Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Where: 55 Maple Street in Frankfort

Amenities: There is an amazing opportunity for this picture-perfect custom 1.5 story in downtown Frankfort, just steps from the Old Plank Road Trail and everything that is downtown. Almost everything is new or updated in this beautiful home. The paver walkway leads to the fabulous pillared wraparound front porch. Enter through the upscale front door into the gorgeous entry with an elevated soft trey ceiling and hardwood floor. The stunning great room comes with a beamed cathedral ceiling, dual skylights, hardwood floor, waist-high wainscoting and a double-sided fireplace. There is a completely renovated kitchen with antique white cabinets including soft-close drawers and doors, granite counters, a farm-style sink, stone backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a custom built-in seating/area area. There is also a fabulous playroom/music room/study with a custom fireplace hardwood floor and cathedral ceiling. The much-desired main-level master bedroom features a tray ceiling and dual walk-in closets. The fabulous master bath suite comes with a custom vanity, including antique white drawers and doors that soft-close, granite counters, dual sinks and an oversized sit-down shower. There is an additional main-level bedroom/study with an elevated ceiling, triple-arched windows and hardwood floor. The second level includes two additional spacious bedrooms and a full guest bath with a custom vanity, granite counters and skylight. The full-finished English basement includes heated floors, a forced walkout, gorgeous oversize plank vinyl flooring, a brick fireplace, a 3/4 bathroom, workshop area and storage. There is also an oversized main-level laundry room with work area and cabinets. You will love this amazing rear screened-in porch with a plank tray ceiling and floor overlooking the professional landscaped lot with a sprinkler system and brick paver patio. The home comes with an oversized 3 1/2 car side load garage with an epoxy floor, radiant heat and hot and cold running water. The home is equipped with dual furnace/dual air conditioning units, and there is radiant heat in the basement and garage side. There are two-panel white doors and trim throughout. There is absolutely nothing to do but move right in.

Asking Price:$575,000

Listing Agent:James Murphy. For more information, call (815) 464-1110, email murphygroup@sbcglobal.net or contact murphyrealestategroup.com.

Listing Brokerage: Murphy Real Estate Group

The rest is here:
Home of the Week: 55 Maple Street in Frankfort - The Frankfort Station

Exposed brick, soaring ceilings and an oversized tree-shaded lot are just a handful of architectural and natural elements that make 3709 Maplewood Avenue an iconic home in Old Highland Park.

Originally designed by Dallas architect Overton Shelmire as his personal residence, the traditional 5,455 square foot home blends cozy elegance with updated spaces tailor made for entertaining and relaxing. It channels New Orleans with its distinctive style and enclaves of hospitality.

The four bedroom, four-and-a-half bath home sits on a gorgeously green oversized lot that features multiple patios, a large grassy yard with room to roam and a lavish swimming pool, complete with fountains and glorious views of the treetops. The current asking price is $3,850,000.

3709 Maplewood welcomes guests the moment they walk across the threshold and sets the tone for celebrations of all sizes. The first floor features multiple living and dining areas, plus a second service kitchen for entertaining. This is a house built for enjoying time with friends and family.

The main dining room is full of personality, thanks to a charming brick wall and fireplace on one side and natural light from expansive windows on the other. The house flows seamlessly, with an inside/out feel. Everywhere you look, sunshine and the propertys lush foliage beckon.

The pice de rsistance of the first floor is the charming and romantic master bedroom. The conical vaulted ceiling is stunning, while yet another fireplace ensconced in the homes signature brick anchors the room. Double doors leading to the swimming pool can be opened, making the room even larger. The master bathroom is finished with luxurious touches like dual sinks, white marble countertops, extensive storage and more of that perfect natural light.

The second floor boasts an impressive 24 foot by 18 foot game room with built-in cabinets and a convenient guest bathroom. An additional guest suite gives family and friends their own private escape, while still being just a flight of stairs away.

The perfect place for coffee in the morning or cocktails in the evening, the poolside patio rivals any resort. Towering trees and lush green grass play off the sparkling pool, while giving views of the interior of the home.

This family-friendly home is also in a neighborhood ideal for children of every age. The top-rated Armstrong Elementary School is just .2 miles from the front doors, while highly-ranked McCulloch Intermediate School and Highland Park Middle School are less than a mile away.

Maplewood channels the Big Easy with its brick walls and columns, painted wood floors, plantation shutters and welcoming French Doors.

