The Crowns

It was hot gossip, this adventure that the princess took abroad after having finalized her divorce from then Prince Charles less than a year beforesomething that was hinted at at the end of season 5 of The Crown as Queen Elizabeth is pressed to endorse a vacation a-sea with Fayed and her grandchildren, Prince Harry and Prince William. Diana was famously photographed sitting on the passerelle of this boat. Years later, in real life, Harry described the trip in his memoir, Spare, with fond recollection. Everything about that trip to St. Tropez was heaven, he wrote.

While the series was filmed on a lookalike super yacht in Mallorca, the real boat was equally lavish. The 208-foot ship was commissioned by Dodis father, former Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed, who brought on naval architect Vincenzo Ruggiero to design it in the late 1980s. It was built by Italian shipyard Codecasa and launched in 1990. The steel and aluminum super yacht boasted nine staterooms that altogether accommodate up to 18 people, in addition to a crew of 26. Amenities included a Jacuzzi, swim platform, sun deck, formal dining room, a bar, and office space. Mohamed had named the yacht Jonikal (it has subsequently been called Sokar and is currently called Bash).

Diana atop the superyacht in 1997.

Shortly after Dianas and Dodis deaths, Mohamed gave the interior a redesign by H2 Yacht Design and a refit that included extending the hull. He attempted to sell the yacht on a number of occasions, ultimately parting with it in 2014 to an anonymous buyer. The new owner carried out further work, including machinery upgrades, a repaint, and fresh teak decks. In 2021, the yacht came into the hands of Bassim Haidar, the founder of Intercomm and GMT, who gave it a further $9.7 million refit after a reported bridge deck fireand its current name Bash. Its now back to turn-key condition after an 18-month remodel completed in April 2023 by marine engineering and management company Capax and boat interior company Bobic Yacht Interiors. It features a beauty salon, massage area, high-tech gym, and a spacious main salon.

Diana aboard the Jonikal.

In May, Robb Report reported that Bash is available for charter in the Mediterranean starting at $278,000 per week, plus expenses. In June, Haidar listed Bash for $16.8 million, according to Boat International.

There was a second motor yacht named Cujo, which Diana and Fayed also took earlier that summer. It was built in Italy in 1972 for John von Neumann, who commissioned the Italian Baglietto shipyard to build the world's fastest motor yacht. She was given two 18-cylinder engines that allowed it to go as fast as 42 knots. Fayed had bought the boat from his cousin, Saudi businessman and arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi. In August, the Mediterranean Sea reclaimed Cujo, as the 62-foot artifact of Dianas life hit an unidentified object off Beaulieu-sur-Mer on July 29 and sprang a leak, Vanity Fair reported. The seven people on board were rescued by teams from Antibes and safely returned to shore.

Diana during her St. Tropez yacht vacation.

An imitation of Jonikal will feature in The Crown season 6, a set that was intended to visually illuminate the tension between Diana and the royal family. Dianas south of France adventure was bright and lovely pastel colors, and her world even in Kensington Palace is optimistic and warm, compared to the queens residence at Balmoral, which is very static, with gloomy light and drab colors, set decorator Alison Harvey tells ELLE DECOR.

Filming on the yacht off the island of Mallorca (a St. Tropez stand-in) required many moving parts with few do-overs. We brought in the drapes, the artwork, many furnishings, Harvey explains. Everything was set in the early 90s, so we thought hard about the colors and textures that we brought in. Harveys team had just half a day to dress the yacht, and then it was off to sea. There was no getting on or off after that, Harvey says, adding that they were subsumed by the logistics of what we had to achieve and the time we had to do it.

Netflixs The Crown depicts a reenactment of the iconic yacht shot, taken one week before Dianas, Princess of Wales, death.

However painstaking the process, the yacht scenes will offer an intriguing contextthough largely fictitiousfor the iconic photographs that exist of those final weeks leading up to Dianas death.

Assistant Digital Editor

Rachel Silva, the Assistant Digital Editor at ELLE DECOR, covers design, architecture, trends, and anything to do with haute couture. She has previously written for Time, The Wall Street Journal, and Citywire.

