Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

I do not want to be the big looking glass of civilization but just the small pocket mirror of everyday life. Peter Altenberg

Charlie sort of came into my life sideways. I was living on Sanford Lake and some people I hadnt known very long came to visit and they had picked up a little dog they found in the streets of Saginaw. It was Saturday and the animal control shelter was closed for the weekend. Did I want another dog?

I have a photo of my holding Charlie the day he came to live with me. He was a beagle and part something else. He was mostly brown and he had this little lost look on his face that touched my heart. How could I let this little guy go to the animal control shelter?

I already had Loki, a beautiful part German Shepherd and part something else. Loki came into my life when we were celebrating I Love Animals Week and one of my second-graders brought this little puppy in for Show and Tell. I dont remember saying anything but on Friday of that week, my second-grader came up and said to me, Mrs. Florey, if you dont come and pick your dog up, were taking him to the dog pound.

After the school buses left and we could go home, I went to pick up the puppy, who I was told was named Bruno. I called Dr. Bill Tower, who had been our veterinarian from the time we got Fritz in 1961, and I took Bruno in for a checkup. After examining him, Bill said, You look too good to be put on the reject pile. And that night I drove down to Dick and Jeans to show my new puppy and when Kerry saw him she said, He doesnt look like a Bruno. He looks like Loki, the Norwegian god of mischief. So just like that Bruno became Loki.

We led a relatively peaceful life, the two of us. But now here was a new puppy.

Charlie loved Loki immediately. Loki did not reciprocate the feeling. He wanted nothing to do with another dog who was going to share his home and my attention. Charlie followed Loki all over. Whether in the yard or in the house, Loki couldnt get away from Charlie. The only place that Charlie didnt like was the water. Sanford Lake was an unknown quantity and Charlie wanted it to stay that way.

In the mornings when Charlie woke up, he would waddle to the patio doors until I opened them and he would go out on the patio, stand there looking at the lake and then back into the house as fast as he could move. Loki loved the water. Charlie didnt and no amount of coaxing or the promise of treats could lure him even down to the dock.

And then October came.

It was the sort of October that made you forget that winter was coming. The trees were all gold and red. The lake was rimmed with color. And one morning after breakfast, Charlie wanted outside because Loki was outside.

Continue reading here:
The Pocket Mirror: Charlie, buried in my heart

POLICE are warning residents not to leave their car keys lying round at night after a spate of burglaries.

Thieves have stolen thousands of pounds of vehicles from houses across Basildon in the past week.

Officers are urging people to be vigilant and to not leave their car keys by the front door or in their coat pockets when they go to bed.

Bizarrely, a number of the break-ins have seen crooks dump the stolen car just yards from the victims home.

It is not known if this was because the cars were out of fuel or the crooks did not know how to drive them.

Sgt Angie Torrance, from Basildon police station, said: A number of these break-ins have involved front and patio doors being forced open. We advise people to ensure they properly lock their doors at night and to consider fitting a door chain and bolt.

While high-value cars are always going to be a target for criminals, we have found it is not solely these vehicles which have been stolen.

All keys should always be hidden away at night.

If members of the public see anything suspicious in their neighbourhood, if they see anyone abandoning a vehicle or acting suspiciously in a vehicle at night, I urge them to contact the police immediately.

The first burglary happened between 3.30am and 8am on February 20, when thieves broke in to a house in Glenmere, Vange, by forcing open the front door.

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Burglars targeting homes for car keys

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Maid Service Los Angeles, Encino Housekeeper, House ...

Bowling balls at 1722 Beverly Place. Photo: John Storey

I find the use of bowling balls as lawn art to be undeniably quirky. For me, that starts with the premise that bowling itself is whimsical an antithesis for the social isolation of our era.

Today, Berkeley has only one bowling venue, one which mustbe seen as at least a bit eccentric.

Lawn bowling at 2270 Acton St. Photo: Tom Dalzell

Thus it ever was not. In addition to the Berkeley Bowl on Shattuck and the underground bowling at the student union, we had at least three bowling alleys:

Left without a single alley today, we compensate with bowling balls as lawn decoration. Sometimes it is a single ball, sometimes a cluster. Sometimes black, sometimes bright colors. Sometimes overwhelmed by weeds, sometimes proudly landscaped.