And just like New Orleans, this house was made for letting the good times roll.

3709 Maplewood

Square Footage:5,455

Bedrooms:Four

Bathrooms:Four and one half baths

Listing Agent:Michelle Wood,214-564-0234

For an even closer look at 3709 Maplewood, scroll through the photo gallery above and below this story.

See the original post:
Architecturally Significant $3.8 Million Highland Park Home Lets the Good Times Roll With New Orleans Flair - PaperCity Magazine

CUTTING back on takeaways and eating out helped first-time buyers Adam Everiss and Laura Perry save almost 70,000 for their three-bed home in Berkshire.

The couple also lived with their parents until aged 28 and 27 before moving into their 419,950 new build house in June this year.

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Adam, 29, a top headhunter, is a higher rate tax payers earning over 50,000 a year, and Laura, 28, who works in human resources, were lucky enough not to have to make any drastic changes to their lifestyle.

But both say that its the small changes they made that helped them save more and move out quicker.

Swapping eating out and takeaways for homemade meals saw their weekly bill drop from 120 to 50, meaning they could put the spare cash into savings.

They also set up direct debits for 2,500 between them on payday, which stopped them from overspending every month, and swapping nights out for evenings at friends' houses also helped them cut back.

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The couple, whove been dating for five years now, lived 20 miles apart while they saved - Adam at his mum's house in Basingstoke and Laura with her mum in Wokingham.

We would have struggled to save so much had we been renting somewhere, Adam told The Sun.

For us, it was the little things that we changed that ended up adding up.

In two years, the couple saved 69,500 to cover a 15 per cent deposit, stamp duty and fees before reserving their home at the end of 2018.

We spoke to Adam about what it takes to become a property owner for My First Home.

It is a three bedroom semi-detached new build house in a Redrow development.

The layout works well for entertaining. There is a living room at the front and at the back a kitchen-diner with patio doors into the garden, which is turfed. Theres also a shed.

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We had a joint party to celebrate moving in and Laura's birthday with about 30 people.

The space worked really well as we can shut off the rest of the house and have a party at the back in the kitchen and garden.

We got a great upgrade through negotiations with Redrow, which included a fridge freezer, dishwasher, oven and hob and upgraded cupboards and worktops. We only had to buy a washing machine.

Upstairs we have two double bedrooms and a single. This means we can have a guest room and Laura also has her own dressing room.

We needed 69,900 to cover the deposit, fees and stamp duty.

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We put down a 15 per cent deposit worth 63,000 and the developer paid for 1,000 out of the 1,400 solicitor fees as an incentive.

Because first time buyers don't pay stamp duty on the first 300,000 we only had to pay the tax on 119,950 worth of the property. That works out at 6,500.

Weve got a two-year fixed-rate deal with Nationwide for 1.74 per cent, which is quite low.

It was a nice surprise because wed been prepared to be told we had to pay a higher rate because I'm a subcontractor on a day rate and not employed on a full-time contract.

We also thought that this might have an effect on how much we could borrow.

I had to provide several months worth of wage slips and a letter of employment but in the end we were actually offered more than we needed to borrow.

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It meant that we didnt need as big as a deposit but we decided to take out the smaller mortgage so our monthly repayments were less and our lifestyles didnt have to change much.

We took it out over 35 years and we pay 1,032 a month, plus a 350 service charge for estate maintenance.

Laura has always been a saver - shes has been saving since her first job at age 17 when she did a business administration apprenticeship.

She was only earning 9,000 a year but she still saved 50 a month, which increased over the years as her earnings went up.

It is something which her family instilled in her. If you want things you need to save for them. It encouraged me to save too.

Weve been together for five years and spent two years saving 23,000 to go travelling.

When we got back, we decided to save for a house. Laura had some savings leftover and we are fortunate to earn good money so we didnt have to change our lifestyle too much.

What help is out there for first-time buyers?

GETTING on the property ladder can feel like a daunting task but there are schemes out there to help first-time buyers have their own home.

Help to Buy Isa- It's a tax-free savings account where for every 200 you save, the Government will add an extra 50. But there's a maximum limit of 3,000 which is paid to your solicitor when you move.

Help to Buy equity loan - The Government will lend you up to 20 per cent of the home's value - or 40 per cent in London - after you've put down a five per cent deposit. The loan is on top of a normal mortgage but it can only be used to buy a new build property. You can no longer open a new account, but existing account holders have until December 1 2030 to claim the bonus.

