(11:59 a.m. EDT) -- Scenic might not be as familiar to North Americans as other luxury river cruise lines such as Uniworld or Tauck; Crystal also entered the higher end of the river cruise market last year with built-in name recognition.

But make no mistake, Scenic has a worldwide fan base that has been steadily gaining American and Canadian converts. Part of Australian Glen Moroney's Scenic Tours empire (later renamed Scenic), Scenic jumped into river cruising in 2008 with its space ships, all-inclusive vessels featuring signature cabins with sun rooms that turn into partial outdoor spaces with the push of a button.

After a few days on Scenic Diamond, sailing the line's Bordeaux itinerary, we can see the appeal. There's a refreshing casualness onboard that belies the price tag; while service is still professional and prompt, the crew and their management are not afraid to talk to passengers (perhaps that's the Australian influence -- our cruise, which is about three-fourths full, is dominated by travelers from Down Under).

The result is you're more likely to get the kind of vacation you want. Fancy a small nosh in your sunroom? Your butler will bring it to you. Want to skip the guided tour and get a massage instead? Scenic's Tailormade devices (portable GPS locators with commentary) give you the highlights, so you can explore on your own and your cruise director will make sure you have a pass to get into the castle. A fleet of e-bikes make it easier for even the less fit to take them out for a spin.

This season, two of Scenic's space ships in France -- Scenic Diamond and Scenic Sapphire -- received refurbishments to make them more in line with the newer vessels in the fleet. Capacity has been reduced from 167 to 155, while keeping the staff levels the same. Two 506-square-foot Royal Owners Suites were added, as well as a host of other features outlined below.

The most heralded addition to the French ships is Scenic Culinaire, a series of cooking demonstrations available at no extra charge while the ship is sailing between ports. Located in the dining room (where it's used as an omelet/crepe making station during meals), Scenic Culinaire is essentially a large cooking island, where up to 10 passengers can sit and watch the chef make French dishes like merveilles provencales (beignets) with strawberries and dry apricot jam or coq au vin. There's a TV monitor, and eventually the line plans to broadcast the classes into the cabins.

We attended the beignets session. The ship's French chef, Jerome, is fast-talking, and we enjoyed watching him at work. At times, though, the experience felt dry. It's not immersive; unlike similar classes we've taken on Uniworld or Viking Ocean where you actually fill a samosa or chop some veggies, you mainly sit there and watch. Two Australian ladies next to us whispered that they would have liked to have tasted some of the more unusual ingredients the chef was using.

That being said, Scenic Culinaire sessions fill up quickly and since they are the primary enrichment activity on the ship during sea days, it's a worthwhile diversion for those who love to cook -- and eat (you do get a sample at the end).

One of the most welcome trends in river cruising is the chance to be more active and get away from the standard coach-and-walking-tour excursion. We found Scenic to be ahead of the curve with its active options, particularly when it comes to cycling. The ship has a fleet of electronic bikes, and employed them in nearly every port as a guided option (you can also take them out on your own, if you wish).

Our first tour, a bike ride to a wine chateau in Medoc, has been one of the highlights of the trip so far. The guide stopped several times to explain the region's terroir, and history, as well as take photos. Support crew were along to block traffic when necessary and fix bikes if there was a problem. After the winery visit, passengers who had biked were given the option to return on the coach or bike back; the ease of using the e-bikes ensued that almost everyone took the latter option (we noticed a decided increase in the electronic assist on the way back).

There are two more bike tours to come, and we've signed up for them all. While these simple e-bike excursions shouldn't be confused with the larger cycling partnership Scenic has with Trek Travel -- those are fully chartered, bike-intensive trips on the Danube and Rhine -- we love the chance to cover more ground and work off a teeny amount of the French wine and cheese we've consumed.

Another of the biggest changes to the ship is the expansion of the spa and addition of a gym and wellness facility on the bottom deck. There's a check-in desk (unmanned) as you walk down the stairs, as well as a table with herbal teas and flavored water.

Unlike some river ships where the spa is simply a darkened cabin, Scenic Diamond's new facility is larger (two cabins were taken out for it) and more high-tech. There's a sofa in the sign-in area, a shower for full body treatments and two tables in case passengers want a couples' massage. We enjoyed the space, although found our massage a bit uncomfy, as the attendant took a decidedly European approach to privacy (as in he didn't turn around when we were undressing and dressing). Spa treatments are not included in the fare, although they are more reasonable than what you'd find in an European hotel or resort; our 50-minute massage cost 72 euro, tip inclusive.

