Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Houston, Texas (PRWEB) August 15, 2014

Texas Custom Patios is honored to receive two highly-coveted awards by the Texas Association of Builders. The Star Awards are given to recognize excellence in the home building industry,

Entries were judged by a distinguished panel of industry experts. Winners will be featured in the September/October issue of Texas Builder magazine. For more information about the Star Awards, please visit http://www.TexasBuilders.org.

Texas Custom Patios won the 2014 Star Award for Remodeler Best Outdoor Living Space Over $100K. The project was built in Houston and featured a well-equipped outdoor kitchen with stucco arches, an outdoor living room with a stone fireplace and entertainment package, an outdoor dining room boasting unique lighting and ceiling fans, a stone fire pit, new exterior accordion doors on the existing home and reclaimed wood ceilings and beams throughout the space.

The company also won the 2014 Star Award for Remodeler Best Sales Brochure. The sales brochure is filled with high quality photography and a clear explanation of the design-build process Texas Custom Patios offers its customers.

Texas Custom Patios is family-owned company that has completed more than 1,000 outdoor living projects since it opened its doors in 2004. The office is located in Stafford, Texas, but Texas Custom Patios serves most of the greater Houston area and specializes in providing turnkey design solutions for outdoor living, including patio covers; outdoor kitchens; screened porches and patios; room additions; pergolas and decks; outdoor fireplaces; and more. For more information visit: http://texascustompatios.com.

See the article here:
Texas Custom Patios Receives Awards From the Texas Association of Builders

EDMONTON - Alison Redford travelled the globe when she was Alberta's premier and so did her travel scout, forwarding photos of hotels and suites, sussing out suitable patios and restaurants and at least once advising on public toilets.

Michelle Tetreault went to such locales as China, India, Switzerland, London and Washington in the 20 months she held the position that International Relations Minister Cal Dallas said didn't exist before Redford came to power.

The Canadian Press obtained nearly 1,600 pages of Tetreault's emails through the Freedom of Information Act. Although many portions were blanked out, the documents provide a glimpse into the mysterious job.

Tetreault travelled to most locations months before the former premier, often flying business class. Government staff are allowed to fly business class on international trips longer than four hours as long as it is pre-approved.

Tetreault travelled to China in June 2012 before Redford's trade mission the following September. She compiled photos, including one of a "traditional Chinese restaurant" and another location where Redford and her staff could have steak and eggs for breakfast because "the owner sells Alberta beef."

Tetreault also set out a list of China travel tips for staff: it's custom not to place a purse or briefcase on the floor, and remember "public toilets are all crouch only."

She went to India at the end of 2013 in advance of Redford's trade mission and networking last January.

In tips Tetreault later sent to staff, some of it referenced from travel books, she included advice on shopping for souvenirs, when women should wear head scarves and historical background on the Taj Mahal.

Weather was also noted. In New Delhi, she reported, "mornings will likely consist of heavy fog until 9:30 a.m. A light jacket may be required."

Tetreault got the job shortly after Redford and the Progressive Conservatives won the 2012 election. A provincial directory lists her salary as $127,827 the following year.

See original here:
Redford's lonely planet: A look at former Alberta premier's travel scout

EDMONTON - Alison Redford travelled the globe when she was Alberta's premier and so did her travel scout, forwarding photos of hotels and suites, sussing out suitable patios and restaurants and at least once advising on public toilets.

Michelle Tetreault went to such locales as China, India, Switzerland, London and Washington in the 20 months she held the position that International Relations Minister Cal Dallas said didn't exist before Redford came to power.

The Canadian Press obtained nearly 1,600 pages of Tetreault's emails through the Freedom of Information Act. Although many portions were blanked out, the documents provide a glimpse into the mysterious job.

Tetreault travelled to most locations months before the former premier, often flying business class. Government staff are allowed to fly business class on international trips longer than four hours as long as it is pre-approved.

Tetreault travelled to China in June 2012 before Redford's trade mission the following September. She compiled photos, including one of a "traditional Chinese restaurant" and another location where Redford and her staff could have steak and eggs for breakfast because "the owner sells Alberta beef."