Bowling balls at 22 Tunnel Rd on Oak Ridge Path. Photo: John Storey

Bowling balls at 3017 Wheeler St. Photo: John Storey

Bowling ball at 1036 Pardee St. Photo: John Storey

Continued here:
How Quirky is Berkeley: Bowling balls as garden art

If good design is invisible, then you might not notice the intentional choices that go into designing a landscape. Its the work of a landscape architect to subtly guide you through a physical space and shape how you interact with it, and its a bit more than just choosing the potted plants.

To learn more about the work of a landscape architect, we spoke with Bret Hanson, who has worked for a variety of firms on projects ranging from public infrastructure to landscapes with Walt Disney Imagineering, and now is working in sustainable urban design with LPA Inc.

Pictured above: Plan for West Hollywood Park, image by LPA Inc.

Howdy! My name is Bret Hanson and I am a licensed landscape architect, which gives me the awesome authority to legally call myself a landscape architect, sign documents into construction, and explain to people I do more than residential. Currently I work for multi-disciplinary design firm, LPA Inc., in our Orange County office, specifically our Urban Design Studio. I have 10ish years of experience (straight outta Kansas) having worked at (four) very different companies and covered probably every market segment imaginable. Currently, my portfolio in LPAs Urban Design Studio focuses on civic, health care, life science, and various targeted developer work.

I was born, raised, schooled, and corn bread fed in Kansas. My mums side of the family were people of the soil, before, during, and after the depression. I spent a lot of my youth on our grandparents farm hunting, fishing, camping, hay bailing, off-roading, cow-tipping, and adventuring throughout the rural surroundings. One of my dads passions is sailing (yes, we actually have lakes in Kansas) so we also spent a lot of weekends on the water. Additionally, my mum has a background in textiles and my dad is a professional guitarist so I like to think some creativity inherently runs through these country veins.

As a kid my toy arsenal included LEGO, Lincoln Logs, G.I. Joes, He-Man, etc. From these tools many elaborate structures and forts were built with epic battles ensuing. This evolved during high school by me delving into architecture classes, even though I had the drawing skills of a two year old. I originally attended college to pursue architecture but switched to landscape architecture because I thought it offered more variety and was more encompassing. The biological nature of a landscape being alive was, and still is, poetic to me. These traits and experiences helped guide where I landed today, and planted the seed for my love and respect for working with our exterior environment.

I was born a surfer in a Kansans body, so after graduating with a Bachelors of Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University, it was California or bust. KSUs program offers a semester long study abroad or internship program. I decided to intern abroad in California and snagged a couple of great internships in Orange County, which led to a permanent position after graduation. The steps to becoming a professional landscape architect are similar to architecture.

The internet memes usually portray landscape architects as either mowing lawns or sitting behind a desk clicking CAD all day. Part of this is true and you can definitely get pigeon-holed. In reality, no matter the discipline (landscape architect, architect, engineer, etc), our profession is extremely expansive. We are not only designers but planners, innovators, communicators, writers, coordinators, managers, marketers, green building leaders, and more. Landscape architects not only need to know about plants but also paving, walls, fence, rails, concrete, wood, metal, furniture, lighting, water features, irrigation, water management, and sustainability. Additionally, we must understand the construction of each piece and how they all stitch together cohesively within the overall site and ecological cycle. We do not just draw beautiful lines those lines must be approved by agencies, to code, within budget, buildable by contractors, and hopefully sustainable. As Ned Stark once quipped, One does not simply draw a paving joint.

Additionally projects have multiple phases and each phase has different players clients, multiple disciplines, consultants, product vendors, cities, agencies and contractors. This makes coordination and communication two of the most important skills within our profession as they are continuous throughout project life. An over simplified project phasing would be Conceptual Design, Construction Documentation (drawing and writing how project is built, agency approvals, bidding), and Construction.

Personally my current week is roughly 25% coordination (email, phone calls, meetings, submittals), 30% documentation and design (sketches, exhibits, CAD, Adobe, Bluebeam), 20% construction administration (field review, submittals, RFI, putting out fires), 20% management (project tracking, scheduling, reviewing plans), 5% miscellaneous (internal operations, marketing, recruitment, etc).

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Career Spotlight: What I Do As A Landscape Architect

Bonnie Chen

Monday, March 02, 2015

Now, chairman of landscape architectural firm Earthasia International (6128), Lau relishes his profession as it allows him to have a strong positive impact on the environment.

