Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

VT Dimensions Countertops Plant Tour
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By: VT Industries, Inc.

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VT Dimensions Countertops Plant Tour - Video

(WDEF) Countertops are true workhorses that can transform the look of your kitchen. Whether you want something more traditional... Geoff Horen works as a Remodeling Contractor. He said, "We still see most people in that granite and quartz world." Or a bit trendier Horen added, "Concrete and wood tend to be and recycled glass, tend to be what I kinda call our HGTV products." The first thing you need to ask yourself is not just how much you're willing to spend, but how much you should spend. Angie Hicks of Angie's List said, "Countertops are no different than any other type of remodeling project. It's really important to assess the value of your neighborhood. You don't want to over invest in your house because you won't get the return. So, for example if you have a rental property that you rent out for $1000/month, installing countertops that are $80/square foot is way too much money to invest." You also need to determine how you'll be using your countertops. Do you spend a lot of time in the kitchen? Do you do a lot of cooking? Are you worried about stains or scratches? Horen said, "Sometimes people will say things like, 'I want to be able to put hot pans right on my countertop.' Well, then those people, generally speaking, need to go toward a granite product because granite has a heat tolerance of like 900 to 1,200 degrees." When deciding on a material, ask what fits with the rest of your home's style and design. A modern concrete countertop may look out of place in a more traditional kitchen. But remember, you don't always have to spend more to get a superior look. Horen added, "I can take a couple of laminate samples and literally set them on our granite samples and show people. They look exactly the same." Angie's List says be honest with yourself about how much maintenance you can handle. For example, porous materials like limestone and marble need sealing once a year.

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Angie's List Report: Picking Countertops

Provided by Networx.com

Concrete is not just for sidewalks these days. In fact, with the development of special decorative techniques, concrete is revolutionizing home decor. This durable and affordable substance can be used for a multitude of applications indoors and out. Strikingly handsome concrete patios, pool surrounds, garden paths, flooring, walls, and even kitchen or bathroom countertops show off just how versatile concrete can be. Here is a glossary explaining the most popular finishes used to create decorative concrete.

Acid stained -- treated with permanent, durable color, usually in earthy shades like greens or browns. A solution of inorganic salts, acid, and water is applied to poured and cured concrete. The resultant translucent stain gives a mottled, marbleized effect.

Broadcast (also: seed) -- hand distribute a dry substance (for example, dryshake color hardener or decorative aggregate) onto wet concrete to enhance looks and reduce slipperiness.

Broom finished -- distinctive texture produced by using a broom on the surface of newly poured concrete.

Cast in place -- shaped on site to allow more flexibility of design and avoid having to move heavy pieces. This is often used to make decorative and functional cast-in-place countertops for kitchens or bathrooms. Smooth, long-lasting, and inexpensive, concrete countertops can be designed in an enormous range of colors and shapes.

Color chips -- colored plastic chips that are scattered onto concrete flooring freshly coated with epoxy resin.

Decorative aggregate -- aggregate of colorful pebbles, such as quartz, added to concrete mix to both strengthen it and produce an attractive end product.

Dyed -- poured and cured concrete to which a water- or solvent-based colored solution is then applied. The process differs from acid staining in that dyes do not react chemically with the concrete and are available in a wider range of colors.

Engraved -- cut with special tools to create decorative patterns, often mimicking the look of tile.

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Decorative concrete finishes: a picture glossary

Beautiful hand made designs colourful interiors
Features innovative furniture ideas for every room in the house. Topics covered include bookshelf designs, tables, chairs, modern wall units and space saving furniture interior design, interior...

By: Hindu Culture

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Beautiful hand made designs colourful interiors - Video

The 25-year-old star splashed out the hefty sum on the Tudor-inspired four bedroom home which features stained glass windows, turrets, a gym, tanning room, sauna and even an opulent billiards room with a large gold chandelier.

The castle-like property boasts a large back garden complete with a 75 ft swimming pool, built-in bar, spa and entertaining area.

If he doesn't feel like relaxing by the pool, Jason can enjoy a game of basket ball on his personal court.

Sadly, the 'Watcha Say' hitmaker will have to wait a few weeks before he can move in to the house, as an interior decorator adds the finishing touches to the furniture.

Perhaps planning for his new home will divert Jason's mind from his ex-girlfriend Jordin.

The pair split in September after dating for three years, and now the 'American Idol' alum has reportedly hit back at her former beau - who had to cancel his world tour in 2012 after fracturing his neck - in her remix of Drake's 'How Bout Now'.

In an interview with LA Leakers, the 24-year-old pop star revealed a snippet of the tune, which features the lyrics: "Remember I deleted all my other guys' numbers out of my phone for ya?/Remember when you broke your neck and I had to wash your back for ya?

