Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The SuperBungalows, a new apartment building completed this spring in the hip Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, is not a traditional bungalow. The project is an answer to LAs need for density and housing, with a nod to the pleasures of living in an individual residence with a porch. It replaced an existing single-family house, an increasingly common occurrence in a city where land values make houses unaffordable to all but the rich or lucky familial inheritors. Most notably, the SuperBungalows represents the first cross-laminated timber (CLT) multifamily residential building in Los Angeles, the start of what the developer SuperLA hopes to replicate many times in the city.

Photo Madeline Tolle

Consisting of nine units, six one-bedrooms and three two-bedrooms, there are no party walls for the market-rate apartments. Each unit is set apart by private balconies and shared outdoor spaces like a small bungalowthe difference being the one-bedroom units are stacked in threes at either end of the east-west-oriented rectangular building, while the two-bedroom units stack to form the middle. Outdoor corridors and open stairs, along with an elevator, define the south elevation, while the entire mass sits on a concrete foundation and parking garage that takes advantage of the sloping lot to appear unobtrusive given its size. Every square inch of the site is given to something, including the rooftop, which includes a garden, seating, and a photovoltaic array that powers the common spaces.

Photos Madeline Tolle

Although many apartment buildings in LA feature kitschy namesCedar Tropics or La Traviata, for examplethe SuperBungalows is more of a brand eco-system by SuperLA, a start-up created by Aaron van Schaik. The companys model includes all aspects of the multifamily market, from land acquisition to design and construction and ongoing ownership and management. The focus on CLT construction, however, is at the heart of the enterprise.

Image courtesy SuperLA

The way we supply housing now is incredibly inefficient, says van Schaik, who breaks down SuperLAs approach into three categoriesproductization, panelization, and optimizationthat he believes addresses the time-consuming ground-up, balloon-framing approach to most multifamily housing projects. First, SuperLAs in-house designer, Jeff Chinn, planned two standard layouts, which they dub 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom products. A one-bedroom product is always 24 feet wide by 30 feet long, a predictable module that everything is rigorously standardized around to eliminate construction waste and offer a 650-square-foot residence. SuperBungalows was a prototype, but now each product can be easily site adapted to new projects. The company also plans to obtain pre-approval of the products with the City to expedite permitting in the future.

The second category focused on the CLT panels, which were produced by Nordic Structures in Canada out of black spruce. By panelizing the floors and roof with 5-ply, 7-inch-thick CLT, the project minimized on-site construction time. The floors include several layers to address sound transmission requirements, including 2 inches of lightweight concrete and floating Capri cork floor planks. The exterior envelope is a rainscreen finished with CERACLAD panels, a GFRC product with nearly 50 percent recycled content and full recyclability at end of life. The walls were framed more conventionally on site as part of the proof of concept. Van Schaik hopes in the next iteration of the project, the company can panelize the walls and prefabricate them in a facility they are currently developing, or even subcontract them out to other parties.

The CLT panels also reflect a biophilic design sensibility that informs many features of the building, including the cork floors, generously-sized operable windows for cross-ventilation, daylighting and views in the open living room, kitchen, and bedrooms. Van Schaik considers the restrained and natural material palette, daylighting, and expansive use of built-in cabinets and closets to be a more common-sense approach to luxury compared to the granite counter tops and acres of clubby amenities that currently define the top end of the rental market.

Other features speak to the citys environmental agenda, including the rainwater storage tanks holding 2,500 gallons for irrigation, secure bicycle storage, and electric vehicle chargers at each parking spot. The building is fully electric, with heat pumps for both hot water and the mechanical system. The landscape design, by Stephen Blewett with CRAFTLandscape Architecture, highlights native species like penstemon, manzanita, and Island Oak and Western Redbud trees.

Optimizing the team and delivery of projects is SuperLAs third strategic focus, which is one of the reasons the SuperBungalows were able to go from idea to fully-occupied building in less than four years. The SuperLA team is only four people, including project manager Sophia Smith and brand leader Quinn Arneson, but they have also made strategic partnerships with suppliers like Pella windows and Mosa tiles to further expedite production.

