Carmen and Mary Siciliano started married life in a one-room apartment during World War II. They ended it 76 years later in a fifth-floor hospital room they shared with COVID-19.

Carmen, 98, died at 10:48 a.m. Thursday at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, six days after he was given a bed next to Mary, who was diagnosed with the coronavirus first. Mary, still recovering, moved Friday into a skilled nursing facility in Batavia, say their daughters, Joyce Siciliano Andringa of Aurora and Gail Siciliano Grazian of Naperville.

Mary's bed was pushed close enough before Carmen's death for her to touch her husband's arm as they listened to a recording of Nat King Cole singing their favorites such as "Autumn Leaves" and "Unforgettable."

"We asked if she wanted to be in the same room holding my dad's hand when he goes to heaven, and she said yes," says Gail, who says her father always wanted to take care of her mother. "We told him we were going to take care of her from now on."

The couple's love and commitment to each other inspired doctors, nurses and other staff members at Good Samaritan. Hospital rooms are designated for single patients but the family thought it would help if Carmen and Mary could be in adjoining beds in the same room of the respiratory isolation unit.

"Our physicians also thought that was a great idea," says nurse Rene Scheier, interim manager of the Clinical Resource Unit at Good Samaritan. "It was set up perfectly for them."

They even made room for Carmen's World War II hat that he wore until his death, foam boards filled with photographs from their life together, and a CD player.

"It's important for us to provide holistic care," Scheier says. "We could see how important this was for the entire Siciliano family. This is a perfect example of the type of compassion our team members have for our patients at Good Sam."

Mary Monstere was just 14 when she left her family's farm and her nine siblings in Louisiana to babysit for her older brother's family on Chicago's South Side, across the street from where Carmen Siciliano lived with his parents and nine siblings.

"My parents were farmers, and when I graduated eighth grade, I asked, 'Can I go to high school?'" Mary explained. "And they said, 'No. We have to eat.'"

After each day of classes at Parker High School in Chicago, Carmen would take a train downtown for a job unloading mail bags from trains onto trucks. He quit high school to take a better-paying job cutting the heads and legs off chickens for Campbell Soup Co.

Their first date was on Mary's 15th birthday, when Carmen took her downtown to see the movie "Sergeant York." The five-year age difference didn't bother Mary, whose mother was married at age 13 in Italy.

Once they started dating, World War II was the only thing that kept them apart. Even then, Carmen, who enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Newfoundland, Canada, wrote a letter to Mr. and Mrs. Monstere asking for their daughter's hand in marriage. Carmen also persuaded his captain to give him a two-week leave so he could wed Mary on Aug. 5, 1944. Mary was 17. Carmen was 22.

During the war, Mary lied about her age to get a job winding wire coils in a factory where an older brother worked. She and Carmen wrote each other lovely letters in spite of Carmen's gruesome duty handling the casualties of war. "All the dead bodies would come in, and we'd set them up so they could be brought back here," Carmen said.

He served the remainder of his military service as an X-ray technician in Fort Sheridan, and the newlyweds settled into domestic life without much money.

"We would wait until the stores closed, then we went window shopping," Carmen said. They raised their son, Frank, who died in 2016, and daughters Joyce and Gail in the south suburb of Dolton. An excellent gymnast and diver in high school, Carmen remained in great shape. He made a habit of performing handstands on the hood of every car he owned and once did an impromptu handstand on the ledge of Hoover Dam that almost got him arrested.

He made his living as a painter. He supervised a crew painting the Prudential Building, with the highest roof in Chicago at the time, and spent time every year at Wrigley Field, where "I painted the whole place," he said.

At the couple's 75th anniversary party in 2019, they gave a couple of tips for a happy marriage

"We never went to bed angry," Mary said.

"We always kissed before going to bed," Carmen added. Then he played "Happy Anniversary" on his harmonica -- but only after removing the dentures from his mouth and handing them to Mary, who clearly had played that part before. He also played taps every Veterans Day, until the one the day before he died.

During the pandemic, their daughters and other family members generally had to gather on a patio and shout up to Carmen and Mary on the second-floor balcony at Heritage Woods assisted living facility in Batavia, where they lived.

In August, the couple made a trip to Joyce's house, where they got haircuts in the garage, and Joyce gave them both manicures and pedicures. The last time the family got to be with the couple in person was at a socially distanced gender-reveal party in September outside Heritage Woods. That's when they found out their grandson Jayson and Ninnette Nofzinger would be parents of a boy due in January 2021, when Carmen would have turned 99.

The last time the daughters saw their parents was on a Zoom call to show them photos of the family's newest additions -- twin granddaughters born on Halloween, the couple's third and fourth great-grandchildren. Carmen, who is legally blind, held the image up to his face.

"My mom wants to get her hands on those babies," Gail says.

