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Coastal GasLink is owned by TC Energy, the company formerly known as TransCanada Pipelines, which is also the driving force behind the Keystone XL pipeline opposed by indigenous groups in both the U.S. and Canada. CGL is set to run 670 kilometers (approximately 416 miles) from northeastern B.C. to a liquid natural gas facility in Kitimat that is yet to be constructed.

The company gained permission from elected First Nation councils along the pipeline route, but the hereditary Wet'suwet'en leaders oppose pipeline construction on their land. Since the Wet'suwet'en never surrendered their territories to the Canadian government, they argue that their hereditary leaders should have final say.

"This project aims to blaze a trail, in what has been envisioned as an energy corridor through some of the only pristine areas left in this entire region," a Wet'suwet'en media statement explained. "If CGL were to be built and become operational, it would irreversibly transform the ecology and character of Northern B.C. This is why the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs have all unanimously opposed the construction of ALL pipelines through their territory."

The Wet'suwet'en first established a camp called Unist'ot'en in 2009 to fight pipelines in their territory, The Guardian explained. It was the first in a growing movement of indigenous encampments protesting fossil fuel infrastructure in North America. The indigenous nation is now waiting for a provincial supreme court to decide on an injunction sought by TC Energy that would ban indigenous protesters from blocking access to any pipeline construction sites.

The RCMP documents obtained by The Guardian led Canadian officials to voice concerns over the role the police play in clashes between fossil fuel companies and indigenous land defenders.

"There are a number of very deeply concerning words, phrases and terms used to a situation that is immensely delicate," Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said Friday, as CBC News reported. "This is something that we need to revise as a government and take a look at that, because the terminology is entirely unacceptable."

In another document reviewed by The Guardian, the police also said they needed to arrest demonstrators for the goal of "sterilizing the site."

RCMP Sgt. Janelle Shoihet said in a statement reported by CBC News that the police had been denied a request to review the documents, but said some of the phrases may have been taken out of context. The term "lethal overwatch," in particular, does not necessarily mean that police snipers would be deployed to shoot at protesters. They are often deployed to ensure public safety during parades and demonstrations.

"Police officers who occupy the position of lethal overwatch are tasked with observing, while other police officers are engaged in other duties which occupy attention," Shoihet said.

But indigenous leaders and their supporters questioned who the police, who cleared the site on the strength of a B.C. Supreme Court injunction obtained by TC Energy, are ultimately protecting. The protesters' lawyer Martin Peters said the police had acted as "security guards" for the company.

"I was shocked," Wet'suwet'an hereditary chief Hagwilnegh, also called Ron Mitchell, told CBC News. "[The RCMP] assured us that they were there to protect everyone, including us. That was the message we received from them. The question that comes to mind is, who are the RCMP working for? They weren't nice to our people, especially the elders."

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'Everything Is Burning': Australian Inferno Continues, Choking off Access to Cities Across Country - EcoWatch

99 years ago in 1920:

Two street jobs that had been hanging fire for some time were given fresh starts by council, and both jobs were to be cleaned up in the coming year.

The East Market street job was to be the big one. It calls for the widening of the street by six feet, from Park Avenue to Logan Avenue and repaving it from Park Avenue to the P. P. & F. tracks. This improvement had been under consideration for several years, but nothing had been done. The plans and specifications had been prepared and the council had adopted a resolution declaring it necessary to proceed with work.

The Tod Avenue improvement had been on the books for many years and meant the erection of a retaining wall along the property of L. Krauss so that the pavement could be widened to conform to the rest of the street.

50 years ago in 1969:

The four choirs of Champion Presbyterian Church were to present the annual Christmas music festival in the church sanctuary.

The youth choir was to sing Joy to the World by Handel-Davis, Carol of the Drum by Katharine Davis and Do You Hear What I Hear? by Regney-Shayne.

The Chancel Choir was to sing Good Christian Men, Rejoice by Parker-Shaw, O Come All Ye Faithful by Wade-Normand, The Holly And The Ivy by Parker-Shaw, andTell Us Shepherds Maids by Mary Caldwell. The Chancel and Youth Choirs were to combine on O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam and Hallelujah Chorus from The Messiah by George F. Handel.

The Cherub Choir was to sing Away in a Manger and The Friendly Beasts and the Junior Choir was to sing Silent Night and The Cherry Tree Carol. Cherub and Junior Choirs were to combine on Carol, Christians, Carol.

Choir directors were Mrs. Gail Boggs, Chancel and Youth Choirs, and Miss Shirley Knowlton, Junior and Cherub Choirs.

The organist was Mrs. Dorothy Reynolds.

25 years ago in 1994:

The spirit of giving had provided some opportunity to take and the city post office was offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of holiday Grinches.

City Postmaster Len Simon said five mail drop boxes in the area were broken into last Christmas season and two were hit last Thanksgiving.

The postal office responded with attempts to make the drop boxes tamper-proof and by offering the reward, Simon said.

There was no estimate of the amount or value of the mail stolen.

The thieves are after cash that people are putting into their letters, Simon said. We try to remind people all the time not to send money in the mail, but some do it anyway.

Simon said the thieves were most active around the holidays. Mailboxes located in the Austin Village and near Woodland Avenue had been broken into on several occasions, but the break-ins were not limited to the Warren area.

10 years ago in 2009:

The holiday season was a hectic one for firefighters. Several local fire chiefs said December was one of the busiest months, thanks to a combination of cold weather, improper use of heating sources and holiday decorations. Liberty fire Chief Michael Durkin said his main concern when the weather got cold was carbon monoxide poisoning. He said a family of six became ill and it was determined their home was filled with carbon monoxide. He said they were lucky they got sick during the day when they were awake.

If it happened in the middle of the night, they would all be dead, Durkin said.

He said people must make sure their heating system was installed by a professional. Proper installation and ventilation is crucial.

Another concern, according to Cortland fire Chief William Novakovich, was people using heating sources improperly, including a kerosene heater indoors.

Compiled from the archives of the Tribune Chronicle by Emily Earnhart

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This week in history | News, Sports, Jobs - Warren Tribune Chronicle

The expansion of Interstate 5 at the Rose Quartermay cost as much as $795 million, not the $450 million estimated in 2017, when the Oregon Legislature passed a bill to fund the project.

