Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Natasha Saroca, Houzz Contributor

Have you been toying with the idea of revamping your kitchen and think 2015 may be the perfect time to take the plunge? Before you start searching for a pro to tackle the project, its important to think about what youll need and how you can improve your kitchen setup, as well as what you want the space to look like. Its also worth reading up on emerging kitchen trends, which may provide a spark of inspiration and, ultimately, influence the design of your new cooking zone.

Though we cant write your dream kitchen wish list for you, we can lend a hand with a list of design elements that are on the rise. We recently caught up with three designers who shared their short lists of kitchen design ideas they believe will be the biggest trends of 2015.

The most popular kitchen storage ideas from 2014

1. Furniture-style design features. Interior designer Greg Natale predicts that furniture-style cabinetry and other features will be one of the top trends in 2015. This approach marks another step in the evolution of the kitchen as the hub of the home and a treasured space the whole family can enjoy, rather than just a functional area thats used for food prep and cooking alone. The incredible designs available celebrate the different elements of the kitchen as pieces of beautiful furniture, not just workstations, which allows people to bring their own personal, warm, welcoming touch to this space, he says.

2. Airy (and user-friendly), open shelving. We are seeing a trend toward using open shelving as a practical solution for the kitchen space, rather than simply for display, says Sydney kitchen designer Kesha Pillay of Art of Kitchens. Open shelving personalizes the space, making it feel lived in and warm, while keeping the kitchen functional and easy to use.

3. Wallpaper that wows. Want to add interest and character to your cooking zone? Incorporating wallpaper which will be a major trend in 2015, according to kitchen and bathroom designer Lee Hardcastle into the design of your kitchen is the perfect solution. Wallpaper provides an easy way to add visual impact, even in small amounts, Hardcastle says. Wallpaper gives you the control of complementing the architectural elements throughout the kitchen or adding a beautiful contrast to an otherwise simple color palette.

Find beautiful wallpaper for your kitchen renovation

4. Modern traditional style. Designs that marry modern and traditional elements will be one of the most influential looks of 2015, according to Pillay, who says that homeowners are shunning ultrasleek, contemporary kitchens in favor of spaces that are warm, homey and reflect themselves.

This trend is affecting everything from cabinet design to colors, materials to textures. We are really mixing it up, she says. Flat-panel cabinet doors are being replaced with classic door profiles, such as Shaker doors, for example. And materials are being mixed, such as stainless steel with wood, and wood with marble.

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12 Kitchen Looks Expected To Be Big In 2015

Assurances are being made that the use of a former office building as a gaelcholiste in a Co Cork town will only be a temporary measure.

Agriculture Minister and local TD Simon Coveney said there had been some concerns about the planned accommodation of the new second-level school at Waterpark House in Carrigaline

I would like to assure everyone that this is just a temporary solution and that the permanent campus for Gaelcholiste Charraig U Leighin is on track, he said.

Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) chief executive Ted Owens said it is close to getting Department of Education approval to lodge a planning application with Cork County Council for a three-school campus at Ballinrea on the city side of the town.

Among the buildings planned is a permanent home for the new 500-student all-Irish second-level, as well as a primary gaelscoil and a special school.

Although the department expects the gaelcholiste building to be ready by September 2016, the ETB is more cautious.

The project has, however, been included in Education Minister Jan OSullivans list of developments due to begin construction this year.

As patron of the gaelcholiste, the ETB is taking enrolments and applied for planning permission on December 11 to change office space at Waterpark House to educational use.

With the help of a 50,000 grant from the department, it is planned to refurbish it to provide classrooms, and to make changes to parking areas for outdoor recreational space.

The building near the recently-extended Carrigaline Community School includes a period house and modern office extension, and was previously headquarters of the Shipton Group development company.

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Office home only temporary for Carrigaline gaelcholiste

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

More than 140 firefighters took two hours to put out a blaze at an office in the construction site of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge in Tung Chung early yesterday.

No one was injured.

The fire started in an office near the Tung Chung New Development Ferry Pier around 11pm on Monday.

There were four staff working in the office when the computer facilities caught fire.

The staff called the police and evacuated the premises with security guards posted outside. The fire spread quickly, sending clouds of black smoke billowing high into the air.

By the time the firefighters arrived, the blaze had been raised to third alarm, forcing the Fire Services Department to send reinforcements.

Six lines of fire-extinguishing foam were used to put out the blaze by 1am yesterday.

The site office was totally destroyed but the fire did not affect the construction of the cross-delta bridge.

A resident living in the estate facing the ferry pier said the air was quite heavy with smoke, and it was not easy to breathe so he had to close all the windows.

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Bridge building site office razed

Defining ones place in a healthy industry is a challenge. Destin Palms handled it seamlessly and that was no accident. With veteran Realtors, managers and carpenters under one roof, it was apparent that this team had a clear picture of what the Emerald Coast real estate, vacation rental and property preservation market needed. It could be summed up in three words: One stop shopping.

