity, but luckily for Spotify the iPhone giant hasnt tired to undercut its pricing models with both their individual premium plans coming in at $9.99 per month. Meanwhile, Amazons premium streaming music service hasnt gained as much steam as Jeff Bezos might have hoped.

Overall, Spotify has been able to grow in the crowded and lucrative streaming music space compared to its rivals. Last quarter, Spotify said, relative to Apple, the publicly available data shows that we are adding roughly twice as many subscribers per month as they are. Additionally, we believe that our monthly engagement is roughly 2x as high and our churn is at half the rate. Spotify boasted similar claims about its superiority to Amazon.

Investors should also note that Spotify has invested heavily in its podcast business over the last year and it is now the second-largest player in the growing market behind only Apple. SPOT plans to increase its podcast unit to help bring in more advertising dollars as the division only accounts for 10% of its ad revenue. It is worth noting that 90% of the companys total revenue currently comes from its non-ad supported Premium business.

But the Stockholm-headquartered firms paid-users still hear ads through podcasts that have ads as part of their own separate business model. We continue to see exponential growth in podcast hours streamed (up approximately 39% Q/Q) and early indications that podcast engagement is driving a virtuous cycle of increased overall engagement and significantly increased conversion of free to paid users, Spotify wrote in prepared Q3 remarks.

Other Fundamentals

Spotify went public in April of 2018 and found early success. Then SPOT stock fell from August 2018 until near the end of the year. Shares of SPOT are now up 34% in 2019, 35% in the last 12 weeks, and 6% in the past month, all of which outpace the S&P 500s average climbs.

Clearly, Spotify is still a growth stock, with its valuation still pretty out of whack as it spends to expand. But Wall Street seems okay with its focus on expansion in a crowded and growing space. Meanwhile, SPOT holds a B grade for Growth in our Style Scores system and it is part of an industry that rests in the top 30% of our more than 250 Zacks industries.

Outlook & Earnings Trends

Spotifys Q4 fiscal 2019 revenue is projected to jump 22.6% to $2.09 billion, based on our current Zacks estimates (Spotify reports its sales in euros). Looking further ahead, SPOTs full-year fiscal 2019 revenue is projected to surge roughly 28% to reach $7.56 billion, with 2020 projected to come in nearly 25% higher at $9.43 billion.

Story continues

For reference, Spotifys full-year fiscal 2018 revenue climbed 28.5%, which shows that the firms top-line growth is expected to churn along at a solid pace.

At the bottom end of the income statement, the firms adjusted quarterly earnings are projected to tumble from +$0.41 per share to -$0.48. Plus, Spotifys full-year earnings are expected to sink from -$0.60 to -$0.90 a share as it spends on expansion. Then, peeking ahead, SPOTs fiscal 2020 adjusted EPS figure is projected to improve significantly to a -$0.50 loss.

We can also see just how much more positive Spotifys adjusted earnings outlook appears. The firms full-year fiscal 2019 estimate is up 50% in the last 60 days and 73% over this same stretch for 2020.

Bottom Line

Spotifys strong upward earnings revision trends help the firm earn a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at the moment. SPOT does face tough competition, but growth-focused tech investors might want to take a bite out of Spotify because of its ability to thrive in an industry that looks poised to expand for years to come.

Bear of the Day:

Apogee Enterprisesis a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell) and it is the Bear of the Day today. Let's take a look at why this stock has fallen to the lowest Zacks Rank and became the Bear.

Description

Apogee Enterprises is a leader in technologies for the design and development of value-added glass products, services, and systems. The company operates under four segments, with three of the segments serving the commercial construction market:

The Architectural Glass segment (25% of total revenues in fiscal 2019) fabricates glass used in customized window and wall systems forming the outside skin of commercial and institutional buildings. The segment consists of Viracon, a fabricator of coated, high-performance architectural glass for global markets. Its markets include the U.S. government, offices, education, health care and hotels.

Recent Earnings

The most recent quarter was a big miss of the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company reported $0.57 in EPS when the estimate was calling for $0.76. That 19 cent difference translates to a negative earnings surprise of 25%.

The company also lowered guidance when they reported and that is the reason that estimates took a tumble.

Estimates Fall

When earnings estimates fall, the Zacks Rank tends to fall as well. The movement in earnings estimates is the single biggest factor that influences the Rank, so when a company lowers guidance you can rest assured that the Rnak will slide.

APOG saw estimates for the current quarter slide from 98 cents to 84 cents. The full year 2019 number fell from $3.04 to $2.84.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 slid from $3.57 to $3.35 as well.

Valuation

At 11x forward estimates the stock looks pretty attractive after taking a steep drop. This stock has been a good one for a long time, so this reduction in guidance is something that needs to be explored in a deeper fashion. Sure the estimates fell and that pushed the Rank down, but there could be a bigger problem or it could be a buying opportunity. I am going to keep this stock on my radar screen and see how next quarter comes in.

Additional content:

3 Large-Cap Stocks to Improve Your Portfolio in 2020

The stock market continued its historic run Thursday as the NASDAQ Composite reached 9,000 for the first time. The S&P 500 also rose over 0.5% to a new all-time high, while the DJIA grew over 100 points. Consumer spending continued to anchor the economy as MasterCard (MA) reported a strong holiday season that was propelled by the digital marketplace.

As the consumer continues to display good overall health, some stocks look poised to reap the benefits in 2020. Lets take a look at a few large cap stocks that will carry positive momentum into the new year.

Costcois a company with a business model that can weather most twist and turns. The retailer has steadily maintained customer renewal rates around 90%, which is a testament to the continued success the firm has seen with its valued memberships. The treasure hunt nature of its giant warehouses keeps shoppers coming back to its stores to find the latest deals on almost any item imaginable.