With lessons learned from SuperBungalows for how to get through planning approvals with the city, such as the ability to eliminate adding a layer of plywood over the CLT floor panels, SuperLA is in construction on another, larger building in the neighborhood. Van Schaik says they were able to compress their design time to a month versus a year, plan review to 6 months versus a year, and construction to 14 months instead of two years, which significantly improves the financial return given the apartments will start renting sooner. The new project also includes two units of affordable housing and a transit-oriented communities density bonus, mutually beneficial to both SuperLA and for addressing the citys perpetual housing crisis.

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SuperBungalows, a New Cross-Laminated Timber Apartment Building, is a Los Angeles First - Architectural Record

The long-planned Rome Yards development is officially under construction in West Tampa.

Related Urban Development Group, the affordable and workforce housing wing of luxury developer Related Group, has started work on Gallery at Rome Yards, an 11-story, 234-unit apartment building that will be 80 percent affordable and workforce housing. The developer, the City of Tampa and the Tampa Housing Authority marked the occasion with a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, May 21st.

While Related Urban has developed multiple affordable and workforce housing apartment buildings in the nearby West River district, the Rome Yards project introduces the developers Gallery workforce housing model to Tampa. That model aims to provide high-quality workforce housing to families and individuals priced out of the neighborhoods that were once home. Five ground-floor live/work units designed for local artists and entrepreneurs will each have a storefront area.

On-site amenities will include a state-of-the-art fitness center, a walking path with distance markers, a workspace for students and remote workers, a communal club room, a dog park with a nearby dog wash area and several ground-floor retail spaces. The property will also house a workforce training/small business success center offering job training and resume-building assistance.

Gallery at Rome Yards is the first development under Tampas Community Benefits Agreement program, in Tampa, which creates a process that considers the social and community impact of major development plans and requires developers to provide community benefits for projects that receive public funds. For Gallery at Rome Yards, Related Urban will hire a minimum of 40% WMBE (Women and Minority Business Enterprise) and ensure that 40% of all new hires are local to Tampa.

Gallery at Rome Yards is expected to open in December 2026 with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. It is the first piece of an ambitious mixed-use development planned on an 18-acre City of Tampa maintenance yard on the west side of the Hillsborough River. At build-out, Rome Yards will have 954 units of mixed-income housing and 33,605 square feet of commercial space. The project will also include green space, a community amphitheater and a brick observation cigar tower in honor of West Tampas history.

For more information, go to Related Group

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In West Tampa, Rome Yards construction begins with affordable and workforce apartments - 83degreesmedia

Earlier this year, Juno, a Silicon Valley-based proptech startup with a novel approach to the multifamily sector, completed its first projecta 24-unit apartment building in Austin, Texas. The building, known as Juno East Austin, comprises four levels of mass-timber construction over a steel-framed podium. Designed with Ennead, the new Juno structure relies on a kit of parts of about 30 custom-fabricated components, including mass-plywood-panel (MPP) floor slabs and columns, laminated-veneer-lumber beams, bathroom pods, and a unitized facade. The aim is to productize housing, making its construction similar to the manufacturing process for consumer electronics, according to BJ Siegel, Junos co-founder and a former Apple executive.

The Juno system consists of about 30 pre-fabricated elements. Image courtesy Juno

Behind its weathering-steel skin and above a ground floor housing the lobby and retail space, the building has has 24 studio and one-bedroom apartments, including 20 market-rate units with rents starting at $2,000 per month, and four units designated as affordable. The apartments have a level of detail and finish that is unusual for rental housing, with features that include timber ceilings, wood floors, generously sized windows, and all-electric appliances. Instead of drywall, interior partitions are made of high-pressure laminate over a plywood core, with the edges of this substrate left exposed. There is a degree of care and sophistication that cookie-cutter apartment buildings just dont have, says Tomas Rossant, an Ennead partner. To date, 50 percent of the apartments have been rented.

The podium level, which is steel-framed, houses a lobby and commercial space. Photo Tobin Davies

The startup, in which Ennead has a small equity stake, had planned similar buildings in Denver and Seattle, but those projects are on indefinite hold, primarily due to high interest rates. Should they move forward, only their ground floors would require conventional construction documents, says Rossant, explaining that Ennead capitalized on the full capabilities of building information modeling (BIM), pushing the technology to the red line, using it for the development of the assembly, for designing and quantifying the components, and coordinating with fabrication and manufacturing partners. For subsequent projects, the developer would need to hire a local architect to navigate codes and zoning and to design a site-specific base. However, for the remaining part of the building, documentation would be essentially automated from the podium up, he says. The local firm would run the playbook developed by Juno and Ennead.

