Jessicas own personal touches include her original artwork and custom designs featured throughout the house, plus modern hardware on the cabinets through her company Nest Studio. An impressive collection of her art amassed over the past decade from estate sales, local artists, and online also pepper the walls.

Other creative surprises up her sleeve to the delight of her two children Lucy, 7, and Bryan, 10 include a secret passageway leading to Lucys bedroom, plus some custom beds and forts that Jessica built for their bedrooms.

Her kids even had a hand in making some of the artwork in the house, and were key decision-makers in design schemes for their bedrooms. I mocked up what things could look like and gave them some choices, then pinned up wallpaper options so they could make selections, Jessica says. Im always trying to design spaces that are family- and kid-friendly.

Residents: Jessica and Scott Davis, their kids Bryan and Lucy, and their poodle Cheerio

Resident occupations: Jessica Davis (interior designer, founder of design firm Atelier Davis and hardware company Nest Studio) and Scott Davis (management consultant at North Highland Group)

Location: Buckhead

Square feet: 3,000 square feet

Bedrooms/baths: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths

Year built: 1960

Year bought: 2018

Architectural style: midcentury modern

Favorite architectural elements: The ceilings, from the beams to the bleached tongue and groove panels

Type of renovations: Complete kitchen overhaul, addition of a hallway to the childrens quarters plus a new kids bedroom, guest bathroom remodeling, new floors, added windows

Cost of renovations: $175,000

Builder: Jerry Cooper

Architect: David Obuchowski

Contractors: Randy Guyton of Guyton Design Homes

Favorite room: The kitchen

Favorite piece of furniture: The Nychair in the main bedroom

Favorite outdoor feature: Definitely the hardscaping

Decor tip: Dont be afraid to mix colors and styles, especially when it comes to artwork. Artwork can stand on its own apart from the style of the interior, so you can use modern art in a traditional space or vice versa.

Resources: Furniture and decor from Ikea, Chairish, Etsy, Target, Amazon, CB2, West Elm, Furbish Studio, Innovation Living, Hay; kitchen counters from Dekton; kitchen appliances from AJ Madison; kitchen skylight from Velux; lighting from Worleys Lighting and Koncept; wallpaper from Spoonflower; hardware from Nest Studio.

CONTACT US

If you have a beautifully designed home in the Atlanta area, wed love to feature you! Email Lori Keong at lorikeongwrites@gmail.com for more info.

Read the original post:
Buckhead midcentury home full of creative touches - The Atlanta Journal Constitution

CHARLOTTE, N.C. The products and services featured appear as paid advertising.

At Hickory Furniture Mart, people come from all over the world to visit the massive shop.

According to General Manager, Tracey Trimble they have a million square foot space, with furniture, accessories, lighting, rugs, and home furnishings you may want. You can custom order furniture or buy it off the floor.

They offer four levels of showrooms offer a wide variety of styles. The front desk, and designers can help show you around. Amish Oak and Cherry have 180 builders, that can customize anything you want. Everything in their gallery is American Made.

Hickory White Factory Outlet also has a gallery, the company as a whole is considered a North Carolina gem.

They allow you to customize anything you want, or buy off the floor.

While you're there, Trimble says you have to check out their massive chair, snap a photo and send it their way, and they'll feature you on their website.

To learn more go to: hickoryfurniture.com

Read more:
Find the perfect piece for your home or office at Hickory Furniture Mart - WCNC.com

Redoing the kitchen is one of the most perennially popular home renovation projects and also one of the most varied and complex. From enlarging the space to reconfiguring the cabinets, from re-tiling the backsplash to upgrading the appliances, the options are endless, and so are the costs.

Even so, kitchen renovations fall into three generally accepted tiers that reflect the square-footage size of the kitchen, the scope of the work being done and materials used. They, along with their approximate price tags, are:

Its important to have a sense of what each category entails, so you can intelligently discuss with designers and contractors what you really want, and where the money should go. Lets look more closely at the three main types of kitchen remodels and what they involve.

A small or minor kitchen remodel is typically the simplest and least expensive, because its primarily a cosmetic job. The current kitchen design, size and original layout are kept intact. What does get changed are surfaces.

