Democratic Sen. Linda Newell of Littleton packs up her office at the Colorado Capitol in preparation to move to another office on December 9, 2014. Lawmakers in both the House and the Senate are moving offices, the biggest change is in the Senate where Republicans are moving into the majority offices for the first time in a decade. Republicans won the majority in the November elections. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

WATCH: Learn more about renovations at the Colorado Capitol

Visitors to the state Capitol on Tuesday weaved in and out of carts loaded with boxes and furniture as Senate Democrats migrated for the first time in a decade to the minority offices and Senate Republicans moved into the vacated digs.

"It's moving day," said Sen. Linda Newell, D-Littleton, trying to figure out what to do with all of her stuff because she had been assigned to a smaller office.

But the move is more than just exchanging offices. Extensive remodeling is going on under the Gold Dome to restore the Senate and House chambers to their original look and to give more lawmakers individual or bigger offices. Hard-hat-only signs are still displayed in spots at the Capitol.

Almost half of the lawmakers will have offices across East Colfax Avenue in what was the attorney general's building and now houses other state operations, including the personnel department.

Back at the Capitol, what used to be the House Services Office, which included bullpens for individual lawmakers, a reception area and mail boxes, has been gutted and will be a large committee room.

Republican Senate President-Elect Bill Cadman of Colorado Springs talks with a tour about the newly renovated Senate chambers at the Colorado Capitol, Tuesday, December 9, 2014. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

WATCH: Democrats move into their new offices at the Colorado Legislature

Next door, the Senate Minority Office has new carpet and new tile. Gone are the tiny cubicles outside the minority leader and assistant minority leader's offices that housed six lawmakers, replaced with individual offices for three lawmakers. Senate Democrats will call this home for the next two years.

Continued here:
Colorado legislature undergoes change with office moves, remodeling

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) Albuquerque Public Schoolssays parents can expect construction to shift towards middle schools in the near future. The district cut the ribbon on one of its latest construction projects Tuesday, holding an open house at Dolores Gonzales Elementary near the Rio Grande Zoo. Some of the highlights include new classrooms, a new playground, a new a music room and a soon to be completed remodeled cafeteria.

Teachers say the work means a lot to them and the kids.

They feel so special, they feel so fortunate and lucky to be in this place, said Valerie Barrera a kindergarten teacher at Dolores Gonzales Elementary School.

While Delores Gonzales Elementary has been on the docket for a major revamp for years, the district says there are a lot of other schools that need work, including many middle schools.

It never stops, said Kizito Wijenje, executive director for Albuquerque Public Schools Capital Master Plan program.

Wijenje says for about the last six years, APS has put hundreds of millions of dollars into revamping high schools and building new schools. But with enrollment leveling off, the district says its shift its focus.

The emphasis is rejuvenating our older schools, starting with our high schools, our older schools on average are 50 to 60 years old, said Wijenje.

In the next six months, APS says it will break ground on remodeling at Rio Grande High in the South Valley, West Mesa High near Coors and Interstate 40, and Valley High School in the North Valley.The projects are top priority according to the districts current five-year Capital Master Plan which ends in 2016. Its not just the high school though.

>>READ: Albuquerque Public Schools November 2014 construction report.

We also will be looking into rebuilding most of the middle schools, said Wijenje.

Link:
Middle schools to get APS remodeling funds next

Becky Harris, Houzz Contributor

Oh, that dread you wake up in the middle of the night to take a trip to the bathroom, but you know that cold tile will chill all the toastiness right out of your feet. Or you come in from a chilly football game longing to take a luxurious soak in the tub, but the thought of shedding your layers of fleece stops you in your tracks. Soon it will be that time of year when you want your bathroom to raise your body temperature. Here are 14 suggestions that range from something you can do in minutes for a few bucks to dream-space renovation ideas.

Add a cozy rug. A bath mat does not have to be a shaggy little rectangle. Add an Oriental rug to enjoy underfoot during fall and winter. The rich colors will warm up the look of the room as well.

Be sure to add a rug pad or rug tape that will grip the floor underneath any bathroom rug to prevent slips.

10 elements of a dream master bath

Blend beautiful natural materials. Soapstone sinks atop wood countertops add so much warmth to this bathroom. It looks like the natural beauty of a rock outcropping in the woods.