Tetreault also set out a list of China travel tips for staff: it's custom not to place a purse or briefcase on the floor, and remember "public toilets are all crouch only."

She went to India at the end of 2013 in advance of Redford's trade mission and networking last January.

In tips Tetreault later sent to staff, some of it referenced from travel books, she included advice on shopping for souvenirs, when women should wear head scarves and historical background on the Taj Mahal.

Weather was also noted. In New Delhi, she reported, "mornings will likely consist of heavy fog until 9:30 a.m. A light jacket may be required."

Read more:
Redford's lonely planet: Trip advisor travelled the globe scouting destinations for former premier

Whether you have lived in your home for three months or 30 years, sometimes you need a little help to change things. We asked a group of well-known Egyptian interior designers to disclose the secrets they use to improve domestic interiors.

Each designer offered ideas that can make all the difference in a living space, including essential design issues such as lighting, small spaces, storage and colours.

These tricks can solve your design problems, transforming your living space to best reflect your style and personality.

Interior designer Cherif Morsi knows the secrets of using colour. Stay away from trends and just do what you like, whatever makes you feel better, she said. A home, in my opinion, should be about you and not your friends or relatives.

Colours are a crucial element in designing a space. They give the first impression, and a white space is very differently experienced from the same space in blue or black.

Choose the colours that reflect your character and personality. The key to choosing the right colours is not to rely on trends or what is in fashion never work with the latest trends as these can go out as fast as they emerge.

Trends change quickly and are not necessarily best suited to your home. Rely on what works for you, and creates the mood you want.

Think of colours as the dressing or clothing of the home, while furnishings can be considered the tools that enable the home to function. This may help you in your search for your most appropriate mix of colours to show off your rooms. A space can feel much bigger in white. A dark colour shows the limits of a room.

Be daring and dont hesitate to use contrasting colours like black and white, for example. This can play a vital role in defining a spaces volume and creating virtual boundaries between different areas. It also gives the overall interior a dramatic mood.

Some colours give specific feelings. For example, red is the colour of proximity and creates a warmer atmosphere than green.

Originally posted here:
Designer secrets revealed

11 Marian Street, Hawthorn

TV HOSTS HAWTHORN ABODE

When media personality and former overseas aid worker Jacqueline Pascarl auctions her Hawthorn period home later this month, its the kitchen shell miss most.

A former TV newsreader, lifestyle show host, and Sunday Life magazine columnist, Pascarl is also a recipient of the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal. Pascarl came to attention in 1992 when her ex-husband, Malaysian Prince Raja Bahrin, snatched their daughter Shahirah and son Iddin and tookthem out of Australia. It was one of the biggest news stories of the decade. The extensively renovated and extended double brick property at 11 Marian Street has four bedrooms, a dream kitchen, which Pascarl has used in cooking shows, open-plan living and dining connecting to an outdoor entertaining area and a rear studio which is plumbed for a bathroom.

11 Marian Street, Hawthorn

I designed the kitchen and I adore it, she says. Im a chronic baker stressed or happy, you will find me baking.

Advertisement

The property goes under the hammer August 30 at noon. Nikki McCarthy, of RT Edgar, is quoting $1.1 million-plus.

ART DECO DESIGNER

886A Glenhuntly Road, Caufield South

Go here to see the original:
Private Property: houses

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) --

Debbie Miller hired All Wood Flooring to put in new hardwoods in her Wendover home last October.

But she and her husband Joe Hannon say the finished product was less than stellar.

So the couple called All Wood Flooring for repairs.

"They say they are going to show up, they don't show up. They show up, they do half a job. It's been very, very frustrating; it's been a huge inconvenience," Debbie said.

So this couple turned to the Action News Troubleshooters. And finally, an All Wood Flooring representative showed up to their house and even emailed them an action plan for repairs.

"I want the job done correctly, I don't want this poor workmanship," Debbie said.

Debbie and Joe are still waiting for the repairs to actually get done.

The scheduled date is next Wednesday, but we do know All Wood Flooring has already let go the regional manager who handled the job.

