Since being introduced to the Australian market in 2016, Life Floor has gained increasing recognition for its performance and a growing list of significant installations.

Designed specifically for wet areas including pool surrounds, waterparks, splash pads, change rooms and showers where people are barefoot, Life Floor offers industry-leading traction, comfort, durability and infinite design possibilities.

Made from closed-cell foam, the Life Floor surface is slip-resistant without being abrasive and is available in different textures, thicknesses, and colour options.

Life Floor tiles are non-absorbent, which means the tiles will not absorb water, are chemical resistant, and do not support the growth of microbes.

Moreover, Life Floors safety credentials are unmatched, as proven by Life Floor becoming the first aquatic safety surface in the world certified to the new NSF/ANSI-50 Standard for Safety Surfacing in Interactive Water Play Areas.

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) is a global independent public health and environmental organisation, while the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) oversees the consensus for developing standards for manufacturing and procedures in the United States.

According to the USAs National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database, in 2014 alone, there were an estimated 20,000 injuries on pool decks, splash pads and water parks resulting in an emergency room visit.

Introduced in the USA in the middle of last year after years of research, testing and careful evaluation, Life Floor Chief Executive, Jonathan Keller explains the safety revolution that transformed dry playgrounds is long overdue for splash pads.

With the new NSF/ANSI 50 standard in place, operators will be able to reduce injuries and keep splash pads open, providing fun for their communities all summer long.

After nearly a decade of designing, testing, and building aquatic surfaces, we have been proud to contribute to the process of creating these new safety requirements.

The surface is an indispensable part of the play value, and overall experience of the splash pad and thats why were committed to designing the safest, most beautiful splash pad surfaces using only products engineered exclusively for aquatic play.

In addition, Life Floor has also completed a landmark installation in the Splashers Kids Play Area within the Aquaventure waterpark at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai.

Life Floor was able to offer its durability in terms of UV stability, chemical resistance, and impermeability.

Eureka Swimming Pool, Victoria190 metre outdoor beach entry toddlers wading pool.

With the previous ceramic tiles leading into the pool causing slip and fall incidents, they were removed (along with layers of paint) and replaced with a Life Floor surface.

Now means children and parents can comfortably play and relax on the soft surface and slip and fall injuries are a thing of the past.

November 2018 by Maurer Construction Tiling.

Shawn's Swim School, Victoria190 metre pool deck.

Installed early January 2018 by Maurer Construction Tiling & G Burgess.

Australia Zoo, Sunshine Coast, Queensland220 metre water feature/splash pad.10mm Ripple. Lilypad and Bluebird.

Installed March 2018 by G. Burgess.

Griffith Regional Aquatic Leisure Centre, NSW9 metre spa deck. 10mm Ripple. Colour is Kingfisher.

Installed March 2018 by Total Creations & Services and G Burgess.

Julia Creek Swimming Pool, Queensland160 metre splash pad. 5mm Ripple in three colours: Bluebird, Iceberg, and Porcelain.

Installed November 2017 by Gibbons Constructions, Townsville.

Waterworld Geelong, Victoria3 metre shower base 5mm Ripple in Boulevard installed to an outdoor poolside shower where the MMA non-slip coating applied over ceramic tiles was peeling.

Installed October 2017 by Maurer Construction Tiling

Gawler Aquatic Centre, South Australia60 metre beach entry toddlers pool heated to 32C. 5mm Ripple in Bluebird, Aviator, and Turquoise. The previous pebble surface was slippery.

Installed September 2018 by Maurer Construction Tiling and State Wide Pool Services.

Heathers Swim School, Victoria93 metre pool deck. 10mm Ripple in Mojave and Sepia.

Replacing an existing painted concrete surface that was very slippery.

Installed January 2019 by Maurer Construction Tiling and G Burgess.

Sugarworld Waterpark, Queensland750 metre waterpark. 10mm Ripple in Ocean, Bluebird, and Aviator.

The previous Polysoft surface, which was delaminating, was totally removed, and the concrete was prepared by grinding prior to the installation of Life Floor.

Installed August 2019 by Grassports (Queensland), G Maurer, and C Dennett.

Aquarena, Geraldton, Western Australia35 metre beach entry to the indoor leisure pool. 10mm Ripple in Ocean and Aviator.

Installed 2nd September 2019 by Sport & Recreation Surfaces and Maurer Construction Tiling

Big4 Tweed Billabong Holiday Park, Tweed Heads, NSW33 metre splash pad. 10mm Ripple in Bluebird and Aviator.

The painted concrete surface was causing injuries. It was prepared by grinding.

Installed September 2019 by Grassports Australia (QLD).

Goolgowi Swimming Pool, NSW60 metre beach entry wading pool. 10mm Ripple in Aviator.

New build. Installed November 2019 by Total Creations & Services. Griffith.

Cootamundra Swimming Pool. NSW135 metre splash pad. 10mm Ripple in Ocean, Bluebird and Aviator.

