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27 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in Northwest Indiana - Kenosha News

Rediscovering the charm of a Chicago brownstone

Rebekah Zaveloff likes walls. In that, Chicago-based co-founder/ principal designer of KitchenLab Interiors http://www.kitchenlabinteriors.com is at odds with a substantial subset of her peers, many of whom never met a space they didnt want to open up.

Zaveloff, who runs the full-service firm with her husband Nick, says she likes the way well-placed walls can define space and frame compositions.

I am one of those people who always wants to bring back a wall. People are like What youre crazy! But thats something I really love about old houses that they do have separate spaces.

Thats the perspective Zaveloff brought to an elderly brownstone two-flat in Chicagos West Town, which clients had tasked her with restoring after a series of poorly-conceived renovations left the floor plan disjointed and choppy.

Down the middle of the space there were a bunch of posts and some beams that were kind of hodge-podged together, explains Zaveloff.

Along with the building puzzles came the challenge of a tight budget. To meet it, Zaveloff turned to her tried and true practises to avoid overspending.

Often, its structural. Someone may hate the railing of the stair and think the only option is to replace it. I say no, lets paint it white or black, says Zaveloff, especially if we are going to put a sofa in front of it.

Some things, however, simply must get fixed. Here it was shrinking a full bath on the main floor installed, no doubt, when it was a flat to a powder room. The new room is small but makes a mighty design statement with deep-toned, large-scaled floral paper, grounded by bold geometric tile.

Often, says Zaveloff, well-made, handsome moulding will be a sound design investment. It is going to create a foundation and background. We were lucky here the casing was wide and had nice backbands and some character. It was good enough, and painting it brought everything to a cohesive place.

Other big questions possibly with expensive answers will include flooring. Do you save up, do you make do, do rip it out? When it comes to tile and light fixtures, though, there are so many products out there, and thats where we do our high/low, our mixing.

Original elements a wonderful street-facing faade topped by a stained-glass transom window were kept. Vintage touches a ceiling medallion and fireplacereplaced builder-grade options used earlier.

One notable aspect of the design are the handsome vistas, the pleasing views between rooms, the sense of flow. That reflects Zaveloffs focus as a fine art student, where she explored the medium of collage, a process that took up to 15 steps to get on canvas.

My work was literally layered, she says. So much of my fine art is relevant to my interior design work.

A stint as a set designer honed composition skill, and an ability to weed out false notes in historically-referenced restorations. We were determined to bring back the charm and the character, but in a modern, fun, young way, says Zaveloff.

Shes especially happy with the kitchen, where Zaveloff says we really nailed that high contrast (with the) unusual choice of black on cupboards and a white island. Some clients would insist it be done the other way, but they trusted us.

Both Zaveloff and her husband also look at design through the lens of the hospitality industry: Nick was a partner in a restaurant, and Zaveloff waited on tables for years as a student.

Those experiences, she says, gives them insight into how to create best seat in the house spots throughout a home.

Its the one you look for as soon as you enter as restaurant, the one with the nicest lighting, the great view, the best seating. We want to create those moments for people in their homes.

Vicky Sanderson is the editor of Around the House, www. aroundthehouse. ca. check her out on instagram @ athwithvicky, on Twitter @ ATHwithVicky and on facebook. com/ATHWithVicky

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Walls that work - Toronto Sun

Gen Fricker has shared a video to Instagram, detailing incidents of racism from behind the scenes at triple j.

The formerLunch host has detailed the feelings of isolation she had to deal with being one of the two people of colour working at triple j, and the casual racism she witnessed during her time there.

After seeing black tiles all over my feed and people sharing things about how the gatekeepers of the culture should be held accountable Im just going to put this out there, she shared.

If you work at triple j and youre white youre part of the problem.

Fricker explained that she has been engaged in conversation with former and aspiring triple j employees about the experience of being a woman of colour working at the company and constantly being put in a position where she felt it was her duty to call out racism.

The difference between being not racist and anti-racist is calling out that shit, she explained. I dont think you realise how fucking lonely it was being one of two brown people in those rooms having to explain why maybe a white woman singing in another language [perhaps a reference to The Preatures song Yanada] with no black people was a bit fucking problematic.

Fricker details incidents of racism that she witnessed her from her colleagues including having to ask coworkers to stop doing African American accents in the office, blaccents.