Some of the most popular small kitchen renovation features include:

Minor kitchen remodels are ideal for new homeowners on a budget or for those who feel the kitchen functions just fine it just could use a facelift.

Since its basically an aesthetic refresh, much of the minor kitchen remodel can usually be completed by a DIY-oriented homeowner and can cost just a few thousand dollars if you are doing the bulk of it yourself. However, according to Remodeling.coms 2021 Cost vs Value Report, hiring professionals, choosing higher-end hardware or replacing all appliances with state-of-the-art models for this level of redo runs an average of $26,214.

The middle tier of kitchen remodeling is more involved than a simple refresh. Homeowners may decide on a midrange kitchen renovation when the overall look, and to some extent the functional ability, of the kitchen is outdated.

It often involves replacing (not just repainting or refinishing) all the major surfaces of a kitchen, installing new flooring, countertops, sinks and custom cabinets. New features might be added, like an island or extra cabinetry. And of course major appliances will be upgraded, often with energy- or space-saving models.

Design and contracting professionals are more likely to be needed to execute the project correctly. As a result, the average cost is $75,571 for a 200 square-foot kitchen.

A major kitchen renovation is the most complex and expensive type of kitchen-design project. Upscale kitchen remodels typically involve a new and improved floor plan, enlargement of the space, and re-arrangement of pipes, gas lines or wiring. Virtually everything is changed or replaced, and generally with top-of-the-line finishes and appliances, luxe or speciality materials, and much customization of sizes and shapes.

Cooking enthusiasts and homeowners interested in a customized space are more likely to go with a major kitchen remodel. Its not unusual for interior designers, contractors and even engineers to be involved. Building permits may be required.

Not surprisingly, the cost of the project is usually the steepest. Expect to pay an average of $150,000 for a major remodeled kitchen. Plus, you may need to move out while the construction is in progress or make alternate cooking arrangements: Full-bore kitchen overhauls often take longer and can be disruptive because of the level of demolition required.

Its generally construction and floor plan rearrangement that kicks a remodel into the major category. Some pros divide kitchen redos into two types minor and major with minor being purely cosmetic jobs, and major being those involving structural changes. They then top off the major category with an additional luxury tier, which reflects the type of materials.

The cost of those materials and features can vary wildly. For example, you could replace a refrigerator with an $800 model from a home improvement store or spend $20,000 on a Sub-Zero professional model with glass doors; spend $100 per on a set of stock cabinets, or $1,000 apiece for custom-made ones.

On the other hand, installation costs are relatively fixed. Here are some of the elements that go into an average kitchen remodel and their typical installation prices, based on small, midrange, or major kitchen remodels, according to Homeadvisor.

As you can see, you could spend $1,000 or $100,000 on a kitchen renovation. In fact, homeowners continue to spend more year over year on kitchen remodeling regardless of the project scale. The Houzz 2022 Kitchen Trends Study found that the median spend on a major renovation is 14 percent more than 2021 and 25 percent higher than the previous year for a minor redo.

The real question is, how much should you spend on a kitchen remodel?

A freshly updated kitchen is generally one of the most sought-after features by homebuyers. Improvements you make to the kitchen can add to your homes value. However, splurging on a major kitchen remodel may bring more joy than an actual return on your investment. Spending $50,000 on a kitchen remodel does not mean you automatically add $50,000 or more in property value.

In many cases, a minor refresh will have a higher ROI than a major remodel,Reese Freeman, a general contractor in Steamboat Springs, CO says. Thats borne out by Remodelings Cost vs Value Report, which notes that minor kitchen remodels recoup about 72 per cent of their cost, while the most upscale major remodels only recoup half (53.9 percent).

If your goal is to maximize the value of your home, such as for a resale, then a minor refresh is the way to go. But, if you have the funds, some extra features and complete renovation of the space will add quite a bit of added comfort to your life and have a wow factor every time you walk into it.

Reese Freemangeneral contractor

If you do want bang for your kitchen-remodeling buck, keep certain factors in mind.

Over-customizing a kitchen can limit your future home-buying audience. Choose features and design styles that would be appreciated by a larger variety of individuals. Custom items such as a walk-in wine cellar may work for your family but may only cater to a limited clientele in the future.