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Inside the Superyacht Princess Diana Vacationed on With Dodi Fayed - ELLE Decor

With housing affordability in sharp focus, owners wishing to either sell or expand their current living spaces will draw inspiration from not two, but three home renovation shows on free-to-air television next year.

Nines The Block will celebrate its 20th anniversary season mid-year, Seven is launching Dream Home with Dr Chris Brown at the wheel, while the ABC is about to deliver Grand Designs Transformations in January.

So much choice for consumers of reality lifestyle television.

Home Beautiful magazine points out that theres something about good home improvement television that turns all of us into expert interior renovators and designers.

Watching the best home renovation shows can easily make us think that a gut kitchen renovation is an easy weekend job, it wrote in its August issue.

No matter the reason you watch, we love spending time seeing a home go from dated disaster to Pinterest-worthy in a mere 30 to 45 minutes.

Plus, its much less stressful than managing your own renovation.

Agreed.

Anthony Burke and Yasmine Ghoniem. Photo: ABC

Heavyweight hosts

These three shows are set to deliver very different formats from execution to finished product, and its looking like the ABCs new lifestyle series may well be the classiest home reno show yet.

Were all familiar with The Blocks chippy Scott Cam and Byron-Bay real estate agent, Shelley Craft, and celebrity vet and Im A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! former host Dr Brown.

But who is hosting the ABC series?

Some serious house heavyweights.

Restoration Australias Anthony Burke, a University of Technology Sydney architecture professor, will join founder of one of the countrys trailblazing interior design studios, YSG, Yasmine Ghoniem.

Things are moving so fast in design and architecture at the moment. It is fantastic to see the way issues like sustainability, multi-generational living, tiny homes, recycled homes and more are being explored by Australian homeowners, stepping outside the expected and into the provocative at all scales of building, says Burke.

People are rolling up their sleeves and transforming our ideas of living in Australia, one project at a time.

Ghoneim, who was recently described by the Australian Financial Review as the reigning It girl of interior design, said she was blown away witnessing extraordinary achievements by ordinary people.

Shes lived all around the world, designed bars on barges in Shanghai and celebrity houses in California, fronted rockbands in Sydney and done aid work in Kenya and Vietnam, she revealed in a 2021 Design Files podcast.

She grabs life by the horns, and brings the same fearlessness to her interiors, it wrote.

Ghoniem says she reckons young homeowners watching this ABC series will be inspired to take risks and give it a red hot go when it comes to realising their own renovation dreams.

Theres nothing better than seeing others understand the benefits of good design, listen to their gut and go for it, she says.

Tumbled marble, Gaillo Sienna and Toledo Marble, European Linen, Kimono silk and honed travertine were some of the materials used in Ghoniems Palm Beach, Sydney interior design job. Photo: YSG Studio

Whats different about ABC show version of The Block?

Having endured three-months of The Block resulting in childhood sweethearts Steph and Gian taking home $1.7 million in prize money we know the tried and true format.

Screen-tested couples are curated from thousands of applications Australia-wide to turn up for three months and transform a rundown dwelling into a state-of-the-art living space.

Manufactured dramas and tensions on building sites, heavily sponsored content from car companies and fast-food outlets dominate, and dozens of tradies in utes turn up to lay foundations, water-proof bathrooms and carry in marble slabs for kitchen benches.

Carpets, furniture, cushions and throws and artwork are often already curated from The Block Shop, Schots Home Emporium, Freedom Furniture and Beacon Lighting (to name a few).

Not so on the ABC version.

Yes, there will still be ordinary Australians wanting to live the dream of home ownership or already own their homes (or businesses) and need inspiration for their DIY jobs and improvements.

The new co-hosts will also provide insight, expert advice, and the odd shoulder to cry on, just like the others do (and will do in Browns case).

Burke and Ghoniem may well be going next level though, in renovation and design influence.

Theyll be tasked with overseeing a Moroccan oasis in the Blue Mountains, a pink palace on Queenslands Gold Coast, a French-inspired convict cottage in Tasmania and a low cost eco retreat on Victorias Mornington Peninsula.