New build. Installed December 2019 by Total Creations & Services. Griffith.

Sunshine Leisure Centre, Victoria190 metre splash pad. 10mm Ripple in Ocean, Bluebird and Aviator.

Installed December 2019 by Maurer Construction Tiling.

Aquaventure, Atlantis The Palm, DubaiLife Floor has also completed a landmark installation in the Splashers Kids Play Area within the Aquaventure waterpark at Atlantis The Palm, Dubai.

Atlantis was drawn to Life Floor as a result of its one-of-a-kind surface design using triangles and gradient colours to create a shoreline effect. Coupled with its durability in terms of UV stability, chemical resistance, and impermeability Life Floor, working with its partner in the UAE, Raymond Sport, was able to create another world-class experience for Atlantis guests.

As a result, Olivia Wyrick, Director of Aquaventure Operations, stated hands down, one of the best products you can use to allow kids to be kids.

Click hereto contactLife Floor (Australia)via their entry in theAustralasian Leisure ManagementSupplier Directory.

7th December 2019 - Doncaster Aquarena passes 50 years of operations

24th October 2019 - Life Floor surface installed at North Queensland waterpark

24th May 2019 - New rides to open as part of expansion of Dubais Atlantis Aquaventure

17th April 2019 - Sunshine Leisure Centre introduces year-round outdoor swimming

15th April 2019 - Australia Zoo partnership to deliver multi-million-dollar camping experience

8th June 2018 - WhiteWater and Life Floor enter exclusive agreement to deliver non-slip cushioned surfaces

1st May 2018 - Manningham City Council awards Aquarena management contract to Belgravia Leisure

25th February 2018 - Childrens play must include good risk

11th December 2017 - First Life Floor anti-slip installation completed at Julia Creek Swimming Pool

24th August 2016 - New Life Floor offers safe and durable aquatic surfacing

13th August 2015 - Tweed Billabong Holiday Parks new aquatic play features part of an industry trend

1st August 2013 - Sport NZ releases guidelines for aquatic flooring surfaces

16th June 2013 - Global innovations to be unveiled at Dubais Aquaventure Waterpark

22nd July 2009 - Polin Compact Slide now available for Australia market

Asking a small favourWe hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish atwww.ausleisure.com.auis independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printedAustralasian Leisure Managementmagazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printedAustralasian Leisure Managementdiffers from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

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Life Floor gains growing recognition as preferred safety surface for splash pads and pool surrounds - Australasian Leisure Management

German choreographer Claudia Bosses performance art-installation hybridthe last IDEAL PARADISEimmerses the audience in a narrative that relishes in being uncomfortable to experience.

Performed on Feb. 26, 28 and 29 at the State Film Production Companys (PFN) studio in East Jakarta, the Asian premiere ofthe last IDEAL PARADISEis a site-specific work, being completely tailored around the old studio and surrounding buildings in the complex.

Visitors first enter the exhibition space through the door of a building that does not, at all, indicate that it is the host of an art exhibition.

A far cry from the sleek and glossy surfaces of typical art galleries, the old PFN building was not altered in any way to mask its age and grittiness. Lighting was dim in some parts, while air conditioning units were only available in a few rooms, making it rather uncomfortable to experience on a humid afternoon.

But more uncomfortable were the installations themselves, with old medical photos and decapitated mannequin heads showcased alongside narrations describing beheadings in a terrorism context.

A few performers dotted the exhibition space, unmoving yet at times making briefeye contact with the audience, which contributed to the eerie feeling of the space.

Beyond the exhibition space was the studio itself, where performers stood in the relative darkness. While viewers do get to stand in the dim light, the soundtrack played was a constant deep yet sharp breathing, with smoke intermittently pumped in accordingly.

At two-and-a-half hours in length, the performance itself was initially relatively restrained, but performers slowly enter the audience space and become increasingly frantic in movement, which at first glance seems nonsensical.

Dividing: The two-and-a-half hour performance involves audience participation, or rather the audience is made part of the work. (Goethe-Institut Indonesien/-)

A break in the performance saw the performers walk outside the studio, which elicited applause from the audience, who believed it to be over. However, the performance went on, taking the audience on a walk through the complex between abandonedbuildings, while a woman spoke of gruesome imagerylike beheadings and the like.

The second part of the performance sawperformers and the audience return tothe studio, with the former further encroaching on the latters space by spreading out tarps on the floor that forced the audience to move constantly so as to avoid stepping on the fabric.

Toward the end, the performers went into a frenzy,kicking the tarp wildly andthrashing about, withthe piece finally brought to a closewith a solemn speech on issues like capitalism and racism.

Bosse noted that she wanted the audience to experience an artistic way of understanding the spatial and political constellations they are a part of.

Critically, it is a commentary on territory and terrorism at the same time, while examining the idea of Europe and its democracy as a sort of promised land.

