SALINE When a senior financial analyst was fed up with corporate America, he and his wife decided to make a drastic move.

Now, they are reaping the benefits and getting ready to open their own storefront.

Brad Bingley and his wife, Amy Nolfo, downsized their home, moved to a house in the country and began selling vintage, antique and repurposed items. Nolfo, who grew up in the antiquing business, handles the antique aspect in her business Butter Beans Antiques and her husband specializes in restoration in his business, The Tao of Restoration.

The couple is getting ready to open a shop in late May or June behind their home in Ottawa Lake.

Nolfo was selling their items at the annual Saline Area Historical Society antique show held Saturday at Liberty School while Bingley was out of town.

They usually sell at larger markets but decided to give the Saline show a try this year because its closer to home.

The crowd has been a buying crowd, she said. You can have a huge show but if no one is buying than you arent making any money.

In both of their businesses, the couple focuses on the cottage-industrial look, which is repurposing antique and industrial items into something more useful for the home. They also turn salvage items such as wood into other items such as kitchen tables.

Thats our goal is the whole urban farmhouse kind of thing, she said.

The event featured 32 antique vendors from throughout the state selling anything from furniture to photos to jewelry. The show is the historical societys largest fundraiser of the year so it is important for there to be good attendance and participation fro the dealers, said Dean Greb, president of the historical society. Continued...

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SALINE: Hundreds turn out for annual antique show

HYDETOWN Fire damaged the second floor of a Main Street home undergoing restoration on Saturday night, but there were no injuries, according to Chief Eric Nikolaison of Hydetown Volunteer Fire Department.

No one was in the two-story home, owned by the Beck family, when the fire was spotted someone driving by shortly after 8 p.m., Nikolaison said. A dog inside the home at the time was able to be saved by firemen, the chief said.

Hydetown, Chapmanville and Cherry Tree volunteer fire departments, along with Titusville Fire Department, were called to the fire next to the Oaks Tavern off Route 8 at 8:13 p.m.

Nikolaison said the cause of the fire was linked to a faulty chimney of a wood-burning stove.

The fire got into the wall and into the second floor, he said. The home has been undergoing remodeling.

There apparently was no insurance on the home, Nikolaison said.

Firemen returned to quarters after 10 p.m.

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Fire damages second floor of Hydetown area home

Apart from the basic structure, home insurance policies can cover valuables in the house as well.

First the Uttarakhand floods and then Cyclone Phailin one after the other, these natural catastrophes hit India in 2013 with full velocity, destroying thousands of homes.

Such natural calamities are a reminder for us to take proactive steps towards protecting our most priced asset our home. We spend lakhs of rupees towards buying our dream home but shy away from spending a few thousands more to protect it with a home insurance policy. Most of the time, this behaviour is influenced by lack of awareness and understanding of the benefits of home insurance. A comprehensive home insurance policy offers a host of covers for your home, including its contents, thus saving you the burden of reinstating or repairing your home from your own pocket.

Structure cover

This covers the structure and its inbuilt fittings against loss or damage caused by fire, flood and other perils. It also covers damages caused by other calamities such as landslides. One condition that companies apply in home insurance is good state of repair. This means that the property will not be insured unless it is well maintained and can be repaired if damaged.

This cover is offered by several insurance companies. If your house is damaged by flood, fire or riot and requires repair, the home insurance cover will provide for the additional expenses on an alternative accommodation. You and your family can stay there temporarily until the restoration is completed.

Content cover

This is designed to protect your belongings against damages caused due to specified natural calamities as well as burglary. Even if you have rented the house, this component of home insurance will continue to cover your contents during the period of rent. In case of burglary, the cover also provides compensation against damaged furniture and stolen belongings. However, for insuring antiques and valuables, such as basic jewellery above Rs 1 lakh, you need to take an additional cover.

Cover against accidents

Although standard home insurance policies usually provide some cover for accidental damage from the perils specified above, they may not cover everyday mishaps. This cover may not be significant in natural calamities but it is definitely important for minor damages. For example, this cover will protect your possessions, such as an expensive TV or any other contents if hit, by say, a cricket ball.

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More than a cover for your home

For a split second, life seems to stop when the power goes out. Appliances stop humming, televisions go silent, and computers turn dark. Our lives are so connected to electricity that it is a bit disconcerting when that connection is broken.

According to Westar Energy, the most common causes of power outages in this area are failed equipment, wildlife, vegetation, and extreme weather. Senior Communication Representative Erin La Row said, Its important to note that outage causes are often related. In many cases, trees, wildlife and weather related factors may have contributed to the equipment failing. Or lightning may have caused a tree to fall onto a power line.

How long your home will be without power depends on the cause. For extreme weather outages, Westar said restoration time in the Topeka region was, on average, about 71 minutes in 2012 through 2013. For the companys entire territory, the average was 309 minutes, longer primarily because Topeka didnt experience the extreme weather events that took place in other areas.

