FREDERICK, Md. (AP) The home-flipping and restoration group, Murphy Properties, did not come from its owners watching a lot of HGTV.

Susan "Sue" Murphy and her husband Don lost their daughter Jessica in a 1999 car crash. They experienced another void when their son left for college two years later.

"We were left empty-nested before we were supposed to be," Sue said. "Don and I needed something to put our energy into."

Sue was a former Realtor and said several of her family members had experience with both construction and real estate. Sue and her sister-in-law, Lisa married to Don's identical twin, Doug initially had the idea to renovate houses and use them as rentals. They started doing this in 2001.

"We were all kind of a mess, so there's something about swinging a sledge hammer that's very satisfying," Sue said of grieving over her daughter.

Their first house was across from the fairgrounds in Frederick. They then renovated three others in the Frederick area that are now rental properties.

The women look for old houses that other companies wouldn't want to take on, Sue said. These houses may have structural and mold issues.

"We do a total gut," she said.

In 2006, they had the idea to start selling the houses once they're renovated. Since then they have sold six and they are currently working on their seventh.

"You're getting a 150-year-old house that's brand new basically," Sue said.

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Renovation business grew out of family tragedy

By Steve Ramirez

sramirez@lcsun-news.com @SteveRamirez6 on Twitter

"Lizzy," a 1930 American LaFrance fire truck seen here at its longtime home in Klein Park, is going to get a 35,000 makeover eventually. The vehicle is believed to be the city's first pumper fire engine. (Sun-News file photo)

LAS CRUCES >> "Lizzy," a mainstay at Klein Park for decades, is going to get a $35,000 makeover. When that happens is still being worked out.

"Lizzy" is a 1930 American LaFrance fire truck believed to be the city's first pumper fire engine.

"Nobody really knows where the truck got her name," said city councilor Miguel Silva, whose council district includes Klein Park, where the retired engine was parked for more than 40 years. "The people who went to the park were probably the ones to give the truck her name."

For a little more than a year city officials have been trying to decide what to do with the relic. Some decisions have been made ast to what becomes of the old gal. Although the vintage fire truck is considered an icon of the Mesquite Historic District because it was in Klein Park for so long it won't be going back there. Instead, Lizzy will be cosmetically restored and will be put on display at the city's main fire station, 200 W. Picacho Ave.

"It's kind of sad it won't be coming 'home,'" said Sally Triste, whose family has lived near Klein Park for more than 60 years. "I played on the truck, with my cousins and friends, when I was a little girl. We loved that truck. ...Somehow, the neighborhood just hasn't been the same since it left."

But Silva said the decision to relocate the old fire truck was an easy one to make.

"There could be some serious liability issues for the city," Silva said. "Our risk management director told us when the truck was removed (from Klein Park) there were a lot of spider webs underneath the truck. It kind of surprised us; nobody thought about looking under the truck and it got us thinking about a long list of liabilities that could be possible if Lizzy was moved back to the park."

Link:
Restoration of old Las Cruces fire truck could soon begin

One way to get the redecoration of your home featured in goop, aside from being Gwyneth Paltrow, is to be Gwyenth Paltrow's assistant. Become Gwyneth Paltrow's assistant, and your West Hollywood apartment could also be furnished with comped Restoration Hardware goods, with help from interior design service Home Polish, as Gwyneth Paltrow's assistant Kevin Keating's was in the latest issue.

Now, there is nothing wrong with being Gwyneth Paltrow's assistant (according to Vogue food critic Jeffrey Steingarten, Keating is "excellent" help) or having your home featured in goop, her brand-building lifestyle newsletter. It would just be nice if, when goop published your "small space makeover," goop would refer to you as more than just a "goop guy." (On Home Polish he's a "friend of goop.")

There is also, despite what being on the internet or listening to Martha Stewart might lead one to assume, nothing wrong with being Gwyneth Paltrow. But it might help the broader public to greater appreciate your goofy earnest tips if they didn't gloss over facts like this all the time, like when that "space above the garage" your people transformed turned out to be "the space above Gwyneth Paltrow's garage." You can just be real! You can have an impenetrably privileged lifestyle magazine that is also candid enough.

Anyway. To the apartment.

Photo via goop

"You wouldn't necessarily think of a bar cart as a living room necessity," says goop, but that is what separates you from the goopers of the world, who know that a bar cart is the living room necessity. This one, from Restoration Hardware ($1,495), has a little record player on it.

Photo via goop

Reaching PEAK BEACHY up in here.