She continued to detail how fucking horrible it is to go into an office where the manager has no problem recording a thirty-minute long demo sketch of him prank calling one of our coworkers doing an Indian accent, pretending to be an Indian call centre worker.

We try and say shit about this in the room but you get tired. You get tired of having to fucking explain it all the time. It would be really great if any of these people posting black tiles literally did anything like that day to day.

The former-host implied that much of the Black Lives Matter and First Nations solidarity activism from triple j employees was largely performative.

That Indigenous ally tile is great, its awesome, Im not going to diminish that work, she explained. But post a fucking picture of the management team at triple j and tell me that comes from a real place.

Its not enough to just put black people, Indigenous people at the front. Let them absorb all the horrific shit gets said to them by your audience and go my work here is done.

It starts with you youre gatekeepers of the culture you have a massive influence you need to stop trading off your progressive brand because its not real.

If youre an employee and youre there and youre wondering if theyll fire you for saying something, odds are if youre white, theyre not going to fire you.

It would be far more damaging for them to fire you for speaking out against racism, then for you to speak out about racism.

This weekend a slew of protests organised in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and to highlight First Nations deaths in police custody will unfurl across Australia. If you are healthy and able it is your duty to show up. You can find a guide to all the protests here.

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Gen Fricker: If you work at triple j and you're white you're part of the problem - Tone Deaf

Chardon, Ohio | $599,000A 1961 glass house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, on a 5.91-acre lot

John Terence Kelly, an architect who was a roommate of Andy Warhol at Carnegie Institute of Technology and a graduate student of Walter Gropius at Harvard, designed this two-story house for a veterinarian and his family. It is built into a hillside, with south-facing glass walls and an overhanging roof, according to the energy-saving principles of passive construction.

The property is about 30 miles northeast of Cleveland and a mile and a half northeast of the historic center of Chardon, a city of about 5,200 people. It is approximately 15 minutes from Lake Erie beaches to the north and Punderson State Park to the south.

Size: 2,210 square feet

Price per square foot: $271

Indoors: The original owners occupied the house until 2014, when they were in their nineties, and raised three children there, despite the lack of doors (except those concealing the bathrooms and closets in a central silo that pierces both floors). Over that time, they maintained the midcentury character.

A few of the recent improvements are a new roof, septic system, HVAC and reverse-osmosis system. The kitchen and upper bathroom have been updated in a period style; the lower bathroom is original. A two-car detached garage has been added, and extensive landscaping done.

A long concrete-block wall passes from the exterior to the interior, as a prominent structural feature. Topped by a ribbon of glass and ziggurat-shaped wood posts that connect to the open ceiling beams, the wall extends across the entire upper level. Refinished hardwood covers the floors, and the smaller of the two wood-paneled silos in the open space contains a fireplace that has been converted to gas.

Behind a wood storage partition is a kitchen with a U-shaped work space defined by refurbished original wood cabinets with white laminate countertops and a blue mosaic-tile backsplash. The stainless steel appliances and sink are recent; the original cooktop folds down from the wall.

The reconstructed upper-level bathroom in the silo has glazed tile in shades of blue, a cylindrical sink, a glass-enclosed shower and porthole-shaped mirrors. The floor also has a small bedroom.

The staircase descends to an open master suite with parquet floors. Space flows around the silo, which hides closets on one side and a bathroom containing a mosaic-walled tub and shower on the other side. A second, small bedroom is on this level, as well.

Outdoor space: The private, wooded property includes a large fenced area and two waterfalls created with 42 tons of sandstone boulders. The patios and the addition of 32 trees are among the recent improvements.

Taxes: $4,692

Contact: Joseph M. Cicero or Debra Cicero, the Cicero Team, Keller Williams, 440-343-7503; ciceroteamrealty.com

This unit is in Smallman Place, a four-year-old, 37-unit condo development in the Strip District neighborhood, less than two miles northeast of downtown. The complex consists of a five-story brick building that is more than a century old and was first used for paper and cigar manufacturing, and a new, adjacent structure. This third-floor corner unit is in the original portion.

A 19th-century manufacturing area that made use of the nearby Allegheny River for transport and declined with the rise of the highways, the Strip District has experienced a 21st-century revival. Its old factory buildings and warehouses contain boutiques, restaurants and technology company offices, and it is the site of open-air markets on weekends.

