Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Our roots plug into the soil of our origin stories, deep into the fertile grounds of heritage, family and values the ones we keep and the ones we eventually show the middle finger to.

Faranaaz Veriava is propped up against her purple plush headboard chatting via Skype. She jokes about being an interior decorator in another life; about walking away from a cushy corporate law offer; and the damn fine feeling of taking on bad guys and winning.

She turned out to be a human rights lawyer starting her career at Idasa (Institute for Democratic Alternatives in South Africa) and working at the Human Rights Commission before spending some time at the Johannesburg Bar. Today shes head of the education programme at SECTION27, the public interest law centre.

Together with Equal Education, SECTION27 brought and won a legal challenge in July to compel the Department of Basic Education to continue with the Schools Nutrition programme suspended during Covid-19 lockdown. Governments decision came with the shameful cost of thousands of children going hungry.

It was the most painful case to work on because nothing is worse than letting a child go hungry, says the woman who also worked on justice for five-year-old Michael Komape, who drowned in a pit toilet at his school in Seshego, Limpopo in 2014.

That these cases stick in the public consciousness is the point for Veriava. Her outrage turns to drive and then, as a self-confessed A-type personality, she goes into high gear building legal cases and strategy for broad impact. She insists on resonance beyond a courtroom or a ruling. It should feel like Michael was every South Africans son; everybodys little brother.

Michael would have been the same age as my youngest son Reza; I never forget that, she says.

Veriavas story of becoming a fighter and defender for human rights though begins long before she was. Her roots are tangled up in a family story of political activist history and a tradition of public service. Its also a story of family rupture, sacrifice and confronting the inevitable flaws of beings human. Veriava claims all these histories. Struggle against injustice has given her an internal compass, and surrender to the certainty of human frailties has given her empathy.

I want my boys to understand that who they are in the world does not necessarily make them better, and if theyre better at some things its because theyve had different opportunities, she says.

When I was about 11-years-old my father, a public health doctor, was arrested under the state of emergency laws and detained at Modderbee Prison. I remember visiting him in prison and crying thinking he would be killed because it was just a few years earlier in 1977 that Steve Biko had been killed and my father was among the people demanding the doctors who attended to Biko be sanctioned, she says.

Two years earlier her parents had also got divorced. It meant moving from Lenasia to Laudium to be raised by her single mom and aunt. There taught her independence and hard work but there would be labels: daughter of a divorcee; the daughter of political activist; and being secular born into a Muslim community.

Being an outsider though was a super power of perspective. She could get over needing to pray five times a day to fit in with my Muslim friends at school. She would also grow to recognise complexity and shortcomings in her parents and the adults in her family. They were the imperfectly perfect of just being human, heroes too to her.

At Wits University studying law and politics were magnets. So was student politics of the late-80s and the man who would become her husband, Kenneth Creamer. He is a publisher, economics lecturer and member of the presidential economics advisory council.

The relationship would be love, but more labels and lessons would follow. They are an inter-racial couple with different religious and class backgrounds. In the beginning, they made concessions like living together but provinces away from family and expectation. They even settled for a fusion wedding combining religious rites.

She says: We got together in that magical year of 1994. We believed in the same politics and values of a non-racist and non-sexist world. Maybe we were nave thinking we were going to change the world.

Now in the middle of her life, she acknowledges that things have become more complicated. Identity politics of today, like the Black Consciousness Movement, are critical to get over an inferiority complex, to recognise oppression but it has to move beyond this and it needs to overcome opportunistic exploitation, she says.

Complicated is not the moment to look away though. Its not the time to shrink from personal power, responsibility or action, she says.

The fight for her is still about upholding values that build a strong state; one that delivers better quality public services. Its also to push back against the erosion of civil liberties and human rights. She keeps telling this to her boys Adam (15) and Reza (11), the law students she teaches and SECTION27 research interns she mentors.

I want my boys to understand that who they are in the world does not necessarily make them better, and if theyre better at some things its because theyve had different opportunities, she says.

She leaves them with heavy things to think about but its to shape them, not burden them. She adds that she anyway wins hands down as cooler of the boys two parents from my R&B and jazz music, to fashion or anything cool, she says with a laugh. She concedes though that shes rubbish at getting excited about sports.

But the family may take walks together. Nature is her freedom, she says, religion almost. And its trees in particular that shes drawn too. Theres a kindred connection, or a metaphor at the least: growing from roots grounded in promise to release in canopies of fulfilled potential; and always the sure daring to stand firm. DM

Five Questions for Faranaaz Veriava

What image is on your phones home screen?