Take a different approach to lighting. We tend to think there is a certain type of characterless light we need to choose for bathrooms, like those flush-mount boob lights. This is not true; open your mind and browse the type of lighting you would usually associate with a foyer or dining room.

If you are installing a hanging chandelier or pendant light in a bathroom, work with a licensed electrician who knows the codes inside and out. A chandelier cannot be within reach of someone standing in a bathtub full of water; the fixtures will also need to be properly grounded, and youll need a high ceiling.

Consider heated floors. One of the most luxurious things you can do to make your bathroom toasty in chilly weather is invest in radiant-heat flooring. If you are planning any renovations, learn more about what this entails and what the payoffs are.

If you dont have room in the budget for such a large investment, talk to your electrician about installing a bathroom-safe heater you can turn on before your bath or shower. Again, working with licensed pros is a must; you dont want to scrimp on safety with electronics in the bathroom.

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14 Ways To Warm Up Your Bathroom For Winter

Laura Gaskill, Houzz Contributor

Have the whole clan coming to stay during the holidays? If youre wondering where on earth to put everyone, these ideas can help. From chic sleeper sofas and daybeds to trundles, bunks, hide-a-beds and air mattresses, see which of these solutions can work for you.

An attractive sleeper sofa. There are some really lovely sleeper sofas on the market today. If you have a choice, place one in the den or family room rather than an open living area your guests will appreciate being able to shut the door.

Overnight guests coming? How to be a great host

Privacy tip: Use a screen. If your guests must sleep in the living room, especially if your living room does not have a door that shuts, its nice to offer a folding screen for privacy. Set up the bed for your guest in the evening and position the folding screen so he or she wont be disturbed if you walk by in the morning.

Slim sleeper sofa in the master bedroom. If you have a large master bedroom, adding a petite sleeper sofa instead of a chaise or an armchair can be a smart move. If you have a family with a child coming to visit, you can offer your bedroom to the guests and take the smaller guest bed yourself.

Find a new sleeper sofa to add to your space

Bunks behind a barn door. If you host big groups of overnight guests often, this can be a smart solution. Built-in bunks are tucked into a living room wall and disguised with sliding barn-style doors here.

Comfy sectional. Just any old couch will not do, but a generously sized, firm sectional with chaise sections can work as a sleeping spot for a guest or two especially kids.

Air mattress on the floor. Placing an air mattress in a smaller room, like the den or office, is best. This way your guests will have privacy, and you can get the bed set up ahead of time.

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Tips For Squeezing In More Guest Beds

Maybe this holiday season, you're looking for a way to spruce up your home, a little remodeling, or some new window treatments.

But there are some things you might now know about having new shutters installed.

Alan Clegg, owner of Wastach Shutter, talks shares some details about shutter installation.

Wasatch Shutter is locally owned and operated for 17 years.

Benefits of shutters: Transformation in room appearance Consider how much wall square footage is devoted to windows in a typical room and the impact of having that "piece of furniture" to dress it up! Insulation & In home comfort = decreased utility costs

Wasatch Shutters provide a free in home consultation by a design technician and make sure you are educated before you make this investment in your home.

Sub for Santa Campaign in December $25 of every shutter order sold in November will be donated to Sub for Santa families.

For more information visit wasatchshutter.com.

The rest is here:
Shutter company to help 'Sub for Santa' for the holidays

Replacing a kitchen countertop means two things: (1) You're about to add a fresh, new surface to your area, and (2) it's time to spend some money.

But the good news is that there are also a number of color, texture and material options available when choosing a new countertop, making it possible for even the most budget-conscious homeowner to obtain a new surface for his or her kitchen.

Laminate countertops are one of the most cost efficient countertop options. These countertops are available in a wide variety of colors, textures and patterns, ranging from options that look like marble to ones that mimic the look of stainless steel. The average laminate countertop will cost you $20 to $60 per square foot.

On the other end of the price spectrum are stone countertops, including granite and marble. The cost of a these countertop will, of course, depend on the size of the surface area. However, the average natural stone countertop will cost approximately $50 to $100 per square foot. In addition, the cost will depend not just on surface area, but also on how thick you want the slab to be.

Less costly options include ceramic tiles and recycled glass. Both materials are applied with a tile adhesive, but can be arranged in a mosaic design or other creative pattern.

Follow this link:
Kitchen Countertop Prices - Home Design, Decorating and ...