Lifetime Isa- This is another Government scheme that gives anyone aged 18 to 39 the chance to save tax-free and get a bonus of up to 32,000 towards their first home. You can save up to 4,000 a year and the Government will add 25 per cent on top.

Shared ownership- Co-owning with a housing association means you can buy a part of the property and pay rent on the remaining amount. You can buy anything from 25 to 75 per cent of the property but you're restricted to specific ones.

"First dibs" in London- London Mayor Sadiq Khan is working on a scheme that will restrict sales of all new-build homes in the capital up to 350,000 to UK buyers for three months before any overseas marketing can take place.

Starter Home Initiative- A Government scheme that will see 200,000 new-build homes in England sold to first-time buyers with a 20 per cent discount by 2020. To receive updates on the progress of these homes you can register your interest on theStarter Homeswebsite.

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Both of us had never moved out of our parents house either. Neither of us had to pay rent or keep although we did help out with the shopping.

This really helped us to save so much - we wouldnt have been able to do it if wed been renting.

We set up direct debits for a combined 2,500 to our savings account on payday. This helped stop us from overspending.

We made small changes, which helped us save more though. We would spend around 120 a week eating out, generally getting a take away or going out on Friday and Saturday.

But we cut this back to just one per weekend, opting to cook at home instead.

Its mad when you realise how much you spend eating out - a takeaway would normally cost us around 50 and you think, how is that only for two of us?

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We also spent less on going out - but this wasnt something wed consciously decided to do.

As we were a bit older, our friends had already started to buy houses so instead of going out as much, we would go round to our mates houses for dinner and inadvertently save money.

But I wouldnt say we socialised less, just more economically.

If we had any cash leftover at the end of the month then we transferred that over to savings too.

Laura did open a Help to Buy Isa but we didn't end up using it because we didn't qualify for the bonus as youre limited to buying a house of up to 250,000 or 450,000 in London. Ours was over that limit.

We reserved the house in November 2018 and knew completion would be in May 2019 - although this ended up being June - so we had six months to keep saving to furnish the house.

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This was really when I stopped buying things such as new clothes and instead bought stuff for the house including cutlery and light fittings.

There were lots of deals over Christmas and the January sales - Sainsbury's had some good deals on homeware.

We bought pots and pans and all of our furniture brand new as we could afford to. Since putting down the deposit, I reckon weve spent between 9,000 to 10,000 getting everything we need.

I didnt realise how expensive all of this stuff was!

It was quite a big change for me as I had been living at home for 27 years and I was moving from Basingstoke, whereas Laura was more familiar with the area.

We didn't move in for a month. We moved in gradually, slowly taking in furniture, doing it all in our own time.

ON THE LADDER I bought 210k two-bed house despite having a CCJ and terrible credit score

HOLIDAY DELAY We bought 370k house by giving up holidays and takeaways

STUB IT OUT We quit smoking to help save 8k deposit to buy 125k three-bed first home

TAKE NOTE How we knocked 15,000 off asking price for 235,000 three-bed first home

FLYING SOLO How I legally 'tweaked' my salary to get a mortgage to buy 183k first home

It was quite a nice process not having to do it in a day. It was so much less stressful this way.

Buying your own house is so expensive, even after moving in!

Im still managing to save about 1,000 a month and Laura saves 500 or more.

But this is more for going on holiday and things - weve still got a few more places that we want to see next year.

More here:
How we saved 70k in two-years to buy 420k home by cutting back on takeaways and nights out - The Sun

PHOTO COURTESY WINDSOR MILL TAVERN.

by Tim Downey

After the fire of 2017 that leveled almost the entire structure of theWindsorMill, we are proud and happy that on October 2, 2019 we opened our doors to a new beginning with theWindsorMillTavern.

Built on the garden-level and opening to a patio with a fire pit on a heated cement floor, this is one of the few areas of the old millto have survived the fire. Our construction team did an amazing job of cleaning stone, brick, and massive beams that hark back to the history of our belovedmill. Originally built in 1899, for over a century it was the centerpiece of this town.

Our interior is cozy, vibrant and inviting very conducive to a party atmosphere. We also have, through reservation, a small Wine Room seating 6 to 8 guests in a living room-like alcove with a rental fee that goes to charity.

As with many new establishments, our menu is a work-in-progress. While we consider it a very good start, we will most likely be tweaking or revising it in the months to come based on the feedback of our guests and new inspirations.

