Syd and Shea McGee have been blowing up in a big way ever since they started their interior design company Studio McGee in 2014, following it up with an e-commerce business called McGee & Co in 2016. The husband and wife duo from Utah has been steadily gaining followers on Instagram ever since Shea debuted her interior design projects on the social media platform almost a decade ago. But their popularity really hit the roof with the release of their Netflix series Dream Home Makeover.

The reality series premiered just ahead of their book launch in October 2020. Dream Home Makeover follows Shea and Syd McGee of Studio McGee as they undertake home renovation projects for clients while also working on their own dream home that theyre building from the ground up. Curious to know where Dream Home Makeover is filmed and where the McGees live? Weve got all the information for you right here.

Since they take on renovation and interior design projects all across the US, filming for season 1 of Dream Home Makeover was done entirely on the location of their various ongoing projects, most of them in Utah. Here are the specific details for the different filming locations.

Almost every episode saw Shea discuss designs with her team of designers at the Studio McGee offices in Lehi, Utah. Filming was done on the chic premises, located at 3900 N Traverse Mountain Blvd, Suite 203, Lehi, UT 84043.

A few scenes were filmed inside the warehouse of their e-commerce company McGee & Co. The warehouse is located at 13648 S 200 W, Draper, Utah.

One of the episodes sees Syd and Shea do the interiors of their neighbors across the street from their own new house in a quiet suburban area in Utah County. A substantial amount of filming was also done in the McGees own home.

In the first season, Syd and Shea remodel a couples unutilized room into a cozy dining and family room in the city of Kaysville in Davis County, in northern Utah. They also take on a project to renovate a familys loft space inside a historical home which is located in the city of Farmington, located in the same County. For another home renovation project (the remodeling of a cramped kitchen), the filming crew of Dream Home Makeover headed to the picturesque city of Layton, that lies between the Salt Lake City and Ogden areas.

In one of the episodes, Syd and Shea head to North Salt Lake City to build a swanky theatre room in a British bachelors basement.

Syd and Shea spend one episode in LA, their old hometown, while doing the interiors of a home nestled in the hills of Los Angeles. They also filmed inside the brick and mortar store of McGee & Co., which used to be located in Costa Mesa but had to shut down because of the Coronavirus pandemic. It used to be located at this exact address before it was closed permanently 1720 Santa Ana Ave, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.

Syd and Shea McGee spent the last five years living in rental homes because they had sold off their California home and invested every penny in establishing their two businesses. They finally bought land in Lehi, Utah a lovely, secluded cul-de-sac away from the hustle and bustle of the main city and started building their dream home from the ground up.

While filming Dream Home Makeover, the McGees moved out of their last rental and into their gorgeous mansion in Lehi. In every episode of the series, their home features quite a bit, and viewers can see the husband and wife team lovingly set up their dream home.

Read More: Where Are Shea And Syd McGee Now?

Originally posted here:
Where is Dream Home Makeover Filmed? Where Do Syd and Shea McGee Live? - The Cinemaholic

Lawrence Paquin and Tanya Bond use one of the public access computers at the Sweet Home Public Library.

Rose Peda

Library Director

SWEET HOME Sweet Home residents will have the opportunity to vote on continuing to support the public library with an annual property tax levy of $1.17 per $1,000 for five years via Ballot Measure 22-184 on Nov. 3.

The library opened in 1969, although Sweet Home has had a library since 1942, operating for many years out of the basement of City Hall. In 1942, Sweet Home had a population of about 1,100. There are now more than 9,000 residents.

The levy would begin on July 1, 2021, and is expected to generate $2,383,820 over its five-year run, ranging from $443,977 in year one to $530,670 in year five.

The librarys annual circulation is about 40,000. Its story hour program attracts more than 100 youngsters and its annual summer reading program serves more than 500 children.

The library is a member of the Linn Libraries Consortium and has five Little Free Libraries at the Boys & Girls Club of the Greater Santiam; Foster, Oak Heights and Hawthorne elementary schools; and the Crawfordsville Market.

The current library at 13th and Kalmia is 51 years old and was not designed with computers in mind.

The city hired a consulting firm last year to assess library needs and to consider whether the current structure could be remodeled, or if an entirely new building is needed to meet current community needs.

The proposed levy would provide funding for operating expenses only, not remodeling or construction of a new building in the future.

Richard Gray and Joseph Store of FFA Architecture told City Council members that the building is undersized for the communitys current population, is seismically deficient and lacks space for a variety of community needs, such as tutoring for small groups, meetings for large groups, and all-ages story hours.

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5-year levy will support Sweet Home library - Lebanon Express

Area businesses remodel while shut down during the pandemic

While the economic shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly put a strain on small businesses around the country, some local businesses used the shutdown to their advantage and used the time to upgrade and renovate their establishments.

