Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

No mowing and saves water, too? Synthetic turf indeed sounds like the perfect lawn for parched landscapes.

Recent technological innovations make todays fake grass look better than the real thing. Dogs like it. Neighbors cant tell the difference. And when in the grips of prolonged drought, a no-water green space has its appeal.

But artificial turf may not be for every home especially if the owner plans to sell any time soon. Some cities, including Sacramento, Calif., still prohibit its use for front yard landscaping.

Sacramentos city code specifically says no artificial turf, says Jessica Hess of the citys utilities department. But that restriction generally is enforced only if theres a complaint.

In fact, Californias prolonged drought has many cities and people looking twice at synthetic lawns and reconsidering such bans. Some cities, such as Roseville, suggest synthetic turf as part of its grass replacement initiatives.

It is amazing that a healthy grass lawn typically requires 55 gallons of water per square foot per year, said Brian McGibbon of Fields of Green, a California company specializing in synthetic grass. That is 44,000 gallons of water per year for a 800-square-foot lawn. Our products can last 15 to 20 years. That means a new 800-square-foot waterless lawn (can) save 660,000 gallons of over 15 years. Multiply that by just 50,000 homes ... and that is 33 billion gallons of water saved.

Elsewhere in California, water districts and cities are considering rebates or other incentives for synthetic lawns. Artificial grass usually costs $8 to $13 per square foot installed. Most synthetic lawns last 10 to 15 years before they need renovation.

Theres no better way to immediately reduce water consumption than by installing synthetic turf, said Dominic Nappi, CEO of Back Nine Greens, a synthetic lawn and putting green company in California. Theres simply no down side. You can help the water crisis and still have a beautiful lawn, putting green, pet area, kids play area, or any landscaping you desire.

As the name implies, Back Nine Greens offers putting greens that never need water. Having a consistent and easy-care surface has become a synthetics selling point for golfers.

Sacramento radio host Farmer Fred Hoffman used synthetic turf to not only save water, but create a perfect putting green at his home in Herald, Calif. His wife, Jeanne, is an avid golfer.

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Artificial grass offers options during drought

LONG HILL TWP. The Thursday, May 8, meeting of the Long Hill Historical Society will feature Professor Hsu, a Chinese-American artist, who as a resident of Long Hill has been inspired by the natural beauty of the area.

The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.

A long time friend of the Hsu family, Jane Hecht, will share her perspective on Professor Hsus local landscape paintings.

Included in the paintings to be discussed will be those on permanent display in the Long Hill Municipal Building and the library.

Ming Hsu will talk of her fathers devotion to art and his popularity in China as a world class artist.

Professor Hsu will join the group if health permits.

For more information call (908) 647-2111.

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Landscape artist to be featured at Long Hill Historical Society meeting May 8

A bill that would allow the establishment of a state veterans cemetery in Orange County earned unanimous support in the Assembly's Veterans Affairs Committee, the bill's author, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton), announced.

The bill is expected to be heard in the Appropriations Committee next week.

Quirk-Silva, who chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee, said in a statement, "Orange County's veterans and their families deserve an accessible location to celebrate the life and contributions of the brave men and women who have courageously served our nation."

Assembly Bill 1453 is a necessary step toward the construction of a cemetery for local veterans, who have pushed for the city of Irvine to make room for one in the Orange County Great Park.

It would request a federal grant to establish the cemetery to be run by the state.

Members of the local veterans community spoke at the bill's committee hearing in Sacramento, according to a news release from Quirk-Silva's office.

"I believe that a Southern California state veterans cemetery would be a valuable benefit [to] the families of those soldiers who spent part or all of their lives defending our freedoms," said Robert Brower, a longtime Irvine resident and a decorated Vietnam veteran.

Officials throughout the county have backed the bill, though some have expressed concern about getting veterans' hopes up when the state may not have the money to maintain such a facility.

Others have said Quirk-Silva, in taking up the veterans' plea, is making the idea something of a political football. Quirk-Silva is up for re-election this year.

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Political Landscape: Assembly veterans committee supports O.C. cemetery

03 May 2014| last updated at 01:03AM

IPOH: The recent tidal flooding which affected more that 30 households in Kampung Sungai Batu, near here, could have been avoided if repeated warnings against the clearing of mangrove forests along Perak's coastline had not been ignored.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia field officer Meor Razak Meor Abdul Rahman said he had voiced his concern over the issue as early as 2007, where he told Berita Harian that the destruction of mangrove forests would remove a natural barrier against coastal erosion and tidal surges.

"Unfortunately, the land clearing activities continued and it was only a matter of time before high tides flooded the inland areas," said Meor Razak yesterday.

He said the mangrove forests acted as a buffer that "absorb" incoming tidal waves, effectively stopping the tidal floods from coming inland.

"Their roots, which are spread out over a large area, dissipate the energy of the waves while the excess tidal floodwaters flow into the wetlands.

"However, after the mangrove forests are cleared, only a dry expanse of land is left and it is unable to effectively absorb the tidal floodwater."

The New Straits Times reported yesterday that Kampung Sungai Batu, which is located one kilometre from the seaside, had been inundated after 80ha of mangrove forest was removed to make way for a housing project.

Meor Razak said this expanse included two compartments of the Tanjung Burung forest reserve, which had been de-gazetted before the project began in 2011.

Land clearing activities had also been carried out in Compartment 114, north of Pantai Remis.

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'Clearing of mangroves caused floods'

Sketsa JoHaRa (2.5.2014) ~ Interior Designer Avatar
Website: http://booksfmo42u.blogspot.com.