Todays busy consumer finds Destin Palms a simple solution for all of their property needs.

Creating a profitable real estate division was one of the first objectives of 2014. A healthy combination of seasoned agents, up and comers and talent from out of state, gave the company a solid team with new ideas. The video production division provided a unique marketing tool that is unparalleled in the current marketplace.

Its a very competitive business and we have managed to take our personnel, both new and experienced, and put our company name on the radar of todays buyers and sellers, says Paul Couch, senior partner in the company.

Another division of the company that saw tremendous growth was the vacation rental and management department that is headed up by partner Jessica Forrester.

We set modest goals for 2014, she laughs. We quickly learned that good customer service, delivering on your promise and being honest with expectations, resulted in a doubling of the units we manage.

Of course being able to respond expeditiously to a problem or concern is a big reason customers speak highly of Destin Palms. Chris and Jeanne Hartmann came on the Destin Palms program in 2014. Chris says, We have been with Destin Palms for 10 months and our revenue is already ahead of last year's totals. We have had fewer renters, but more revenue. Destin Palms knows the market and knows how to maximize revenue for owners while also minimizing wear n tear on our unit.

The home improvement division grew by leaps and bounds in 2014. Kitchen remodels topped the list, followed by new flooring and bathroom renovations. And of course, at the core of all renovations is a fresh coat of paint. The painting crew of the renovation team was busy every day of the week.

We are fortunate to have a team of painters that are not only reliable, they are talented, neat and conscientious about their work, says remodeling director, and partner, Glenn Forrester. Its a respect our division has for the properties we service. We treat your home as if it were our own.

Being local is another asset of Destin Palms. The company is located in Miramar Beach. It is not based in Texas or Louisiana with a subcontractor holding down the fort locally. This is the community that Destin Palms lives in, supports and relies on. And as a contributing member of the community, Destin Palms believes in giving back. From the annual beach clean up to contributing to Toys for Tots, Destin Palms and its employees have provided support to Children in Crisis, Childrens Volunteer Network, Goodwill Industries, Cure for Cancer, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Stand Up For Cancer, and The Salvation Army all among the recipients of time, money and awareness by the staff.

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2014: A year of new frontiers, 2015: A year of growth and expansion

WINDOW CLEANING TECHNIQUES SQUEEGEE DIRECTIONAL CHART
Using numbered directional charts. LEFT OR RIGHT HANDED METHOD. Followed by quick demo. Be BI learn to do it both ways. Give you better idea how to use a wag...

By: Herman Wieland

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WINDOW CLEANING TECHNIQUES SQUEEGEE DIRECTIONAL CHART - Video

JACKSON The last fire death investigated by the State Fire Marshal's office in 2014 occurred on New Year's Eve, and the cause is suspected to be heating related. With extreme cold temperatures forecasted for the state this week, Commissioner of Insurance and State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney urges all Mississippians to start the new year by practicing heating and fire safety.

Properly using heating sources to stay warm during cold weather and having working smoke alarms in your home is literally the difference between life and death, is the message Mississippi State Fire Marshal Mike Chaney has repeated over and over.

It is a message that he will continue to repeat in order to protect lives in Mississippi

Everyone must use extra precaution when using space heaters or alternative methods as heating sources. Space heating poses a much higher risk of fire, death and injury than central heating, and it cannot be stressed enough that using a stove to heat a home is extremely dangerous, Chaney said.

Every home should have a working smoke alarm. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of people dying in home fires in half, he added.

Fire safety education and preventing fire deaths continue to be priority goals of the State Fire Marshal's office.

As you prepare for this week's cold weather, the State Fire Marshal's office offers these heating safety tips:

Should a fire break out in the home, have an emergency evacuation plan for the family to follow and have a designated meeting place for all family members. Once everyone is outside the burning home, call 911 and DO NOT RE-ENTER THE HOME UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!

For more fire safety information and tips visit a special State Fire Marshal Heating Fire Safety page on the Mississippi Insurance Department website at http://www.mid.ms.gov

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State Fire Marshal's Office's Heating Safety Tips

U.S. Postal Service

MILWAUKEE (WITI) With more snow expected to blanket the region during the next couple days, one seasonal tool is expected to make its return at homes and businesses the shovel. To help letter carriers deliver mail for the holidays, the Postal Service is asking customers to clear snow and ice from sidewalks, stairs and mailboxes.

Snow and ice make delivery dangerous and slow, said A/Milwaukee Postmaster A.R. Bob Odell. Maintaining a clear path to the mail box including steps, porches, walkways and street approach will help letter carriers maintain consistent delivery service and help them get those cards and packages delivered in time for the holidays.

Customers receiving door delivery should make sure their sidewalks, steps and porches are clear. Customers receiving curbside delivery should remove snow piles left by snow plows to keep access to their mailboxes clear for letter carriers.