That new information comes from a draft copy of a report due to the legislature in February.

The draft of an Oregon Department of Transportation Cost to Complete report, obtained by WW, pegs the project cost at somewhere between $715 million and $795 million, using 2025 as when the project will be midway through completion.

It attributes a substantial portion (upwards of $130 million) of that cost increaseto inflation, though it's not clear why the agency wouldn't havecounted that in the original cost given thatthe project was never expected to begin immediately.

Costs for construction, engineering and the purchasing of property for right of way all are higher than previously estimated. ODOT also blames the new gross receipts tax, passed by the legislature this year to fund schools, for driving the cost higher by at least $25.5million.

House Bill 2017, the transportation package passed by the legislature in 2017,approved$30 million a year in funding for the project beginning in 2022.

Oregon Department of Transportation officials say the draft is incomplete, but declined to say if the project costs would be higher or lower when the draft is finished. ODOT will make the report public next month and share it with the Legislature in February.

"The agency has been very transparent about cost estimates at various stages of the project," says ODOT spokesman Don Hamilton. "This is an open process that is refined over time. As the scope and schedule change and as we learn more about construction costs, the overall cost of every project changes. ODOT uses a similar approach to every project. The nearer to construction the better idea of costs is known."

The project has already been a lightning rod. Environmentalists have challenged the idea of building a wider highway, given climate change. Portland Public Schools has been skepticalof expanding the highway closer to Harriet Tubman Middle School.

Several local leaders have asked for a more thorough environmental review.

The draft Cost to Complete report does not estimate the cost of an expanded retaining wall at Harriet Tubman Middle School; of redesigning one of the highway covers for "pedestrian and bicycle needs;" or of altering the traffic flow near Moda Center, among other costs for which there is a blank spot for estimates in the draft report.

This week, as the members of the Oregon Transportation Commission prepared to push forward on the project in meetings on Dec. 16 and 17, they referenced the Cost to Complete Report but not the increased costs, and appeared ready to greenlight the project despite the objections of Portland Public Schools, Albina Vision and local elected officials. (The OTC delayed action only after Gov. Kate Brown delivered a last minute letter on Dec. 16, asking for a pause.)

The report does not assume ODOT would acquireHarriet Tubman Middle School from PPS, a transaction the district says could cost $100million.

And it does not plan for the more substantial caps for I-5 sought by Albina Vision, the nonprofit group advocating for a rebuilding of the African-American neighborhood decimated in part by I-5's construction decades ago.

"The Cost to Complete report suggests that ODOT continues to deceive the public in every pertinent detail about this disastrous, polluting megaproject," says Aaron Brown, organizer of No More Freeways, a group opposed to the project.

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The Cost of Expanding I-5 at the Rose Quarter Project Rises $250 Million, to as Much as $795 Million - Willamette Week

McIntire Park bridge

The biggest project the city completed this year is the bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad within McIntire Park.

The cost of building a bridge is much higher than the cost of clearing or paving a trail. The bridge had a price tag of $2.1 million, with one-fifth paid by local dollars and the rest by federal dollars distributed by the state, Gensic said. But the value also is high because bridges and tunnels stitch together areas that have been close but separate for years.

People can generally find a way until they hit a river, a highway, a railroad, and then theyre kind of stuck. Breaching the barriers is the heavy lifting, Gensic said.

Gensic and Krebs are both advocates for the benefits of paths and trails beyond recreation. Krebs said that using paths and trails for everyday transportation reduces stress and is good for the environment. Gensic said that providing good walking and biking infrastructure helps the affordability of the region if families do not need to own a car or do not need to miss work if their car breaks down.

Gensic said he has found that residents already are using new city paths for transportation.

A device installed on the McIntire pedestrian bridge counted 24,000 crossings in the first month, Gensic said. He said spikes in crossings around 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. tell him that people are using the infrastructure to get to work or school and back.

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Five new places to bike or walk in the Charlottesville area this holiday season - Charlottesville Tomorrow

Courtyard House / The Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative Inc.

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Text description provided by the architects. Designed for a couple in Calgary, the client asked for a home that would cater to their need for privacy, and their two tortoises. The responding logic is two-fold: (1) the burying of social program as a means to provide privacy with the resultant framing of nature; and, (2) a hovering volume characterized by a perimeter poch wall that structures privacy and animates the interior via the filtration of light. In the first instance, a perimeter is defined via the woods on the north of the site and its suburban condition on the east and west. This boundary is further emphasized through the concrete walls at ground level which define the social spaces.

In the second instance, this burrowed space is juxtaposed by the suspension of a wood-clad volume that has been sculpted to condition light and fold it into the space below. Through the calibration and sculpting of a series of apertures, natural light is invited to make its way through the house, projecting down through interconnected spaces including a central tortoise court, illuminating the space within.

These apertures, tuned to enhance views of the landscape, also serve to animate the movement of the sun in the sky and define privacy on the upper level. From both the front and back, the house presents itself as a floating box its monolithic object-hood defined both geometrically and by way of material application, a wooden mass hovering above a concrete frame. While the upper volume displays a syncopated fenestration, the lower body offers only a sliver of light emanating from above the front courtyards 7 retaining wall. In both cases, whether it is that of the calibrated openings that line the top, or the illuminated ceiling space below, both datums participate in the orchestrated screening of visual information.

The upper level planning is designed as two 'addresses' accessed from the central circulation that wraps around the tortoise enclosure. The first address is the master suite, with the bedroom situated along the private backyard and the more public office space facing the front yard. Similarly, the children's address is organized with the bedrooms overlooking the backyard and their play space facing the front. The courtyards that comprise the house are created as a field of landscapes - both natural and psychological.

And while their perimeters are defined relative to one another in plan, in essence, the tortoise court serves as the vertical connection between the private realm of the floating box above, and the sweeping landscape that slides underneath. It is the linchpin of two halves. As the tortoises are left to occupy this resulting negative space, the final courtyard serves as a counterpoint for reflection in understanding the houses existence in the broader community. Assuredly introverted. Content. Quiet, and contributing to the broader communal courtyard from its position on the periphery.

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Courtyard House / The Marc Boutin Architectural Collaborative Inc. - ArchDaily

A full closure of Highway 1 in both directions approximately two miles north of Ragged Point in southern Monterey County will take place on Thursday, Dec. 19 during the overnight hours from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m., weather permitting.

