Softie Interior Renovation / OPA Architects

+ 16

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Whatsapp

Mail

Or

Text description provided by the architects. Why cant architecture be more like nature -- changeable, varied, and uninhibited? Our client wanted to return home and feel a sense of private freedom, a release from the conformity of the world outside.

In this project, we softened her existing Modernist house by infusing it with an atmosphere of clouds. The clouds scatter freely throughout the house and dissolve and soften it in different ways.

The clouds erode and blur the order of the rational modernist grid, creating a sense of space that floats and drifts. Moments of softness are encountered unexpectedly the interventions are like a mist that has settled unevenly.

The softness dissolves the entry, melts the stairs, wafts through the house on all three floors, and a lonely cloud is trapped above a sheltered terrace.

Go here to read the rest:
Softie Interior Renovation / OPA Architects - ArchDaily

MILWAUKEE (Feb. 11, 2021)NARI Milwaukeeis excited to announce the tradition will continue! The 59thannual Spring Home Improvement Show is back at State Fair Park with new dates for 2021. Thepopular show will be held May 2123 at the Wisconsin Exposition Center,8200 W. Greenfield Ave., West Allis.

To say thank you to front-line workers, NARI Milwaukee is providing free admission (with I.D.) to the show. Each year, NARI offers free admission toretired and active-duty military personnel (with I.D.) and decided to expand the offering to recognize the front-line workers who have worked tirelessly this past year.

The Spring Home Improvement Show will once again include more than 200 NARI Milwaukee members. Exhibitors run the gamut of remodeling and home improvement services and products from design/build firms to specialized contractors for all areas of the home, including roofing, gutters, windows, doors, HVAC, electrical and more.For those who have projects in mind, the NARI Spring Home Improvement Show is the place to find qualified professionals who can do the job right.

Over the past year, homeowners have realized the shortcomings of their dwelling.They are looking for improved use of space and function in kitchens, bathrooms and basements.Exteriors are getting their needed maintenance with new siding, windows and roofs, while outdoor entertaining and play spaces are a must, says Diane Welhouse, CKBR, executive director of NARI Milwaukee. Homeowners are looking to hire experienced, local professionals and were ready to make those connections at our show.

Welhouse is confident the spring show will be a success. Last fall with COVID safety protocols in place, NARI Milwaukee held its Home & Remodeling Show in October at State Fair Park.

The NARI Milwaukee consumer shows are vital to the community. For those who have projects in mind, the NARI Shows arethe place to findqualified professionals who can do the job right. For the more than 600 NARI Milwaukee member companies, the shows support local small business.

Nearly 80% of our members are small businesses with fewer than 10 employees, says Welhouse.

NARI Milwaukee, State Fair Park and Valley Expo Services are closely monitoring the coronavirus and will implement applicable safety protocols as part of the show. A detailed Health and Safety Policies document is available atNARIMilwaukeehomeshow.com.

Spring Home Improvement Show Hours, Tickets & Parking

Fri., May 21, 10 a.m. 8 p.m.

Sat., May 22, 10 a.m. 8 p.m.

Sun., May 23, 10 a.m. 5 p.m.

$10 in advance (online only at NARIMilwaukeeHomeShow.com); $12 at the door; Adults 60+ are $8 at the door; children age 17 and younger and retired and active-duty military personnel (with I.D.) are free. In addition,to acknowledge and thank front-line workers for their dedication and service, they will be admitted free into the show with I.D.

$6 for parking at State Fair; ample street parking is also available

For more information on the NARI Spring Home Improvement Show or to receive a free copy of Renovate, the 2021 consumer magazine and membership directory, visit NARImilwaukee.org or call 414-771-4071.

# # #

NARI Milwaukeeis an over 600-member strong organization that represents the best remodeling and home improvement professionals in the area. Since 1961, NARI Milwaukee has been a trusted resource for consumers. The non-profit promotes professionalism, ethical conduct and sound business practices in the remodeling industry and works to educate and inform Milwaukee-area homeowners. Consumers can have peace of mind and confidence when selecting and working with a NARI Milwaukee member. For more information on NARI and its members, visit NARImilwaukee.org or call 414-771-4071 for a free copy of Renovate,our 2021 consumer magazine and membership directory.