We serve upscale pub food. That might seem at first like an oxymoron until you see old familiar favorites with a new twist such as Deviled Eggs, Battered Sidewinder Fries, Pork Wings, Tavern Board that includes Game Sausage and Artisan Cheese, and Tavern Mac n Cheese with options to add Pork Belly, Grilled Chicken, or Shredded Beef. We source locally whenever possible including Great Range Bison, House of Smoke Game Sausage, and Windsor-based NoCo Beef.

And along with a full bar and outstanding cocktails, we are proud to offer an assortment of delicious and moderately priced mocktails under the menu category Designated Driver. We may be the first to identify our non-alcoholic drinks like that but hey, perhaps well start a trend we support improved safety on the road.

Were off to a great new beginning. Our venue is very attractive and our food and beverage menus are great. But what truly makes us worth your while to visit is our staff. We hire some most engaged, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and accommodating staff youre likely to find anywhere. They fully understand the meaning of hospitality. They are kind, attentive and excited to be part of the community and of our team.

WindsorMillTavern | 301 Main Street, Unit C |Windsor, CO 80550 | 970-833-5124

Open every day at 4 pm

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Risen from the Ashes - Windsor Mill Tavern - scenenoco.com

COUNTRY

Address 1 Fortlawn, Cappa, Kilrush, Co ClareAgent Pat Considine AuctioneersOn the outskirts of Kilrush town and 1km from Cappa pier, this house measures 195sq m (2,099sq ft). Accommodation includes an open-plan kitchen and dining room, a living room with marble fireplace, a toilet, a utility and an en-suite bedroom on the ground floor. Upstairs are four bedrooms, two with en suites, and a bathroom. There are gardens front and back. Views include the Shannon Estuary and Kilrush Marina. BER: C1Plus Great condition inside, and tastefully decoratedMinus The garden could do with some more shrubs

Address 44a Jamestown Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8Agent PropertyTeam Patrick MoranThis detached house has an L-shaped open-plan kitchen, living and dining room with double doors to a patio, a utility and a toilet. Upstairs are two en-suite bedrooms. The house has a drive at the front and patio at the back. BER: A3Plus Has a good energy ratingMinus Uninspiring design with mean windows and odd angles inside

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What will 320k buy in Dublin 8 and Co Clare? - Irish Times

CALLOUS thieves ransacked a couples home before taking off with an unusual array of Christmas gifts.

Christmas presents, cards, and mince pies were among the items taken from the couples home, in Greensward Lane, Hockley, along with their mobile phones, watches and Euros.

The couple, who wished to remain anonymous, had returned home from dinner, to find thieves had ransacked their home after forcing a window open.

The 61-year-old woman said: We were out between 3pm and 7pm, and came home to find all the lights were on.

Theyd tried the patio door, the back door, smashed the window and tried to pop the frame to get in, and had gone through the cabinet, spare bedrooms, the office and our bedroom. They were clearly not giving up till the got in and turned the place upside down.

Theyd pulled the curtains so nobody could see what they were doing, and looked through all our teapots to find money, which is all they seemed to care about finding.

Although the fact they took the jumper, pyjamas and mince pies which wed bought for a 94-year-old family friend was a surprise, along with the 500 we had left from holiday. They even took a card which we were due to give to our neighbour for Christmas.

What were most worried about is the van key being stolen - were now having to hide the van and block it in with a car in case they come back. Its costing us 1,050 just to get the van locks changed, fixing the patio doors will cost a couple of grand, weve got to replace the frames and window, the phones were worth about 200 each, so its gonna cost thousands to fix.

The family believe at least two people were involved in the incident.

The victim added: When forensics came round they found two different glove marks, so were sure at least two people broke in. It was quite a shock to us both; my husband was in a bit of a panic at the time.

I dont really want to leave the house now if I can help it and were getting an alarm installed. I want people to be aware this is going on and ask that if anyone can help please come forward.

A spokesperson from Essex Police, said: We were called at around 8.45pm on Sunday 15 December about a burglary in Greensward Lane, Hockley.

A woman reported that suspects forced entry to a back window before taking watches, phones and other items from inside.

The investigation has been allocated to an investigative officer and we have been reviewing CCTV.