"My dad has been ready to go," Joyce says, explaining how Carmen used to blame his daughters and wife for keeping him alive too long. When he planned his funeral years ago, Carmen told his wife, "If you die before me, I'll kill you," and joked, "Don't bury me in the smoking section."

On the first phone call with the daughters after Carmen died, Mary cried. But they all realize the couple had a pretty amazing run. The couple shared everything, but mostly love. Even at the end

"God was on our shoulder guiding this journey," Gail says.

The "angels" who helped along the way ease the pain.

"They had a great life," Joyce says of her parents. "People need to hear wonderful stories of love and hope."

Read the original:
Constable: A lifetime shared together ends with COVID-19 - Chicago Daily Herald

The Historic District Commission approved the application on Oct. 20 of Austin Willis to restore a stone cottage to its original design by removing surrounding additions at the former Cluny School property.

I am so excited about this, HDC member Diana Szapary said.

Chair Karl Bjork called the restoration of the stone cottage fantastic.

It is due to the vision of my clients, said architect Paul Weber, who provided the plans.

The majority of the restoration would occur at the northwest side of the building where the 1965 addition connects to the stone cottage. The southeast, southwest and northeast elevations are relatively untouched by the addition. All restoration would match existing details and materials. Any roof repair would include slate roof matching the existing roof, while the adjacent building to the north of the main Cluny School structure would be demolished.

After four meetings and many changes, the HDC failed to approve the petition of David Elwell of 96 Harrison Ave. for permission to construct an attached two-car wood frame garage, modify the main entrance, repair and relocate windows and exterior doors, and replace a slate roof.

The plan went under significant modifications under architect Steve Laurin, but ultimately resulted in a 3-3 deadlock.

I still have a problem with the attached garage, said HDC member Howard Elliott.

Szapary had issues with the proposed elevation of the new building. Its a carriage house, she said. With the proposed changes, it looks like a large manor house. I couldnt approve that. It is turning this into something that it isnt.

HDC member Donald Ross disagreed. This is a very good redo. I think they have gone the extra distance, he said. I think this is a very good approach to rescuing the building. If something isnt done, I have very grave concerns about the future of this building. I think it does preserve historic character.

The house is currently a twofamily house, Elwell said. We are bringing the kitchen and the living room down from the second floor to that first-floor space where the garage is, he said. I think we have made some meaningful changes. We believe we have been quite responsive to what the commission had concerns about.

Elwell must now submit a new plan for HDC consideration.

Much of the meeting concerned three separate home petition hearings for owner Luke Fleury, who is renovating properties at 41 John St., 1 Maitland Court, and 34 Elm St.

The HDC voted to delay hearing the 41 John St. petition due to needing samples for the 30 windows that Fleury wants to replace, along with doors and much more. The commission approved 1 Maitland Court, which is in dilapidated condition, with new conditions that the applicant save the stained-glass window and salvage as many windows as possible before replacing others using the most authentic materials possible.

The commission approved 12 other petitions and delayed seven to November.

Will you help Newport This Week continue coverage on the local election, COVID-19 updates and municipal news during these unprecedented times with a monetary donation? Any amount helps!

Excerpt from:
HDC Approves Cottage Restoration at Former Cluny School - Newport This Week

We finally know the name of Michael Jordans long-anticipated team: 23XI Racing.

Of course, Jordan wont be the first superstar athlete to make the plunge into NASCAR ownership, nor will he be the first multi-billionaire. However, at age 57, Jordan will be a significantly younger face than many of his counterparts competing in the NASCAR Cup Series

While much focus has been put on the basketball legends highly polarizing foray into NASCAR with partner Denny Hamlin and driver Bubba Wallace, it may be easily overlooked to see that Jordon is potentially giving a solution to a lesser-known problem within NASCAR.

For years, many in the NASCAR community have shown increasing concern with NASCARs aging ownership, as many competitive owners, such as Roger Penske, Richard Childress and Joe Gibbs, are well into their 70s and beyond.

In fact, of the top 20 cars in the current 2020 Cup owner points, each of their owners is beyond the age of 70, with the exception of 49-year-old Tony Stewart and 62-year-old Chip Ganassi.

Still, Jordans team has promised to be competitive from the get-go, meaning he will indeed become the most youthful face in the top half of the garage, assuming his promises hold true.

However, Jordan wont be the youngest in the entire field. In fact, he is not even going to be close, which is especially promising compared to the lay of the land in 2017.

Andrew Murstein (56 years old) is one of the eight majority team owners (or ownership groups) who will be younger than Jordan entering the 2021 season. Murstein, the co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports, has been leading the charge to transform RPM back into a competitive force, evidenced most recently with the hiring of Erik Jones.

Carl Long (53)has continued to expand his MBM Motorsports team after returning to Cup in 2017. 2020 has marked MBMs first full-season effort.

