Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Seven UKsinnovators in Smart, Zero Carbon Building Solutions have been selected for business acceleration at Energy Systems Catapult.Collaborating with Places for People, the Catapult Innovator Challenge will help SMEs unlock new routes-to-market, secure investment and breakdown barriers to growth.

The seven innovators that will get access to advanced energy system expertise from the Catapult plus specialist business support from a wider network of around 40 consultants, include:Amp X,Atamate,Clean Energy Prospector,Pumped Heat,Sero,Studio Victoria andWondrwall.

The Zero Carbon Housing Solutions, Smart Buildings and Estates challenge called for innovators working in one or more of the following areas:

Business Lead for Innovator Support and International at Energy Systems Catapult,Paul Jordan said, To achieve Net Zero, we will need to fully decarbonise our Buildings & Estates and the seven companies that well now be working with, all have the potential to make a sizeable contribution.

Im delighted to see such a range of solutions from digital platforms and building control, heat solutions and microgrids, to new business propositions like heat- as-a-service and digital twins. Our team is excited to be working with these promising innovators and helping them to accelerate towards full commercialisation.

A Catapult panel evaluated applications from across the UK. The seven companies chosen were:

Amp X is developing a transactiveready digital energy platform underpinned by autonomy, machine-learning, advanced data analytics and control systems aiming to provide flexibility services that can deliver cost and carbon savings for consumers, and to unlock new business models and revenue opportunities for different stakeholders across the system.

Dr Irene Di Martino, Head of Amp X, said: Amp X is addressing the challenges of the energy transition as our vision of the future moves smart energy from automated to autonomous, turning the edge of the grid into the locus of provision of grid flexibility, stability and resilience.

Consumer engagement is a key barrier to demandresponse as a scalable nonwirealternative. The Amp X digital energy assistant will cater simultaneously for consumer preferences and grid needs, delivering demandsidemanagement at a very large scale through the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Our solution will allow for optimal energy management and dynamic load shaping behindthe-meter in residential and commercial/industrial premises, enabling cost and carbon savings, though with no adverse impact on the needs and lifestyle of the end users.

Part of what we are wanting to validate with Energy Systems Catapult is what features of our solution work best for different usertypes and properties (ecosystems).

Our ultimate goal is to deliver an inclusive, futureproof, fully transactive grid, where virtualised local energy markets exemplify the full democratisation and decentralisation of the grid, with peertopeer trading through the active participation of every producer and consumer across the grid.

Atamate has developed a smart building platform that focuses on precise automated control and continuous monitoring of the internal environment to reduce energy consumption, simplify building management and optimise maintenance while increasing occupant comfort and security.

Joe Miles, Managing Director at Atamate said: Atamate offers value across a wide range of building types. This spans energy savings, security and building management, through to improving maintenance and the indoor environment.

We have produced a monitoring and control system that is: holistic with a common data platform to share information and control services; simple to install, live with and maintain; affordable with a quantifiable payback; and retrofittable.

We think Energy Systems Catapult can not only provide the independent verification and credibility that we want, but help us better understand which markets value which parts of our offering.

Clean Energy Prospector (Cepro) design, build and operate community microgrids for new build residential housing developments, allowing third-party providers to finance the cost of installing low carbon infrastructure, rather than the housing developer.

Cepros innovative business model means the cost of technologies needed to create zero carbon homes such as solar PV, heat pumps, battery storage and digital control systems are financed via a community Energy Services Company, mitigating costs for developer and helping to maximise the market attractiveness for zero carbon homes for individual house-buyers.

Damon Rand, Head of Product at Cepro, said: The UK builds 130,000 homes a year and only a fraction have solar PV, never mind heat pumps. By 2025 new build homes cannot install gas boilers but home builders have not yet worked out how to finance low carbon heating systems.

What we do is form community microgrids to enable external investment to come in and fund low carbon infrastructure, taking the risk and the cost off the balance sheet of the housing developer.

Were hoping Energy Systems Catapult can review our value proposition and business plan in preparation to take on investment and scale the business.

Pumped Heat has developed a Heat Battery using their innovative Warmstone solution a low cost and safe technology that stores off-peak or excess renewable electricity as it is generated to use later on-demand with conventional heating and hot water systems.

James Macnaghten, Co-Founder of Pumped Heat, said: We believe weve created the cheapest form of low carbon heating but we need that 3rd party performance verification of the product.

Energy Systems Catapult is a good referee. When you talk to people in the industry they ask you what do the Catapult think.

We are also hoping to get some system-level modelling to establish the size of the thermal storage market in the UK and market segmentation to refine our customer value proposition.

Seros mission is to deliver whole-life solutions for Net Zero that covers buildings, construction, energy, lifestyles and financing. They aim is to create a community of homes that can intelligently support the wider energy system and comfort-as-a-service offerings that cover heat, power and transport for consumers.

James Williams, Co-Founder & Managing Director of, said: Sero was founded because we saw homes as a future energy system solution whilst at the same time realising that the changing energy system provides the best pathway to Net Zero. We identified a clear opportunity to bring these elements together alongside innovating around the customer experience.

However we need a market shift towards lower carbon housing. This support from Energy Systems Catapult comes at a critical point in our growth to scale, we need to validate the good work weve achieved to date, gain a wider customer insight and use the expertise at the Catapult to accelerate our transition to scale.