Each episode will showcase two unique stories and two stunning home reveals be it interior design, renovation, or a landscaping makeover.

Sunset Onyx, Calacatta viola, Lapis blue granite, Isernia stone and American white ash were materials used for Ghoniems Darlinghurst project. PhotoYSG Studio

Ghoniem will deliver a masterclass

If her body of work is anything to go by, these home renovators are in for an absolute treat.

In an opinion piece for realestate.com.au, Ghoniem, whose formative years were spent in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia before studying interior design at the Savannah College of Art and Design in America, said that she was often asked at dinner parties what she did for a living.

Oh, well, Im an interior designer.

Oh cool, really? So, you pick pillows and stuff right?

Yep, exactly. I pick pillows and stuff, she wrote, sarcastically.

Industry labels like interior designer and interior decorator have been used interchangeably for years and they shouldnt.

Im here to set it straight and clear confusion surrounding an industry which so many Australians are obsessed with but, understandably, know so little about.

She said, at its heart, interior design is the art and science of understanding peoples behavioural patterns in order to create functional spaces for them.

Designers apply their technical skills, including drafting documentation for computer-aided design (CAD) programs, to provide a response to a persons life, home culture, dwelling and local surroundings.

Dr Chris Brown will help.

Browns reno show

Meanwhile, at the Seven networks recent Upfront showcase for 2024, Brown will be hosting Dream Home.

These will be the greatest home transformations Australia has ever seen, he told a converted audience, addingthat contestants will help each other renovate each others homes, turning their own somewhat basic house into their very own dream home.

They battle it out room by room, and someone wins a big prize.

James Warburton, Seven West Media managing director and chief executive, told The West Australian the series will be a very emotional one for viewers.

It really goes towards what the name suggests: peoples ability to completely renovate their home into their absolute dream outcome, he said.

He said it will be a very different to The Block.

Its not a reality show based on renovating something to go to auction to win every single couple in the show wins, in terms of the fact they will actually end up with their very own dream home.

But, it may well be Grand Designs Transformations that win the design prize.

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ABC home renovation show set to outclass The Block and Dream ... - The New Daily

It should come as no surprise that after months, if not years, of rumours and leaks, that Grand Theft Auto 6 really is happening. A decade after GTA V first released on console, Rockstar Games has finally confirmed it will be premiering the trailer for its highly anticipated sequel in December, just in time for the companys 25th anniversary.

Given the accolades awarded to GTA V, having sold more than 185 million copies across three console generations, a new GTA is a big deal. Not just for the game itself and the countless hours were all likely to lose to it, but because Rockstar has such a high bar of quality that it sets a new standard for the industry.

We dont know how much of GTA 6 well get to see next month, though its hardly surprising that itll continue the series cycle of climbing your way up the criminal underworld while stealing cars and fleeing from the cops. But where else could it go from there? Heres six things wed like to see the series do next.

Sure, the appeal of GTA is the freedom to explore a huge open world made up with diverse terrain and neighbourhoods. On that, Vs Los Santos is probably Rockstars largest and greatest accomplishment. But rather than trying to top that, what if GTA 6 reined in the overall square feet in favour of something with more depth?

Theres an opportunity for a denser and more detailed environment, something a little more like the Yakuza / Like A Dragon series. You can grow familiar with the environments and denizens populating it. There could be a lot more interior locations as well, rather than just a lot of buildings that are little more than set dressing to drive past.

This may be unlikely, given the demands for any sequel to be bigger than the one before it. And to be fair, a game reliant on car chases and air travel works best with more space to play in. Still, we wouldnt rule this possibility out if reports are true that GTA 6 will be returning to Vice City, which is one of the smallest maps in the series.

Critics had already called out some of GTA Vs juvenile tone back when it first released. A decade later, its clear a lot of it hasnt aged too well. You might argue that bleak, nihilistic no-holds-barred satire of America has been an integral part of the series identity (with the exception of a 60s era mission pack set in London released for the very first game). But unless youve been in an underground bunker all this time, a lot has changed. How do you satirise the world, and America especially, when the real world itself is beyond satire?