Across the hall from the spa room, the new gym will definitely please those who want to stay fit when they travel. It's a little bigger than most fitness rooms you see on river ships, with four aerobic machines and some weights. Light streams in from the windows, making it feel open.

We're not quite sure what to make of the Salt Room. While it's truly beautiful -- the walls are lined with bricks made from golden Himalayan salt, and there's salt spread on the floor surrounding the room's three loungers -- there's no aromatherapy or other component to the experience. All in all, it seems to take up a lot of space while not adding a lot of tangible benefit. We were told it was good for allergies and your skin, but we didn't notice anything after our 45 minutes there. It's also a bit noisy, as it's across the hall from the hairdressing salon.

The Vitality Pool on the sun deck is more of a whirlpool/hot tub than a real pool to swim in. Still, it's a decent size for the ship, seating six. We've found bar service on the top deck to be prompt, so if you're the kind of person who likes to soak after a day of touring -- perhaps with a glass of Champagne in hand -- you'll enjoy this new feature.

--By Chris Gray Faust, Senior Editor

Read more:
Live from Scenic Diamond: What's New Onboard? - Cruise Critic

1314 WINDY HILL COURT, CONCORD TWP.

Luxury features accent accessible ranch with lower level

The brick ranch home at 1314 Windy Hill Court in Concord Twp. between Tipp City and Troy presents a fine example of how to create a totally accessible floor plan without sacrificing luxury features.

This home is designed for functionality and aesthetics, said Richard Pierce of Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors.

My wife and I designed the house, said one co-owner.

As a professional counselor in the field of developmental disabilities, he is well aware of mobility, disability and senior issues that might occur during any lifetime and wanted to build a home that would accommodate anyone at any age.

So while designing the kitchen, a sunroom, a main bedroom suite with a bath, a partially finished full basement, they included extra-wide doorways, hallways and staircases, a roll-in shower, level exterior walkways and an elevator shaft that is currently used as a walk-in pantry.

With more than 4,380 square feet of living space, the home is listed for $638,000.

Leaded-glass sidelights and an arched transom surround the front door. The open floor plan offers a great room, which allows a seamless flow through the sitting area to the dining area, open kitchen and sunroom.

An angled fireplace with a white mantel sits beside a wall of built-ins with space for a large-screen TV flanked by upper bookshelves with backlighting and lower storage areas with cabinets and drawers.

Large vinyl-tile flooring extends through the dining area and into the kitchen, where the work space is framed with oversized cherry cabinets with under lighting and upper moldings. Solid-surface counters with beveled edges include a peninsular counter with an overhang for bar seating. The double sink sits under a boxed window facing the back yard. Stainless-steel appliances include a dishwasher, French-door refrigerator, smooth-surface electric range and two microwave ovens.

From the dining area an open archway leads to the sunroom, which connects to the 30-by-24-foot patio.

Multiple cherry cabinets are installed in the laundry room. The attached, four-car garage, which measures 27 feet by 45 feet, has an epoxy floor covering, finished walls and a pull-down ladder to upper storage space.

Accented by crown moldings and recessed ceiling lights, the bedroom in the main suite has its own fireplace. In addition to a large two-person soaking tub, the adjacent bath offers a roll-in shower surrounded by rectangular tile and a wide border in miniature tile.

This master shower has three shower heads wall standard, ceiling reverse direction and handheld, said the owner.

It has corner seats and grab bars designed to double as towel racks.

Cambria counters and an expanse of mirrors follow the lines of the long double vanity, which wraps around an angled corner at the center and extends along two walls. Wood organizer shelves are installed in the walk-in closet/dressing room.

Off the entry is a versatile room, currently used as an office, which could be a bedroom as it has a closet and a second door into the hallway that accesses a full bath with tub and shower. Nearby, bedroom three has a closet with organizer shelves enclosed by a pocket door.

Wall sconces light the wide staircase to the lower level, which offers two more bedrooms, both with egress windows. This levels full bath has a tub and shower.

There is a third egress window in the long recreation room, where an upper daylight window faces decorative stone work in the back yard. At one end is a luxury-vinyl tile area for dining and/or a future kitchenette.

This lower level can easily convert to an in-law suite with washer/dryer hook-ups in place, said the owner.

Drywall and concrete stained floors give the storage room a semi-finished look. The elevator shaft area is now used as a walk-in storage closet.