Currently, there are only 100 licensed landscape architects in Hong Kong, making them an elite but unique group of professionals.

"It's a sunrise industry," says Lau.

He has been outspoken in the past about the environment, drawing the attention of senior officials in the government who then decided to tap his expertise.

Lau is a member of the Town Planning Board and the Lands and Development Advisory Committee. In the past, he was a Eastern District Councillor and a member of the Harbourfront Commission.

Landscape architecture is a combination of diverse disciplines including botany, horticulture, fine arts, architecture, earth sciences, geography, and ecology that helps improve outdoor environment.

Three decades ago, Lau enrolled for a degree program on landscape architecture at the University of Toronto.

"I did not know what to study at that time. I first came across the term landscape architect while in a construction site one time... I then chose it even if I didn't know whether I could get a job after graduation," he recalls.

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Landscape wizard

Torrington, CT (PRWEB) March 02, 2015

O&Gs state-of-the-art fabrication and distribution center is heating up for spring with your stone profiling and radius pool templating projects. The centers capabilities extend to advanced stone profiling and restoration services no matter how detailed or complex. Looking to create something unique? O&G offers a selection of new products and a vast inventory of traditional products including bluestone, limestone, brownstone, granite, marble, quartzite, onyx, and slate.

Serving architects, restoration, landscape, and pool professionals, John Baranoski, Facility Manager oversees the 85,000 SF operation while working with industry professionals to assist in the masonry fabrication of renovation, restoration or new construction projects. "O&G's comprehensive services offer flexibility and efficiencies from its advanced CAD and fabrication methods," remarks Baranoski.

A landmark restoration project is the pinnacle for the Trinity College chapel. Pictured below is an O&G staff artisan applying the finishing touches for an exact replication of the original.

Baranoski noted that, "Stress-free radius templating and profiling are a welcome relief for professionals who want the best and for the customers that demand it." For stone projects that require radius cuts, look to O&G for its radius templating service which delivers the perfect profile and stress-free results for a beautiful finished project.

O&G invites you to take advantage of its radius templating services for your next project including pool surrounds, stair treads, walls, etc. "Look to O&G for beautiful results that your customers will enjoy and you will be proud to share," Baranoski stated.

About O&G Masonry Since its inception in 1923, O&G has grown to become one of the largest and most diversified construction companies in the Northeast and one of the largest suppliers in New England of masonry products and services. Headquartered in Connecticut the company offers LEED project solutions to achieve the highest masonry certification. O&G facilities include eight mason stores and nine stone-yards, six Earth Products Showcase showrooms, and a fabrication and distribution center all strategically located throughout Connecticut. Customers receive expert consultation from showroom sales professionals and are guided through the widest selection of natural stone and tile products of elegantly appointed vignettes from classic to contemporary in design. O&G's logistical coverage extends throughout the Northeast and beyond.

Navigate to O&G's website and social media pages where special offers, raffles, ideas, projects and the latest news are featured.

Excerpt from:
Spring Masonry Projects Are Heating up at O&G's Fabrication & Distribution Center in Connecticut

Introducing new options to Indias mid-market and upscale hospitality landscape

Leading Asian hospitality provider, ONYX Hospitality Group has announced its plan to operate at least 10 properties in India by 2022.

Three key developments will form the strategy for the ONYX India expansion. Firstly, the first full service Amari hotel has been confirmed in the NCR (National Capital Region). Amari Noida will be a part of the World Trade Centre Noida project and feature 120 rooms, with an additional 30 branded residences, three restaurants, meeting and convention space, pool, fitness centre and a Breeze Spa. The project will begin in 2016 and is due to be operational by 2019.

The second project will be in the World Trade Centre development in Gujurat's new central business district, GIFT city. The Amari Residences GIFT City in Ahmedabad will feature 120 serviced apartments, restaurant, pool and fitness centre. The project will begin in 2016 and be operational by 2018.

In order to develop these two projects and the remaining balance of properties in the pipeline, ONYX has entered into an exclusive partnership with hospitality asset management firm, Kingsbridge India. Through the joint venture, ONYX as the operator will closely align with the interests of the asset owner to deliver set objectives. Kingsbridge is a hospitality platform by The Viridian Group, developed to target specific gaps and opportunities in the Indian hospitality market.