Before undertaking a midrange or major kitchen remodel, do some research on what homes in your area sell for and the general condition of the kitchens and baths. You could look at local listings for your ZIP code through sources such as Zillow or Redfin to view interior photos for ideas. Keeping a kitchen remodel in line with other homes in the area could help you avoid overspending on features that are not as popular for the neighborhood you live in.

Saving on certain kitchen components and rolling the savings over to specific features could be a smart move. For example, choosing quartz countertops over natural marble could free up your budget (and require far less maintenance). The savings could be applied towards other upgrades such as better appliances. Teri Simone, the Chief Kitchen Designer for Nieu Cabinet Doors, explains, Splurging on high-end appliances can save big in the long run on energy efficiency, and these appliances often come with better warranties or even service plans.

A kitchen remodel can be as simple as painting cabinets, updating faucets or replacing an appliance. Or it can involve knocking down walls, relocating plumbing and creating a whole new footprint, in partnership with interior designers and contractors.

When deciding on how large of a project you are willing to undertake, be strategic with your kitchen remodeling decisions: Evaluate the number of changes you wish to make, the expense of the project and the time frame. You may decide that a kitchen refresh will suffice. However, if you plan on living in the home for a while and are willing to take on the expense and commitment of a midrange or major kitchen renovation, the results could increase your property value and offer you years of cooking enjoyment.

See the article here:
What are the three types of kitchen remodels? - Bankrate.com

If youre taking on a big, complicated project that could get hopelessly tangled up with one wrong move, it pays to seek out advice. Youd talk to every expert you knew before building a custom home, for example, and youd probably read everything in sight before embarking on a 30-day bike trip across the western United States.

CIOs overseeing digital transformation projects have been advised by the best and the brightest everyone from analysts to consultants to colleagues to peers and most would say the counsel theyve received has been helpful. But occasionally, a tip gets passed along thats outdated or just plain wrong. While it may have made sense at one time, it would steer them off track if they pursued it today.

As your organization adapts its transformation strategies to succeed in a post-pandemic environment, here are three pieces of outdated advice to avoid and a few counter-tips to follow instead.

Historically, many IT leaders thought that in order to survive in a digital-first era, they had to transform from top to bottom, across every department and product line. This caused many transformation efforts to fail. Companies tried to invest too broadly in the concept and aimed too high in an effort to generate results.

This type of thinking isnt practical because there will always be limitations on resources and the ability to absorb change. Companies that try to do too much too fast end up with failed projects that werent scoped, sized, or prioritized correctly.

A better approach is to dedicate to prioritization. Make sure you take on projects one at a time. Use agile methodologies and lean techniques to select what youre going to work on first. Then work through each one before moving on to the next thing. In this way, you can incrementally accomplish your transformation rather than trying to boil the ocean.

[ Discover how digital transformation priorities are changing. Get theHarvard Business Review Analytic Services report:Maintaining momentum on digital transformation.]

Over the years, organizations have periodically divided up IT groups, with one concentrating on maintaining legacy functions and another pursuing innovation for the future. This practice was resurrected in an effort to achieve faster and more effective digital transformations. Creating a bifurcated IT function may have a place in very large organizations that are pursuing many projects at once, but in the mid-market, it doesnt work.

Having one group maintain legacy products and unleashing another to focus on innovation leaves individuals in the first group behind, creating a culture of haves and have-nots.

This is especially problematic today considering the tight job market for skilled IT professionals. Having one group maintain legacy products and unleashing another to focus on innovation leaves individuals in the first group behind, creating a culture of haves and have-nots. The employees working on new technologies are able to challenge themselves and stretch their skill sets. Meanwhile, workers focusing on legacy technologies are less satisfied with unexciting tasks, making them more likely to leave knowing theyll have no trouble finding other jobs. The organization ends up needing to hire more workers or reassign those from the innovation group to ensure legacy technologies are still being supported.

Companies are better off creating an agile, collaborative IT organization with cross-functional groups not segmented by technology. Plus, if youre going to train new people on new technology, a new business practice, a new process, or a new way of doing things, you might as well train more broadly as it effectively costs the same.

[ Also read Digital transformation: 4 outdated notions to move past. ]

For years, the culture of IT has been to move fast, break things, reassess, and retool. This pattern took hold at the dawn of the digital transformation era. After all the breaking and reassembling, measurement was tacked on at the end, to see if the transformation initiative achieved the stated goals.