Other features include two 50-gallon water heaters, a furnace humidifier, a whole-house generator, a safety room and exterior motion-detector lights.

Directions: Interstate 75 to exit 69, right on South County Road 25A, left on Monroe Concord Road, right on Merrimont Drive, right on Broken Woods Drive, left on Windmere Drive, right on Lincolnshire Drive, right on Windy Hill Court

Highlights: About 4,300 sq. ft., 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, ranch with finished lower level, built 2015, open gathering area, 2 fireplaces, cherry cabinets, recreation room, sun room, porch, patio, sound system, attached 4-car garage, whole-house generator, elevator-ready

http://www.coldwellbankerishome.com

See the original post here:
Functionality and aesthetics - Dayton Daily News

COVER HOUSE

1314 WINDY HILL COURT, CONCORD TWP.

Luxury features accent accessible ranch with lower level

Contributing writer

The brick ranch home at 1314 Windy Hill Court in Concord Twp. between Tipp City and Troy presents a fine example of how to create a totally accessible floor plan without sacrificing luxury features.

This home is designed for functionality and aesthetics, said Richard Pierce of Coldwell Banker Heritage Realtors.

My wife and I designed the house, said one co-owner.

As a professional counselor in the field of developmental disabilities, he is well aware of mobility, disability and senior issues that might occur during any lifetime and wanted to build a home that would accommodate anyone at any age.

So while designing the kitchen, a sunroom, a main bedroom suite with a bath, a partially finished full basement, they included extra-wide doorways, hallways and staircases, a roll-in shower, level exterior walkways and an elevator shaft that is currently used as a walk-in pantry.

With more than 4,380 square feet of living space, the home is listed for $638,000.

Leaded-glass sidelights and an arched transom surround the front door. The open floor plan offers a great room, which allows a seamless flow through the sitting area to the dining area, open kitchen and sunroom.

An angled fireplace with a white mantel sits beside a wall of built-ins with space for a large-screen TV flanked by upper bookshelves with backlighting and lower storage areas with cabinets and drawers.

Large vinyl-tile flooring extends through the dining area and into the kitchen, where the work space is framed with oversized cherry cabinets with under lighting and upper moldings. Solid-surface counters with beveled edges include a peninsular counter with an overhang for bar seating. The double sink sits under a boxed window facing the back yard. Stainless-steel appliances include a dishwasher, French-door refrigerator, smooth-surface electric range and two microwave ovens.

From the dining area an open archway leads to the sunroom, which connects to the 30-by-24-foot patio.

Multiple cherry cabinets are installed in the laundry room. The attached, four-car garage, which measures 27 feet by 45 feet, has an epoxy floor covering, finished walls and a pull-down ladder to upper storage space.

Accented by crown moldings and recessed ceiling lights, the bedroom in the main suite has its own fireplace. In addition to a large two-person soaking tub, the adjacent bath offers a roll-in shower surrounded by rectangular tile and a wide border in miniature tile.

This master shower has three shower heads wall standard, ceiling reverse direction and handheld, said the owner.

It has corner seats and grab bars designed to double as towel racks.

Cambria counters and an expanse of mirrors follow the lines of the long double vanity, which wraps around an angled corner at the center and extends along two walls. Wood organizer shelves are installed in the walk-in closet/dressing room.

Off the entry is a versatile room, currently used as an office, which could be a bedroom as it has a closet and a second door into the hallway that accesses a full bath with tub and shower. Nearby, bedroom three has a closet with organizer shelves enclosed by a pocket door.

Wall sconces light the wide staircase to the lower level, which offers two more bedrooms, both with egress windows. This levels full bath has a tub and shower.

There is a third egress window in the long recreation room, where an upper daylight window faces decorative stone work in the back yard. At one end is a luxury-vinyl tile area for dining and/or a future kitchenette.

This lower level can easily convert to an in-law suite with washer/dryer hook-ups in place, said the owner.

Drywall and concrete stained floors give the storage room a semi-finished look. The elevator shaft area is now used as a walk-in storage closet.

Other features include two 50-gallon water heaters, a furnace humidifier, a whole-house generator, a safety room and exterior motion-detector lights.

CONCORD TWP.

Price: $638,000

Open: June 11, 2-4 p.m.