Here's a few more images, from Home Polish:

Photo via goop

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Adventures in Interior Design: Gwyneth Paltrow's Assistant Gets a Goopy Apartment Makeover

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Custom Floors And More - (254) 236-2047 - Video

With almost nothing left of the original garden, Manchester-based landscape architects Randall Thorp and garden historian Dr Ann Brooks dug through Victorian Ordnance Survey maps, academic studies, and Gaskell's works and letters in order to create a plan of how it might have looked and the plants it might have featured.

The research, says consultant Edward Thorp, revealed a garden of character, which reflected Gaskell's own loves and interests, and was different to other, more formal, villa gardens of the time.

"It was very much mixed and certainly not for show," says Mr Thorp, who has headed a team of volunteer gardeners. "It was a garden to be enjoyed."

At the time of moving, Gaskell wrote to her friend, Eliza Fox, that she believed the garden would be a "great delight". She added: "Clay soil it will be, and there is no help for it, but it will be gay and bright with common flowers; and is quite shut in - and one may get out without bonnet, which is a blessing."

In another letter, the keen gardener suggested farming was her "proper vocation", perhaps inspired by the time she spent as a child visiting her grandparents' farm in Sandlebridge, near Knutsford, in Cheshire. In Manchester, the Gaskells grew vegetables, churned their own butter and kept a pig and poultry in the garden, while their cow resided in a nearby field.

Now swallowed up by the city, Plymouth Grove is no longer a place for livestock, but the reconstructed garden features varieties of the vegetables, fruit and colourful flowers the Gaskells grew, from red-and-white camellias and mignonettes to peas and herbs, along with plants that reflect their life. Elizabeth was known to her family as 'Lily' so it is fitting the garden will include lily of the valley and martagon lilies, while visitors in spring should see a "host of golden daffodils" similar to those made famous by the poet William Wordsworth, who Gaskell met. Just as Charlotte Bront noted how "a whispering of leaves and perfume of flowers always pervaded the rooms" through the open windows in the summer of 1851, so the new garden has been designed with scent in mind.

The gardeners have paid careful attention to plant discoveries of the period but tracking down popular Victorian species has not always been easy. They have also "taken liberties" with one of Gaskell's favourite flowers, the rose, admits Mr Thorp, because Victorian species were often diseased and had a shorter flowering time. Instead, the garden features varieties including Rosa chinensis 'Old Blush' and Rosa rugosa 'Rubra', which he says, have similar characteristics but are healthier.

Perhaps the biggest challenge in bringing the historic garden back to life, however, has been adapting its original features to the current plot, which at 1,300sq m is half the size it was when Gaskell lived there. An area of garden to the side of the house had been sold off and developed with flats before the site came into the trust's ownership. The new design must also allow for modern considerations such as accessible parking and the need to keep lawns clear to allow for garden parties or weddings.

"It's trying to create the character of a larger garden in a smaller space and accommodate the cars and crowds," says Mr Thorp. "I hope it will reflect the things Gaskell enjoyed and valued in gardens: the nature of the plants, both flowering and edible, and a place for family enjoyment."

Elizabeth Gaskell's house opens to the public on Sunday, October 5. For more details visit elizabethgaskellhouse.co.uk

See more here:
Cranford author Mrs Gaskell's house and garden restored

By Jim Donovan: The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs announced today that it is citing 26 home improvement contractors for alleged violations of state consumer protection laws. The state is seeking $251,602 in civil penalties and consumer restitution, based on complaints and referrals by consumers across New Jersey.

New Jersey law (and Pennsylvania too by the way) requires that home improvement contractors register with the Attorney Generals Office.