This closure will extend from the traffic signals which maintain 24/7 traffic control north and south of the project area between the San Carpoforo Creek Bridge and Ragged Point.

Local residents will be able to proceed through the closed area when heavy equipment is not on the highway. Delays are anticipated not to exceed one hour. Electronic message boards will be posted to alert the public.

This full highway closure is necessary so that Caltrans can install pre-cast beams as part of a project to construct a viaduct and retaining wall along this portion of Highway 1.

This $4.1 million project is Souza Engineering of San Luis Obispo, CA. Its scheduled to be completed by the Spring of 2020.

Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through highway construction zones.

For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey County, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at (805) 549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5

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About the author: News Staff

News staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote and edited this story from local contributors and press releases. Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Connect with him on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, or follow his blog. He can be reached at scott@pasoroblesdailynews.com.

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Highway One full closure near Ragged Point happening Thursday - Paso Robles Daily News

Gov. Ned Lamonts 10-year, $21-billion transportation plan announced in early November included funding for two new Hartford Line train stations in Windsor Locks and Enfield, which are seen as key to driving transit-oriented developments in those two northern Connecticut towns.

But while funding for those stations could be in jeopardy after Lamont failed to garner political support for wide-scale tolling, those communities and others hoping to one day land a train station have already kick-started plans to build apartments and other mixed-use developments that could thrive with easy access to rail service.

Were actually doing things, said Chris Bromson, town manager of Enfield, which plans to spend up to $4.2 million for a train platform if state funding for a $50-million train station doesnt materialize. Were not waiting, were not sitting on our hands with our hand out.

Lamonts CT2030 transportation investment plan, which included tolling cars and trucks in 14 locations, was soundly rejected by Republicans and Democrats, forcing the governor to support a scaled-down, trucks-only tolling option he says would raise $187 million in annual revenue, helping to finance $19.4 billion in transportation improvements over a decade. A spokesman for Lamont said the administration still views the train stations as a critical investment, but stopped short of guaranteeing funding for them under the trucks-only tolls plan.

Lawmakers could vote on that plan in January during a special session.

The Hartford Line currently has eight stops seven in Connecticut, and one in Massachusetts which have already spurred various developments along the 62-mile Springfield-to-New Haven route.

Investments in new mixed-use developments near existing or proposed Hartford Line rail stations have totaled approximately $430 million, according to Judd Everhart, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

Those projects, which encompass 1,400 residential units and 242,000 square feet of commercial and office space, date back to at least 2010, years before the Springfield-to-New Haven line expansion debuted, but in anticipation of its potential impact.

In Berlin, for example, there is an $18-million plan to build a mixed-use village with 76 apartments and 19,000 square feet of medical office and commercial space on a four-acre parcel near the towns recently built train station at 51 Depot Road.

However, there wasnt enough funding to build train stations in five other communities: Enfield, West Hartford, Windsor Locks, Newington and North Haven.

In recent years those towns have quietly put together development plans near potential train-station locations, hoping that would get them to the front of the line when state funding becomes available.

Lamonts transportation plan originally chose Windsor Locks and Enfield as winners, though that funding now remains uncertain.

Regardless, most of these towns are still moving forward with transit-oriented development plans, hoping that stations or platforms will one day be built in their backyards.

Enfield has long lobbied for a train station in its Thompsonville section, Bromson said. That desire played a large role in recent development in the area, like the conversion of the former Bigelow-Hartford Carpet Mills factory on North Main Street into a 471-unit apartment complex adjacent to where the train station or platform will go.

The luxury apartments are about 95 percent occupied, Bromson said, adding that such living units with close proximity to rail service attract older individuals who are downsizing, and younger people fond of public transportation.

There isnt this love affair as much today, especially among young people, with cars, Bromson said. They use mass transportation like my parents and grandparents did; so thats a remarkable change.

Kristen Gorski, Economic Development Specialist, West Hartford

West Hartford was hoping for a train station near its CTfastrak busway stop on Flatbush Avenue, said Kristen Gorski, the towns economic-development specialist.

A rail stop would bolster efforts the town has made to attract developers to the New Park Avenue corridor, and make the area less car-centric, Gorski said.

In 2015, the town amended zoning regulations to allow for mixed-use development inthe New Park Avenue district, which is home to several key manufacturers like Colt, to allow for residential as well as industrial development.

Three years later, Trout Brook Realty Advisors completed the $20-million 616 New Park mixed-use development, which includes 54 apartment units and 3,000 square feet of retail space, Gorski said.

The developer has already proposed a similar 52-unit mixed-use apartment project nearby, Gorski said.

West Hartford and Department of Transportation officials were relatively early in the planning stages for the train station when funding was cut, Gorski said. But she believes development that has already occurred near the CTfastrak station at the intersection of New Park and Flatbush avenues demonstrates the likelihood of further development benefiting Hartford as well as West Hartford if the train station were built.

We were incredibly disappointed as a community to find out that funding was cut, Gorski said. I think the Fastrak stations have helped us a great deal in terms of increasing transit-oriented development and having conversations with prospective developers who may now have interest in that area where they may not have before.

The Hartford Line has eight stops: seven in Connecticut, and one in Massachusetts.

Windsor Locks already has a Hartford Line rail platform, but the town wants to build an actual station on Canal Bank Road.

That station would sit next door to the $64-million, 160-unit Montgomery Mill apartment redevelopment that debuted in August.

Windsor Locks Director of Planning and Development Jennifer Rodriguez said the project was partially meant to encourage DOT to build a train station nearby, but its demonstrating other benefits.

The Montgomery Mill is a perfect example of a transit-oriented development project, a catalyst site, Rodriguez said. Weve had an uptick in small businesses on Main Street, we have more inquiries than we have space right now, so were hopeful that more new construction proposals will come in the near future.

Additionally, the town recently selected a development group Windsor Locks TOD LLC, led by project manager Todd McClutchy of Stamford-based JHM Group of Cos. to lead the conceptual planning of a mixed-use development on Main Street near where the train station would be built. The area is known as Windsor Locks Commons.

The development group proposed a multi-phased project that would include construction of one or two four-story buildings with 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of commercial space and up to 70 residential units.

The town also proposed fixing a retaining wall and developing a parcel across the street from the Commons into another mixed-use building and parking garage, but no developer has officially expressed interest in that project.