Studio Victoria is a unique business that brings together specialisms usually associated with a number of different companies into a single interoperable solution.

By integrating data from sensors, drones, laser scanners, virtual reality, augmented reality and machine learning, they provide clients with data-driven Digital Twins that promote more efficient heating and cooling in buildings.

Javier Miranda, Managing Director of Studio Victoria, said: The uniqueness of our solution is the whole integration and interoperability of data feeds from a range of third-parties. But rather than dealing with 10 or 12 companies, you only have to deal with one, so were reducing cost and complexity.

The main thing we are hoping to get from working with Energy Systems Catapult is validation of our business model approach.

Wondrwall is a technology company that combine intelligent home automation, clean energy production and super-efficient heating systems, to help homes save money, time and the environment.

Wondrwall integrates carbon neutral domestic energy management, such as solar, batteries and heating solutions, with automated and intuitive control powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Matt Roderick, Director at Wondrwall, said: Wondrwalls innovative system is self-learning and adapts to your household routine, combining home automation, with clean energy and efficient heating throughout the home.

Weve deployed 12 different sensors such as temperature, humidity, motion, sound, smoke into a light switch; constantly monitoring to deliver data on occupancy, energy use and generation with time of use tariffs and weather forecasts. Combine that with artificial intelligence and weve developed a world leading intelligent system.

We wanted to work with Energy Systems Catapult to help with some modelling to better understand the size of the market. on our business model for the retrofit market.

Read more from the original source:
Seven SMEs win business acceleration place at Energy Systems Catapult - The Energyst

The latest colors and trends are tempting, but a kitchen should be timeless, says Barbara Miller, design director for the Neil Kelly design and remodeling company.

Its expensive to remodel a kitchen, and cabinets can make up 30% of the costs, so make sure you or an owner five to 10 years in the future wont think the look has gone out of style, she says.

A sure-fire solution: White cabinets.

Since Neil Kelly started remodeling homes in Portland in 1947, we have never stopped selling white cabinets, says Miller, referencing a statement made by owner Tom Kelly, whose father founded the company.

She says styles and hardware have changed, but white remains popular in the Pacific Northwest, as does wood-grain.

The easiest way to ensure a kitchen has a timeless feel is to match key elements with the architecture and era of the house: A Colonial Revival house works best with traditional cabinets, while a midcentury design shines with sleek, flat panel cabinet doors and a Northwest ranch benefits from a transitional style in wood tones.

Selecting neutral materials and colors for cabinetry and large surfaces may seem unexciting, but there are ways to make a statement with wall color, knobs and pulls, and fixtures that can be changed in a day without having to undergo a full remodel.

A new pendant light over the island can help make a kitchen look up-to-date, Miller says.

People considering a kitchen remodel typically ask Miller if they can keep existing cabinets. She says cosmetic upgrades are possible if the design and layout still look and function well.

She explains what needs to be considered when deciding to renew or replace cabinets:

To upgrade the look, Miller says face frame and overlay cabinets can be fitted with new doors and drawers that cover the edges.

Once you start replacing drawers and door fronts, and making too many modification, you are over 50% into the cost of new cabinets," she says.

Trending now are modern, high-gloss cabinets in bright colors like deep green as well as blue or red ovens. Unless youre designing for exactly how you love it, I would stay neutral with cabinets and appliances if youre planning to resell your home within 10 years, says Miller.

Miller is recommending solid wood cabinets, which can be repainted, to a client set on having periwinkle blue.

You can paint them white for resale, she says. Ask yourself first, is this changeable? How much effort is required to modify it in the future? Being smart in those decisions will help your kitchen be timeless.

Home design and product experts with Neil Kelly will offer ideas and advice during a kitchen design and remodeling webinar starting online at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Register for the free event at neilkelly.com/events.

Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

Want to search Oregon real estate listings and use local resources? Click here.

See the original post:
Kitchen cabinets are costly. Dont make them trendy - OregonLive

For Sale/Rent

On sale for less than $240,000, this riverside condo has industrial character to spare.

Photo by Andrew Snook

99 Allen St. #118, Woonsocket, RI Price: $239,900Size: 1,406 square feetBedrooms: 2Baths: 2

Looking for some primo loft living? Search no more. Formerly a textile mill, these premises, once used for wool dyeing in the 19th-century, are now nearly unrecognizable as open-concept condos. To be sure, the original character of the place persists, visible through the exposed ductwork, brick walls, metal poles, and warehouse windows. But the home has been retrofitted to bring in a homey feel and current flair, too. Take a look at the living room, where an abstract mural claims an entire wall, or the (huge) primary bedroom, where Mediterranean Sun paint embellishes the spaceand enhances the red brick accents.

Opposite the living room, the kitchenwhich sports granite counters, stainless appliances, and cherry-colored cabinetryexhibits a stroke of remodeling genius. Two arched brick doorways, which once led to a pair of water closets, have been reconstructed into one cute alcove, great for a pub-like dining area or out-of-the-way office nook.

While natural light pours in through all of the oversize windows and bounces off the Brazilian walnut floors, the loft itself doesnt have a private outdoor space. No need, though, as the property hosts a communal patio and a riverside garden, where you can enjoy some greenery while listening to the rushing water of Blackstone River below.