Directions: Interstate 75 to exit 69, right on South County Road 25A, left on Monroe Concord Road, right on Merrimont Drive, right on Broken Woods Drive, left on Windmere Drive, right on Lincolnshire Drive, right on Windy Hill Court

Highlights: About 4,300 sq. ft., 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, ranch with finished lower level, built 2015, open gathering area, 2 fireplaces, cherry cabinets, recreation room, sun room, porch, patio, sound system, attached 4-car garage, whole-house generator, elevator-ready

For more details:

Coldwell Banker Heritage

Richard Pierce

(937) 524-6077

http://www.coldwellbankerishome.com

Continued here:
Functionality and aesthetics - MyDaytonDailyNews

Photo: Production House Studios/Robert A. Kristel

House of the Week: Colonial in East Greenbush

This week's selection is a brick Colonial with extra rooms for reading and lounging. The house is 2,000 square feet and has four bedrooms and one and a half bathrooms. The master bedroom has a separate sitting room that would work nicely as a nursery. Downstairs, in addition to the formal living and dining rooms, there is a cozy den. If you're bucking the open layout trend, this home is for you. The two sets of built-in shelves in the dining room have a pretty fluted motif in the concave arches; built-in shelves also flank the fireplace in the living room. There is a heated sunroom off the back of the house as well as a slate patio. The house sits on a quarter acre.

Taxes: $6,450. List price: $299,900. Realtor Joan Rapp of Berkshire Hathaway Blake is handling the sale. Contact her for a showing at 331-2458.

Continue reading here:
House of the Week: Colonial in East Greenbush - Albany Times Union

Many of those who tour the two Parade of Homes entries by EGStoltzfus in Southern Village wont be looking to move to the Lancaster Township neighborhood.

In fact, they may not want to move at all.

And that suits EGStoltzfus just fine, because the Parade is about far more than just selling those homes, says Bill Patrick, director of custom homes and remodeling/senior designer for EGStoltzfus.

Its also about showing people how they can enhance the beauty and functionality of their living space.

We like to call the Parade an invitation to inspiration, Patrick says. Visitors can explore homes on the Parade tour and see the latest in new home features and design trends. They visit the Parade looking for ideas they can put into their own home.

That could be an existing home or a home they want to create from the ground up sometime in the future.

Thats where EGStoltzfus comes in. In addition to their neighborhood communities like Southern Village, the firm also has a custom home division and a remodeling and additions division, enabling them to bring your inspiration to life wherever and however your heart desires.

The design-build firm has completed over 2,000 projects in Lancaster and surrounding counties, from small-scale projects to large remodel plans and custom home design and construction. This year alone, EGStoltzfus is in the process of bringing three custom homes from concept to completion on client-owned lots in Lancaster County.

Whether its a remodeling project, a custom home or a home in one of their neighborhood communities, EGStoltzfus creates a personal experience for the homeowner.

We really like to collaborate with our clients, Patrick says. Its the best way to translate their desires and their inspiration into a real space that works best for them on many levels for their neighborhood, their lifestyle and their budget.

These days, that inspiration can come from many sources, including popular websites like Pinterest and Houzz. EGStoltzfus designer/project manager Adam Coe says he finds it challenging and fun to work with ideas that clients have pulled from the web, whether its a pallet wall, a unique built-in or a certain kind of hardware.

Well work together with the homeowner and come up with a design that best incorporates these elements into their home, giving it a unique style and making it truly their own, he says.

Of course, for the best design ideas and the latest trends, theres nothing like seeing inspiration on display in an actual home. At Southern Village, a quiet neighborhood with easy access to routes 30 and 283, Parade visitors can tour a carriage home, at 105 Goldenfield Drive, and a new single-family home, at 245 Pilgrim Drive. Single-family homes were introduced to the neighborhood this year during a grand re-opening in April.

Single-family homes at Southern Village are available in six new floor plans with two- and three-bedroom options, starting in the mid-$200s. Carriage homes offer one- and two-floor living options and start in the upper $100s.

The homes give Parade-goers a good sense of scale, Patrick says, and they can experience first-hand how traffic flows in a newer, more open-space floor plan.

Open floor plans are just one of the trends to watch. Also popular are kitchen pantries, drop zones near the garage, lots of windows and creative outdoor living spaces.

Those trends and more are on display not only in the Parade homes, but also in five other EGStoltzfus neighborhoods in Lancaster County, including the popular Landis Farm in East Hempfield Township. EGStoltzfus also has communities in York, Dauphin, Cumberland and Lebanon counties.