Harolds Bar, Glenville American Legion Post 264 and Uptown Fitness in Lake Mills are three of the area businesses that gave their buildings a new look. From small renovations on the inside to full-building overhauls, all three businesses chose to make the most out of their time without customers.

Harolds Bar revamps interior; gets fresh paint job

Harolds Bar, an Albert Lea establishment since 1960, got a new look with a new paint job to the outside of the building as well as the roadside sign. On top of the paint job, the inside of the bar got a new look as well.

The bar area will look vastly different from what customers are used to including a brand new bar top, new barstools and a new tin wall surrounding the entire bar. Three new TVs sit atop the bar where animal heads from hunting trips used to be displayed.

Todd Haroldson, owner of Harolds Bar since 1984 when he took it over from his father, said the bar was in great need of updates.

I try to fix as much as I can and do as much as I can, Haroldson said. I devote a lot of time to this place It had to be done, and Im hoping to draw more. Thats the point; Im hoping to draw a few more people that never would have come out. I hope to, and I hope they like it.

At the time of the interview, Harolds was not yet open to the public. Haroldson expected to see a rush of people coming through the doors when they did open, but was not quite sure how things would look when they did. He emphasized that the health and safety of both his workers and customers would be his top priority when they did open.

In his second phase of remodeling, Haroldson said he plans on moving the womens restrooms from their current spot in the middle of the building to the east side of the building. The moving of the restrooms would then allow him to open up the space and connect the bar area with the old restaurant portion, which would greatly expand available space.

Necessary repairs lead to added renovations

The Glenville Legion Post 264 also renovated its bar area as well as its entrance area and bathrooms.

Bob Knutson, the Legion post commander, said one of the biggest complaints they have gotten over the years is the bathrooms needed to be updated. Both the mens and womens restrooms received new ceiling tiles, lighting and fans, flooring and a fresh paint job.

The entrance to the bar used to be closed off from view to the bartenders, but now includes a window that allows workers to see who is coming in and going out. The bar received new front paneling and new decorations on the inside and outside of the building made by Black Iron Manufacturing.

Knutson said some of the projects needed to get done, but once they got started they decided they might as well keep going.

There were some things that we absolutely had to do, but when the ball got rolling, it just kept on going, Knutson said. The nice thing is that we would have been shut down anyway with the new flooring behind the bar. So we just said, Lets get this done now. Who knew it was going to last this long?

The Legion was able to reopen to the public in some capacity in June. Knutson said the reactions to the improvements have been overwhelmingly positive.

Everybody was anxious to come and see what we had done because it is a big change, Knutson said. Its brighter and its just more welcoming.

Shutdown after big move becomes blessing in disguise

For Heather Yeoman and Rachel Olson, owners of Uptown Fitness, the shutdown came the day after they closed on a new building.

The fitness center went from about 1,100 square feet in its previous space to 7,000 in its new building and many improvements had to be made.

Yeoman said, looking back, she is grateful to have the time she did to work on the building, but at the same time it was nerve-racking because they had no idea when they would be able to open again.

It ended up being a blessing in disguise, Yeoman said. The terrifying thing was we just werent sure how long we were going to be closed. During the move from our rental space to here, we had only planned to be shut down for five days.

The shutdown ended up being six weeks long and Yeoman said they used all of that time.

As a retail space before becoming Uptown Fitness, the building needed some walls installed to make new rooms and there was a lot of shelving that needed to come down and be taken out of the building.

Uptown fitness is now home to a large studio floor with a stage, a dedicated room for yoga, a cycling room in the basement and two rental spaces in the basement which are home to a massage therapist and an esthetician.

During the shutdown, Uptown Fitness continued to offer courses through online platforms and was able to keep on 100% of the clients it had before the shutdown period began.

Uptown fitness had a small open house with only a few people allowed in the building at a time. Yeoman said everyone who came through the building was blown away at what they had done to the space. While classes are still a little different than normal, Yeoman is grateful they were able to be back in some form.

Were doing things a little bit differently right now, Yeoman said. Its just so wonderful to be able to do anything, were very blessed. We dont know any day what could change. Were just trying to be careful and take care of our people.

Tyler Julson covers sports for the Albert Lea Tribune.

Excerpt from:
Making the most of it - Albert Lea Tribune - Albert Lea Tribune

Thrifty finds are making a comeback and its a good thing because their customer base has apparently been chomping at the bit to get in on the action.

Though it may seem counterintuitive to shop second hand as far as passing along germs goes local merchants are easing such concerns and doing their darndest to keep thrifters safe.

The Rebekahs (Near New Store)

The Near New, or The Rebekahs, as locals know it, re-opened its doors in the last month and its funneling folks in one door and out the other literally. When you walk in the door youll see directional arrows pointing out the one way route through the store. After taking the loop and having the opportunity to peruse each section the path culminates at the register and back out the opposing door.