For information, contact Andrew Snook, William Raveis, raveis.com.

Photo by Andrew Snook

Photo by Andrew Snook

Photo by Andrew Snook

Photo by Andrew Snook

Photo by Andrew Snook

Photo by Andrew Snook

Photo by Andrew Snook

The Boston Home team has curated a list of the best home design and home remodeling professionals in Boston, including architects, builders, kitchen and bath experts, lighting designers, and more. Get the help you need with FindIt/Boston's guide to home renovation pros.

Go here to see the original:
On the Market: A Hip Rhode Island Loft in a Repurposed Textile Mill - Boston magazine

Chelsea and Logan Hawley came into five acres of farmland in Florida in 2019.

At the time, the couple were living in a 2,500-square-foot home with their two kids, Madison and Maverick.

They planned to build a farmhouse on the land over the next five years, but they didn't want to have to live paycheck to paycheck while they saved for the house.

Downsizing seemed like the perfect solution to the Hawleys' problem.

The first thing you see when you walk into the home is a daybed.

The daybed serves as a couch in the living room area of the home.

The entire RV has vinyl hardwood flooring that gives the space an elevated look.

The kitchen is next to the living room.

The farmhouse sink takes up a large chunk of the small kitchen, and it makes a statement in the space.

The kitchen only has a refrigerator and a stovetop in terms of appliances, which saves room.

Built-in, open shelving above the sink keeps things organized and pretty.

Chelsea describes the decor aesthetic as modern farmhouse.

Farmhouse touches, like the white walls and wood cabinets, mix with industrial elements, such as the tile on the kitchen walls and the black faucet.

The kitchen also features a separate coffee bar.

The cute addition adds character to the space.

Plus, it ensures the family's main kitchen countertops don't get overcrowded.

Chelsea and Logan's master bedroom is on the other side of the main living area.

Their bed is nestled into a nook in the wall.

The majority of Logan's clothes fit in the cubbies next to the bed.

Chelsea keeps her clothes in the nearby closet, and she told Insider it's more spacious than people would think.

Madison and Maverick's bedroom is the only private room in the house.

The Hawleys intentionally made the kids' bedroom private, as it gives them a space for their toys and enables Chelsea and Logan to continue to walk around and talk after the kids have gone to bed.

"It's really designed for them," Chelsea said of her kids' bedroom. For instance, the ceiling is painted to look like the night sky, which Madison loves.

The kids' room features floor-to-ceiling storage, as does the rest of the RV.

The family also remodeled the bathroom in the RV.

The bathroom originally only had a shower, but Chelsea said they completely gutted it and added a tub for the kids.

Despite the upgrades, the bathroom is Chelsea's least favorite part of her home because of its small size.

Because they're stationary much of the year, the Hawleys also have outdoor space they make use of.

The family has a patio with seating and toys for the kids.

The patio sits on the family's five acres of land, where they've already started growing their farm.

At the time of writing, the Hawleys own one pig, one rabbit, two cows, five goats, and 18 chickens.

Chelsea said that the money the family saves with the RV is what allowed them to start the farm.

"We have been able to save for our farmhouse," Chelsea said. "We've been able to start a farm. We were able to start a lifestyle that we wanted much earlier."

Chelsea is a stay-at-home mom, so the extra income is a big help for the family.

Although they're in one place much of the year, the Hawleys also get to travel in their RV.

"We are able to do monthly RV trips, and we've been able to see a lot of cool places in Florida," Chelsea said.

They're hoping to explore other areas in the South once it's safer to travel.

Living in the RV can be difficult for the Hawleys when they can't spend time outside.

It rains frequently in the summer in Florida, so the Hawleys had to stay inside for most of the hot months.

"When you're inside in a tiny space, there's so much clutter and you're just on top of each other all day long," Chelsea said. "That was definitely a challenge of trying to figure out how we could manage in a small space."

She told Insider that keeping the home clean, giving the kids chores, and teaching them to play by themselves helped a lot.

"My kids have learned to be content with less, and they have learned to entertain themselves," Chelsea told Insider of what it's like raising children in a tiny space.

"I've noticed that their imagination has soared because there are fewer things for them to do," she said. "They've had to kind of create their own play, which has been so cool."

The small space has also helped the kids' bond with each other flourish.

"They are the best of friends," Chelsea said of Madison and Maverick. "I'm sure that would've happened in a big space, too, but I definitely think the tiny space has made them rely on each other more."

"It's been precious to watch," she added.

Chelsea advises people who are considering downsizing to really focus on their purpose.

Whether you want to live minimally or save money, focusing on the reason you're downsizing will help you transition successfully, according to Chelsea.

Chelsea and Logan gave away the majority of their belongings when they moved into the RV, and focusing on why they were doing it helped her a lot.

"Take a good look at what you have and think about what you could live without," she said. "It's very hard to get rid of your things at first, but the moment you start doing it, you get a new perspective."

"For me, it was very freeing," Chelsea said.

You can follow Chelsea on Instagram here.

See original here:
A family of 4 moved into a 250-square-foot RV to save money while they build their dream farmhouse - Insider - INSIDER

Area businesses remodel while shut down during the pandemic

While the economic shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly put a strain on small businesses around the country, some local businesses used the shutdown to their advantage and used the time to upgrade and renovate their establishments.