The kit of parts coupled with BIM allows for modifications to accommodate market conditions or material availability, according to the Juno team. For instance, cross-laminated timber panels (CLT) could be substituted for the MPP floor slabs since there are a growing number of CLT suppliers, suggests Rossant.

Juno's apartments have all-electric kitchens (1), floor-to-ceiling windows (2), and partitions made of laminate over a plywood core.Photos Tobin Davies

A typical Juno floor plan. Image courtesy Juno, click to enlarge.

In Austin, erection of the timber superstructure required 28 daysabout 60 percent faster than that of a typical stick-built building of similar size. Despite the time savings, the projects opening was delayed. Originally set for completion by the end of 2022, according to a RECORD story on the projects progress published in July of that year, the building did not open until this past February. The main culprit was not the innovative construction system, but the local utilitys difficulty in securing the buildings transformer, according to Siegel.

Despite the hurdles, the Juno team sees applications for the concept in other sectors. Siegel points to hospitality and retail and Rossant to dormitories. Multifamily projects could also materialize if interest rates fall. If that comes to pass, more apartment dwellers would be able to experience high design, says Rossant. Now most people dont get architecture, he says. They get buildings.

Photo Tobin Davies

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Ennead's Mass-Timber Apartment Building in Austin Pioneers 'Productized' Housing - Architectural Record

Understand how the following factors can affect your overall siding costs to accurately budget for your project.

Individual siding materials tend to come in multiple styles. Vinyl is a great example with a variety of looks and textures to choose from. Traditional vinyl lap costs just $2 to $6 per square foot on average, while products that mimic the look of wood, brick or stone cost an average of $5 to $10 per square foot.

The shape and size of your home will impact the amount of material and how long it takes to install your siding. Multiple stories, dormers and unusual roof angles are all factors that can increase siding installation costs.

Where you live will affect your ability to find or ship the materials you need. Vinyl holds up well to cold temperatures and is readily available in northern states. On the other hand, it tends to warp or crack in extreme heat, so its not used or stocked as often in southern states.

Siding removal costs $1,000 to $2,500. While vinyl and aluminum can commonly be installed over other siding, many materials require a clean base for installation. You may incur additional labor and disposal costs if the new siding you choose cant cover the existing siding.

With your materials selected and labor accounted for, there are a few other elements to factor into your siding installation budget.

Some types of siding can also be painted, with exterior painting costs averaging $3,000 for an entire house. Paint can also be an alternative to installing new siding as long as the previous siding isnt damaged. A fresh coat of paint provides a fresh look for renewed curb appeal.

Once your siding is installed, youll pay an average of $1,800 for trim. This finishing element lines the edges, doors and windows of a home and is often included in the total price for siding.

Every local municipality will have different codes for the permits and inspections needed to install new siding. Simple repairs may not require a permit. However, because updating the siding material on an entire home can involve major changes with tax assessment implications, youll want to contact your local planning or development authority for an application. Expect permits to cost anywhere from $150 to $3,000 for siding installation.

Whether youre looking for a unique custom color shade or a highly specific trim style to complement your siding materials, expect an added expense for these special-order customizations.

No matter what type of siding you choose, it will look better and last longer with regular maintenance. Vinyl siding requires almost no maintenance costs since you can rinse it with gentle soap and water. Other materials like stucco, brick or stone should be maintained by a pro who can properly replace mortar. Wood siding can be maintained by a homeowner, but involves expenses related to painting, staining and sealing from moisture and mold.

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How Much Does It Cost To Install Siding In 2024? - Forbes

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United Roofing & Siding is a top-rated roofing company. In a recent update, the company explained the most prevalent roof installation mistakes to avoid. Albany, NY - In a website post, United Roofing & Siding explained the most prevalent roof installation mistakes to avoid.

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This release was published on openPR.