Costco is coming off a first quarter where it saw its average transaction ticket rise 1.4% and its e-commerce sales jump over 5%. In addition to the recent success, Costco also pays out a dividend with a yield of 0.88%. The firm has also steadily raised its dividend for the better part of the past decade and has even paid out a special dividend recently.

Costco paid out a dividend of $7 per share in 2017, $5 per share in 2015, and $5 per share in 2012. Some investors believe that this special dividend may be paid out soon, which might make this an opportune time to pick up shares of the warehouse giant.

Our fiscal 2020 estimates call for a top-line increase of 6.5% to $162.7 billion and a bottom-line rally of 4.7% to $8.58 per share. Costco has seen its earnings revised higher, helping the stock earn a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Teslais a stock that has put together a strong rally recently that can propel it into the new year. TSLA shares have risen over 62% since the company reported its third quarter results, where it reported $143 million in net income. The surprisingly profitable quarter for the company was followed by an announcement that stated it was on track to deliver at least 360,000 vehicles during 2019.

The electric vehicle manufacturer has also stoked investor optimism with its Gigafactory in China. Tesla is already making 1,000 Model 3s a week, according to a report from The Driven, which would put in on track to produce the 3,000 a week that Elon Musk expects once the factory is fully operational.

The companys Gigafactory in China will be a key catalyst for years to come as Tesla attempts to expand its innovative products into the international market. In addition to its international endeavors, vehicle deliveries have soared, with trailing-12-month vehicle deliveries up an impressive 88%. Our 2020 consensus estimates call for earnings to soar over 1,200% to $5.73 per share and for net revenue to grow over 23% to $29.9 billion. Tesla has seen its earnings estimates revised higher giving the stock a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Microsoftis a blue-chip stock that has put together a spectacular year with its shares up over 56%. The tech juggernaut is coming off a quarter where it saw its bottom-line improve 21% and its top-line gain 14%. MSFT has made its cloud operations a focal point as the public cloud service market is projected to grow at an annual growth rate of 12.6% to $331.2B in 2022.

Microsoft saw its intelligent cloud segment grow over 26% in Q1 to $10.8 billion and also secured a $10 billion cloud contract from the Pentagon in late October. The company had to beat out rival cloud services firm Amazon to earn the lucrative government contract. As the cloud computing market continues to mature, Microsoft will likely see substantial growth in its cloud computing business.

In addition to Microsofts cloud operations, it pays out a dividend with a yield of 1.3%. The company has lifted its dividend payouts for the better part of the last 10 years and will likely continue this trend going forward, given its healthy balance sheet.

Our fiscal 2019 estimates project a bottom-line hike of 12.6% to $5.35 per share and for its top-line to climb over 11% to $140.1 billion. The firms cloud segment is forecasted to rise over 20% to $47 billion. MSFT looks poised to cash in on the secular shift towards the cloud and currently sports a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

Looking for Stocks with Skyrocketing Upside?

Zacks has just released a Special Report on the booming investment opportunities of legal marijuana.

Ignited by new referendums and legislation, this industry is expected to blast from an already robust $6.7 billion to $20.2 billion in 2021. Early investors stand to make a killing, but you have to be ready to act and know just where to look.

See the pot trades we're targeting>>

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Spotify, Apogee Enterprises, Costco, Tesla and Microsoft highlighted as Zacks Bull and Bear of the Day - Yahoo Finance

Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Select Interior Concepts (NYSE:SIC) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report published on Tuesday, Zacks.com reports.

According to Zacks, Select Interior Concepts, Inc. provides interior surface products for residential and commercial builders. The Company offers natural and engineered stone slabs, cabinetry, bathroom countertops, wall tiles, shower enclosures, towel bars and rings, paper holders, medicine cabinets and mirrors. Its primary operating subsidiaries and segments consists of Residential Design Services and Architectural Surfaces Group. Select Interior Concepts, Inc. is based in CA, United States.

Separately, B. Riley reissued a buy rating and set a $17.00 price target on shares of Select Interior Concepts in a research report on Friday, December 13th.

Select Interior Concepts (NYSE:SIC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 5th. The company reported $0.21 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.23 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $159.40 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $165.80 million.

In other news, insider Adam D. Wyden sold 2,579,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.75, for a total transaction of $22,566,250.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY bought a new stake in shares of Select Interior Concepts during the 3rd quarter worth about $137,000. Man Group plc bought a new stake in shares of Select Interior Concepts during the 3rd quarter worth about $397,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its stake in shares of Select Interior Concepts by 91.0% during the 3rd quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 146,127 shares of the companys stock worth $1,895,000 after acquiring an additional 69,622 shares in the last quarter. Engine Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Select Interior Concepts during the 3rd quarter worth about $757,000. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Select Interior Concepts by 15.1% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 305,781 shares of the companys stock worth $3,966,000 after acquiring an additional 40,006 shares in the last quarter.

About Select Interior Concepts

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Select Interior Concepts (NYSE:SIC) Upgraded to Hold at Zacks Investment Research - Slater Sentinel

From a trendy Ace Hotel in Toronto to splashy projects in Las Vegas and London, 2020 looks like a big year for new hotels around the world. Heres a look at some of the new properties coming to the destinations Canadians love to visit.

In Florida, Amrit Ocean Resort & Spa is set to open on seven acres of oceanfront on Palm Beach Countys Singer Island. Its supposed to be a wellness resort based on Eastern well-being philosophies and western technology. Look for tranquility pools, Patanjali yoga classes and sleep specialist services, not to mention a bath concierge and suites that feature circadian rhythm lighting.

The Greystone Miami Beach is slated to relaunch in February. Steps from the white sand beach, the historic 1930s hotel embraces Miamis energy with Art Deco glamour across 91 guestrooms, a stunning rooftop pool, and a whiskey and dark spirits lounge.

