Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

417 CHOWNING CIRCLE, KETTERING

Walk-out lower level, kitchen, baths updated

Hidden under a dropped roof-line of this home is 5,100 square feet of living space and renovations that started with a main-level great addition, a redesign of the original floor plan and updates to the kitchen, bathrooms and walk-out lower level.

Listed for $475,000 by Irongate Inc. Realtors, the brick tri-level at 417 Chowning Circle in Kettering sits on a 1.31-acre, corner lot with a three-car garage and a courtyard patio with a pergola and retractable awning.

Formal entry opens from glass doors into a foyer with high ceilings, ceramic-tile flooring and refinished hardwood staircases. To the right is the entrance to the main social areas, including a living room with gas fireplace flanked by built-in bookcases. Fluted, arched walkways and cutouts are accented by wainscoting and provide access to the formal dining room, which has built-in cabinetry surrounding a granite buffet counter.

The great room addition has a cathedral ceiling, two window seats that flank an oversized, gas fireplace. Flooring treatment divides the room as there is an island bar and wall cabinetry. Patio doors open to the courtyard patio, which is surrounded by a brick wall.

Tucked off the living room is the kitchen, which has light cabinetry, including a buffet counter and island. There are also granite countertops, stainless-steel appliances, including a six-burn gas stove, wood-paneled sub-zero refrigerator and a breakfast nook with bench seating. Access to the garage is off the kitchen.

Three bedrooms and two full bathrooms are upstairs. The main bedroom has an updated bathroom with a tall double-sink vanity, whirlpool tub, glass-block, dual-head shower and an L-shaped walk-in closet with several built-in organizers. A second bedroom has a private bath that features a ceramic-tile surround walk-in shower with glass door and a single-sink vanity. The third bedroom is off the loft and is currently being used as an office. There is also a half bathroom on the second level.

The lower level could possibly be used as a guest suite as it has a single-door entrance off the back of the house. The staircase leads down to a family room with a full wall of built-in bookcases surrounding a gas fireplace. Tucked into one corner is a wet bar with glass and bottle racks. A hallway leads to a full bathroom with shower and single-sink vanity and laundry room with wash tub, two folding counters and access to a storage closet. A fourth bedroom has a double-door closet and a walk-in closet as well as a daylight window.

Open house: Aug. 6, 1-4 p.m.

Directions: West Stroop to north on Overland Trail to left on Chowning Circle

Home highlights: About 5,100 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 1 half bath, 3 gas fireplace, cathedral ceilings, walk-out lower level, wet bar, updated kitchen, 3-car garage, dual HVAC systems, courtyard patio, retractable awning, updated roof 2015, 1.31-acre corner lot.

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Great room addition redesigns floor plan - Dayton Daily News

The owner of the Sheraton at the Falls Hotel in Niagara Falls says he needs tax incentives to make his $20 million water park feasible.

That's why MichaelDiCienzo applied to theNiagara County Industrial Development Agency for a 12-year reduction on property taxes that would be assessed on the planned 150,000-square-foot, two-story facility.

The package also would include an exemption from paying sales taxes on the building materials and the equipment and furnishings for the water park. The NCIDA staff estimated that the incentives would save DiCienzo's company $6.6 million over the 12-year period.

"There's a lot more risks with attractions. It is needed to make the project successful," DiCienzo said after the NCIDA board agreed to schedule a public hearing on his request. A vote is likely when the board meets Sept. 13.

The Niagara Daredevil Waterpark, as the hotel calls it, would operate indoors year-round in an addition to the hotel and create 30 new full-time jobs and 20 part-time jobs,according to the company's application.

The water park would be built on a vacant lot owned by the City of Niagara Falls. In October 2015, the City Council agreed to sell the land to DiCienzo's firm for $189,262. However, the city's planning director, Thomas DeSantis, said Wednesday the sale has not yet closed.

DiCienzo told the NCIDA board that Niagara Daredevil would take about a year to build.