Meantime, the town of Newington recently created a 64-acre mixed-use overlay zone north and south of Cedar Street, where a $55-million train station would go.

The zone would make transit-oriented development possible, said Andrew Brecher, the towns economic-development director.

Brecher said a train station in Newington would be good for the town, and the Hartford Line.

This Newington station has the greatest potential for any [proposed station] along the Hartford Line, Brecher said

Michael Freda, First Selectman, North Haven

North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda said his town is an attractive place for a train station because of recent development thats been done near the proposed site off the Route 40 connector, which is also accessible to Hamden and Cheshire residents.

The spot abuts a 144-unit apartment building, and medical facilities that employ about 400 people, Freda said.

The train station could also be a catalyst for redeveloping the vacant Pharmacia and Upjohn Company LLC site on Stiles Lane, but without state funding, North Haven cant muster the funds necessary for the project, he said.

The unknown is when the state transportation fund will have enough funding in it to get this project under construction, Freda said. So where it leaves us right now? Were in a pause phase, were on hold.

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As five towns wait for Hartford Line train stations, transit-oriented developments move forward - Hartford Business

Amongst the stack of black-and-white press photos that document the Profumo Affair the sex and spies scandal that shook up the 1960s there are lots of well-thumbed shots of the affairs It girls, Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies. With their bouffant hairdos, neat twin-sets and feline-flicked eyes, they make the whole thing seem unutterably glamorous. Then there are the snaps of disgraced minister, John Profumo, once a rising star of the Conservative government, looking suitably humiliated as he drives away from Parliament and out of politics.

There is also a haunting image of Stephen Ward the man at the centre of it all and the only person who didnt survive it that reveals both the scale of his personal downfall and the really dark heart of this scandal. The gifted osteopath, who once counted the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Frank Sinatra amongst his glittering clientele, lies comatose on a stretcher. Ward was the scapegoat for everyones bad behaviour and he paid for it with his life. Three days after the picture was taken, he was dead.

Want to know even more about the real events from history that inspired the drama? Read more

Rewind two years. Its 1961 and National Service has been abolished, John F Kennedy has been sworn in as the youngest-ever elected president of the United States, betting shops are legal, and Elvis and the Everly Brothers top the charts. The British are finally stepping out of the shadow of World War II life is for living, opportunities are there for the taking and things are on the up.

London is a hub for happening people, and glamour, quick wits and sheer pluck can get you far. Creative types and chancers are descending on the capital, post-war migration from the Commonwealth is lighting up popular culture, and the in crowd is an eclectic blend of the well-heeled and working-class movers and shakers.

In an upstairs flat at 17 Wimpole Mews in Marylebone, Stephen Ward is with his latest protge 19-year-old Christine Keeler. Ward had discovered her two years earlier, working as a showgirl in Murrays Cabaret Club in Soho. Soon she was living with him and revealing an unseemly delight for setting up liaisons between alley cats and aristos Ward introduced her to his party-loving chums. Ward knew everyone and where the action could be found. His nickname was The Fixer.

Yet while Londons social scene was hotting up, the Cold War an international power struggle of capitalism versus communism was sending a chill through British politics. In May 1961, ten years after the defection of suspected spies Burgess and Maclean to Russia, MI6 mole George Blake was charged with passing top-secret documents to Moscow and sentenced to 42 years in prison. Politics was awash with intelligence and counter-intelligence, nobody was above suspicion and anyone could be a spy.

The Secretary of State for War at the time of the scandal that took his name, John Profumo resigned from the cabinet in June 1963. He subsequently devoted himself to Toynbee Hall, a charitable organisation in the East End of London that supports communities in poverty. He began by washing dishes, helping with the playgroup and collecting rents. Later, he served with the charitys council, then eventually president. His reputation redeemed in the eyes of many, he was awarded the CBE in 1975 and sat next to the Queen at Margaret Thatchers 70th birthday party. He continued as a volunteer at Toynbee Hall until his death, aged 91, in 2006.

Wards successful osteopathy practice and sideline as a portrait artist made him many important friends, including Lord Astor, Yevgeny Ivanov and John Profumo. The security services MI5 and MI6 used Ward to supply information on his society contacts and he knew of their attempt to persuade Russian naval attach Yevgeny Ivanov to become a double agent.

Keeler grew up in a converted railway carriage in Berkshire. In her teens she moved to London where she was discovered by Stephen Ward. Her relationships with a Tory minister and a Soviet diplomat made her a household name. Just months after Profumos resignation, Keeler was jailed for lying under oath at the trial of Lucky Gordon. After her release in 1964, she bought a house in Marylebone with money she received from the now-defunct News of the Worldnewspaper.

Solihull-raised Rice-Davies was just 16 when she met Keeler at Murrays Cabaret Club. Keeler introduced her to Ward and Ward introduced her to his friends. She never met John Profumo, but was called as a witness at Wards trial. In 2013, along with two of Britains most senior lawyers, Rice-Davies called for the guilty verdict of Stephen Ward to be overturned.

It was at Lord Bill Astors family estate, Cliveden, that Profumo and Keeler first met. During Wards trial, when Astor denied a liaison with Mandy Rice-Davies, she famously quipped: Well, he would, wouldnt he?

Russian naval attach, Yevgeny Ivanov regularly met up with Keeler at the same time as she was seeing Profumo. He was targeted by MI5, who wanted to persuade him to become a double agent. Before the scandal broke, he was recalled to Moscow.

Aloysius Lucky Gordon, a British-based Jamaican jazz singer, was involved with Keeler while she was seeing Johnny Edgecombe. In June 1963, Gordon was jailed for assaulting Keeler. She was later charged with perjury.

Antiguan-born dope-dealer Johnny Edgecombe fired the gunshots at Stephen Wards home, which led to the scandalous revelations that became known as the Profumo Affair.

The portentous event took place at Cliveden House, an ostentatious country pile in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, owned by Lord Bill Astor. Those present included Stephen Ward, osteopath to the wealthy and well connected, Yevgeny Ivanov, a Soviet naval attach and, most notably, Conservative cabinet minister John Jack Profumo and teenage showgirl Christine Keeler.