Harolds Bar, Glenville American Legion Post 264 and Uptown Fitness in Lake Mills are three of the area businesses that gave their buildings a new look. From small renovations on the inside to full-building overhauls, all three businesses chose to make the most out of their time without customers.

Harolds Bar revamps interior; gets fresh paint job

Harolds Bar, an Albert Lea establishment since 1960, got a new look with a new paint job to the outside of the building as well as the roadside sign. On top of the paint job, the inside of the bar got a new look as well.

The bar area will look vastly different from what customers are used to including a brand new bar top, new barstools and a new tin wall surrounding the entire bar. Three new TVs sit atop the bar where animal heads from hunting trips used to be displayed.

Todd Haroldson, owner of Harolds Bar since 1984 when he took it over from his father, said the bar was in great need of updates.

I try to fix as much as I can and do as much as I can, Haroldson said. I devote a lot of time to this place It had to be done, and Im hoping to draw more. Thats the point; Im hoping to draw a few more people that never would have come out. I hope to, and I hope they like it.

At the time of the interview, Harolds was not yet open to the public. Haroldson expected to see a rush of people coming through the doors when they did open, but was not quite sure how things would look when they did. He emphasized that the health and safety of both his workers and customers would be his top priority when they did open.

In his second phase of remodeling, Haroldson said he plans on moving the womens restrooms from their current spot in the middle of the building to the east side of the building. The moving of the restrooms would then allow him to open up the space and connect the bar area with the old restaurant portion, which would greatly expand available space.

Necessary repairs lead to added renovations

The Glenville Legion Post 264 also renovated its bar area as well as its entrance area and bathrooms.

Bob Knutson, the Legion post commander, said one of the biggest complaints they have gotten over the years is the bathrooms needed to be updated. Both the mens and womens restrooms received new ceiling tiles, lighting and fans, flooring and a fresh paint job.

The entrance to the bar used to be closed off from view to the bartenders, but now includes a window that allows workers to see who is coming in and going out. The bar received new front paneling and new decorations on the inside and outside of the building made by Black Iron Manufacturing.

Knutson said some of the projects needed to get done, but once they got started they decided they might as well keep going.

There were some things that we absolutely had to do, but when the ball got rolling, it just kept on going, Knutson said. The nice thing is that we would have been shut down anyway with the new flooring behind the bar. So we just said, Lets get this done now. Who knew it was going to last this long?

The Legion was able to reopen to the public in some capacity in June. Knutson said the reactions to the improvements have been overwhelmingly positive.

Everybody was anxious to come and see what we had done because it is a big change, Knutson said. Its brighter and its just more welcoming.

Shutdown after big move becomes blessing in disguise

For Heather Yeoman and Rachel Olson, owners of Uptown Fitness, the shutdown came the day after they closed on a new building.

The fitness center went from about 1,100 square feet in its previous space to 7,000 in its new building and many improvements had to be made.

Yeoman said, looking back, she is grateful to have the time she did to work on the building, but at the same time it was nerve-racking because they had no idea when they would be able to open again.

It ended up being a blessing in disguise, Yeoman said. The terrifying thing was we just werent sure how long we were going to be closed. During the move from our rental space to here, we had only planned to be shut down for five days.

The shutdown ended up being six weeks long and Yeoman said they used all of that time.

As a retail space before becoming Uptown Fitness, the building needed some walls installed to make new rooms and there was a lot of shelving that needed to come down and be taken out of the building.

Uptown fitness is now home to a large studio floor with a stage, a dedicated room for yoga, a cycling room in the basement and two rental spaces in the basement which are home to a massage therapist and an esthetician.

During the shutdown, Uptown Fitness continued to offer courses through online platforms and was able to keep on 100% of the clients it had before the shutdown period began.

Uptown fitness had a small open house with only a few people allowed in the building at a time. Yeoman said everyone who came through the building was blown away at what they had done to the space. While classes are still a little different than normal, Yeoman is grateful they were able to be back in some form.

Were doing things a little bit differently right now, Yeoman said. Its just so wonderful to be able to do anything, were very blessed. We dont know any day what could change. Were just trying to be careful and take care of our people.

Tyler Julson covers sports for the Albert Lea Tribune.

Excerpt from:
Making the most of it - Albert Lea Tribune - Albert Lea Tribune

Marc A. Bovet wanted to build a house, but when it came to the actual construction, he was overwhelmed with options. He had bought an empty lot and hired an architect to design a custom home in Montreal for his wife and four kids. He had all the permits and approvals, so he began looking for builders. When quotes started coming in, he was stunned to see that the highest estimate was almost twice as expensive as the lowest.

So thats where you go, Wait a second here. This is the same set of plans,' he says. I even called back the architect to say, Did you send the same set of plans to everyone? Because theres something totally wrong.'

That experience led Bovet to develop a system that uses robotic manufacturing to wring inefficiencies out of the building process. Though about 15 years old, the system is taking on new urgency as climate emergencies like wildfires force more and more homeowners to rebuild. But the system has limitations that underscore the wildly complex nature of the construction industry. Prefab methods, like Bovets, have long been held up as a solution to a range of housing problems. But in building and construction, theres no easy fix.