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United Roofing & Siding Explains the Most Prevalent Roof Installation Mistakes to Avoid - openPR

Metropolitan Theodosios of Kinshasa, currently on a new missionary tour, recently visited the city of Kenge in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a church is being constructed in honor of Saint Gerasimos the Hymnographer.

During his visit, the Metropolitan inspected the progress of the churchs construction and expressed satisfaction with the advancements made so far.

He addressed the faithful and the workers, speaking about the event of the Resurrection of the Lord. Together, they sang Christ is Risen, and the Metropolitan expressed his hope that, once the church construction is completed, the community will have a permanent priest to meet their ongoing worship needs.

Later in the afternoon, the missionary group traveled to the town of Kikwit, home to the parish of Saints Athanasios of Alexandria and Eleftherios. The priests and faithful of Kikwit warmly welcomed the Metropolitan of Kinshasa and his entourage.

Source: greek.vema.com.au

Link:
Metropolitan of Kinshasa visits Church under construction in honor of St Gerasimos the Hymnographer - Orthodox Times - Orthodoxtimes.com

The 140-year-old temple in downtown Charlottesville that once served as the home of the historically Black Mount Zion Baptist Church is returning to its roots and will, once again, be a fully operational house of worship.

The Charlottesville-based nondenominational Point Church has acquired the building at 105 Ridge St. for $1.3 million, about 25% lower than its assessed value of $1.7 million and about 60% more than the $713,000 it last sold for in 2004.

Since 2004, the property has been home to the Music Resource Center, a nonprofit, music-based, after-school program that works with students particularly from Buford Middle School and Charlottesville High School.

The Point Church said it plans to officially begin operating out of the Ridge Street property in April of 2025 and will continue to lease the first floor of the building to the Music Resource Center until the nonprofit group relocates to its new facility on Cherry Avenue sometime in 2026.

The brick, steepled church on Ridge Street in downtown Charlottesville first opened its doors in 1884.

The Church of the Good Shepherd, an Anglican congregation that is relatively new to Charlottesville, has been using the churchs worship space since last year, sharing the property with the Music Resource Center. But according to city records, that church has recently acquired a property at 750 Hinton Ave. in Charlottesvilles Belmont neighborhood from the Hinton Avenue Methodist Church. That $1.5 million is about 50% lower than the propertys assessed value of $3 million. City Council in 2019 allowed the land to be rezoned for the Methodist church to begin construction of an affordable housing project there called Rachels Haven. Although construction was slated to begin sometime this year, so far no units have been built.

Back on Ridge Street, the Point Church says it is planning on converting the old Mount Zion space into a new downtown campus for its congregation.

Chip Measells, the churchs executive director, says the mission behind the downtown campus will be to serve individuals in the community dealing with financial struggles as well as offering coworking space for local nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to similar causes.

Through several innovative programs, we aim to address the root causes of systemic poverty, providing immediate relief and long-term empowerment for our neighbors, said Measells in a statement.

The Point Church on Pantops just east of Charlottesville was founded in 2009.

The historic Mount Zion building is a little less than 3 miles away from the Point Churchs other Charlottesville location on Hansen Road on Pantops, which was founded in 2009 along with another campus based in the town of Louisa east of the city. The downtown development is a part of an ongoing expansion throughout Central Virginia for the Point Church; a new campus in Waynesboro is expected to open later this fall.

This strategic acquisition marks a significant step in our mission to expand our presence and service within the community, said Measells.

The Black congregation at Mount Zion Baptist Church first opened its doors at 105 Ridge St. in 1884, but they had been gathering and worshipping together decades before that.

The congregation was formed in 1864, when Black congregants split from the racially segregated White Baptist church in Charlottesville. At first they met in the residence of one of their congregants, but soon outgrew the space and, in 1875, built a wooden church in a lot next door.

Less than 10 years later, the congregation moved again, this time into the newly completed brick church on Ridge Street, designed by George Wilson Spooner, a Charlottesville architect who was involved in construction on the University of Virginia Rotunda.

Embellished in the 1890s with its steeple, stained-glass windows, and pipe organ, the church became a symbol of the growing importance of Charlottesvilles black community, according to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources.

The Mount Zion congregation would remain there for nearly 120 years, when under the leadership of the Rev. Alvin Edwards, the church moved in 2003 to a new home at 105 Lankford Ave. less than a mile south, where it remains to this day.