Rockstar is definitely capable of more thoughtful and mature narratives when going by the Red Dead Redemption series. Even Michaels arc in GTA V had depth as a retired thief going through a mid-life crisis. But we can surely all agree the series misogynistic undercurrent has no place today. Thats not to say the next game shouldnt have strip clubs, because this is after all an adult game dealing with the murky criminal underworld. But can it find something interesting to say about sex work that isnt just crude titilation?

If GTA 6 follows its predecessor and gives us multiple protagonists, it should surely be a given that one of these should be a woman. But even if it goes back to one protagonist for a more focused narrative, why not be a woman?

Just looking at television in recent years, weve had excellent portrayals of powerful, dangerous, complicated, compelling female characters caught on both sides of the law, such as Killing Eve, Orange is the New Black and Yellowjackets. Theres no reason why GTA 6 couldnt also raise this bar in games, instead of continuing to fall back on tropes from films from decades past.

Not only would it add a new perspective and feel to a usually testosterone environment, but it might also open up new ways of thinking about how we interact with GTA 6 that isnt just macho shooting and blowing things up.

GTA V gets a lot of praise for how reactive its non-player characters (NPCs) are, sometimes giving the impression they have their own lives even if you werent there. Theres definitely room to expand on this. Instead of just one button where youd basically just shout at or harass passersby, it would be great if GTA 6 adopted Red Dead Redemption 2s system where you have different interactions to choose from that arent just misanthropic by default.

We dont expect this to suddenly be a wholesome game. But look, lifes hard, even for gangsters. If youve already got problems with the law, it doesnt mean the whole city has to be insufferable. Imagine playing in a city that you actually want to spend time in and not just turn into a dumpster fire for kicks. That said, we dont want to rule out some mischief, just like how GTA 4 let you shove pedestrians, wed still like the choice to be nice, and nasty.

A reason why GTA V has continued to keep selling so many copies years later is arguably down to GTA Online, and as such pretty much all updates have been geared towards this side as players continue coming back to Los Santos to build their own criminal empires and just let loose in the city as the ultimate digital playground.

Of course, its easy to forget that the online mode had many teething issues when it first launched and despite its success, its actually far from a user-friendly online game to get into, and we just mean the messy structure and systems rather than other players trying to mow or gun you down. We wont be surprised if an online mode is prioritised to be part of GTA 6s package from the get-go.

But while it might be sensible to have both solo and online integrated as one, we think its best to keep the two separate. Given Rockstars penchant for authored narratives, we cant imagine anything worse than having a memorabnle story beat interrupted by notifications of online events or other players getting in the way. Also, is it too radical to suggest not every game has to be always online?

Past GTAs have already had customisable vehicles, and the choice to customise character clothes and haircuts, but what about properties? Whether you start out in a squalid flea-bitten studio apartment or a penthouse by the beach, why not have the freedom to deck it out in a way to make it your own and not just a few prescribed themes?

Were not saying it has to be The Sims, but if youre going to have to shell out millions on a house, then heck, wed like the freedom to be our very own interior decorator. And no, we dont mean just decorating the walls with the blood and guts of our enemies.

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6 things we want to see in Grand Theft Auto 6 - Stuff

The University of Iowas School of Applied Human Sciences defines interior design as a multi-faceted profession in which creative and technical solutions are applied within a structure to achieve a built interior environment. Interior designers study their clients work or living spaces and apply a systematic and coordinated methodology to satisfy their needs and resources.

Interior design requires formal training, typically from a two-year or four-year program from an accredited school. Education includes the study of color and fabric, computer-aided design (CAD) training, drawing, space planning, furniture design and architecture.

Many designers even apprentice with established interior designers before taking up their own practice or joining a design firm.

To practice as a designer, some states require interior designers to be licensed or registered. Some states also require the NCIDQ Certificate, the industrys recognized indicator of proficiency in interior design principles, to demonstrate their experience and qualifications. Although not needed everywhere, many interior designers elect to undergo credentialing and certification to set them apart from decorators.

An interior designer researches and analyzes their clients needs and plans interior layouts to make them physically, socially and aesthetically functional. They use technology to create virtual plans before coordinating with construction teams to carry out the design.