Anyone with information is asked to call Southend CID on 101 quoting crime reference 42/197893/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

More:
Couple's anger as thieves ransack Hockley home - Echo

The first Ghibli Park in Japan and the world for that matter wont open for another three years. However, lots have been revealed about the attractions that will populate the site, which is set within the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute City near Nagoya (about three hours by train from Tokyo). While we agree it may be a tad too early to get all excited, we can't help but pore over all the artist impressions of the theme park that have been made public so far. So, if you're a big fan like us, here's what you can expect from the world-famous creators of the hit anime My Neighbor Totoro (1988), Princess Mononoke (1997) and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away (2001).

Studio Ghibli has announced that its first theme park will be divided into five areas: Hill of Youth, Ghiblis Large Warehouse, Mononokes Village, Valley of Witches and Dondoko Forest. All these attractions are based on the studios most famous flicks and will blend in perfectly with the locations existing nature.

Photo: Studio Ghibli

Located close to the north entrance of the park, the Hill of Youth is based on Howls Moving Castle (2004). There will be a yellow gate and observationtower featuring fictitious 19th century objects.

Photo: Studio Ghibli

Fans of Whisper of the Heart (1995), which was set in the Tokyo neighbourhood of Seiseki-Sakuragaoka in Western Tokyo, will recognise this red building. With the surrounding greenery, it looks exactly like the antique shop in the movie.

Photo: Studio Ghibli

A former swimming pool which closed down in September 2018 will be transformed into theGhiblis Large Warehouse. This part of the theme park will be shielded from the elements, so you can still enjoy the attraction regardless of the weather.

Photo: Studio Ghibli

The indoor area will house an exhibition room, a small cinema, a childrens playground, shops and restaurants, plus a warehouse to store all the exhibits. The vibrant and eclectic setting will incorporate Japanese and Western architectural designs.

Photo: Studio Ghibli

Mononokes Village sees a real-life recreation of Tatara-ba, the Irontown depicted in the movie Princess Mononoke. Tatara refers to the traditional Japanese furnace thats used for smelting iron and steel while Mononoke means spirit or supernatural monster. As such, youll find figures ofthe powerful god of destruction (otherwise also known as tatari gami in the movie), the boar god Lord Okkoto as well as other mystical creatures within the premises. The scenery takes you back to a rural landscape from the Muromachi period (1336-1573), in which the movie is set.

Photo: Studio Ghibli

The design of the Valley of Witches draws inspiration from Howls Moving Castle and Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) both films feature protagonists who are able to perform magic.

Photo: Studio Ghibli

This aerial-view illustration of a European cityscape features restaurants, amusement facilities and rest areas, along with a real-life Howls Castle and the family home of Kiki.

Photo: Studio Ghibli

Surrounded by lush nature, the Dondoko Forest resembles a rural landscape from the Showa period (19261989) and features Satsuki and Meis house from My Neighbor Totoro. The areas name is derived from the Dondoko Dance, which the two sisters perform together with the spirit Totoro in hopes that the seeds they sowed earlier will sprout.

Looking at these preliminary visuals, we can't wait to venture into the fantasy world of Studio Ghibli. The thing is, not everything will open at the same time. The Hill of Youth, Ghiblis Large Warehouse and the Dondoko Forest are scheduled to open in autumn 2022 while Mononokes Village and the Valley of Witches will not be ready until a yearlater in autumn 2023. Well keep you posted as we get more updates on the Ghibli Park.

In the meantime, visit the official Ghibli Museum in Mitaka to brush up on your Studio Ghibli knowledge.

Read more:
What we know so far about the world's first Ghibli Park - Time Out

Once the festivities are offer, why not shake off the winter blues by heading to one of the new resorts opening in 2020? The best luxury openings from Miami to St Barths are ideal for globetrotters who appreciate the latest in design, but who are also conscious about their travel footprint.

It's a true Miami vibe at the Celino.

Opening in February 2020, TheCelino South Beachin Miami has been carved out of three Art Deco buildings, including the landmark Park Central Hotel. A Small Luxury Hotel, it will have a boutique feel witheclectic custom furniture, pops of colour, and a rooftop pool featuring a peekaboo glass bottom that is visible from the Atrium below. Cheeky.

Picture perfect pool moment.

Park Central Hotel,a favouriteof silver screen stars like Bogart and Hayworth, was allegedly the birthplace of the conga line and guests will find witty nods to this with conga-line kits with how-to guides, drums and cigars in their rooms. The opening is also particularly good timing for those in town for the 54thSuper Bowl, taking place in Miami in February.

Preserving the natural beauty is key at North Island in the Seychelles.