Visitors can drop by any EGStoltzfus model home throughout the year for home remodeling or design inspiration, whether it be for a kitchen, bath or basement remodel or a sunroom, patio or home theater addition.

Anything really goes now, as long as its done on good foundational design, Patrick says. Nothing is out of the realm of possibility.

Two great places to get inspired are the Southern Village Sales Center, 1 Farm Lane, Lancaster, and the Landis Farm Sales Center, 1421 Pennscott Drive, Landisville. Hours at Southern Village are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday and by appointment Monday through Thursday. Hours at Landis Farm are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and by appointment Wednesday.

In addition to the homes in Southern Village, EGStoltzfus has a third Parade of Homes entry - a carriage home at The Farmstead, the newest residential neighborhood at Homestead Village retirement community in East Hempfield Township.

For more information on EGStoltzfus neighborhoods, custom homes, or remodeling and additions, visit http://www.egstoltzfus.com or call 717-393-0212.

Original post:
EGSTOLTZFUS HOMES: Building or remodeling? EGStoltzfus can inspire - LancasterOnline

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The backyard garden includes a coop full of chickens.(Photo: John Klein / for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Buy Photo

Do you, or does someone you know, have a cool, funky or exquisite living space that youd like to see featured in At Home? Contact Fresh home and garden editor Nancy Stohs at (414) 224-2382 or email nstohs@journalsentinel.com.

When you tour Lincoln and Lilith Fowlers east side gardens, its hard to believe that part of their space once resembled a large concrete bathtub, and that the rest of it was fairly nondescript.

There had been a garage at the side of the house. It looked like a bathtub. There were just three sides and the floor had sunk down, said Lincoln.

Because the old garage was unsightly and the couple wanted to build a new one, landscaping the front and side of their home became one of the first projects they did after buying the house in 2005.

We had to regrade the south side of the house and remove the sunken garage. We put a new garage in then added retaining walls, which determined how the gardens would be laid out, said Lincoln.

The couple had their new garage built at the back of the lot, then added a ribbon driveway which has a strip of earth in the center for plantings. He is co-owner of Colectivo Coffee Cafs in Wisconsin and Illinois.She is executive director of Harbor District Inc.

At the front of the house, they added dramatic hardscaping and colorful plantings.

We went to Halquist Stone to pick out the kind of stone we wanted to use on the walls, said Lilith. Lincoln saw some very large rocks and said he had to have them, so we put them at the corners of the retaining walls near the sidewalk.

ThenLilith, who is the gardener in the family, added plantings.

Their gardens will be featured in this year's Eastside Milwaukee Garden Tour on July 25.

Along the driveway I have some Rozanne geraniums, which are absolute workhorses, she said. They bloom continuously from June to November. I also have a Japanese maple tree and I lovehow the burgundy leaves complement flowers and plants in the gardens that are colors like chartreuse, pinkand orange.

Since I don't plant many annuals, and roses don't do great as I dont coddle my plants, I rely a lot on foliage to add color heucheras, different sedums, and grasses.

Coming into bloom right now is the soapwort, which is covered with a sweet little pink flower and does very well along the edge of my rock wall. It has reseeded itself in a couple places to grow right out between the stones of the wall.

In addition to the landscaping, the couple also added back and side decks, then turned their attention to the interior of their five bedroom, 4 bath home, which was built in 1912.

There, major work was done as well.

Lincoln, who described their 4,000-square-foot home as a Grand Craftsman style, said the biggest project was the removal of a utility chimney to add a bathroom for their two children and to allow them to renovate themaster bathroom.

The chimney occupied space we needed. It was being used, and we had to also change heating systems, he said.

Other major projects were a kitchen renovation and upgrades to their sunroom, which was originally a three-season porch.

In the kitchen renovation, which was done two years ago, they added an island with an end grain walnut butcher-block top over custom steel cabinets made by Gallas Metalworks. They also had the company make cabinets to flank their tangerine-colored five burner Lacanche stove, added sueded quartzite countertops. They also added a small glass subway tile backsplash, painted their walls eggplant, and addeda baking station and cabinets made of wood with a whitewashed finish.

Original maple flooring in the room was painted white with plans to let it get dinged up naturally for a distressed look, said Lincoln.

The end result is a look they both love.

We thought the merging of Lincolns and my aesthetics would look great in this room. Its fun but its not over the top, said Lilith.

I like the metal cabinets because they look like free standing cabinets, added Lincoln.