Interior designers adhere to building codes and regulatory requirements and have strong problem-solving skills. Many interior designers have interior decorating skills and offer that service on top of the design.

Designers often work closely with architects, contractors and developers to create their design plans for the client. Some may work directly with homeowners or business owners.

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Interior Designer vs. Interior Decorator: Whats The Difference?

What are the top qualities of a good interior decorator?

A good interior decorator is someone who has an eye for color and design, strong communication and customer services skills, and the ability to take charge of a project. Most interior decorators are also creative, able to imagine and implement a variety of design concepts to suit various client needs.

Interior decorators can work for licensed interior designers, building and construction companies, retail stores, or even start their own businesses. Many decorators will work in a variety of environments depending on the project they're working on, from decorating a residential home to playing a part in designing a retail space.

You can train to become an interior decorator in as little as 9 months with Penn Foster's online Interior Decorating classes. Depending on your experience and career goals, you may choose to pursue on-the-job training or certifications to strengthen your decorator resume.

Interior decorators play an important role in making the spaces we see and use every day comfortable and welcoming. Entry-level interior decorators can earn an average starting salary of $39,483 per year, according to national data from Payscale.1

Interior decorators often require less training and don't necessarily need to be licensed or certified to perform their job, while interior designers require further education and certification. Decorators can choose to pursue becoming an interior designeras the next step in their career path.

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Online Interior Decorator School | Penn Foster

Public procurement: Share of goods bought from MSMEs hits new high in FY23; benefits this many sellers  The Financial Express

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Public procurement: Share of goods bought from MSMEs hits new high in FY23; benefits this many sellers - The Financial Express

Taylor Swift certainly has an impressive real estate portfolio. The singer-songwriter reportedly owns eight houses, each with their own unique style. Since Swift boasts a staggering net worth of $400 million, money is no object for her. This means she gets to be as imaginative and extravagant as she wants to when it comes to decorating and designing her homes. For her Nashville home specifically, Swift really leaned into creating an environment that felt more fantastical than realistic.

Theres no shortage of space in Swifts Nashville house. The mansion is reportedly 5,601 square feet and features a pool, four bedrooms, and four and a half baths. Because the home is so large, the All Too Well singer was really able to go all out with her decorations. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Swift described her interior style as Tim Burton-Alice in Wonderland-pirate ship-Peter Pan.

Swifts mystical vision is brought to life by her decorations. The house boasts a 6-foot topiary rabbit and a number of bird cages, the largest of which can fit an actual human. However, the most unique feature in the house seems to be the koi pond, which boasts real fish that Swifts cat, Meredith, is afraid of. In a prior interview with Rolling Stone via MTV, Swift described the vision for her home before she actually executed it.

RELATED: Taylor SwiftWrote 1 Iconic Hannah Montana Song

Its going to be my fantasy world, Swiftshared about decorating her house. The ceiling of my living room is painted like the night sky. Theres a pond in the living room. The pond is a moat around the fireplace [that] may possibly have koi fish in it. You step on a stepping stone in the pond in order to get on a spiral staircase, which takes you to the human-size birdcage observatory. Theyre delivering a human-size birdcage, which Ill put a brass telescope in.

Swift eventually would fill her koi pond with real koi. However, initially, she envisioned a different type of fish in her living room. While speaking with MTV, Swift shared that she actually wanted to fill the pond with stingrays. So what was it that changed the Amsterdam actors mind? It seems as if Swift was concerned about the smell theyd cause if she had more than a few. If there are only two of them, it wouldnt be much of an issue! Swift revealed. You get a Glade plug-in, and youre fine!

RELATED: Taylor SwiftMemorizes Choreography in the MostTaylor SwiftWay

Clearly, Swift seems to have a very imaginative and unique way of furnishing her home. In fact, it seems to be a passion for the I Bet You Think About Me singer. While speaking with SiriusXM, Swift shared that she often furnishes her friends homes. In fact, the Pennslyvania native shared that shed consider a career in interior decorating had she not found success as a musician.