"It's close to shovel-ready," he said.

"It's great to have a family-friendly recreational project like that," said William L. Ross, the former Niagara County Legislature chairman, who serves on the NCIDA board.

DiCienzo said his water park would give his hotel and others a chance to lure more guests in the off-season.

"The hotels are busy for 100 days," he said. "It's a fantastic attraction and it's much needed. ... It brings new people in and keeps them here longer."

The incentive application, made in the name of NFNY Hotel Management,makes no mention of a $50 million, 200-roomaddition to the top of the hotel, which also was part of an expansion plan NFNY unveiled May 1.

DiCienzo said that would be the second phase of the expansion project at the Sheraton. DeSantis said the city Planning Board already has given conditional approval to the hotel addition, but if the project encroaches on the city's Third Street right of way, DiCienzo would have to take the hotel addition back before the Planning Board and the Council.

When the proposal was announced, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul A. Dyster was unenthusiastic about the Niagara Daredevil proposal.

Itwould be close to another proposed water park, Uniland Development's Wonder Falls project, which is supposed to be built in the unused portion of the old Rainbow Centre Mall at Rainbow Boulevard and Niagara Street.

Uniland was chosen by USA Niagara, the local arm of Empire State Development, to reuse that property. The Niagara County Community College Culinary Institute occupies the rest of the old mall.

DiCienzo said Empire State Development has declined to offer him any incentives for his project because it would compete with Wonder Falls.

"We have been unsuccessful. It's very disappointing," DiCienzo said of his approaches to Empire State Development. "We're looking for other possibilities."

The DiCienzo family owns hotels on both sides of the international border. Awater park operates on the roof of the parking garage that serves their Sheraton and Crowne Plaza hotels near Casino Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ont.

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Niagara Falls hotel seeks IDA tax break on planned $20 million water park - Buffalo News

A proposed addition to the Isle of Palms Recreation Center will make its way to full town council next month. If approved the recreation department building will feature a new state-of-the-art workout facility.

The designer for this project is a southeast architectural firm known as LS3P, located in Charleston, who specialize ininteriors, planning, and historic preservation services to a wide variety of clients nationwide.

The proposed fitness room specifies a 2,443 square foot addition at an initial estimate of $200 per square foot. The design includes a mirror wall, stretching area, bench, cubbies and new machinery according to the LS3P conceptual plan.

"All we have right now is cardio equipment, what I recommendputting in a fitness room is resistance equipment, for the upper body, lower body, legs, pecks, abs, etc." said Isle of Palms Recreation Director Norma Jean Page

The size of the addition is based on an occupancy of less than 50 people and therefore only one exit is required. Along with a double glass door with glazing for easy monitoring and movement of equipment. However, a full code analysis has not yet been completed and still needs to verify that the existingegress width and plumbing fixture count are compliantwith the additional occupant load, according to LS3P principal and public sector leader David Burt.

The totality of the project's expenditures will cost approximately $700,000, including the $100,000 of commercial grade fitness equipment from Carolina Specialty Fitness and an estimated annual additional utility cost of $6,422, according to city treasurer Debbie Sugg's financial analytics.

"I know that island people don't like to leave the island and we have quite a few folks that are members at O2 Fitness and other fitness centers and I think this would be a good alternative and they would join this as opposed to going across the bridge," Page said.

Important to note that all trees in the vicinitywill be preservedand no such removal will be necessaryfor the project's building plan, according to City Council.

City Council will hear first reading of the proposal after Labor Day weekend on Wednesday Sept. 6 at 11 a.m. located at 1207 Palm Blvd. Isle of Palms, SC.

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Town Crier - IOP Rec. Center proposes additional fitness room - Moultrie News

Rodney FergusonChief operating officer, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino

Ferguson

In 2014, the Forest County Potawatomi tribe opened a 381-room hotel at its casino in the Menomonee Valley. It is one of the largest hotels in Milwaukee. Now, three years later, the tribe says it plans to expand the hotel with a 119-room and suite addition, which will bring its total room number up to 500.