Open shelves made of old-growth fir create another focal point in the kitchen.

They were joists from the Maritime Bank Building in Bay View that was torn down when we built an Alterra, which was later renamed Colectivo, said Lincoln. We harvested an enormous amount of wood and are using it to make things like these shelves, furniture, and bar tops. Most of the pieces are being used at Colectivo."

The couple recently talked about their home and gardens while their cats, rescued siblings Tom and Cocoa, looked on from a safe distance.

Q. What changes did you make tothe sun porch?

Lincoln:The two back walls are original, but we had all new doors and windows added. We also put in a heated floor and cement eccentric tile from the Dominican Republic.

Q. Did you make changes in your backyard?

Lilith:We redid it last fall. We added a patio with red brick accenting, we had to deal with water problems, and we added a chicken coop. We have two Barred Rocks and a Speckled Sussex.The children named them Peanut, Speckleand Little Bit.

Q. What were the back gardens like when you moved here?

Lilith:There was abig lawn and planted beds around the perimeter with lots of Virginia bluebells that still pop up in unexpected places each spring. We replanted all the beds.

Q. Did you keep any of the plants in your other gardens?

Lilith:The weeping birch and the arbor vitae next to the house. There was also a wild grape vine growing up the house. It has an insignificant little flower that you wouldn't even notice, except that when it's blooming every bee for miles is at our house and the whole house buzzes.The bees are no trouble. Theyre so busy with the flowers that they don't bother us at all.

Q. How much time do you spend working in your gardens?

Lilith:My usual pattern is to spend three to four long workdays there each spring and fall. Ill do pruning, mulching, filling some holes, moving things as needed, and weeding. And then I leave it pretty much alone except for a little dead-heading or puttering. I'm not a coddler. I dont fertilize or water except if its been really dry. So if it's in my garden, you know it's a survivor. The one thing that does get a little extra TLC is the creeping thyme among the steppingstones. When it blooms, the whole area is covered with a fuzzy pink carpet.

Q. Do you use your sunroom often?

Lilith:I use it all winter. Then, its the warmest part of the house at 2 p.m. when the sun comes in. I love to read the paper with my coffee in there because its so bright and warm.

Q. You have some interesting artwork. Can you describe a few favorites?

Lilith:We have a Brahman bull head that is a papier mache sculpture in the dining room. It was done by British artist David Farrer. We got it when we were snowed in in London in 2010 on a business trip. In the master we have a large painting we commissioned that shows crows, a rabbit and a wolf. We commissioned that fromMichael Caines, a Canadian artist.There are also pieces of artwork by relatives who are artists. They include pieces from my sister, Madeline von Foerster of Cologne, Germany.

Q. Whats your style of decorating?

Lilith:Picky but indecisive. The house is flexible and welcoming, so we do what we want.

Q. What are some of the other amenities in your home?

Lilith:We have a stained glass skylight in the master bathroom. We put that in when we took out the chimney.

Lincoln:We have a grouping of nine leaded glass windows in the stairway landing. In the library on the second floor there is a large built-in bookcase and a mullioned glass door. We also have three fireplaces, theres one in the living room, one in the basement and one in the library. The one in the living room has original brown square tiles, and we had a bronze grate doneby Jill Sebastian of MIAD. We also have a hot tub on the porch that connects to the master.

In the living room the ceiling is vaulted and there is decorative plaster and wood crown. We added LED lighting over the wood on two sides of the room.

Q. What sold you on this house?

Lilith:The two sweet little pantries. The one off the dining room is the butler's pantry and has a window that connects to the sunroom. That pantry is all original wood. The other one is off the kitchen. That would have been the maids pantry and its painted all white. They have a lot of character and really attracted us to the house.

If You Go:

What:5thAnnualEastside Milwaukee Garden Tour: A self guided walking tour of over 20 gardens.

Where:On Milwaukees east side in the area bordered by North Ave., Lake Michigan, Edgewood Ave. and the Milwaukee River.

When:From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 25.

Cost:Free. Maps available at the North Point Lighthouse, the Urban Ecology Center, and True ValueHardware, 2629 Downer Ave. Master gardeners will be at the lighthouse and Maryland Ave. School to answer questions.

For more information:CheckFacebook pageor call (414) 467-2543.