Its a photo of my boys. In the photo Adam is four and half, hes wearing a dashiki and hes holding his brother Reza who was four months old at the time. Both boys are also wearing garlands we made for spring day; its a beautiful pic.

What would you spend your last R100 on?

A book, it would probably have to be second-hand one at R100.

Whats the worst piece of advice you ever took?

Thats easy behave like a lady.

The thing you wish you learnt earlier on in your life?

I was submissive for too long. As a young black female advocate at the Johnnesburg Bar I tolerated intimation and exclusion and allowed it to make me small; I wish I came into my own confidence and power sooner.

Three books that have changed your life

Books have been my security blanket all my life. My three book are To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee ; Animal Farm by George Orwell; and Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangaremba.

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Faranaaz Veriava: Always ready to take on the good fight - Daily Maverick

You see tours of high-end designers' homes all the time, but have you ever wondered what their rooms looked like back in their teenage years? For Kara Mann, the answer lies in her new home collection, a collaboration with CB2 that marries sleek, modern design with flirty details that call back to the '80s, all inspired by her own dream teen bedroom. Think: A ruffled sofa, pleated lamps unlike any you've ever seen before, and a rose-hued glass catchall inspired by a bracelet, of all things. In her own words, the collection is "chic, but it doesn't take itself too seriously."

"I crack up, because I tend to not like color when I designand apparently it started at a young age!" Mann tells House Beautiful. "My room was white withokay, I'm just going to admit itI had a Patrick Nagel poster. Nagel was cool back in the '80s! But it was black, and the girl in the photo had this asymmetrical haircut that I ended up with. It was mostly white with little accents of black, so that palette is definitely coming through in the collection."

Courtesy of CB2

Mann's favorite piece in the line is, she says, the ruffled sofa, hands down. And that harkens back to her teenage bedding. "There were definitely these moments of flirtiness in my room," she shares. "My duvet cover had a ruffle to it, so I think of the ruffle sofa. When I look back and I think about the room, and I think about the collectionI was very literal in reinterpreting that room for the world of CB2."

And that ruffle theme carries on past the sofa, too. There's a credenza that totally stuns in what's called a "sprayed concrete" finishessentially, a matte lacquer finish that feels smooth but looks like concretewith architectural details down the sides that resemble a ruffle. Then, of course, there are the pleated silk Scrunch Lamps, which Mann is so excited to talk about. ("Oh my God, when I saw those for the first time, I was dyingI love those," she gushes.)

"When you think of the lamps, the Ruffle Credenza, and the Flutter Sofathe body of all of those are very clean and architectural and geometric, but they have a layer of this feminine touch to it," Mann says.

Courtesy of CB2

When she and Ryan Turf, CB2's president, first started working on this collaboration two years ago, Mann says that as both a businesswoman and a designer, she was interested in the behind-the-scenes journey of working with a big business. And for Turf, Mann's high-design background and eye for style made for a perfect collaboration.

"It's also super cool and exciting to partner with someone in more of a luxury world than we are, because so much of what we try to do at CB2 is offer that high design for a little bit more approachable price point," Turf says. "That was my favorite part, besides Kara's amazing personality."

Together, Turf and Mann describe the collection in a few key words: flirty, elegant, edgy, refined, and most importantly, attitude. And it's truethis collection definitely has a little bit of an attitude, which comes from Mann following her own best design advice.

"I strongly believe that with design, you need to be yourself," she says. "Really letting your personality out is important. It's a form of creativity! Everybody's got an opinion about design, so let that out, and don't be bashful. Design is subjectiveI hate the idea of 'what's the latest trend?' because it really should just be what comes out of you."

Courtesy of CB2

As for how she'd style that bracelet-inspired catchallaka the appropriately-named "Bangle" glass bowl in Dirty RoseMann has a few tips. "You always need a place to dump all your stuff when you walk in the door, so it was meant to be that. But it sort of evolved into all these different things. I can see it as a beautiful candy bowl. I love floating flowers in water, so it can be a really beautiful way to do floral on your coffee table. I mean, you could even use it as a place to put your remotes. Multiple layers!"

Shop the full collection at CB2, and check out some of our favorites below.