Before: This remodel transformed the existing space to create a comfortable gathering space,

Jeff Close, Renovation Design Group

Editor's note: Portions of this column were previously published on deseretnews.com and their blog at renovationdesigngroup.com.

As we enter the entertaining season, starting with Thanksgiving next week and moving into the party season of Christmas, New Year's and the Super Bowl, we are reflecting on the many gathering spaces we have helped create for our clients over the years.

The great room concept is a must-have for many clients these days. They want the space for different reasons and find it in different ways depending on their home layout and style. Here are four different examples of past clients with varying life circumstances and homes who all discovered gathering space.

Creatively reconfiguring space

Pat and Kathie Debenham had the classic problem of many grandparents in Utah: Their grown children were making family gatherings bigger by adding spouses and grandchildren by the year. They decided it was time for a gathering space expansion.

They had a small great room off the kitchen, but it could only seat a few people. Their budget wouldnt allow for an addition to expand the great room, so we reallocated the space in their existing floor plan by removing a pantry and remodeling the kitchen.

Losing the pantry was a hard decision, but they compromised by adding taller cabinets to add storage space back into the kitchen design. We also removed a small, rarely used half bathroom that sat between the laundry room and the great room. The renovation improved the gathering space dramatically without adding any square footage to the house.

Taking down walls; adding beams

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Renovation Solutions: Four examples of how to remodel for gathering spaces

Renovation nations rising again.

Wednesdays report on housing startssuggests a steady trend for construction. But new houses arent the only support to economic growth. Updating a bathroom or adding a deck also contributes.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis tracks home improvements as part of the residential investment sector of gross domestic product. (Single-family homes, the fast-growing apartment sector, dormitories and manufactured homes are also in the residential investment category.)

These are major improvements to your house, saysMichael Armah, a BEA economist. That includes major replacement projects, adding a room and rehabbing a kitchen. Painting a living room or installing a dimmer switch doesnt count.

Like other subsectors of home construction, spending on improvements took a hit in the recession. So far in this expansion, apartment-building has been the lead construction performer because of a consumer shift to renting rather than owning.

But remodeling spending has also climbed back, thanks to the usual upkeep and maintenance, as well as the decision of some homeowners to upgrade or expand their current residences rather than move.

Rising home values have also helped. In Home Depots earnings call Tuesday, the building-supply retailers chief executive Craig Menear said, As home value appreciation has happened, customers are certainly more willing to invest in their homes.

Inflation-adjusted spending on home improvements has slipped a bit in 2014, but in the third quarter it stood just 10% below the subsectors peak in 2005.

In contrast, investment in new single-family homes is still a large 62% off its high of the boom years.

Indeed, real spending on improvements is currently running about even with spending on single-family homes. During the housing boom, investment in new single-family housing outpaced home improvements by a ratio of more than 2.5:1.

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After Recession, Home-Remodeling Is on the Rise

New Orleans, La. (PRWEB) November 19, 2014

The Loews New Orleans Hotel today announced the completion of its $4 million guest room and restaurant renovation.

Following three months of remodeling, the 285-room hotel now boasts updated guest rooms and suites, refreshed corridors and a sleek, modern look in Caf Adelaide.

New Orleans has experienced an incredible surge in visitors these past few years, which means everyone in the city wants to put their best face forward, said Loris Menfi, general manager at the Loews New Orleans Hotel. At just 10 years old the hotel is in beautiful shape, but we wanted to give our guest rooms, corridors and restaurant, Caf Adelaide, a complete revamp to keep each space looking fresh and vibrant. She added, We are confident our guests will be as thrilled with the new look as we are.

Designed by local firm Lisambiance Interior Design, the new look layers historic New Orleans culture with modern lines in blue and gray tones reminiscent of the regions waterways. New carpeting patterns emulate the historic wrought iron seen throughout the city, while sofas, chairs and fabrics inspired by mens suiting provide a tailored appearance. New contemporary lamps and sconces throughout the guestrooms and bathrooms offer brighter lighting for late night work sessions, and new art depicts popular New Orleans scenes including riverboats, musical instruments and architecture.

For more information, visit the website at loewshotels.com/NewOrleansHotel.

Loews New Orleans Hotel Situated adjacent to New Orleans Arts District, the 285-room Loews New Orleans Hotel features sweeping views of the Mississippi River or New Orleans skyline. Honored as a AAA Four Diamond Hotel for 10 consecutive years, our personalized service and beautifully appointed guestrooms provide an unpretentious yet luxurious experience, while Caf Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick Bar (by the Commanders Palace Family of Restaurants) offers award-winning local cuisine in a relaxed setting, embodying the essence of the Crescent City.