The project will also include the addition of 15,000 square feet of meeting space, bringing the total meeting space at the hotel and casino to about 65,000 square feet.

Construction for the $80 million project is expected to begin this fall and be complete in the spring of 2019.

In a recent interview with BizTimes Milwaukee editor Andrew Weiland, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino chief operating officer Rodney Ferguson explained the hotel expansion plans.

The reason we built the initial hotel was because there was a demand from our standpoint to satisfy our market. Typically if you have a casino without a hotel, you can extend the stay of your guests by adding some accommodations for them. We have been increasing our guest counts on a regular basis as a result of the hotel. Over the past three years, our attendance levels have skyrocketed. We went from 4 million in attendance (the year prior to the hotel opening) to over 6 million last year. We also knew when we built the first hotel, we didnt have enough suites. Thats something our guests really like. So we decided to add on another 59, which will quadruple the number of suites that we have.

Another thing we learned from talking to our guests they wanted some additional amenities, other than the restaurants and shows. So, we decided to have a spa and salon where you can get a manicure, pedicure, facials, haircuts. Another reason (for the hotel expansion) is, of course when we built the hotel we had some meeting space. We didnt have enough space in the casino and as we added the hotel we added more meeting rooms, as well, and that still hasnt been enough. We will be adding on some additional space for additional meetings.

It will take about 18 months (to build the hotel addition) from start to finish. Fortunately, we designed the property with the possibility of expanding, so we dont have to do the level of pilings that we did for the first project. So, it will be much easier to start and complete this project.

Rodney FergusonChief operating officer, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino

In 2014, the Forest County Potawatomi tribe opened a 381-room hotel at its casino in the Menomonee Valley. It is one of the largest hotels in Milwaukee. Now, three years later, the tribe says it plans to expand the hotel with a 119-room and suite addition, which will bring its total room number up to 500.

The project will also include the addition of 15,000 square feet of meeting space, bringing the total meeting space at the hotel and casino to about 65,000 square feet.

Construction for the $80 million project is expected to begin this fall and be complete in the spring of 2019.

In a recent interview with BizTimes Milwaukee editor Andrew Weiland, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino chief operating officer Rodney Ferguson explained the hotel expansion plans.

The reason we built the initial hotel was because there was a demand from our standpoint to satisfy our market. Typically if you have a casino without a hotel, you can extend the stay of your guests by adding some accommodations for them. We have been increasing our guest counts on a regular basis as a result of the hotel. Over the past three years, our attendance levels have skyrocketed. We went from 4 million in attendance (the year prior to the hotel opening) to over 6 million last year. We also knew when we built the first hotel, we didnt have enough suites. Thats something our guests really like. So we decided to add on another 59, which will quadruple the number of suites that we have.

Another thing we learned from talking to our guests they wanted some additional amenities, other than the restaurants and shows. So, we decided to have a spa and salon where you can get a manicure, pedicure, facials, haircuts. Another reason (for the hotel expansion) is, of course when we built the hotel we had some meeting space. We didnt have enough space in the casino and as we added the hotel we added more meeting rooms, as well, and that still hasnt been enough. We will be adding on some additional space for additional meetings.

It will take about 18 months (to build the hotel addition) from start to finish. Fortunately, we designed the property with the possibility of expanding, so we dont have to do the level of pilings that we did for the first project. So, it will be much easier to start and complete this project.

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5 minutes with Rodney Ferguson - BizTimes.com (Milwaukee)

The 2017 Summer Learning Program has just ended and we are thrilled to announce we had a record-breaking year with more than 1,000 children county-wide signing up to participate.