More on digital transformation

This is a poor strategy. Instead of waiting and measuring later, its better to set up the analytics upfront to validate the transformation process as it goes along.

Transformation doesnt happen all at once. Its iterative, and you will need to be able to measure improvement from iteration to iteration. To do this, you need to set up the right architecture for the project, scope out reasonable goals, and instill a process to measure progress step by step. Then you will be able to review measurements periodically and adjust tactics as needed to see steady improvements.

Digital transformation is a major undertaking. As an IT leader, you should continue to seek advice to help prepare for what lies ahead. But dont be wedded to any one particular piece of advice, because what works today may not work tomorrow, and what works for one organization might not work for another. Validating the advice, testing it, and being willing to adapt are all important elements of a successful transformation process.

[Where is your team's digital transformation work stalling? Get the eBook:What's slowing down your Digital Transformation? 8 questions to ask.]

Link:
Digital transformation: 3 outdated tips to ignore - The Enterprisers Project

When one enters a Stock Custom Home, they cant help but notice the highest level of craftsmanship is applied, and remarkably stunning attention to detail is throughout. Only Stock can provide the most enviably appointed, custom-built, and furnished estate homes in the area, which is why they were named the 2020 Builder of the Year by the Collier Building Industry Association. The award-winning custom home building division of Stock Development is now offering an exquisite collection of grand estates in Southwest Floridas most highly regarded communities and neighborhoods.

Bonita Bay

Stock is currently constructing two custom estates in Bonita Bay, featuring Gardenia II and Clairborne II layouts, after their tremendous success in Bay Woods. The residences, which will be completed in the spring, will showcase the divisions highest level of sophistication in one of the most sought after and well-recognized areas of Southwest Florida.

Breathtaking from the entry, the Gardenia II will encompass nearly 4,000 square feet under air of cutting-edge architectural design and interior design by Sheila Corasaniti-Cook of Boutique Interiors. The second custom estate, inspired by Stocks grand 4,369-squarefoot under air Clairborne II floorplan, will feature tasteful interiors by Soco Interiors in its four bedrooms, study, exercise room, great room, and expansive outdoor living area.

Pine Ridge Estates

Stock continues to be a preeminent builder in Pine Ridge Estates, with three residences currently available. One is located at 607 Myrtle Road and is a nearly 5,000-square-foot under-air, designed in collaboration with R.G. Designs Inc. and renowned Wilfredo Emanuel Designs. It boasts four bedrooms plus a bonus room, four and one-half bathrooms and a pool bath, a great room, study, double two-car garages, and Stocks trademark luxurious and expansive outdoor living area.

Inspired by the fresh, airy palette of a Southampton aesthetic, a 4,672-squarefoot under-air residence at 125 Caribbean Road is being designed in collaboration with R.G. Designs and Cardamom Design. To be completed this summer, the property will boast four bedrooms plus a bonus room, four full bathrooms, plus a pool bath, and one powder bath, a great room, study, double two-car garages, and an outdoor living area encompassing more than 1,500 square feet.

Finally, a new estate is being built at 422 West Street. It will offer four bedrooms and four and one-half baths, plus a pool bath, within 4,477 square feet under air. The generous outdoor living space will encompass 1,348 square feet. Clive Daniel Home and South Florida Design are collaborating on the home, which will have an overall aesthetic of comfortable luxury and a color palette of white, cream, and taupe with accents of periwinkle, aqua, and soft blue throughout.

WildBlue

Two exquisite Stock Custom Homes are currently being constructed in Wild- Blue. The first is based on the Alexandria floorplan and will boast 4,672 square feet under air. The design team, including Laurie Walter of Cardamon Design and Richard Guzman of R.G. Designs, will create an overall aesthetic of transitional and timeless elegance.

The second, based on the Winfield floorplan, will encompass 4,720 square feet under air. Soco Interiors and R.G. Designs, Inc. will follow a modern coastal-inspired design with a layered neutral palette of soft taupe, crisp white, and subtle grey with deep aqua and navy-blue accents.