Following NASCARs two-month hiatus in response COVID-19 pandemic, Tommy Baldwin (53) restarted his part-time team this season after several seasons of no-shows.

The aforementionedTony Stewart (49)has been one of the few owners under the age of 50 across the last decade. Still, Stewart and business partner Gene Haas have transformed their team into a four-car organization that has claimed two championships.

He may have only entered one Cup race so far in 2020, but Matt Kaulig (47) has enthusiastically transformed his NASCAR involvement from a small sponsorship deal to a multi-car powerhouse team in the Xfinity Series. Kaulig has indicated he would like to take his team Cup racing full time in the future.

A relatively new team,Jeff Dickerson (44) and TJ Puchyr have also jumped head-over-heals into NASCAR ownership over the past two years. The co-owners of Spire Motorsports are set to expand from one charter to three (one leased) in 2021.

Michael Jordan isnt the only new owner for 2021, as former driver Justin Marks (39) will introduce his premiering Trackhouse Racing Team with driver Daniel Suarez. At 39, Marks will become the youngest full-time bossman, barring any younger additions.

Then theres owner-driver BJ McLeod (36) taking his team Cup racing for the first time in 2020. Despite just being a part-time Cup effort, McLeod readily expanded his Xfinity team over the last several years and looks to further continue to enrich his NASCAR involvement, with rumors holding that McLeod could be jumping into the series full time in 2021.

While the modern ownership model is slowly shifting younger thanks in part to new owners like Jordan and Marks, it has been painfully gradual.

The NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series is a polar opposite.

Interestingly enough, if Jordan were to make the dive into Truck ownership, he wouldnt be in the top 10 of the youngest owners. He would become the eighth oldest owner, only behind Maury Gallagher, Al Niece, Duke Thorson, Bo LeMastus, Tim Self, Norm Benning and Jim Rosenblum.

It is worth noting that the average age of a Truck owner is well under 50. A great deal of this trend is owed to the resurgence of independents and owner-drivers such as 29-year-old Jordan Anderson and 30-year-old Josh Reaume.

Father-son ownership duos like Kevin and Dawson Cram and Ken and Korbin Forrister have moved the needle down too.

Still, the Truck Series is a development series, both for drivers and owners. While there is youth spread across the board, Marks and McLeod have been the only two who have made the scary jump to the top.

Will Jordans youthful enthusiasm for NASCAR perpetuate a cascade of followers? Only time will tell.

More here:
NASCAR 101: The Youngest Active Owners in NASCAR - Frontstretch.com

These homes from South Yarra to Sorrento and in between are top of our list to inspect.

8 Kintore Street, Camberwell VIC 3124

Camberwell calls for those dreaming of leafy suburbs, good schools and impressive period homes. Part of the coveted Tara Estate, this 1901 late Victorian house was builder Henry Hutchinsons own home. Not surprisingly, he splashed out with fine architectural details including rare tri-coloured brickwork, a return verandah, marble mantelpieces, tiled fireplaces, delicate cornices and stained-glass windows.

The grandeur of the past lives on in the formal sitting and dining rooms family celebration, anyone? Modern additions include a family room, conservatory, upstairs bedroom and en suite. Perfect for a growing family, there are five bedrooms and two bathrooms. The block is large, as is the salt-water swimming pool, and Bourke Road shops are just around the corner. Selling agent Nikki Van Gulick says the house has been well maintained by the owners who are moving after 21 years. The garden is beautiful and you can see it from almost every room.

Expressions of interest: close 5pm November 9

Agent: Marshall White, Nikki Van Gulick 0419 325 911

14 Avoca Street, South Yarra VIC 3141

This pretty terrace offers a lot more than meets the eye. Victorian features happily mix with contemporary chic. Just steps away from Toorak Road shops, the Royal Botanic Gardens is also nearby. Those needing top schools are well catered for. The formal lounge and dining rooms are nicely connected while the kitchen and family zone overlook a generous terrace. Upstairs is a main bedroom, en suite and retreat plus another two bedrooms and bathroom. The surprise here is the basement-level gym, cellar, cinema, bedroom and bathroom. It has an oversize double garage, which is worth its weight in gold in South Yarra, says the agent.

Expressions of interest: close 3pm, November 6

Agent: RT Edgar,Mark Wridgway 0419 510 777

129 Wellington Parade South, East Melbourne VIC 3002

Is this city living at its best? Architect Rob Mills designed this uber-cool town house over three levels to take advantage of its city and park views. Its close to the MCG and the city is within walking distance. Outdoor terraces, high ceilings and beautifully detailed finishes put this in a luxury league of its own. The ground floor comprises a double garage and bedroom or home office. The living areas on the first floor are bookended by terraces with Jolimont Reserve peeping up on the north. Three bedrooms with balconies are on the top floor. The internal lift ensures the longevity of the home, the agent says.

