Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Sponsored by Lee Douglas Interiors, Inc. & Build Omaha: When a builder and interior designer work together from the beginning, you get a home that is worth looking at, and that is just what happened at the Lee Douglas Interiors homes for the Home Inspiration Tour.

Using an interior designer at the start of a home building process was once considered a luxury, but now builder partners see them as part of the package.

Designers can look at the plan when it is on paper and work with the home owner to determine how the house is going to live. They can make critical alterations before they become expensive changes.

In addition, good builders hire designers to choose the materials and permanent features with the homeowner. Wouldnt you rather have your builder on site and managing the project vs shopping with you at a tile or window store?

Designers can alert you to trends and the possibilities of good design, but what is good design? Good design is what works for the homeowner and every project should be different. There are so many good trends to talk about, but were starting out with two that we get a ton of questions about. These may seem disjointed but hang in there with me.

Kitchens: The kitchen is the heart of the home. Whether you want them there or not, your family and friends are going to hang out while you cook and prepare. Isnt it time we stopped the madness and made the kitchen an adequate space where you can cook and be with your friends as they sip their wine?

Designing a kitchen by creating boundaries, no cross zones, and divisions that are invisible to your guests keeps everyone happy. Yes, you can entertain while cooking, and it can be one of the best looking rooms in the house by mixing woods, metals, lighting, ceiling treatments etc.

More kitchens are also including a door to a hidden space that looks just like another cabinet. This definitely keeps them out of your business! Whats behind there is whatever works for you. Just think of the possibilities: a pantry, a prep kitchen, appliance storage, wine storage, a coffee bar, a desk for meal planning, let your imagination go! Its no longer just what the plan says; its what you want it to be.

Floor Transitions: Do you know why streets have lines painted on them? Its because people generally like to go by the rules and stay within the lines.

Think of that analogy when planning your flooring breaks. There are so many floors to fall in love with: Great woods, tiles, concrete etc. but sorry, folks, you need to pick just a few and plan effectively.

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Is Using an Interior Designer Right For You?

It's two men and a baby: Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent are going to be dads.

The "American Dream Builders" host and his new husband shared the news Wednesday on their Facebook pages, revealing they were expecting their first child via surrogate in the spring.

"We have had the most special year and its JUST become even more beautiful," Berkus wrote. "We are happy to announce that we are expecting our first child!"

"While we can't share much, we can say that thanks to a surrogate and the support of those we love we will officially be a family in the spring of 2015!" he added.

Berkus, 43, an interior designer, and Brent, a former assistant to fashion designer Rachel Zoe, got engaged in Machu Picchu, Peru, in April 2013 after dating for about nine months.

They wed at the New York Public Library last May in a wedding that was touted as the historic landmark's first same-sex nuptials.

The event was attended by Berkus' pal Oprah Winfrey, TV personality Rachael Ray, "The Kitchen" cohost Katie Lee, designer Rebecca Minkoff,"Cougar Town" star Busy Philipps and Elizabeth Hendrickson of "The Young and the Restless."

The ceremony was reportedly officiated by Sheri Salata, president of OWN.

We can totally see Oprah being the baby's godmother. Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad.

Excerpt from:
Designer Nate Berkus, Jeremiah Brent expecting a child via surrogate

Photo Courtesy of BRAD RANKIN.

By MIRANDA ROGERS MCDONALDTheChicStreet.com

What is your fashion view?I went to Otis/Parsons School of Art and Design for Fashion. I have since been in the interior design field, but fashion has always played a huge role in my inspiration as a designer. Shapes, textures and trending moments of color solidify my ideas in design and continue to inspire me.

How do you describe your style?Well, the better question would be how would another person describe my style? They would say I love feathers and glitter! Seriously, I love exploring fashion, and the boundaries to which I express my creativity through fashion are nonexistent. I am kinda known for showing up to an event red-carpet ready - and then some.

What are your favorite pieces?My favorite pieces are ones I find during my travels.

Why are these your favorite pieces?They remind me of where I have been and the times I had there. I also use travel as a wonderful excuse to shop my heart out.

Where is your favorite place to shop?I mostly shop at boutiques. I love SOHO for shopping. At the end of a long day of finding amazing things, I like to settle in for a peach bellini in the Mercer Hotel lobby and people watch.

Who is your fashion icon?Issey Miyake and Comme de Garcon are two of them, but there are too many to count. I typically like the more fashion-forward, out-of-the-box designers. No Fear! I have the same approach to my own fashion and interior design.