Customize Your Dream Home

Now celebrating 20 years as Floridas preeminent homebuilder, Stock has completed more than 5,000 homes along the Gulf Coast and beyond. Continuing to expand, the award-winning luxury homebuilders custom homes division, Stock Custom Homes, is actively working on custom estates throughout Southwest Florida along with Sarasota, Wellington, and Palm Beach.

Read more from the original source:
Discover Luxury Estates by CBIA's Builder of the Year, Stock Custom Homes - Florida Weekly

Im not going to lie, its tough out there for buyers. Thats no longer a secret at this point. It seems anything with four walls and a roof is selling with multiple offers in a matter of hours, not days. (this actually isnt the reality, but I can talk about that another time).

Buyers right now are masking up, seeing the home for a few minutes and placing offers with waived contingencies and escalation clauses (Ask me more about this if you dont know what these are).

But what if I told you there is a much less hectic process? One where you get to select where your home is built, what amenities it contains, the layout, the finishes, etc. Welcome to the world of new construction.

The fact is that builders are unable to keep up with demand right now and the reason is many buyers are ditching the resale market (non-new homes) and deciding to just build their own house instead. There are pros and cons to this approach, but most of my clients enjoy a pretty smooth process when deciding to build their dream home.

1. No bidding wars. This is a huge one. There are certain buyers who just refuse to engage in them. Either they are averse to the drama of a bidding war (most arent dramatic, by the way, if your agent knows what theyre doing); have a principled objection to paying top dollar; or some other reason.

The fact is that building your home is a pretty calm process and if a buyer is looking for a more controlled environment, its something that can be ideal.

2. Build it to suit you. There are many buyers who buy their dream home and STILL have to make modifications after settlement. This is more out of pocket cost and disruptive once youve moved in. New construction allows for the buyer to select layout, finishes and even the lot in the community and its basically done when you move in. This also allows them to align their homes look and construction with the latest trends in real estate. HGTV anyone?

3. Resale value usually holds. Since it is new(er) for many years to come. Buyers do like new and even if the house is 4-years-old and you have to sell it, it should retain value and appeal to the marketplace. Keep in mind, builders dont typically construct homes in areas that are overly speculative (although they can in certain areas of the country) which means theyre in desirable locations in terms of highways and schools.

1. The waiting. The fact is that new construction has to keep up with demand, so that means you cant visit a site, pick a house, write a check and move in right away. They cant build them fast enough right now. Depending on the builder and the particular house youre looking to build, it can be anywhere from 3 to 12 months before the moving truck pulls up.

2. Builder limitations. These home builders are trying to build houses as fast as they can and so that means their ability to customize every little thing in a house is either not possible or will cost you more cash during the construction process.

Every time a buyer wants to change this or that, the most common refrain is, Sure, we can do that, but there will be a custom charge for that. For some buyers that is OK if their budget allows, but too many custom changes to a house can make that affordable new house a money pit. Thankfully, the builder is usually transparent with these costs.

3. Paying a premium. New construction is much like a new car in that depending on what phase the builder is in (Phases describe whether the builder has just starting building homes or on their last few), you can pay a premium. You can get a discount if the builder has just a lonely sales trailer and nothing built yet because they are trying to get homes sold. Another time is at the end when builders are trying to sell those last few homes so they can move on entirely from the job after several years. But dont forget youre building a house. Everything is new, so be prepared to generally pay a premium for that.

At the time of this writing, I currently have three clients under contract for new construction with Toll Brothers, Rockwell & Deluca. All of them initially thought theyd buy existing homes and were pleasantly surprised by the offering of some of these companies.

Warning: If you choose the route of new construction, BE SURE TO CALL YOUR REALTOR TO MAKE THE INITIAL CONTACT. (This includes not registering on the builders website) Otherwise, the sales representative can claim whats called procuring cause and have a right to represent both you and the builder which is not ideal. It is important that you have your own representative to guide you through the process and be your advocate.

Read more from the original source:
#ASKSETHANYTHING: Forget the bidding war can we just build a house? [Column] - The Delaware County Daily Times

Commercial additions, alterations

ACCESSORY BUILDING: 324 Haydite Ave., Lafayette; The Family Church, owner; Ziler Architects, applicant; self, contractor; $22,675.