Expressions of interest: close 5pm, November 4

Agent: Kay & Burton,Monique Depierre 0407 881 327

33 Wells Road, Beaumaris VIC 3193

Deep within this striking residence opposite Ilaroo Reserves playground is the warm heart of a 1970s brick house that was waiting for a magic wand. The magic came in the form of a new ultra-modern facade of Monument standing-seam matt cladding an audacious change by the project-driven owner and Black Rock architect Rohan Murley. The practical floor plan was retained and a luxury main bedroom suite was extended into the over-sized front garden. Its an amazing job, says the agent, noting its up-to-the-minute textural finishes, skylights, vertical split doors to an over-sized pantry and a huge all-weather curved deck facing the rear lawn.

Auction: 10am, October 31

Agent: Marshall White, Matthew Pillios 0408 145 982

11/17 Como Avenue, South Yarra VIC 3141

The serene side of South Yarra encircles this petite townhouse in the Como precinct. Cycle beside the Yarra, let the dog run free at Como Park, sip a soy latte from Kanteen and grab a picnic baguette from The Stables of Como Cafe, across the road. The property, in a 1978 low-rise development, has two bedrooms upstairs and a modern kitchen adjoining a living room (with fireplace) opening fully to a west-facing courtyard. Theres an English charm to the place, the agent says. Its a perfect pad for the younger generation, professional couples, those scaling down or for investment.

Auction: 2pm, October 31

Agent: Kay & Burton, Tom Staughton 0411 554 850

21 McCormack Street, Port Melbourne VIC 3207

More than simply an outdoor space, the rooftop terrace on this city-edge townhouse is both a private escape from the ordinary and a fabulous party venue. Its like a world on its own up there, so private and with majestic city views and catching the sun, the agent says. It also has provisions for a barbecue kitchen. The townhouse, built in 2012, is surrounded by popular parks and is 10 minutes walk from the beach. The vendors upgraded the downstairs deck and resurfaced the double-garage floor to make the most of every space.

Auction: noon, October 31

Agent: Belle, David Wood 0418 315 114

26 The Ridgeway, Kensington VIC 3031

4

Beds

2 Baths

Parking

This double-fronted Victorian-era family home is on a generous 400 square metres in a residential pocket that rates 10 out of 10 for walkability to local amenities, the agent says. Its even more of a hotspot since the City of Melbourne nominated nearby Bellair Street as a key precinct for post-lockdown outdoor dining. Block-fronted Fairhaven, where the vendors have lived for 30 years, has a priceless original iron-lacework verandah and scope to upgrade inside. Its convenient here, its quiet, and it has a versatile floor plan with a fourth bedroom that works as a home office, the agent says.

Auction: noon, October 24

Agent: Nelson Alexander, Jayson Watts 0415 940 227

2 Evans Street, Somers VIC 3927

Brimming with top-notch detail, romantic ambience and coastal elegance, this six years young home and its pool, terrace and decks nestle into the lush informal garden nurtured by the green-thumb vendor. The 1450-square-metre corner site features native plantings, sculptural shapes and bursts of colour; pride of place is earned by a multi-trunk lemon-scented gum favoured by visiting koalas. The interior will impress all other visitors. High ceilings, clerestory windows, beautiful timber floors, Italian marble, classic architraves and skirtings the agent lists. Its very evident that its generous in size and quality.

Expressions of interest: close 4pm, November 11

Agent: RT Edgar, Michael Parker 0428 540 500

170 One Tree Hill Road, Smiths Gully VIC 3760

A tight collection of tiny houses forms a romantic Tuscan-look micro-village within exquisite gardens at this surprising eight-hectare property. Various combinations of living areas, kitchens and bedrooms are found in each of the main house, second residence, cottage (the first one built circa the 1930s), a guest house, studio and barn-style loft, along with city views and remarkable bagged mudbrick walls, reclaimed timbers and wood fireplaces. The right person will say this is what theyve been dreaming of, says the agent, a near-neighbour. The lifestyle property with dams and grazing land will appeal for multi-generational living and B&B income.

Private sale

Agent: Jellis Craig, Scott Rawlings 0409 675 408

1330 Frankston-Flinders Road, Somerville VIC 3912

Fernbanks 140-year-old charms have been enhanced by a recent sensitive renovation that has added a new kitchen and casual living area at the back, as well as a large main bedroom, with an en suite and walk-in wardrobe, and a study. The double-fronted late-Victorian weatherboard is on 3550 square metres and is set well back from the road.

Vine-clad verandahs run around three sides of the house and white windows are set against muted exterior paintwork. Inside, the recent renovation has added a contemporary touch to the original large rooms. Three bedrooms are near the front of the house and open from the central hallway. They all have built-in wardrobes and two have fireplaces. A formal sitting room is opposite, and it adjoins the newly added open-plan area.

