Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Two more cabinet ministers in the Harper government have signalled theyre heading for the exits as the clock ticks down to the next federal election.

Heritage Minister Shelly Glover and International Development Minister Christian Paradis both chose the Good Friday holiday to announce theyre preparing to leave politics.

The timing meant they didnt have to run a gauntlet of media and explain why they are bowing out when theres a little more than six months left before an expected federal ballot.

They both cited personal reasons.

Ms. Glover and Mr. Paradis will remain in cabinet until the election but will not seek another term in office.

There has now been three retirement announcements in the Harper cabinet in 60 days.

A Conservative source wouldnt rule out the possibility of more departures, pointing to the crop of MPs elected in 1997 or 2000 as those most likely to consider calling it quits.

Former foreign affairs minister John Baird left cabinet rather abruptly in February to pursue a private career and hes since been hired by Hong Kong billionaire Richard Li as an adviser.

The late departure notices from Ms. Glover and Mr. Paradis leave replacement candidates less time to build their profiles.

While they were by no means household names, Mr. Paradis was an incumbent MP in Quebec, a province where the Conservatives have been repeatedly frustrated in their attempts to gain ground.

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Two federal cabinet ministers announce departure from politics

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - ?Here is a list of some road projects from around the Heartland.

Bollinger County, MO

Route N in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform edge rut repairs. This section of roadway is located between Route F to Route 51. Weather permitting, work will take place Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.

Butler County, MO

Route 53 in Butler County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs. This section of roadway is located from County Road 616 to County Road 617. Weather permitting, work will performed Monday, April 6 through Thursday, April 9 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily.

MoDOT is currently planning to improve three Butler Co. bridges. Two of the bridges are located on Route 142 over Hart Ditch and Long Slough Ditch. The third bridge is on Route 158 over the drainage ditch located about 0.7 miles west of Route BB. The project will involve replacing the existing bridges over Hart Ditch and the drainage ditch.

The bridge over Long Slough Ditch will be replaced with a culvert; grading and paving will also be completed. Acquisition of the right-of-way will be minimal and will only be required for the Hart Ditch bridge project. Existing utility lines will be affected on this project. Construction of the new bridge is expected to begin in summer 2015.

Work is expected to be finished in about four months, weather permitting. As construction is underway, Rte. 142 and Rte. 158 will be closed to through traffic in the vicinity of the bridges for the duration of the work. Property owners within the project limits will have access into their properties during this time.

Ripley/Butler Counties, MO

Route 160 in Ripley and Butler Counties will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as contractor crews replace culverts. This section of road is located between Route JJ and Route 67. Weather permitting, crews will be working on Tuesday, Feb. 10 through Friday, April 17 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

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Heartland road projects for 4/4

Yanic Simard, Houzz Contributor

They say you never know what you had till its gone, and thats certainly true for windows. When dealing with a windowless room, you really start to miss the natural light and appreciate the openness they bring. But whether youre planning a little corrective construction or just a quick fix, there are plenty of ways to bring that same feeling to your basement, den, kitchen and more.

8 Cost-Effective Ways to Get a High-End Look

1. Mirrors. Adding a large mirror to your wall is one of the first ways to simulate the effect of a window, not just for bouncing some light but also for adding a sense of depth that breaks up claustrophobic wall planes. In a space with a low-ceiling, use as large a mirror as possible, reaching close to the ceiling (but not all the way up; stop 4 to 6 inches below) to distract from the ceiling line.

2. White walls. White (or very pale blue) walls help simulate the fresh, full-spectrum sparkle of natural sunlight, while subtly reflecting light from every source for the brightest look possible. Choosing one color for the walls and ceiling also helps the edges float away, so encroaching walls are not the focal point; rather, the items within earn the attention.

3. Large art. Similar to a mirror, a large art piece (especially one in a white or metallic frame with a lot of white background) breaks up walls like a window would and brings in a snap of lightness for those who dont like white as a floor-to-ceiling color.

Looking to Make a Statement? Find Stunning New Artwork

4. French doors. Adding windows to a doorway (by converting to French doors) also gives the eye that sense of peeking out into a space beyond, and lets a new ambient light source in, even if the adjacent room is simply a pantry. Add a few lights inside or a single ceiling fixture (with a cool fluorescent bulb), and the hint of light pouring out will give the illusion of daylight.

5. Hidden lights. Tucking a few lights where they cant be seen helps give your room a sense of an indirect glow that mimics light pouring in from a nearby window. Try placing lamps between beams, behind furniture (such as behind a sofa) or tucked next to a bookcase to make the light source more mysterious.

6. Transoms. Another architectural way to add a nonspecific light source is to add a window between a room and an adjacent space (especially if the next room over has natural light to share). Placed high enough, a transom window (technically, transom is the term for the piece of wall dividing a window and the door below) will open a space to new light without compromising privacy.

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11 Ways To Work With A Windowless Room

Moving the toilet off to the right allowed expanding the shower and tub fixtures in this remodel.

Our team worked with the homeowners of a Rancho Peasquitos home to transform their out-of-date bathroom into a bright, spalike retreat.

The existing bathroom was bland and outdated and featured an awkward layout. The original tub and shower were cramped in a dark corner of the bathroom. The shower was a small standard box with no feeling of luxury or style. Because we had to keep the same overall footprint and couldnt enlarge the space allocated for the bathroom, space planning was an essential element in creating the new master bathroom.

Our team strategized to develop the best approach to the layout and decided to move the toilet area, expanding the shower into its former space. By adding a pony wall to the side of the shower, we were able to tuck the toilet area into a cozy and private alcove. To incorporate our clients desire for a spalike experience, we selected a heated toilet with a bidet function.

The roomy new shower and tub are carefully positioned in the space for a clean, modern presentation. Viewed from the shower or the tub, the room is peaceful and full of light. Clean, straight lines are paramount. A new, modern, white quartz tub was under-mounted to align cleanly with the cabinetry. Innovative placement allowed for a significantly larger tub than in the original bathroom. A wall of gray porcelain 12-by-24-inch textured tile delineates the space, while a new window treatment lets natural light flood into the room.

For the cabinetry, we chose bamboo with a reddish stain to convey an elegant feel. We also added a vanity area providing ample storage with easy access to extra towels, emphasizing the home spa feel. The color palette of subdued grays and clean white was selected to fortify a sense of calm retreat.

A trough sink was our teams solution to fitting two sinks into a limited space. At 48 inches long, the sink provides plenty of room for sharing while keeping a low visual profile. Simple modern fixtures underline the serene mood of the room.

The bathroom floor is Italian Ergon engineered stone, noted for its resemblance to wood flooring while also being a green-friendly material.

With cool neutral colors and natural light filling the space, this new master bath is the perfect place for homeowners to leave their worries and stress at the door.

Todd Jackson is the Founder and CEO of Jackson Design and Remodeling. He can be reached at (619) 442-6125, info@jacksondesignandremodeling.com; http://www.jacksondesignandremodeling.com

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Remodeled bath is relaxing retreat

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