An entrepreneur who had run a mens clothing line and marketing agency before becoming director at the international transportation company Bombardier, Bovet had a sense for production. The bids he was getting for his home project seemed completely arbitrary, and he wanted to understand why. So he started showing up to construction sites and asking contractors questions about the building process. Almost every question he asked got a different answer at each building site. There was no standard building approach, and the ultimate cost to build his house would depend primarily on however his builder chose to embark on the project. For Bovet, this seemed like a problem that needed solving.

He saw a solution in industrialization, but he knew that prefabrication and modular construction had been tried many different times in many ways. So he hired a researcher to look into all the different systems and patents that had been developed over the years. We got into this micro-level research, figuring out what Frank Lloyd Wright had done; even Edison, the light bulb guy, had his own prefab system. Mies van der Rohe. Le Corbusier. You name them. From engineers to architects, everybody had their own perspective, he says.

Bovet and his researcher found that developing a building system wasnt the main challenge. The bigger problem they needed to solve was labor. There have been shortages in labor and skilled tradespeople in the homebuilding industry for years, as workers have fled construction jobs tied to the volatile housing market in the years since the great recession and shifted to higher-paying jobs in other sectors. More than 80% of builders have reported shortages of framing crews and carpenters, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Availability of labor remains builders top concern.

So Bovet began looking for ways to make a process-based industrial building system that could be assembled even without skilled craftspeople. Because you spend three or four years to plan your project, you get some architects, youve bought the land, youve got your financing, and now 80% of builders cannot get carpenters to put it up, he says. You dont have the labor. And even more so now, with COVID. So what do you do? You scrap your project? Or you try to find a platform. Well, the platform is what we offer.

Bovets platform is called the Bone Structure, a steel-based construction system that is robotically manufactured, cut, and shipped to the building site where its fastened together with little more than screws and a drill. The company offers dozens of predesigned home models to choose from, and can also be used as the structural system for architect-designed projects. Made mostly with recycled steel and with foam insulation that can reduce energy costs up to 90% compared to a traditionally constructed home, the Bone Structure system can meet environmental certifications like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), and has been used in hundreds of homes, mainly across Canada.

It can be built almost months faster than traditional construction, which is how the company began marketing itself in wildfire-damaged regions of California, especially after the fires of 2017 and 2018 that devastated towns like Paradise and claimed homes in cities like Santa Rosa.

Brendan Kelly is an architect based in Napa, and he learned about Bone Structure like many people in the regionthrough presentations given after the 2017 fires. His firm had a client who wanted to rebuild a home that was destroyed in Santa Rosa, and Kelly went to see if the system could help. I was very sensitive because Id seen things happen in the fall and winter after the fires, with a lot of companies and builders coming in, and I think kind of taking advantage of some of these victims, he says.

Builders were getting people to sign construction contracts and locking in prices on rebuilds that might not have been the best deals for people who had lost nearly everything, according to Kelly. Everybody wanted their houses back so quickly, he says. So I went [to the presentation] ready to sort of challenge them.

But he was won over. The initial part I liked about Bone was that it was a system of building, he says. Like many architects interested in the processes and systems involved in construction, Kelly is a self-described geek for industrialized systems and prefabrication. I drank the Kool-Aid a long time ago.

And so had his client, a retired engineer. Though Kelly had already designed the home to be constructed out of wood, he reworked the drawings to function with the Bone system. After less than a year of construction, the home had been rebuilt to be zero net energy, 100% electric, and powered by solar panels. And though the construction time was faster than a traditional wood-frame house, Kelly says the cost ended up being about the same. Theres no budget version of Bone, he says.

The system is laser-cut and shipped to the building site in a precise package. But its not always easy to fit in with the way homes are permitted and approved. Anders Lasater is an architect based in Laguna Beach, California, and one of his clients had come to him asking about new prefab systems they might be able to use on a duplex project. Lasater had seen a Bone presentation and suggested they take a look. The client was enthusiastic, and Lasater began working out how to adapt his design to the Bone Structure system.

If you went to their website and looked at any of their designs, theyre very rectangular. Theyre boxes. Theyre really simple because their system tends to work best when you have a simplified essential geometry, he says. And in our case, we had a little more complication to deal with.

The duplex he had designed was a V-shaped combination of volumes, with an angular courtyard and atrium in the middle. Adapting the off-kilter plan to the grid-centric Bone system required some long conversations with Bones engineering team. It also required a fair amount of convincing in the citys building department. Theyd never seen anything like it before, so it was like speaking a foreign language with those guys, Lasater says. That was a little challenging.

Eventually the city, the architects, and the Bone Structure team got on the same page, and the project got built. A city building official even brought his community college class to tour the construction site. In some ways I think the challenge was one that normally we would have avoided, but Im really pleased with the result, Lasater says. Once we got it all approved, it went without any problems.

He says he would be open to using the system again, but it may be better applied on a more simplified design, and may even be more economical to use on a multiunit project. It will probably take you as long to build 15 as it took us to build our one, he says.

That may be where systems like Bone Structure make the most sense, according to Caitlin Mueller, an associate professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Architecture + Planning, where she leads a group researching architecture, structural engineering, and digital fabrication. The speed of construction of these systems, where things can be prefabricated and quickly and easily assembled is a very big advantage, for example, in developing countries, she says.