Size: 1,381 square feet

Price per square foot: $427

Indoors: A hallway leads from the entry door, past a laundry room and utility room, into the main living space at the opposite side of the unit. A shorter corridor branches off to the bedrooms and bathrooms. The floors throughout are polished hardwood, the ceilings are timber with exposed beams, the large windows are set within arched openings and the walls are white painted brick.

The kitchen occupies one end of the main living space and has an island that serves as a divider. Marble tile laid in a herringbone pattern forms the backsplash, and a farmhouse sink complements the Shaker-style cabinets. The appliances include a double oven and an induction cooktop. A custom chandelier hangs in the dining area.

The master bedroom has a pair of windows, a walk-in closet with custom storage and an en suite bathroom with a very large glass-enclosed shower, double sinks and floral-patterned wallpaper. The guest room, which also has a walk-in closet, has the use of a bathroom with a combined tub and shower.

Outdoor space: Residents have the use of a communal courtyard on the main level that was recently remodeled with an outdoor fireplace and grill. There is also a shared exercise room and a dog-washing station. Parking for one car is deeded with the condo, and there is assigned storage in the basement.

Taxes: $2,200 (with a city tax abatement, in place until 2026), plus a $398 monthly homeowner fee

Contact: Allison Pochapin, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, 412-519-7636; coldwellbanker.com

This house is in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood, about five miles north of downtown Indianapolis, set among large, mature trees and architecture dating to the 1920s and 30s. It is less than a mile south of Broad Ripple Village, a cultural district with eclectic and extensive shopping and recreational activities.

Size: 5,064 square feet

Price per square foot: $118

Indoors: An entrance on the north side of the building takes you into the main section, starting with a sunroom. The casement windows, hardwood floors and trim are original and typical of features found throughout the home.

French doors open to a carpeted living room with a double-sided brick fireplace. The room flows around the chimney into a sitting room on the other side that is connected through French doors to a second sunroom, looking out to the front. The living room also connects to a formal dining room with a long, cushioned window seat. Beyond that is an upgraded kitchen with wood floors, white cabinets and a windowed breakfast alcove. A half bathroom is next to the kitchen.

A staircase in the dining room ascends to the four second-floor bedrooms. Three are carpeted and have walls painted in Arts-and-Crafts-inspired colors (robins-egg blue, olive-green, brown). One has hardwood floors and is used as an office. The upstairs hall bathroom was updated with decorative tile and includes a combined tub and shower.

There is also a finished basement with a carpeted family room with stucco walls, extensive cabinets and a bathroom with a shower, as well as a laundry room.

The smaller unit on the south side is reached from a door in the back. It has a living room, eat-in kitchen, two second-floor bedrooms, a second-floor bathroom and a large unfinished basement. Each unit has its own electric and gas meters.

Outdoor space: The fenced lot is 300 feet deep and includes a large rear lawn and patio. The owners added a two-car tandem garage for the north unit that has extensive storage space and a potting porch with a water spigot and a sink. There is abundant street parking for the south unit.

Taxes: $7,618 (2019)

Contact: Kelly Todd, F. C. Tucker Company, 317-258-5253; talktotucker.com

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.

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$600,000 Homes in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana - The New York Times

Businesses on Newport Avenue boarded up their windows on June 3 in anticipation of a protest against police brutality. The protest turned out to be peaceful. JIM GRANT/PENINSULA BEACON

Peninsula merchants are expressing guarded optimism about rebooting with strict health guidelines 10 weeks after being closed or nearly so by the pandemic. Of the devastating impact of being forced to shut down during such unprecedented times, one thing seems certain: It wont be business as usual.

And how long that will last? No one at this point can tell.

Since March when the pandemic first arose weve seen a 99% drop in business due to the stay-at-home order and as expected customers did not want outsiders in their homes, said Tony Romano of Service Kings Carpet & Tile Cleaning at 4660 Niagara Ave. Now that the restrictions are being lifted, we are starting to see customers coming back to do cleanings in their homes and businesses, but definitely not anywhere near what business was like this time last year.

Jason Bullard of Sunset Clipps at 4804 Santa Monica Ave., lamented the lack of communication between the state and small-business merchants during the pandemic.

The communication between cosmetologists and the state board was non-existent, he claims. I never received one email about the virus situation, learned everything from the news, including (about) reopening. Working with a mask on for eight hours was more difficult thanexpected.But overall it is nice to be back to work. We really missed our clients.