Delivery service may be delayed or curtailed whenever streets or walkways present hazardous conditions for letter carriers or when snow is plowed against mailboxes. The Postal Service curtails delivery only after careful consideration, and only as a last resort, says Odell. Any curtailed mail is attempted the next delivery day.

Blue collection boxes also need to be kept clear for our customers to deposit their mail and for the Postal Service to collect the mail for delivery. Residents and businesses with collection boxes near their property are asked to keep them clear of snow and ice. We want our letter carriers to be safe, adds Odell. We can only do this with the help of our customers.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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Postal Service urging customers to clear snow, ice from sidewalks, stairs & mailboxes

MORRIS To help letter carriers deliver mail, the Postal Service is asking customers to clear snow and ice from sidewalks, stairs and mailboxes.

Snow and ice make delivery dangerous and slow, Central Illinois District Manager Peter Allen said in a news release. Maintaining a clear path to the mail box including steps, porches, walkways and street approach will help letter carriers maintain consistent delivery service.

Customers receiving door delivery should make sure their sidewalks, steps and porches are clear. Customers receiving curbside delivery should remove snow piles left by snow plows to keep access to their mailboxes clear for letter carriers.

Delivery service may be delayed or curtailed whenever streets or walkways present hazardous conditions for letter carriers or when snow is plowed against mailboxes.

Blue collection boxes also need to be kept clear for customers to deposit their mail and for the Postal Service to collect the mail for delivery. Residents and businesses with collection boxes near their property are asked to keep them clear of snow and ice.

We want our letter carriers to be safe, Allen said. We can only do this with the help of our customers.

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Post office asks residents to clear snow and ice

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) -

The temperatures will begin to drop on Wednesday and will stay low for the remainder of the week, and there are steps you can take to be prepared.

Lows will be in the mid-to-upper 20s once again. We'll see a brief warm-up during the afternoon with highs into the upper 40s. A dry cold front will push into the Valley late in the day or overnight.

Tuesday's high, near 48, will be the warmest temperature we will have until after the weekend, according to 48 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Brad Travis.

The winds will pick up out of the north on Wednesday as the coldest air since last winter settles into the area. Despite mostly sunny skies, temperatures on Wednesday will struggle to make it back to 30. The bitter cold continues that night with lows dipping to around 10.

Sunny skies are in the forecast for Thursday, but a warm afternoon is not. Once again, highs may stay in the upper 20s.

Milder weather is in store as we head into this weekend. Clouds move back in on Friday, and temperatures will climb above freezing in the afternoon. Highs will be into the upper 30s. Afternoon temperatures in the 40s can be expected over the weekend. We'll see more clouds this weekend, and there's a slight chance for rain.

With the freezing temperatures moving in, there are several things you can do to prepare ahead of time.

If you have pets, there are several things to remember during cold weather.

For more tips to prepare for the upcoming weather, click here. For pet tips for the weather, click here.

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Preparing for cold weather as temperatures approach single digits

After Tropical Storm Iselle brought down countless albizia trees in lower Puna last August, there was renewed focus on the dangers posed by the invasive species

Click here to watch Andrew Pereira's report.

Mei Kiese of Pacific Palisades said she began taking notice of the huge albizia tree in her neighbor's backyard about 15 years ago, long before Iselle struck the Big Island. Kiese said her neighbor refused to cut the tree down decades ago when it was still a sapling, and believes shes spent more than $24,000 trimming it back throughout the years.

When they building the house down there, this tree is below my fence and then we never can able to settle to cut (it down)," Kiese, who speaks broken English, told KITV4.

But as luck would have it, Kiese was eventually contacted by the state about her tree problem, which may result in the albizia being cut down.

Late last year the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, formerly known as State Civil Defense, came to Kiese's home to take a look at the situation and delivered some good news. Under a state law passed in 2009 that assesses potential hazards to public safety from trees, rocks and flood-prone streams, HEMA issued a $58,000 contract to have the albizia tree removed on Nov. 20. However, the contractor hired by the agency failed to cut down the tree before a large branch came down during a windstorm this past weekend and damaged Kiese's roof.

"It's driving me nuts," an exasperated Kiese said of the albizia tree. "I hope the state comes and takes care of it."

Last year, HEMA received $1 million from the state Legislature to fund the 2009 law known as Act 76, but nothing in the law says the state is now liable for damage done to Kiese's roof.

"The latest branch is as wide as my car, said Kiese. They hit the roof and broke my skylight."

HEMA spokeswoman Shelly Ichishita said the tree next to Kiese's property is still slated for removal, although she couldnt say when. Under the law, the state must provide at least 10 days notice before entering a property to remove a known hazard. If a homeowner refuses permission, the governor can obtain a court order to gain entry. The governor can also bill the property owner for all costs associated with the removal of the hazard and place a lien on the landowners property.

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State assisting Pacific Palisades resident with tree problem