Lucent Pendant Light

$379.00

Flutter Slipcover Sofa

$1,999.00

Scrunch Table Lamp

$149.00

Voir Clear Glass Vase

$49.95

Ruffle Sprayed Concrete Credenza

$999.00

Bangle Dirty Rose Low Glass Bowl

$69.95

Cut Sprayed Concrete Coffee Table

$799.00

Slip Duck Canvas Queen Bed

$1,299.00

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CB2's Newest Collaboration With Designer Kara Mann Is a Fun, Flirty Nod to her Teenage Bedroom - HouseBeautiful.com

Inspired by Modern Spanish, Transitional and Modern Prairie architectural styles, as well as the setting among natural vistas and open space, the inviting, two- and three-story detached residences at Teresina by Shea Homes, is exciting both in design as well as setting in a charming hillside neighborhood in Lake Forest, CA. Pictured: Plan 2.

Teresina by Shea Homes showcases large, sophisticated designs offering 4 to 5 bedrooms with lofts, master terraces, outdoor rooms and rooftop decks. Third level living includes bonus rooms with covered roof terraces and master suite retreats, per plan. Pictured: Plan 4.

LAKE FOREST, CA, Aug. 28, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Remarkably inviting, two- and three-story detached residences at Teresina by Shea Homes are exciting both in design as well as setting in a charming hillside neighborhood in Lake Forest. Professionally decorated model homes showcase large, sophisticated home designs offering 4 to 5 bedrooms with lofts, master terraces, outdoor rooms and rooftop decks. Eight floorplan choices range from 3,238 to 4,329 interior square feet, starting at $1.3 Million. Of special financial benefit, there are no Mello-Roos assessments at Teresina.

Teresina is a rare opportunity in Lake Forest that appeals to sophisticated tastes of those who relish entertaining in elegant indoor and outdoor spaces and open living areas, said Karen Ellerman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Shea Homes. The third level rooftop terraces are perfect for enjoying expansive views of the city lights and surrounding natural rolling foothills.

Inspired by Modern Spanish, Transitional and Modern Prairie architectural styles, as well as the setting among natural vistas and open space, four two-story and four three-story floor plans feature 4.5 to 5.5 baths along with great rooms, fully-appointed gourmet kitchens with stainless steel Monogram appliances, covered outdoor rooms, lofts and master suite terraces. Third level living includes bonus rooms with covered roof terraces and master suite retreats, per plan. Options are available including additional dens or flex spaces, and the Shea Design Studio offers endless opportunities to help you make your new home especially perfect for you.

The list of exceptional features throughout are impressive and invite the full extent of well-appointed indoor/outdoor living with advanced technology and designer finishes. Homes at Teresina include SheaConnect Smart Home features such as Ring video doorbell, Kwikset Smartcode entry door lock, iDevice light switches, Liftmaster smart garage door opener, advanced Cat 6 wiring, Eero wireless access points, and Amazon Echo Show. Whole house energy-savings promise year-round comfort, including Honeywell smart thermostats, WiFi-controlled tankless water heaters, state of the art insulation and dual-paned windows.

Lake Forests convenient location puts you in easy reach of all Orange Countys charm and sophistication. Right at home, experience the relationship between nature and living well amid the peaceful rolling hills that are perfect for hiking and biking over miles of open space. Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park and ONeill Regional Park are near, offering outdoor getaways with camping and abundant trails. Shop and dine to your hearts content at Irvine Spectrum, Foothill Ranch Town Centre, The Shops at Mission Viejo and world class centers of Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza. The beaches of Orange County are only a short drive away for a day of fun, or simply viewing the serenity of the vast Pacific Ocean. There is so much to discover, here your only option will be to enjoy life to its fullest.

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The city of Lake Forest has also experienced tremendous growth in employment development. Among the many accomplishments are a Community Center, Senior Center, Performing Arts Center, new city parks, and several other prominent development projects.

Model tours at Teresina are offered daily by appointment, and you can now also visit from the comfort of your home with a virtual appointment. Call 866.OWN.SHEA to schedule a private in-person or virtual appointment by visiting http://www.sheahomes.com/virtual-home-buying-program.The Information Center is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For driving directions and additional information, we invite you to register at SheaHomes.com and text TERESINA to 797979 to receive the latest news.

Shea Homes is one of the largest private homebuilders in the nation. Since its founding in 1968, Shea Homes has built more than 100,000 homes. Over the past several years, Shea Homes has been recognized as a leader in customer satisfaction with a reputation for design, quality and customer service. Shea Homes builds new homes in California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, Washington, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Texas. For more information about Shea Homes and its communities, please visit the companys website at http://www.SheaHomes.com.

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TERESINA DELIVERS ON SOPHISTICATED LIVING IN A BREATHTAKING LAKE FOREST LOCATION - Yahoo Finance

Fans of home renovation reality TV love binging Love It Or List It, but how much of the show is real? Check out these facts about the hit show.