Barbara Iacometti of Details SalonSpa at 4993 Niagara Ave., said: Covid 19 has been quite devastating for salons. Before we had the shut down order we were already feeling the affects of people wanting to be away from other people by the numbers of cancellations we were getting. Once shut down, we had to deal with no income and bills that still came in. There is no waiting area anymore and magazines and refreshments are a thing of the past.

People are asked to sign a waiver before coming to the salons. The new normal is service providers and salon clients will both be wearing masks. Stations will be disinfected between clients and social distancing will be followed. You wont be able to bring your girlfriend, husband or child in with you to get your service.

Sandy Hanshaw, owner of the Coffee Hub and the Wine Pub at 2907 Shelter Island Drive, in Point Loma Village, was ready to return, business as usual or not.

We were excited to welcome customers back June 1, she said. We will be limiting our seating but will be offering additional outdoor seating in our breezeway. Additionally, masks will be worn by our staff and are required from our guests while they are ordering or until they arrive at their table.

Scott Watkins of Ocean Beach Brewery at 5041 Newsport Ave. has had to rework his business model.

You go up and order through plexiglass from the counter and they give you a number and bring your food to you trying to minimize contact, he said. We have people seated every other table at all three of our levels. Right now were open Thursday through Sunday all three levels. Monday through Wednesday its just the ground floor.

Despite the difficulties of reopening under so many restrictions, Watkins said, Im an optimist. However, we wont know for two weeks after weve opened, if well have a surge of customers or if people will back off a little. Were in a huge recession now and people are out of work and struggling. The fact of the matter is, well know in a couple of weeks what the turnout will be.

Carol Ladiges, owner of Lighthouse Ice Cream at 5041 Newport Ave., said reopening has been tough. But shes making do.

I decided to close my doors temporarily on March 17, Ladiges said. It was a tough decision because March is one of our highest volume months with spring break. We reopened on May 18, serving customers from our front door. It's been challenging trying to serve them as quickly as possible.

Added Ladiges: Our employees wear masks and gloves and use lots of hand sanitizer. We ask our customers to social distance and wear masks out of respect for our other patrons. I have displayed photos of each ice cream flavor in our front window to help keep the ice cream experience alive. For now, we have shortened our hours to 11:30 a.m.- 8:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, for small-business owners, being back in business means adapting to the new normal.

We provide an essential service to our customers to help maintain their homes and businesses cleanliness, said Romano of Service Kings. And of course we will always give the customers the peace of mind that we follow the prescribed six-foot distance and wear appropriate PPE.

I never qualified for small- business relief because my stylists are independent

contractors, said Bullard of Sunset Clipps. But thanks to the support of my customers through GoFundMe, I was able to keep the shop going during shut down.

The safety of our staff and guests is our primary focus, said Iacometti of Details SalonSpa. We would like to thank all of our clients for being so patient as we trend towards the new ways and pray a vaccine comes soon.

Concluded Iacametti, We have all been waiting for our haircuts, colors etc. Please be patient. We are working hard to get all of you in and get back to normal. We are excited to get back to our craft and back to making you all look and feel good.

Details SalonSpa will be reopening Monday, June 8.

Link:
Ocean Beach and Point Loma businesses begin safely reopening - Peninsula merchants are expressing guarded optimism about rebooting with strict health...

In this report, the Covid-19 Impact on Global Terrazzo Tile market is valued at USD XX million in 2019 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2019 and 2026. Covid-19 Impact on Global Terrazzo Tile market has been broken down by major regions, with complete market estimates on the basis of products/applications on a regional basis.

Browse full research report at https://www.crystalmarketreport.com/covid-19-impact-on-global-terrazzo-tile-market-insights-and-forecast-to-2026

Terrazzo originated in Italy, where marble-workers would take the crumbs of their work home, mix them with cement and create faux-stone floors for their terraces. Since then, terrazzo floors have grown into an art form all their own with a wide range of styles and possibilities. Classic terrazzo is a mixture of marble fragments, called the aggregate, and a cementations binding agent, called the matrix. It is resilient and can be used inside and outside and it can be cast in place or laid in manufactured tiles.

Since the COVID-19 virus outbreak in December 2019, the disease has spread to almost 100 countries around the globe with the World Health Organization declaring it a public health emergency. The global impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are already starting to be felt, and will significantly affect the Terrazzo Tile market in 2020.