Anna Abdelaal, a young Rebecca herself as well as a board member, is glad the store is conscientiously propping its doors to welcome the public again. All of our people are just super happy that were open they love coming here, Abdelall said of their clientele.

According to Abdelall, the boards decision to reopen was unanimous, though some members didnt feel in as big of a hurry. Ultimately, the group wanted to get back to it so they could continue to fundraise for specific causes and scholarships.

Prior to re-opening, the Rebeccas board continued to meet at Friendship Park (which they also own) adjacent to the store to devise reopening strategies and decide on fundraising options. That is where we decide what we want to do with the finances that weve gained; since we are volunteers were not profiting, said Abdelall.

As it is a non-profit the incentive of reopening is not for the good of any proprietor but rather for various causes the organization contributes to as well as the community at large by providing the most affordable dress-ups in town.

During the closure, Abdelall was happy to report that donors were kind enough to not fill their stoop with knickknacks and various sized bags of clothes. Now, as was always the case, donors can only drop off during store hours. Furthermore, and this is new, people will have to bring their donations to the side door at the corner of the building, across from the Village Smithy. We are accepting only two containers of things at a time from a family or individual, said Abdelall.

Once items are admitted they are quarantined for a week before volunteers break into the bags and organize what theyll put on the shelves and set aside what will be recycled as textiles at the Pitkin County Dump. Not to say they will not still be multitasking they will but this does mean you will not see the ladies sorting in the front of the store like the good old days.

A lot of our volunteers are over the age of sixty five but not all of them and thats why were open now, Abdelall explained. Were just doing what we can with the people who are willing to work at this moment, and thats why we have limited hours.

Currently, the Near New is only open from noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays instead of its previous four weekdays. Were hoping to be opening back up on Thursdays within the next few weeks thatd be great, said Abdelall.

Abdelall is the Friday manager. While working the counter someone motioned to her to inquire about the price of something bright, folded and sealed in its packaging, What is it a t-shirt, pantyhoes, tights? Abdelall asked. The patron just shrugged their shoulders and Abdelall replied and laughed, Okay, one dollar.

The general vibe has not changed much, and while theyre not making the same numbers as before it appears things have not slowed too much on the days they are open.

That said, last year the Near New raised more in profits than any other year on record.

Right now were doing our scholarships, said Abdelall. If youre a high school student that is going to go to college in state we can offer you some assistance. Due to COVID-19 this process is taking place later than usual but they nonetheless intend to assist a number of the 2020 graduates.

Some recent things theyve donated to include the towns new pickleball courts and the Carbondale Middle School music department.

Misers Mercantile

Do not be deterred by the dark plastic draping the interior of the old storefront windows. Just walk to the side door and youll see the same Misers sign hanging above the new entrance to this timeless thrifty destination.

Business owner Bertha Eubank is excited for the community to see Misers new look. Its previously frequent shoppers will notice one not so subtle difference: that the front of the store is no longer accessible.

Rather, when entering and upon noticing the new paint and dashing interior the initial space seems small. However, in the corner a stairwell leads to the basement which still has ample room for incoming apparel.

Eubank says they are also remodeling the front of the building and plan to rent the space out eventually.

When it first reopened on Aug. 11, people were confused because of the new entrance, Eubank said. Overall though, she said, Were seeing a really good response from people.

Misers business hours have also been reduced from seven to five days a week. In order to drop off consignment someone must call and make an appointment first. Eubank is offering 20 minute intervals between 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

To Eubank it is important that people, Stay safe and healthy health for the community, myself and my employees, she stated.

LuLus Thrift Shoppe

We opened on May 4, said Deborah Herrell proprietor of LuLus Thrift Shoppe in La Fontana Plaza, It was the first day that they allowed us to reopen.

Herrell shut down the store by choice before retail businesses in the state were required to do so. Therefore the business had been closed for about two months.

Were right back on track though, Herrell said, but with some differences.

Were limited to 10 people maximum in the store including employees, said Herrell and When we first reopened we took some old sheets, bleached them and then cut them into bandana size pieces so if anyone didnt have a mask we could give them one.

Herrell has received a lot of calls regarding donations but said, We have actually really limited the amount coming in through the front door. She added that the bulk of the stores items come from providers around the state and that those commodities, Have already been in bags in storage units for a month or more, before arriving at LuLus.

Though it is a for-profit business, Herrell was proud to say, We complete the circle and we donate ten to twenty percent of our gross sales forward every month.

Back Door Consignment Store (BDC)

BDC was not available for comment for this story. The business is open, albeit under new ownership Huertas Brothers.

The previous owner, Dessrie Bartelt, was sued by a consigner, Ray Meeks. Garfield County Court Judge Paul Metzger ordered that Meeks be paid reparations totalling $3,010.05. However, the case was reopened after Meeks filed a Motion and Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court against Bartelt for not settling up. Metzger granted the motion and a citation was issued for Bartelt to appear on Sept. 3.