See original here:
National Association of the Remodeling Industry Milwaukee: Announces May dates for spring home improvement show - Wisbusiness.com

With the emergence of COVID-19 mandates in 2020, a Honolulu homeowner and his family discovered that their new residence, designed and completed a year earlier by Graham Builders, offered flexibility beyond their expectations.

The major project began with the teardown of a 60-year-old house, followed by a new design that maintained the aesthetics of the neighborhood. The primary goal was a residence in which the couple could gracefully age in place and accommodate family members. Having recently cared for elder family members, universal design was essential.

Little did they know that their design decisions would have a tremendous impact on their lives when the 2020 pandemic blanketed the globe.

STAY HOME, WORK FROM HOME

Shortly after the family moved into their new residence, COVID-19 became a national crisis. When Hawaiis first stay-home, work-from-home order was released last March, the homeowner found himself in need of a remote office space. His wife also wanted additional space to sew masks for loved ones.

Because the homeowners and their design team produced a plan that allows individual privacy, a bedroom on the second floor served nicely for his needs. The accessible mother-in-law suite on the lower level was repurposed as a sewing room.

The homeowner works in the IT industry, helping medical professionals, call center staff and other admin to work remotely.

Home design plays a large role in this transition, explains the homeowner. In order for physicians to see patients through telemedicine and for secure call center staff to receive calls away from the workplace, each employee is required to have an environment that is isolated from others, including their family.

This requirement spans other privacy-intensive (compliance regulated) professions such as legal, financial and insurance occupations. Even employees who process transactions on a credit card machine require privacy.

Ensuring client confidentiality requires an environment separate and secluded from the employees family members and other occupants. A securable, acoustically isolated guest room with high-speed internet connectivity can fill the need for a private office when there is need.

BUILT TO ADAPT

Designed to accommodate a diverse variety of occupants, this residence has proven eminently adaptable during the recent national crisis.

As working from home becomes the new normal, home designs should include spaces where functions can be adapted as needs change. This also broadens the ability for jobs, as no longer are we limited to jobs solely in Hawaii. Many companies list remote as a location for their job offerings. Many employers are seeing that with todays technology, the best candidate for the job may not be located within driving distance of the companies physical location.

The pandemic has many companies and organizations rethinking the need to invest in office space, observes the homeowner. I keep mentioning to people how fortunate we were to have our new Graham Builders home during the pandemic not only to have a space to make masks, but also because it allowed me to work from home comfortably and securely. Its a great space.

Founded in 1990, Graham Builders remains the only local general contractor honored with Better Business Bureau Hawaiis Torch Award for Small Business Ethics, and was also Oahus first design-build general contractor with a certified aging-in-place specialist on staff. You are invited to register for Graham Builders free Building Your Home for Life seminar, scheduled for Saturday, March 6, at grahambuilders.com/seminar, or call 593-2808.

GRAHAM BUILDERSCONTACT 593-2808ADDRESS 1144 Young St., HonoluluWEB grahambuilders.com

See original here:
Homes That Last - Graham Builders | Hawaii Renovation - Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Home renovation trends are ever-changing. Renovations that might have been de rigueur 20 years ago may seem dated now. Recognizing the potentially popular trends of tomorrow is a great way for homeowners to give their homes a fresh new look and put themselves in position to capitalize on popular trends when they put their homes on the market. Thats especially so after 2020, a year when millions of people spent more time at home than ever before. All that time working from home and relaxing at home gave millions of homeowners ideas about what they like about their homes and what they hope to change. The following are some renovation trends that various experts suspect could emerge in 2021.

Multi-functional spaces: Homeowners asked a lot of their homes in 2020, as rooms were transformed into multi-functional spaces seemingly overnight. HGTV notes that spending more time at home showed homeowners that it may not make sense to dedicate entire rooms of a home to a single purpose. Renovations that can help homeowners transform rooms into multi-functional spaces figure to be hot commodities in the years ahead.

See more here:
Renovation trends that figure to be popular in the year ahead - Daily Herald

The Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) will kick off one of its most popular series this Saturday, Feb. 20a virtual SNOOP! tour of the William H. Ford House at 4201 Franklin Blvd. in Ohio City.

The members-only SNOOP! tours provide exclusive, behind-the-scenes access to ongoing and completed historic preservation projects in and around the Greater Cleveland area.