Whether anybody thought to remember that one sultry summers evening in July 1961 is a matter of supposition. Was it by accident or design that the politician and the party girl first came across each other? Could anyone have predicted that this brief encounter would have such far-reaching repercussions that would shake the establishment to its core?

Mandy Rice-Davies (left) and Christine Keeler, the two teenagers who found themselves caught up in the 1960s Profumo scandal. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

In The Spectator in 2014, Lord Astors son, William, recalled the fateful meeting at Cliveden following a dinner party.

Laughter was heard coming from the pool and some of the dinner guests drifted across the garden to see what the commotion was about, he writes, adding that it was there that two worlds collided.

First into the walled garden was Valerie Profumo, who anxiously covered up a topless Christine Keeler with a towel before the other guests arrived, he continued. But Christine had already been spotted by Jack Profumo.

That Keeler was at Cliveden was down to Ward, who lived in one of the estates cottages and had asked to make use of the pool after all the dinner guests had headed inside. Profumo was smitten and, spurred on by Ward, he and Keeler embarked on a short-lived affair until he ended it. And that was that. However, what prevented this tawdry tale from being brushed under the carpet was the fact that Profumo was the Secretary of State for War and Keeler was also involved with Soviet naval attach Yevgeny Ivanov.

There were whispers of pillow talk had Keeler extracted secrets from the Secretary of State for War and passed them on to a Russian spy? The rumours reached Fleet Street but, thanks to the (then) British tradition of respecting the private lives of British politicians, the affair didnt make the papers. All was well until an incident at Stephen Wards flat five months later blew any hopes of a cover-up out the water.

Post-Profumo, Keeler hooked up with several men including Jamaican singer Aloysius Lucky Gordon and Antiguan-born Johnny Edgecombe. While neither of these men had any direct connection to the scandal their involvement with Keeler which included Gordon holding her hostage for two days while wielding an axe, and Edgecombe then slashing Gordons face with a knife led to the affair becoming public knowledge.

Following the knife incident, Edgecombe asked Keeler to get him a solicitor so he could hand himself in to police before Gordon sought revenge. Keeler, allegedly jealous that Edgecombe had taken another lover, refused to help him and even said she planned to give evidence against him in court.

Edgecombe was incandescent and Keeler sought sanctuary at Wards flat in Wimpole Mews. At lunchtime on 14 December 1962, Edgecombe leapt out of a minicab clutching a pistol, shouting for Christine. When Keeler, who was holed up with her friend Mandy Rice-Davies, refused to let him in, he fired a volley of shots at the front door.

No one was hurt and Edgecombe was arrested, which was hardly stop-the-press news. However, this was what the papers had been waiting for. The incident provided an opportunity for Fleet Streets finest to dig deeper into those Profumo-Keeler-Ivanov rumours and, the following day, Edgecombes appearance in court made the front page of The Telegraph. At his Old Bailey trial three months later, Edgecombe was acquitted of assaulting Gordon, but jailed for seven years for possessing a firearm. Keeler didnt show up, stoking press interest anew.

Over in the House of Commons, Labour MP George Wigg, in an obvious swipe at the Tories, forced Profumos hand. He raised the issue of the rumours surrounding Profumos relationship with Keeler. Not, he claimed, to embarrass the Secretary of State for War, but because the Ivanov connection was a matter of national security. Profumo told Parliament that he knew Keeler but vehemently denied that there was any impropriety in their relationship.

His convincing denial diffused the situation for a while, but the press refused to let it lie. Reporters dusted off their wallets and people started talking. Mandy Rice-Davies let slip that Keeler had had sexual relationships with Profumo and Ivanov, prompting Keeler to confess that she had indeed dated both men. What had been cocktail-party gossip had grown into a scandal of mammoth proportions.

Profumo was forced to admit to Parliament that Keeler had been his mistress and that he had lied to the Commons. Sex, lies and Soviets? This was the stuff that could topple a government. He had to resign, which he did on 4 June 1963.

The pressure was now on the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan. He refused to quit but, realising he had to do something, he called on respected English lawyer and judge Lord Denning to lead an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the resignation of the former Secretary of State for War, Mr J D Profumo.

Denning concluded that there had been no breaches of security arising from the Ivanov connection and the primary responsibility for the scandal was with Profumo for giving a false statement in the House of Commons. The report, published in September 1963, was criticised as a whitewash, but it enabled Macmillan to hang on as Prime Minister.

The biggest scandal of the whole affair was Stephen Wards trial. Arrested days after Profumos resignation, he was brought before the Old Bailey on charges of procuring women and living off immoral earnings.

The son of a vicar and former tea salesman may have been a social climber and sexual voyeur, but he wasnt a pimp. Keeler and Rice-Davies were party girls who wouldnt turn down a gift from a grateful admirer, but they werent prostitutes. The premise of the trial was a farce, but it didnt bother the prosecution.

Society osteopath Dr Stephen Ward, a leading figure in the Profumo affair. (Photo by George Freston/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

In court, Keeler affirmed she had sex with John Profumo and two other men, who had each given her money and gifts. During cross-examination she confessed that some of this cash was paid to Ward for rent, electricity and food while living at his flat. Rice-Davies (whod been arrested by a corrupt Scotland Yard officer and was told shed only be let out of Holloway prison if she agreed to testify) also admitted receiving gifts and money some of which she gave to Ward for unpaid rent.

This evidence was all the prosecution needed and Wards defence lawyer a jovial man called James Burge, who was one of Wards patients was out of his league. Prosecutor Mervyn Griffith-Jones had established that Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies had taken money after having sex and had both given some of it to Ward. It was enough for a conviction.

Wards high society friends stayed well away, fearful of being tainted by the scandal. Not one of them came to testify in his favour something that the judge, Archie Pellow Marshall, picked up on. In his summing up he said: If Stephen Ward was telling the truth in the witness box, there are in this city many witnesses of high estate and low who could have come and testified in support of his evidence.

Ward returned to a friends flat, took some sleeping pills, and wrote notes to his closest friends. In one he penned: It is really more than I can stand the horror, day after day at the court and in the streets. It is not only fear, it is a wish not to let them get me. I would rather get myself. I do hope I have not let people down too much.

He was in a coma when the court found him guilty, and he died in hospital before the sentence could be passed. Ward, once a favourite of Londons fashionable society, had only six mourners at his funeral. By his grave lay a wreath of one hundred white carnations. A card, signed by the critic and writer Kenneth Tynan, simply said: To Stephen Ward, Victim of Hypocrisy.