Since 2004, the Mount Zion Baptist Church property in downtown Charlottesville has been home to the Music Resource Center, a nonprofit, music-based, after-school program.

With a police escort, and a large banner leading the way, many members marched (in remembrance of deceased members), others rode buses, from our old edifice at 105 Ridge Street to our new edifice at 105 Lankford Avenue, reads an official church history posted on its website. As we entered the new edifice singing our theme, Were Marching to Zion, both young and old gave thanks to God for his continued blessings.

The building at 105 Ridge St. was enshrined in the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

The Point Church is holding an open house at the church building from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Tuesday. Pastor Gabe Turner will be speaking about the organizations plans for the campus at multiple sessions throughout the day, at 9 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

Emily Hemphill (540) 855-0362

ehemphill@dailyprogress.com

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140-year-old church in downtown Charlottesville trades hands - The Daily Progress

With major changes coming to one of San Diegos most iconic outdoor malls, your front yard could be steps away from Rolex, Dior and Dolce and Gabana.

SAN DIEGO Fashion Valleywill soon provide more than shopping. For the first time ever, youll be able to live at the mall.

Simon, the property owner of Fashion Valley, announced JCPenney is set to transform into hundreds of high-end residences.

The development would be on the far west end of the mall, nestled next to Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus. The plan is to build 850 luxury homes, the first to ever be located inside the mall.

"We are always going to have people drawn to the Coast of California, San Diego as well," said Laurie MacDonald, President of the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors. "If you want luxury, you go to Fashion Valley."

With major changes coming to one of San Diegos most iconic outdoor malls, your front yard could soon be steps away from Rolex, Dior and Dolce and Gabana.

"It's kinda fun to see the luxury, reminds me of Rodeo Drive, but not everyone can afford that," Hannah Lawrence said, who lives nearby.

Over the years, more and more storefronts became designer brands and soon theyll have the housing to match.

"This is the trend for any age group, people want walkability. I love what they're doing - creating more housing, in general is great. I wish there was more home ownership opportunities there because that's really what San Diego needs," she said.

With this growth, comes the end of an era for this JCPenney location.

"I've been going to JCPenney since I was a kid," Lawrence said.

"Retail is hard right now, with all of the online shopping," MacDonald added.

Simon, the property owner of Fashion Valley says the multi-million dollar investment will intertwine high-end housing with luxury boutiques - adding the redevelopment marks a new era of sophistication and convenient living.

The units are set to have "incomparable amenities and high end finishes." There are also plans for new restaurants and open green spaces.

"I was a little surprised, because they're building some apartments, right down the road. It's going to be a lot of traffic, so yep we'll see," Lawrence said.

Given San Diegos housing situation, I asked if a city ordinance will require any of the units to fall under the affordable housing category. In a nutshell, a certain percentage will have to be - otherwise the property owner, has to pay a fee. The City of San Diego added, they havent yet received an application for the project.

JCPenney is set to close next year, and then construction should be complete by the end of 2026.

WATCH RELATED: Westfield Mission Valley sold for $290 million, developer plans to add housing

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Live inside a mall? | Fashion Valley to add 850 luxury homes - CBS News 8

In Birmingham, Alabama the residential enclave of Mountain Brook unfolds in a procession of monumental homes, most of them hailing from the 1920s and 30s in a pastiche of English styles. But one house literally stops people in their tracks.

Built a little over a decade ago, its a sublimely proportioned brick Georgian, strict as a sonnet and hemmed with enchanting gardens. People knock on its door to ask for paint colors. And while not quite as popular as Ariana Grande, the house has proved to be somewhat of an Instagram heavyweight.

This was all a major surprise to Caroline Gidiere, its owner and decorator who, early in the project, surmised to her architect that the whole town would probably whisper, Why is she building this grandma house?

Building it at all was serendipitous. She and her husband, Stephen, who she met in law school, had been house hunting avidly. One day, she looked at a house so dilapidated the eccentric owner led her in through its only functional opening: a side window. Thinking theyd found an intriguing fixer-upper, the Gidieres snapped it up. Then her architect and friend, James F. Carter, informed her that the half-collapsed pile was a teardown, well beyond saving.