What do you love most about being a designer?Working with my clients, getting to know them on a personal level. Making their houses into homes. That is where it is at. I am changing the world, one room at a time.

Is there anything else you want our readers to know about you?My new home dcor line, http://www.kenngrayhome.com, melds my love of fashion and nostalgia with a modern aesthetic, which evokes a current attitude and superlative style.

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Fashion View: Kenn Gray

Wink, the Internet of Things software company that grew out of Quirky, has released their newest product, Relay. Photo: Wink

Wink, the Internet of Things software company that grew out of Quirky, has released their newest product, Relay.

Relay looks like a traditional light switch, but is actually a physical nerve center for connected gadgets that previously talked only to a smartphone app. Photo: Wink

Relay looks like a traditional light switch, but is actually a physical nerve center for connected gadgets that previously talked only to a smartphone app.

Users can control smart gadgets via customized profiles, on Relays screen or an app. This means one touch could effectively shut the house down for the night, by turning off the lights and locking the doors, or amp it up for a party, by dimming the lights and turning speakers on. Photo: Wink

Users can control smart gadgets via customized profiles, on Relays screen or an app. This means one touch could effectively shut the house down for the night, by turning off the lights and locking the doors, or amp it up for a party, by dimming the lights and turning speakers on.

It's a modular solution. As gadgets accumulate over time, they can be folded into Relay as well. Photo: Wink

It's a modular solution. As gadgets accumulate over time, they can be folded into Relay as well.

Wink, the Internet of Things software company that grew out of Quirky, has released their newest product, Relay. Photo: Wink

Wink, the Internet of Things software company that grew out of Quirky, has released their newest product, Relay.

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Wink Could Be the Next Big Platform for the Smart Home

WEST HARTFORD, Conn. At this year's NECA show, Legrand, a leading provider of electrical wiring devices and home systems, will be showcasing a number of solutions that will help electrical contractors grow their businesses. To learn and see more, visit Legrand in booth #846 from September 28 - 30, 2014, at McCormick Place, West Hall F1, Chicago, IL.

The Legrand booth will feature a live "touch screen" performance demonstrating Legrand solutions at work in a commercial building that has been retrofitted to increase building performance. A demonstration of WattStopper's Digital Lighting Management solution will also take place. In addition, the adorne, Cablofil, On-Q, Pass Seymour, Wiremold and WattStopper product lines will be displayed in appropriately themed kiosks: New products, productivity, industrial and residential solutions.

"It is very important for contractors to implement strategies centered on business growth into their yearly business plans," says Steve Killius, Vice President, Business Development Group at Legrand. "Contractors cannot rely on waiting for construction projects or rest on what they have been doing for clients. It is critical that they are able to identify emerging trends in how customers interact with their spaces and look for opportunities to create new business. Contractors must continuously look for new value-added service, propose it to customers with a view to upselling them and providing additional options."

Legrand continuously monitors the contractor market to identify new trends and requirements for business growth and optimization. "Adopting this proactive approach and integrating ourselves with contractors allows us to design and deliver a vast amount of products and solutions that add value to their ability to generate new business and revenue streams. These products deliver benefits ranging from ease of installation and integration to energy efficiency, sustainability, flexible design and safety. It also allows us to help contractors prepare for future trends and industry developments," continues Killius.

Trends in open architecture, collaborative spaces and the focus on energy efficiency present opportunities to bring new, innovative solutions to the customer. "Service and preventive maintenance are also ways to add new streams of income beyond constructing infrastructure. Partnering with innovative manufactures will enable contractors to offer more to their customers, save time and earn more profits," concludes Killius.

Featured products from Legrand on the showfloor:

From Cablofil: Cablofil Wire Mesh Cable Tray, is an open cable management system that is fast and easy to splice and assemble. Onsite fabrication is easy and requires no special fittings. Contractors merely cut, bend and move on, which makes horizontal and vertical directional changes simple. It reduces installation downtime and interruptions for moves, add-ons and changes and this translates into lower job costs. The wire mesh cable tray can be mounted in a variety of ways: on the wall, above the ceiling or in raised floor applications.

From On-Q: The On-Q Quick Connect connectivity solution boosts contractor productivity by terminating all four pairs in one squeeze and also improves termination reliability. It is available with Cat 5e, Cat 6 or Cat 6a Keystone inserts.