The company also says "We're going to compensate them for the inconvenience monetarily" and "We really apologize...One thing we don't do is walk away from a job. We will do everything it takes from here on out to satisfy these customers."

More:
Action News TroubleShooters: Floor installation

If youre looking to renovate a home or taking a look at new places to live, you should know the pros and cons of various flooring types. This visual guide covers nine different flooring types and how they rate when it comes to cost, durability, difficulty of installation, and how easy they are to clean.

The guide comes from Direct Buy, and lays out the pros and cons for ceramic or porcelain tile, floating wood tile, carpet, hardwood, engineered wood, bamboo, cork, stone, an vinyl flooring. Installing flooring can be an incredibly difficult task to take on, so it helps to know what youre getting into, and whether the flooring type you like is actually worth it.

One type might be easy to install, but is hard to clean. Another might be durable and easy to install, but is more expensive. Check the guide below to see what flooring might be best for you and your home.

A Buyers Guide to Home Flooring Types [visual.ly via Direct Buy]

Go here to see the original:
The Pros And Cons Of Different Types Of Home Flooring

DANVILLE, Va. -

The start of this school year isn't all that's new for a private school in Danville.

Teachers at Carlisle School spent the summer remodeling a building that's been empty for more than a year.

One week from today students will fill the halls and pack lockers with school supplies. But until then teachers are busy unpacking boxes in their classrooms. They spent the summer making this building their own.

"We came in and did a lot of cleaning up, revamping, putting in new technology," said Neal Meyer and Michelle Bridges, both administrators within the Carlisle School.

It's the first year for the Carlisle School in this building on route 29 in Danville.

Carlisle is based in Martinsville and is leasing this building from Danville Public Schools.

It was once Taylor Elementary School but closed last year after a budget cut.

Leaders at Carlisle saw this as an opportunity - They closed two smaller campuses, one in Danville and one in Chatham combining them into this building.

"We out grew the building and we needed a new location and so we found this fabulous location," Meyer said.

Read the rest here:
Carlisle School gives former elementary school a second chance

Even though MNK Architects was selected two months ago to perform a study on whether the Downtown Jail should be replaced or fixed, Commissioners Court has not reached an agreement with the company.

On June 1, Commissioners Court authorized county staff to begin negotiations with MNK Architects to come up with a price on the study.

As of Thursday, Commissioners Court has not signed a contract.

Commissioners discussed the topic Thursday in executive session.

Details were not revealed.

Commissioner Vince Perez said MNK Architects is charging the county a much higher price than what Commissioner Court had expected.

Commissioners had allocated $250,000 for the study, which will compare the cost of building a new jail and of remodeling the existing 30-year-old facility.

MNK is charging the county almost double, Perez said.

Perez said he did not know how long negotiations are going to take.

"The jail is the most expensive component to our budget, so we want to be sure that the study is going to give us all of the answers that we are looking for so that we can make the best decisions in the future on how to cut cost," Perez said.

More:
No contract reached in jail study

ARCHITECTS are being invited to take part in a competition that aims to bring Springburn's Winter Gardens back into public use.

Designers have been asked to create a new community space in the gardens, where local residents can "share collective memories".

The competition is being launched by the Glasgow Institute of Architects in partnership with the Springburn Winter Gardens Trust.

Entries will be displayed in an exhibition of models that will tour Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Institute of Architects venues.

The first of these events will be Doors Open Day on September 20 and 21 at Mosesfield House in Springburn Park.

Winners will be selected from a shortlist by a community voting process with the winning design announced in November.

In 2009 it was estimated that full refurbishment of the Winter Gardens was feasible and would likely cost around 4.67million.

A number of options have been suggested during the 30 years the structure has been out of public use.

A spokesman for the Glasgow Institute of Architects said: "The approach suggested by the Glasgow Institute of Architects is to make a series of incremental steps toward full renovation.

"The first step should be small, engage the local community and bring the structure back into the daily lives of the residents of Springburn and lovers of the park.

Here is the original post:
Bid to help Winter Gardens bloom again