COVID-19 can affect the global economy in three main ways: by directly affecting production and demand, by creating supply chain and market disruption, and by its financial impact on firms and financial markets.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought effects on many aspects, like flight cancellations; travel bans and quarantines; restaurants closed; all indoor events restricted; over forty countries state of emergency declared; massive slowing of the supply chain; stock market volatility; falling business confidence, growing panic among the population, and uncertainty about future.

This report also analyses the impact of Coronavirus COVID-19 on the Terrazzo Tile industry.

Based on our recent survey, we have several different scenarios about the Terrazzo Tile YoY growth rate for 2020. The probable scenario is expected to grow by a xx% in 2020 and the revenue will be xx in 2020 from US$ xx million in 2019. The market size of Terrazzo Tile will reach xx in 2026, with a CAGR of xx% from 2020 to 2026.

With industry-standard accuracy in analysis and high data integrity, the report makes a brilliant attempt to unveil key opportunities available in the global Terrazzo Tile market to help players in achieving a strong market position. Buyers of the report can access verified and reliable market forecasts, including those for the overall size of the global Terrazzo Tile market in terms of both revenue and volume.

Players, stakeholders, and other participants in the global Terrazzo Tile market will be able to gain the upper hand as they use the report as a powerful resource. For this version of the report, the segmental analysis focuses on sales (volume), revenue and forecast by each application segment in terms of sales and revenue and forecast by each type segment in terms of revenue for the period 2015-2026.

Sales and Pricing Analyses

Readers are provided with deeper sales analysis and pricing analysis for the global Terrazzo Tile market. As part of sales analysis, the report offers accurate statistics and figures for sales and revenue by region, by each type segment for the period 2015-2026.

In the pricing analysis section of the report, readers are provided with validated statistics and figures for the price by players and price by region for the period 2015-2020 and price by each type segment for the period 2015-2020.

Regional and Country-level Analysis

The report offers an exhaustive geographical analysis of the global Terrazzo Tile market, covering important regions, viz, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Central & South America and Mid East & Africa. It also covers key countries (regions), viz, U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, etc.

The report includes country-wise and region-wise market size for the period 2015-2026. It also includes market size and forecast by each application segment in terms of sales for the period 2015-2026.

Competition Analysis

In the competitive analysis section of the report, leading as well as prominent players of the global Terrazzo Tile market are broadly studied on the basis of key factors. The report offers comprehensive analysis and accurate statistics on sales by the player for the period 2015-2020. It also offers detailed analysis supported by reliable statistics on price and revenue (global level) by player for the period 2015-2020.

On the whole, the report proves to be an effective tool that players can use to gain a competitive edge over their competitors and ensure lasting success in the global Terrazzo Tile market. All of the findings, data, and information provided in the report are validated and revalidated with the help of trustworthy sources. The analysts who have authored the report took a unique and industry-best research and analysis approach for an in-depth study of the global Terrazzo Tile market.

The following manufacturers are covered in this report:

Kingspan Group

RPM

HB. Fuller Construction Products

SHW

UMGG

Doyle Dickerson Terrazzo

HJJC

Terrazzco

Lijie Technology

Beijing Lu Xing

Guangxi Mishi

Terrazzo Tile Breakdown Data by Type

Inorganic Terrazzo Tile

Epoxy Terrazzo Tile

Terrazzo Tile Breakdown Data by Application

Residential

Commercial

Others

Browse full research report at https://www.crystalmarketreport.com/covid-19-impact-on-global-terrazzo-tile-market-insights-and-forecast-to-2026

Reasons to Buy This Research Report

About Crystal Market Reports

Crystal Market Reports is a distributor of market research spanning 160 industries. Our extensive database consists of over 400,000 quality publications sourced from 400 plus publishers, this puts our research specialists in the unique position of been able to offer truly unbiased advice on what research provides the most valuable insights.

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Covid-19 Impact on Global Terrazzo Tile, Market Insights and Forecast to 2026 - 3rd Watch News

We often see different concepts for iPhones that are about to arrive. It happens every year and 2020 is no exception. This year too we have seen some concept renders based on rumours and leaks. However, one of the creators seems to have gone a bit far with the design and has imagined how an iPhone with detachable modules may look like. Named Louis Berger, the designers new Mosaic is a family of three products, which includes two add-ons and one full-screen dock. First is the Photo Tile, the detachable camera module, second is the detachable Large Display tile dock and the third is a Small Display Size add-on.

