By Evelyn M. Rusli and Douglas MacMillan

Home-remodeling site Houzz is in talks with investors to raise a round of funding that would value the company at more than $2 billion, according to people familiar with the deal.

The Palo Alto, Calif., startup has so far raised $150 million but may take on additional funding, said one of these people. Early shareholders in Houzz may also sell some shares in the round, the people familiar with the deal said.

The sizable valuation investors are willing to place on Houzz reflects the sites growing influence in home remodeling, a market the Home Improvement Research Institute predicts will top $300 billion this year.

It also reflects lofty valuations for several consumer Internet companies, despite concerns that these values are higher than business fundamentals warrant. Airbnb, the room-rental marketplace, was recently valued at $10 billion, while Uber, the on-demand car service, has talked to investors eager to value the company at $17 billion, people with knowledge of the matter have said.

A spokeswoman for Houzz declined to comment.

Houzz is part marketplace, part social-network for people interested in home design. Users can share photos of home-improvement projects, trade tips and get recommendations on local contractors.

The site has 16 million monthly visitors--a modest number compared with other Web startups valued at more than $1 billion. But visitors to Houzz are a potentially lucrative group, with 90% owning a home, 74% planning to decorate their homes in the next two years and 9% building a new house, according to the companys website.

Houzz would be worth less than half of Pinterest, the graphical online tool for scrapbooking that is also commonly used to plan home improvements. Pinterest has raised $764 million and was valued at $5 billion in a funding round last month.

Pinterest has more users--55 million in April, according to comScore. But Houzz began generating revenue three years ago, while Pinterest is just starting to sell ads on its site.

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The Wall Street Journal: Home-remodel site Houzz in talks to raise more funding

NORMAL The planned addition of an automated book sorter prompted a layout change at the Normal Public Library that brought a more open concept to the first floor and takes advantage of natural light.

"It's opened up space for people and tables for laptops; it's amazing," said Joan Steinburg, president of the library board.

Library Director Brian Chase said making space for the sorter gave the library the "opportunity to make efficient, logical changes."

The cost of the entire project including the book sorter and remodeling work was about $100,000. Chase said the library set aside the money from last year's budget.

In addition to opening up the first floor, the second floor also will have some changes, including the addition of a "mother's room" and a "technical playground" for kids.

The remodel included changing some staff offices technical services was moved to the lowest level and Chase's office to the second floor. Two other staff rooms were condensed into a single room.

"We gave it a lot of thought and it's paid off," said Chase. "We have been able to optimize the public space."

A small area at the front of the library has been turned into a "collaboration space" with a large table. Walls were razed behind the circulation desk, providing a large open area for the library's audio, DVD and MP3 collections. The reference desk was moved, allowing space for CDs.

The computer area has been turned into a periodical area and has more seating. Walls were taken down allowing light from windows at the front of the building to spill into the center of the library. Computers have been moved to smaller tables clustered in the center of the first floor.

Chase said doors, door frames and lights were reused; old desks are being used to make new desks; and tables were reused to save money. The library also got some used furniture from State Farm.

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Remodeling project opens up Normal library

WATERLOO | The City Council is planning to move home next week.

With a major renovation of the Harold E. Getty Council Chambers in City Hall nearly finished, council members expect to convene in their traditional meeting space Monday for the first time in 15 weeks.

"The contractor did a great job," said Mayor Buck Clark. "It's going to be quite a different look with more modern amenities. It will leave a very positive impression."

Failor-Hurley Construction of Waterloo was awarded the $220,000 contract which involved remodeling the room with new carpeting, ceiling tile, window treatments and furnishings. The work included new audio and video equipment and a wheelchair ramp.

New finishes replace much of the wood-paneled feel of the chambers while the ceiling masks what had been stains from past water leaks. The old pews for audience seating have been removed, and new chairs were being loaded in Thursday.

City Clerk Suzy Schares said a large portion of the project is electronics that may not be ready to roll by Monday.

The equipment will allow the meetings to be recorded for broadcast from the basement studio instead of paying camera operators in the room.

"We will have remote cameras linked to downstairs," Schares said. The broadcast "will be a little better, but it will get us closer to the point they'll be great."