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You can still shop second hand The Sopris Sun - soprissun.com

SEATTLE Sachin was all set, living the single life in his little two-bedroom place in Green Lake. He figured hed found his forever bachelor home, says Anna and then he met me. We had been living together and dating, but when out-of-town friends or his parents would come to town, it was very small.

Sachin had attended the University of Washington and suggested looking for roomier homes in Hawthorne Hills, where he used to run. As we were driving through it, I fell in love, Anna says. It reminded me of Somerset in Bellevue. It just instantly felt like home.

They discovered this 1948 brick daylight rambler, and, I loved it, Sachin says. When you walked in the front door, you were looking into the canopy of this huge Japanese maple.

They bought the house. And their affection kept growing. We fell in love with our neighbors, Anna says. Its kind of a mixed-generational street. It felt like we had grandparents and parents and kids. It instantly felt like we could live here forever. The first day we moved in, he proposed. We were married a year later.

Love of all kinds brought them here, and keeps them grounded. If we were going to be here for the long haul we felt really invested it was time for us to grow up the house a little bit, Anna says.

Those feelings, and that investment, have driven two remodeling projects, both designed to optimize and open spaces, reconcile varying-era inconsistencies and basically help an older home keep up as modern-day circumstances change (Sachin and Anna had two children in between projects), and both were with architect Julie Campbell, of CTA Design Builders.

Midcentury homes typically had separate rooms and hallways. Those 1940s-50s homes were by the dozens: warrens of little rooms, simple rectangles, Campbell says. The culture now is more communal living: communal eating, cooking, living. We knew it wanted to be a modern midcentury remodel, but not stark. Fir doors and fir trim became a theme we built on in Phase Two.

But perhaps the most significant thing they built on was the ground. While Phase One tackled living room/fireplace and cosmetic work, Campbell says, the more-intensive Phase Two reworked the functional but dated C-shaped kitchen and the bathrooms; re-envisioned the entire landscaping plan; and added an oasis of a master suite on the daylight-basement level, below a family room that had been built off the main-level kitchen in the 1980s.

That created a dark, unpleasant area underneath that structure in the backyard, says Campbell, who calls such dark unpleasantness a beer-can space. Beer can goes back to a professor I had in school. Its an unused alleyway or corner of a lot, where people sit [and toss beer cans]. When my professor used it, the context was: No space should be beer-can space. Every space should be a place. You dont want to have an unloved space.

No. Unloved does not work here.

In their quest for a bigger, brighter, upgraded bedroom, Sachin and Anna had considered building up rather than under. But if we had gone up, we probably would have spent all of our money and wouldnt have connected with the outdoors, Sachin says. I felt from the standpoint of the street, we wouldve been the house that stands up. and out.

That doesnt work here, either.

As we considered that beautiful Japanese maple just outside the back basement, we realized it would be the perfect focal point for a master suite tucked under the upper-floor addition, creating a rear courtyard that both floors could enjoy, Campbell says. (She credits landscape designer Scot Eckley for a key design aspect of this house: all-new landscaping, including the backyard courtyard and a very public patio in the former front yard.)

Overall, she says, Our remodel removed many walls, eliminating hallways and creating vistas throughout the house to the outside. The open stairway is now visually connected with the lower level so that going downstairs doesnt feel like leaving the main part of the house. But once in the master bedroom, with its very private view to that magical tree, it feels like a private retreat.

Private, yes, but for one day, anyway also very much public.

This might be a 1948 home, but with a new spare and limited (yet warm and relaxed) materials palette, Its very contemporary and luminescent, says Campbell. Its very minimal in floor plan and layout, and it feels large and more open.

Or: just as modern as midcentury.

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Modern Love: Home remodeled (twice!) on a solid foundation of deep affection - Times-Mail

Basement waterproofing and refinishing projects took off as people realized they needed to upgrade space for a home office.

Stuck at home in a paralyzing health crisis, people across America finally tackled long-delayed, home improvement projects that are giving a boost to the do-it-yourself and handyman segments of the U.S. economy.

As a result, hardware, home improvement and farm supply stores which the federal government deemed essential businesses have seen a massive surge in demand for tools, paint, lawn and garden goods and treated lumber.

Added to that is a higher demand for cleaning supplies, security systems, safety gear, sidewalk chalk and activity kits for youngsters, said Randy Rusk, national spokesman for Do It Best, a cooperative of hardware, lumber and building materials stores in all 50 states.

But while calls for improvements are pouring in, some merchants worry about what's around the corner in an economy rocked by the pandemic. They are wary of expanding or hiring more employees.

Analysts and marketing experts in the home and hardware industry are cautious, too. They predict a mixed bag in spending through the end of this year, dragged down by little or no construction in some states and nagging uncertainties surrounding the economic toll from the pandemic.