The Queen Anne Victorian-style home is one of the most intact historic homes in the area and is a contributing structure to the Franklin Boulevard-West Clinton Historic District. Matt and Celine Shenk bought the house in 2014 when the historic home was deemed unlivable and showed signs of severe neglect. The Shenks restored many elements of the homes original beauty and modernized other areas in keeping with period charm.

While it served as a single-family home for many years, it was also used as a boarding house and rented out room by room, says Margaret Lann, director of preservation services and publications for CRS. The Shenks underwent four rounds of construction over the course of three years in order to revive the house.

Lann says CRS Heritage Home Programhelpedthe Shenks retain and restore many original features of the homeincluding vintage lighting fixtures, hardwood floors and trim, fireplaces, and specialty wall coverings. One of the most intriguing aspects of the home, Lann says, is the Lincrusta wallpaper.

Stephen Sullivan, a Youngstown-based historic Lincrusta expert with Sullivans Wallcoverings, will be on the panel along with the Shenks to discuss the restoration.

The tour is free and only open to CRS members. New memberships start at $35 per year. The tour takes place on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. There is a limit of 90 people for the event. Registrants will receive the Zoom link on Friday, Feb. 19.

Originally posted here:
Cleveland Restoration Society kicks off SNOOP! tours this Saturday with 1891 William H. Ford House - freshwatercleveland

A gas-fed fire caused very high flames to billow in the 500 block of Green Bay Road in Highland Park Monday evening. | Photo: Max Weingardt.

Gas and water service remains out for nearly 70 homes in Highland Park after a gas line was struck by a contractor, leading to an hours-long gas-fueled fire at the scene.

The Highland Park Fire Department and Highland Park Police Department responded around 6 p.m. Monday to the 500 block of Green Bay Road.

Firefighters arrived and found a contractor had struck a gas line, causing a gas leak. A construction vehicle and a generator caught on fire and the gas leak fueled the fire for several hours.

Green Bay Road between Clavey Road and Washington Place was closed due to the incident as city and utility crews responded to the scene.

The fire was finally extinguished around 10 p.m. Tuesday but gas and water service to 69 homes in the area were impacted.

North Shore Gas worked throughout the night to repair the gas line. The city said Tuesday morning service restoration at each home will not take place until after the main gas line has been restored.

When NSG is ready to resume service, NSG staff will need to activate service at each individual home for safety purposes. NSG will visit each home to conduct a pressure test, the city said in a statement.

After the gas main is repaired, repairs to the water main will resume.

Due to the cold temperatures, residents without gas service were offered the option of two overnight warming centers or accommodation at an area hotel.

The City has made arrangements for a discounted rate. Income-qualified individuals may be eligible for a fee waiver. Police Officers will go door-to-door to impacted homes with additional information, officials said.

There was also a limited power outage in the vicinity as well and ComEd restored the service Monday evening.

Read the original:
Crews working to restore service to 70 homes after gas leak fueled hours-long fire in Highland Park - Lake and McHenry County Scanner

During a press conference from the City of Oklahoma City, ONG, expressed how vital conservation is. Due to limited supply of natural gas ONG says they could easily see "widespread outages". Their supplier is currently experiencing "freeze-offs" at the well-head because of the extreme temperatures which is impacting how much gas they are able to provide to ONG.

If outages occur, it could take an extended period of time to restore service to homes as they need to visit each home as part of the process.

ONG is stressing that energy conservation is vital to prevent this from happening.

ONG provided residential customers the following tips for conserving their gas energy use:

The website also provided the following safety tips for using natural gas energy:

The website warns carbon monoxide can be produced by a natural gas appliance that is not operating efficiently or vented properly

Carbon monoxide, also called CO, is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that can make you sick and, in some circumstances, may be deadly. Carbon monoxide is created by the incomplete or improper burning of fuel, the news release states.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are usually recognized by the following:

Here are some tips to prevent carbon monoxide:

Immediately leave the building you are in and get outside to fresh air if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. Then call 911 or call your local fire or police department and, if necessary, request medical assistance.

See the original post:
ONG Warns 'Widespread Outages' Possible & Restoration Will Take Time | News Radio 1000 KTOK | OKC Breaking News - iHeartRadio

You may also go to YouTube to watch this short video about the Elijah J. Miller House.