The Hotel Effie Sandestin in Sandestin, Florida will launch in June, if all goes to plan. Located on 2,400 acres of Floridas panhandle (also known as The Emerald Coast), the hotel integrates coastal charm with Southern hospitality across 250 guestrooms and 19 suites with views of Choctawhatchee Bay and championship golf courses.

Four Seasons Resorts & Residences is supposed to open early in the year in Calistoga, California. Napa Valleys first Four Seasons will open with each of the 85 guestrooms offering mountain views. In addition to an on-site vineyard and tasting space, the property will offer a spa with steam pods in which hammocks will be suspended above geothermal pools for guests to absorb the heated vapour.

Owners of the Circa Resort and Casino in Las Vegas say theyre on track for an opening late in the year. Its being billed as the first ground-up gaming resort in historic Downtown Las Vegas in 40 years. Located on the iconic Fremont Street Experience, its a 777-room behemoth that will be the tallest building north of The Strip.

A drawing of the Circa Vegas Hotel and Casino.Circa Las Vegas

Canadas first Ace Hotel, a trendy, millennial-friendly brand with properties in New York City, Palm Springs and other hot spots, is supposed to open in Toronto in the fall. Located north of King Street and a couple blocks west of Spadina Avenue, its a new building designed by the architectural firm of Shim-Sutcliffe.

Also in Toronto, the former Marriott on Bloor Street east of Yonge, is being turned into the citys first W Hotel, another bold brand geared to a younger demographic. The hotel is set to feature its own DJ booth recording studio and should open in early summer.

The popular and fashionable Park Hyatt at Bloor and Avenue Road is slated to re-open this summer following two years of renovations. It will have 220 guestrooms and suites, a new ballroom, meeting and event space and restaurant, as well as a fully refurbished spa and roof lounge.

The awaited completion of the Drake Hotel expansion on Queen Street West is also set for 2020. The expansion will unveil a new lobby specifically for hotel guests, an additional 32 rooms and a new suite.

On top of that, the former Thompson Hotel on the west side of downtown Toronto is being redesigned and is set to open in summer as 1 Hotel Toronto. Its a brand that purposefully re-uses existing structural and reclaimed materials gathered from the local community, including timber, driftwood and local limestone.

In Hawaii, the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa is finishing the second phase of its transformation with a multimillion-dollar renovation of its lobby. Slated for completion in November, the renovated space will welcome guests with a new lobby bar and caf, lounge, and reception area in an open-air setting designed to bring the outdoors in with an expansive lanai and viewing deck, offering panoramic views of Kaanapali Beach.

On Hawaii Big Island, the all-new Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection is set to debut in January following a resort-wide re-imagination and renovation. Described as a luxury lifestyle resort, the property will open with contemporary guest rooms and suites, five private bungalow residences, five restaurants and lounges, three distinct pools, and a signature spa and wellness haven.

The new Mauna Lani resort on Hawaii Big Island.Mauna Lani

Karisma Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Margaritaville Holdings, is taking reservations for Margaritaville Island Reserve by Karisma Riviera Cancn, the brands first all-inclusive resort experience. Its scheduled to open in March 2020. Margaritaville hotels also are scheduled to open this year in New York City and San Diego, as well as Negril, Jamaica and Cap Cana in the Dominican Republic.

Construction is well underway on the Ritz-Carlton, Paradise Valley (Scottsdale), which will span across 20 acres and will have 215 guest rooms. Its slated for a summer opening.

Lovers of luxury properties will want to check out the new Ritz-Carlton in Mexico City, the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek, the JW Marriott Anaheim Resort in California and the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, which is part of downtown Tampas amazing urban renaissance.

The brainchild of Japanese chef Nobu Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro, Nobu will open a 115-room hotel in Chicagos West Loop early this year, with a distinct Japanese aesthetic.

Early in the year, NUPO, the much-awaited new restaurant by Darren MacLean, will open in Calgary in the Alt Hotel Calgary East Village. Darren currently owns Shokunin, among Canadas 100 best restaurants three years running and one of my personal faves. MacLean was on Netflixs The Final Table and in 2020 hell be one of the judges on Food Networks Wall of Chefs.

The Fairmont Century Plaza, located in Century City in Los Angeles, will open in 2020 following a top-to-bottom renovation. This mid-century marvel has hosted generations of Hollywood celebrities, foreign dignitaries and every United States President since its opening in 1966. Surrounded by restaurants and retail boutiques, the hotel features two acres of gardens, connecting to neighbourhood plazas and fountains.

The Fairmont El San Juan in Puerto Rico will officially join the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts portfolio as of January. El San Juan is located on the award-winning Isla Verde Beach, minutes away from Old San Juan, the downtown San Juan area and Luis Muoz Marin International Airport.

21C Hotels, part of the Accor Group, operates boutique hotels with an art theme. Theyll open hotels in Chicago early next year, as well as Des Moines, Iowa and St. Louis.

The first Six Senses Hotel in the U.S. is supposed to open in New York City later this year. Located adjacent to the fabulous High Line Park in Chelsea, its already garnering plenty of attention for its bold design.

Six Senses New York City hotel.Six Senses

Kimpton, a terrific brand that combines a hip, youthful approach with top-notch surroundings, will open several hotels in the Americas next year, including the Caribbean island of Grenada. The Kimpton Kawana Bay is slated to open in the middle of the year. A hillside retreat tucked away between tropical rain forest cliffs and Grand Anse Beach, the luxury resort will offer picturesque views and easy access to the Caribbean Sea and surrounding mountains.