Prior to the Profumo Affair, the Conservative Party had been steadily declining in popularity. Between 1957 and 1963, Harold Macmillan transformed from a confident premier, running a country where Britons had never had it so good, to a prime minister under pressure.

In July 1962, Macmillan sacked seven ministers, in what became known as the Night of the Long Knives. This ploy to boost the partys popularity didnt work and there was more bad news when Britains application to join the Common Market was rejected by France, dashing hopes for economic growth.

For the Macmillan regime, the timing of the Profumo affair couldnt have been worse. Sleaze delivered the final blow for a government seen as outdated, incompetent and out of step with the public mood. In October 1963, Macmillan, who had hoped to lead the Tories into the next election, resigned due to ill health.

He was replaced by the aristocratic Alec Douglas-Home, which was a gift for the opposition. The Labour Party pitched Harold Wilson as a man of the people and in the 1964 General Election the old order was out, Wilson was in Number 10 and a new era of politics had begun.

Anna Harris is a freelance journalist

This content first appeared in the Christmas 2016 issue of BBC History Revealed

Read more from the original source:
The Real History Of The Profumo Affair - BBC History Magazine

Some made us cry, some served as a wake-up call and some that just left a smile on our faces. #ThrowbackTo2019

Tonnes of stories in 2019 grabbed headlines, many went viral. Each one made its own impression on peoplesome made us cry, some served as a wake-up call and most rekindled our hopes in humanity.

The Better India (TBI) covered numerous stories of changemakers; people who proved that small acts of kindness can bring a huge change.

The year is nearing its end and a brand new decade is knocking on the doors. And what better way to usher in the new year by revisiting the stories of change, of a better and more inclusive world.

You can also spread joy and at the same protect the environment. Check thiscollection of great products created by artisans with disabilities.

Here are 10 inspiring and heartwarming stories covered by TBI in 2019:

1) With Re. 1 Idli & Rs 2.50 Dosa, This Grandma Has Fed Thousands of The Needy!

One video and 80-year-old Kamalathal Paati and her Re 1 steaming idlis set social media circles abuzz.

The octogenarian from Coimbatores Vadivelampalayam feeds hundreds of daily wage labourers and needy people every day.

Paati has been preparing idli for the last three decades. Around a decade ago, she changed the price of her idlis to meet rising costs; so now the 50 paise idlis are sold at Re. 1.

Once the video went viral, she earned loads of love and appreciation from netizens. Not only that, Bharat Petroleum (Coimbatore) also gifted her with a free gas cylinder, and stove.

Read more here.

2) Kerala Policewoman Shaves Head, Donates Waist-Length Hair For Children With Cancer

Going beyond the call of duty has always been Aparna Lavakumars forte and she proved it once again in September by going bald for a cause. The Senior Civil Police Officer (SCPO) in Irinjalakuda, Thrissur, donated her long and thick black hair to a non-profit organisation for cancer patients.

Going bald can be severely traumatic for children with cancer, who are already battling for life at such a young age. I wanted to support them by proving that baldness is not a matter of shame, she tells TBI.

Aparna took the decision after she met a class five boy in a school. She saw how the boy, who had been diagnosed with cancer, was not comfortable with his baldness.

Kudos to Aparna for setting an example for everyone!

Read more here.

3) Kanpur Tea-Seller Uses 80% Income to Educate 40 Needy Kids, Inspires VVS Laxman!

Being a tea vendor, Mohammad Mahboob Malik tries to save Rs 500 every day so that 40 children in his neighbourhood of Sharda Nagar in Kanpur can study without worrying about the finances.

Every month, the 29-year-old donates 80 per cent of his salary to meet the expenses of a school he has established with the help of an NGO. The expenses include salaries of teachers and items like uniforms, shoes, socks, bags and other stationery! The students receive an education in the school free of cost.

Seeing his selfless act, former cricketer VVS Laxman tweeted about his efforts.

This certainly was one of the well-deserved social media posts that went viral this year.

Read more here.

4) Proud of My Boy Who Scored 60%: Delhi Moms Viral Post Wins Hearts For Right Reasons!

When her son scored 60 per cent in CBSE class ten, Vandana Sufia took to social media to share her pride in her son and her happiness.

Little did she know that her post would go viral with more than 8,000 re-shares and close to 20,000 likes.

At a time when children are forced to meet unreasonable expectations in the field of academics, Vandanas announcement came as a breath of fresh air smelling of change.

Heres what she wrote:

Super proud of my boy who scored a 60% in Class 10 board exams. Yes, it is not a 90, but that doesnt change how I feel. Simply because I have seen him struggle with certain subjects almost to the point of giving up, and then deciding to give his all in the last month-and-a-half to finally make it through! Heres to you. And others like you fish asked to climb trees. Chart your own course in the big, wide ocean, my love. And keep your innate goodness, curiosity and wisdom alive. And of course, your wicked sense of humour!

Read more here.

5) Mumbai Couple Sets Up Breakfast Stall at 5 AM Daily, Reason Will Win Your Heart!

In September, a new breakfast stall serving delicacies like poha, sabudana, upma, khichi, Idli-chutney and parathas came up near Kandivali station in Mumbai.

A few days later, the couple and owners of the stall Ashwini Shenoy and Ankush Nilesh Shah, saw a rise in the number of customers. While the food was scrumptious, what led to this rise was the couples motive.

They run the stall on behalf of Bhavnaben Patel, their house cook. The idea of the stall came up when Patel refused to take financial help from Ashwini and Ankush for the medical treatment of her severely ill husband.

It would have been easier to accept financial aid from us, but she (Patel) just wanted more work to earn money and that won our hearts, says Ashwini who sells Bhavnabens food at the stall from 5.30 AM to 9.30 AM.

Despite having full-time jobs, the couple lend a helping hand to Bhavnaben every day.

If this is not humanity, then I dont know what is.

Read more here.

6) The 28-YO Auto Driver Who Raised Rs 1.5 Crore in 1 Month For Keralas Poor!

In December 2018, 28-year-old Sushanth Nilambur from Malappuram district of Kerala, started posting pictures and videos of people in urgent need of help.