The content ofthe last IDEAL PARADISEincludes imagery of harrowing sociopolitical situations, such as footage from the 2015 European migrant crisis, but also biblical themes like one room dedicated to the Revelation to John and its narrative of the Apocalypse.

Splayed: The work, which is site-specific, explores political constellations and issues of terrorism. (Goethe-Institut Indonesien/-)

the last IDEAL PARADISEis actually one part of theIDEAL PARADISEseries, which itself is the last chapter of the long-term(katastrophen 11/15) ideal paradiseprojectthat started in 2013 and ended in 2017.

The first stage of theIDEAL PARADISEseries itself was built upon Bosses long-term project with sound artist Gnther Auer,some democratic fictions. The work which began in 2011 and ended in 2015 tookthe form of interviews with artists, activists and lawyers from 10 cities including New York, Cairo, Tel Aviv and Brussels on the political situations of the time.

Before making its way to Jakarta,the last IDEAL PARADISEhad been performed several times since its world premiere at Forum Freies Theater (FFT)Dsseldorf in 2016, including three performances at the Tanzplattform 2018 in Essen, Germany.

Bosse, the artistic director of the Vienna-based company theatercombinat, said that the work itself did not travel or tour per se, but rather she worked with the space to provide more context to the work.

I normally dont tour, because my works cannot tour. [...] Im always really happy and curious when someone invites me to do a version for a certain context of my work, but I cannot tour. Its never the same piece, as I need the time, the context and the people.

Initially, Bosse was looking for a space that had to do with the history of Germany while also simultaneously a place in decay. In the end, she was content with the PFN studio for its layers of history.

I find it quite interesting with the film studio, because I feel a lot of the national narrative was produced here and also a lot of political propaganda, she said, adding that the studio had a lot to do with the production of the Indonesian imagination.

According to Bosse, the format of the work made it so that the audience experienced the installation beforehand to get a certain understanding of the material, but the viewers independence also allowed them to beresponsible for what they saw.

With the performance over, you can visit the installation again, but I think the order made sense because I wouldnt work [give the performance] and then tell them to look at the installation, because I think youd be too excited to look at being situated with other bodies because you cannot concentrate.

Bosse said she felt the location in which an artwork was displayed or performed contained certain contexts that could influence the work. In an art gallery, she continued, the context was safe, but elements in the space were inscriptions of history, and could transpose with objects and sound, in which case the audience could see both.

You should make visible the context, which is a partner of a work.

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the last IDEAL PARADISE: An immersive performance-installation with a chilling subject - The Jakarta Post - Jakarta Post

We know that installing car seats isnt exactly the sexiest of topics but its an important one. Most customers old enough to afford BMWs have children they need to cram into their cars. So knowing which cars are easiest to install car seats into, or which have the best car seat features, is important. Which is why this guide to BMW X7 car seats from Cars.com is great.

The BMW X7 is the brands first, true seven-passenger SUV, with a dedicated third row of seating. So the Bavarians would be forgiven if they didnt think of everything, when developing three rows of seating. Yet, despite the inexperience, BMW crushed the practicality aspect of the X7. Not only does it have three rows of seats but both the second and third row are more than capable of housing car seats. Though, not at the same time.

In the second row, its easy as pie to get a couple of child car seats in. The LATCH mechanisms are easy to use and while the anchor points for the second row is on the floor behind them typically less than ideal theyre clearly marked and easy to see. Also, the door openings are big and wide, which makes physically getting the car seat into the car easy. Not only that but its also easy to get a child through the door and into the seat.

As for the third row, there are also LATCH points and rear anchor points but the seats are obviously smaller than in the second row. Still, its possible to fit car seats in the third row and adults in the second row, so long as second row passengers are willing to scooch forward. Thankfully, the second row of seats slides forward.

Overall, the BMW X7 is the most practical car in the brands lineup, which isnt too surprising considering its also the biggest. However, it also features a lot of clever features that prove the Bavarians put a ton of thought into families using it. During my week with it last year, I noted how excellent of a family vehicle it was, you can check that out here.