Gidiere, who was still a lawyer at the time (one with unexpressed aesthetic yearnings), didnt bother getting upset. Instead, she told Carter what she wanted him to design in its place.

I wanted to do a riff on the George Wythe house, says Gidiere, who was raised in tiny Florence, Alabama, by parents whod taken her to Colonial Williamsburg every summer for 20 years. For at least the first 10, she spent those vacations beating flax into linen, dipping candles over a hot cauldron of beeswax, and envying friends whod gone to Disney World. But as it turns out, she was also busy storing up house plans, particularly of the majestically simple 1750s house built for Wythe, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The symmetry and balance of it massages something deep in my brain, says Gidiere, a lifetime decorating devotee whose tastes run from Daniel Romualdez, Frances Elkins, and Renzo Mongiardino to Miles Redd and David Netto. So clear was her vision for the project that she scrapped plans to work with an interior designer and simply forged ahead with Carter on her own.

Gidiere favors timeless, traditional rooms but also exuberant pattern and color. In the foyer, Chinese blue-and-white exportware vases crowd the console. The living rooms sofas wear buoyant ruffled slipcovers in Colefax and Fowlers Bowood, a floral document fabric found in Englands Bowood Castle. The ruffles fraternize effortlessly with filigreed Kentian consoles and a quieter games table and chairs from the Paris Flea Market. Dining room walls are clad in frothy, hand-painted chinoiserie wallpaper, its background a saturated midtone green hovering between grass and olive. It cleverly covers the jib doors of four big closets where Gidiere stores tableware.

Her color palette veers close to the edge but never over it and always to joyous effect. The kitchen and family rooms lavender sofa with pale pink and aqua pillows next to a bright orange banquette sounds insane but isntand an equally vivid orange silk sari made into a pleated lampshade only amps up the charm. Next to hot-orange millwork, the bars ultratraditional built-in cabinetry stained chocolate brown surrenders up every iota of stuffiness.

So much color supports a truth about this house: that its a garden indoors and out, each part flowing easily into the other and both well used for entertaining and family life. Stephen worked closely with landscape architect Randy McDaniel to choose plants and has always taken care of everything. He hand-clips the dahlia garden, trains the espaliered hornbeams and fruit trees against the house, and barbers the myrtle topiaries scattered everywhere. Its his playground and stress reliever, she says.

Gidiere learned in the decorating that she could spend long hours on mundane tasks like choosing hardware and never consider it work. One December, Stephen secretly filed her incorporation, got her a decorating license, and put them in a box under the tree. She opened them up, and he said, Its time. She took the following year to wrap up her legal practice.

Unsurprisingly, Gidiere has more colorful and engaging work than she can handle these days. Beyond my wildest dreams! she says. Im blown away and grateful every day.

The front door and its Philip T. Shutzeinspired surround brings the entrance down to a more human scale, says architect James F. Carter.

Miniature English cream dachshund Buttercup offers a friendly welcome in the marble foyer. Regency lantern, Vaughan. A subtle Greek key motif nods to late Georgian/Regency influences with understated simplicity.

A bay window in the den makes way for a cozy breakfast banquette framed by the childrens artwork. Armchairs, Lee Industries.

Carter used horizontal wood paneling to draw a contrast between the den and the rest of the house. Its a graphic way to add lovely warmth, he notes.

A bluestone patio serves the back entry. Table and chairs, Fermob Luxembourg

Dark cabinetry makes the expansive combined kitchen and den at the back of the house feel cozier. A stainless steel countertop ensures a kinship between the island and the appliances, hood, and satin nickel hardware. Cabinetry paint, Off-Black by Farrow & Ball

Tucking tableware storage behind jib doors in the dining room ensures continuity for the showstopping silk de Gournay wallpaper. The table skirt fabric is by Elizabeth Eakins. Trim, Samuel & Sons. Chair upholstery, Les Indiennes and Schumacher

Antique glass and Chippendale fretwork give the built-in bar cabinetry beautiful historic character. Stained mahogany is framed in fiery orange trim (Lava by Porters Paints) and gold leaf ceiling paper (Phillip Jeffries). Pendant lighting, Visual Comfort & Co. Backsplash, Adelphi Paper Hangings

In the living room, a Regency game table and chairs (Paris Flea Market) are flanked by Chippendale mirrors. Abaca rug, Hiltz-Lauber. Lamps, Bungalow 5

The best thing you can have in a house is good natural light, says architect James F. Carter, who designed the living room with four pairs of French doors.