In Dallas, Kimpton is set to open in the Deep Ellum district of Dallas, solidifying its role in revitalizing one of the most historically significant neighbourhoods in the region. Other Kimpton openings in 2020 include Roatan, a stunning island thats part of Honduras, as well as Mexico City, Omaha and Asheville, North Carolina.

Hotel Indigo, like Kimpton, is a part of the InterContinental Hotels Group and is supposed to open properties next year in the financial district of New York (a very hot area for new hotels), Miami (the Brickell area) and Spokane, Washington.

Htel Mile-End is a 33 room, boutique property in one of Montreals hippest areas. With its four floors of stylish rooms, restaurant, rooftop terrace, basement cinema screening room and main floor gallery space, the Htel Mile-End promises to be a fitting addition to the Mile End, recognized as one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world.

Also heading to Montreal is the 193-room Humaniti in the International District. The Hotel Bonaventure, beloved for its rooftop pool and terrace, is completing a hotel-wide overhaul of its rooms.

A new JW Marriott is slated to open on the river in Savannah, Georgia; one of the most popular cities in the U.S. for visitors. It will have 419 rooms and is part of a major renovation of the Plant Riverside District.

JW Marriott SavannahMarriott Hotels

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will open a luxury hotel and private residences in downtown New Orleans late in the year. The property will be in the heart of the city, next to the convention centre, the French Quarter and the Warehouse District, with clear views of both the city and the Mississippi River.

The Pendry West Hollywood is set to launch in California this summer. Located on the famous Sunset Strip, its said to be an eye-catching design thats meant to invoke California glamour. Look for a signature Wolfgang Puck restaurant, a rooftop bar with chic cabanas, curated public art, a bowling alley and, of course, a screening room. Part of the Preferred Hotels and Resorts group.

Montage Healdsburg is being called a transformative hideaway nestled in the hills of Sonoma County, offering travelers a convenient and luxurious base to explore the destinations celebrated wineries and farm-to-table restaurants. Its part of the Preferred Hotels and Resorts group. Look for an opening in October, 2020.

Just a few steps from Trevi Fountain, Iberostar Grand Fontana di Trevi extends 19thcentury Art Deco design elements across 67 guestrooms, two signature restaurants, and a spectacular rooftop terrace with skyline views.

Located off the western central coast of Italy, bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea, The Sense Experience Resort is an eco-retreat made up of 12,000 acres of natural park and pine forest with a private beach in Tuscanys Maremma region.

Sense Experience Resort, Tuscany.Preferred Hotels and Resorts

In Switzerland, Philippe Starck has restored the 100-year-old historic Eden au Lac hotel, the only luxury property on Lake Zurich, which will have 40 rooms and suites (the majority with lake views).

The Guardsman is slated to open in April on Londons exclusive Buckingham Gate with 53 unique guestrooms and six exclusive residences. The Guardsman offers the atmosphere, discretion, and personal service associated with a private members club.

Located in Leicester Square, The Londoner is being billed as the worlds first super boutique hotel, whatever that means. Look for six subterranean levels and 350 guestrooms in a property thats means to showcase the energy of Londons West End through unique design, innovative social spaces, and distinctive restaurants.

The newest hotel from Pestana Hotels & Resorts will lie on the shores of the Douro River in Porto, Portugal.

Kimpton Vividora Hotel in Barcelona will mark the brands debut in Spain. The hotel will be located in the citys Gothic Quarter. Kimpton also will be opening new hotels in Paris, and Manchester.

For the Indigo brand, look for new hotels in Brussels, Bath, and Verona, Italy.

The Chedi Mumbai is scheduled to open in March. Located in the heart of Indias commercial capital, The Chedi Mumbai is a serene and stylish oasis with rooms that offer views of Powai Lake or the city skyline.

The Connect Busan in South Korea launches in May, 2020 with private balconies and sweeping views of Busan Harbour or Yongdusan Park.

Luxury hotel seekers will want to try the St. Regis Cairo, The Tokyo EDITION, The Reykjavik EDITION, The Tasman in Hobart, Tasmania (part of the Marriott Luxury Collection) and the JW Marriott Muscat in Oman.

If youre more into the W Hotel vibe, look for new properties this year in Bali and Melbourne.

In Tokyo (and just in time for the Summer Olympics), the Kimpton Shinjuku will be close to the iconic Shibuya crossing and will have a rooftop bar open only to VIPs.

Opening in spring 2020 upon a hill in Jimbaran Bay, Raffles Bali will offer unparalleled ocean views for just 32 private villas.

InterContinental Hotels this year will open properties in Yokohama, Japan and also the Koh Yao Yai Resort in Thailand.

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Cool hotel openings around the world for 2020 - Calgary Herald

Q: Ive been saving for years to remodel my home, and Im ready to take the leap. What trends are other homeowners considering for their remodels or custom homes in 2020?

A: Based on conversations with homeowners, industry research and social media activity, were predicting some key trends in Seattle for both home renovations and new homes in 2020. Here are 10 trends that will keep you ahead of the curve.

Built-in home offices.Working from home is a lot more common now than it once was. Whether youre working from home every day, once a week or occasionally, having a built-in home office can help you stay focused. Home office essentials include good lighting, filing cabinets and plenty of workspace for your computer, devices and paperwork.

Custom closets.Gone are the days of sharing a single dresser. Remodeling or building your custom home is the perfect opportunity to create a walk-in closet. You may also consider positioning closets on opposite ends of the bedroom to give you and your partner some space in the morning.

Reading nooks.Bibliophiles are going crazy for cozy reading nooks! Take an unused corner or window and turn it into a relaxing space where you can sit for hours. Its becoming more popular for reading nooks to include a small bookshelf or bench storage, optimizing the utility of these tiny spaces.