As per Mosaic, one can dock the Photo Tile at the back of the Large Display Tile and use it as a full-fledged modular iPhone.

The Photo Tile is not just a mere camera add-on for iPhones but can also work independently. Users can control its functionalities using pressure-sensitive bezels, paired smart watches and hearables. The detachable tile has three cameras with what looks like a LiDAR sensor and a small display on the top corner.

Also read: Apple iPhone 12 models may feature in-display fingerprint sensor, more than a year after Android phones

The display on the back of Photo Tile functions as its main GUI if used in stand-alone mode. It's made for complications, app links, notifications and to communicate to the outside with personalised messages & emojis. Furthermore the display doubles as a flashlight & torch, adds the web page.

The Small Display Size tile is the same size as the Photo Tile except that it's an entire screen instead of cameras. Mosaic imagines it as a mini iPhone as it has all those features but on a smaller display. The small display tile adds a compact GUI to Photo Tile. With it, you get a device similar in experience to a regular smartphone, just with only half the screen real estate.

The compact display still offers enough space for scaled-down apps and a keyboard, adds the website.

Also read: Apple iOS 14 may reach all the iPhones running iOS 13: Report

Lastly, the Large Display Tile is almost as big as the iPhone itself but can also dock the Small Display Tile or the Photo Tile at the back, resulting in a full-fledged modular iPhone.

Of course this is a concept of how future iPhones will be but most of us know this may not be a reality for at least next 2 years. Also, the future of modular phones is a dicey one for now since most of them are slowly moving towards foldables now. It is worth adding that Google has tried experimenting with Project Ara modular phones in the past and has failed miserably in it. So brands, even if theyre thinking to move towards a module device, might be skeptical on its performance in the market.

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If there was a modular iPhone, it may have looked like this - Hindustan Times

Microsoft has given a sneak peek at a new Windows 10 Start Menu design that lets the company's new batch of iconsshine without the solid-color Live Tile blocks familiar to users.

Revealed by the company's Windows Insider team and designers, the new concept shows what the company is planning for a future version of Windows 10. The new Start Menu ditches Live Tiles and helps emphasize Microsoft's new Fluent Design app logos, which areintended to create a consistent entry point to its apps for Windows 10, iOS, and Android.

Brandon LeBlanc of the Windows Insider team insists Microsoft's new concept"doesn't mean that Live Tiles are going away".

However, the demonstration suggests Microsoft could soon diverge from the original concept of Live Tiles introduced in Window 10 in 2015.

SEE: 20 pro tips to make Windows 10 work the way you want (free PDF)

It would also bring the desktop interface in line with Microsoft's dual-screen Windows 10X Start Menu, which eschews Live Tiles for app icons.

Microsoft currently plans to lets users turn off Live Tiles to reveal the new icon interface. The idea is to present a visually unified design for the Start Menu compared with what Microsoft says was "a somewhat chaotic color". It also wants to introduce the change without annoying Windows 10 users who like Live Tiles.

The new Start Menu would introduce a more "acrylic, fluent theme" compared with the bright, solid colors that aren't consistent with its Fluent Design System.

The design change is meant to offer better support for system-wide light and dark modes, offering users a cleaner design in either mode.

Microsoft has been toying with the idea of removing Live Tiles for at least a year, well before it revealed Windows 10X for the Surface Neo and other dual-screen Windows devices.

In Microsoft's before-and-after demonstration, it's clear why the company's designers want to veer away from solid blocks of color.

Fluent Design icons for apps like Edge, Word, and Outlook are overshadowed by each tile's dominant colors. Without the tile, each app's icon stands out and is more obvious to users.

SEE: Microsoft is discontinuing Cortana consumer skills starting with Windows 10 20H1

Microsoft's creative director, Christina Koehn, earlier this month explained why Windows 10 tiles don't really fit with its shift away from flat icons.

"Flat, monochrome icons look great in context of colorful tiles, but as more icon styles enter the ecosystem, this approach needs to evolve," she wrote.

"When icons in the taskbar and Start menu are different styles, it creates more cognitive load to scan and find applications."

The new concept in dark and light modes helps emphasize Microsoft's new Fluent Design app logos.

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New Windows 10 Start menu: Microsoft shows this new design that sidelines Live Tiles - ZDNet

There is always a sense of anticipation when you approach a house that could be the one. For Clare Pater, she knew that two years of looking for a home were over as she sat outside in the car. And her confidence wasnt shaken when she finally entered and discovered it was an absolute disaster inside.