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This home is an eclectic mix of style and art with a lush garden to match - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Sellers Lis and Rich Dicce

Address 5 Virgil Dr., Brentwood

Asking price $425,000

The basics A three-bedroom, 1-bath high-ranch on a 0.25-acre lot

The competition A three-bedroom Colonial on Riddle Street is listed for $395,000.

Nearest recent sale A high-ranch on nearby Winston Drive sold March 7 for $350,200.

Taxes $8,320 ($7,502 with STAR)

Time on the market Since March 28

Listing agent Kathleen Doerrie, Coach Realtors, Huntington, 631-987-4322.

Why its for sale Lis Dicce, 74, a retired teacher, and Rich Dicce, 75, a retired auto technician, say they want to move to a warmer climate.

The Dicces home has new siding, a new roof and central air-conditioning. Lis Dicce shares:

This property is like an oasis. Its been well maintained, and there are perennial plantings throughout. Theres a waterfall in the backyard that cascades into a pond thats surrounded by slate landscaping, shrubs and perennials. Thats in addition to our 20-foot-by-40-foot inground pool. The whole backyard is great for entertaining and is fenced in with vinyl fencing thats about 10 years old and looks as good as new. We have lower and upper decks made of composite material, which are great for entertaining and theres no maintenance to them.

The large sunroom, which we added in 2013, is off the kitchen, and we use it year-round. It has both heat and air conditioning. All the windows open and have blinds between the glass, and we get a beautiful sunrise in the morning. The kitchen was renovated in 2013 with stainless steel and energy efficient appliances and lots of cabinet space . . . The den and wood-burning stove are downstairs . . . Were going to miss this house. If we could move it to Florida, we would.

Original post:
Why buy our high-ranch in Brentwood - Newsday

The 2017 Jayne Kuchma Leadership Greater Bridgeport (LGB) Alumni Award will be presented to Jim Gildea, Director of Manufacturing Fairfield for Bigelow Tea, at the LGB commencement dinner for Class 28 on Thursday, June 8 at 7 p.m. at Tashua Knolls in Trumbull.

The award celebrates distinguished alumni who are recognized in their profession for outstanding achievements and are actively engaged in community service in the greater Bridgeport region.

Jim exemplifies the spirit of this award, said Laura Campbell, former Executive Director of Leadership Greater Bridgeport. Not only does he have an extraordinary professional record of accomplishment; he consistently gives back to his community. Jim doesnt know the meaning of no.

Jim graduated from LGB in 2011 with Class 22. He was selected to be Class 22s Board Representative and when that term was up in 2012, he joined the Board and has been a transformational leader for the program ever since. He has served as Program Chair, Community Service Project Liaison and Board Co-Chair from 2015-2017.

Jim has been with Bigelow Tea since 1996. He has served in various capacities during his tenure from Facility Supervisor responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of both the Fairfield Plant and Corporate facility, to his current position, Director of Manufacturing, after numerous promotions.

In this position, he has worked on many of the companys green initiatives including energy conservation and waste reduction. Jim speaks in the community regularly about Bigelow Teas sustainability efforts including waste reduction and energy efficiency. Jim was awarded the CBIA Outstanding Contributor to a Family Business Award.

In the Bridgeport region, Jim serves as Co-Chair of the Leadership for Greater Bridgeport Board of Directors and is a member of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Jim was nominated as a Bank of America Local Community Hero. Jim was appointed by Governor Dannel Malloy to serve on the Connecticut Commuter Rail Council. He was recently re-elected Chairman of the Council by his peers for his second term.

Jim has dedicated countless hours to so many nonprofit organizations within the Bridgeport Region. He has been part of project teams that have renovated the Sunroom at the Bridgeport Rescue Mission as well as planting trees, installing benches, repairing stairs and painting porches and the chapel also at the Bridgeport Rescues Mission. He has also helped serve breakfast and lunch at Operation Hope and assisted in the cleanup, repair and painting at the Sandcastle Playground among other projects. He has also previously participated in the Freezin for Reason Fundraiser and raised money for the Wakeman Burroughs Boys and Girls Club by jumping in Long Island Sound.

Under his management the Fairfield plant has donated over 250 man hours of community service in each of the last 5 years.

Jim is also involved locally in his town where he has previously been on the Board of Education for 14 years (from 1992 2005) and served as Chairman of the Board for 12 years. He has once again served on the Board since 2013. He has previously served on the Zoning Commission, School Building Committee and the Water Pollution Control Authority.

In addition, Jim coaches Derby Youth Soccer and teaches religious education at Holy Rosary.