Many have found themselves binge-watching multiple episodes of HGTVs hit show, Love It or List It. The show features Hilary Farr, an interior designer, and David Visentin, a real estate agent, who are competing to either transform a couples house into the home of their dreams or convince them to list it on the market and move. Hilary and her design team work hard to renovate homes, while David hopes the couple will realize its time to move.

RELATED: 5 Reality Home Shows That Aren't Real (& 5 We Think Are)

You might watch the show for the home renovations, but Hilary and David make the show enjoyable while they bicker in competition with one another. However, how much of the show is actually true? Its a reality TV show like all others, so it has some secrets. Take a look at 10 behind-the-scenes secrets about the making of Love It or List It.

Hilary and David have great onscreen chemistry. Fans would think they have known each other for years before they started filming the show, but thats not true. In fact, they never met until they auditioned to appear on the HGTV show.

Before auditioning for the show, David had a successful real estate career, and Hilary had her own interior design career. Hilary was the first to be cast for the show, and David followed closely after. He recalled the producers telling him, Youre brilliant. We want you. We think youre going to make Hilary look good. The producers werent wrong. Theyre a dynamic duo.

Many costars dont actually get along behind-the-scenesand when fans find out about this, it can be disappointing. But the audience doesn't have to worry about Hilary and Davids real-life chemistry. Theyre even best friends when the cameras stop rolling. Their affection isnt fake, and they dont bicker as much as they do on the show.

Hilary and I have a lot of fun together. I think people enjoy watching us having a lot of fun, David remarked. Hilary added, We adore each other. We make each other laugh a lot. Doesnt that make you love the show even more?

The show makes you think that the homeowners meet with Hilary and David numerous times during the renovation process. Unfortunately, this isnt true. Hilary and David rarely meet with the homeowners during the filming of an episode. For when they meet and discuss the home or Davids property prospects, the scenes are short and rehearsed.

RELATED: Good Bones HGTV: Get To Know Karen E Laine & Mina Starsiak

While this seems disappointing, its standard practice for most home renovation shows on HGTV. Other shows, including Fixer Upper, Curb Appeal: The Block,and others, rarely have the hosts interact with the homeowners. Instead, they interact more with the shows producers and film crew.

Like many other realityTVrenovation shows, Love It or List It follows a strict formula. Every episode has the same premise: a couple wants Hilary to renovate their home within their budget, while David shows them houses on the market. One partner in the couple usually wants to stay at their home, while the other is desperate to move. Hilary has design complications and then the couple makes a decision at the end of the episode if theyre going to love it or list it.

This is the script every episode follows. Its what sells the show to viewers, and some participants have revealed that the show is even scripted in what the couples can say. However, Hilary has denied some of these remarks. She said, The show is not at all scripted and the reactions of the homeowners to renovation realities and bad news is very real.

This might be disappointing to fans, but the endings of the show are usually faked and scripted for the camera. The producers have everyone film two different endings: one where the couple chooses to love their home, and another where they decide to list it.

Then, during the post-production and editing process, the producers decide which ending works best for the episode. Which one will be more satisfying and entertaining for viewers? So, if a couple decides to love or list their home on the show, it might not actually be true.

In 2016, Raleigh, North Carolina, couple Deena Murphy and Timothy Sullivan took the shows producers to court after they were dissatisfied with a home renovation. They paid $140,00 for the project and in return, Hilary and her design team painted shut windows and performed low-grade industrial carpeting. They even damaged the home.

The couple said, [Farr and Visentin] are actors or television personalities playing a role In this case, none of them played more than a casual role in the actual renovation process. Yikes!

According to many show participants, Hilarys renovation team leaves many of their jobs undone. They start a project but they dont finish them. Instead, some rooms are professionally finished to look presentable for the cameras. Then, after the episode is filmed, the furniture and additional renovation designs are removed from the home.

RELATED: HGTV Renovation Island: Learn About The South Andros Island Location

So, what one sees on the show isnt necessarily what you truly get. With tight budgets and time constraints, it would be difficult for Hilary and her team to renovate the entire house, but fans wish it was possible.

While Hilary is renovating the couples home, David shows them three possible homes on the real estate market. One of them (usually the last home) is nearly perfect and meets the couples needs.

However, just like House Hunters, some of the homes arent even for sale. They might be friends homes or homes the shows producers find. This fact may make some fans look at the show differently.

If you have watched countless episodes of Love It or List It, then you might know that more people tend to love their renovated home than list it. Hilary wins the competition, even though David does a good job trying to convince the couple to move.