With a limited budget to tap into and a head full of plans for the rooms, interior designer Clare called on her near-Olympian skills for tracking down bargains in order to put together a home that oozes designer quality. She reveals how she did it, and the secret savings shes made that have fooled visitors as they admire the high-end look

Inspired to tackle your own project? We have masses of ideas and helpful advice on what to do and where to start in our feature on house renovation. For more real home transformations, head to our hub page.

Id always wanted a blue kitchen. It was an image I saw years ago and kept it in my head. When we put this one in around two years ago, people thought we were crazy: Why do you want a blue kitchen? Now theyre everywhere. Kitchen, First Impressions, supplied and fitted by Roger Chippeck Interiors. Brass handles, House of Brass. Sink, Shaws of England. Dishwashers, oven and hob, Neff

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

The owners Clare Pater, an interior designer (novanilla.co.uk), lives here with husband Jake, a partner in a commercial property company, their children Amelie, Asher, and Ava, and Oscar, the labradoodle puppyThe property A 1950s detached four-bedroom house in Hendon, LondonProject cost 50,000 for then house renovation

'We wanted to stay in the area the kids are at school and we have lots of friends round here but we needed more space and somewhere a little quieter,' Clare explains. 'Id done up our house already and wanted to do it all again, so I was ready for a project. This came up and we fell in love with it. I drove up outside with my dad the night before the viewing, and I knew without going inside that this was the one.'

Artwork, Ebay and auctions. Splashback, Better Bathrooms. Black and white tiles, Tons of Tiles. Stools, Wayfair. Corner edging, Ironmongery Direct. Chandelier, French auction (delarte-antique.fr). Wall lights, Ebay

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

'Even when we went inside and it was an absolute disaster. It looked like it hadnt been lived in for years but, sadly, it had been right up until we saw it. It was filthy, things were broken, there were weird paintings on all the walls; all sorts of mad things. There had been a divorce and I think the husband had been living in the front room, and the family in the rest of the house. It was miserable but we could see the potential.'

I knew I wanted to go very dark on the walls and have very traditional flooring. And I had to have coving it just adds so much character. It looks like its meant to be there.Coving, Plaster Coving Ltd. Sofa, Swoon. Artwork above fireplace, Ebay. Rug and coffee table, La Redoute. Pendant, Living by Christiane Lemieux. Wall lights, Industville. Bulbs, Ikea. Walls painted in Valspar scrubbable colour matched paint Farrow & Balls Pitch Black is similar

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

'Wed actually already decided to move in with my parents as we sold our house with nowhere to go, which was a bit of a risk. We had three weeks before we had to move out from our old house when we saw this place. I told my parents when we were moving in with them, "It could be a few months, it could be years." Luckily they took us in. We were there about seven months by the time wed bought the house and done all the work. I was coming back to drop the kids off at school and my work is nearby so Id visit the site every day to keep on top of things. And I was using builders Id worked with before. We were lucky; there werent any major problems.'

I bought an offcut of marble for the dining table. I spent weeks tracking down the perfect piece. Then I found the legs, had them shipped to the marble place and they put it all together.Artwork, Online auction. Marble slab, Openplan Design. Chairs, Cult Furniture. White bead chandelier, Out There Interiors

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

'Based on what we had to pay for the house, we had very little budget left to work with, so any ideas of extending just werent an option now. It started off with, "Okay, well just give it a lick of paint". But the reality of the condition it was in meant that we had to do a lot new bathroom, kitchen, decorating, everything other than structural work or moving walls. But I knew pretty much exactly what I wanted to do.'

'I was obsessed with thinking the flooring had to be real wood, but I came round to laminate. It was a massive saving, and with kids, real wood does get damaged. This is from B&Q and is holding up amazingly. Artwork, Affordable Art Fair and upcycled charity shop finds. Leopard stool bench, reupholstered by Quality Lounge Suites. Blue bead chandelier, Ebay. Black and white wallpaper, Wayfair. Stair runner/carpet, Dans Carpet & Flooring

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

'I was very careful with what we spent the money on. In the kitchen I wanted the look of marble worktops and splashback, so I chose the plain white work surface while the whole splashback is actually a large-format porcelain tile. The parquet flooring is all laminate from B&Q. Even when people walk around on it, nobody realises its not real wood.'