His first video was for his brother who had met with an accident and was in urgent need of financial aid. The post led to Rs 2 lakhs being collected. In one month, Sushanth managed to raise Rs 1.5 crores for the needy in Kerala!

Read more here.

7) Seen the Pune Househelps Viral Visiting Card? Heres The Story Behind It!

In a matter of ten minutes, life changed for Geeta Kale.

Kale works as a househelp. When she told one of employersDhanashree Shinde that another employer had laid her off, Shinde quickly got a visiting card made for Kale. Not only that, Shinde also circulated the image of the card on Whatsapp among her friends and acquaintances.

Consequently, Kales phone was flooded with calls a few days later. The back to back calls were from people who had seen Kales visiting card, something that is uncommon among househelps.

People were eager to hire Kale for services including cleaning vessels, mopping, sweeping and washing clothes.

I remember the happiness I felt when we got the cards delivered. I gave Geeta a bunch and urged her to hand it over to the watchmen of the buildings where she worked and kept a few for myself, says Dhanashree.

Read more here.

8) Mysuru Man Quits Job, Takes 70-YO Mom Touring on a Scooter!

In October this year, business tycoon Anand Mahindra requested the Twitterati to help him connect with Dakshina Murthy Krishna Kumar from Mysuru.

The business tycoon wanted to gift the lucky man a Mahindra KUV 100 NXT.

Why?

Because in 2018, Dakshina quit his banking job and took his mother on a pilgrimage across the temples in India on a scooter.

Mahindra was so moved by Dakshinas love for his mother, that he decided to give him a car.

By the time the tweet went viral, the mother-son duo had covered around 48,000 KM on the scooter travelling to places like Nepal and Bhutan. They travelled during the day and stayed in dharamshalas or temples at night.

It is very rare to see such gestures by a son for his mother!

Read more here.

9) Twitter Reacts: Entire Flight Gives Heros Reception to ISRO Chief K Sivan!

One of the many ways in which the country thanked the ISRO chief K Sivan for his contributions was the loud applause on a flight in October this year.

Sivan was travelling economy class. As soon as he entered the flight, the crew started taking selfies. He not only obliged but was also kind enough to strike up a conversation.

In the viral video, Sivan can be seen smiling shyly at the overwhelming reception. It was heartwarming indeed, to see peoples love and respect for the eminent scientist.

Read more here.

10) Rs 17 lakh in 4 Days: How a Viral Social Media Post Saved a Starving Family in Kashmir

Four days after a video surfaced of a family starving to death in South Kashmirs Hapatnaar village, citizens from across the country donated blankets, bedsheets and a total of Rs 17 lakhs.

Ranjan Jotshi, a government official from the Social Welfare Department is the man behind changing the deplorable situation of 78-year-old Mouzudin Bhat and his family of five.

I visited them. The familys condition was very pitiful. The children had not eaten food for the last three or four days. Mouzudin Bhat, the only male member of the family and a senior citizen, was disabled after breaking his right leg in a fall at a building site eight years ago. Ive seen poverty in Kashmir before, but this is the first time I had seen people in this condition, Jotshi told The Better India.

After buying kitchen essentials like bread, milk, vegetables, edible oil, atta and pulses on the day he met the Bhat family, Jotshi uploaded a video and bank details of the family online.

Government officials like Jotshi not only restore our faith in humanity but also remind us that the people in power carry a moral responsibility to serve those in need.

Read more here.

Also Read: Cooking For a Cause, Mom-Daughter Aim to Feed 90 Needy Kids For a Year

(Edited by Saiqua Sultan)

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More here:
Kashmir to Kerala: 10 Viral Stories of 2019 That Restored Our Faith in Humanity - The Better India

As we inch ever closer to the new year, were all in on the 2019 reflection process. With that in mind, we tapped some of our favorite local interiors experts and pro builders to share their most memorable building and design projects of 2019. May this kick your creative juices into overdrive as we embark on 2020!

Ridley Wills, Owner & Design Director

These are photos of a playhouse we built for Cheekwood. It was our most fun project of the year because it brought great delight to the children visiting Cheekwoods gardens throughout the summer. It was based on E.B. Whites classic Charlottes Web and complemented an exhibit of original artwork from that and other childrens books.

A nod to the classic Charlottes Web, this wonderful playhouse was designed and created by The Wills Company for Cheekwoods Storybook Houses exhibit. Image: The Wills Company

Check out Charlottes web! Image: The Wills Company

Wilbur played a starring role in this whimsical design. Image: The Wills Company

Mark Holliday, President

Traces most memorable project in 2019 was the home created by combining and completely reconfiguring two condominium units in Nashvilles 505 building, at the corner of Fifth and Church. The project was for new Nashvillians (by way of California) who wanted to downsize from their traditional family home. They did not want a copy of their old home in a new setting, and they did not want to end up with a cold, contemporary white box. To the rescue: Trace Ventures talented design-build team.

This project was memorable because it was fun. It incorporated luxury finishes and fixtures (examples include a floating walnut vanity and Moroccan trellis tile) as well as artistic yet functional solutions such as a curved architectural ceiling to hide pipes and wires, and a custom cabinet that transforms into a bed or craft table. The end result is an expression of warm sophistication, with layered neutrals and bursts of saturated earth tones, forming the perfect backdrop for sunrises and sunsets. Cozy gathering areas for lounging, entertaining and relaxing overlook stunning views of downtown Nashville.

Luxury finishes with functional solutions are just a few of the key features in this memorable project. Image: @360Nash

We can only imagine the sunrises and sunsets viewed from this beautiful bedroom with a view! Image: @360Nash

Sara Ray, Owner

We were lucky to have a lot of really memorable projects in 2019! One of our favorites was a renovation and decor project in Westhaven. Our client and her husband have lived all around the world, and our goal was to incorporate many of the special pieces from their travels into the overall design aesthetic. This project consisted of a master bathroom renovation and two guest bath renovations, plus furnishings and decor for the living room, foyer, powder bath, master and guest bathrooms, and guest bedrooms. The most memorable aspect of this project, which made it so special to us, was the endearing stories she told about the collected pieces we placed throughout her home whether they were family heirlooms or keepsakes from time spent abroad. It was truly a pleasure to create spaces where these memories can be seen and enjoyed every day. Extra fun project!