Peter Henley, President and CEO, ONYX Hospitality Group said: "This announcement marks a strategic step in our long term strategy to become a leading hospitality provider in Asia. India is ripe for hospitality development right now and as the economy continues to grow, and international visitors to the country rise, we see great potential for hotel expansion. As hospitality specialists, our role is to select the right brands for the right locations and we see market potential for our upscale hotel, resort and residences brand Amari, as well as our select service brand OZO. The hospitality landscape in India is dominated by luxury at one end of the spectrum and unknown players at the other, together with our partner Kingsbridge, we see an opportunity to provide international standards to guests who are looking for reliable and good quality upscale accommodation options."

Commenting on the joint venture, Rajesh Shanbhag, CEO, Kingsbridge India said:"We firmly believe that the Kingsbridge-ONYX partnership will serve to establish the 'joint venture' as a leader in the Indian mid-market hospitality segment in the future. Both partners have come together with the common objective of establishing a pan-India portfolio of mid-market and upscale hospitality properties in key business and tourist destinations. Whilst ONYX, with its established brands such as Amari and OZO is recognised globally for its efficiency in managing and operating hospitality assets, Kingsbridge aggressively mitigates operational, structural and capital inefficiencies that characterise the segment. Kingsbridge envisages a mutually beneficial and very long term partnership with ONYX."

ONYX Hospitality group currently ONYX Hospitality Group manages 54 properties in 10 countries, 38 of which are operational, equating to over 6,000 rooms.

About Kingsbridge

Kingsbridge Hospitality was established as a dedicated platform by The Viridian Group to target specific gaps and opportunities in the Indian hospitality market. Kingsbridge aims to derive significant advantages by aggressively mitigating operational, structural and capital deployment inefficiencies that characterise the Indian mid- market hospitality segment. Kingsbridge co-ordinates and oversees all acquisition, development and operational activity ranging from site identification, construction management, facility management, right up to operational profitability management. The Group's platform tightly aligns Land Acquisition and Development Capability, Fund Management and Hospitality Operations Capabilities.

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ONYX Hospitality Group Expands Operation to the Indian Market with 10 properties by 2022

Amanda and Joe Boyle had big expectations when they built their Katy home: It had to be both elegant and indestructible.

The Boyles have a 5-year-old daughter, a 2-year-old son and a 10-year-old Labradoodle named Gus. So in 2013, when construction began on their five-bedroom, 5,000-square-foot home in Cinco Ranch, they enlisted the help of Karen Davis.

Davis specializes in designing interiors that are stain-resistant and "family-friendly." She calls her business Marker Girl because her own daughter, at age 2, had a tendency to use a Sharpie on herself and the furniture. That "marker girl" phase made Davis find ways to accommodate the unavoidable spills and messes of life with young children.

In the Boyles' home, which was finished last year, the family spends time together in several spaces, both upstairs and down. "We're all over, really, and that's what I really like about this house," Amanda Boyle says. That means several rooms needed durable furniture, stain-resistant textiles and an easy way to hide clutter. And the couple didn't want to compromise on style.

The living-room furniture is an inviting mix of pale blues and neutrals, the sort of colors that really show ink marks and juice drips. But Davis had them upholstered with Sunbrella fabrics, a woven fabric that can be cleaned. The soft rug that defines the conversation area is carpet made by Stainmaster. More stain-resistant carpet lines the main staircase and covers the floor in the playroom and the upstairs game room.

Built-ins abound too, so the children's toys can be tucked out of sight and don't litter the floor. Even the home's mud room has cabinets to hide the jackets and nap mats, backpacks and shoes that collect as the kids come and go. "That's one thing in our old house my husband hated," Boyle says. "There was a planning center by our back door, but everything was just thrown there."

Also downstairs, the couple's master bathroom includes two spacious walk-in closets with adjustable shelves and built-in drawers so that Boyle and her husband, an attorney, each have plenty of storage as well as a dressing area. The bathroom area itself was designed to be a retreat; a soaring ceiling, pale blue walls and large frosted windows make it light, bright and soothing, while Quartzite countertops and a chandelier add glamour. A deep-drop tub is the space's centerpiece - "not that I get to use it very often," Boyle says with a laugh.

The Boyles do use the media room upstairs, with its Kincaid sectional and ottoman, every day. "This is kind of our 'before bed' place," Boyle says. "The kids have their baths, we watch a little TV before bed, and my husband gets home about that time, so he'll come in here and hang out."