For the bathroom, we only tiled the areas the builder said had to be tiled to be made watertight. We just used the marble-effect ones in the shower; the rest of the tiles are cheaper porcelain or ceramic. Wooden floor tiles and marble-effect wall tiles, Wickes. Pink tassel wallpaper, Arte Wallcoverings. Black mirrors, Dunelm. Unit, converted Ikea drawers. Basins, Better Bathrooms

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

'Almost all of the art is from Ebay or charity shops. I really shopped around, got bathroom fittings from Ebay outlets that might be returns or end of line sometimes Id spend all night online. My intention wasnt to go for the cheapest on absolutely everything, it was just picking a few key things to spend money on. I tend to pick small areas in the house where its worth using a top-end product, such as expensive wallpaper if I only needed one roll.'

Artwork, charity shop/upcycled. Black birdcages, Ikea

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

'Everybody comes in the door and goes straight to the kitchen. I didnt think it was going to be like that but its just how it is. There are tall cupboards on one side and no wall units as I feel like they close the kitchen in. I prefer the look of open shelving, and going for this option also saved us a lot of money. With the art on the shelves it makes it feel more homely, not like a kitchen. We also have an instant hot water tap, which was a real indulgence. My husband didnt get why we needed one, but until you have one you dont realise how great it is. I love lighting and the French antique chandelier was an opportunity to put some interest in, and it didnt cost that much. It doesnt let out a ton of light so with open shelving I was able to have wall lights over the work surface.'

In our bathroom there was a double vanity and a shower bath in one. We decided wed rather sacrifice a sink and have a separate bath and shower. Basin, Durovin from Ebay. Drawers, Ikea. Black and white tiles, Tons of Tiles. Provenzale floor tiles,Tiles Direct. Wall-mounted taps, Victorian Plumbing

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

'My oldest daughter had a clear idea of what she wanted for her room, which was a vibrant tropical theme, though we toned it down by putting in pastels. She was very involved in the whole process. The other two kids chose their bedroom colours. We spent days with sample pots, trying them out. With my son we tried a broad range of blues. He said, "Theyre all the same. I cant see a bit of difference". So I said, "Okay, Ill pick".'

With the decorating my husband was very much, I trust you, get on with it. He knew at the end of it all it would be something that he liked, but he did not get involved. Headboard, recovered in Toile de Jouy fabric. Blue cushions, bedside tables, Wings artwork, HomeSense. Fur cushions, Ikea. Wall lights, Ebay

(Image credit: Jemma Watts)

'We went away in the summer so we left my parents house and then returned to this house, which was a bit mad. My little one thought you had to get here by plane she was very confused by the whole experience! There are a lot of Jewish festivals after the summer and we love to entertain friends and family. Even though we still had boxes everywhere in one half of the room, we just put up trestle tables and had everyone gather round them in the other half!'

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Real home: this stylishly renovated home is full of surprises - Real Homes

Shares of Kirby Corporation KEX have lost 13% against the industry's 16.1% decline in a years time. The disappointing performance was caused by weakness in the oil and gas market as well as ramped down activity in coal transportation business.

Lets discuss the factors hurting the stock.

Dismal performance of the oil and gas market caused a 16% decline in the companys distribution and services revenues in 2019. The headwind is anticipated to persist in 2020, which is likely to lower revenues at the distribution and services in the range of 12-17%.

Also, reduced activity in coal transportation business is likely to dent coastal revenues (part of the broader marine transportation segments revenues) in 2020. Consequently, coastal revenues are anticipated to be either flat or up slightly year over year.

Moreover, the companys high debt levels are concerning. Evidently, debt to capitalization ratio, a measure of financial leverage, exceeded 28% at the end of fourth quarter, 2019.

Negative Estimate Revisions and Zacks Rank

Investors pessimism revolving around the stock is evident from the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2020 earnings being revised downward by 13.9% in the past 60 days to $3.03.

Kirby carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

Stocks to Consider

Few better-ranked stocks in the Zacks Transportation sector are Azul S.A AZUL, Frontline Ltd. FRO and Costamare Inc. CMRE, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Shares of Azul, Frontline and Costamare have moved up 3.6%, 23% and 22.9%, respectively, in a year.

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Kirby Corporation (KEX): Free Stock Analysis Report

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To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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Kirby (KEX) Loses 13% in a Year: What's Dragging It Down? - Nasdaq