Some couples even sign on to be featured on the show when they already know what their decision is going to be. They are going to love their home, but they simply want Hilary and her team of interior designers to renovate the home. They also enjoy the 30 minutes of fame.

When a couple decides to list their home, it might not mean what you think. If they dont love the renovations Hilary and her team made on their house, they decide to list it on the market. However, these couples might not actually list their homes at all.

According to some participants, they decided to announce that theyre going to list their home, but they dont decide to do that once the filming is wrapped up. They had a professional renovation on their home, and they decide to keep it that way.

NEXT: 20 Secrets You Didn't Know About Say Yes To The Dress

Next How Are Jon Snow & Daenerys Targaryen Related? & 9 Other Surprising Connections In Game of Thrones

Kasy Long is a full-time freelance writer and editor based in Indiana, USA. She specializes in entertainment news, feature stories, lifestyle articles, and more. She covers entertainment news on Screen Rant for Valnet, Inc. She has a passion for everything Old Hollywood, particularly her favorite show of all time--"I Love Lucy." In her spare time, Kasy can be found reading, writing, painting, and attempting new recipes.

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10 Things You Need To Know About The Making Of Love It Or List It - Screen Rant

In a collaboration that shows just how much creativefreedom brands are discovering amid COVID-19 disruption, Lowe's is teaming up with New York Fashion Week.

While the big-box retailer may be more associated with drywall and gardening toolsthan hemlines and silhouettes, it intends to bring New York Fashion Week home with dcor "edits," assembled through the design lenses of Jason Wu, Rebecca Minkoff and ChristianSiriano.

"Often, creativity comes from constraints and right now, home and style are intersecting like never before," says Marisa Thalberg, chief brand and marketing officer, in an email toMarketing Daily. "Home has actually become the new epicenter of personal style. We see this partnership as an opportunity for Lowe's to surprise consumers, as well as the fashion world, byputting our brand at the center of one of fashion's biggest moments."

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Thalberg says the effort underscores the brand's commitment to style, attainability and design. "We saw thisfirst-of-its-kind partnership with NYFW as a chance to remind consumers that Lowe's has the affordable style they crave," she says. "If these designers can bring their ultimate runway visions to lifewith products we sell every day at Lowe's, we hope people will be inspired at the possibilities in their own homes."

The Mooresville, North Carolina-based retailer says it intends to revealthe collections at midnight on Tuesday, Sept. 8. All the home items, handpicked by each designer, are set to be shoppable from Lowes.com and streamable on Lowe's Twitter feed.

It's safe to saythat the fashion world -- not to mention Fashion Week -- has never been so disrupted. The New York Times recently reported, for instance, that while clothing sales plunged 79% in April in theU.S., sales of sweatpants soared 80%.

But if fashion is sputtering, Lowe's is flying high in COVID culture, last week posting comparable sales results that jumped 35.1% in the second quarter,compared to the same period a year ago. Digital sales shot up 135%, and its earnings soared 75%.

And as Americans continue to invest heavily in making home more welcoming and inspiring thanever, Lowe's says it makes sense for the company to broaden beyond its DIY appeal, reaching out to the style elite.

"The intersection between home and style has never been more prevalent thanit has this year, and partnering with some of the world's most modern and visionary leaders of fashion to demonstrate how everyone can bring fashion home is very exciting to us," saysMarisa Thalberg, chief brand and marketing officer, in its release. "Our homes can be our greatest form of self-expression."

Meanwhile, New York is preparing itself for a very differentseason. Scheduled for Sept. 13 through 17, New York Fashion Week got the city's greenlight. But indoor events are capped at 50 people, with no spectators. And strict health and safety guidelines arein place.

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Lowe's Hits The Runway, Brings High Fashion Home 08/28/2020 - MediaPost Communications

It is rare to find an architect designed luxury property from the 1970s still intact enough to look completely how it did in the decade when flares and disco were popular, and every shade of brown prevailed within the home.

But this incredible, four bedroom, funky detached home has been preserved to perfection to give us all a flavour of how high-end dream homes looked in the late 60s and 70s.

It's a retro gem.

This obviously much-loved home is arguably the ultimate retro step back in time and is on the market for the first time in its history.

The interior design will also take some of us straight back to our childhood, reminiscing about tones of brown, beige, green and orange, bulky kitchen appliances and open-slat staircases.

This immaculate showcase of style from the 1960s and 70s even has genuine examples of classic mid-century furniture inside to complete the journey back in time.