I believe the overwhelming response this year was due to the changes made to our usual summer program. First of all, we changed the name from Summer Reading to Summer Learning because, in addition to reading, we wanted to encourage families to explore their community. To support this goal, we changed the reward system so that when children finished their 10-book challenge, they received a custom-designed t-shirt. During July, when the children wore their t-shirts to participating businesses, they received special reading rewards, such as free ice cream, pizza, etc.

If you noticed lots of green T-shirts around town, now you know why. Parents and children have told us they had a great time visiting the generous businesses who partnered with us to offer reading rewards. They include Benny Adelinas, the Blue Ridge Institute and Museum, Dairy Queen of Rocky Mount and Ferrum, Daylight Donuts, Homestead Creamery, McDonalds of Rocky Mount, Rocky Mount Bowling Center, TNT Auto Body Repair and Service Centers, Westlake Cinema, The Whole Bean Coffeehouse and The Zone Family Fun Center. Parents and children alike appreciated the support given by these local businesses and they greatly enjoyed the rewards of the program.

Dairy Queen, The Zone Family Fun Center, and TNT Auto Body Repair and Service also hosted Bookmobile visits. In addition to the rewards offered by each business, the bookmobile offered activities and crafts for children and the opportunity to check in and out books.

And if exploring the community and reading rewards were not enough, we had special programming at both the Main and Westlake libraries throughout the summer. The Friends of the Franklin County Library provided the funding for great events such as Craft Day, Larsens Amazing Lizards, Red Herring Puppets, and Jonathan Austins Juggling and Magic Show. Our Main Library annual Carnival Day was made even better this year with the contribution of balloons by Jimmy Russell State Farm and the donation of personal pan pizza coupons by Pizza Hut. Mugsy, the mascot of the Salem Red Sox, even came to join the festivities.

It has been wonderful to see the community support childrens literacy this summer. So many businesses were excited to partner with us and we thank them for such a successful year.

Here at the Main Library we have also been enjoying our newly created Teen Room where we offer special programming for patrons aged 13-17. In June and July, teens participated in our journaling workshop as well as FAN Club. This summers FAN Club themes included Board Games, Comic Books, Middle Earth and Doctor Who. At each of these meetings we enjoyed snacks, themed activities, and encouraged teens to play as their favorite characters. We hope to take advantage of the momentum of such a great summer by continuing to hold FAN Club meetings during the school year--the first of which will be held Saturday, Sept. 9, from 2-3 p.m. Teens are invited to come join the fun and be a part of planning future FAN Club themes.

Many other popular programs such as art classes and Lego Club will also be returning this fall. Be sure to pick up our monthly event calendar or check our website at library.franklincountyva.gov to find out whats happening.

Thank you library staff, Friends groups, local businesses and patrons for making this one of the best Summer Learning Programs ever!

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Summer programs included new Teen Room - Franklin News Post

Behati Prinsloo is in the midst of a lot of life achievements. She recently had her first child, she just landed a major beauty campaign, and now she and husband Adam Levine have a new home. The pair just dropped $18 million on a Holmby Hills mansion, as Trulia reports, and it is as lavish as West Coast living gets. For starters, the home comes with a coveted pedigree: It was designed by famed architect Casper Ehmcke in 1966 and has all the touchstones of quintessential indoor/outdoor living. There's also the fact that the home has not one but two marble master bedrooms, a rarity.

The property welcomes in guests through a gate, where they arrive at a long walkway into the home, outlined by classic Hollywood palm fronds and tropical landscaping. The black- and white-checkered foyer is illuminated by a crystal chandelier a feature that's repeated in the living room as well as the dining room.

Trulia

Trulia

With glass doors that open into the backyard, Behati and Levine's living room is centered around a fireplace. Naturally, it houses enough space for a grand piano, which the musician will no doubt get a lot of mileage from.

Trulia

Trulia

Trulia

Trulia

Meanwhile, the 9200-square foot home has plenty of room for the growing family which includes the recent addition of baby Dusty Rose. "I have a daughter, I have the most beautiful wife in the entire world," The Voice host said of his family as he was receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame back in February, as Us Weekly reported. "[Dusty's] unbelievable. Im so in love with her. Its crazy." Aside from having two master bedrooms, the home also features another three bedrooms and bathrooms.