Of course, weather disasters such as tornadoes and ice storms can cause outages that last days or weeks. La Row noted, It may be a matter of completely rebuilding parts of the electrical system. We hope these severe storms are few and far between, but these are the instances where having a storm kit and plan in place can be most beneficial.

Think Ahead

To make life easier should the power go out, plan ahead. Start by putting together a storm kit that includes:

Emergency phone numbers

A list of each family members date of birth, social security number, and medical information

Flashlight and extra batteries

A battery-powered or wind-up alarm clock

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At Home: Prepare in advance for power outages

White Plains, NY (PRWEB) January 17, 2014

During the winter months, having a clean air duct system in the home is important. EnviroGreen Restoration, a cleaning restoration and remediation company servicing the Tri-State area, has some tips and advice for homeowners on proper air duct maintenance.

Over time, air ducts will get dirty and they should be cleaned for the best health and safety of the family within the home. This is especially true during the winter months when homes are closed up and dirt and particles trapped in a dirty air duct system can circulate and cause sickness.

Its important for home and business owners to choose an air duct cleaning company with experience and expertise. When an air duct system isnt cleaned properly, it can cause indoor air problems and release more dirt, dust and other contaminants into the air. Improper cleaning can also cause damage to air ducts, resulting in costly repairs.

Technicians may also need to cut access holes into the duct systems. Closing up these holes properly requires professional skills and technicians will need to know what theyre doing. This is another reason why its vital to choose a reputable company that is BBB accredited.

EnviroGreen Restoration is a locally owned and operated company that has been providing the Tri-State area with its green cleaning and restoration services for decades. Their technicians are experienced and professional, providing home and business owners with peace of mind.

To connect with EnviroGreen and to stay updated on news, please visit their Facebook page for more information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Envirogreen-Restoration/196768130516351?ref=stream.

About the company: EnviroGreen is a leading, accredited "green-certified" cleaning restoration and remediation company servicing the Tri-State Area for decades. Using non-toxic cleaning solutions, they clean air ducts, exhaust vents and more in homes and businesses. They offer basement waterproofing and mold remediation services for the health of customers, their families and their employees. Give EnviroGreen a call today for an estimate, (914) 559-2500.

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EnviroGreen Restoration Offers Air Duct Cleaning Advice

By Katie Schoolov

Above: The San Diego River is one of the regions most scenic and historic treasures. Its also the birth place of California. But one San Diego group says its in need of a rebirth. They dream of a river-long system of parks and trails. KPBS reporter Susan Murphy tells us first, theyre working to clear a path through all the trash.

It's warm and dry, the middle of a mid-week morning, as Richie Aguilera looks for all the world like a fishing guide leading his band to the banks of the San Diego River.

But they're not carrying poles and bait boxes. Instead they've got black garbage bags and sharp, metal sticks ideal for snatching up trash.

"Were going to be in this area; and then if I can get a person or two, maybe you and Alex to help me scout out the other side," he says.

They're not here to pull fish from the historic waterway; they're harvesting trash, hoping to restore the river to its once-scenic splendor.

"Im willing to have a hand on this tarp here if anyone is willing to come over here with me," calls out one volunteer, balancing on a log as she retrieves debris from the river-bottom.

This small group is among thousands of volunteers credited with pulling 1.6 million pounds of trash from the river over the past six years.

Their main challenge? The refuse (and worse) left behind by homeless souls drawn to the river's edge by its seclusion and promise of a respite from hard times, however brief.

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San Diego River Restoration Involves Clearing Homeless, And Their Trash

Historic Building Restoration, Historic Home Restoration in Easton MD 21601
My general practice is architecture, with a specialty in historic preservation. I do work in commercial, municipal, institutional, not-for-profit organizatio...

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Historic Building Restoration, Historic Home Restoration in Easton MD 21601 - Video

Down River Home Restoration
http://downriverrestoration.com HomeRestoration Professionals understand your situation. As an agent or adjuster, you have a responsibility to keep claims co...

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Down River Home Restoration - Video

Portability and connectivity with the explosion of smartphones, notebooks, tablets and Wi-Fi have been game changers in the way we think of home offices. They have expanded the options for working just about anywhere, including at 40,000 feet.

Even the peripherals have downsized, such as super-small printers and compact projectors for those PowerPoint presentations or family slideshows.

So a move to more minimal desks started taking root two or three years ago, as the need for mega-footprint towers, printers and monitors lessened. Hulking furniture is not necessary for your personal workstation, unless its your style to rock a honking executive desk.

Still, its nice to have a clean surface for at-home work.

We see work styles and workplaces all over the country really evolving these days, said Kim Shaver, a spokeswoman for Hooker Furniture. When you bring work home from the office or check email or pay bills online, you want to stay connected to the people and activities around you. ... Because of portable electronics, we want to seamlessly integrate them in the home with multifunctional, high-fashion, high-style pieces that can go into any room. That allows you to blend work and family life.

