Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The self-contained pool house for guests at 58 Hanby Street in Brighton, which was sold under the hammer by Nick Johnston Real Estate for $3.99 million Photo: Supplied

The great Australian dream of a house with a backyard swimming pool has reached glamorous new levels.

A basic rectangular or kidney-shaped concrete pool at the rear of the garden is a thing of the past, as landscape architects and home owners take the plunge with imaginative designs.

At the posh end of the market, a shimmering showpiece pool is now de rigueur.

Fancy cabanas, grottos, waterfall features and pools that sit flush against the back of the house and adjoin an outdoor kitchen are bringing 'resort style' to the suburbs in a bid to seduce buyers in an increasingly competitive market.

Real estate agents say an impeccably landscaped pool is in high demand and can add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the price of a home.

Landscape architect James Lascelles, whose company Out From The Blue creates high-end pools and gardens, said pools that abut living areas, some with see-through acrylic panels to create a shimmering window, are in vogue.

A Middle Park home with an acrylic window from the pool in to the living area, which was designed by Melbourne landscape architects Out From The Blue. Photo: Dean Bradley Photography

"It's definitely about the view from inside the house because the climate here is so cold that most of the time you are inside the house," he said.

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Poolside cabanas, grottos and see-through walls bring resorts to the suburbs

Over the last 12 months, many incredible hotels have opened around the world and HotelsCombined recently shared its favorites based on factors such as location, uniqueness of amenities and quality of service.

The end result is a phenomenal group of castles, beach retreats and architectural wonders; including one in Bali.

The Castle Hotel, Dalian, China

Perched atop Lianhua Mountain and overlooking the Yellow Sea, this imposing chateau conveniently provides 292 guest rooms, a spa, fitness centre, indoor pool, several restaurants and a "royal cellar" with a micro-brewery.

For those really looking to splash out, the 6,674 square foot Presidential Suite has a marble entrance, a dining room for 10, a full-service pantry and a waterfront balcony.

Shangri-La at the Shard, London

Opened in May, this first UK property of Shangri-La is housed within the 34th to 52nd floors of London's iconic Shard skyscraper - the tallest building in Europe - and thus offers spectacular city views.

Other highlights include a champagne bar, an infinity sky pool on the 52nd floor and an enviable location in the heart of the London Bridge Quarter.

citizenM Times Square, New York City

Trendy and colorful, this US debut of the citizenM hotel chain is perfectly situated within walking distance of many famous New York sites, including the Rockefeller Centre, the theatre district and Central Park.

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10 best new hotels of 2014

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Show Me Tree Service 400 Wiles Rd Jacksonville, FL 32254 904-289-3637 info@showmetreeservice.com http://showmetreeservice.com/ Locally owned tree service in Jacksonville, FL providing tree...

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Typical costs: The cost of remodeling a kitchen depends on the current layout, size and condition of the room, as well as the quality of replacement products chosen. According to an annual construction cost survey by Remodeling Magazine[1] , a minor remodel of a 200-square-foot (10x20) kitchen averages $20,077-$23,210 nationwide; a mid-range major remodel including an island and other upgrades runs $52,405-$63,803; and an upscale remodel for the same size kitchen can be $105,621-$120,379. These are averages; actual costs may be higher or lower. In contrast, DoItYourself.com[2] estimates that the cost of a typical kitchen remodel can start around $5,000 with some do-it-yourself work included, and averages $15,000-$26,000. Related articles: Kitchen Cabinets, Bathroom Remodeling, Architect, Home Addition, Kitchen Sink, Kitchen Countertops What should be included: The National Association of the Remodeling Industry[3] gives a detailed overview of what can be included in a kitchen remodel. BetterHomesAndGardens.com provides kitchen design guidelines[4] and basic kitchen floor plans[5] . Discounts: ThisOldHouse.com[6] outlines ways to save money on remodeling projects. Shopping for a kitchen remodeling: Collect a wide variety of photos of appealing kitchen designs; Kitchens.com hosts a photo gallery[7] of different styles and Better Homes and Gardens offers a quiz[8] to see what kitchen style is best for a particular lifestyle. Design.HGTV.com lists detailed steps for hiring a certified kitchen contractor, from checking references to what should be in a written contract. Visit the Contractor's License Reference Site[9] to see if the company is licensed in your state; also check with the Better Business Bureau[10] . The National Association of the Remodeling Industry[11] gives contractor referrals. CostHelper News What People Are Paying - Recent Comments Posted by: gandude in SF Bay Area, CA. Posted: August 26th, 2013 08:08PM Sq Ft of Kitchen: 181 Items Remodeled: 1 Description: mid quality stuff

no labor, did it myself. 14' 6" x 12' 8" strip room to the studs. clean everything. treat wood w/boracare. new insulation r-13 and r-38, drywall, electrical, DWV, freshwater, 42" cabinets no MDF soft close, .75" x 2.25" T&G hardwood floor nailed and glued, 3 granite countertops 22 LF, GE 24" electric double oven, SMEG 5 burner gas cooktop, Kenmore refer, Bosch dishwasher, computer desk, breakfast bar, stained wood trim, LED lighting, ceiling fan, Broan cooktop vent, city permit.