In honor of Presidents Day, a federal holiday celebrated each February in tribute to our first U.S. President George Washington, Westchester County Executive George Latimer is highlighting the important work that was done to restore the historic Elijah J. Miller House in North White Plains. The Westchester County Parks property, which was renovated by Latimer in 2019, was the home of Elijah and Ann Miller, and where President Washington once stayed during the American Revolution. After spending more than 20 years in disrepair, the site is now an educational center where children and families can visit to explore a piece of our nations history. While the property was forced to close due to COVID-19, the County is hopeful for a future, reservation-based reopening with New York State Safety Guidelines in place.

Latimer said: While we may not be able to gather at the Miller House in person, the meaning behind this historic home should never be forgotten. When we made the commitment to reestablish the Miller House, that decision wasnt only made because there was a historic building that we wanted to honor. This building tells us all something about who George Washington was when he was here. It tells us the story of the American Spirit, which we should all remember on Presidents Day.

Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation Kathy OConnor said: We were thrilled that the restoration of the Miller House was a priority for the Latimer administration. It sat for so long and sustained structural damage to the point where we could no longer allow visitors. We look forward to the day when we can begin programming again to educate children about this important landmark and history of their County.

Cynthia Kauffman of the Daughters of Libertys Legacy (DOLL) said: DOLL was honored to be a part of the revival of the historic Miller House, an extraordinary local landmark. A significant place in our American history where Generals Washington, Lee, Gates and others stood fast against British tyranny and fought for Liberty during the American Revolution. DOLL is pleased to have presented entertaining and historic programs about the Miller familys supporting role in our fight for liberty. We look forward to 'Ann Fisher Miller' welcoming the community back to the reopening of Miller House and continuing our collaboration with Westchester County Parks.

President of Friends of Miller House John S. Diaconis said: We are grateful for County Executive Latimers leadership in preserving this historic landmark. The Elijah Miller House is an 18th century farm house used by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War as a headquarters command post. During the Battle of White Plains, soldiers took shelter under the shade of a 300 year old sycamore thats preserved on the property.

DOLL is a New York 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, founded by two women who are descendants of Patriots who fought for Liberty during the American Revolution. DOLL was formed for the purpose of promoting patriotism and preserving history.

The 501 (c)(3) Friends of Miller House/Washingtons Headquarters is an organization dedicated to help preserve the historic preservation and its ongoing operations

The Miller House is on the National Register of Historic Places, the New York State Register of Historic Places and the Westchester County Inventory of Historic Places. Its also a Town of North Castle Landmark.

The rest is here:
County Executive George Latimer Celebrates President's Day By Highlighting the Renovation of the Elijah J. Miller House - westchestergov.com

DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) Dinwiddie County is taking a hit from central Virginias most damaging and most widespread ice storm in 20 years.

As of Tuesday night at 6:00, 55 percent of customers are still without power. The number decreased from 70 percent of customers that morning.

8News saw both Dominion Energy and Southside Electric Cooperative crews working to restore power Tuesday as people like John Anello adapt to stay warm.

My mom lives at an apartment complex so I just had to pack the kids up and go there, Anello said. He told 8News much of the food is his refrigerator spoiled after his home lost power Saturday.

Wednesday will mark the fifth day without power at his home. However, hes thankful he has somewhere warm to go. Not everyone has that option, he said.

I know its gonna take time and I know its frustrating. Theres other people that need it more than I do, Anello told 8News.

Sarah Woodlands family doesnt have any family to turn to. Over the weekend, she not only lost power but also gained a tree.

As soon as I closed my eyes it sounded like a big explosion, said her daughter, who is eight months pregnant. I go into the living room and there was a tree in the living room. I thought I was about ready to have my baby right then and there!

The treefall resulted in extensive damage to the familys front deck, roof, carpet, and appliances inside.

We tried to prepare for it by cutting down other trees in the yard to make sure this didnt happen and here we go, Woodland said. After the tree fell, her fianc was hurt while trying to make sure the home was secure and had to be taken to an E.R. Thankfully, Woodland said, it was just some bruised ribs.

Its just one thing after another but were getting through it, she told 8News.

The family has been staying in a not always comfortable hotel ever since.