The high-pitched, asymmetrical roof so reminiscent of alpine homes, the large multi-paned windows and the pale brickwork are design elements that many mid-century homes with this stature can boast.

In its time, this abode would have been classed as a high-end dream home. An individual property that encompassed the best of property and interior design from the era within this price bracket; both inside and out.

Today, the house is a wonderful, light-filled, spacious family home looking for a new owner who hopefully appreciates and retains its retro-features.

For the new owners it is hopefully a restoration project rather than a renovation project - a chance to treasure the rare design from the past rather than trash it.

Stepping inside one of the two entrance halls of the home, a right turn takes you to the main living area of the property, an impressive double-height space that lifts up into the angled roof design of the building.

At one end of the room a large picture window encourages a cascade of light, as well as garden views, to flood in.

Above this lower window there is a quirky triangle shaped window that also has views of the sky above the mature garden hedgerow.

This space has a split-level, as many mid-century homes display, plus the eye-catching open-slat wooden staircase that could be argued is a piece of retro design artwork in its own right.

The room has exposed ceiling beams and a wall of exposed brickwork to add even more visual interest to the space.

This sociable and comfortable living room flows into the dining area through a large, open double doorway.

The current popular design term of "broken plan", that is semi open-plan living, is not a new concept at all, as here it is working well in this 1970s home.

These reception rooms provide a view into each space and shared light, but also retain an element of privacy. So, all the benefits of open-plan but with defined zones and the potential to be apart.

The dining area is again light-filled and spacious and showcases an original wooden floor and double glass doors, as well as some genuine retro furniture pieces that can be found throughout the home.

And so to arguably the most incredible room in the house - the kitchen.

Where to look first as the whole original interior design of the space fills your vision?

The two-tone green and white units are a classic design spilling over from the late 1960s into the next decade and would have been the height of fashion when this house was constructed.

The green and brown tiles feature a mesmerising and age appropriate design, and to find a mid-century cooker and hob unit still in situ is a joy.

If they still work, these appliances have stood the test of time far longer than their modern day equivalent.

Even the sink and taps look like they date back to the decade when the house was built.

As with the rest of the house, this room appears to be in immaculate condition.

The kitchen also has a glass door leading to the garden.

From the dining room is an inner hallway that leads to a spacious study which could also be utilised as a fourth bedroom, and a downstairs cloakroom.

And this lovely retro house is just as versatile as a modern equivalent, with a separate ground floor wing.

Currently a bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and potential to separate off from the main house via a secondary entrance hall, this area could be perfect as a guest wing, teenager zone or granny annexe.

The opposite side of the house is the garage wing, a large section of the building which offers space for two cars and an adjoining workshop.

As the driveway is a substantial size with ample parking space, a new owner might consider the many options for converting this space into a home office, a gym or cinema room or even another living annexe, making this house a truly multi-generational home.

Any changes would, of course, need exploring from a planning consent perspective.

Upstairs to the first floor via the cool stairs in the lounge and into the high roof space, which has been designed to accommodate two bedrooms and a bathroom.

Of course, as expected with this interiors gem, the bathroom retro design is not only in place but in fantastic condition for its age.

It may not be the popular and iconic avocado shade of the decade, but will a warm beige be acceptable instead?

Currently, the house has potentially four bedrooms if the study and annexe are used as sleeping spaces.

If the next owner does not require as many bedrooms then this upper floor could be completely dedicated to creating a spacious master-suite, hopefully with incredible retro interior design to complement the rest of this very special home.

This funky four bed in Presteigne in Powys near Llandrindod Wells and north of Hay-on-Wye is on the market for 400,000, call estate agent Cobb Amos at their Knighton branch on 01547 529907 for further details.

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The funky designer home stuck in the 1970s that will take you right back to your childhood - Wales Online

LifestyleHomes and GardensRedesigning some of the rooms at the Feversham Arms came with unexpected challenges for Laura Stubbs

Friday, 28th August 2020, 8:00 pm

Hotel rooms are up there with Pinterest and Instagram when it comes to finding inspiration for home interiors. Many visitors to Ham Yard in Soho go there to just marvel at Kit Kemps wizardry at combining colour, texture and pattern. The savvy Soho House group has cashed in on interest in its room design and now guests can buy some of what they see via Soho Home shops and at sohohome.com.

As a result of this shift, most good hotels have upped their game. Gone are the dull, identikit rooms and instead we now enjoy diversity, colour and interest as hotels employ interior designers to regularly revamp and update the look of their rooms.