The contractors cited today include both registered and unregistered contractors at the time of the alleged consumer law violations. AAA Above All Average Painting Company/Above All Average Construction, Mays Landing (Unregistered) Angel Berdugo d/b/a Elegant Home Remodeling, Willingboro (Unregistered) Anthony Wyatt t/a Anthonys Custom Exteriors, Mantua (Unregistered) Ermal Rustemlliu d/b/a Tri State Construction, West Caldwell (Unregistered) Fritzky Contracting LLC, Pompton Plains (Unregistered) G. Lee Sales, Inc., Tuxedo Park, NY (Unregistered) Gualdino Santos, Elizabeth (Unregistered) HydraShield, Inc. d/b/a HydraShield Waterproofing, Deerfield (Unregistered) Kevin Matthew Harrison d/b/a Arias Restoration and Renovation, Berlin (Unregistered) Mark Walton t/a All Exteriors Roofing & Siding, Seaside Heights (Unregistered) Michael McNamara t/a Affordable Masonry, Randolph (Unregistered) Myck General Contractors,LLC, Paterson (Unregistered) Nicholas Marino d/b/a Pools! Pools! Pools! Levittown, PA (Unregistered) Robert Haines, Egg Harbor City (Unregistered) Salahudin Abdullah t/a New Day Reconstruction, Camden (Unregistered) Stephen B. Hensler Custom Builders, Point Pleasant (Unregistered) At Home Renovations & Repairs Company, L.L.C., Hamburg (Registered) Carmens Anthony, Inc. d/b/a Anthony L. Falcone General Contracting, Ventor City (Registered) Garry N Moore t/a General Contractors, Blackwood (Registered) GSR Masonry & Contracting Inc., Kendall Park (Registered) Hercules Contracting Limited Liability Company, Raritan (Registered) Keith Tanis d/b/a Keiths Contracting, North Haledon (Registered) Norwestar Services LLC d/b/a Norwestar Services, Bloomfield Registered Paul Iski t/a Gutter Up Construction Co., Bordentown (Registered) Smith Design and Construction Limited Liability Company, Collingswood (Registered) Straight Light Painting & Construction Limited Liability Company, Clark (Registered)

Of the contractors being cited today, the Division has directed all but three to pay a total of $153,582 in restitution to consumers. The restitution amounts range from $200 to $27,400, and represent the amounts allegedly owed to consumers due to the performance of shoddy work, or the failure to start and/or finish work for which consumers had pre-paid.

In addition, the Division is citing all 26 contractors for various violations of New Jerseys Contractors Registration Act. For example, 16 are cited for soliciting home improvement work despite having failed to register with the Division, as required by law. Others are cited for violations such as failure to provide consumers with detailed, written contracts, which are required by law for all home improvement contracts costing more than $500. The State has assessed a total of $97,750 in civil penalties against the 26 contractors, in addition to the assessed consumer restitution.

Todays action follows the Divisions July 16, 2014 announcement of Notices of Violation to 68 home improvement contractors, seeking a total of $1,046,978 in consumer restitution and $276,250 in civil penalties. Home improvement complaints are typically the largest consumer complaint category the Division of Consumer Affairs receives each year as was the case in 2013, when the Division received 1,434 consumer complaints about home improvement contractors.

Each of the contractors receiving a Notice of Violation has the opportunity to contest the alleged violation, or the opportunity to correct the violation by desisting from any practices in violation of the law, paying a civil penalty and/or consumer restitution where required, and submitting an application for registration, if not registered. Each contractor also may contest the Divisions assessment of consumer restitution.

Excerpt from:
NJ Cites 26 Home Improvement Contractors, Seeks Penalties/Restitution

By: Stacey Welsh

EL PASO, Texas -- Tests show heavy rain left sewage behind in a Northeast El Paso home.

Nearly a foot of water flooded the Perez family's home on Blue Ridge Drive, one of the hardest hit areas.

Joe Perez was visiting his son and daughter-in-law in El Paso when the storm hit about a week ago. He said he took a sample of the flood water in their house and sent it to a lab to be tested when he returned home to Fort Worth.

He said the results showed high levels of fecal matter. He also said lab attendants at Talem, Inc. advised him no one should be living in the house after seeing those results.

"I don't want to live here because I have my daughter. She's crawling everywhere and there's the fact that all that bacteria was in here," northeast El Paso resident Blanca Perez said of the house.

Perez said her daughter is currently staying with grandparents to avoid health risks.

Servpro specializes in water restoration, and the owner of an El Paso Servpro franchise said that kind of damage could cost thousands of dollars to repair. Employees working on repairs also take precautions.

"They have to have the hepatitis shots and the tetanus shots. They have to wear personal protective equipment, including respirators and goggles," owner Malin Charnell said.

Charnell said in that situation, the homeowner could have to tear up the floor and about 2 feet of sheet rock.

More:
Flooded northeast El Paso home tests positive for fecal matter

The historic Steensland House is heading for a move, albeit a short one.

The Bethel Foundation has approved spending $70,000 to move the worn landmark from its current location at 315 N. Carroll St. to a new location on the same block fronting on West Gorham Street next to the church sanctuary.