OTHER: 1008 Cameron St., Lafayette: Alfred Broussard, owner; description, splitting building into two tenants; Alfred Broussard, applicant; $30,000.

RENOVATION: 113 Kol Drive, Broussard; Sysco Doerle Facility, applicant; Williams Company Southeast, contractor; $2,359,534.

TENANT BUILD-OUT: 1137 S. Bernard Road, Suite C, Broussard; Beau Soliel Nutrition, applicant; Pride Contractors LLC, contractor; $10,000.

ADDITIONS: 411 Commercial Parkway, Broussard; Siemens, applicant; Flex Construction LLC; addition to office, $222,000; addition to shop, $360,000.

217 Waterhouse Road, Carencro; Brian Martin; $499,500.

301 Espasie Drive, Milton; Prestige Custom Homes LLC; $306,000.

307 Comanche Drive, Lafayette; Walter Arceneaux; $216,000.

214 Gable Crest Drive, Lafayette; Manuel Builders; $202,500.

307 Capstone Crossing, Lafayette; Manuel Builders; $238,500.

141 Gable Crest Drive, Lafayette; Manuel Builders; $193,500.

219 Gable Crest Drive, Lafayette; Manuel Builders; $234,000.

607 Bourdette Drive, Lafayette; Manuel Builders; $193,500.

219 New Trails Lane, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $270,000.

221 New Trails Lane, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $342,000.

204 Oak Side Alley, Lafayette; Brent Rochon; $1,039,500.

204 Rue Novembre, Scott; Jonas Melancon; $342,000.

221 Redfern St., Lafayette; Lancaster Construction LLC; $333,000.

210 Starlight Drive, Lafayette; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $166,500.

313 Adry Lane, Youngsville; Manuel Builders; $193,500.

300 Anza Drive, Youngsville; Manuel Builders; $202,500.

113 Spider Lily Lane, Lafayette; DSLD LLC; $283,500.

307 Sparrowhawk St., Broussard; DSLD LLC; $220,500.

515 Winthorpe Row, Lafayette; Tuan Tran; $526,000.

106 Carnaby Drive, Lafayette; Gen Group Construction LLC; $274,500.

103 Grandmark St., Lafayette; DSLD LLC; $315,000.

113 Harvest Creek Lane, Lafayette; Prestigious Home Builders LLC; $400,500.

204 Rue Viansa, Lafayette; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $166,500.

207 Keelingwood Lane, Lafayette; Manuel Builders; $193,500.

110 Gable Crest Drive, Lafayette; Shivers Brothers Construction; $229,500.

130 Gable Crest Drive, Lafayette; Shivers Brothers Construction; $198,000.

205 Canary Palm Way, Broussard; Triple D's Homes LLC; $240,511.

609 Easy Rock Landing, Broussard; EJ Rock construction; $262,286.

402 Sandy Bay Drive, Broussard; Blue Wing Builders LLC; $245,000.

404 Sandy Bay Drive, Broussard; Blue Wing Builders LLC; $232,000.

107 Lakes Edge Drive, Broussard; AM Design Inc.; $207,849.

215 Canary Palm Way, Broussard; Leon Clayton Enterprises LLC; $296,185.

508 Sandy Bay, Broussard; Hart Homes LLC; $232,428.

Read the original post:
Who's building where in Acadiana? Here are the building permits Issued Feb. 1-5 - The Advocate

FEBRUARY 12, 2021 - This week, WTHR of Indianapolis brought us a story of a local man, who went the extra light year for a DIY project.

Todd Spann is a huge fan of both Star Trek and Doctor Who, two franchises that have each been around for more than 50 years, telling stories of exploration, loyalty, and mutual respect. So it makes sense that when Spann had the opportunity to build his new basement exactly how he wanted it, he would combine his two passions, creating a stunning tribute to both Star Trek and Doctor Who. And hes also built a YouTube channel where you can watch the whole project come together.

When Spann bought his home in Westfield, Indiana, he was pleased to see it had a completely unfinished basement. I wanted a theater and a computer room and everything, Spann said of his home, adding, I just went a little weird and created this idea because I wanted something different.

Spann began researching photos of the sets he intended to recreate, teaching himself how to build it all from the ground up. When asked about the design process, Spann said it was a lot of trial and error. [I would] set something up and think, 'Well, that's not going to work.' [Id] tear it down and try something else until I got it to where I was happy."