Before the outbreak, spending on home remodeling was expected to post annual growth of 3.9% by the first quarter of 2021.

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Pandemic leads to increase in home improvement - Quad City Times

"I don't understand why it was done so late," Terry said.

Under Phase 3, restaurants and nonessential retail stores no longer have to limit indoor capacity to 50% of what their space can hold but would still have to keep customers 6 feet (2 meters) apart.

Gyms can go from 30% capacity to 75%, and social gatherings of up to 250 people are allowed. Outdoor swimming pools can operate with fewer restrictions at 75% their normal capacity.

The Virginia Department of Health on Tuesday reported nearly 63,000 total cases of COVID-19, with just over 6,200 total hospitalizations and 1,760 deaths.

In explaining his decision to move forward with reopening, Northam said recently the state's percent of positive tests was declining and cited a falling number of people hospitalized with positive or pending cases of COVID-19. He also said Virginia's testing, contact tracing and supply of personal protective equipment were adequate, and that hospitals have sufficient bed capacity.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and even be fatal.

From the archives: Nostalgia on the menu

Were you a fan of Biff Burger? Did you love The Sweet Life? Late-night fan of Howard Johnson? These eateries, once the haunts of hungry Lynchburgers, now are fading memories.

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In late reversal, Northam moves to keep limits on bars - Lynchburg News and Advance

Are you an ant or a grasshopper? As one who tends toward instant gratification, I admire people who are patient with small daily incremental successes in pursuit of a long-term goal. That ant-like approach can be powerful in the context of federal projects.

Two subjects of my annual interviews with Service to America Medal finalists show what I mean.

The first,John Melle, retired earlier this year. He did the intricate legwork leading to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. His title at the time was assistant U.S. Trade Representative for the Western Hemisphere. (His co-award recipient is Maria Pagan, deputy general counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.)

In many ways Melle is as much ambassador as trade negotiator. He sounds State Department-ish. As a career civil servant, he had to run up and down the continent dealing with other government types, trade unions, industrialists and their inevitable phalanxes of lawyers to get consensus on every little thing. It took 14 months.

Melle added, I didnt even mention the other U.S. government agencies that are involved. All of them, of course, have big stakes in their sectors of the economy and the programs they run.

The other is just a few years into his career. Mark Barza, 32, is an assistant program manager in the Navys in-service aircraft carrier office. With an age and title like that, youd expect him to be in charge of, say, the vegetables supply chain for the ships galleys. But no. In fact, hes overseeing the mid-life overhaul of the U.S.S. John C. Stennis. The multi-billion-dollar effort involves new radars and defensive electronics, new crew accommodations and a host of other upgrades and repairs. The carrier will be able to handle the F-35 and a the new MQ-25 unmanned aerial vehicle. (The nuclear refueling is the responsibility of another office.)

Braza emphasized the fact that the ship, while an expensive instrument of national security, is also home to thousands and thousands of sailors over its 50-year life cycle.

A big part of the job, Braza said, is pulling together all of the contracting and contractors required. Theres a prime, Newport News Shipbuilding, and its 5,000 line item contract. But it also requires many subs and the need to meet small business goals.

You thought your last kitchen remodeling took too long. It takes four years to overhaul an aircraft carrier, and Braza says theyre on time. Brazas Service to America Medals citation states he negotiated a way to trim 160,000 man-hours out of the work by figuring out the right incentives for the contractor.

Like an international trade agreement, a carrier overhaul requires a steady end-state vision while the patience to do a million details correctly day by day.

Many years ago, the legendary editor of The New Yorker, William Shawn, remarked of the editing process, It takes as long as it takes. Yes, but publications, ship rebuildings and trade agreements have deadlines and budgets. As a grasshopper, Ive always liked relatively high frequency publishing because youve got to finish the work, touch it up, and push it out. Long ago I loved seeing a byline on a newspaper story Id written hours earlier appear on a still-damp copy that had been printed in the basement.

It takes a special person, though, to shepherd something both complicated and long term, especially when the project involves so many people and organizations. Suzette Kent, the federal CIO, commented the other day that the payback from agencies moving to shared services can run seven to ten years, and that its hard to get people excited about and undertaking like that.

The Veterans Affairs and Defense Departments are replacing their electronic health records. The vendor common to them both is Cerner. Julie Stoner, Cerners vice president for government services, told me that on the VA side it will have been a 10-year effort before every location is up and running. Lets hope the agencies have people who can sustain their enthusiasm to see it through.

Unlike dollar savings, a relaunched ship, an acclaimed trade agreement, and a new system are tangible. You can see and touch them. Scores or hundreds of individuals, groups, offices or bureaus can threaten such projects with indifference, objections or incompetence. Thats one reason why it takes special people to see them through.