A rectangular shape brings a sense of intimacy to the formal seating area and its trio of slipcovered sofas. A pair of Louis XVI armchairs flank the central sofa; the lacquered coffee table is by Miles Redd for Ballard Designs. Sofas, Bungalow Classic. Slipcovers, custom

Faux book fronts epoxied to a jib closet door give the appearance of an intriguing secret passage.

The stair rail was inspired by the famed Chinese Chippendale design at Battersea, an 18th-century estate in Virginia.

Romantic English florals (Colefax and Fowler) envelop the first-floor guest room. The quilts are Provence market finds. Trim, Samuel & Sons. Four-poster beds, Ikea

A custom upholstered bed in the master bedroom is covered in a deep rose linen by Carolina Irving Textiles. Wall and drapery fabric, Dcors Barbares. Linens, D. Porthault

A petite greenhouse (Eden Brothers) is tucked behind a pleached American hornbeam arch.

Garden table linens, Paloma & Co. Rattan vases, Amanda Lindroth

Painted brickwork gives the classically inspired home a look more in line with its 1920s neighbors, says architect James F. Carter. I expected typical black shutters, but Caroline wanted to match the shade to the house, and I think that went a long way to making it look really fresh. The custom shade is similar to Gray Mist by Benjamin Moore.

Interior Design by Caroline Gidiere; Architecture by James F. Carter; Landscape Design by Randy McDaniel; Photography by Brian Woodcock Produced by Rachael Burrow

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Experts discuss ways to protect homes from electrical disasters

MARYLAND Every day we use electricity getting ready in the mornings, in the kitchen, our personal devices. But how much is too much?

Home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year. More than 1,400 people are injured, there are more than 500 deaths, and approximately $1.3. billion in property damage. May is Electrical Safety Month, and experts are giving us tips on how to prevent electrical disasters.

Mcintyre Electric Service, Inc. owner John Mcintyre, tells us that multi-power strips are one of many causes of electrical fires. Be cognizant of what youre plugging in If you have a cord plugged in and its frayed, and it shorts out. Pets, pets are a good one for chewing into electrical cords and things of that nature that could cause issues. Furniture crushing electrical cords, things of that nature.

Ocean City Firefighter, Ryan Whittington, agrees that in the workplace and at home electrical fires can be a result of old wiring and overloaded circuits. Faulty appliances or improper use of electric devices can pose a risk for a house fire Connecting multiple high-energy appliances, even daisy-chaining some of them together or multiple strips together can overload the circuit.

Mcintyre says older homes may have fixtures that need to be upgraded and cautions all homeowners to check outlets in and around the home. If its not holding when you plug it in and it feels like it wants to fall out, its time to change that outlet If you have a breaker tripping in your panel, maybe its just not the breaker, maybe its an actual problem if you keep resetting it.

Whittington says to regularly check cords for damage, and Mcintyre says you can take a step further to ensure electrical disasters dont happen to you. Having an electrician do a check once a year, just go through your panel box and check that and make sure all your connections are tight there. Have an electrician if he has a thermal imager check your outlets.

Lithium batteries in gadgets like hover boards, have been known to catch fire and cause a lot of damage. Mcintyre says thermal runaway is when the device overheats from the inside causing a combustion. It overheats from the inside and goes into a runoff of flame, and you cant stop it. These batteries will catch fire and cause a lot of damage. Plugging them in inside and charging them in your house is never a good idea to do. Plugging them into the garage or outside its best. Whittington also speaks on instruments with lithium batteries, Charging one of the lithium-ion batteries on a bed or mattress is not a good idea never put these batteries on something combustible.

Whittington warns us to never use water to extinguish an electrical fire, as water conducts electricity. Mcintyre says if your able, get to the breaker shut the whole panel down and be sure to use a fire extinguisher. Most importantly, make sure you have a working smoking detector, smoke detectors save lives. He tells us that all families should have an escape plan, get out fast, and call the fire department.

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Electrical Safety: Time to Unplug - 47abc - WMDT