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Sketsa JoHaRa (2.5.2014) ~ Interior Designer Avatar - Video

KKTV: Milan Design Week 2014
Interior designer Kerrie Kelly explores Milan Design Week 2014 for the latest and greatest in fashion and interior design trends with Cosentino at iSalone EuroCucina.

By: Kerrie Kelly

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KKTV: Milan Design Week 2014 - Video

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Our Architectual practice provides a full range of Architectual services including Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Leisure.

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BANGALORE: Around one and a half years ago, Bangalore-based interior designer Vinita Chaitanya got an assignment that she thinks of as one of the most exciting of her career. Chaitanya had just finished working with actress Deepika Padukone on her newly acquired Mumbai home, and one day, she dropped on to the sets of Chennai Express, where Padukone was shooting for the subsequently superhit movie. Padukone met her in her vanity van those home-away-from-homes so beloved of Bollywood stars where they spend hours every day waiting for the next shot to be called or touching up make-up or just taking short cat-naps between interminably long shoots.

Padukone wanted Chaitanya to do something about her van, and, it appeared, with good reason.

"Well, frankly I was quite horrified to see Deepika's van," says Chaitanya. "We had just finished doing up her fabulous new home, and yet here she was, spending the better part of her day in a converted bus with old vinyl flooring that just about offered basic comforts. Deepika agreed ruefully that she had often thought of doing up her van but never seemed to find the time," recalls Chaitanya. She turned to the designer and asked "Will you do it?" Although Chaitanya had never taken up a project like this before, she was excited. In a minute, she was on.

Initially, she thought of remodeling the existing structure a bus hired from one Yadavji but then it seemed as if doing up a whole new structure would work better. She got Yadavji to deliver a customized body; while most standard buses are 35 ft long, 8 ft broad and 6.5 ft tall, Padukone's van is 41 ft X 8 ft X 7.5 ft. Chaitanya also got to choose where the windows would be placed and their height. The van is divided into three main areas: a small sitting area where Padukone can receive guests and meet the press; a private zone with a comfortable lounge where she can relax, watch TV or take a nap if she wants; and a staff zone with a pantry and a washroom. Apart from this, the van also incorporates Padukone's separate loo and shower area, closets for her clothes and accessories, and a make-up area.

"The constraints of working in a small space were many. At times, the van has to accommodate a lot of people for instance, when she is getting dressed and there is a make-up person, a hair person, a costume guy... it can get quite cramped. Apart from that, the whole question of maneuverability of the entire structure. We can't forget that this is a moving vehicle that must navigate through roads and traffic. Designing a comfortable, stylish space within these constraints was a challenge," says Chaitanya.

She wanted to do something different with the decor as well.

While most stars tend to go for a sleek, luxury feel to their vans interiors in neutral colours, curved corners and smooth finishes; think first class aircraft cabins Chaitanya decided to go with a vintage look and feel. She used pastel colours, and a variety of materials for the interior such as paper, fabric, lace, linen and silk, creating a look that she describes as "fresh and feminine". "It is completely different from her home, which is more formal and glamorous. The van is a more fun space - quirky and casual and working on it was like decorating a small cottage. Designing small spaces is challenging because they require great attention to detail. But it was nice to be creative for someone who is also very creative," she says.

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Bangalore-based designer creates Deepika Padukone's new vanity van

These two lovebirds have said, "I do"!

E! News has confirmed that renowned interior designer Nate Berkus and his fianc Jeremiah Brent tied the knot during a gorgeous wedding in New York City on Saturday.

A source says the couple exchanged vows at the New York Public Library.

"It's going to be a really sexy wedding ceremony, like really masculine but sexy feel. Its been really great and been a really fun process for us to blend our aesthetics together and really create this whole moment," Brent told us in March, adding that the nuptials will be witnessed by 200 of their nearest and dearest.

PHOTOS: Stars who've come out as gay

The pair announced their engagement in April 2013.

Brent talked to E! News while on the set of The Fabulist recently and couldn't help but gush over his memorable proposal. "We were on a buying trip for One Kings Lane in Peru and we went on the top of Machu Picchu and we walked down into this valley temple place and he asked me to marry him," he told us.

"I fell apart like full ugly-girl kind of cry," he continued, "I mean, my kids are screwed. They are going to say, 'Dad proposed to dad in Peru. What are you going to do for your significant other?'"

Congratulations to the couple!

PHOTOS: Celeb weddings we can't wait for

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Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent Are Married!

Photo by Jennifer Rios

Firefighters and and a fire investigator were at the scene of a blaze that destroyed a trailer home in Grape Creek on Saturday

Photo by Jennifer Rios

Grape Creek, Quail Valley and Carlsbad volunteer fire departments responded to a fire that destroyed a trailer house in Grape Creek on Saturday afternoon.

Photo by Jennifer Rios

Jennifer Rios/Standard-Times Grape Creek, Carlsbad and Quail Valley volunteer fire departments respond to a fire in the 8200 block of Mimosa Lane in Grape Creek that destroyed a trailer home and sent two people to the hospital.

A fire destroyed a trailer home in Grape Creek on Saturday afternoon.

No one was home at the time of the fire, said Tom Green County Sheriffs Deputy Rachelle Lacy, but a neighbor and a responding firefighter were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke and heat issues.

The blaze was reported shortly after 3 p.m., and the house was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, Lacy said.

Grape Creek, Quail Valley and Carlsbad volunteer fire departments responded to the scene in the 8200 block of Mimosa Drive.

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2 sent to hospital as fire guts Grape Creek home