Just stepping into the basement is a wild experience. With fully automated sliding doors, just like on Star Trek, step inside and the first thing youll see is a functional six-person transporter pad, complete with working controls. Head down the hallway of Spanns basement starship and youll find yourself in the home theatre, lovingly crafted to resemble the bridge of a Starfleet vessel. From the captains chair, Spann is able to manipulate the lights, screens and sounds of his starship bridge. Saying the command Computer, red alert! automatically triggers the classic red alert siren, and the call, All hands to battle stations!

But thats not all: Spanns basement also includes a full-sized TARDIS that doubles as his computer room.

Spann started his basement build more than three years ago. While there is more construction to come, he says that once the dangers of COVID-19 have passed, hell be ready to offer tours of his creation. To see the full WTHR report and dozens of videos detailing the construction of this sci-fi inspired basement, head over to Todd Spanns channel on YouTube.

See the rest here:
WATCH: Star Trek and Doctor Who fan documents his process of building custom, working sets in his basement - Daily Star Trek News

The Building Industry Association of Washington has announced the winners of its2020 Excellence in Remodeling Awards, and Irons Brothers Construction, Inc.took top honors in two categories.

The Excellence In Remodeling awards program recognizes outstanding remodeling projects across Washington, ranging from additions and historic renovations to kitchen and bath updates to entire home transformations at a variety of price points. This year, remodelers from home builders associations across the state submitted 32 entries in 19 categories.

The Building Industry Association of Washington traditionally honors award winners at a live annual awards ceremony, but COVID-19 restrictions forced the organization to cancel its live event for 2020.

The awards presented to Irons Brothers include:

Parents of two boys, the homeowners in this remodel wanted to be close to their children while also having a private retreat to themselves so Irons Brothers added a master suite using creative reconfiguration of existing space. The remodeling team built an addition to the rear of the home using the familys existing laundry room and expanding into their outside-corner covered patio.

They then filled the bathroom retreat space with luxurious elements to combine modern-day comfort with 1955 architecture, including a curbless, walk-in shower with a wide doorway for accessibility.

Oversized white tiles surround the large shower niche, while marine blue dimensional gloss tiles create a statement at the vanity. The rich walnut custom cabinets with white quartz countertops and silvery-gray plank floor are durable and timeless. A clerestory window at the top of the shower and a large skylight maximizes the use of natural light.

This third-floor master suite is the crowning glory of this redesigned home.Irons Brothers certified aging-in-place design team specified elements for the retired couple and their 120-pound pit bull terrier to age in place.

The team added a new residential elevator to the west side of the home to access the master bedroom from all levels, placing the elevator shaft on the homes exterior to minimize the need for interior structural changes. This move also maximized the couples budget. The shed roof for the addition followed the sites slope, creating tall walls east of the master suite for clerestory windows that allow daylight without sacrificing wall space in the bathroom/closet area.

This design kept western walls low to maximize the bedroom views. The master bathroom includes an easy-access shower, his-and-her wall-mounted vanities with motion-sensor lights, and pops of beachy blue for a spa-like feel. An extensive walk-through closet and indoor sauna completes the suite.

Other universal design features include wider doorways, slip-resistant flooring and reduced transitions, lever handles, and pocket doors for easy use.

You can view these projects in a video here.

See more here:
Irons Brothers Construction wins Remodeling Excellence Awards - My Edmonds News

Caterpillar House is the first custom home on Californias Central Coast designated LEED Platinum, the highest rating for sustainability from U.S. Green Building Council. Photo: Joe Fletcher

Movie producers like Ashley Levinson are used to high-stress multitasking. Yet making sure a cast and crew stayed safe and healthy during a clandestine shoot in the midst of the deadly coronavirus pandemic was an entirely new degree of challenge for Levinson, one of the principal backers of Malcolm & Marie, which was written and directed by her husband, Sam.I dont think I slept through the night until two weeks after we wrapped shooting, said Levinson, reflecting on the high-wire act of pulling together the intimate new Netflix drama out Friday, Feb. 5, which was filmed over 14 days near Carmel over the summer to become one of the first films to wrap production during the pandemic.