Melle was not new to this sort of work when he undertook the new trade agreement. Hed been on the staff that worked out the North American Free Trade Agreement during the Clinton administration. I discussed the U.S.S. Gerald Ford, Americas newest carrier, with Braza. Its launched and undergoing sea trials. I joked that, in 25 years, Braza could still be on the job, and be there to oversee the Fords mid-life overhaul. He answered with a laugh, I very well may, yes.

ByAlazar Moges

The idea of Fathers Day was conceived more than a century ago by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm.June 19 was chosen for the first Fathers Day celebration in 1910.Fathers Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.

Source: Census Bureau

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In public service, the ants tend to prevail - Federal News Network

Salons and barber shops reopened June 1 at 25% capacity, increasing to 50% today. It will take time to beautify the clients wanting haircuts, colors, beard trims, eyelash extensions and an array of other services.

At Shear Expressions, owner Coleen Bui said she and her four stylists were booked solid last week, and thats expected to continue for a while.

Some of us put in 14-hour days last week, said Bui, whose own shift went from 6:45 a.m. to 10:15 p.m. most days last week.

This week, shes booking 12-hour days to fit in clients eager for a haircut or color, and she has bookings scheduled out for the next two weeks with a few remaining openings.

The chemical (treatments) are the harder ones to get in, said Bui, noting she tried to fit in clients in need of colors first because they were probably the most desperate.

Kelly Kluever and Joyce Bohn, co-owners of The Hair Gallery, said clients began calling to book appointments a day after the executive orders went into effect on March 18, expecting salons to open quicker than they did.

As soon as it was announced they could reopen June 1, stylists began filling in their appointment books.

I think its been fun to see everyone, said Kluever, who anticipates working 12- to 13-hour days for another three weeks. Its been a lot of work, but its been good work. Weve missed everyone so much.

To meet reopening guidelines, only five of the salons eight stylists can work at the same time. As a result, Bohn said some are working evenings or weekends.

While their schedules will one day return to normal, the precautionary steps barbers and stylists have to take in the midst of the global pandemic are anything but the usual. Masks are required attire for both stylists and clients, and temperature checks are conducted on everyone entering a salon or barbershop. Sanitizing is conducted after every client.

Each client is asked whether theyve had a cough or fever, or experienced symptoms of COVID-19. The logs are used for contact tracing if someone should test positive for the novel coronavirus.

Victor Sanchez, a barber at New Gen Studio, said haircuts, beard shaves and eyebrow work have been the three most requested services among men who eagerly awaited the reopening of the downtown barbershop last Tuesday.

Last week was completely booked, and were almost booked up already for this week, Sanchez said Monday. New Gen Studio employs two barbers, two hair stylists and a nail tech.

Using the online program Booksy to schedule appointments has worked well to limit people inside the barbershop, Sanchez said.

We make them wait outside in their car until it is their turn, he said. (Booksy) sends a notification to them saying they are able to come in.

A sanitation station greets people upon entry to New Gen Studio, and Sanchez said the waiting room and restrooms are off limits for now.

We have every other station open in order to keep our distance, he added.

At Transicin Salon, owner Michelle Markman and three other stylists were completely, exhaustingly busy last week, with bookings now scheduled a month out, unless its for a haircut or a less time-consuming service.

One of the few Worthington salons open seven days a week, Markman said shes had a lot of requests from clients for eyelash extensions and color retouches.

Some were a little too desperate as salon closures dragged on and tried to either cut their own hair or color it. Markman said it didnt go very well for them in most cases.

Clients of Transicin Salon will notice some marked changes when they arrive for their appointment. Because the salons chairs dont meet the six-foot separation distance, Markman used several weeks of downtime to get plexiglass ordered and installed between each of the stations, between the pedicure stations (one chair was removed), above the shampoo bowls and at the reception desk.

The reception area is closed, only one person is allowed per stylist in the building at any one time, and a thorough cleaning is done every 30 minutes.

Shear Expressions underwent a four-week remodeling project to meet the separation distance guidelines, noted Bui, who also installed an ozone sanitizer as an added precaution. The sanitizer is turned on each night, and works to kill any bacteria and virus that is present.

After more than 10 weeks away from their jobs, all of the stylists said they missed their clients just as much as they were missed.

Kluever said she kept in contact with her regular ladies every week.

They just wanted to know what I was doing, she said. For some of them, were their only out, other than a doctor appointment.They like to hear what were doing working in the flower bed or the garden, cleaning the basement or prepping for graduation.

Kluever said in her first week back at the salon, some clients had tears because they were so happy to see her.

Ive had a couple hugs, which is illegal but I let it happen, she added. Were super grateful for everyone thats waited for us. Were so glad to be back, and we just want everyone to stay healthy. Thats why all the precautions.

Because we love them all, added Bohn.

Sanchez said his clients were very supportive and understanding of the guidelines and regulations now, and they appreciate their barber is back in business.