"You didn't really f**k with me way back then, but how bout now?/'Cause I'm up right now and you suck right now. (sic)"

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Jason Derulo has purchased a $3 million bachelor pad.

GILFORD The amount of money approved by voters at town meeting in March for the renovation and additions to the police station is less than the amount proposed by two construction companies for the work, but a third companys proposal may fit the bill, town officials said.

Town officials say they will try to have the work done by the company offering the lowest proposal, Gary Chocoine Construction of Weare, whose proposal for the work is $1,365,048.

The town has roughly $1,382,000 in the budget, as there is additional money for architectural and other work needed for the project, said Town Administrator Scott Dunn.

Its really tight, Dunn said. But we will enter into discussions with (Chocoine Construction) to see if we can get this done with what we have.

The other proposals which were not bids, Dunn said came from Meridian Construction of Gilford, which proposed $1.6 million, and Turnstone Construction of Milford, which submitted a proposal of $1.4 million.

At present, there are deficiencies in the police section of building, including safety and building code violations. But the big problem is space, as the building is bursting at the seams, Dunn said previously.

Among the renovations planned are a new garage and sally port for prisoners, two new holding cells and a new booking room. At present, officers have to walk through the booking room to get to other parts of the station, and there are only two cells.

There will be a new training room for police as part of a new emergency operations center, which could be used in times of crisis or a major police operation, and could serve as a call-in center for residents during an emergency. The plan is to add more than 6,000 square feet of space to the building, town officials said.

Before the project was approved in March, the town tried to enlarge and improve the police department twice before but failed to get voter approval. In 2006, a proposal for a new standalone station with a cost of about $2 million failed. In 2009, a proposal for renovations and an addition with a price of $1.58 million failed to get the required 60 percent approval.

dseufert@newstote.com

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Gilford choice on police station renovations nears

'Lost Souls Volume 1' ($12.50)

Originally released on Harold Ott's local Psych of the South label, "Lost Souls Vol. 1" is the definitive document of Arkansas's 1960s garage and psychedelic rock scene. The Problems of Tyme, The Roustabouts, The Shades, The Vycounts all of your (cool grandfather's) favorites are here. And as of September, it's available on vinyl via Get Hip Records. WS

Roku streaming player ($49)

I didn't know I wanted a Roku until my daughter gave me one for Christmas. It's a plug-in device that streams TV channels via WiFi. Lots of free channels. Easy access to subscription services like Netflix and Amazon Prime. You can buy the device for as little as $49. There's no monthly charge. It's a big step forward in weaning yourself from cable TV. Easy to set up. Easy to use. Even for a technophobe. MB

'Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home' cookbook ($17.98)

When I was a sophomore in college, I visited my older brother's house and found an untouched copy of a cookbook on his shelf called "Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home," which I subsequently stole. It was my first cookbook, and 12 years later it's still the one I use most often. There's no better way to learn a repertoire of cheap, quick, healthy, tasty meals that are mostly vegetarian; no recipe takes more than an hour to cook, and rarely do they call for ingredients that aren't available at your average Walmart. Try the pad thai, the cauliflower paprikash, the sweet potato quesadillas, the minestra. Give a copy to your own college student, or to any friend with a low-to-moderate kitchen literacy, or maybe to my brother. BH

DJI Phantom Drone Quadcopter ($479)

I want what every good boy and girl wants for Christmas: the ability to fly. It isn't possible quite yet, but I can come close to seeing what the city looks like from up there with the new, handy-dandy DJI Phantom Aerial UAV GoPro Mount 2.4GHz Drone Quadcopter. Yes, drone. This state of the art adult toy can be good for all kinds of things such as spying on your neighbors or getting free into outdoor concerts and sporting events. On the tech side the Quadcopter is great for shooting aerial shots and easily connects to a GoPro camera. JG

Marvel Unlimited ($9.99 or $69)

I used to read comic books as a teenager, and now my 4-year-old is obsessed with superheroes and asking me questions like, "Who is Thor's mother?" and "What are Black Panther's powers?," so it seemed like a good time for me to start reading comics again. It's gotten way easier and way cheaper since I last regularly read them a dozen years ago. Now, for $9.99 a month or $69 a year, you can subscribe to Marvel Unlimited, which gives you unlimited access to a massive chunk of Marvel's catalog. The newest stuff is months old, but there's so much archive stuff, with new additions all the time, you're gonna have a hard time running out of comics to read. A tablet is the best device for reading these, though there is a phone app that displays individual panels and isn't terrible if you need a comics fix while killing time. LM

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2014 holiday gift guide

Plano Carpet and Renova Flooring Expand Shop-At-Home & Next Day Carpet & Flooring in Plano, Texas

Plano Carpet, part of the Renova Flooring network, works with residential, commercial and multifamily clients providing professionally installed products, including carpet, carpet tile, hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, tile flooring, vinyl and wood look vinyl. Renova also provides beautiful kitchen and bath remodeling and upgrades. The expansion of the Next Day Carpet & Flooring Service is based on the increased demand for Plano Carpets quality products and services.