Private sale

Agent: Bonaccorde Property, Andrew Gillespie 0414 680 512

12 Canterbury Street, Sorrento VIC 3943

Newly built, this large contemporary-style house, which features timber highlights and polished concrete floors, is a short walk to Sorrentos shops and bay beach. A large kitchen, living and dining room extends to a covered outdoor dining area that is, effectively, another room and this overlooks the large north-facing pool and spa that are the focus of the house. Three childrens bedrooms are in a wing to one side of it and the large main bedroom, with an en suite and walk-in wardrobe, are on the other. A theatre, lift, study, games room, parking and storage complete a great package.

Private sale

Agent: Whitefox Real Estate, James Hallahan 0434 517 572

Read this article:
What to see this weekend: the best properties for sale around Victoria right now - Domain News

Forty years ago seems like such a long time. We were just getting into high school. The president was Jimmy Carter. Voyager was able to show the world the rings of Jupiter and The Knack had the top spot on Billboard with the hit song My Sharona. For some it seems like forever ago but for Toyota It marked the year that the brand TRD (Toyota Racing Division) had made and appearance in the U.S. of A.

Over those 40 years the TRD division has been involved in everything from NASCAR and drag racing to making some of the most popular pickup trucks on the market with the Tacoma and Tundra. It only seemed to make sense with all this diversification of product and brain power that they make the jump into the consumer sedan market.

So after a 40 year presence here in America with the TRD brand the folks at Toyota have given their two most popular sedans, the Camry and Avalon an injection of muscle and coolness, and pinning both with the TRD logo!

Right off we were quick to notice many design changes on the exterior of the TRD Camry in very visible aero elements that have been added. Most striking was the addition of a wing across the back on trunk line giving us pause, as we called it our racing Camry for the week.

The designers from Calty Design Research, Toyotas design studio have also given the sedan a more aggressive stance by lowering the body 0.6 inches, adding red brake calipers and an impressive TRD badge for each new Camry.

As an instant testament to the awesome new design, as we pulled into the parking lot of CupBop Korean take-out restaurant stand near Brigham Young University on the Friday night of our test drive, two students appeared almost as if on cue. Both began to question us as to the availability and what it was like to drive the TRD Camry.

Its always a great opportunity to talk with folks about the vehicles we review and test each week but this reaction was not what we had expected from a Toyota Camry. At the end of the 20-minute discussion they both wanted photos of the new TRD-enhanced vehicle to send to their friends and family!

We had to admit after just a few hours of diving the new Camry who really wouldnt want a 300-horsepower sedan, with looks to back up that kind of power? It also comes to reason that there are already many aftermarket parts available for the TRD including a new performance exhaust system. It shouldnt be long until 300 horsepower is just the benchmark for buying a new TRD.

The new Camry comes with a DOHC 3.5-liter V-6 power plant that is tied to an eight-speed automatic transmission and that has a sport mode and paddle shifters on the steering column. The engine also has a specially tuned cat-back dual exhaust that we found gives the TRD a very nice exhaust note. This was especially evident every time we started the sedan in our garage but was also a great edition out on the open road if we gave it just that little extra push for speed.

Over the week of driving and almost 500 miles in mostly an urban setting we did average a very nice 26.5 mpg. We also found the Camry with all of these great additions not only way more fun to drive but it also had some great road manners staying very planted and controllable even on very twisty turns.

Other additions that made for this awesome sport drive were a unique set of TRD shock absorbers along with summer tires that are included on the Camry only. Sport enhanced black alloy wheels rounded out the exterior, and coupled with the dual piston brakes made the Race Camry even better.

The design folks did not leave out the interior when they started changing things around for the Camry, as the red theme played out throughout along with the TRD concept. Red stitching in the seats and on the dashboard along with red TRD logos in the headrest add to the look.

Red is also the theme in the drivers console with red speedometer and tachometer. And if that were not enough, red seat and shoulder belts really made us feel even more like racing around in the Toyota.

The seats were very comfortable and made from a black SofTex with fabric inserts. The only downfall was that they were not heated as Mother Nature finally added a little fall to our weather the day after the Labor Day holiday.

After our week with the TRD version of the Camry we were very impressed with not only the design and handling of the Camry but with how it now stands out in a crowd. Our hats are definitely off to those at Toyota for making this happen.

It has to be hard to take what has become an icon in the automotive world and make something new and exciting with that product. For years the Camry has been the bread and butter sedan for the company, now through the use of the TRD division they have taken the Camry right off the NASCAR circuit and put it right in anyones driveway.

Check out the new Race inspired TRD Camry and add a little excitement to your life. We sure did at least for a week!

Link:
Sunday Drive - 2020 Toyota Camry TRD - Daily Herald

London Bay Renovation was recognized with a top Sand Dollar Award for Best Whole House Remodel of a private residence in Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club.