Read this article:
How is the BMW X7 for Fitting Car Seats into? - BMWBLOG

We are familiar with the designers of estudioHerreros due to their close relationship with the world of art. Their contributions include the new Munch Museum in Oslo that will open this year, the makeover of the public spaces in the MALBA Museum in Buenos Aires, the CarrerasMugica art gallery in Bilbao, the SOLO Museum and the refurbishment of the exhibition rooms at the Reina Sofa Museum in Madrid, as well as a series of projects for galleries, exhibitions, art fairs and art studios of artists like Luis Gordillo.Added to all of that is their work at ARCOmadrid, Madrids International Contemporary Art Fair. ARCO is considered to be one of the most important modern art events on the international circuit and it is held every February in the Spanish capital. estudioHerreros and ARCOmadrid go way back to 2009 when the architects were responsible for setting up the fair and designing the VIP rooms of three editions. Antoni Muntadas and Juan Herreros have collaborated for even longer - about 15 years. Muntadas, a multidisciplinary installation and media artist and Herreros, founder and partner of estudioHerreros have held workshops and conferences together and have jointly published several conversations with third parties in the public space.In his artwork called Palabras..., Antoni Muntadas explores the written words losing battle against the image. The project by Muntadas is a work in progress about the power of words, their meaning and their transformation into what are sometimes watered-down images, while we end up not even knowing what they really mean. Nowadays, the use and abuse of certain words have brought about a decline in their social value and the artists project triggers a reflection about language by transforming selected words into images. The procedure refers to decisions based on the ontology, semiotics, typesetting and translation of these terms, showcasing the erosion of their meaning in a visual breakdown.Invited by El Pas for ARCOmadrid 2020, Muntadas came up with a version of his project that takes into account the context and includes terms that he hadnt used before in the Words... project. Terms that refer directly to the media, like Opinion, Objectivity, Fake News, Responsibility. The number of words depends on the exhibition space available. At ARCOmadrid, he also used the same typeset as El Pas, whose logo has been a kind of icon in the collective unconscious of the printed word since the newspaper was founded in 1976.The artist worked with the architect Juan Herreros to design and build a temporary structure to accommodate Palabras..., creating a specific display for the occasion. Juan Herreros, who founded estudioHerreros and runs it with Jens Richter has, in this case, transformed the artwork into a three-dimensional experience: the words were transferred onto canvases hung directly onto the architectural partitions. By moving around the zigzagged wall, visitors are treated to a sequence of perceptions leading to the discovery, overlap and contrast of the images/words, and accentuating their meaning, all through the geometry of the proposal.The width of the support and its carefully selected grey background - the grey of the dihedral walls forming the space is the same as the grey of the polished concrete floor to make it as neutral as possible, and the grey of the lighter, freestanding exhibition partition contrasts with the black and white of the artwork - as well as the formalization filled with urban allusions refer to the materials of the city and the industrial feel of the pavilion housing the installation. Palabras is the output of art and architecture working side-by-side and this boosts the impact of the work on exhibition through the visitors spatial experience.

Christiane Brklein

Project: estudioHerreros forAntoni MuntadasLocation: Madrid, SpainYear: 2020Images: estudioherreros

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Installation of estudioHerreros for the Words project by Antoni Muntadas | Livegreenblog - Floornature.com

Pics by: Justin D'Silva/Devdas Kamath

Daijiworld Media Network Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Mar 16: Renovation of Suttu Pauli and Reinstallation of Parivara Devarus (gods) of Sri Lakshmi Venkatesha temple located at Thenkapete Udupi, was held with religious grandeur on Sunday, March 15.

All the religious rituals were held with the presence of Srimad Sayyamindra Theertha of Kashi Math. He was welcomed by secretary of the temple P V Shenoy with Poorna kumba.

Swamiji offered Poornahuthi to Vishnuyaga and offered mangalarathi. Later he performed reinstallation of Gods at the temple.

Religious ritual Vishnuyaga was performed with the direction of priest Srikanth Bhat and priest's team consisting of Chempi Ramachandra Ananth Bhat, Jagadishs Bhat, Thrivikrama Bhat, Ravindra Bhat and Vinayak Bhat.

Mattar Vasanth Kini, member of temple administrative board extended his cooperation for the completion of this mahotsava.

All rituals commenced right from early morning. Religious rituals began with Guruganapathi Poojana and continued in the form of Kalasha poojana, Avahitha Devatha poojana, Panchamrithabhisheka, Shathakal-abhisheka, Kanakabhisheka, Gangajalabhisheka , Yajna mantapa, Punah Prathishtapanga Havana, Bali pradana and Prayashchitha Havana.

Sayyamindra Theertha Swamiji offered Poornahuthi to yaga, prasanna pooje, dwara pooje of Parivara devaru, Godana, Panchapala dana and so on.

Muzarai minister Kota Srinivas Poojary, Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat, BJP district president Kuylady Suresh Nail, senior bjp leader Somashekhar Bhat, Rohithaksha Padiyara, Pundalika Kamath, Kailashnath Shenoy, Devdas Pai, Narayana Prabhu, Ashok Baliga, Umesh Pai. Suresh Nayak, Shantharam Shanbagh, Subrahmanya Pai, GSB women and youth members were present on the occasion.

Hundreds of devotees sought the blessings of God.

Read more here:
Udupi: Re-installation of Gods of Sri Lakshmi Venkatesha temple held with grandeur - Daijiworld.com

The Elsternwick House in Melbourne, Australia was a feat to build.

Although there are a multitude of reasons to build prefab and in particular modular construction, there are some circumstances that make it extremely difficult. Setting a house on the edge of a cliff can make it difficult to position a crane, needed to set the modules. If a house is at the end of a very narrow road, this can also pose a tremendous obstacle in getting the units to the property. If there are an abundance of trees on the lot, where the house will be set, it also may be difficult to set the house, unless many trees are sacrificed.

