JOAN Dunlop is not a typical cat-lady.

Sitting regally beneath a roaring tiger print in her lounge room turned film studio, she radiated the charisma of a movie star - or letter-writing royalty.

Despite her shrinking frame you get the feeling there is something larger-than-life about this character.

These suspicions were confirmed when she poured herself a mid-morning gin and tonic and offered it around to a roomful of 20-somethings.

The prolific letter-writing career which has earned Mrs Dunlop Toowoomba celebrity status has also become the subject of a student documentary entitled 10,000 Letters to the Editor.

Queensland University of Technology filmmakers are producing the short film which will celebrate the 40-year strong career of Toowoomba's beloved wordsmith.

QUT student and film director Lonnie Gilroy read her letters growing up in Toowoomba and immediately thought of her for his university project.

"We had to do a single camera production. I've always been a fan of Joan's letters and I thought who would be better for the project than her," he said.

"I enjoy her irreverent style, you never know what you're going to get with Joan. She's a bit of a character and has lived a full life."

Mr Gilroy said he liked the idea of every town having someone who writes letters.

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Movie star Joan not your typical cat lady

In a historic Hollywood neighborhood filled with modest side-by-side period revival homes, the 1919 bungalow of Linda Hunt and Karen Klein stands out for its refreshing mix of old and new.

From the street, the one-story home looks like a traditional Craftsman, but step inside and colorful interiors offer a profoundly modern greeting. It is a jewel-box home filled with carefully considered details and custom finishes ranging from antique door pulls to lavender-colored walls and graphic wallcoverings in surprising hues of purple and green.

"This house has whimsy and a special kind of elegance," said Hunt, an Oscar-winning actress. "It's welcoming."

The couple appreciates the home's bright and sun-filled interiors, which set it apart from other Craftsman homes in the neighborhood.

"We lasted six months in a dark Craftsman down the street," Klein, a retired therapist, said with a laugh.

They bought their current two-bedroom home with a plan to make better use of the cramped floor plan. They wanted a home that made sense, with free-flowing movement from room to room that would be suitable for them, their houseguests and dogs.

"We wanted to make better use of the space," Hunt said. "We wanted to use the house in a different way."

After touring a Hancock Park kitchen and den designed by Linda Brettler, the couple turned to the architect to help them rethink the living spaces.

Brettler began by moving the central hallway south, which added 3 feet of space to the corridor. This provided room for a washer and dryer and storage closets. Formerly a dark space, the hallway is now illuminated by a colorful stained-glass skylight and a framed mural-like stretch of wallpaper designed by cartoonist Saul Steinberg for Schumacher.

Reconfiguring the hallway also allowed Brettler to transform a bedroom located off the living room into a den and library that doubles as a guest room. These subtle changes helped to simplify the home's circulation and provide a circular path in which to navigate the house.

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Linda Hunt's Hollywood bungalow a welcoming blend of whimsy, elegance

VIROQUA Bethel Home and Services will break ground for a new 14-room Memory Care Home at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at 620 Garfield Ave. in Viroqua.

The home is intended to provide a secure, homelike setting for people who are not able to remain safely in their own homes because of Alzheimers disease or other dementia conditions, CEO Clark Nordberg said.

It will be in addition to specialized memory care that Bethel has provided in its Eldergarden since 1999, Nordberg said.

In addition to 14 private rooms, the new facility will have round-the-clock staffing and include a dining and activity room, a living room, a den, a sunroom, a serving kitchen, a bathing spa and hair salon, laundry areas, a four-season room and an enclosed courtyard.

It will provide a seamless transition for people who move to Eldergarden as their needs change, Nordberg said.

Continued here:
Bethel to break ground for Memory Care Home in Viroqua

Rarely offered for sale, one of the original Rumson estate homes built in 1881 known as Seacroft at 1 Allencrest Road is now on the market. Restored with great care in 2008 with careful attention given to its architectural heritage, the 10,000-square-foot home originally designed by noted architect Bruce Price combines a dramatic sense of history with all the comforts of modern living. The estate is listed by Gloria Nilson & Co. Real Estate.