Home libraries.Speaking of books, floor-to-ceiling libraries are making a comeback. With plenty of options for styling bookshelves popping up on Pinterest, you dont have to worry about not having enough books to fill the space. Use the extra shelving to display trinkets, pottery, travel souvenirs and other knick-knacks alongside your book collection.

Wine storage.Washington is known for its acclaimed wine regions, so its no wonder locals are opting for specialty wine storage in their homes. Pair a wine fridge with a larger wine closet, create a wine wall or install a full wine cellar. Regardless of your choice, wine on display is both functional and elegant.

Kids playrooms.Give your kids an indoor space all to themselves this year. Our long rainy season makes designated playrooms an enticing option. There are plenty of ways to keep your children engaged and occupied, including climbing walls, toy storage, indoor slides, stage curtains and movie rooms. Plus, designating a kids space keeps the rest of your home a little more organized.

Custom upcycling.We love how homeowners are incorporating vintage finds and family heirlooms into their home. Blending an older piece into modern decor gives your home character and guests something fun to point out. Whether its repurposing a historic door or using reclaimed wood for shelving, upcycled items are only going to become more popular as homeowners look to reduce their environmental impact.

Built-in shoe racks.It may seem like a small detail, but built-in shoe racks are both useful and improve the health of your home. Taking shoes off when you enter a home can prevent harmful dirt and bacteria from spreading indoors. Instead of placing a generic shoe rack near the door, homeowners are opting for a more custom look. Shoe cubbies, shelving under the stairs and even outdoor shoe storage are rising in popularity.

Statement stairs.The right designer will approach stairs as a space of its own. There are plenty of ways your stairs can make a statement by employing glass walls, accent lighting, distinctive railings, floating designs, colorful risers, under-stair storage and unique materials. Any combination of these options is sure to create a transitional space that wows.

Covered deck.An outdoor space is perfect for summer entertaining, but what about spring and fall? Covered, or partially covered, decks are perfect for year-round grilling, gardening and entertaining. Homeowners enjoy covered spaces that protect their outdoor furniture from the elements and allow year-round outdoor cooking.

Cat Schmidt is the lead designer at Model Remodel and a member of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBAKS). If you have a home improvement, remodeling or residential homebuilding question youd like answered by one of MBAKSs nearly 2,800 members, write to homework@mbaks.com.

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These are the top custom-home trends for 2020 - Seattle Times

Marie Kondo. Internet pop-ups. Environmental consciousness. Travel. Natural disasters. Political chaos. The economy. Instagram.

What do they have in common? They have a direct effect on the color of paint you choose for the living room walls and the new sofa you plan to buy next year. Anything that influences how we feel impacts interior design trends for the new year.

According to local designers, we are feeling good about warmer neutrals, even better about classic blue, and celebrating the return of color, even when it's monochromatic. Homeowners are now drawn to comfortable furniture, and we want to bring outdoor elements inside.

We also want things we can keep and treasure. Places we have traveled or dreamed about seeing are incorporated into life at home. We still want fewer walls and more open spaces. Whatever we have overdone in the past we want to dispose of in the near future. But more than ever, we want home to be our sanctuary.

OUTDOORS IN: Bring nature into your home with organic, sustainable, environmentally friendly furnishings and fabrics, says interior designer Grace Kaynor, co-owner of Sotre on Magazine Street in New Orleans. But dont stop there. Incorporate real plants and living walls, Kaynor says.

While some of the more sophisticated ways to accomplish this require the art and skill of a landscape designer, others can be DIY projects found online, such as creating an eye-catching display with hanging plants suspended from a rod in front of a window, or using a discarded chest with drawerspulled open to create tiers for plants.

Indoor/outdoor fabrics and rattan and wicker furniture are also elements to bring the outdoors in, Kaynor says.

NATURAL ELEMENTS: The beauty of wood in floors, furniture, columns, ceilings and even countertops plays a major role in dcor for 2020.

Floors that show off wood grain are left uncovered; doors that could be painted into the color scheme of a room are instead focal points in a natural state. Furniture and even lighting are there for brightening the room, as warmer wood tones are in favor.

Interior designer Katy Koch of Katy Koch Home, also on Magazine Street, likes the handwork of local woodworkers NOLA Boards (NOLAboards.com) to create elegant farmhouse-style surfaces in kitchen renovations. Their woods range from white oak to black walnut to sinker cypress. Its a softer, more natural look for a kitchen, Koch says.

Quartz for a very light tone on kitchen countertops is still holding in popularity, as well as dark stones such as soapstone, which Koch has paired with wood surfaces.

ROOM WITH A VIEW: There is a continued course toward placing a higher value on outdoor space, which is no longer treated as an afterthought but rather, in many cases, a focal point and integral part of the living area, says architect and interior designer Caroline Ferguson.

Examples she cites are fully furnished porches with such indoor comforts as fireplaces, televisions, dining areas and cooking capabilities. These spaces, she says, have become a home oasis.

While porches and patios may be the al fresco space in a home, these areas can still be private. They might contain something organic in style to camouflage an open wall. Ferguson custom-ordered a laser-cut, bronze-finish aluminum screen to serve as a privacy wall in a recent renovation of a Colonial Revival home.

THOROUGHLY MODERN MINDSET:Modern interiors not sleek and cold but sparse with richer finishes is how architect/designer John Chrestia of Chrestia Staub Pierce design firm sees the comforts of a well-appointed home where the California Style concept continues to reflect todays lifestyles.

The open plan produces a seamless transitions for the communal spaces (dining room, family room, kitchen) at home. That feeling of openness, Chrestia says, also translates into non-cluttered and non-collected spaces.

We are getting away from the collected look like all French that was popular a few years ago and embracing a more eclectic style where a single treasured antique piece can stand out in a modern setting, he says.

Chrestia sees the younger generation looking back at a grandparents home and seeing elements of comfort they want to incorporate into their contemporary homes. Retro looks from the '50s, '60s, and '70s are particularly popular for reinterpretation in current designs.