Council members eventually will have data ports and tablets to provide paperless agendas for use during meetings. The project allows "electronic voting" for council resolutions, but no decision has been made on whether to do away with the voice roll calls used now.

Television screens have replaced the video projector used for presentations now, and the sound systems for both the council chambers and adjoining Mollenhoff Room have been separated so both rooms can be used at the same time.

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Waterloo council chambers renovation nearly complete

Published: Wednesday, May 28, 2014, 9:00p.m. Updated 22 hours ago

Hampton Township School District administrators and school board members are weighing the information presented in a feasibility study to explore a potential multimillion-dollar remodeling project at the high school.

The feasibility study was scheduled to be presented to the school board at a special meeting on May 27.

Since February, architects with VEBH Architects, a Mt. Lebanon-based firm, have been meeting with staff, teachers, students and community members to collect input on the limitations of and issues with the current high school design to include in the feasibility study.

The final public meeting scheduled for May 19 was sparsely attended by the residents, but the architects and Superintendent John Hoover said they felt comfortable with the information collected to date.

We have been getting feedback from the people we've been sending to the architects, Hoover said.

I think we have a pretty good sense of all the problems.

The next step is for the school board members to decide how to proceed and at what cost; early projections estimated the cost at $5 million to $10 million.

No decisions have been made no budget and no design solutions, said Tom Durkin, a Hampton resident and principal with VEBH.

The feasibility study was prompted by interest in remodeling the high school. District administrators are looking at several potential areas to be remodeled at the high school that would either improve energy consumption, security or education.

Continued here:
Hampton High School remodeling project explored

Clockwise from left, Barking Legs Theater board members Ann Cater, Andrea Becksvoort, Marcus Ellsworth and Ann Law review blueprints while preparing for remodeling. THE CAMPAIGN

A fundraising campaign will begin June 2 on causeway.org in hopes of raising $10,000, which Barking Legs Theater owners Ann Law and Bruce Kaplan say they will match, up to that amount.

Barking Legs Theater will close down on July 21 in preparation for remodeling.

Over the last 20 years, the Barking Legs Theater has earned a reputation as a great place to perform. It's also known as an intimate place to see a favorite act. But it does have its quirks, like having to go outside to get to a bathroom during a show.

Those quirks are about to go away.

"It's time to grow up," says co-owner Ann Law.

When she and husband, Dr. Bruce Kaplan, bought the old fabric warehouse on Dodds Avenue more than two decades ago, the emphasis was on creating a place where a variety of artists could perform in a space unlike any other in town. The couple had moved here from New York City, where she was a choreographer/dancer and he was doing neurological research at Cornell Medical Center. They believed Chattanooga was ready for a theater presenting avant-garde dances, theater pieces and music.

When they arrived, there weren't any venues dedicated to small artistic showcases like what Barking Legs presents.

"It was just bars," Law says. "You had to perform in the corner next to the bar."

Barking Legs has always been a place where artists could work and create. Dancers, especially, love the 24 1/2-foot-by-32-foot floor and its springy quality, and musicians and audience members, who are never more than 20 feet away from each other, enjoy being so close to each other.

Excerpt from:
Adding more (Barking) leg room: Local theater to close temporarily for renovations

Property prices in London have soared so high that house hunters are being urged to look to Shropshire for much more palatial homes at a fraction of the price.

A survey has shown a two-bedroom flat in central London would currently set buyers back around 1.1 million.

That would, quite literally, buy a small mansion in Shropshire.

But in the capital, it will provide you just one reception room and a bathroom in Kensington, not far from Hyde Park.

Estate agents Foxton, which covers London and the South East, puts the average property price in the capital at 1,178, 760. The average price of a flat is 1,061,106 while a typical house will sell for 2,482,459.

The seven-figure price tags put the properties out of the reach of many would-be homeowners. But those willing to look further afield and who dont need to commute could become lord of a magnificent country manor for a fraction of the price of a simple apartment in the capital.

And estate agents in the county say they are seeing an upsurge of interest, with sales generally up more than four per cent.

According the latest statistics, the average property price in Shropshire is a comparative snip at 202,452. The average detached house fetches 265,4676 while a semi goes for 164,258.

Flats, on average, sell for 129,3200 while terraced houses are 155,255.