With pieces collected from their travels, this couples home has memories around every corner. Image: Kristen Mayfield

Tyler F. LeMarinel, Partner

As a smaller, local architecture firm, we dont often get the opportunity to work within a high-rise building. Needless to say, we were all very excited when we were approached by Dave Haverkamp, a local realtor and developer, to take four one-bedroom units within the ICON and combine them into one incredible suite. When Dave bought them, the four units had already been demolished down to the shell. The previous owner had aspirations of doing something similar, so the work had already begun. The biggest challenge, as with most high-rise buildings, is to work within the framework of the buildings systems. Because all floors above and below share plumbing, HVAC lines, etc., we had to design around many lines that simply couldnt be moved. With that in mind, we set out to create a suite that felt clean and modern, with ample natural light and large open spaces. The suite actually has frontage on three different sides of the building, so preserving the incredible views of downtown were of paramount importance. In the end, this one-of-a-kind space speaks to a laid back, luxurious lifestyle overlooking the hustle and bustle of downtown.

This modern suite has an open floor plan with an abundance of natural light filtering in from its many windows. Image: Jeff Graham

This reading chair offers the opportunity to relax and dig into a good book or gaze at the Nashville skyline. Image: Jeff Graham

Blair Parkes, Interior Designer & Co-founder

This was such a fun renovation because its a wonderful family that we have been working with for a few years now. We first started decorating the house, and then the family decided to do a renovation for a large portion of the house. The kitchen, bar and breakfast areas were our favorite part of the renovation because they combined a current look with the clean lines of the shaker cabinets. The cabinets were painted in a crisp, warm white yet still embedded organic elements such as a plaster hood, handmade tile and honed quartzite. And, of course, we always want it to be reflective of the clients style, which is livable, comfortable, organic and extra-durable with their three small children!

The clean lines of the shaker cabinets lent a beautiful aesthetic to this kitchen space designed by Parkes & Lamb. Image: Mary Craven Dawkins of Mary Craven Photography

This lighting fixture stands out as a focal piece against the white kitchen backdrop. Image: Mary Craven Dawkins of Mary Craven Photography

A classic breakfast nook | Image: Mary Craven Dawkins of Mary Craven Photography

RELATED: 10 Next-Level Bathrooms by Top Southern Designers

McLean Barbieri, Interior Designer & Partner

While I do primarily residential projects, getting to work on Robbins Plastic Surgery (RPS) with Lesley Beeman of Zeitlin Architects was a treat. In the waiting room, the custom lighting that mimics the RPS logo leads the eye to work by local artist Tess Davies. In another nook, we highlighted a photograph by Caroline Allison. At every turn in this office, Dr. Robbins wanted to use art, furniture and rugs that speak to his personality, and it made the project a joy.

McLean Barbieri, of Annali Interiors, reflects on her design for Robbins Plastic Surgery. Image: Cassidy Pflibsen

Neutral colors create a serene atmosphere while you wait. Image: Cassidy Pflibsen

Paul Hammond, Co-founder

This project was a whole-house overhaul. We took the home from a very dark and gothic (think gargoyle statues and all dark colors) home to one filled with natural light and updated modern finishes. The original home was built in the early 70s, with several subsequent additions/remodels over the years. Some of the unique interior design challenges that made this home special were the porchs custom ceiling work and custom linear fireplace with a floating hearth, the random master bath tile pattern with brass inlay strips, the book-matched walnut cabinets in the kitchen, the custom tarnished brass shroud at the kitchen hood and the inset LED strip light above the kitchen island, by Alloy LED.

In addition to the whole-house overhaul, Hammond & Brandt converted a horse stable into a party barn/studio/guest house. We salvaged some of the original stall wall lumber for use on the ceilings in the new spaces, added a sleeping loft, custom nine-foot-tall sliding doors, kitchenette and full-tile bath.

With custom finishes and an updated design, Hammond & Brandt modernized this early 70s home. Image: Kristen Mayfield

Paul tells us that one of the unique features of the design is the custom tarnished brass shroud at the kitchen hood.He explains that the brass-wrapped steel post directly behind the hood is a major structural component supporting the entire center of the home. Image: Kristen Mayfield

RELATED: What to Know BEFORE You Renovate: Experts Weigh In

Let there be light! And note the book-matched walnut cabinets that line the kitchen. Image: Kristen Mayfield

The aforementioned random master bath tile pattern with brass inlay strips | Image: Kristen Mayfield

(Editors Note: Paul would like to recognize the contributions of architect Steve Durden of Durden Architecture and interior designer Lori Paranjape, who both collaborated on the project!)

Brad Ramsey, Interior Designer & Founder

For me, the most memorable project of 2019 was designing and moving into our new studio space. We did the remodel at the end of 2018 and spent the beginning of 2019 getting organized and settled in. To best be able to design for others, I have to feel like the space I am working in is organized, beautiful and has good energy. We worked hard to create a space that reflects our design and also functions well for us.

Brad says he set out to design a space thats organized, beautiful and has good energy. Mission accomplished! Image: Oh Hey Photo!

We worked hard to create a space that reflects our design and also functions well for us, Brad says. Image: Oh Hey Photo!

Mark Simmons, Interior Designer & Founder

Our most memorable project of 2019 was a little different, as it was on wheels! We got to help a client turn their Sprinter van into an English cottage they could enjoy wherever they venture complete with pull out sofa, swing arm lamps with custom shades, and pop-up desk for on-the-road work.

An English cottage on wheels, designed by Mark Simmons | Image: Mark Simmons Interiors

Would you be able to tell this was a Sprinter van? Image: Mark Simmons Interiors

Adam Floyd, Owner

The House Beautiful project was certainly a highlight of 2019. The level of detail and depth of thought that went into each space was really something incredible. The caliber of design talent from across the country, as well as right here in Nashville, was like a witches brew. We all pushed the envelope and went outside our comfort zones, with deadlines that are not typically that tight or stakes that high. I like that feeling, and I enjoyed getting to see my team rise to the occasion. I am proud of how our little part turned out.

Talk about a custom closet! This design from The Closet Company, created for the House Beautiful home, is nothing short of a dream. Image: Adam Floyd

Wishing you and yours a creative and inspired new year!

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Check out ourhome and interior design archivesfor more inspiration!

Read the original:
Local Builders' & Designers' Favorite Projects of the Year - StyleBlueprint