A treasured heirloom piece can be an item of of distinction in a contemporary room. In many cases, a piece of furniture from the past now intersects with the present. Chrestia sees Vladimir Kagan's curved sofa from the '30s as reflecting the new affinity toward softer edges where form addresses comfort.

FEELING BLUE: The color blue was on the minds of interior designers even before the Pantone Color Institute named Classic Blue the color of the year for 2020.

Layers of blue look beautiful. You can create a room that looks like a jewel using deeper tones, says Koch, who has seen it play out with paint, wallpaper, furnishings or cabinetry.

A small bar in an Uptown home was transformed by Kaynor into a blue room, literally, with Farrow and Ball Hague Blue paint. The walls were then lacquered to create a shimmering, light-reflective surface for a striking and sophisticated space. Monogrammed contemporary hardware by local architect and designer Marion Cage added the final touch.

Classic Blue is described by the color forecasting institute as a reassuring presence instilling calm, confidence and connection." The 2020 shade "brings a sense of peace and tranquility to the human spirit, offering refuge," according to the institute.

ARTFUL LIVING: There is an appreciation for traditional craft, skilled workmanship, artisanal goods (versus manufactured, mass produced, synthetic materials) and a rising awareness in wellness carrying over to furnishings, with a strong prevalence of natural and organic fibers, says Ferguson.

She sees hand-chiseled tiles such as zellige tile from Morocco continuing to gain popularity in interiors, as opposed to the geometric perfection of machine-produced tiles. Hand-loomed rugs, nubby wools and textured linens also add to a handcrafted look.

Technology is not ruled out, says Ferguson, but can be used for more one-of-kind accents or custom-ordered pieces that provide unique and artistic, rather than trendy, elements to a room.

THE RETURN OF KEEPSAKES: Chrestia sees his clients carefully choosing pieces they treasure, whether the aforementioned retro pieces or something unique that holds special meaning. The eclectic leaning in todays interiors allows a mix of moods and styles.

For some clients, their furnishings include a mix of travel treasures, says Ferguson, who sees social media sources such as Instagram and Pinterest also serving as windows to global influence in design where homeowners seek carefully curated unique finds.

PATTERNS AND PRINTS: There are countless ways to play with colors and moods: wallpaper in botanical prints, metallic surfaces, abstract shapes, even accessories such as bedding and throw pillows.

The bedroom is the prime environment for mixing prints with pillows, throws and beddings, says Kaynor, who points out that we spend a third of our lives in that room, and we are a sleep-deprived nation. This is the room that should reflect the home-dwellers personal view of what sanctuary should be to the eyes and the senses.

In any room of the house, the mix of prints is not just limited to furniture and accessories, but the walls can be a canvas of rich interaction. Koch was recently taken with hand-woven colorful fabric borders from Rebecca Cole, whose hand-blocked and hand-embroidered textiles from Nigeria pop with color, whether earth tones or bright.

While borders are often associated with upholstery, Koch sees these fabrics as the perfect accent to place under crown molding to mix with complementary wallpaper. And dont rule out painted walls and wallpapered ceilings, she says.

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2020 New Orleans home trends: Warm and comfortable, with a healthy dose of the outdoors - NOLA.com

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The most appealing feature of Sumner Countys most expensive homes isnt inside the house. Its Old Hickory Lake. Of the 10 most expensive homes sold in 2019, six have a boat dock, one has a dock permit and one has views of the lake.

All of the homes are in Gallatin, according to RealTracs, the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) in the Nashville region. In 2018, eight of the homes on the top 10 list had a Gallatin address and two were in Hendersonville. In 2019 prices ranged from $2,144,124 to $1,580,000. In 2018 they ranged from $2,075,000 to $1,275,000.

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The property at 255 Old Douglas Road was Sumner Countys most-expensive home sold in 2019.(Photo: Submitted)

The most expensive home sold in 2019 came with an 80.2-acre farm. The property sold for $2,144,124 on April 1. Angie Jefferson Langford, affiliate broker at Zeitlin Sothebys International Realty, was the Realtor. The property features two homes and two ponds. The main house has three bedrooms and four full baths in about 5,974 square feet of space. The second house has approximately 2,700 square feet of space.

1045 Kendras Run is designed for lakeside relaxation.(Photo: Submitted)

The second most expensive home sold for $2,100,000on Dec.13. Gwen Dowland, affiliate broker at Re/Max Choice Properties, was the agent. The home, in the Emerald Point subdivision, has 8,407 square feet of space. The home features two kitchens, four bedrooms, five-and-a-half baths, two wet bars and five fireplaces. Almost every room has a lake view. The property has a dock.

1371 Rozella Way has seven bedrooms and seven and a half baths.(Photo: Submitted)

The third most expensive home sold for $2,075,000 on March 26. Stacey Graves, managing broker for Re/Max Elite, was the listing agent. The home, in Fairvue Plantation, has 7,380 square feet of space and seven bedrooms, seven full baths and one half bath. The property has a dock.

The fourth most expensive home sold for $2 million on Jan.15. Ruth Yates, with Reliant Realty Era Powered, was the Realtor. The home, in Gallatins Lake Park subdivision, has 7,970 square feet of space and five bedrooms, five full baths and one half bath. Features include a gated entry, a four-car garage, an 80-foot lanai and faux-painted barrel ceilings. The house has a dock with a boat lift.

The home at 1549 Boardwalk Place has upper and lower-level outdoor living areas.(Photo: Submitted)

This home also sold for $2 million on May 20. Peggy St. Peters, leader of the St. Peters Team at Coldwell Banker Lakeside Realtors, was the Realtor. The home, in Foxland Harbor, has 10,034 square feet of space. It features two kitchens, a guest apartment, seven bedrooms, nine full baths and one half bath. There is elevator access to all three floors. The property has a dock permit.