In developed countries, on the other hand, processes and building practices have been set for decades, and may be slow to change. Its been very hard to compete with timber construction at least in North America because its just so affordable and the labor market is very attuned to it, Mueller says.

That was a hurdle Kelly had to get over during his Santa Rosa project, and it required bringing in someone versed in using Bone Structures system to help the building contractor put it in place. For contractors used to framing up a wood building with a nail gun, joining steel beams together with a drill and screws can be a bit tedious, Kelly says. Its just a new system and most contractors want to build things the way they did on that last project.

Even so, Bone Structure has been used in hundreds of homes so far, and Bovet is hoping to continue to grow through selective partnerships with homebuilders. We just wont necessarily sell it to anybody and everybody, he says. We want to make sure that we offer a service, we offer a quality mindset behind the whole system, and were trying to get some larger builders to adapt it.

But change is slow in the homebuilding world, says Mathew Aitchison, an architecture professor at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and head of a government-funded research center exploring the development of advanced manufacturing in the building sector. He recently edited a book on prefab housing and says companies offering new building systems suffer from what he calls imminent revolution, the tendency to believe theyre leading some fundamental shift in how things get built but that fails to revolutionize the marketplace.

Im not suggesting for a minute that Bone is part of this process, but there has been historically quite a lot of smoke and mirrors in this area, he says. Companies saying they can do a lot of stuff that they cant, companies rolling out in quite grandiose ways but without being able to deliver on fairly fundamental things, VCs funding effectively pyramid schemes that are basing themselves on the fact that the construction sector is a huge global sector thats largely been untapped by technological development.

Aitchison says building and construction is just too complicated to work within any one system. It looks very simple on the outside, but its actually very, very tricky and its much more complex than most people give it credit for, he says. There isnt a best practice in construction like there is in very many other industries, in my opinion.

Thats probably why, when Bovet went out looking for a company to build his family home, there were so many different, and differently priced, options. With the Bone Structure system, hes successfully created one more.

Original post:
Why hasn't prefab construction taken over yet? - Fast Company

New commercial

APARTMENT: 104 Global Circle, Lafayette; Lafayette Elderly Housing LLLP, owner and applicant; description, Villas of Lafayette; Olympia Construction Inc., contractor; $5,800,000.

STORE: 6600 Johnston St., Lafayette; Arthur Leblanc, owner; description, earthwork and storm drainage; James Broussard & Associates, applicant; JB Mouton Inc., contractor; $1,483,579.

CARWASH: 5921 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Broussard; new Classic Express Car Wash; CM Miciotto & Son Inc.; $2,384,791.

OTHER: 5520 Johnston St., G1, Lafayette; Cosmetology Training Center Annex, owner; description, Cosmetology Training Center Annex; Andre Moreau, applicant; self, contractor; $5,000.

RESTAURANT: 300 Youngsville Highway, 101, Lafayette; Raising the Bar Nutrition, owner; Marquetta Lewis, applicant; self, contractor; $1,600.

OFFICE BUILDING: 1018 Harding St., Lafayette; Harding Center, Suite 207, owner; description, renovation, interior demolition; Mark Lalande, applicant; Ducharme Brothers Inc., contractor; $89,700.

RENOVATION: 817 Albertson Parkway, Suite O, Broussard; Broussard Commons; remodeling; $10,000.

OTHER: 200 High Meadows Blvd., Lafayette; The Meadows, owner; description, clubhouse A-4 S-4 garden section; Reddick Stevens Construction LLC, applicant; Reddick Stevens Construction LLC, contractor; $6,000.