I might have ended up following my passion for shopping for furniture and been an interior decorator, Swift revealed. Ive been known to, like, go into my friends apartments and fill it with furniture. And they get home and its like furnished. My friends, they dont like they dont buy furniture, and I love buying furniture.

RELATED: Taylor Swift Framed a Photo of That Infamous Moment With Kanye West

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Taylor Swift's House Has a Koi Pond, But She Really Wanted Stingrays - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

The cast for Season 2 of Ryan Murphys FX anthology Feud is taking shape as several stars sign onto Capotes Women.

Originally meant to focus on Princess Diana and Prince Charles, this second long-awaited entry will instead focus on the tension between Truman Capotes friends and members of New York high society. Excerpts from the writers unfinished novel Answered Prayers will be used in the tell-all about the citys elite.

Debuting in 2017 with Feud: Bette and Joan, the first season focused on the rivalry between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis during the making of the 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon led the cast of the first entry.

This time around, Naomi Watts and Chlo Sevigny are leading the season and according to Variety, theyll be joined by Tom Hollander, Diane Lane, and Calista Flockhart. Below, were putting the stars side-by-side with their onscreen counterparts for a glimpse at what viewers can anticipate.

Scroll down for a peek at the cast and the real-life figures theyll be portraying.

Feud, Season 2, TBA, FX

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'Feud: Capote's Women': How Does the Cast Compare to Their Real-Life Counterparts? (PHOTOS) - TV Insider

A Shelly Rosenbergdesigned accessible bedroom for the 2021 Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Dallas, inspired by 7-year-old Virginia. Photography by Danny Piassick

Interior design may seem superfluous for families with extraordinary needs, but Dallas-based designer Shelly Rosenberg argues the opposite. Interior designers and architects actually have a bigger impact on your health and wellness than medical practitioners, because we spend so much of our time inside our homes, she reasons.

As a mom of three children with different learning styles and challenges, Rosenberg has spent more than 20 years making her house safe, comfortable, and optimized for their well-being. In 2019 she founded Acorn & Oak, which offers services to help parents design inclusive spaces for children with special needs, as well as organic weighted blankets and mattresses to help with sensory regulation. I just feel like this is truly my lifes work, she says.

For Rosenberg, designing adaptive and inclusive spaces is essential, not only for the person with the diagnosis but for all members of the family. As your child grows and youre out in public, you can start to see where the world isnt built as inclusively as we would like, she explains. Youre seeing a lot of physical barriers, but also emotional and mental barriers out in the real world. After a long day of maneuvering around public spaces that arent very equitable, going back to an accessible, toxin-free home provides ease and peace for everyone.

So how should you address the not-so-obvious issues to help make your home more inclusive? Rosenberg says that it goes back to the five senses.

The way a space looks is top of mind when it comes to interiors, but aesthetics are only part of the design equation. Sight is super-important because thats where most of us get a majority of our information, and we cant have sight without light, Rosenberg asserts. Light subconsciously speaks to our brain and tells it what to do: A bright blue glow alerts the nervous system to wake up; full-spectrum task lighting helps maintain focus; and warm red tones stimulate melatonin for relaxation. Adding a simple dimmer switch can help guide a childs behavior throughout the day.

Patterns and colors can also trigger different reactions. For an anxious child who is more of a sensory avoider than seeker, wild patterns and bright colors could negatively affect their safe, quiet space. Better to reserve those elements in a playroom where you want to encourage high energy.

Whether your child loves sensory stimulation or withdraws from it, Rosenberg recommends exposing them to different spaces to build their tolerance and flexibility in a world that isnt always inclusive or accessible. Visitors will benefit from the variety, too. Rosenberg explains, You might be a big family of stimulus seekers but, occasionally, youre going to have people come over who arent, so it might be nice to have an area where you can say, You know, this feels like its a little too much for you. Why dont we go in this room?

When her energy is spent, Rosenberg enjoys a bit of sensory deprivation in a low-light, silent spot. I want to completely check out at the end of the day, she says, laughing. Adding noise-dampening objects like rugs, drapery, and felt wall tiles can conjure a cavelike ambience.