The home at 846 Pickwick Ct. has 7,913 square feet of space, five bedrooms, six full-baths and two half-baths.(Photo: Submitted)

The sixth most expensive home sold for $1,933,000on June 21. Peggy St. Peters, leader of the St. Peters Team at Coldwell Banker Lakeside Realtors, was the Realtor. The home, in Fairvue Plantation, has 7,913 square feet of space. It has five bedrooms, six full baths and two half baths. The home features an in-ground heated pool with a waterfall bridge and a swim-up bar. The property has a dock.

The home at 792 Plantation Way has a shaft for installation of an elevator.(Photo: Submitted)

The seventh most expensive home sold for $1,800,000on March 22. Stacey Graves, managing broker for Re/Max Elite, was the listing agent. The home, in Fairvue Plantation, has 6,600 square feet of space. The house has four bedrooms, three full baths and two half baths. The house has a shaft for an elevator. There is a kitchenette on the lower level. The property has a dock.

280 Harris Lane features the main house, a guest house, a pond, fenced paddocks and a pool.(Photo: Submitted)

The eighth most expensive home sold for $1,799,000. Jonny Lee and Gary Ashton, leaders of The Ashton Real Estate Group of Re/Max Advantage, had the listing. The house has 8,078 square feet of space. It has four bedrooms, five full baths and one half bath. The property has a 2,000-square-foot guest house, a fishing pond, fenced paddocks and an in-ground pool.

A custom home by AR Homes, 1479 Boardwalk Place has four bedrooms and five full baths.(Photo: Submitted)

The ninth most expensive home sold for $1,770,000 on June 6. Chad Hornick, a Realtor for AR Homes, was the agent. The house has 4,603 square feet of living space, four bedrooms and five full baths. The house, custom built by AR Homes, has a bonus room on the main floor. The property has a boat dock.

The home at 825 Plantation Blvd. has 5,854 square feet of space and offers one-level living.(Photo: Submitted)

The tenth most expensive home sold for $1,580,000 on March 15. Stacey Graves, managing broker for Re/Max Elite, was the listing agent. The house has 5,854 square feet of space, four bedrooms, four full baths and one half bath.The home, in Fairvue Plantation, offers one-level living. The house has views of Old Hickory Lake.

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The 10 most expensive homes sold in Sumner County in 2019 - Tennessean

Sacramento, CA- The Sacramento Walking Sticks Club will be hosting newly designed walks on New Years Eve and New Years Day for everyone to join in on, even the family dog.

The start location for both events will be the Pioneer Congregational Church on 2700 L St in Sacramento CA 95819, across the street from Sutters Fort. Registration for the New Years Eve walk, December 31st, is between 5:00 6:00 p.m. and the New Years Day walk, January 1st, is between 9:00 a.m. 12:00 noon. There will be a different 5K (3.1 miles) and 10K (6.2 miles) route available on both days. Flashlights are recommended on the New Years Eve walk. Dogs are welcome on all the walks, but they are not allowed inside the Church; strollers and wheelchairs will be able to traverse all routes. Rain will not stop these events from taking place.

Volkswalking is a family sport and parents and grandparents are encouraged to bring their children and grandchildren out and get them walking. These events are a wonderful way to see the old year out and see the new one in. This makes for a great new years resolution; to get fit, meet new people and see sights in your hometown and surrounding areas that youve never seen before.

The New Years Eve route will take people in heavily decorated areas of midtown and downtown Sacramento; the longer walk will bring you all the way to Old Sacramento. The walks are non-competitive and not timed so people can stop along the way to enjoy the sights and sounds so long as they return for check-in by 9:00 p.m. at the Church.

The New Years Day route will let people explore the serene and lovely East Sacramento neighborhoods with their custom homes and fun, quirky businesses. Historic notes will be provided. Everyone must be checked in by 3:00 pm. At the Church. Each participant always receives a set of written directions with a map for the route they will be walking and typically the route will also be marked.

The walks are open and available to everyone. They are FREE and there is also an incentive program provided that allows people the opportunity to track their mileage. This incentive program can be started by purchasing a New Walker Packet for $5.00. There is also a limited-edition commemorative patch available for $4.00 each.

Volkssporting (translation means sport of the people) originated in Germany in the 1970s. Many US military families stationed there enjoyed the sport and eventually brought it to America; there are currently just under 300 clubs nationwide. The Sacramento Walking Sticks Club continues to be the largest club in the entire USA with close to 550+ members and it offers everyone a wide array of walking and bicycling adventures almost every day of the week for people of all ages, including their dogs.

Walking is one of the most efficient and inexpensive forms of exercise around and it also offers an array of psychological, physical, and spiritual benefits as well. Walking is an exercise that works on you from head to toe as well as from the inside out. People love to go exploring in their hometown as well as in their state, but they tend to be more receptive to doing it with others. Volkssporting is a great connector of town festivals and activities with people who would never have ventured there on their own. Theres safety in numbers whether by day or night and meeting new friends along the way is another side benefit. After the walks we like to dine at local eateries wherever were at so theres also another social layer to volkswalking.

The Sacramento Walking Sticks Club offer group walks on Tuesday, Thursday and occasional Friday mornings (5 and 10K routes to choose from) as well as Wednesday night group walks that are always 5K. Each month there is a 5K Full Moon walk as well as a 5K Early Risers walk where we start walking at 6:30 a.m. and have breakfast afterwards. Also once a month are Road Adventures which take us midweek to neighboring clubs walks that are at least an hour and a half from Sacramento. There are also group bike rides of 25K offered every other Thursday morning throughout the year.