For Laura Stubbs, pictured below, founder of Hessle-based Epitome Styling, this kind of commercial work is par for the course and she was looking forward to working with the renowned Feversham Arms in Helmsley when lockdown hit.

She had agreed to transform six of the guest suites at the hotel and spa and had just signed off the designs when the emergency measures were implemented. The deadline for the work to be completed was mid-July.

I knew I had to carry on somehow as the hotel had a short window to get some structural work and the redesign of the rooms done, says Laura. "Luckily, I had taken lots of photographs and dimensions so I had those to work within until the Government allowed building workers and me back on site.

The rooms were stripped back with only the fitted wardrobes remaining so she had everything from paint and wallpaper to furniture and soft furnishings to source. That was one of the hardest things to do as a lot of trade suppliers had shut down completely, adds Laura. I would send emails and they just went unanswered so I resorted to tracking down the directors of the companies I wanted to deal with via LinkedIn and they were amazing.

Inevitably, there were battles she couldnt win and so without some of the wallpapers she needed, she redesigned two of the rooms. With online shopping her only option, she made good use of it. Like many interior designers, she tapped into the great selection of homeware and accessories from La Redoute, bought some art prints from Desenio and chose from the vast selections of wallpapers on sites including http://www.ilovewallpaper.co.uk.

One of the biggest difficulties was that a lot of papers were out of stock because people were redecorating their homes during lockdown and the factories producing papers had closed temporarily, says Laura, who upcycled some items in the bedrooms, such as bedside tables, pictures and some of the headboards.

The bedside tables were solid and had a great shape so it made sense to include them, adds Laura, who taught herself to reupholster headboards. There was no-one else to do it during lockdown so I gave it a shot.

The new-look rooms reflect the Feversham Arms gorgeous Georgian architecture and its location in rural Ryedale, but Laura also introduced some contemporary style and plenty of diversity. I could have done six similar rooms but I wanted to give each one its own personality so they are all totally different. I think thats what people want, she says.

Adding panelling was one of her best ideas. It looks smart, is hard-wearing and it can be easily repainted. It also has the added benefit of allowing you to guide wires behind it, says Laura.

The starting point for room eight was the orange headboard and it prompted a scheme that features bold colours, a nod to country style and luxurious fabrics, including velvets plus bedside lights by La Redoute. Room ten has a more contemporary and elegant look with a fashionable soft grey scheme and pared back figurative art.

One of Lauras favourite pieces is the framed feathers she chose for room seven, which are by Yorkshire-based Maison de Plume, a specialist in feather art.

In room nine, she ran with a blue theme and used a high-impact, distressed blue and gold wallpaper from I Love Wallpaper. She also added brass bedside lights by La Redoute, along with panelling behind the bed that features wooden pegs for bathrobes.

Laura had to take into account the heavy footfall and wear and tear that come with hospitality businesses and chose hardwearing carpet for the bedrooms and luxury vinyl tiles for the bathrooms.

Her efforts were praised by general manager Ingo Wiangke, who said: We are really pleased with the textures and themes Laura has chosen. They have refreshed the spaces and given a contemporary country look to rooms in the oldest part of the hotel, without losing the authentic ambience. We are delighted to share them with our guests once again.

The Feversham Arms & Verbena Spa, http://www.fevershamarmshotel.com; Laura Stubbs, Epitome Styling, http://www.epitomestyling.co.uk

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Designer who beat the odds to bring a new look to the Feversham Arms - Yorkshire Post

By MARK MAYNARD, Kentucky Today

EASTVIEW, Ky. (KT) You bring your own chair to services at First Baptist Church of Eastview.

Church members or visitors can plop down a lawn chair around where a 100-year-old oak tree sits on the church grounds and provides ample comfort and protection from the August heat. If youre lucky, you may get a seat near the base of the big tree, but make room for the makeshift altar because it can be a busy place.

Pastor Mike McGrew stands inside a semi-circle of lawn chairs and preaches his heart out. An invitation on Aug. 16 lasted for 30 minutes after hearing an evangelistic sermon. They came broken, crying and many rededicated their lives to Jesus. Maybe the outdoor air had done them good.

If there was ever a time the church needed to be strong in the Lord, its now, McGrew said. I really feel in my heart that this could turn into a soul-saving event for people who wont normally come to church.

Eastview Church is located high on a hill and the sound from the speakers on Sunday mornings can be heard from a distance. So can the sound of lawnmowers, the pastor said.

God gave me something that first Sunday morning, McGrew said. Somebody was mowing grass over the hill. Then, all of a sudden, the lawnmower shut off. The Lord told me, Theyre listening. We were laughing because this past Sunday, there was no grass being mowed.