If far-flung and off the beaten track is more your thing, then head tothe exquisiteNorth Island, Seychelles, aLuxury Collection Resort.

The brands first private island destination is found in the heart of the Seychelles, and offers privacy and exclusivity with just 11 villas so theres no chance of overcrowding. Located 30km off the mainland of Mah, it is reached by helicopter or a leisurely hours boat ride.

Be at one with nature at North Island.

Intent to demonstrate that luxury can coexist with conscience the resort has a pioneering conservation programme and a thorough sustainable ethos. A range of dining venues, with daily changing menus, according to what has been harvested on the island, and a wide variety of experiences such as guided excursions and forest trails will no doubt enhance a stay here.

The iconic Eden Rock is open again.

Not new exactly, but one to put on your radar, nonetheless, especially if you are in the mood for the ultimate in luxury holidaying the iconic Eden Rock in St Barths has finally completed its two year renovation after the impact of Hurricane Irma in 2017. Part of the prestigious Oetker Collection, the new look has been presided over by Martin Brudnizki and the hotel now offers new villas and suites, the Remy Salon and Bar, spa and restaurant. Guests can expect a contemporary art collection throughout and a fresh look which calls on the heritage of the French Caribbean.

One of the newly designed Camelot Suite showcases Soane's pretty signature.

Another transformation of an iconic property, also in the Caribbean, has taken place at Cobblers Cove in Barbados. Set in a former plantation, the all-suite hotel has undergone a five-year transformation under the watchful eye of owner Sam de Teran, who has converted the property into one of the chicest places to stay in the Caribbean. The final chapter of its re-design journey, has seen a collaboration with British designer Soane Britain. She has transformed the great entrance hall, drawing room and two signature suites, taking inspiration from the islands flora, architecture and original plantation houses. Think: pretty as a picture.

Have a far-flung adventure in Panama.

Opening this month in Panama, Islas Secas promises to bring the wow factor and more. Aiming to inspire guests through its embracing of a truly unspoilt location across 14 tropical islands it will no doubt lay down a marker for other eco-destinations, due to its green credentials such as being powered by 100% solar-generated energy. The resort sleeps just 18 guests across four casitas (with a further three tented casitas to launch in March 2020) and offers the chance for far-flung adventures from marine safaris to immersive natural experiences, such as witnessing the migrating Humpback Whales. The elemental spa tent, found in wild tropical jungle, meanwhile, is just the place to lose your mind.

Even the dining at Islas Secas embraces the great outdoors.

Finally, one to mark in your diaries for the summer, is the opening of One&Only Mandarina set to put the undeveloped stretch ofcoastline along the Riviera Nayarit in Mexico on the map. Located on a spectacular cliff-side overlooking the Pacific Ocean with dramatic vistas and a lush rainforest setting, One&Only Mandarina will lead the opening of the multi-billion-dollarMandarinadevelopment.

One of the Ocean Cliff Villas at One&Only Mandarina.

Blending chic interiors amid the verdant jungle wilderness, guests can stay in free-standing villas that float above the treetops or perch against the cliffs each with their own private plunge pool. Allowing nature to take centre stage, the hotel has been built to blend with the environment. Botany experts were consulted on the development of the resort to minimise the effect on the existing natural landscape, and careful low-density planning has preserved the land and the historic and ecological importance of the destination.Aiming to be a hub for reconnecting with self, the hotel will offer mindfulness sessions under the stars, meals with jaw-dropping panoramic views or an open-air spa treatment under the tree canopy. Bliss.

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Six Of The Best: The Ultimate Places In The World To Escape Winter - Forbes

The UnitedHealthcare Accelerator Powered by Techstars Demo Day featured a wide range of ambitious and interesting medtech startups. Weve already taken a look at the class roster, but we decided to catch up with the programs managing director, Matt Miller, for a little postmortem of the 2019 event and a look ahead at what the 2020 edition will bring.

tech.mn: The 2019 program is still pretty recent, but looking back at the entire experience, what are your thoughts on the program and its class?

Matt Miller: Most Techstars programs take time to build momentum in their first year. Its a new thing in new city, so it takes time to get up to speed. That wasnt the case with this program because of the gravity of UnitedHealthcare (UHC). That let us hit the ground running, and it was also a massive advantage coming in as a first-time managing director.