Like Kluever, he had clients he checked in with weekly as well.

All of my clients are like family to me, he said, adding his thanks to all of the customers who have come in or booked an appointment.

We really appreciate that theyre back with us that they waited that long to get a haircut from us means a lot, said Sanchez, adding that some of their clients were so happy to get a haircut it was like seeing a little kid when they get their first toy.

Im just very happy to be back and do what I do and support my family and try to achieve my goals, he said.

Link:
What a relief: Local salons, barbershops reopen to delight of clients and stylists | The Globe - The Globe

Home Basement

With special framing and insulating techniques, your basement can be as comfortable as any other room in your home. Find out more about insulating basement walls and framing basement walls here.

By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine

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Your basement can be more than a utility and storage area. With some forethought and good techniques, you can make it as warm, comfortable and inviting as any other room in the house. But, make no mistake about it: Finishing a basement is a big job. In this article, well focus on the framing and some unique problems, such as:

Get started by making a scale drawing of your plans to submit to your local building inspections department. Your plan should include wall dimensions, window and door sizes, and each rooms purpose (e.g., family, bedroom, etc.) along with any special features like fireplaces. Some rooms may require large windows, called egress windows, for fire safety. Ask your building inspector if you need them. Also measure the future finished ceiling height and low-hanging pipes or ducts thatll lower headroom. Sketch the details of the exterior wall construction you intend to use as we show in this article. If youre uncertain about the best use of space, hire an architect to help with the design. The permit itself will outline at what stages inspections are required. If you choose to do your own electrical work, draw up and submit that plan as well. With your plan and permit in hand, clear everything out of the basement and youre ready to go. Walk around the basement with caulk and cans of spray foam and plug every gap you can find between framing and masonry and around pipes or wires that penetrate the rim joist or exterior walls. This is your last chance to seal air leaks from the inside, this is how youll insulate a finished wall.

If you have a wet or damp basement, its one of the steps to finishing a basement you need to solve before you get started. To tell if walls are damp from exterior water or just condensation from humid interior air, tape a 2-ft. square sheet of plastic to the masonry. If moisture collects on the front of the plastic, you have condensation. The method we show for finishing will take care of that problem. If moisture collects on the backside after a few days, then water is wicking through the foundation wall from outside. The basement should be treated the same as if it were leaky. If you have regular seepage or water puddling after storms (even once every few years), you have to fix it permanently before finishing. Remedies for damp or wet basements can be as simple as rerouting downspouts, regrading slopes away from foundation walls, or applying water-resistant paints to interior surfaces. As a last resort, hire a pro to install perimeter drains and a sump pump. The bottom line is that its senseless to spend time and money finishing a basement if leaks or moisture will ruin your work or cause mold to grow.

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Start the job by gluing 3/4-in. extruded polystyrene foam insulation to fit against the rim joists and foundation walls . Extruded polystyrene foam can be yellow, pink or blue depending on the manufacturer for insulating basement walls. Avoid expanded foam insulation (the type that has little white beads pressed together) when insulating basement walls because it isnt as durable and has a lower R-value. Make cuts by snapping chalk lines to mark and then score it with a utility knife as deep as the blade will penetrate. Then snap the sheet just like you cut drywall. Carefully cut around obstructions and fill spaces with small chunks of foam wherever its needed, working for tight fits.Spread a 1/4-in. bead of adhesive on masonry walls and press the sheets into place.

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Then caulk seams and gaps between the framing and foam along the rim joists with more foam to seal against air infiltration and leaks. Youll add fiberglass later for a higher R-value. The foam greatly reduces heat transfer through the masonry and framing, and it eliminates the need for a plastic moisture barrier later. Be sure to use adhesive formulated for use with foam (about $3 per tube) when insulating basement walls. Conventional construction adhesive wont work for insulating basement walls.

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Snap chalk lines 4 in. away from the insulation on the exterior walls. Then cut 24 bottom and top plates and lay out stud locations every 16 in. on each plate as youre insulating basement walls.

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Squeeze a 1/4-in. bead of construction adhesive to bottom plates and position them. Then pre-drill with a hammer drill and anchor them with concrete screws.

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Nail 24 blocking about every 3 ft. into the first floor joist to support the top plate. Toe-screw them to the rim joist through the foam to continuing insulating basement walls.

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Plumb from the edge of the bottom plate to the blocking with a straight 24 and level. Snap a chalk line and screw the top plate to the blocking with 3-in. screws.

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Measure between the plates at each layout mark and cut each stud to length. Then toenail the studs into place at the top and bottom with two 8d (2-3/8 in.) nails in one side and a third centered on the other side.

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When youre framing half walls, make all of the studs the same length and cut them so the wallis slightly taller than the masonry. The wall may be uneven because of floor inconsistencies, but you can always sight along the top plate and then shim it until its flat before installing the finished top cap.Then lay out the stud locations on the plate and nail the studs in place with 16d nails.