Moving the Queen Anne-style Steensland home from the church parking lot to Gorham Street would allow Bethel Lutheran Church to pursue a long-discussed redevelopment of its property. But it will also require the approval of the city Landmarks Commission since the building is both a Madison landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ald. Mike Verveer has scheduled a neighborhood meeting Wednesday to discuss the move, which has raised some concern among advocates about the impact of future development on Bethels homeless services programs.

Bethel officials are looking at refurbishing the Steensland home both inside and out, a project that is expected to cost up to $800,000. The church is pursuing historic restoration tax credits to cover 40 percent of the eligible costs, with the balance covered by donations already pledged to Bethels capital campaign fund.

Church officials say that moving the 1896 home will immediately free up more parking for the church while also facilitating future development. The home would be restored as a residence for about 10 students, with tenants getting a rent reduction in exchange for volunteer work.

An enhanced image for Bethel can also be expected from a properly placed and restored building, says the latest church newsletter.

The homes original owner Halle Steensland was a member of the Bethel congregation and active in the Progressive movement. Of late, the house has been used largely for storage.

Two years ago, the church had reached a deal with Apex Property Management to take the home and move it about two blocks. But the plan was blocked by the Landmarks Commission, which said the house couldn't be moved until final plans for the Bethel expansion were approved by the city.

Church officials have not offered any new information on the status of their redevelopment, which at one point was estimated at $10 million and was to include new facilities along North Carroll Street.

Go here to read the rest:
Bethel Lutheran looks to move and restore historic home

Published: Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 7:07 p.m. Last Modified: Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 7:07 p.m.

Two stories sit on a grassy, corner lot that overlooks a pond, just a short walk to the community's pool. Stucco is adorned with decorative window shutters, and tropical landscape fences off the neighbors. Muffled shouts from young children playing can be heard throughout the small gated community.

Two ceramic garden gnomes still stand by the front door, their grins reminding Shaun and Jennifer Carlson of better days.

In the garage, a mountain of white trash bags store the couple's belongings, and a young girl's metal scooter leans against a wooden kitchen table darkened by mold.

Blotches of mold also can be seen throughout the abandoned house.

For the past two years, the Carlsons and their three children have battled constant illness, financial distress and emotional turmoil as mold overtook their home.

We didn't think we could afford a new house. It was a nice step up, Jennifer Carlson said. We thought we were making a good decision, but then very quickly, it all crashed down on us.

For that, they blame builder D.R. Horton, which they claim failed to remediate the mold spores quickly enough.

In a written statement, the national homebuilder stands by its response to the outbreak. The company says it has taken appropriate steps to find a solution and that most of the mold has since been remediated.

We did not develop the lots in Palmer Oaks; however, we are committed to resolving the drainage issue for our homeowners, the company's statement said. The satisfaction of our homeowners is a top priority, and we are committed to superior customer service and providing families with quality homes and neighborhoods in the Sarasota area.

Originally posted here:
Mold forces family to flee home

Terri Hibbard, director of Wings of Grace Relief Center, left, Alison Boutwell, Rebeccah York and Laine Norris, of Forest Lake Baptist Church's Young Married Couples Group, paint a railing as they volunteer at the Wings of Grace Relief Center next to Forest Lake Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

Jennifer Jackson-Bolden has been dislocated from her Alberta home since the April 27, 2011, tornado felled two trees onto her house. Unable to afford to live somewhere else because she was paying a mortgage on a house she couldn't live in, Jackson-Bolden has lived in multiple places since then. Saturday, she was one step closer to getting her home back.

Screams from saws filled the air as a group of people worked at her house Saturday, tacking up siding, painting trim and laying floors.

Jackson-Bolden's home was one of more than 70 projects volunteers worked to complete Saturday as part of the first Day of Hope, a volunteer service day where people around the community work on cleanup, restoration and maintenance projects at homes and facilities in need throughout Tuscaloosa County.

I was just reaching out to anybody that could help me. This was not something planned. It was something wanted, Jackson-Bolden said. I didn't know it would happen. I just prayed it would happen.

A Day of Hope is a spin-off project of the Hope Initiative created by Mayor Walt Maddox in 2009 as a partnership between the city of Tuscaloosa and the faith community. The initiative's focus is making short-term and long-term improvements in crime-ridden areas in the county.

The Day of Hope is just a way to rebuild Tuscaloosa in areas that are in need of help, said Linlee Karn, coordinator of the event.

Karn said the Hope Initiative plans to do a similar event every year.

Members of more than

50 churches of varying denominations participated in service projects Saturday.

Read more:
Tuscaloosa residents unite in a day of help