On the flip side, dark and quiet can feel very uncomfortable to some people, she notes. They dont have any way of judging whats around them or whats going on, and that brings up a lot of fear. She recommends filling the void with music: Classical lullabies, even birdsong, can help deregulate bodies after a trip to the trampoline park. White noise is popular for sleep, but Rosenberg suggests subbing in lesser known brown noise, which is deeper and lower on the sound spectrum and has more variation (think: rolling waves or thunder).

The laundry, the dog, the steak cooking on the grillscents are all around us even if we dont register them. I feel like sometimes in our own homes, we get numb to different fragrances, says Rosenberg. But for someone who is especially sensory sensitive, even a floral candle can become overwhelming. Rosenberg suggests using a purifier to create a neutral environment: Not only will it remove errant odors, it will help eliminate invisible elements like mold, allergens, and toxic VOCs that come from carpeting, paint, plastic toys, and furnishings. Instead of artificial sprays, opt for the purest essential oils you can find, which can either energize (like eucalyptus or citrus scents) or calm (lavender is always popular) depending on your needs.

Another tip? Invite your best friend over to audit your home for problem areas with a fresh nose. Sometimes I have friends come over and go, Whats this or that? And Im like, You know what? I didnt even notice that, Rosenberg admits.

Babies love to explore their environments through their mouths and readily absorb everything they touch. Organic textiles and low-to-no-VOC furnishings reign supreme for new parents and high-needs households alike. For everyone else, Rosenberg says to think of water.

Purifying the water that comes into our homesand, ultimately, into our bodieshelps reduce the bacteria, heavy metals, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals that we get exposed to. This can be as simple as using a Brita filter for drinking water or as complex as installing a water-purification system (which Rosenberg says can cost roughly $3,000 and last up to 10 years). Its also worth noting that we soak in more when our pores are open, which tends to happen in a warm bath, so adding a filter for the showerhead and filling the tub that way is an easy, impactful switch.

What feels comforting to you isnt universal, especially for someone who is particularly sensitive to textures. Ive had plenty of clients say they cant stand wool or hate velvet, says Rosenberg. I have a mohair couch that I love because the fabric wears like iron and its luxurious and beautiful. All three of my kids say its prickly and they dont like it. Which textiles are by and large cozy yet safe? Rosenberg often opts for durable, organic fabrics like cotton and linen.

Weighted blankets are also great because they help release serotonin and melatonin to help kids (and grown-ups) wind down. Most are made with plastic pellets, but Acorn & Oaks are filled with hypoallergenic glass sand and constructed with GOTS-certified organic cotton. A travel version thats only five pounds is perfect for plane rides or post-park car rides. (One of Rosenbergs favorite therapies is deep-pressure stimulation, in which gentle pressure is applied to the body to relax the nervous system.)

Theres no need to gut renovate every room. Rosenberg suggests going slow, and in the meantime, tidying up where you can: More than ever, to have a little haven where you can really connectit is the stage that youre setting for the most intimate memories youll have in your life.

Link:
Designing Inclusive Spaces for Kids With Special Needs Goes Back to the 5 Senses - Domino

The Danish government published new positive lists for highly educated and skilled workers from other countries earlier in July in order to meet the labour shortages that Denmark has been dealing with.

The Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) explains that the Positive List for people with a Higher Education includes a total of 45 job titles, whereas the Positive List for Skilled Workers includes 46 titles.

This means that 91 nationals of other countries can apply for one of these jobs in Denmark provided that they are eligible, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

SIRI has already published an overview of the job titles on the positive lists for highly educated and skilled workers.

According to SIRI, Denmark is currently looking for skilled workers in different professional fields. The job titles for skilled workers required in Denmark based on the professional field are as follows:

A high number of job openings are also available to highly educated people. According to SIRI, the following job titles based on the professional field are currently open for highly educated nationals of other countries:

The new Positive Lists entered into force on July 1, and they will remain effective until December 31. These lists have been developed by SIRI based on the Labour Market Balance from the Agency for Labour Market and Recruitment, and they aim to help Denmark combat the shortage of qualified professionals.

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Denmark Is Looking For Workers From Other Countries to Fill in These Jobs - SchengenVisaInfo.com - SchengenVisaInfo.com