Tim Main, head of sales at estate agents Balfours, said he is seeing more inquiries from the capital, adding: It is all about the way of life people want to lead. If they want to work 14 hours-a-day and at a high-speed pace, they choose London, if they can afford it. That contrasts with Shropshires beautiful, rolling countryside.

The rest is here:
London buyers keen on Shropshire country homes

It's one segment of a national remodeling market that's on the mend: Homeowner expenditures on upgrades are projected to increase 3.8 percent from 2013 to about $120 billion this year, according to an analysis by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

"The housing boom in the late '90s was a substantial increase to the total housing stock, so a lot of the remodeling may be to houses that are only 10 or 20 years old," said Stephen Melman, NAHB's director of economic services.

While nationwide the average new single-family home size continues to grow (it hit a high of 2,607 square feet last year after dipping during the recession), some area architects and builders are finding that the taste for large houses has waned.

In Montgomery County, for example, the median size of new homes has declined over the last decade, and more apartments are being built, county planner Brian O'Leary said.

Richard Buchanan of Archer Buchanan Architecture in West Chester said his customers are seeking smaller but still well-made homes, and eschewing some of the grander affectations of the McMansion - like those double-height spaces.

He said customers are often interested in dividing that echo chamber into two separate stories, which are more affordable to heat and offer better sound insulation between bedrooms and living areas.

"We build a floor, and add a bedroom and a bath over the family room, and everything makes sense," he said, "because you've returned to a more traditional pattern of use between private sleeping quarters and more public spaces."

Mark Fox, of Gardner/Fox Associates in Bryn Mawr, said he has also cut a few two-story spaces down to size. While renovations in newer homes are still a small fraction of his business, he said there is demand for certain improvements.

"It's upgrading: The builder put in cheap cabinets and appliances, and we're remodeling those. I haven't had a lot of additions on these homes; they're big enough as it is."

Bathroom remodels were the most-requested renovation, according to the NAHB member survey. Fox said he's also found that many McMansion-dwellers want to update master bathrooms that are fairly new but already dated.

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Remaking McMansions

MICHAEL SPIZ was living in Everett and working in downtown Seattle. He brake-pedaled his way to work along Interstate 5 for about five years before the commute wore him down. Got him to thinking.

I wanted to find some kind of modern-looking house; something edgy but not a cube, not a box the software engineer says of his hunt for a place to buy in Seattle. I wanted a nice kitchen, good entertaining space, finishes with natural materials with minimal maintenance.

But its hard to find that kind of thing in less than 3,000 or 4,000 square feet, and I couldnt afford that.

In the course of Spizs yearlong adventures through the citys real estate offerings he passed through a few homes by Stephenson Design Collective. He found them to be creative and not excessively large. Spiz gave them a call.

I asked if they had anything else for sale. They said, Whats your budget?

Oh sure, Spiz is all smiles now. Sitting in his glass-walled living room with over-the-treetop views west from Madrona over Madison Valley (culminating in the dome of St. Joseph on Capitol Hill). I think my favorite thing is this space right here, he says. Its nice to have something thats so bright and light. (Relive his journey with Spizs homebuilding blog at viretta.blogspot.com .)

Spizs house, built by Quality Remodeling & Restoration, meets all of his requirements and then some. It is not a box at all, sitting up tall and spreading its three bedrooms and 3 baths over three floors and 2,150 square feet. Kitchen, dining and living rooms flow one to another and then out to a large deck, these spaces sharing a concrete floor. There is another 300-square-foot covered patio off the lower level of the home, and another, on the rooftop, awaits the budget go-ahead.

And edgy? The Spiz home is all over edgy, literally. The look of it is not something you see every day, or any day, really. It is cloaked in designed-to-rust Corten steel and charred cedar (charred on site). The address has been cut prominently into the steel. Access is across a steel bridge and via a passcard reader. The Corten continues inside, supporting the bamboo stairs, as the living-room ceiling (12 feet overhead) and out the back as the patio roof.

Spiz, 31, and his girlfriend, Alyssa Hays, use their creative home with flair and often. They, along with friend Nich Anderson, host jazz concerts there, charging patrons about $30 for dinner (prepared by Spiz) and a show. (Find the schedule at Jazzvox.com.) Spiz himself sings with Seattle Jazz Singers, and is, well, jazzed about sharing his home with like-minded enthusiasts.