The 100-year-old Victorian house that previously sat on the property was too small for the new ... [+] owners was leaky and had unsteady flooring.

One modular house I came across had several obstacles to its construction but was set defying the odds. A 100-year-old Victorian house sat on a lot in Melbourne, Australia, that is just 24 feet 7 inches wide - presenting a very small space to set a new house.It was also a challenge to demolish the small house on the lot without disturbing the two houses that were so close by on either side. A third challenge were the many wires that crossed in front of the house, meaning the crane would have to lift the modules high up in order to clear the wires.

The module is carefully lifted high above the electrical wires.

Unlike many modular houses currently being constructed, this onee was almost completely built in the factory by Modscape. The plastering, painting, cabinets, tiling, lighting, hydronic heating system, water system, blinds, appliances, flooring, decking, pergola and all internal electrical wiring and plumbing fixtures were installed in the factory. An additional challenge was the staircase that was completed with two modules and had to meet seamlessly when set.

All of the cabinetry and doors were preinstalled before the house was set.

The only items that would be completed on site were the floorboards that sit directly above the join lines between the modules, cladding that covers module join locations, baseboards that run around the bottom edge to prevent rodents from getting in, and a few other minor items. Completely so many parts of a modular house in the factory is highly unusual.

It was a particular challenge to have the stairs meet to the millimeter which the installation set ... [+] crew was able to do.

In spite of all of these difficulties, the house was set with barely a hitch. It was set in two days with everything lined up perfectly and with no damage to the houses on either side of it.

This new house is 2,626 square feet and was built with a steel frame. And miraculously the house was completed in just three weeks, from demolition to move-in.

The rear of the house with exterior decking.

Read more:
Defying The Odds To Build A Modern Modular House - Forbes

This article is part of our latest special report on Design, which is about getting personal with customization.

All happy kitchen renovations are alike and they live mostly in our dreams. The existing space is tight and usually comes with restrictions, said Sami Haxhija, a contractor in New York City, ticking off the difficulties. You have unmovable and unleveled walls, pipes, gas lines and electrical work that often need to be relocated and upgraded according to new codes, and areas where only custom millwork will fit.

A decade ago, when I bought an apartment on the Upper East Side that looked like it hadnt been updated since the Eisenhower administration, I fearlessly set about modernizing the 95-square-foot kitchen. I thought I knew all the rules: arrange appliances in a triangle for easy choreography; build a mock island to make sure its the right size; specify three kinds of lighting: overhead, spot and accent.

Ultimately, the job involved three contractors and more mistakes than I thought possible. All the while I asked myself: How do you know what you dont know? And why doesnt anyone truly guide you through this horrific process.

Bolstered by expert advice, here are some lessons I learned along the painful, exhausting, disappointing and finally happily completed way.

Dont take a contractors previous work at face value. When my first contractor led me through an apartment that he said he was responsible for renovating, the owner wasnt present. Who is to say all the work was his? Perhaps he just painted. See at least three or four examples of a contractors work that you will specifically be hiring him for, especially when the owner is home, Mr. Haxhija advised. If youre doing a kitchen and he only shows you bathrooms, thats a concern. If he says the owners are away or not available to speak to, thats another.

Dont go it alone. My first contractor hired the designer and millworker. Never hand everything over to one contractor. Hire a professional kitchen designer who will design your kitchen, bring you samples and explain everything to you, said Hilary Farr, an interior designer and co-host of the television series Love It or List It. The designer is there to navigate the process and be the liaison between you, the general contractor and his trades, with your interests solely as a priority.

A signed contract is not enough. Nate Berkus, the interior designer and author, recommends that you ask the contractor for a list of every single decision you will need to make, and the names and contact information of the vendors, electrician and plumber theyll be using. Then research them. You should also request a timeline, schedule and list of items that wont be allowed in your building. If you live in a high rise you probably cant have a gas stove, Mr. Berkus noted. You should receive these before you hand over a check.

Design for you. Im a minimalist who rarely cooks. My first contractor insisted that additional cabinets and a hood over my stove were crucial for resale. Im glad I stood my ground and didnt sacrifice the clean, nonclaustrophobic look I wanted. The next owners, who may or may not be cookware hoarders, can easily build storage.

Dont forget the samples. Take home samples of everything you ordered from specific lots so you can make sure the items you ultimately receive are a match.

Stick to one appliance brand. This creates visual consistency, and if something breaks, an authorized repair person from the company can fix whats broken while assessing the rest of your machines.

Make sure the appliances are a standard-enough size. If you build your customized cabinets around, say, an ultranarrow refrigerator, and the appliance dies, you will want to be sure the space can accommodate a replacement. Mine does not.

Know whos installing the cabinets. The installation should be done by a representative of the manufacturer, whether its an IKEA installer, or a millworker employed by your contractor whose work you had an opportunity to see. The two subcontractors who installed my cabinets had nothing to do with their fabrication and thus made a hash of the job. They cut an important wall panel too short and used a wrong color piece of wood to correct the problem, later denying that there was any problem at all. Ultimately my third contractor painted the cabinet for a seamless match.