This three-story Colonial is located in a cul-de-sac fronted by a grand stone circular driveway that stretches much of the propertys 3.6 acres to reach the porte-cochere entrance.

Entering the foyer, one is immediately greeted by butternut paneling, carved balusters and leaded glass windows that accent the main stairway. Refined woodwork can be found throughout the home, along with several coffered ceilings, six fireplaces, and other exceptional architectural details. A banquet-sized dining room, great room and adjoining sunroom provide ample space for entertaining on a grand scale.

An elegant kitchen was designed with the modern gourmet in mind and includes top-of-the-line appliances, a double oven, a vegetable sink, bay window and three islands. Additionally, there is a circular breakfast room surrounded by windows that provides a view of the property from nearly every angle. In addition to eight bedrooms and seven-and-a-half baths, the home also boasts a full basement, office, den and exercise room.

Outside is a two-story columned veranda ideal for outdoor entertaining. The sunroom opens through French doors to the bluestone patio, lush gardens and pool with diving board.

This home is close to beaches, private beach clubs and a ferry service to New York City.

This is a rare opportunity to own a piece of history in Rumson, said Geralyn Behring, sales associate at Gloria Nilson & Co. The historic architecture and decorative features are unmatched in the area, and the home has been lovingly renovated with the modern family in mind.

For more information or listing price inquiries about the property, contact Geralyn Behring at gbehring@glorianilson.com or 732-859-4761. Gloria Nilson & Co., Rumson Office, 732-530-2800.

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Historic Seacroft in Rumson for sale

213 Paula Lynn Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20904
MODEL HOME CONDITION! UPDATED AND EXPANDED BRICK COLONIAL W/STUNNING ALL-NEW CENTER-ISLAND KITCHEN, DELIGHTFUL SUNROOM ADDITION, MBR WITH NEW FULL BATH AND FULLY FINISHED LOWER LEVEL. SUPERB...

By: Savercool Team @ Long Foster

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213 Paula Lynn Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20904 - Video

Beamer on ECU quarterback Shane Carden and his receivers making bigger plays than Tech's defense

BLACKSBURG All of the painful lessons about learning how to handle prosperity were supposed to have sunk in by now, but Virginia Tech still hasn't figured it out.

The positive vibes in Blacksburg lasted less than a week.

East Carolina capitalized on a quick start and fended off a late rally by No. 17 Tech to escape Lane Stadium with a 28-21 upset win. A 1-yard touchdown run with 16 seconds left by quarterback Shane Carden capped ECU's victory.

Tech (2-1), which fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter a nightmare start to Saturday's game coming off a win last weekend at then-No. 8 Ohio State, suffered its first September home loss since losing in 2010 to James Madison. It was also Tech's fourth consecutive loss to a Football Bowl Subdivision foe in a game immediately after Tech defeated a ranked opponent.

"We understood exactly how East Carolina was going to play," said Tech coach Frank Beamer, whose team also couldn't deal with success last season after winning at No. 14 Miami 42-24, losing at home the next 27-24 in overtime against unranked Maryland. "It wasn't a secret. They hit a couple of big plays against our defense. Those things, when you give them big plays, things happen in a hurry. Then, offensively, we were sluggish getting started, and now the defense is right back out on the field. It just wasn't a good start."

ECU gained 502 yards compared to Tech's 389, but most of ECU's dissection of Tech's defense came in the first quarter. ECU scored touchdowns on three of its four drives and holding a 205-14 yard advantage after the first 15 minutes.

Tech didn't get its first down of the game until 13 1/2 minutes had elapsed, and didn't cross midfield until its eighth possession midway through the second quarter.

"We knew (ECU was) going to be tough defensively," said Tech quarterback Michael Brewer, who completed 30 of his Tech single-game record 56 passes for 298 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. "We knew they were going to be ready to play. There's really no excuse, other than they outplayed us in the first half."