You might as well have been staying in the house because the heat kept going out in our room, she said.

The family is expecting home owners insurance to help with some of the cost, but its still a burden. Woodland said shes grateful some family has stepped in to help.

Dominion Energy has roughly 800 more customers in Dinwiddie than Southside Electric does. But as of Tuesday night, Southside has nearly three times the amount of outages. About 2,200 Dominion customers were still in the dark while 5,720 Southside customers remained without power as of 6 p.m. Tuesday.

John Anello is a Southside customer and while he reported his outage to the company days ago, theres still a massive tree branch sitting on his power line. Anello said he reported the outage by leaving a message with Southside and was never contacted after.

Hopefully we can get it back before Thursday but with the storm coming Thursday I dont know, he said.

Southside Electric did not agree to an interview with 8News on Monday or Tuesday. Late in the afternoon Tuesday, a company representative sent a news release with information. However, none of the information given was specific to Dinwiddie County.

In advance of the freezing weather, 18 mutual-aid crews, ten contract crews, and eight contract tree crews were brought on board, as well as 26 of its own restoration crews. Subsequently, on Monday, February 15, an additional 10 contract crews arrived, with 10 more scheduled to arrive by Thursday, the statement read.

The company said the full restoration will take several days due to the sheer damage that has been left behind. The release states that crews are having a tough time reaching some power poles and lines because of downed trees.

As of noon on Tuesday, February 16 there were 752 outages affecting approximately 31,500 members. Specifically, there were 207 reported broken poles, 191 reported broken cross arms, 352 reports of downed wire and 32 circuit outages, the company representative wrote.

According to the company, the following is their strategy for restoring power: SEC crews will be working to first restore electricity on larger, three-phase lines that serve more members. If a SEC member is served by a single-phase line, it will take time to get their power flowing again. While a good amount of progress is being made, it will likely be several days before all members have electricity. SEC apologizes for this inconvenience and want all members to know SEC is working as quickly and safely as possible.

This is a developing story. Stay with 8News for updates.

See the article here:
More than half of Dinwiddie customers going on day five in the dark - 8News

The Cy Twombly Foundation has denounced the Louvres restoration of its Bronze Room, which houses a site-specific work by Twombly, and has demanded that the Paris institution restore the room to its original state. French newspaper Le Monde reports that on February 1, New York attorney David R. Baum, acting as legal adviser to Twombly Foundation president Nicola del Roscio, emailed Louvre director Jean-Luc Martinez condemning the changes to the room and asking that they be corrected immediately, or at least before the space is reopened to the public. On receiving no reply from Martinez by February 3, Baum wrote to French cultural minister Roselyne Bachelot to complain about the Louvres lack of substantial response.

The Twombly Foundation contends that the changes being made to the Bronze Room conflict profoundly with Twomblys contribution, which the American artist completed in 2010, a year before his death. The room, constructed between 1551 and 1553 by architect Pierre Lescot, occupies the Louvres Sully Wing, one of the institutions largest and oldest wings, and houses more than a thousand works in precious metal, including rings, helmets, and crowns. Twomblys contribution, commissioned by the Louvres then-director Henri Loyette in 2007, was meant to complement a 1930s redesign of the room by Albert Ferran, and was seen as a particularly fitting choice owing to the artists interest in Greek and Roman history.

To create the Louvre commission, Twombly painted the Bronze Rooms ceiling a vibrant Mediterranean blue, and then punctuated the field with disks, shields, and planets in various shades of ocher and white and crossed by bands bearing the names of classical sculptors, including Phidias, Praxiteles, Polykleitos, and Skopas. The artists choice of color takes into account the rooms pale walls and white and gray marble floor, and in dialogue with the rooms contents endows the space with a much-needed lightness. The renovation currently underway is intended to restore the room to its pre-1930s appearance, and includes the replacement of the floor and fixtures, and the repainting of the walls, which are to be red. Additionally, Etruscan metal works are to be displayed alongside the Roman and Greek artifacts traditionally held in the room.

The Twombly Foundation claims that it was never contacted about the changes, which it calls an odious affront that is in violation of the artists moral rights.

Continued here:
Cy Twombly Foundation Calls Louvre Restoration of Bronze Room an Odious Affront - Artforum