When Sam Levinson and Zendaya both concerned about the forced time off from filming their HBO drama series Euphoria hatched the idea of making a movie while the entertainment industry was on lockdown, using pods and bubbles to prevent the virus spread were not yet familiar concepts. The NBA successful experiment of playing all its games in Orlando hadnt even started.

First off, we had to immerse ourselves in learning as much as we could about how the virus is transmitted and figure out, could we even do this safely? Ashley Levinson said. We wouldnt have done it if we didnt have doctors telling us that what we were doing was safe.

Zendaya takes on a mature role and an ownership stake in her new movie Malcolm & Marie

She knew a high-level epidemiologist who had been in Wuhan, China, where the pandemic began, and his findings informed the protocols the producers devised: pre-shoot quarantining, regular coronavirus testing, everyone in protective equipment, and a promise from everyone involved not to leave (the set) once we arrived, Levinson said.

Although they discussed shooting in Zendayas or the Levinsons home, Los Angeles wasnt issuing permits (to shoot) because the (COVID-19) numbers were so high, Levinson said, so we started looking at various places we could get to with one tank of gas, to eliminate as many stops as possible.

Monterey County was the only place in California at the time allowing shoots on private properties. So it had to be Carmel, Levinson said.

Production designer Michael Grasley, who also works on Euphoria, researched contemporary homes along the Central Coast that would fit the films aesthetic goals: a midcentury, open-plan property that would pop on screen in black and white.

San Francisco architect Jonathan Feldmans stunning, eco-conscious, rammed earth-and-glass Caterpillar House, on 33 acres in the private Santa Lucia Preserve, fit the bill.

Review: Zendaya tears into John David Washington in riveting, dramatic Malcolm & Marie

While Malcolm & Marie has just two roles, a feuding couple played by Zendaya and John David Washington, the glamorous house in which the entire movie takes place became effectively the movies third character.

Feldman studied film and thought of being a filmmaker before pivoting to architecture, so its fitting that the stunning residence has a natural cinematic quality, with huge south-facing sliding windows framing views of the rolling hills.

Caterpillar House is the first custom home on Californias Central Coast designated LEED Platinum, the highest rating for sustainability from the U.S. Green Building Council. It is built with 2-foot-thick earthen walls, from dirt excavated from the site during construction.

Its a glass box, all about its connection to nature, to natural light, Feldman said. Yet, shot at night, it somehow became even more monumental, looming, even moody in a way that really fit the story (of) this couple isolated from the rest of the world. It was really exciting to see how well the house lent itself to that.

We knew we wouldnt have to do that much to make it look great, Levinson said. The house was ideal. Its a work of art itself.

Everyone working on the film lodged at the nearby Carmel Valley Ranch, which closed due to the pandemic and had standalone buildings for everyone with their own HVAC systems so we wouldnt be cross-contaminating anyone that could potentially be sick, Levinson said.They limited the cast and crew to just 22 people far fewer than a typical set. The lean team meant we got really crafty with every element of the film, Levinson said. We brought stuff from our own houses. Our personal pillows were there. Zendaya brought her own clothing (and did her own hair and makeup). We borrowed a friends bed. We kept some of the owners belongings. It was a case of eliminating how many things we needed from the outside world.

They rehearsed in a parking lot and did outdoor camera tests, too. A San Francisco chef prepared meals with produce from Monterey-area farmers.

There were so many things you wouldnt have thought of, she said. I mean, if someone wanted a cup of coffee, you couldnt have different people getting it. Things you would never think of normally.

Levinson says the experience of making Malcolm & Marie with collaborators all invested in one anothers safety and equity (crew members are shareholders in the films profit structure, with future proceeds donated to Feeding America) convinced her that we might want some of these positive changes to stick around in post-pandemic productions.

Its the most proud Ive ever been of the process, being a part of a community of people that you respect so much, with every single person really looking after each other, she said. I feel enormous gratitude for the fact that we were able to make a film that were so proud of, make it in the way that we did and also give back.

Malcolm & Marie (R) begins streaming on Netflix on Friday, Feb. 5.

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Co-starring in Malcolm & Marie, the stunning Monterey County home where the movie is set - SF Chronicle Datebook