Cardboard should not be used to align a backsplash. Which is how my second contractors lead guy decided to proceed. The cardboard, which was sitting on the counter, wedged under the backsplash, couldnt be removed. The entire backsplash had to be chopped out and replaced.

You may have to halt the project if you instinctively know something isnt right, said Bryan Sebring, owner of Sebring Design Build outside of Chicago. Go online and research how a backsplash should be done. Watch YouTube videos. Bring in a second opinion after they have left for the day to assess the project.

Ask for a preview. When the kitchen tiles were laid, the grout color I chose was not what appeared on the floor after it dried. Oh right, the contractor said. The colors on the package and in-store sample are often misleading. If he had done a patch test with a few tiles and let me see the dried version first, we wouldnt have wasted days scraping out the first color and re-grouting the entire floor.

Inspect everything nightly, especially things you cant easily see. One morning I woke to find an inch of water covering the newly tiled floor and spilling into my office. The subcontractor had neglected to fully turn off the valve of a pipe that hadnt been attached to a sink. It was being used to supply water for the crew and slowly leaked all night. Part of the office floor had to be replaced along with many pieces of now-warped customized cabinets. Another tip: Place water alarms by all unfinished piping.

Take photographs and videos in real time. When my (second) granite countertop was mounted (the first had arrived damaged), the installers took two small chunks out of my freshly plastered and painted walls and deeply scratched the new appliances. If I hadnt documented this while it was happening, I would not have had the evidence that let me be reimbursed for the ruined work.

Ask for what you need as soon as you figure it out. When the new countertop arrived, the installers used white caulking, which contrasted with the black granite surface and my now-warm-gray walls. I asked if they had another color that would blend better and was told yes, just not with them that day.

Painting should come last. Start with a sample test; your wall color may look different once your lighting has been installed. This also gives the team time to clean and let dust settle before applying final coats. It sounds like common sense, but if the correct steps had been observed, my paint probably would not have peeled off the walls.

No one will ever be as passionate about the project as you. I thought I was being specific; my contractors and their teams considered me difficult and controlling. They insisted I was in the way and making the process take longer. Dont let anyone talk you out of being present, or making sure your vision is being executed correctly. That is your right.

Read the original here:
How to Renovate Your Kitchen and Not End Up in Tears - The New York Times

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Smart Thermostat Market by Type, Application and End Use: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to the report the global smart thermostat market size was valued at $1.36 billion in 2018, and is projected to reach $8.78 billion by 2026, to register a CAGR of 26.0% during the smart thermostat market forecast.

According to smart thermostat market trends, smart thermostats are installed with remote access software and programmed with artificial intelligence. This enables smart thermostats to get programmed for future schedules to control temperature as per the need of users. It also operates in a self-learning mode by the data its software collects over the period.

Infrared technology is the wireless connectivity used in smart thermostat to access it in the line of sight range using remote device. For instance, smart thermostat by Air Patrol that has integrated infrared floor sensors. Room Unit thermostat with infrared floor sensor makes sure that your bathroom floor is set to the ideal and that the more demanding floor surfaces are kept safe, which offers lucrative smart thermostat market opportunity globally.

According to the smart thermostat market analysis, latest smart thermostat is integrated with Wi-Fi technology which allows wireless connectivity from remote devices. For instance, Honeywell 7-DAY programmable thermostat provide the consumer with WiFi connectivity that enables the HVAC systems to be controlled through remote access.

Rapid adoption of smart infrastructure in residential and commercial infrastructure, penetration of IoT and AI based technologies, and in analysis creased use of smart technology in medical monitoring influences the smart thermostat market growth. However, high cost of products in developing countries hampers early adoption. Further, increased advancements and adoption of automated systems in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors are expected to provide lucrative smart thermostat market opportunity for the smart thermostat market growth during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific accommodates major population of the globe. The penetration of smart phones and adoption of smart electronic appliances in residential, commercial and industrial sector is expected to grow smart thermostat market. Owing to technological advancements, the appliances in residential buildings, such as washing machines, heating, and cooling equipment, and refrigerators, are increasingly going smart. This means that they can be connected to the internet.