Despite the early deficit, Tech managed to eventually get its offense in gear, tying the game at 21 with 1:20 left on an 18-yard touchdown pass from Brewer to wide open freshman receiver Cam Phillips. His seven catches for 89 yards led Tech.

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No. 17 Virginia Tech suffers demoralizing letdown in 28-21 loss to East Carolina

Ambleside: Use of yurt as a temporary holistic treatment space, at Sunny Brow Farm, Outgate, for P. Saunders; remove dilapidated timber building and replace with timber summerhouse, at 1 Kiln Cottages, Clappersgate, for C. Lavery; change of use of residential annexe to local occupancy dwelling - no external changes, at The Haven, Lake View Drive, Grasmere, for A. Zaidi; single storey bedroom extension, at Le Thorlonet, Grasmere, for Mr & Mrs R. Oldfield; T1 - copper beech: crown reduction by 25% T2 - Ash: removal T3 - silver birch: removal T4, T5 - Sitka spruce: crown lift by 3.5m T6 - cherry: crown lift by 3.5m, at Michaels Nook Cottage, Grasmere, for Julie Holroyd; variation of condition no 2 of planning permission L1383/NW1822 to extend occupancy from March 1 until January 4, at Moss Eccles Tarn, Neaum Crag, Loughrigg.

Bampton: Siting of an access gate into a woodland from a highway, at Bampton School House, for The Lowther Estate Trust.

Broughton-in-Furness: Development: Change of use; convert barn to residential use to provide one local occupancy dwelling and one farm holiday letting cottage, at Bigert Mire, for D.J., M.J. & G.J. Hoggarth.

Bouth: Remove a dilapidated tide gate plus its culvert and head walls and replace with a new similar structure, at Rusland pool Tide Gate, Pool Bridge, for P. Evoy, South Cumbria Rivers Trust.

Cleator: Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension to provide two Studios and kitchen/dining area to cottage with internal alterations.

Cockermouth: Single storey kitchen/dining extension to existing house, at Miresyke, Loweswater, for Mr & Mrs P. & D. Gordon; part conversion to provide guest room and essential repair work to existing structure, at High Park, Loweswater, for Mr & Mrs Balogh; installation of a micro hydro plant with turbine house, at Terrace Farm, High Lorton, for I. Armstrong.

Coniston: Development: Installation of photovoltaic slate effect tiles to camping barn building. Installation of photovoltaic panel to enclosed section of main building roof, at Thurston Outdoor Activities Centre, for Mrs H. Watson, South Tyneside Council; conversion of residential garage to with extension - including first floor extension to form local dwelling, Underwood, Little Arrow, for Mr & Mrs A. Dugdale; replace dilapidated stone outbuilding with new in similar traditional style, at Eastview, for Mr & Mrs R. Swyer.

Crosthwaite: Development: Demolition of outbuildings and porch, construction of two storey extension and new entrance porch, internal alterations and new window openings, at Barrow Tenement, Row, Lyth Valley, for Mr & Mrs Wilson.

Grange-over-Sands: Development: Demolition of existing bungalow and attached garage. Construction of a four bedroom detached replacement dwelling (Resubmission), at Westward, Ayside, for Mr & Mrs P. Routledge; development: Extension and alterations including replacement porch and garden room and loft conversion into a master bedroom with shower room, at Stoneyrigg, Bell Hill, Lindale, for Mr & Mrs Williams; development: Confirmation of condition 4 no planning application 7/2011/5428 - stonework, at The Nook, Field Broughton, for Mr & Mrs Smith; development: Minor material amendment to approval ref. 7/2012/5570 relating to first floor balcony and provision of solar panels, at 2, Blea Crag, Blea Crag Road, for J. Smith; development: Extension to and alteration of the existing dwelling. The new construction will include a new kitchen and dining area, a new awning and alteration to the openings in one wall to allow for a glass sliding door, at Vicarage House East, Witherslack, for S. Ratcliffe; laying of hardcore around livestock shelter, at Land at Dixon heights, Eller How, Lindale, for Mrs R. Corrie-Close.

Hesket Newmarket: Diversion of overhead line, at Millhouse, for Mr C. Gilder, Electricity North West.