On-Q's Home Theater In-Wall Connection Kit facilitates effective cable management by hiding unsightly power, HDMI, Ethernet, and audio cables behind the wall of flat panel TVs to enhance the aesthetics of a room. It can be used as a standalone kit for retrofit projects or with new construction brackets.

Creating a home network using existing electrical outlets is easy with On-Q's Powerline Network Starter Kit. It supports bandwidth-intensive applications such as online gaming and streaming and requires no new wiring to be done. It features easy plug-and-play installation and HomePlug AV compliant adapters.

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Legrand Showcases Business Enhancement Solutions at NECA 2014

820 Belknap Grand Ledge MI B
Welcome to 820 Belknap. This home has 2 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms plus a one full year home warranty! Located in a desirable area of Grand Ledge with an easy walk to town, schools or shopping....

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820 Belknap Grand Ledge MI B - Video

(PRWEB) September 25, 2014

Choice Home Warranty Announces the winner of the Choice Home Warranty $1,000 Scholarship Program: Hung N. Le, a student of Pennsylvania State University.

Le is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies at Pennsylvania State University. His scholarship entry was selected as the winner from a field of more than 60 qualified applicants. The $1,000 scholarship will be used for school related expenses in the 2014-2015 academic year.

Choice Home Warranty is pleased to support students with our scholarship program, said Choice Home Warranty President Victor Mandalawi. Les story of immigration from Vietnam captures the spirit of what home really means: families, memories, and a sense of being no matter where in the world you are.

Le is excited to receive the scholarship, and is thankful to put it to good use: Knowing that I was selected by the judges means the world for me and my path to becoming the first in my family with a college degree.

Scholarship applicants were asked to write a short essay on one of three topics:

-What Home Means to You -The Home of the Future -Homes for All

Entries were judged on content, style, creativity, and how well the winning applicant presented his or her point of view.

For Le, the scholarship represents not just home, but hope for college students. I truly believe that scholarships like the one that Choice Home Warranty offered can make the biggest impact for low-income college students, especially with the steady decline in government aid and rising tuition rates, he said.

Offering the scholarship is meaningful to Choice Home Warranty as well. For many students, college is the first real experience away from their childhood home, said Mandalawi. This scholarship contest reflects how important homes are, even when theyre physically far away, and supports students as they take an exciting new step in their lives.

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Choice Home Warranty Awards Penn State Student With $1,000 Scholarship

Denver, CO (PRWEB) September 25, 2014

StrucSure Risk Management Group, one of the nations leading providers of warranties, insurance, and re-insurance products and services, is excited to announce Lloyds of London as the new reinsurance provider for Golden Insurance Company, RRG, the insurance backer for home warranties sold through its warranty company, StrucSure Home Warranty.

Reinsurance, and the protection that comes with it, is critical to our builder clients and by working with one of the oldest, largest, and strongest A-rated carriers in the world, builders can have confidence and trust in our warranty products and their backing, said Jerry Thompson, CEO of StrucSure Risk Management Group. Having Lloyds of London behind every warranty we issue offers increased financial security and protection for our clients, and we are excited about the new opportunities it presents as we continue to gain market share with homebuilder and construction clients across the U.S.

We are excited about the opportunities reinsurance under Lloyds of London presents, as insurance backing is such a critical component in the construction industry, and by working with one of the highest rated carriers we have significantly increased the strength of our product offerings and our overall ability to provide more security in common business risks, said Christopher Macaulay, President of StrucSure Risk Management Group.

Wilmington Trust, one of the most financially sound and successful companies in the nations financial services industry will continue to act as Goldens captive manager, and OnPoint Underwriting, a leading insurance program administrator, will continue to provide underwriting services under this new arrangement.

About StrucSure Risk Management Group StrucSure Risk Management Group provides risk management products and services to businesses in various construction-related industries. Our family of companies includes StrucSure Home Warranty, LLC, StrucSure Insurance Services, Inc., Golden Insurance Company, RRG, and Four Points Re, SPC, Ltd. Together, these companies offer sophisticated financial and risk management services, including warranty programs, competitive insurance programs, insurance backing, and reinsurance and alternative financing vehicles.

Contact Adria Ellerbrock, Vice President of Marketing at (303) 806-8688 or visit http://www.s-rmg.com, http://www.golden-insurance.com, and http://www.strucsure.com for more information.

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StrucSure Risk Management Group Announces Lloyds of London as New Reinsurance Provider

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ADT Kanab UT | Call 1-866-581-7283 to Order ADT Home Security Services Kanab UT Deals - Video