Key Findings of the Smart Thermostat Market:

Key Topics Covered:

1. Introduction

2. Executive Summary

2.1. Key Findings

2.1.1. Top Impacting Factors

2.1.2. Top Investment Pockets

2.2. CXO Perspective

3. Market Overview

3.1. Market Definition And Scope

3.2. Key Forces Shaping Smart Thermostat Market

3.2.1. Moderate Bargaining Power of Suppliers

3.2.2. High Threat of New Entrants

3.2.3. Moderate Threat of Substitutes

3.2.4. Moderate Intensity of Rivalry

3.2.5. Moderate Bargaining Power of Buyers

3.3. Market Dynamics

3.3.1. Drivers

3.3.1.1. Rapid Adoption of Smart Infrastructure In Residential And Commercial

3.3.1.2. The Penetration of IoT And Ai Based Technologies

3.3.1.3. Increased Use of Smart Technology In Medical Monitoring

3.3.2. Restraints

3.3.2.1. High Cost of Products In Developing Countries Are The Barriers To Early Adoption

3.3.3. Opportunities

3.3.3.1. The Increasing Advancement And Adoption of Automated Systems

4. Smart Thermostat Market, By Technology

4.1. Overview

4.2. Wifi

4.3. Infrared

4.4. Bluetooth

4.5. Others

5. Smart Thermostat Market, By Application

5.1. Overview

5.2. Split Ac

5.3. Window Ac

5.4. Portable Ac

5.5. Other

6. Smart Thermostat Market, By End Use

6.1. Overview

6.2. Residential

6.3. Commercial

6.4. Industrial

6.5. Other

7. Smart Thermostat Market, By Region

7.1. Overview

7.2. North America

7.3. Europe

7.4. Asia-Pacific

7.5. LAMEA

8. Competitive Landscape

8.1. Introduction

8.2. Top Winning Strategies

8.2.1. Top Winning Strategies, By Year

8.2.2. Top Winning Strategies, By Development

8.2.3. Top Winning Strategies, By Company

8.3. Product Mapping of Top 10 Player

8.4. Competitive Dashboard

8.5. Competitive Heatmap

8.6. Key Developments

8.6.1. New Product Launches& Development

8.6.2. Other Developments

9. Company Profiles: Smart Thermostat

9.1. Emerson Electric Co.

9.1.1. Company Overview

9.1.2. Company Snapshot

9.1.3. Operating Business Segments

9.1.4. Product Portfolio

9.1.5. R&D Expenditure

9.1.6. Business Performance

9.1.7. Key Strategic Moves And Developments

9.2. Ecobee

9.3. Honeywell International Inc.

9.4. Johnson Controls

9.5. Nest Labs (Alphabet Inc.)

9.6. Netatmo (Legrand Sa)

9.7. Schneider Electric S.E.

9.8. Siemens Ag

9.9. Tado

9.10. Zen Ecosystems

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/eebamb

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Global Smart Thermostat Market by Type, Application and End Use: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 - ResearchAndMarkets.com -...

Wading into water quality, Stacy Levys Collected Watershed at Towson University

Susan Isaacs reviews Stavy Levy's exhibition Collected Watershed, which is currently installed at the Center for the Arts Gallery at Towson University. The display explores issues facing waterways during climate change. Though the gallery is currently closed due to COVID-19, the show's end date has been extended to April 25, 2020, and the show is presumed to re-open before then.

In a world of environmental crisis, Towson University addresses the issue of water quality this spring with a series of free events that are open to the public, including an exhibition by environmental artist Stacy Levy (full disclosure: I co-curated this exhibition along with Erin Lehman, Director of the Department of Art + Design Galleries). However, while planning the exhibition began the conversation, it gradually became only one element in a spring rich with programming, including an environmental conference to open April 16th with a keynote event: A Conversation with Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, a pediatrician, professor, and public health advocate and author of the book What the Eyes Dont Seef, which tells the story of the Flint, Michigan water crisis. The New York Times named it as one of the 100 most notable books of 2018, and it was chosen as the Maryland One book of 2019.

Large universities, unlike museums, have access to and can take advantage of their own experts and departments, programs, and offices, resulting in rich interdisciplinary programming. In this instance, the College of Fine Arts and Communication (Departments of Music and Art + Design), the Jess & Mildred Fisher College of Science & Mathematics (Department of Biological Sciences), the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Civic Engagement & Social Responsibility, and Cook Library, collaborated to produce extensive programming around the issue of water. Scientists, curators, artists, musicians, librarians, and specialized program directors worked together to address the issue of water quality from their own perspectives.

Levy, who lives in rural Pennsylvania and who holds an MFA in sculpture from Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, and a BA in Sculpture with a Minor in Forestry from Yale University, is familiar with this kind of interdisciplinary approach as she often collaborates with scientists and landscape architects. She regularly creates works in the land and on the water to help mediate environmental problems. In 2018, she won the Henry Meigs Award for Environmental Leadership, and in 2019, the Penn Future Award for Women in Conservation. Readers can see a list of her commissions on her website, along with images of her many projects.

Levy writes: I am a sculptor with an urban forestry background whose interest in the natural world rests both in art and science. My art celebrates the often-unnoticed presence of the natural world in places we experience every day. I work with natural forces like wind, rain, erosion and climate change, plant growth, bird habitats and tides. I have explored the many aspects of urban waters, from the micro to the macro, and I have looked at water from many different angles: from puddles to watersheds.