Plano Carpet, part of the Renova Flooring network, works with residential, commercial and multifamily clients providing professionally installed products, including carpet, carpet tile, hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, tile flooring, vinyl and wood look vinyl. Renova also provides beautiful kitchen and bath remodeling and upgrades.

The expansion of the Next Day Carpet & Flooring Service is based on the increased demand for Plano Carpets quality products and services. The Next Day Carpet and Flooring area in Plano includes all the surrounding areas in the Dallas Fort-Worth region such as Allen, McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Denton, The Colony, Lewisville, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie and many more.

Plano Carpet is a full-service provider of professionally installed carpet and flooring. The companys growth and expansion of the Next Day Carpet & Flooring will allow residents to have a convenient Shop at Home experience, great prices and a professional option for updating their homes. Business owners in this area can also look to Renova for Next Day Carpet & Flooring commercial services dedicated to installations in commercial and retail spaces.

Plano Carpet and Renova Flooring offer a huge selection of name brand products from leading manufacturers such as Shaw, Mohawk, Armstrong and more.

A Renova company spokesman stated: "Its great to be able to offer our 'Shop-At-Home & Next Day Carpet & Flooring' solutions to even more residents in the Plano area. We look forward to further growth with our convenient shop-at-home process, free estimates, name-brand products and professional installation. Renovas unique approach, deep industry experience and quality service positions us well ahead of our competitors and we look forward to continued growth as we service the needs of homeowners and businesses in Plano."

Industry Pioneer Renova Flooring is an Industry Pioneer of a Next Day Carpet & Flooring value added approach that offers quality workmanship and innovative products and services that have been designed to provide Optimal Value and the Best Possible Return On Investment. Its the very reason Renova has risen to become one of the fastest-growing flooring companies in the nation.

Quality Workmanship & Value Engineering Renova provides partners and clients with quality workmanship and innovative products and services that have been designed to provide optimum value and the best possible return on investment. They do this with the utmost integrity and a commitment to excellence.

Full Warranty Renova provides certified installation, a product warranty and a comprehensive warranty on their workmanship. In addition, Plano Carpet & Renova Flooring offer clients a Lifetime Warranty Program.

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Plano Carpet and Renova Flooring Expand Shop-At-Home & Next Day Carpet & Flooring in Plano, Texas

Christmas displays and themes 2014
Here is a preview of some of our Christmas decoration themes available this year. Along with our range of artificial and real Christmas trees, we have a wide away of outdoor and indoor lighting.For...

By: Henry Street Garden Centre

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Christmas displays and themes 2014 - Video

New UN Targets on Indoor Air Pollution Aim to Save Millions of Lives Each Year

12 November 2014 The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) today highlighted the dangers of burning fuels like unprocessed coal and kerosene in the home, and issued targets for reducing emissions of health-damaging pollutants from domestic cook stoves, space heaters and fuel-based lamps.

According to WHO, nearly 3 billion people worldwide still lack access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking, heating and lighting.

And an estimated 4.3 million people worldwide die every year from indoor air pollution emitted by rudimentary biomass and coal cook stoves. They die from strokes, and heart and pulmonary diseases, such as childhood pneumonia and lung cancer. Women and children are particularly vulnerable.

These diseases are primarily caused by high levels of fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide released by the burning of solid fuels such as wood, coal, animal dung, crop waste and charcoal in inefficient stoves, space heaters, or lamps.

Ensuring cleaner air in and around the home is fundamental to reducing the burden of disease from air pollution, especially in low- and middle-income countries, says Dr. Maria Neira, WHO Director for Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health.

The new WHO guidelines aim to help countries introduce cleaner technologies, improve air quality in poor households, reduce pollution-related diseases and save lives.

The guidelines include emissions targets for different kinds of domestic appliances.

The targets are the result of years of review of the health impacts of household air pollution emissions and careful examination of the levels by which emissions would have to be reduced in order to meet WHO guidelines for air quality.

If the new emission targets are met, then some 90% of homes globally will meet WHOs air quality standards, said Dr Neira.

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Target on Indoor Air Pollution Aim to Save Millions of Lives