We also had the upper hand from a location standpoint. Were fully convinced theres no better place in the world to build a healthcare company than Minneapolis. It has the vast majority of senior healthcare executives, a low cost of living, high quality of life Combining a location that makes sense with a partner that makes sense gave us an opportunity to really capitalize

tech.mn: Womens health, nutrition, diagnosis, health benefits, logistics it was a pretty diverse collection of specialties from the class. Is there any consideration of creating that kind of diverse lineup when sifting through the applicants?

MM: We have four pillars quality, cost, access, and engagement of care. Sometimes, its really hard to get people to take care of themselves. So, we might look for solutions that are specific to disease states or that have advance analytics, for example. We also look at the entire age range. There are massive problems all over, covering a wide range of people. It just happened to be that the most compelling, most brilliant founders that I met just happened to be working in these spaces and addressed whole life span.

We also make sure theres no internal competition within the class. Ultimately, it comes down to the strength of team, size of problem, and viability of solution being proposed.

tech.mn: How do you feel the accelerator is helping shape the Twin Cities tech startup scene?

MM: Once a business is here, theyll realize this is the best place in world to build a healthcare company. There are all kinds opportunities to be involved in the process such as participating in events, demo days, and more.

tech.mn: The applications for 2020 close in May. Whats on your to-do list between now and then?

MM: Ill be spending a lot of time with UHC and other health system executives at large and getting an awareness of trends and problems that arent yet being addressed by solutions. What should we be thinking about next?

Ill also be representing Techstars at conferences like CES, the StartUp Health Festival at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society conference (HIMSS).

I might also be traveling to Bangalore. Sometimes picking a global solution in the healthcare space is tricky because our healthcare landscape is so nuanced and complicated that its not always transferrable across borders, but its worth looking.

tech.mn: Its still early, but what can people expect from the 2020 event?

MM: Once the class begins to take shape, well focus on curating the content curriculum and mentor pool. UHC has such broad spectrum of services that they provide. The result is a wide swath of subject matter experts with knowledge thats able to be transferred. There was a lot of education required to fully recruit the pool of executives and subject experts this year and many had never worked with startups. But were already getting unsolicited asks to be involved next year.

tech.mn: Whats your advice for the health-focused startups out there considering applying to the 2020 program?

MM: Were looking for world-class founders who are addressing real problems and are looking for coaching and mentorship. Some programs have tried to over-engineer the process, but Ive found that serendipity is real. Its a dual opt-in situation the mentors and companies meet, and both choose whether or not they want to work together. Some mentor pairs arent what youve expected.

But you have to be all in and you need to be willing to laugh at my corny jokes.

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SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 18, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Puls, the trusted home services company, today announced the launch of more than a dozen new services in cities across the U.S. The new services include furniture assembly, appliance installation, sheetrock repair, interior painting, wall hanging, holiday light hanging, and more have been added to Puls's existing services including appliance repair, TV mounting, and mobile device repair. Puls also today announced the launch of Puls+, a membership program rolling out in cities across the U.S. The annual membership program providesconsumers a 20% discount onall Puls services, priority booking, an extended guarantee, and premium customer support.

"We've taken the headache out of hiring technicians for home services. Our customers love our easy scheduling, same-day appointment availability, and quality guarantee," said CEO Mitch Galbraith."We consistently hear from our customers they wish we offered more services, so we've responded."

"Offering the Puls+ membership program to consumers is another step in delivering on our promise to enable customers to truly 'own' their home. Puls+ makes in-home services from Puls even more affordable, faster and hassle-free," said Itai Hirsch, President & Co-Founder of Puls.

Puls has served more than 350,000 customers since its inception growing its nationwide network of skilled technicians to more than 6,000 providers and is now hiring to meet demand. The company saw a 425% year-over-year increase in the number of home services jobs completed by Puls technicians. The new membership program is available in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, San Antonio, Tampa, Tucson, and DC.

Bookings for home service appointments and signups for themembership program are accessibleonline via the Puls website: https://puls.com/membership

About Puls: Puls is a San Francisco based company that provides in-home repairs and installations to customers across the U.S. Operating with a network of more than 6,000 fully vetted technicians.Puls offers appliance repair and other service appointments at the click of a button and empowers its professional technicians to quickly and efficiently fix problems and provide peace of mind. Puls makes your home work so you can make everything else work.

SOURCE Puls Technologies Inc

https://puls.com

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Puls Announces Expanded Suite Of Home Services And New Membership Program, Puls+, In 22 Markets Across The US - PRNewswire