The game room next door is another natural gathering spot. "We built this so they can grow into it," Davis says. "The kids are little such a short time." When they're older, the built-in desks will be a place for them to do homework and keep their computers. And when toys give way to video games, the plentiful cabinets and cozy carpet will still meet the family's needs.

"We kind of decorated (our house) for their age, but we didn't invest a lot of money into it," Boyle says. "It'll be easy to change it out. As they grow, I think there are a lot of things we can do."

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Couple's Katy home is designed to be family-friendly

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a term which refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. IAQ can be affected by gases (including carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), particulates, microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), or any mass or energy stressor that can induce adverse health conditions. Source control, filtration and the use of ventilation to dilute contaminants are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings. Residential units can further improve indoor air quality by routine cleaning of carpets and area rugs. EPA has guidelines for frequency of cleaning based on traffic, number of household members, pets, children and smokers. Carpets and rugs act like an air filter and must be cleaned.

Determination of IAQ involves the collection of air samples, monitoring human exposure to pollutants, collection of samples on building surfaces, and computer modelling of air flow inside buildings.

IAQ is part of indoor environmental quality (IEQ), which includes IAQ as well as other physical and psychological aspects of life indoors (e.g., lighting, visual quality, acoustics, and thermal comfort).[1]

Indoor air pollution in developing nations is by far the most deadly risk globally. A major source of indoor air pollution in developing countries is the burning of biomass (e.g. wood, charcoal, dung, or crop residue) for heating and cooking.[2] The resulting exposure to high levels of particulate matter resulted in between 1.5 million and 2 million deaths in 2000.[3]

Second-hand smoke is tobacco smoke which affects other people other than the 'active' smoker. Second-hand tobacco smoke includes both a gaseous and a particulate phase, with particular hazards arising from levels of carbon monoxide (as indicated below) and very small particulates (at PM2.5 size) which get past the lung's natural defenses. The only certain method to improve indoor air quality as regards second-hand smoke is the implementation of comprehensive smoke-free laws.

Radon is an invisible, radioactive atomic gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium, which may be found in rock formations beneath buildings or in certain building materials themselves. Radon is probably the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air in the United States and Europe, probably responsible for tens of thousands of deaths from lung cancer each year.[4] There are relatively simple tests for radon gas, but these tests are not commonly made available, even in areas of known systematic hazards. Radon is a heavy gas and thus will tend to accumulate at the floor level. Building materials can actually be a significant source of radon, but little testing is carried out for stone, rock or tile products brought into building sites; radon accumulation is greatest for well insulated homes.[5] The half life for radon is 3.8 days, indicating that once the source is removed, the hazard will be greatly reduced within a few weeks. Radon mitigation methods include sealing concrete slab floors, basement foundations, water drainage systems, or by increasing ventilation.[6] They are usually cost effective and can greatly reduce or even eliminate the contamination and the associated health risks.

Main articles: Mold health issues, Mold growth, assessment, and remediation

These biological chemicals can arise from a host of means, but there are two common classes: (a) moisture induced growth of mold colonies and (b) natural substances released into the air such as animal dander and plant pollen. Moisture buildup inside buildings may arise from water penetrating compromised areas of the building envelope or skin, from plumbing leaks, from condensation due to improper ventilation, or from ground moisture penetrating a building part. In areas where cellulosic materials (paper and wood, including drywall) become moist and fail to dry within 48 hours, mold mildew can propagate and release allergenic spores into the air.

In many cases, if materials have failed to dry out several days after the suspected water event, mold growth is suspected within wall cavities even if it is not immediately visible. Through a mold investigation, which may include destructive inspection, one should be able to determine the presence or absence of mold. In a situation where there is visible mold and the indoor air quality may have been compromised, mold remediation may be needed. Mold testing and inspections should be carried out by an independent investigator to avoid any conflict of interest and to insure accurate results; free mold testing offered by remediation companies is not recommended.

There are some varieties of mold that contain toxic compounds (mycotoxins). However, exposure to hazardous levels of mycotoxin via inhalation is not possible in most cases, as toxins are produced by the fungal body and are not at significant levels in the released spores. The primary hazard of mold growth, as it relates to indoor air quality, comes from the allergenic properties of the spore cell wall. More serious than most allergenic properties is the ability of mold to trigger episodes in persons that already have asthma, a serious respiratory disease.

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Indoor air quality - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia