James Bornemeier

Over the past decade we have assembled a group of men and women who construct, repair, maintain, paint, power wash and perform all the other crafts, like plumbing and electrical, that most Shelter Islander homeowners find the need to call on over the years.

And then there are the tree and lawn guys. My wife and I are deeply divided over the amount of attention the lawn needs. My standard line is that she is reaching for an Augusta National Golf Club level of verdancy, while I would be content with a presentable if a little, scruffy Island lawn. I never win this battle but I get to use the Augusta National line on a yearly basis. Our team of craftsmen is a great bunch of people and its always a pleasure to see them show up to chat about whatever comes up world affairs, local affairs, Island gossip (Im useless there), home prices (usually a very short conversation). And they do all the work for free! Threw that in there to see if you were paying attention. In fact this entire paragraph could be interpreted by a coldly cynical person as a brazen ploy to encourage quick call-backs from team members by publicly praising them. That level of cynicism has no place on this Island. But come to think of it, if thats how the relationship works, so be it.

Our carpenter helped me win a major victory when we remodeled the kitchen years ago. I was adamant about keeping the existing stained cabinets with those old timey hinges and repainting them a lighter hue to make the black hinges pop. I also was pretty much locked in to installing a wood countertop. The carpenter joined with me and we carried the day. It turned out great, maybe not the ideal countertop for families with small children but for seniors, it works well. We managed to gouge it on its second day of service when a heavy glass took a suicide leap from an open cabinet door, but its held up well since then.

He also helped solve what I feared was the unsolvable: the leak that dripped into the kitchen sink during blustery rain. There were several possible culprits, prime among them some dodgy flashing around a vent pipe poking up from the attic roof. I trained the hose on the flashing while the brave carpenter stood watch in the attic underneath the vent. We had a gusher. With a new vent and proper installation, no leak knock wood so far.

In Manhattan, we have a similar group of fixers and maintainers, but not as folksy as the Island crew. There is the friendly dishwasher who was summoned three times in the past 15 years to replace some mangled part. On the third visit, last year, he delivered the grim news: not fixable. So, with the new one operating perfectly, presumably, Ill not be seeing this guy anytime soon.

We have a Sub-Zero refrigerator, sort of a hoity-toity brand for us. But the kitchen remodel designer called for it because Sub-Zeros locate their working parts underneath the freezer cabinets, making for shallower depth. When you are dealing with a 7-foot galley kitchen space, every inch counts. I bring this up because we twice needed a repairman and it was the same guy and because he seems to be the only Sub-Zero repairman in Manhattan. He also gave me a very high compliment. With Sub-Zeros youre supposed to vacuum the mossy crud that accumulates on the compressors front side twice a year. Its not that big a deal to do: You have to remove the bottom freezer compartment, drop to the floor, unscrew the plate in front of the compressor, vacuum the crud and then backtrack. Takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The compliment was this: To his knowledge, I was one of just a few Sub-Zero owners in all of New York City who performed this maintenance. Ill take em when I can get em.

These Manhattan kitchen remodels are something of a rite of passage in the city. They are nerve-wracking, disrupting, dirty and behind schedule. During ours, I was working during the week in Philadelphia so I would return to find a wife who had been driven wild by the demo and construction. (There is a scene in Jane Eyre that comes to mind.) But the project turned out splendidly. Until the lovely floor tiles began cracking into hundreds of fissures. What I tell you next is an urban miracle. The good news is that I hounded the contractor to put in new tile, free of charge; the very bad news is that a crabby young Eastern European man arrived with a jack hammer and busted up the entire kitchen floor. I wanted to flee but felt I had a duty to stay and witness this incomprehensible and savage attack. The crabby young man instantaneously diagnosed the problem. Wrong material for the sub-flooring. That too needed to be jack-hammered out. Here is the essence of the miracle: The free jack-hammering and reinstallation of our lovely tiles took him about six hours. The experience probably shortened my life, but the tiles remain lovely to this day

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Weekend edition: Looking for a fix in two seperate places

In a DIY culture increasingly driven by the HGTV fantasy of ivory-tower remodels, true renovation blogs are hard to find. Meryl Phillips and Chris Miller's Picardy Project blog ( http://www.picardyproject.com) fills a small niche by lifting the veil on what it's like to inhabit the house you're taking apart and rebuilding. The East Oakland couple's honest accounts and tips for renovators (see below) have won them a dedicated following. Read about their adventures at http://bit.ly/ZD30Ty.

Phillips and Miller learned this the hard way when they decided to embark on the biggest project in their house at the beginning. Living without a kitchen is difficult, and they had to endure it for a lot longer because they were inexperienced. They remodeled the floor tile, installed all new cabinets and granite and built a pass-through with an arch that was molded to match the other arches in the house. Miller suggests that first-time builders start out with a fence because nobody will get hurt if it falls down, yet it requires manual labor, intelligence and elements of design.

After trying to pull the garage back onto the foundation themselves, Miller and Phillips decided to get the help of a structural engineer while they did the labor to save costs. Refinishing the hardwood floors throughout the house ended up being more than they could handle, so they brought in professionals to do the work while they were out of town. Unfortunately, they weren't satisfied with the results. If you're going to get help, make sure you're there to oversee it, they recommend.

After investing in gorgeous beveled subway tile for the second bathroom - complete with custom laundry chute and built-in shelves - a sloppy tile job would have been a huge disappointment. While Phillips will take all the time in the world to lay tile, when it comes to a paint color or curtains, she won't sweat it because it's a cheap fix. Every room should have one big-ticket item, but it's OK to skimp on materials that can be replaced easily.

Renovating as a couple is stressful to begin with, but when one person gets upset, give them their space. Phillips recommends figuring out what each person's role is - she had to stop being bossy and admit that she was the less knowledgeable partner in her home renovation. One particularly difficult project was running the gas line to the washing machine. It required five trips to Home Depot to have the galvanized pipe recut - especially frustrating because they thought it would be a simple job.

It's important to create a living space that is clear and free of tools. For Miller and Phillips, it's the TV room. They both enjoy unwinding by watching movies, and for a few hours a night they can forget that their laundry room doesn't have a floor yet.

There's plenty of bad information on the Internet. Miller prefers to educate himself on building best practices from books. He recommends Taunton Press publications. It's not just about finding something that will work, it's about finding something that will work long term.

If you're planning on reselling, you don't want to go crazy with customizations, but there is a lot you can do to make a space your own without giving in to the "beige quality" that Miller and Phillips dislike in newer homes. The couple made a renovation to-do list, above; Phillips created a mobile for the baby at the end of the list, with miniature felt tools dangling from it.

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DIY remodelers slog and blog in Oakland

LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Crystal Cruises is preparing for a $17-million redesign of the award-winning Crystal Serenity this November. The line is planning sweeping makeovers of the ship's Crystal Penthouses (the line's coveted top accommodations) and Lido Deck, including the popular indoor/outdoor Trident Grill, Tastes restaurant, and Crystal Serenity's Lido cafe. Building upon the success of Crystal Symphony's "living wall," Crystal is expanding its green concept to the Lido area. Maintenance, cleaning, mechanical updates, and environmental upgrades will also be implemented throughout the ship's interior and exterior spaces during the two week dry dock at the Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz, Spain.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130611/LA30218)

Come November, Crystal will have spent $52 million on Crystal Serenity's Extreme Makeover in the past two years and almost $120 million on the Extreme Makeover of its fleet in recent years.

"Our redesigns aren't merely new fabrics and soft goods. It is indeed extreme when you take out pools, tear down walls and completely re-invent spaces to create new chic, contemporary, and exceptionally welcoming and comfortable public areas and accommodations," says Crystal President Gregg Michel. "While we are honored we have won respected design awards for our remodels, we are even more gratified by the response from our guests international travelers who have an eye for style and appreciate fine design in their lifestyle and when they vacation."

Lido DeckLondon's Adfecto design firm was inspired by Santa Barbara's casual, yet cultured, "American Riviera" vibe for the transformation of the ship's spacious Lido deck. Natural stones, wrought iron, and an array of blues set the resort-like tone for space's major reconfiguration that will remove its indoor pool and Tastes kitchen, move the ice cream bar to the Trident Grill, and add more sofa seating, an open kitchen, and a cocktail bar. In addition, four "living walls" and additional greenery surrounding the Trident lounge area will bring the outdoors in.

As with Crystal Symphony, Crystal Serenity's Lido cafe will be redesigned with modern food islands replacing long buffet counters, more tables for two, and a fresh baked goods kitchen. A new, cherry wood dance floor will also be installed in the Palm Court, the ship's largest gathering place for drinks and dancing.

Crystal PenthousesToronto's II BY IV, the firm that won major design awards for its previous remodel of Crystal Serenity's staterooms, is redefining the ship's four top suites with clean lines, classic simplicity, and refined elegance in a dramatic ultra-contemporary remodel. Interiors of the butler-serviced, 1,345 square-feet residences will be gutted and spaces completely reconfigured. The dining area will move closer to the floor-to-ceiling windows and the private outdoor deck, while the former dining room will now hold a den/library/media room with a queen-sized sleeper sofa and closet. With a new shower added to the guest powder room, the space can function as a second bedroom, ideal for families and couples traveling together. The Penthouse also features a spacious living room and butler's pantry with private entrance.

The master bedroom will be made over with luxurious bedding, curtains, two entrances, and a new seating area. The master bath will feature marble, mosaics, a walk-in glass shower, and two waterproof Aquavision TV's, one embedded in the mirror, and one by the large window-side Jacuzzi tub.

In keeping with modern tech living, the CP's will feature three flat screen TV's, including a 3-D TV, plus a surround sound audio system, iPod docking stations, and increased wall outlets.

The Best of the RestWith more than 700 different jobs scheduled to be completed during the 13 days, the 500+ contractor crew and several hundred Crystal crew will also be working round-the-clock to thoroughly deep clean the ship, repaint exteriors, refurbish the "port pod," add energy-saving LED lighting in public areas and crew offices, and more.

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Crystal Serenity's Chic "Extreme Makeover" Planned For November

NORTH OLMSTED, OH--(Marketwired - Jun 11, 2013) - Move over Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner, singles are taking on home ownership in a big way. As more single men and women are purchasing homes by themselves, they're also rolling up their sleeves and tackling home improvement projects on their own. While men may do more projects overall, women are giving them a run for their money when it comes to DIY. Moen Incorporated surveyed hundreds of consumers to determine just how different guys and gals are when it comes to planning and executing home-related projects.

Before discussing Moen's findings, test your knowledge on the true or false statements below:

If you answered false to any of these statements, you're incorrect; all of the statements above are true. In fact, 39 percent of all heads of households are single, and what's even more surprising is most of them are women. And the trend is continuing: according to the 2011 NAR Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers, 18 percent of recent home sales were made by single females, compared to men at around 10 percent. Take a look into the lives of these singles to discover some of Moen's key findings in the battle of the sexes: DIY edition.

DIY DesireWhen it comes to home improvements, today's busy singles aren't afraid to take on projects. On average, both single men and women take on four home improvement projects per year. From those big and small, Moen actually found that more men are planning to do dining room and basement remodels in the next 12 months compared to women, who have their sights set on the bathroom.

In addition to how often homeowners take on DIY projects, Moen sought to find the motivation behind some of these renovations. While half of single women said home improvement projects kept them busy, more men responded as wanting to try to keep up with the latest trends and preparing for major life changes (36 percent and 28 percent respectively).

To Spend, or Not to Spend?Women have a reputation of loving to shop.And while that may be true for personal indulgences -- it's not the same for home improvements. Moen found that men would spend an average of $25 more on supplies and materials to make home repairs than a woman would.

Another big cost for remodeling is hiring extra help.Not all DIY projects can be easy to achieve alone, however, more and more singles are looking to take on projects themselves. When it comes to less labor intensive or more detail-oriented home improvements, such as installing cabinet knobs, new window treatments or a shower rod, it seems men don't want to be bothered with the little things. Moen's research shows that more women than men would handle these projects themselves instead of hiring someone else to do it for them.

Kitchen UpdatesFrom entertaining to cooking, in general, we all know that women tend to spend more time in the kitchen.However for single ladies, remodeling this space isn't a project they are looking to tackle on their own. They -- more often than men -- will hire help or rely on a friend or family member for assistance. When it comes to kitchen remodels, men take on the actual physical labor more than women do.

And in the kitchen, what changes matter most? According to the survey, women are more interested in making upgrades to kitchen cabinets and countertops, while 20 percent of men would prefer to upgrade or replace appliances. And (happily for Moen!) 57 percent of all men and women would be ready, willing and able to replace their kitchen faucet as a DIY project.

Updating a kitchen faucet is a simple job that homeowners can do by themselves, and this one simple change can have a dramatic impact on the entire look and feel of the kitchen.

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Hammer-Swinging Singles

BOZEMAN, Mont. -

A pizzeria in Bozeman got one unexpected visitor during a lunch rush.

Last month a car slammed into the kitchen, leaving over $25,000 in damage. We were able to get a first-hand look at the damage caused when it crashed into the side of Tarantino's Pizzeria on North 7th Avenue.

The owner, Ryan Olson, says he remembers the exact moment of the crash.

"I was in the dining room serving some customers and from the kitchen I heard a loud crash," he explained to us.

We went over to the restaurant Tuesday. Walking around we could see the damaged area, including pieces of concrete that the wall was made out of.

Olson says, "We're changing the brand of the entire restaurant. We have a section we are currently operating that will be a pub and pizzeria and are taking over the rest of the building, which is something we are really excited about."

Olsen said the renovations were going to happen anyway.

"It was kind of fortuitous that this happened because all of the construction and remodeling was going to have to take place during off-business hours."

Because of the unexpected crash, and good insurance, the pizzeria will be able to afford to close down in order to come back better than ever.

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Tarantino's Pizza remodels after car slams into building

1 day ago Jun. 5, 2013 - 2:00 AM PDT

If youre looking to re-do your bathroom or upgrade your kitchen, youre probably looking for contractors and home repairs professionals who work with your budget, your neighborhood, and your personal style. While companies like Angies List have popularlized the idea of finding the perfect person online, many people still ask friends and neighbors for suggestions before venturing online for advice.

A new startup from Seattle is launching in beta on Wednesday in attempt to change this. The company is called Porch, and it has$6.25 million in seed funding from some noted investors likeSV Angel/Ron Conway, Chamath Palihapitiya, Javier Olivan, Jeff Skoll, Bill Lee, and others.

The home improvement and re-modeling market is a huge business, and its ripe for disruption because so much of the recommendations and transactions still exist off-line.

Porch is pulling in a variety of data from public records (although it wouldnt say which ones), and will be using that data along with user reviews and photos in attempt to create a free version of Angies List that provides more location-based information with a social layer on top.

It willautomatically let you see kitchen remodels happening in their neighborhood, what the cost of the materials were pegged at, who worked on it, and endorsements from people in their social networks, Asha Sharma, the VP of marketing explained. Its free for users and its based on the recommendations from people who live in your neighborhood who have homes like yours.

Porch is currently only available to a select few users, although they can request access at the companys site. It will be free for homeowners to use, and will be opening more widely to all users later this year.

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Porch to launch home improvement review site with $6.25 million in funding

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SOURCE: BEST WESTERN PLUS ARROYO Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas

The BEST WESTERN PLUS ARROYO Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas Is Pleased to Announce Their Recent Remodel Project in the Seven Creekside Villas Has Been Completed

SEDONA, AZ--(Marketwired - May 31, 2013) - The BEST WESTERN PLUS Arroyo Roble in Sedona, Arizona, has long been considered the place to stay for location, comfort and the best views in town. Beginning in early 2013, the owners began the task of choosing Sedona like colors, plush linens, granite countertops for the kitchens, and stylish furnishings.

The Villas are located along the banks of Oak Creek and offer guests the opportunity to relax among towering Sycamore trees, lush landscaping and the bubbling sound of Oak Creek. The two story, two bedroom, 2 bathroom units sleep up to 6 guests and offer a living room, full kitchen, 2 fireplaces, private patio and balconies, and washer/dryer. The remodel consists of plush new carpeting, high desert paint colors, all new furnishings-some hand crafted by the owners, multiple LCD TVs, and stylish new linens to wrap a guest in comfort.

Guests are invited to visit the property's website for images, additional information, and to make advanced reservations. With a limited amount of Creekside Villas on property, these freshly made over rooms are a popular retreat and fill up fast!

For more information about the BEST WESTERN PLUS Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas or to request a Villa for your next stay please visit http://www.bestwesternsedona.com or call 800-773-3662.

The Best Western Plus Arroyo Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas features 65 rooms with magnificent red rock views from private guest balconies and is uniquely situated in Uptown Sedona and includes over 600 feet of frontage on Oak Creek. Hotel guests enjoy complimentary freshly prepared hot breakfast and use of all facilities including; indoor/outdoor pools, extensive exercise facilities, indoor/outdoor whirlpools, steam, sauna, and pool tables. Indoor and outdoor tennis, air conditioned racquetball courts are also available on site for a small fee.

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BEST WESTERN PLUS ARROYO Roble Hotel & Creekside Villas Remodels Villas