London Bay Homes has earned its reputation by building luxury homes in Southwest Floridas most exclusive neighborhoods for nearly three decades. And while homebuyer interest in custom building continues to grow, renovation is gaining in popularity among homeowners who prefer to modify their current home to fit their styles of today.

When you bought or built your home five or 10 years ago, it may have been perfect for your needs at the time. But over the years, styles have changed, said London Bay Homes President and CEO Mark Wilson. Maybe youve added grandchildren into your life or developed a new hobby that requires a dedicated and specialized space. Or you find yourself living in a Mediterranean-style home when your design preference skews more coastal contemporary these days. Whatever the reason is, our team works to meld past with present preferences to create seamless new home designs.

This was especially true for one family who had their eyes set on a home in Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. While the home had stunning views and great bones, its 20-year old faade left some elements to be desired.

Before

The Hellers asked London Bay Renovation to weigh in on the four-bedroom, five-bath residence that caught their attention, and as a collective group, concluded the home needed a complete interior redesign, coupled with some exterior modifications.

It is the second London Bay home we have had, with the first being new construction, said Karen Heller. As satisfied London Bay homeowners, when we decided to do a whole house renovation, we didnt hesitate to work with them again. We knew we would receive excellent workmanship, the highest quality and that they would stand behind everything they did.

The project required gutting of most of the interior from ceilings and walls, to the electric and air conditioning systems. The master suite, a guest bedroom and the laundry room remained intact. The plan also called for adding an additional 500 square feet for a new guest suite to accommodate visiting family and friends.

A granite-heavy kitchen with a banquette was replaced with white marble countertops, crisp white Shaker-style cabinetry with brushed brass hardware and decorative glass-front doors, and a navy-painted island paired with nail-head stools for additional casual seating.

We took a home that was quite dated and focused on a renovation to open up common spaces to the views outside, said Bill Blanchard, Director of Construction for London Bay Renovation. The interior renovation focused on updating the old angular plan with a new rectilinear design that reclaimed wasted space and modernized the home.

Opening common spaces to enhance outdoor views was an equally important goal. The revised plan introduced a great room that opens up to the outdoor living area enhancing the overall livability and function of the home.

To update the homes Neo-Mediterranean exterior, the team retained the arched doorway but eliminated precast elements and heavy details around the entrance. Eschewing the dated terracotta and ochre palette, the exterior was painted to create a fresh lightness, with a dark tone introduced on the garage door and tile roof for dramatic contrast. The transformation continued by adding Bermuda shutters and dark trim to create a clean and timeless design that will look great in another 20 years, and beyond.

Before

We are thrilled with our newly renovated home, added Heller. The end result did not disappoint. It is a dream home that we will enjoy for years with our children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. The home was recognized by the Collier Building Industry Associations Sand Dollar Awards program for a top award in the $800,001-$900,000 category for Best Whole House Remodel.

London Bay Renovation covers the spectrum of home-improvement services, from complete interior and exterior makeovers and room additions, to kitchen and bath renovations and architectural and design accents. The companys commitment to Private Label Living ensures each project reflects the individual client and the home they envision. London Bay Renovation works in Southwest Floridas most exclusive neighborhoods to renovate luxury homes and condominiums built by both London Bay Homes and other builders. Its in-house team of experts includes designers and contractors, construction management and the award-winning design professionals working together to develop inspired design solutions that are in total alignment with homeowners goals. The experience is complimented by London Bay Homes personalized design process through its Selection Studio. The 3,500-square-foot studio showcases the latest design trends from flooring and cabinet selections to countertops and appliances, clients can enjoy a smooth renovation process all under one roof.

To schedule a visit and learn more about renovating with London Bay, call 239-298-7623 or visit http://www.LondonBay. com/ Renovation.

View original post here:
London Bay Renovation transforms 20-year old home into award-winning design - Florida Weekly

With the UK property market well on the way to recovery and activity heating up amongst buyers, sellers are being advised to go the extra mile to make their homes stand out from the crowd.

According to new research from self-storage experts, Space Station, 46% of new-build homes now come fitted with a utility room and extra storage space, making these features the must-haves for homes in 2020/21.

With utility rooms and additional storage space reported to increase a propertys value and make it more attractive to buyers, homeowners looking to sell in the near-future should certainly consider increasing the amount of storage space in their home.

Vlatka Lake, storage expert, has provided tips and advice on affordable ways sellers can create additional storage space around their home, without breaking the bank.

Create a mini utility area

Utility rooms are a coveted house feature at the moment, thanks to Stacey Solomans recent revamp of her utility room and the popular The Home Edit organisation programme. However, homeowners dont have to fork out thousands to create their own utility room. Unused space under the stairs is a great option to create a small utility space to help maximise selling prospects. Shelving could be added to help store cleaning and laundry supplies, as well as a worktop for additional storage.