Im still trying to figure out how much food to make. And its definitely break even or at a slight loss, he says. But I get a professional performance out of it, and other people get to come hear it, too. Thats the best.

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Seattle contemporary built to stand up and out now and later

Clifton Park, New York (PRWEB) May 23, 2014

ReBath of Albany is excited to announce they are having a huge sale on acrylic shower bases, bathtubs and bathtub surrounds.

Owner, Frank Rafalik decided to mark down select colors and styles 20% to make room for new colors and styles that will become available shortly.

The bathtub and shower surround colors included in the sale are: Almond, Arctic Gray, Biscuit, Crema Travertine, Heron Marble, Ivory Marble, Mocha, Rock Creek, Sierra Granite, Taupe Granite, Travertine, White and White Marble. The matching shower bases and replacement tubs will be included in the sale. They come in Almond, Biscuit, Gray, Mexican Sand, Orchid and White.

To take advantage of this sale, anyone who is interested must visit the showroom on Solar Drive, in Clifton Park.

Even though many products are on a liquidation sale, ReBath of Albany still guarantees quality installation and a lifetime warranty. The staff at ReBath of Albany never compromises quality customer service and the best installation experience.

Because most of the colors and styles are currently in the ReBath of Albany warehouse, customers can have their bathroom installed within a few days of signing the agreement.

There are a limited number of discounted ReBath systems available. Once these colors are gone, the sale will be over. Anyone interested in taking advantage of this great deal should visit ReBath of Albanys showroom immediately.

About ReBath of Albany ReBath of Albany is a franchise of ReBath LLC, which sells patented DuraBath SSP acrylic products. ReBath of Albany is a bathroom remodeling company that specializes in the tub and shower area, installing tub and shower replacements, bathtub liners, tub to shower conversions, barrier-free showers and walk-in tubs in as little as one day. ReBath of Albany can also remodel the rest of the bathroom in as little as two days, using quality products from Merillat, Armstrong, Delta, Kohler and more. ReBath of Albany services ten counties and many towns, in New York, including: Albany, Canajoharie, Westerlo, Edinburg, Gloversville, Columbia, Fairfield, Hartford, Salem, Troy, Petersburg, Northumberland, Saratoga Springs, Glenville, Millville, Clifton Park, Carlisle and West Fulton. They also proudly serve the towns in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, including the towns of Pittsfield, Richmond and Cheshire.

ReBath of Albany 9 Solar Drive Clifton Park, NY 12065 1-800-BATHTUB (518) 371-0400 http://www.rebathofalbany.com contact(at)rebathofalbany(dot)com

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ReBath System Liquidation Sale Going on Now at ReBath of Albany

In addition to some general up keep and standard painting, the summer term will consist of several remodeling projects, reviewing programming and breaking ground on a new residence hall.

The major remodeling being done this summer is the Custer Hall Window Project, said Rebecca Peterson, Director of Residential Life. We will be replacing all of the windows on the North side of the building. We are also replacing the staircases in Wooster Place A, B, C, and D buildings.

Peterson explained that students currently living on the third floors of Wooster Place have been relocated so that construction crews can begin replacing the stairs.

Around 100 students are living on campus in the Stadium Place Apartments, Wooster Place Apartments, and McMindes Hall this summer in addition to the various summer camps taking place at Fort Hays State University.

For a student to live with us during the summer they need to be enrolled in a summer class, involved with a university activity, or be working on campus, Peterson said. Students who are also living with us this fall can also live here during the summer. We also take into account any exceptions that a student may have.

Currently, the residential halls can hold more than 1600 students and Peterson expects that every available space will fill during the 2014-2015 academic year.

This year we switched to an online selection tool, Peterson said. Now, students can physically pick their room along with their roommates much like picking a seat on an airplane.

Current residents piloted the program in February and incoming students will get the chance to use the program in July.

Residential Life is also in the process of planning a new residential hall that is expected to be open to students beginning the fall semester of 2016.

The new building will be located behind the Robins Center in the current alfalfa field, said Peterson. It will be two buildings; one is a residence hall with 406 beds and a themed house with 98 beds.

Continued here:
Summer housing changes