Loews Hotels & Resorts Headquartered in New York City, Loews Hotels & Resorts owns and/or operates 22 hotels and resorts across the U.S. and Canada, including two newly acquired Midwest locations the Loews Minneapolis Hotel, situated in the heart of Minneapolis entertainment district, and the Loews Chicago OHare Hotel, less than two miles from OHare Airport in the emerging city of Rosemont, Ill. The new-build, 400-room Loews Chicago Hotel will debut downtown in February 2015. Located in major city centers and resort destinations from coast to coast, the Loews portfolio features one-of-a-kind properties that go beyond Four Diamond standards to delight guests with exciting, approachable and local travel experiences. For reservations or more information about Loews Hotels & Resorts, call 1-800-23-LOEWS or visit: http://www.loewshotels.com.

Like Loews Hotels & Resorts on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LoewsHotels Follow Loews Hotels & Resorts on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/loews_hotels Watch Loews Hotels & Resorts on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/LoewsHotels Read our Wish You Were Here Blog at http://www.loewshotelsblog.com

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Loews New Orleans Hotel completes $4 million renovation

Two years ago, after UBS AG (UBSN) decided to shrink its investment bank, Andrea Orcel told employees they had an opportunity to create a firm based on a model that vanished in the late 1990s.

That was an era before investment banks such as Merrill Lynch & Co. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) ramped up borrowing to inflate returns. Orcel, who was hired to co-lead the UBS securities unit in 2012 and became sole head four months later, said a business that made money purely by connecting buyers and sellers and providing advice could work again, according to a person who attended the meeting and asked not to be identified.

In trying to rewire UBSs securities unit into an old-school Wall Street firm, Orcel is making a virtue of necessity. Recent history left him and Chief Executive Officer Sergio Ermotti, 54, little choice but to work with lower leverage, fewer people and less capital. They have eliminated almost 5,000 jobs, cut assets by two-thirds, curtailed capital-hungry bond-trading businesses and imposed an approach that relies more on relationships than providing financing to win business.

What I would very much like to create is a real investment bank, the kind that there arent anymore, Orcel, a 51-year-old former Merrill Lynch dealmaker, said in an interview this month. Are we there yet? No, were not there.

There are successes: Return on equity rose to the highest among the worlds nine largest investment banks in the first half. Revenue at the underwriting and advisory unit in the first nine months was 2.5 billion Swiss francs ($2.6 billion), 21 percent higher than two years earlier, while the trading businesses boosted sales 13 percent to 3.9 billion francs.

Theres also more to do, such as stamping out the misconduct that forced Switzerlands largest bank to set aside $1.7 billion for legal matters in the third quarter. Last week it was ordered to pay almost $800 million for attempting to rig currency markets. UBS will have to replenish a talent pool depleted by years of turmoil, recapture market share in equities, boost revenue from mergers advice and underwriting and reinvent its fixed-income business, all while maintaining strict limits on capital and costs, current and former employees said.

UBS has been successful in shrinking the balance sheet and refocusing the business, said Guy de Blonay, who manages about $720 million, including UBS shares, at Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. in London. Now, the investment bank needs to resolve outstanding litigation, reduce costs, establish a track record of sustainable earnings across the cycle and avoid large losses, even in difficult times.

UBS, based in Zurich, lost 57 billion francs during the last financial crisis, forcing it into a state rescue and Swiss regulators to impose among the toughest banking requirements in the world. A $2.3 billion loss in 2011 from unauthorized trading fueled doubts about risk controls.

Sitting in a conference room at the investment banks Swiss headquarters in Opfikon, outside Zurich, Orcel said the business has faced hurricanes, not headwinds, over the past few years. Immaculately groomed, with silvering hair and dark lines under his eyes, he spoke about UBSs plans for more than an hour, scarcely pausing for breath.

Hell need all the energy he can muster to satisfy investors such as Knight Vinke Asset Management LLC, which urged UBSs board as recently as August to spin off the investment bank to reduce risk. David Trenchard, a vice chairman of New York-based Knight Vinke, declined to comment for this article.

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Orcel Facing Hurricanes Remodeling UBS on Old Wall St