I hired CRU KUSTOM WORKZ on the Island of Oahu, they came in and viewed the project. They are Re-Facing my 1970's Cabinets, that are pressed wood, with 1x2s, 3s, 4s & 6s pine wood stats. Changing the Sink Counter Top, removing and replacing the vinyl tile with new vinyl tile. The doors are being KUSTOMED with 1/2" Birch Plywood, Stained and trimmed with, White Tiburon molding. Also they done the Lower floor Bathroom Vanity, with the same concept, just painted White. This project is coming out so beautiful, and Knowing that I am getting a good deal on Labor, I will let people know about CRU KUSTOM WORKZ. They are very Professional and Friendly, also giving great discounts. We are an elderly couple and my husband has had a stroke, can't do very much, they have helped us so much, not only by doing a great job, also helping us move boxes of stuff to our storage locker. God Bless Them.

1894 BuildingrnStripped everything to the studs, 10' ceiling height. I designed everything, General contractor did all the work.rnKraftmaid Cabinets (approx 20 linear feet, with an additional row of cabinets at the top to meet the ceiling) - $15K, $3K InstallrnThermador Appliances - $12KrnSoapstone Countertop - $6KrnElectrical & Lighting - $3KrnPlumbing - $2KrnWalls - $2KrnWindows (Replace 1, added skylight) - $1.5KrnFloor - Oak, triple stained - $1.5KrnMiscellaneous - $1.5K

Completed the following doing all work DIY to complement existing granite and cabinets: Re-dry walled and reinsulated 3 walls, Installed ~60ft crown, Installed 360 sq of tile, Painted ceiling, walls and cabinets, Replaced refrigerator, dishwasher, & hood all stainless Replaced 2 exterior doors and 1 interior door, New tile backsplash ~20sf, New outlets and switches, knobs, door handles, 1 new mid-grade ceiling fixture, My experience a living hell for the last few weekends! I think the project added a lot of value to the home and I am very happy with the results.

with brand new appliances my wife spent around $6,500 on our budget was half gone never the less i thought i was pretty good with my hands and a decent wood worker i layed the new wood floors my self and after a $160 vo tech cabnitry class mad most of the cabnets there had quarts counter tops put in painted and had enough money left over to even put new lights in now on to the master bath!

I remodeled my kitchen for $16,000. It is about 225sqft. Has a 4x8 island and about 20' of wall counter space - 2 sinks. it has hardwood floors - oak with 5 coats of finish, maple cabinets and quartz countertops. I got a budgetary quote from teh calculator at http://www.remodelormove.com and then subtracted the cost of appliances which i did not replace. The calculator was nice because i did some of the work myself

We hired Lighthouse Construction (Lighthouseconsco@aol.com)to remodel our kitchen because of their experiance in working with older homes. We relied heavily on their reccomendations and were amazed every day with the commitmentment to the quality of the work and the attention to planning details. They were very knowlegable in the products available.

We remodeled our Kitchen about a year ago with Green Planet Building located in Los Angeles, CA. They were truly an amazing company to work with. Their attention to detail helped me create a kitchen I love. We put new eco-friendly everything into our kitchen from the beautiful ice-stone counter tops to the no voc paints. It was great to be able to track the entire process of my project online. I knew what what happening everyday because they have a client log in that gave me a calendar of events taking place like the plumber will be there on Friday or the cabinets are being installed on Monday. It was such a great experience we are now having them do our bathrooms.

We recently renovated our kitchen similar to Phillip in Columbus. We gutted it all but left the ceiling, added can lights, new window, and moved a door (new door), removed the furrdowns from the ceiling. Some minor plumbing work and new wiring and outlets, undercounter wiring. Cabinets from Ikea (with soft hinges and door glides, granite countertops (on sale for $36/sf)and travertine floor and backsplash. Total cost was S11,400 for all materials only including tile labor and plumbing labor. If quality contractor was included might cost about $22K. It is a lot of work but looks and feels fantastic. 30-60K increase in value. We already had the appliances, so price is bare kitchen.

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Cost of a Kitchen Remodeling - Estimates and Prices Paid

Amr Elhalaby Interior Designer
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Amr Elhalaby Interior Designer - Video

CLASSICAL property Interior Design, 2015 best home design Compilation
Home Improvement Interior Design Interior Design, Interior Design Ideas, home design ideas, house interior design, home interior design, home design, room interior design, interior designer,...

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CLASSICAL property Interior Design, 2015 best home design Compilation - Video

-- Leslie Hindman Auctioneers to sell fine art, furniture and decorative arts from private collection of Lars Bolander, world-renowned interior designer

CHICAGO, Dec. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --Shopping the private collection of a design pioneer is a rare opportunity, but on March 14, 2015 the public will be able to acquire art and furniture beloved by Lars Bolander, one of Sweden's foremost interior designers and an innovator of Swedish design in the United States.