Make use of unused space

Without realising it, our homes are full of unused space that could be a storage goldmine with a little bit of DIY. Space under a bay window, or an empty corner of the room, for example, could be transformed into useful built-in storage that will be appealing to buyers.

Sellers could easily add some under-window storage in the form of a storage bench, which not only creates a cosy seating area, but also inconspicuous storage space. Plinth drawers are also a great option for additional storage in the kitchen. Drawers can be fitted underneath cabinets and are an affordable way of making the most of unused space, especially in smaller kitchens.

Think vertically

When it comes to storage space, most homeowners use the floor space around them, however, theres plenty of space unused above us. Think of adding shelving or storage cupboards higher up, especially in smaller bathrooms where space can be limited. Try adding hooks or pegs to spaces next to doors or a bookcase above a window frame to create a quirky, but useful storage space.

Utilise outdoor space

Homebuyers are always on the lookout for what storage solutions a home can offer both inside the home and outside.

Garages and sheds are great spaces for storage, so consider adding in built-in shelving units or hooks to store gardening tools, DIY equipment and gadgets. Equipment and tools could be hung up on the wall or on the ceiling to really maximise the floor space.

Give the pantry some TLC

A built-in pantry is great for storing surplus food and can also be a really attractive asset to buyers if they are used properly. Most pantries come with one or two built-in shelves, which results in a cluttered space. Sellers could consider adding additional shelving to maximise the space they have, as well as a door organiser to really make use of every square inch of space.

Vlatka concludes: Spaces such as utility rooms are really desirable features, as they offer practical storage space, freeing up room in living areas like the kitchen and dining room.

However, not all homes are made equal and our recent analysis shows that for the price of an average UK home, the chances of finding a pre-owned property with a purpose-built utility room are just 8%. There are ways for those looking to sell their home to really maximise the space they already have available and create more appealing storage solutions for potential buyers.

Simple DIY jobs such as adding more shelving in the garage or garden shed, or sprucing up your existing pantry, can really appeal to prospective buyers and help sell your house as quickly as possible.

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Top five storage additions to make your home more attractive to buyers - Property Reporter

LifestyleHomes and GardensBusinessman Tony Gartland left an impressive legacy including Broad Carr House in Holywell Green now for sale

Tuesday, 20th October 2020, 11:07 am

Broad Carr, Holywell Green

Contact: Fine and Country Halifax, tel: 01422 419890, http://www.fineandcountry.com

Businessman Tony Gartland was a working class boy made good through hard work, intelligence and entrepreneurial spirit.

He passed away this summer at the age of 79 but left an impressive legacy. He built an empire, made a fortune from parking meters and used his talents to buy and turn around failing companies before selling them on as going concerns.

A proud Yorkshireman and fiercely loyal to his home town of Halifax, where he devoted time and money to community work and to its Rugby League club, he would not have considered living anywhere but Calderdale.

That is why he chose to lavish a substantial amount of money on buying and improving Broad Carr House in the village of Holywell Green. Now on the market for 1.75m with Fine and Country, it is an impressive live-work home and one of the areas most outstanding properties.

Mr Gartlands daughter Deborah, says: He bought it 27 years ago and it is a beautiful house. It feels very rural but you can get into Halifax, Huddersfield

and on to the motorway very quickly.

The period property had been a restaurant in the 1970s and the previous owners had converted it back to a home. While it was in good order, Mr Gartland improved on it by adding a portico, an orangery, and garage.

He also had the old coach house converted into offices with an apartment above, and his most recent addition was an octagonal library. His daughter, Kelly Jackson, an interior designer, designed the decor in some of the recently updated rooms,

Deborah Gartland says: The house is imposing but it is very welcoming, warm and inviting home. We are sad to see it go as we have very happy memories of living here. It is such a wonderful place.

Broad Carr House sits in seven acres with gardens, open park land, stables, a wood and a lake. The earliest part of the house dates to the mid 17th century and there are Victorian and Edwardian additions. The hallway has a grand staircase and opens onto three reception rooms.

The property also has an orangery, kitchen pantry, utility room, butlers kitchen, wine store, several store rooms and access to the cellars. On the upper floors are six bedrooms.

Along with the main house, there is a garage, a suite of two offices and a two-bedroom, two bathroom apartment.

Broad Carr House is 1.75m and is for sale with Fine & Country, tel: 01422 419890, http://www.fineandcountry.com

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One of the most outstanding homes in Calderdale is for sale - Yorkshire Post

People who celebrate Halloween are spending more than ever on the holiday in 2020, a year thats been almost all trick and no treat.

Admittedly, the percentage doing the celebrating this year is down 4% (to 58%) in a new National Retail Federation survey, a drop directly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. But what theyre spending per person has jumped to an all-time high of over $92, with much of that going to decorations.