Some recent furniture introductions nod to beautiful classic pieces that are as decorative as they are functional 18th century, 1930s Art Deco or midcentury modern styles made from exquisite woods and veneers, allowing their craftsmanship, form and style to speak volumes. Other desks are more generic, with simple lines, pleasantly traditional with familiar details such as cabriole legs or reeded aprons, transitional, like campaign styles with crossed legs, or ultra modern.

Even the sleek offer surprises. One simple design (the Torino) by Manuel Saez at CB2 has a matte lacquer white top that sits on a white oak stretcher base with U-shaped legs that are braced with intentionally exposed hardware. Peek inside: With an integrated pull, the top opens to reveal 9 square feet of stash space for laptop, smartphone, tablet, projects, books, planners, folders and supplies even hidden cord cutouts to charge electronics.

Industrial influences

There especially has been an uptick in the industrial look with metal or raw, grained, often reclaimed woods sometimes combined with steel and iron. These materials lend themselves well to clean-line designs. Theres also the allure of the back story, such as the use of reclaimed telephone poles that celebrate distressing, knobs, drill holes and splits, at Crate & Barrel.

A desk with rounded corners anchored by cast arched trestle legs at Restoration Hardware is a faithful reproduction of a 1950s English garment factory table. Also at RH is another 74-inch metal desk with an ample-sized surface, complemented by a symmetrical pair of curving, open compartments for storage, a slatted shelf stretcher and a hidden slide-out panel beneath for a keyboard. Its truly an elegant form.

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New era of design design reflects consumers’ tech trends

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 14, 2014

Make a home resolution for the new year? Pledging to be more organized in 2014? NorthStar Moving Company, the award-winning eco-luxury mover in California, offers home solutions for all kinds of home resolutions. Whether starting the new year fresh in a new home or freshening a current home, the company has partnerships with professional organizers, furniture restoration specialist, green cleaning company, item removal and auction company, and even a Feng Shui expert.

NorthStar Movings partnership with Operation Organization provides a team of professional organizers that will de-clutter any life. From closets to kitchens and garages, they sift and sort, help decide what stays and what goes, and teach organizing strategies to keep clients on track all year long. If its just a closet thats the sore spot, NorthStar Moving also works with personal stylist Lauren Messiah. Laurens Closet Cleanse service, backed by TLCs Stacy London, inspects clients' closets and determine what needs to go in 2014.

Furniture need a new look in 2014? NorthStar Movings partner A/G Refinishing uses the finest materials to revive, restore, and refurbish beloved furniture. Whether it is a scratch, watermark, a new color for the new year, or a complete build and restoration, the A/G skilled craftsmen carry out the task to the highest standard, bringing the piece to pristine condition that will last for decades to come.

A fresh, clean start is what most of us desire. For green cleaning, NorthStar Moving partnered with Harmony Maids to give homes a green deep-clean that wont damage the earth or your health. Using environmentally safe products, their professionally trained cleaners will make sure that the new year will be healthy and pure.

Once it has been decided what needs to go in 2014, NorthStar Movings partner A.N. Abell Auction Company personally guides clients through the entire process and makes money on the old stuff. First, they will evaluate and assess items, determine what is fitting for auction, then remove the items and deliver them safely to their warehouse, where they will be stored and insured until auction. Finally, they auction the items off at their weekly or quarterly auction and send the client a nice check!

Lastly, for those looking to add balance to surroundings, NorthStar Moving has partnered with Feng Shui whiz Jennifer Bonetto of Real Feng Shui SOULutions to create the best living environment possible through the professional practice of classical Feng Shui.

Home organization is a passion of mine, so I wanted to offer our clients a one-stop-shop for organization solutions, said Laura McHolm, co-founder of NorthStar Moving. What better time to re-organize your home and your life then with the arrival of a clean new year? Our partners are carefully vetted and are the best at what they do. If you are looking to put new life back into your home, find Chi or just your favorite sweater we have the pros to make it happen.

About NorthStar Moving Founded in 1994, Los Angeles-based NorthStar Moving Company has redefined the moving industry as the first to offer eco-luxury moving services, elevating basic moving and storage services to a new unparalleled level of customer service, customized care and environmental consciousness. Honored with more awards for service than any other moving company: A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, voted Citysearch Best Mover, earned the most five star ratings on Trustlink and Yelp, and recipient of dozens of awards for corporate culture, green practices, community outreach, and growth including multiple Best Places to Work awards and ranked on the Inc. 5,000 list for the fastest growing companies in the U.S. for seven consecutive years. The company's local, long distance and international moving, storage services, and eco-luxury packages have been featured in leading magazines including The Robb Report Collection and on multiple home and design television shows. NorthStar Moving has proven the state-of-the-art way to move is with its red carpet service, recommended by Coldwell Banker Concierge, The Franklin Report, MovingInsurance.com, The Getty Museum, and an impressive list of celebrity clientele. NorthStar Movings mission is to exceed their clients expectations with graceful customer care and to move service back into what should have always been the ultimate service industry: the moving industry. For more information, please visit http://www.NorthStarMoving.com or call (800) Ask-Pros (800) 275-7767.

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NorthStar Moving Offers New Year Organization Services