The Jayne Kuchma Leadership Greater Bridgeport Alumni Award was established in 2015 to celebrate the life of Jayne Kuchma, who graduated with LGB Class 14 and served for many years on the LGB Board of Directors.

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Derby's Jim Gildea Wins Jayne Kuchma Leadership Greater Bridgeport Alumni Award - Valley Independent Sentinel

As a home stager I am very lucky to get to meet people who ask me for my opinion, and for the most part, much is valued and used.

So when I was asked by a Realtor to take a look at an older home that had major renovations done to it and is now on the market here in the Annapolis Valley (Upper Canard to be exact), I jumped at the chance.

This home sits on 11 acres of land and is a restored landmark, a New England Planters circa 1772 to be exact. This property is deceiving. As you approach it you find yourself looking at the amount of land it sits on and how beautiful nature is encasing it, but the real surprise is on the inside. It makes you want to hang out and enjoy all it has to offer.

The homeowners welcomed me, not only with a smile. As we talked they spoke with pride of all the details that went into the changes that took place from start to finish. One of the things the Realtor had mentioned was the great kitchen, so that was stop number one.

There are no upper cabinets in this kitchen so storage was well planned. I also liked the many stations that were thought of prep, cooking, baking, etc. A great flow to the room.

I toured the upstairs bedroom and as I started to approach it I saw the doors on either side where there were balconies love it, and the open beams that set the room off were visually grand.

The living room and dining room both had updates open beam in one of the rooms but the dining area connected beautifully. And as you looked to an addition piece the sunroom/seating area, where I am sure they must spend hours it calls you to relax and enjoy the quiet.

I could envision the many entertaining evenings I could plan.

Throughout it all, the mix of old to the new felt right.

There is much to explore in this home and if you are looking, this is a great place to view.

If you think it is not worth it to transform an older home with a major renovation, then this home will change your mind. It is proof that anything is possible and infusing the new with the old can be a great marriage in the decorating world.

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When mix of old and new feels right - TheChronicleHerald.ca

Eloise Ogden/MDN Dave Lebrun, president of Souris River Designs in Minot, shown in a sunroom model, said the location of a sunroom depends on the house and where it is situated, access to the sunroom and how it will be used.

A sunroom is a light-filled room that will maximize your living space and upgrade your home. It can be used for anything from a place to relax, an entertainment area to a childrens playroom.

Dave Lebrun, president of Souris River Designs in Minot, provided information about planning for a sunroom.

The location of a sunroom depends on how the room will be used, said Lebrun. If you are looking for the most sun, then obviously the south or west exposure is the best. If you want more shade, the north side of the house would be the best place to put one.

It depends on the house and where it is situated, the access they have and what they want to use it for. Weve done them on all sides, he added.

He said this year his company has seen a big increase in people adding sunrooms to their homes. He said the company did four different shows this spring two in Minot, one in Williston and another in Stanley where they showed and explained their sunroom products.

All of the sunrooms are custom with customers creating the design and the sunroom company building it to suit the customer.

Probably a good size would be 14 by 18 and as small as a 10 by 12, said Lebrun. He said the largest sunroom they have done, to date, is one they just completed in Williston that was 15 by 23.

The local company covers an area in the radius of around 100-125 miles of Minot.

The Sunspace predesigned models vary including one called a thermal room that can be heated. There are different options for heating sunrooms.

Lebrun said sunrooms could be used as yearround rooms but those would cost more money.

Sunrooms are designed to give people the enjoyment of the outdoors without certain annoyances. The nice feature about them is you can get out of the wind and bugs, Lebrun said.

You can keep your barbecue grill in the sunroom if you have an exhaust vent, he said. This way, he said, the grill can be used all yearlong. The sunrooms are built in Canada and are designed for the snow.

Some people want to put them on an existing deck they have but building code requires that the sunroom have frost footings (footings below the frost line) which arent required for an open deck, he said.

He said they have done sunrooms on upper decks but then they have to redo the footings. Even on the ground level we still have to have a footing, he said.

A city permit is required for the addition of a sunroom.

These particular sunrooms come panelized so their installation usually takes only about two days, he said.

Prices of the sunrooms vary depending on the situation but a small basic sunroom can cost around $7,500, Lebrun said. He said prices can go up to around $40,000 for sunrooms.

After installation, sunrooms are a permanent part of the house.

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Bringing the outdoors in - Minot Daily News