In part, its because people are spending a lot more time at home. In part, its because decorating the house for the holiday can make up a little, at least for having to forgo the trick-or-treat tradition this year, as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC to its friends) and the Oregon Health Authority.

The big-box stores know this all too well, selling out of 12-foot-tall skeletons and creepy jack-in-the-box clowns that would keep Stephen King awake at night.

But there are ways to create decor even Dracula would approve of for falls second spookiest holiday (behind the absolutely terrifying Election Day), that wont suck your bank account dry in the process.

Of course, carving pumpkins is an option (see our previous column for guidance), but the impact is especially short-term, because once you carve them, you have less than a week before they start to rot.

So we that would be Marcia have come up with a few ideas to create some spooky additions to your holiday experience. And for very little money.

Consider them our treat to you. Especially since I plan on eating all the candy wed normally hand out to trick-or-treaters.

Marcia:

If you are a longtime reader, you might remember me saying before that I love Halloween.

I love the season the colors, long sideways shadows, crisp clean air and freaky monsters.

I love the creativity of it all the pumpkins and gourds, homemade decorations and handmade costumes.

In fact, for my September birthday, I was gifted a wiener dog skeleton (Dennis: Dont worry, it was fake) from our granddaughter Noelle. Best present ever!

This skeleton wiener dog was a birthday gift.Marcia Westcott Peck

On Halloween evening, I greet every person at the front door, ask them about their costumes and hand out a full-size candy bar to each and every one of them.

Young, old or in between, if you are dressed up, you get candy from me (Dennis: Is that why Weird Uncle Gary wears a wizard hat and a wrestling singlet every year? Marcia: I cant unsee that!).

Id love it if everyone wore a costume and trick-or-treated. Age makes no difference; its the spirit that counts.

Last year, I came up with the idea to make a giant spider out of a round pittosporum bush in our front garden. I bought foam pipe insulation to make legs, decorated it with orange lights and made eyes out of solar lights.

This year, I decided to use that same idea and make two matching pots that flank our front entry path into spiders. It was a simple, inexpensive project that was easy and fun to do.

I also created spider pumpkins and pots from clippings and divisions I found in the garden. Any excuse to be outside with a shovel and clippers on a sunny fall day is good therapy before we hunker down for the approaching winter.

Plus, the little spider pumpkins have so much personality they make me laugh!

Im sad that because of COVID-19 we will not be greeting people at the door this year, but next year watch out!

There will be flying bats, screaming goblins and Weird Uncle Gary dressed up as Big Foot (Dennis: Anything is better than the wrestling singlet), handing out theater-sized candy.

It will be a Halloween to remember, thats for sure!

Spiders dominate the Pecks' Halloween decorations this year.Marcia Westcott Peck

Heavy-gauge wire for the foam pipe insulation spider legs.Marcia Westcott Peck

This foam pipe insulation has been notched to create potted plant spider legs.Marcia Westcott Peck

You won't even have to gut the pumpkins to make these spiders.Marcia Westcott Peck

Marcia Westcott Peck is a landscape designer (mwplandscape.com or find her on Instagram at @pecklandscape or on Facebook by searching for The Pecks), and Dennis Peck is a former senior editor at The Oregonian/OregonLive.

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Make these spooky Halloween spiders without spending a fortune: The Pecks - oregonlive.com

Vicky Gibbons of Valhermoso Springs in Morgan County, Ala., wasnt really surprised someone spray-painted Trump on the hood of her car. Its what I would expect from the kind of people Trump has attracted as additions to the Republican Party, Gibbons said Friday. My neighbors are Republican, but they would never do something like this. It would be the fringe or redneck types.

Gibbons allowed a Democratic volunteer to put Biden signs in her yard this week after he asked permission. I told him to go ahead, she said. I had worked with him in (a) campaign. I was manager of the Democratic headquarters in Morgan County in 2008.

They were there for two days, she said of the signs, which also got sprayed the night of the car attack.

The car was parked near the highway where Gibbons' 100-year-old house sits back from the road under big, old trees. Whatever they are, they drip sap in the Fall," she said of the trees, "so the only place I can park I dont have a garage is at the end of my driveway. So, the car was parked that way, nose first. Gibbons imagines the vandals sprayed her Biden signs and then said, Oh, look over here. A nice, white bulletin board.

Gibbons called an auto body shop, and the owner told her to get the car there as soon as possible. The faster you bring it in, the more likely we are to get it off, he said. The shop got the paint off in five or 10 minutes and didnt charge Gibbons. I didnt ask and he didnt say, she said, but I have a feeling he may be a Republican and is ashamed of what somebody did.

Why would she think the shop owner might be a Republican? Shes lived within 2 miles of her home her entire life, she said, and she knows, Most people in Alabama are Republicans.

I live in a sea of loneliness, she said.

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She parked near her Biden yard signs, so they painted Trump on her car - AL.com