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Sacramento Walking Sticks to stroll in the New Year - Rocklin & Roseville Today

Moving up, moving in, moving out and moving on characterized Northeast Ohio's lively 2019 real estate market.

The new era of large apartment building construction began to be felt downtown as The Beacon, a 28-story building that was the first highrise residential project constructed downtown in 40 years, opened and the rise of the 34-story Lumen at Playhouse Square also put its stamp on the skyline.

Meantime, K&D Group of Willoughby capped its long run of projects rehabilitating old downtown office buildings to mixed use with big doses of apartments in the city's most iconic building, Terminal Tower.

Downtown Cleveland Alliance, the downtown security and promotional nonprofit, estimated the residential population as 18,800 as of Sept. 30, 2019, and said it's certain to grow more next year, with more than 1,000 apartments in development.

While large warehouses serving online retailers took center stage as Amazon opened its new fulfillment center in Euclid, its third operation in Northeast Ohio, and launched construction of another in Akron, smaller manufacturers kept things busy on the other side of the staff count.

Ohio City alone lost Voss Industries to Berea and Conveyer & Caster to Westlake. Downtown lost Tap Packaging Solutions, better known as the former Chilcote Co., to Brooklyn and Cleveland Vibrator Co. stayed within the city limits but moved to the Jennings Freeway Industrial Park.

However, other groups already own the properties shed by Tap and Conveyer & Caster, respectively, setting the stage for potential new apartments downtown and expansion by the neighboring Kowalski Heat Treating Co. in Ohio City. As those deals show, many high-profile real estate sales in 2019 were for development or redevelopment purposes, a reflection of the continued low-interest-rate environment.

Perhaps the best example was the $5.6 million sale of the Market Square Shopping Center, 2011 W. 25th St., in Ohio City to an affiliate of Chicago-based real estate developer Harbor Bay Real Estate Advisors. The firm plans to build a $175 million project on the site of the small single-story plaza across the street from the West Side Market. Thirty years ago, the strip center was progress for ground that had served for decades as extra parking for patrons of the market. Putting in midrise apartment and office buildings is the largest-scale commercial project in the city neighborhood near downtown since the 1920s.

Also in Ohio City, the 11-story Church + State apartments began rising at 2815 W. 25th St., and more were launched in locations from Franklin Circle to Tremont and Little Italy.

While big things were happening in Greater Cleveland, some big real estate development projects downtown stayed stuck in park. Plans for the Centennial, an apartment-office redo of the massive office building at 925 Euclid Ave., and nuCLEus, a long-planned retail-office-residential project proposed for the parking lots between Prospect and Huron roads near Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, both got revised plans. But neither closed multimillion-dollar financial packages to begin the major rebuilding, and building, projects.

The biggest question-mark for downtown and the city's real estate market surfaced in September as The Sherwin-Williams Co. announced it was launching a search for a new headquarters and a research-and-development center to replace its longtime locations on Prospect Avenue and Canal Road.

John G. Morikis, Sherwin-Williams' chairman and CEO, said in October the company planned to provide guidance for shareholders, employees and the community by the end of 2019 or early 2020.

Uncertainty about whether the massive paint and coatings maker would move to a site near Public Square, expand near its current headquarters at 101 W. Prospect Ave. or go for some other option perhaps in another state hovered over the city and the region like a vast cloud as the last days of 2019 ticked away.

With the completion of the huge Van Aken District in Shaker Heights and Pinecrest in Orange Village, no other large multitenant mixed-use projects with significant retail components are underway in the region. For an area that has added almost a million square feet of retail space annually for several years, that's a dramatic change. However, as some retailers with multiple locations drop like flies, it also reflects the challenge faced by brick-and-mortar shopping in the face of online rivals.

Filling empty Sears or Kmart spaces and empty mall stores is a big pursuit for shopping center owners as they try to woo other users to fill empty gaps and attract people. Beachwood Place is in the midst of planning an open-air meeting space to complement the enclosed two-story mall in Beachwood. Meantime, a full-blown remake of outlying grounds of the Macy's and Sears properties at Richmond Town Square as apartments and even self-storage is in the planning stages in Richmond Heights.

Although multiple stores went dark, it's a contradictory picture. Menards, the Eau Clair, Wis., hardware chain, and Meijer, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based grocer and softgoods retailer, both privately held purveyors, opened new large-format stores at multiple locations in the region.

On the existing-home sales front, it was the busiest year of the past two as low interest rates in the 3% range kept buyers searching for desirable homes and allowed some owners to move on to larger properties or downsize. Residential builders continued to be busy, but the overall market remained flat. U.S. Census Bureau statistics for the combined Akron and Cleveland Metropolitan Statistical Areas show the number of single-family permits fell 9%, to 2,644 units, through October of 2019, the latest period available, from 2,891 in 2018's like period.

Dean Tompkins, 2019 president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland trade group, said he was surprised production statistics dipped given how busy his colleagues appear to be. However, he can see why the numbers are coming up that way.

"Even if we pulled more permits, we might not be able to get the labor to build more homes," said Tompkins, vice president of Payne & Payne Renovations & Design in Chardon. "There is clearly pent-up demand. Financing is available but still hard to get and rising land development and construction costs are (limiting) factors for homebuilders. But there's also a tremendous amount of home remodeling going on out there."

For all the go-go aspects of the market, cracks have started to emerge as the economic expansion ages. Lenders filed foreclosure proceedings against two big downtown Cleveland properties in 2019, the IMG Center building at 1360 E. Ninth St. and the Doubletree Hotel at 1111 Lakeside Ave. Both serve as cautionary tales to developers and owners that the economic winds can shift and change the direction of the market, their holdings and the contents of their wallets.

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Ups beat downs in the realty market in 2019 - Crain's Cleveland Business