Trulia

Trulia

Trulia

Trulia

Plus, there's plenty of room for dining as well. In addition to a formal dining room, the estate also boasts a breakfast solarium.

Trulia

The social couple will have no problems entertaining as Behati and Levine's new home comes equipped with a two-story guest house, a three-car garage, and ample parking on a motor court.

Trulia

But the crown jewel of the $18 million home has to be the custom-shaped pool, which is fenced in with lush landscaping.

Trulia

Trulia

Related: Behind the Scenes with Behati Prinsloo

Get Up Close and Personal with Supermodels in W Video:

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Look Inside Behati Prinsloo and Adam Levine's $18 Million Los Angeles Mansion - W Magazine

Kitchen islands are command central. Playing host to everything from homework to happy hour, islands are often the most popular spot in the house as well as a stunning showcase of style.

It used to be that islands played an important role in allowing homeowners to gain more countertop for cooking, but its really taken on a whole new life in todays kitchen, said Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends for MasterBrand Cabinets, its more about creating a focal point within the space for social and family interaction, in addition to the food prep.

Designer Denise Bosley, owner of Denise Bosley Interiors in Sierra Madre said, If homeowners can fit an island, they will have an island.

In many cases, the bigger the better.

The popularity of open floor plans has resulted in larger islands that serve as a kitchen workhorse, Grand Central for socializing and a piece of custom furniture that connects spaces and creates flow.

If an oversized island is on the wish list, however, Bosley advises clients to think it through. You have to consider things like the type of stone you want to use, said Bosley, if you do want a really large island youre going to have seams and some people dont like that.

Bosley said one 11-foot island she installed required a seam down the center to merge two slabs. You dont see it in pictures, and it becomes an afterthought then you build this big island and think, oh, boy.

Paul LEsperance, co-owner of LEsperance Design in West Hollywood said when it comes to countertops, his clients are requesting Neolith, an ultra-compact surface material manufactured by combining raw materials found in glass, porcelain and quartz under extreme heat and intense pressure.

Everybody wants the beauty of Calcutta marble, said LEsperance, but they dont want the upkeep this is selling like crazy.

Bosley agreed. People want marble, but they know its not practical for most family kitchens, she said, weve been using a lot of quartz, and a lot of new [manufactured] materials coming out that look like marble.

Upgraded islands also boast bigger sinks. Its not just a small prep sink anymore, said Bosley. People are using them to wash dishes and share during prep.

Divided sinks are out too, LEsperance said: Everybody wants the big trough, farm sinks in stainless steel or enamel.

The biggest news in islands, however, is color.

The island is a great opportunity to provide some personality with color or warmth with wood tones, so we are seeing islands being utilized a lot as an accent element.

Everybody wants to paint their cabinets right now, said LEsperance. Theres a little bit of a revolt from white so the first project people jump on is an island because its not like redoing all the cabinets.

Well do white perimeter cabinets, said Bosley, and color on the island. Navy blues, beachy shades and bold greens and blues are trending.

Blue is definitely the number one pick for kitchen accent colors this year, said Pierce, and its all shades.

Hague Blue from Farrow and Ball is beautiful, said LEsperance, you know with [inspiration from the] islands, people can go a little more wild.

For your design inspiration, we pored over our photo archives for some of our favorite kitchen islands. Enjoy!

Bonnie McCarthy contributes to the Los Angeles Times as a home and lifestyle design writer. She enjoys scouting for directional trends and reporting on whats new and next. Follow her on Twitter @ThsAmericanHome.