Shawn Edwards, the associational mission strategist for the Severns Valley Association of Baptists, attended the Aug. 16 service with his wife on their anniversary.

I took her there, being a romantic, Edwards said. When he (McGrew) thought it was going to die down, grown men went forward to pray at a makeshift altar at the base of the tree. We were sitting there going, This is unreal. Hed wind it down and more would come forward.

McGrew said the Spirit has been in attendance with the outside services under the oak tree.

It was amazing, the pastor said, remembering the Aug. 16 service. Here I was, thinking things were over, and people were coming up and praying under the tree. It reminded me of the old outdoor revivals they used to have.

The pastor said he decided to use the oak tree as their sanctuary after Gov. Andy Beshear asked churches to stop having indoor services for a couple of weeks because of the coronavirus about two months ago.

The Lord pointed me to that tree and said, 'This is where you need to have services,' McGrew said. The next Sunday we had it outside and it really took off. This will be our fifth Sunday coming up this week.

McGrew, a bi-vocational pastor who works in maintenance for Hardin County Schools, said he wouldnt mind being outside all the time. He called himself an outside guy and probably learned that from his grandfather, who was also a Baptist preacher.

He pastored over 20 churches during his time and he had an altar in his barn, McGrew said. He had a poplar board. The family cut that board in little pieces when he died and gave it to all the grandkids. I brought that out and laid it at the base of the tree. He prayed for me and my children. It touched a lot of hearts. There is something about being outside.

McGrew said the church had thoughts of taking down the big oak tree a few years ago after some limbs broke, but when the subject came up at a meeting, it didnt go anywhere. The pastor said he has a good idea of why.

That first Sunday, God told me, 'I ordained this tree to be here because you need it now,' the pastor said. Its a big tree that shades the whole parking lot and it has the nicest breeze. When we are done (with the service), the breeze stops. Its a shady, wonderful place to have church.

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Tie a gospel message 'round the old oak tree - Kentucky Today

Man offers to 'rent out' his parenting services, goes viral  |  Photo Credit: Facebook

A man from Australia has gone viral on the internet for 'renting out' his parental services to careless and irresponsible dads who are unable to fully take care of their children.

Jake James, who hails from Blue Haven in New South Wales, took to social media to spread the word about his services. His tongue-in-cheek advert on Facebook has now garnered many reactions. Has your baby daddy been acting up? Tired of him playing games? Does he put drugs and his mates before his kids? Get yourself a rent a daddy !! James wrote at the beginning of the post and then listed out the details of his service.

According to the post, his service can be availed 1-2 weekends per month. He is willing to participate in up to three activities of the kid's choice for every visit and is also ready to attend all sporting events with toddlers. Besides that, he will be imparting three hours of valuable life skills like car maintenance and mowing the lawn. He will also drop off and pick up the children from schools and daycare stays.

Jake specified that clients will need to pay extra for special services during family events, birthday parties, family selfies, and Facebook relationship status.

Heres the complete post:

He will be charging $30 per hour, plus a 20% surcharge for Sundays after 4 PM. He will be accepting the payment in Cash, Debit card, Afterpay, and ZipPay.

The post has now garnered over 1,200 shares and 1,300 likes on Facebook. Screenshots of his advert have also been shared on Twitter and Instagram.

Heres how people on Facebook reacted to the unusual business plan:

One user wrote, "Im just curious. Does he have the right credentials? Working with children check? Car? License? 6 pack? Good in bed?"

I love the initiative. The application will be submitted and with the first months payment upfront. You know.for the kids lol wrote another.

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'Rent a Daddy': Man offers to 'rent out' his parenting services, netizens are impressed with the idea - Times Now

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 29

Additional Commissioner Rishipal Singh has issued show-cause notices to four officials of the Municipal Corporation (MC), including two superintending engineers, a sub-divisional engineer and a junior engineer, over an issue related to the design of retaining wall of Jagraon Bridge.

Earlier, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu had marked an inquiry over a proposal to increase the Jagraon Bridge retaining wall project cost by Rs 44 lakh on the pretext of change in design.

A team of the MC had conducted an inspection of the site and found some deviation from the original design that led to an increase in the project cost. An inquiry in this regard is under way, said Rishipal.

Sandhu said two experts had earlier conducted an inspection of the retaining wall site and submitted their report. Now, the notices have been issued to the officials concerned as to how they had made the cost estimates for the construction of retaining wall of Jagraon Bridge, he said.

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Notice to MC officials over retaining wall - The Tribune