301 Caldwell Court, Lafayette; RLS Properties LLC; $585,000.

129 Queensberry Drive, Lafayette; William and Lauren Frederick; $414,000.

205 Apple Wood Crossing, Lafayette; Prestigious Home Builders LLC; $391,500.

126 San Sebastian Drive, Youngsville; Signature Series Homes Inc.; $189,000.

128 San Sebastian Drive, Youngsville; Signature Series Homes Inc.; $193,500.

405 Biltmore Way, Lafayette; Braniff Construction; $472,000.

102 Grassy Meadows Lane, Lafayette; DSLD LLC; $207,000.

200 Grassy Meadows Lane, Lafayette; DSLD LLC; $225,000.

127 Frank St., Lafayette; Starr Builders; $171,000.

129 Egret Road, Lafayette Parish; Van Alan Homes LLC; $495,000.

184 Chemin Metairie, Youngsville; Pleasant Valley Builders LLC; $760,500.

117 Riverway Drive, Youngsville; Shawn Jetton Custom Homes LLC; $382,500.

402 Twin Meadow Lane, Lafayette; Shivers Brothers Construction; $171,000.

1208 E. Alexander St., Lafayette; Jay Castille Construction Inc.; $261,000.

320 Grandpa Lane, Lafayette; HBL Properties LLC; $256,500.

106 Barnsley Drive, Lafayette Parish; DSLD LLC; $220,500.

312 Opus One Drive, Broussard; CJS Custom Builders LLC; $468,000.

433 Starlight Drive, Lafayette; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $247,500.

403 Eastwood Drive, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $270,000.

431 Starlight Drive, Lafayette; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $243,000.

407 Eastwood Drive, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $211,500.

409 Eastwood Drive, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $283,500.

218 New Trails Lane, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $310,500.

216 New Trails Lane, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $234,000.

214 New Trails Lane, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $247,500.

212 New Trails Lane, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $211,500.

210 New Trails Lane, Youngsville; D R Horton Inc. Gulf Coast; $252,000.

202 Sampson Ave., Lafayette; Phatty Mcfarlyn Properties; $112,500.

204 Sampson Ave., Lafayette; Pahtty Mcfarlyn Properties; $112,500.

222 Chester St., Lafayette; Phatty Mcfarlyn Properties; $112,500.00

224 Chester St., Lafayette; Phatty Mcfarlyn Properties; $112,500.

226 Chester St., Lafayette; Phatty Mcfarlyn Properties; $112,500.

228 Chester St., Lafayette; Phatty Mcfarlyn Properties; $112,500.

235 Treescape Drive, Youngsville; Lancaster Construction LLC; $306,000.

302 Sylvester Drive, Broussard; Hart Homes LLC; $332,354.

714 Deer Meadow Blvd., Broussard; DSLD Homes LLC; $202,818.

113 Red Deer Lane, Broussard; DSLD Homes LLC; $289,917.

105 Lillian St., Broussard; DSLD Homes LLC; $207,849.

306 Canary Palm Way, Broussard; Blue Wing Builders LLC; $256,265.

300 Whispering Meadows, Broussard; AM Design Inc.; $215,767.

217 Canary Palm Way, Broussard; Clayton Enterprises LLC; $320,000.

102 Windmill Palm Lane, Broussard; Milton Hebert Home Builders; $289,422.

104 Windmill Palm Lane, Broussard;Milton Hebert Home Builders; $296,598.

When Kayla Simon and Kayla Blanchard spotted Jim Cantore in Breaux Bridge at daybreak, they couldn't decide whether or not to approach him.

The number of Louisiana homeowners late on their mortgage payments remains stubbornly high and the state is still second in the nation for tha

The downtown Lafayette bar and popular live music venue Artmosphere Bistro is up for sale.

Warnings are in effect for Lafayette, Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Excerpt from:
Who's building where in Acadiana? Here are the building Permits Issued Sept. 28-Oct 2. - The Advocate

Hurrylots will go fast in this community of generously spaced parcels build your dream home

Sit on the back porch and watch the amazing star show far from the madding crowd. Enjoy the front range views you love as you sip your morning coffee in the midst of nature thats still just minutes from I-25. Live amidst a community that values the ranch lifestyle and possesses miles of trails to ramble. Close to shopping and amenities yet retaining a private, exclusive equestrian cachet, Silverado Ranch will allow fans of the great outdoors an unparalleled experience of the Colorado lifestyle

Silverado is owned by a single owner and fellow homeowner who will guide this communitys growth to reflect his family values, ranch-style commitment to open skies and rolling, verdant hillsides and, last but not least, his love of horses. There already are two model homes on site to tour and just nine lots from $59,000 upthese will go quickly, so act now to reserve your slice of the American Dream. Theres also an Equestrian Center for family and friends to gather with common areas and delightful accommodations for our beloved equine family members, too.

Each homeowner will possess a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the most exciting equestrian center-based community of custom homes ever arrayed on the outskirts of Colorado Springs. Youve always dreamed of wide open spaces or finally having horse property of your ownnow is the time to make sure those dreams dont ride into the sunset.Even if you are not an equestrian, you will revel in the western ambiance of the silver prairie grasses at dawn; the rugged mountains in the distance, and your 5-acre density lot, where you will have room to roam and your family, room to grow.

On the Eastern Plains just ten miles east of Colorado Springs near Schriever Air Force base,youll find abundant equestrian areas, arenas and a trail system for hiking or riding that offers the finest in equine fun and activities. Custom home lots with breathtaking views of Pikes Peak and the SangreDe Cristo range will meet your eyes when you wake up first thing to take a ride or go for a hike before beginning work overlooking the peaks and prairies you love.

Two model homes possess glorious amenities

There are two gorgeous model homes in the community for sale. Tour these incredible houses virtually or make an appointment for a safe, in-person tour.

The first, at 20004 Silverado Hill Loop, is an arresting and elegant raised ranch with a luxury aesthetic. The curb appeal of this home will make you fall in love. Replete with fantastic finishes throughout, like a walkout to the miles of trails and open space, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and wood accents complete with a professionally landscaped yard, move right into this Paradise on the Prairie. And dont forget the community equestrian center for fun activities and riding events throughout the year.

At 20078 Silverado Hill Loop, find almost 4,000 square feet of modern farmhouse ranch where your home office overlooks miles of range and mountain views. Make a healthy meal in your gourmet kitchen, designed as every chefs dream with granite countertops, stainless appliances, a spacious island with seating and comfy, eat-in dining. Relax in your amazing great room near the cozy fireplace this winter or head to your airy basement to watch the Broncostwo large bedrooms and a full bath there will also welcome houseguests in style.