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Kitchen islands are getting bigger, better and more colorful than ever - Los Angeles Times

Nesconset

5 Hearthstone Lane

$799,999

The sunroom in this four-bedroom Colonial has an air conditioner, ceiling fan and heater, essentially making it a four-seasons room, says listing agent Bryan Karp of Re/Max Eastern Properties. For 365 days a year, even when its snowing outside, you could be out there in that room getting the beautiful seclusion of the backyard, Karp says. The sunroom, accessed by sliding glass doors in the den, has vaulted glass-paneled ceilings with adjustable blinds. The 12-by-16-foot room overlooks the tree-lined backyard, which includes a heated in-ground saltwater pool surrounded by a paver patio. The home, built in 2000, features 2 12 bathrooms. Beyond the entry hall are formal living and dining rooms, a den with a fireplace and an eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Hardwood floors run throughout the house. The master suite has tray ceilings, a walk-in closet and full bathroom. The 0.4-acre property, with taxes of $19,596, includes a partially finished basement and a two-car garage. Bryan Karp, Re/Max Eastern Properties, 516-384-0571

746 Vivian Ct.

$529,000

A 17-by-25-foot sunroom, with electricity and heat, is situated at the back of this four-bedroom, three-bathroom high-ranch. Fully glassed on the walls and ceiling, the sunroom has UV-protective, streak-free glass, says listing agent Anthony Artale of Keller Williams Realty Greater. Sliding glass doors off the first-level family room open to the sunroom, which also features a door leading out to the backyard of the 68-by-93-foot property. The 1961 house, with hardwood flooring throughout, includes a granite eat-in kitchen, living room and formal dining room on the main level. The master bedroom includes one of the homes three full bathrooms, one of which includes a Jacuzzi tub. The corner property, with taxes of $12,001, also features an attached two-car garage. Anthony Artale, Keller Williams Realty Greater, 516-322-0123

127 Chestnut St.

$569,990

The sunroom in this three-bedroom Colonial offers views of the one-acre property, which has a 26-foot koi pond with two waterfalls. The 18-by-24-foot four-season sunroom also features radiant heated floors, says listing agent Carol Grau of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Sliding glass doors off the sunroom open to an expansive brick patio and pergola that overlook the yard and gardens. Double glass-panel doors leads into the kitchen, which has granite countertops and a butlers pantry. The updated home, built in 1974, includes 2 12 bathrooms, formal living and dining rooms and a den with a fireplace. French doors open to the master suite, which has a separate sitting room, a 7-by-19-foot walk-in closet with his-and-her entrances, a bathroom with a walk-in shower stall, Jacuzzi tub and bidet, and sliders that open to a private balcony. The 120-by-363-foot property, with taxes of $14,138, also includes a partially finished basement, an attached one-car garage and a greenhouse. Carol Grau, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 631-875-2596

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If you want a house with a sunroom - Newsday

Hear the full conversation

Is your sidewalk a hazard? Has your driveway seen better days? Cracks in concrete happen over time, and they're sometimes difficult to troubleshoot, especially if the problem is due to a tree root or uneven ground.

During this hour ofTalk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe talks with home improvement expert Bill McAnally about concrete, asphalt and other paving solutions for your driveway, sidewalk, patio or paving project.

McAnally says that it's important to think about how paving connects to stairs, as tripping hazards are a real problem for some people when they try to fix cracks.

"A lot of times what people dont look at is that when our sidewalks and driveways butt up against the house, they lead to steps. If you step off your steps and you are going nine inches instead of seven, or five instead of seven, youre going to either jar your back or trip. You may get used to it, but visitors might not. You have to think, 'What will this affect?'"

McAnally also answers listener questions during the show.

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Cracked Concrete in Your Driveway? - Iowa Public Radio

Builder Magazine

Coastal-Inspired Cottage Promotes a Laidback Lifestyle Builder Magazine Sabal can offer these lavish architectural touches in so many forms because the company began as a custom home builder, so craftsmanship is part of its history. As the firm grew, it maintained this level of detail by maximizing efficiency in production ...

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Coastal-Inspired Cottage Promotes a Laidback Lifestyle - Builder Magazine