Influenced by his diverse education and experiences, Mr. Bolander has developed a unique style all his own that has both a theatrical side and love of simplicity. "As a young boy growing up it was my background and culture that influenced me," said Mr. Bolander. "Later in life it was all of the traveling I did, seeing the world."

His collection is both coherent and varied, classic and fun. It includes traditional Swedish forms such as Gustavian chairs and works by Swedish artist Dan Nygard. At the same time, much of his collection was amassed through worldwide exploration. His European aesthetic is evident in such objects as an unusual pair of terracotta busts of Moorish gentlemen and Francois Gall paintings. Whimsical items inspired by a designer's eye include architectural trompe l'oeilfurniture and the signature silvered brass ram heads used in Mr. Bolander's personal logo.

After many years of having a showroom on "Antique Row" in West Palm Beach, Mr. Bolander has decided to sell his nearby home and personal treasures in order to establish residence elsewhere. "We have lived with these items and have certainly enjoyed them; now it is time to change," said Mr. Bolander.

The auction will take place March 14, 2015 10:00 AM ET at the West Palm Beach saleroom.

Images available on our website, high-res upon request.

Contact: julie.parker (at) lesliehindman.com 561.833.8053

About Leslie Hindman Auctioneers For over three decades, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has been recognized as one of the nation's preeminent fine art auction houses having earned an international reputation for achieving the highest prices while setting standards for integrity and quality customer service. Leslie Hindman has remained a constant force behind a global reach of buyers and a team of professionals committed to conducting high profile auctions. The firm was founded in Chicago in 1982, sold to Sotheby's in 1997 and reopened in 2003. http://www.lesliehindman.com. Now on Bidsquare.

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Famous Swedish Interior Designer And Tastemaker To Auction Personal Collection At Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

DMP has added three new Z-Wave compatible light switches to further enhance your customers' home and business automation. End users can now wirelessly or manually control overhead lighting in their home or small business using the Virtual Keypad App on smart phones or tablets.

Choose from three new light switches; replace existing light switches and keep existing wiring: Z-Wave Toggle Style Auxiliary Switch (Z-45741): The toggle switch enables control of lighting in 2-way, 3-way, or 4-way wiring configurations. Z-Wave In-Wall Dimmer Switch (Z-45742): This dimmer switch enables on/off and dim control functions of hard-wired CFL/LED and Incandescent lighting. The dimmer feature allows customers to customize the lighting output and create the perfect ambiance for any room in their home or business. Z-Wave In-Wall Toggle Style On/Off Relay Switch (Z-45740): This On/Off switch enables control of direct wire incandescent, LED, xenon, halogen and fluorescent lighting.

Other Z-Wave devices already offered by DMP include: Light and Appliance Modules: Just plug-in the Z-Wave device, then plug in a light or appliance. Turn lights on/off, or dim them. Works with incandescent and fluorescent lights. Door Locks: Keyless Entry Door locks available in Polished Brass, Satin Nickel and Venetian Bronze. Thermostats: Installs just like a standard thermostat. Provides full remote control over temperature and fan settings.

Once your customers begin using "FAVORITES" on the Virtual Keypad App, they will be able to assign multiple Z-Wave devices to a single command.

The Virtual Keypad App is downloaded to a smart phone or mobile device. It provides all the functions of the security system keypad right on the mobile device. Click below to view the latest App update.

DMP is a privately held independent manufacturer of innovative intrusion, fire, access control, network and cellular communication products that are designed, engineered, and assembled in Springfield, MO. DMP is the recognized leader in alarm communication over data networks, with products that are available through professional electronic security companies. For more information, contact Melissa Pitfield at (800) 641-4282, or visit http://www.dmp.com.

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DMP Offers More Z-Wave Control Devices with Three New Lighting Switches

Home Security Automation
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New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS): Home Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday reviewed the country's security situation at a high-level meeting here.

The meeting comes ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit to India for the Republic Day celebrations and following the recent violence in Assam perpetrated by Bodo militants and a blast in Bengaluru.

"We discussed the country's security situation," army chief Gen. Dalbir Singh told reporters after the meeting, but refused to give details.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and chiefs of intelligence agencies were also present in the meeting.

Last week, the home minister had met the army chief to review the security situation in Assam where over 70 people were killed and around 10,000 were taking shelter in relief camps after Bodo militants attacked adivasis in three districts.

A blast in Bengaluru Sunday killed a woman and injured three other people.

India has already asked neighbours Bhutan and Myanmar to help evict Indian militants who are believed to have bases there.

Stay updated wherever you go with Daijiworld.com and Daijiworld 24X7 tv channel mobile apps. CLICK HERE to download it for your device. (available on Android and IOS)

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Home minister reviews security situation