Watercourse is a large, graceful installation that demonstrates the interconnectedness of local watersheds by mapping them in three-dimensions onto the nearly 2, 500 square foot floor of the Center for the Arts Gallery at Towson University. Students, faculty, and staff accompanied the artist for many days of water collection. In the end, we collected nearly 200 buckets of water from the various waterways in Baltimore County, and their contents filled close to 8,000 recycled jars that form the corresponding waterways of the map. It was a herculean effort.

Levy feels it is important that people know their streams, their names and locations, in order to protect them. Thus, the map includes identifying text in blue-colored Times Romanemployed in official maps of creeks, streams, rivers, bays and other waterways. Today, many waterways underlie roads and suburban developments, but in the past, they were the roadways. The title of her lecture for the opening of the exhibition was Picturing Water: Art as A Verb. A film collaboration between the artist and her videographer, Jonathan Bojan, about the project can be viewed here.

Maryland is rich in bodies of water. They are the result of a large glacier melt beginning about 10,000 years ago. The Chesapeake Bay was formed from the increased size of the Susquehanna River and the eventual mixing of salt and fresh water.* While this exhibition looks at Maryland waterways, Pennsylvanias decisions on water pollution also affect the Chesapeake Bay. A recent report by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation concluded that Pennsylvanias proposal to combat water pollution was not adequate, prompting Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to send a letter expressing his concern to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf.**

Information about the dissolved salts content (conductivity) and acid-base quality (pH) of stream waters collected by biologist Susan Gresens of Towson University and her students are included in the watershed map installation, on display through an aesthetic visual representation designed by Levy of jars filled with varying amounts of marbles to represent salt content. Gresens explains that conductivity measurements are a useful representation of the total amount of salts dissolved in the water. These salts represent different compounds, some natural from local bedrock, others introduced by humans. In watersheds with winter snow and ice, road salt is the major contributor to conductivity.

While these salts keep road surfaces safe for drivers, conductivity is also a fingerprint of urban development; the more roads there are, the more driving there is, the more road salt is used. Levy explains that just as we cannot drink salty ocean water, microorganisms and other life forms, like fish and salamanders, cannot tolerate an overly salty environment.

The artists map design also demonstrates her fascination with dendritic patterns (branch-like structures) found not only in waterways, but also throughout all life forms, including the human vascular system. Levy comments that This complex of streams and rivers create capillaries of life-giving fluid. To allow for more viewer space, vinyl dots mark some waterways in the installation, generally forming the tail end of a curving river or creek, completing a dendritic pattern. This exhibition is an excellent representation of how Stacy Levy brings together science and art to express visually one of the most profound issues of our time: water quality. Visitors see how art makes science accessible while the science makes the art, at least in this case, richer in meaning and purpose.

Stacy Levy: Collected WatershedCenter for the Arts Gallery, (GPS: 1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, Maryland)Towson, Maryland 21252Towson University MapsOn View January 31 April 25, 2020 (closed March 13 22)The University is currently closed through April 4 due to COVID-19Gallery Hours: Tues. Sat., 11 a.m. 8 p.m.

* James DiLisio, Maryland Geography (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2014) 9.** Jenna Miller, Chesapeake Bay: Pennsylvania called weakest link by Bay Foundation. Maryland weighs in, The Daily Times May 30, 2019

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Wading into water quality, Stacy Levy's Collected Watershed at Towson University - theartblog.org

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, March 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Artisan Design Group ("ADG"), a portfolio company of The Sterling Group, today announced the acquisition of Value Plus Flooring, LLC ("Value Plus" or the "Company"). ADG is a dealer of flooring products and services, providing design, procurement, installation and quality control of flooring and complementary products for homebuilders and multi-family developers.

Value Plus is a leading provider of installation services for flooring and complementary products, primarily serving multi-family new construction and multi-family relay/aftermarket segments. Headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota, the Company serves the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region and surrounding areas, and has been a trusted partner to its general contractor, multi-family developer and homebuilder customers since 1996.

"Value Plus' established presence in the industry and strong customer relationships are a welcomed addition to Artisan Design Group and we look forward to partnering with them," said Larry Barr and Wayne Joseph, Co-CEOs of ADG. "The Company will help ADG build scale and extend our national reach to the Midwest region, allowing us to better serve our multi-family customers."

Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, ADG operates more than 90 distribution, design and service facilities and coordinates installation through over 1,300 independent contractors across 17 states. ADG was formed in 2016 through the combination of Floors Inc. and Malibu Floors. The acquisition of Value Plus represents ADG's sixth acquisition over the past thirteen months under Sterling's ownership. The company has completed fourteen total acquisitions since its founding in 2016. ADG continues to seek local and regional market leaders to add to its family of flooring specialists.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity investment firm that targets controlling interests in basic manufacturing, distribution and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 56 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $10.0 billion. Currently, Sterling has over $2.0 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit http://www.sterling-group.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss.

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SOURCE The Sterling Group

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Artisan Design Group, a Portfolio Company of The Sterling Group, Completes the Acquisition of Value Plus - Yahoo Finance