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Tip the knee walls up and fasten them to the floor. Then fasten blocks through the foam into the masonry at every third stud with 3-in. concrete screws. Plumb and screw the studs to the blocking for a solid wall. Be sure to sight along its entire length to make sure its straight.

Most basements have ductwork and plumbing mounted at the ceiling along an existing wall. Boxing in those pipes and ducts and then drywalling the assembly is the best way to conceal them. The whole structure is called a soffit.

Begin by measuring to the floor to find the lowest pipe or duct in the room; thatll define how low the soffit must be.Mark a point 2 in. lower on the wall to allow space for the framing and drywall and nail on a 24 nailing strip using the chalk line to position the bottom of the strip. Then snap another line on the bottom of the joists with a 2-1/2 in. clearance.Then snap another line on the bottom of the joists with a 2-1/2 in. clearance.

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To build a soffit front rip 1/2-in. plywood strips to the depth of the soffit and screw 2x2s even with both edges with 1-5/8 in. screws. Its easiest to preassemble the 8-ft. long soffit side sections and screw them to the bottom of the floor joists. If soffits end at walls, build the walls first.

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Snap a chalk line on the floor joists 2-1/2 in. away from the nearest obstruction and parallel to the wall. Position the assembly along the chalk line and fasten it to the bottom of the floor joists with 3-in. screws.

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String a line even with the inside edge of the plywood and use it to determine exact lookout lengths. Nail them in place every 16 in.

Partition walls are any walls that arent against exterior foundation walls or walls that support floors above. Lay out partition walls by snapping chalk lines to mark both sides of the bottom plates.That keeps you from building walls on the wrong side of single lines!

Also, in a basement, the top and bottom plates are often different lengths. Thats because top plates may project past foundation walls and be longer or run into soffits and be shorter. (See both cases in the photo with step 3.) When you line up the plates to mark stud locations, be sure to account for differences (Photo with step 2).

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Mark both sides of partition walls with chalk lines, then center and nail 26 backer boards in walls that they join. The chalk lineskeep you from building walls on the wrong side of single lines!

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Mark door openings on the floor to avoid putting glue under doors. Frame partition walls as you did the outside walls, again installing blocking between joists wherever its needed. Add 26 backers on walls that meet partitions (as explained in step 1). They provide support and nailers for drywall. Before you tie the partition walls to exterior stud walls (non-masonry, without foam), staple 2-ft. wide strips of polyethylene over the 26 backers. That way youll be able to seal this type of outside wall with a continuous moisture barrier in cooler climate zones.

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Frame the door openings 2-1/2 in. higher and 2-1/2 in. wider than the door youre installing. This rough opening allows adequate space for the door plus its frame. Use a regular stud plus a trimmer on each side of the door. If you have low headroom, you may need to cut your doors down or special-order shorter ones. Remember to allow overhead space for the door trim. Trim thats either missing or ripped too narrow over doors with inadequate clearance will really detract from the appearance of the room.

TIP: Partially cut through the underside of the bottom plate at the edges of the door rough opening to make removal easier later on.

Nearly every basement has something that will project past finished surfaces. That can include beams, posts, drain lines, water piping or surface mounted wires. Its a simple matter to frame or fur out around projections and then drywall and finish them to blend in with surrounding surfaces. Youll have to maintain access to other things like electrical junction boxes and plumbing shutoffs and clean outs. If you need future access to anything, just frame around it and cut out the opening when you drywall.

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Frame around ceiling valves with 2x2s. If you need future access to anything, just frame around it and cut out the opening when you drywall. Then, after taping and painting, screw a return air grate over the opening to conceal it but still have access. Return air grates are available in various sizes for about $5 at home centers. Check the sizes of available grates and frame the accesses slightly smaller.

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Frame around protruding plumbing with 2x6s nailed to adjoining studs. Frame clean outs for an access panel.

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Sometimes furring down part of or the entire ceiling is the best way to bury surface-mounted pipes or wires. Use either 2x4s or 2x2s running perpendicular to the joists to add 1-1/2 in. of dead space so you can drywall over the top of everything (Photo 3). Be sure to run all the wiring and other things you might want before hanging the drywall.

If you have a lot of deep projections from the ceiling or you need a lot of access, consider installing a suspended ceiling rather than drywalling. The downside is that youll lose at least a few additional inches of ceiling height.

Finish round steel columns by framing around them with 2x4s. You can then face the framing with drywall or decorative wood as shown in the opening photo.

Plus, check out these wall framing tips for new construction.

Have the necessary tools for this DIY insulating basement walls project lined up before you startyoull save time and frustration.

Avoid last-minute shopping trips by having all your materials ready ahead of time to begin insulating basement walls. Heres a list.

Read more here:
Basement Finishing: How to Finish, Frame, and Insulate a ...