The most valuable asset we have is our clients respect and trust

The broker for this community, Susan Martin of The Platinum Group Realtors, is a decades-long expert in the equestrian lifestyle and in helping families complete transactions smoothly and efficiently. Susan can examine your needs and wants for the home, whether its a two-bedroom ranch to a seven bedroom spread, she will make sure that your particular vision can be actualized at Silverado Ranch. Choose a lot and model home to-be-built or bring your builder for your custom home and walk through the financial journey of homeownership safely with Martins expert advice.

You can live in an amazing community where youll always be proud to be, thanks to a covenanted homeowners association that will protect property values for generations to come.

Get ready for the ride of your lifeSilverado Ranch will be your forever home in the Colorado countryside.Private appointments available to claim your homestead today and look for open house weekends starting October 3 (719-726-0181).Visit SilveradoRanchColorado.com.

Call Susan Martin (pictured above) today to visit Silverado Ranch.

Link:
Silverado RanchMiles of beautiful trails and scenic lots. See it today - Colorado Springs Gazette

Beautiful Quality, New Construction Ranch home with 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and luxurious 2256 square feet on the main level. Construction started in 08/2020, Adore this Spacious OPEN CONCEPT floor plan, 10 foot ceilings, a gas fireplace, master carpentry, craftsman trim work, and 3-car garage. LARGE kitchen has a stunning coffered ceiling, and impressive top of the line finishes, adorn a Grand Island. Light abounds throughout. Master bedroom en-suite offers, double sinks, impressive walk-in shower, and a spa feel soaker tub. Enjoy a split floor plan with 2nd & 3rd bedrooms located across the other end of the home. Well designed main level has a Laundry room, Mudroom, and half bath to complete this Elegant Interior Space. Double the square footage with a full unfinished Basement with 9' ceilings. Located in Arbor Lakes Estates subdivision, nestled in Porter County's Union Township just south of U.S. 30, Minutes from Shopping, Restaurants, Award Winning Schools! ~ Plus Low Taxes!

View Listing

See the original post:
47 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in Northwest Indiana - nwitimes.com

Now up for sale in Des Moines, Iowa, this midcentury dwelling is fresh off a dramatic, whole-house renovation. Originally built in 1955, the home was updated in 2019 to replace a gutted interior with all-new finishes and create a large, open living area along the front of the home.

The home's biggest changes were in the living area and kitchen, which is now a single open space after removing several walls and relocating the basement stairwell. Other changes to the existing 1,000-square-foot floor plan included transforming a hall closet into an en suite bathroom.

A large kitchen island now opens to the living area where a stairwell once divided the two spaces. In other parts of the home, chic new finishes give the interior a decidedly modern look, while beamed ceilings and exposed brick walls retain elements of the home's midcentury past. All-new windows and doors also match the original midcentury aesthetic.

While much of the renovation took place inside, the original redwood-clad facadeonce hidden behind an overgrown landscapewas treated to an update as well.

After: Exterior

The structure's midcentury style now looks handsome in Regent Green by Benjamin Moore, which contrasts with an original brick wall that extends from the front facade.

Nearly early every inch of the home was updated during the renovationwhich received a "Most Dramatic Change" and "Peoples Choice Award" from the Home Builders Association's annual Tour of Remodeled Homes.

Just over a year later, the home's owner, local builder Nicholas Donlin, is ready to part ways. Offering three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, the home also comes with a partially finished basement and a new rear deck outfitted with an outdoor movie projector. Keep scrolling to see more of the finished property, currently listed for $330,000.

A small closet was once located near the front entry, while the kitchen and basement staircase were positioned to the left.

After: Entry Area

With the closet removed, the exposed brick wall now visually connects the interior and exterior. A new glass front door illuminates the entryway with natural light.

Before: Living Room

Previously, the living room was largely closed off from the kitchen and entryway.

An opposite view of the living area before the renovation.

After: Living Room

A view from the entryway shows the relocated stairwell along one side, with the remaining space filled by an open kitchen and living area. The backyard and deck are now accessible via a new sliding glass door from Marvin Windows and Doors.

Other windows throughout the home were replaced with designs that replicate the original slanted clerestory windows.

The renovation also retained the home's original wood-clad and beamed ceilings, which run throughout the interior.

Before: Kitchen

The former galley-style kitchen was cut off from the rest of the home.

After: Kitchen

The updated kitchen features all-new cabinetry and appliances from GE's Cafe line.

A new central island grounds the kitchen and provides seating on the opposite side.

The relocated stairwell leads down to a partially finished basement, which is currently used as a home gym.

Before: Principal Bedroom

At the end of the hallway, the principal bedroom was in a similar condition as the rest of the home.

After: Principal Bedroom and Bathroom

A fresh wall of cabinetry replaces the previous built-in closets, while a new en suite bathroom takes the place of a hall closet.

Before: Secondary Bathroom

The original hallway bathroom was also overhauled from its original condition.

After: Secondary Bathroom

Now basking in natural light, the renovated bathroom offers all-new finishes, including brightly colored tiles that contrast with the exposed brick wall.

Another view of the facade shows the new front porch along the front, created by extending the roofline during the renovation.

Perfect for a cozy outdoor movie night, the pergola-topped rear deck comes with a built-in projector and screen that can be lowered over the steps.

See the original post:
Before & After: A Renovated Iowan Midcentury House Impresses With an Affordable $330K Price Point - Dwell