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Planning applications received by the Lake District National Park Authority

By Michele Lerner September 8 at 8:32 AM

With the help of Rockville, Md.-based multiple-listing service MRIS, we compiled a list of some of the most expensive houses for sale in the Washington area.

The properties range from a $3.4 million six-bedroom manor home in Chevy Chase, D.C., to a $6 million historic equestrian estate in Middleburg, Va.:

22956 Carters Farm Lane, Middleburg, Va.

$6 million

Agent: John Coles, Thomas & Talbot

The 128-acre Rutledge Farm, built in about 1740, includes a restored manor home with an adjacent office and carriage house; two additional homes, two apartments and an arena, in addition to six barns. The grounds include a pond with a gazebo, fields, paddocks and pea gravel private lanes connecting the buildings.

1139 Crest Lane, McLean, Va.

$5.895 million

Agent: Michael Anastasia, TTR Sothebys International Realty

Continued here:
High-end houses for sale in Washington area

When Ian and Carol James first saw their house in Squirrel Hill, we knew there something terribly wrong, Carol says.

It wasn't the usual stuff that home buyers dread: water leaks in the basement, roof problems, dated electrical installation that begs a rewiring.

No, it was a kitchen that was so small in a 7,200-square-foot home it spoke of a dated lifestyle that was devoid of spending time together as a family. It told of children being elsewhere with a nanny.

The home once belonged to Oliver M. Kaufmann (1898-1980) of the department store family, brother of Edgar J. Kaufmann, who had Frank Lloyd Wright build Fallingwater.

Redoing that kitchen became the heart of renewal to the home on Beechwood Boulevard. The work brought the house into the 21st century without robbing it of any of its pre-Depression class. The kitchen now is big enough to cook and hold a big crew of friends and family.

After working on the house practically from the time they moved in nearly 13 years ago the Jameses have decided to move to a smaller home. The property is up for sale for $1.645 million.

The kids are getting ready for college; that means rattling around in a 7,200-square-foot home, Ian James says about the reason for the move.

The home's renovation ultimately demanded the construction of a staircase in a space that once was a servant's room. The job also left a carved, wooden door in the foyer that now leads nowhere. We left it there because I just couldn't get rid of it, Ian James says. The door once led to a closet, but redoing that area eliminated the storage space.

Architect John Cullen from the city's Friendship area says working on the house was one of the best projects ever because the Jameses had a concept of what they wanted, but were open to his ideas on ways to accomplish the jobs.

They moved into the house in November 2001 and immediately moved out until the following Memorial Day while work was done.

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Kitchen redo updates home while retaining its character

Published Sep 3, 2014 at 3:13 pm (Updated Sep 3, 2014)

Price: $479,000 Acres: 2.39 Total square feet: 5,296 Year built: 1978 Listing agent: Donna Ruffino Office: Weichert Realtors Ruffino Real Estate, Milford Phone: 570-296-7570

This expanded cape has 5,000 square feet of living space and offers ultra privacy on 2.39 acres. It is magnificently landscaped with an in-ground swimming pool.

Besides four bedrooms and four baths, you will discover a bonus room that can be used as an office, den, or fifth bedroom. The master suite is on the first level and features French doors leading to a private sunroom. Another bedroom, on the second floor, can also be used as a master.

The custom kitchen with wood cabinetry and granite countertops overlooks a sunken great room with plenty of windows affording views of the gardens and pool area. Besides the eat-in kitchen, there is a formal dining room and a living room with a stone faced fireplace. Some unique architectural details include beamed wood ceilings, skylights, and chair rails.

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In addition to the private sunroom, you will find an enclosed screened Florida room and an outside covered front porch. You will also enjoy the large backyard deck, fenced-in yard, beautiful shrubbery, and stone walkways.

An outside storage building is on the property for convenience and a paved circular driveway leads to the two-car garage. This home also offers hardwood floors, a full basement and 6-zone heat and is close to shopping, schools and the interstate.

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Luxurious and loaded with options